Recent SK warranty experience

[uscarry45]

I am happy to report that after sending in my broken socket s-k issued me a credit to use on their website as they no longer make 3/4 drive sockets which is disappointing but i thought the solution was fair

in reading the other posts about warranty I wonder what some people would say if the situation were extrapolated to say a new 65k chevrolet pickup. If the chevy/gm sold to a Chinese company would you accept no longer having a warranty because the company was sold?

 

[cowades206]

I'll add a recent data point:
Submitted a warranty claim 1 Jan; automated response indicated they received my claim.
16 Jan I get a response indicating they will replace the item.
I paid the shipping the same day (16 Jan).
Received the item 26 Jan.
It is marked USA.

cracked on left, new replacement on right.

 

[Etchase]

I'll add a recent data point:
Submitted a warranty claim 1 Jan; automated response indicated they received my claim.
16 Jan I get a response indicating they will replace the item.
I paid the shipping the same day (16 Jan).
Received the item 26 Jan.
It is marked USA.

cracked on left, new replacement on right.

How much was shipping?

 

[Cruzan80]

But, But, But...The font is different! It won't match the rest of the set! The HORROR!!!!

 

[Freakazooid52]

I'll add a recent data point:
Submitted a warranty claim 1 Jan; automated response indicated they received my claim.
16 Jan I get a response indicating they will replace the item.
I paid the shipping the same day (16 Jan).
Received the item 26 Jan.
It is marked USA.

cracked on left, new replacement on right.

Glad to see the Chinese couldn't be bothered to level the USA stamp

 

[Mgdoug3]

I broke my SK breaker bar about a month ago. It's the older style with the press in pin instead of a screw. I contacted SK but they were on holiday break. By the time they responded, I had already bought a NOS rebuild kit off Ebay.

SK wasn't slow to respond once they opened back up but it was bad timing to break since it happen just before Christmas. I'm glad I found the NOS kit because SK doesn't carry that kit anymore. They offered to replace mine under warranty if I sent mine in, but my NOS kit had already come in and installed.

I think the kit was around $18 after taxes so it was a little more expensive than shipping and getting a replacement but my bar wasn't bent, the eBay kit arrived quicker and I wasn't sure if the new bars are made in the US or not.

 

[67King]

They (SK) weren’t making any money. They got sold. The old company no longer exists, and the buyer is honoring the old company‘s warranty.

Why the hand wringing?

It’s business, not a charity.

Actually, when a company is sold, the new company acquires not only its assets, but also its liabilities. The buyer, by law, assumed the liabilities of SK, and part of that liability is the warranty. As was said by another, this was not a bankruptcy, where liabilities are eliminated. It was a sale. It really isn't any different than outstanding debt obligations. Companies can't make their bond obligations disappear by selling any more than an individual can make the outstanding principal on their mortgage disappear by selling the house.

As for the consumer, considering I spent several thousand dollars on SK, I can give some anecdotal feedback. I will say that the market determines the price, and the market considered all sorts of aspects of the tool, but the quality of the build, and the warranty. Had the warranty specified that the replacement product would be built to a much lower level of quality, then the market would have priced the product lower. I, for one, would have bought more stuff from, say, Williams, Wright, etc. Others? Perhaps not. But some do. And if a percent of the consumer base places value on something, it will drive up the market price, whether it is green handle Snap-On screwdrivers, or a lifetime warranty.

 

[finn]

Actually, when a company is sold, the new company acquires not only its assets, but also its liabilities. The buyer, by law, assumed the liabilities of SK, and part of that liability is the warranty. As was said by another, this was not a bankruptcy, where liabilities are eliminated. It was a sale. It really isn't any different than outstanding debt obligations. Companies can't make their bond obligations disappear by selling any more than an individual can make the outstanding principal on their mortgage disappear by selling the
As for the consumer, considering I spent several thousand dollars on SK, I can give some anecdotal feedback. I will say that the market determines the price, and the market considered all sorts of aspects of the tool, but the quality of the build, and the warranty. Had the warranty specified that the replacement product would be built to a much lower level of quality, then the market would have priced the product lower. I, for one, would have bought more stuff from, say, Williams, Wright, etc. Others? Perhaps not. But some do. And if a percent of the consumer base places value on something, it will drive up the market price, whether it is green handle Snap-On screwdrivers, or a lifetime warranty.

I think you’re right about liabilities in the event of a sale, but didn’t Ideal buy SK out of bankruptcy only a few years ago? That’s what I recall, so the warranty liability would only go back five or seven years, to whenever SK went bankrupt and was picked up by Ideal.

Fortunately Great Star, or whatever their name is, hasn’t put that limit on warranty, as best I can tell, although theoretically they could,

 

[neophyte]

Ideal acquired “certain assets” of SK tools back in August of 2010.
SK had files fir bankruptcy in late June of 2010.

 

[cowades206]

How much was shipping?

$9.58
UPS with no options offered.
Yes, USA is at a slant. How does that make you feel?
If another one breaks I may not bother with the warranty, but I suppose that is what they want.

 

[cowades206]

But, But, But...The font is different! It won't match the rest of the set! The HORROR!!!!

Not just the font! My old sockets were U.S.A not USA. Kinda hard to sleep at night.
I bought that set (cat no 1913) back about 1990, so Maybe I'll get over it. I'm telling myself the slanted text is kinda artsy instead of sloppy.

 

[BrandonV]

Yes, USA is at a slant. How does that make you feel?

Functionally? Don't care.

Emotionally? It's called pride in craftsmanship. If you're tooling is off it's a sign you don't care. Ask electricians about plate screws. I think it's silly but they care.

I've said this again and again. It seems like a lot of the Asian countries seem to take more care in manufacturing these days.

 

[cowades206]

Did they care about the metallurgy...we shall see.

 

[cherrybomb]

It's a shame how this SK company turned into a fiasco..I'm an old fart and when I was a kid,Dad and I could go to the neighborhood auto parts store and get SK.The youngsters are missing out,whole different ball game.
This thread does give great info about what to expect if you have a warranty issue and gives you time to develop a plan depending on your situation.

 

[67King]

I think you’re right about liabilities in the event of a sale, but didn’t Ideal buy SK out of bankruptcy only a few years ago? That’s what I recall, so the warranty liability would only go back five or seven years, to whenever SK went bankrupt and was picked up by Ideal.

Fortunately Great Star, or whatever their name is, hasn’t put that limit on warranty, as best I can tell, although theoretically they could,

Hmm, you are probably right. I had forgotten about that. It was after Ideal bought them that I starting more and more tools.

 

[M6erfan]

$9.58
UPS with no options offered.
Yes, USA is at a slant. How does that make you feel?
If another one breaks I may not bother with the warranty, but I suppose that is what they want.

Jeez, how much would just buying a new replacement cost? Before the sale, SK USA would often just send a replacement out, no charge.

It's a shame how this SK company turned into a fiasco..I'm an old fart and when I was a kid,Dad and I could go to the neighborhood auto parts store and get SK.The youngsters are missing out,whole different ball game.
This thread does give great info about what to expect if you have a warranty issue and gives you time to develop a plan depending on your situation.

'The youngsters' have more options today for easy to acquire high quality tools that your, and/or my, generation ever did.

 

[ohhimark]

Jeez, how much would just buying a new replacement cost? Before the sale, SK USA would often just send a replacement out, no charge.

I wanted to know as well: https://sktools.com/products/17-mm-1-2-drive-12-point-metric-standard-chrome-socket
I warrantied a socket with them last year and they sent out the replacement free of charge.

 

[M6erfan]

I wanted to know as well: https://sktools.com/products/17-mm-1-2-drive-12-point-metric-standard-chrome-socket
I warrantied a socket with them last year and they sent out the replacement free of charge.

Was that before or after the sale to china?

 

[ohhimark]

Was that before or after the sale to china?

After. It was surprisingly easy.

 

[M6erfan]

After. It was surprisingly easy.

Interesting. So shipping seems hit or miss then.

 

[neophyte]

Jeez, how much would just buying a new replacement cost? Before the sale, SK USA would often just send a replacement out, no charge.



'The youngsters' have more options today for easy to acquire high quality tools that your, and/or my, generation ever did.

Shipping us expensive, especially if the shipper doesn’t have a deal with a shipping provider, and a huge amount of shipments.
A small box, shipped thru a service that is highly reliable (UPS, Fedex, or older Fedex) can easily cost $15 or more.
With Amazon and “free shipping” and other retailers that have followed, most people seem to have forgotten the shipping charges that every catalog and mail order place used to charge.
Highland Hardware, a retailer of quality woodworking tools has a minimum shipping charge of $8, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they are eating a certain amount if shipping costs.
Garrett Wade, another woodworking retailer charges a minimum of $12.
The ‘Things you never knew existed and can’t possibly live without’ catalog charges $7. (I think)

Back in the day, warrantee used to be handled by local dealers, because it was way cheaper to ship heavy pallets of tools, than to ship individual wrenches or sockets.
The dealer would pull the warrantee from stock, and then either get a cash credit on his next order, or a new replacement for the stock when he ordered the next pallet/s of goods.
With dealers routinely switching brands, and flux in the retail market, the older system no longer really works well in a lot of cases.

 

[908Jim]

I'll add a recent data point:
Submitted a warranty claim 1 Jan; automated response indicated they received my claim.
16 Jan I get a response indicating they will replace the item.
I paid the shipping the same day (16 Jan).
Received the item 26 Jan.
It is marked USA.

cracked on left, new replacement on right.

Judging by the slanted font and that fact that it's a 12 point which probably sits in inventory for a long time, this is almost certainly NOS in my opinion. I love my SK stuff and was loyal to the brand for years, but I've gotten plenty of defects over the years.

 

[squirrel17]

Bought a bunch of SK right before they announced they were selling out. First time these pliers even touched metal the tip snapped right off. Submitted the warranty claim to see their response. Expectations are set low.

 

[squirrel17]

Quick response, didn't have to send them in, just pay shipping to get a new pair. Even though they ask me to dispose of the originals, I'm going to keep them and just cut the tips even.

 

[908Jim]

Quick response, didn't have to send them in, just pay shipping to get a new pair. Even though they ask me to dispose of the originals, I'm going to keep them and just cut the tips even.

Interested in seeing the pliers you receive in return.

 

[squirrel17]

To my surprise they say USA on them

 

[mreisner]

I had a pleasant experience with SK regarding warranty today. I had a 15 mm 3/8 deep well impact socket that wasn't swiveling properly, and a quarter drive round head ratchet that the Chrome was peeling badly on. I sent them an email with pictures and they responded within 24 hours telling me that they would be sending me a new impact swivel and that the quarter ratchet was out of stock so they're issuing me a gift card. No mentioned was made on the shipping of the socket just that they were sending it to me and didn't request any shipping fee. Pretty impressed although I'm not sure what I'm going to get for a socket.