Recent SK warranty experience

[Freakazooid52]

Recently I had to warranty a couple sk items. One was a 3/8 chrome socket. That one arrived looking like my original still usa stamped.

Second item was 19mm impact universal and what arrived was a cheap duratech one with sk laser etched on it. Kind of disappointing and further pushes me to believe more and more of their tools will be framed out overseas. It'll do the job but not as compact as my original one was. Picture on website still shows original design they could have at least updated that....


Anyone else have similar experiences lately?

 

[VolvoRyan]

Sadly, this seems to be the new MO.

-Ryan

 

[BrandonV]

Second item was 19mm impact universal and what arrived was a cheap duratech one with sk laser etched on it. Kind of disappointing and further pushes me to believe more and more of their tools will be framed out overseas.

That is insane. Screw SK man. It's not even like they're making industrial tools overseas now. They're just rebranding junk.

 

[Freakazooid52]

That is insane. Screw SK man. It's not even like they're making industrial tools overseas now. They're just rebranding junk.

My thoughts exactly after this.

I even had to pay shipping on the warranty impact universal which is ok it says so on the warranty form but for a few dollars more could have bought a better import universal from grey pneumatic if I knew I was getting a rebranded duratech unit

 

[ThePostman]

I snapped a crows foot last year. Emailed them with a photo, never received a new one, hell I never received any reply. Gave up and bought a Snap-on. I have 2 1/4" drive LP90 stubby ratchets that I really like, and I want that 12" fixed head USA one while it's still out there, at least Olsa sells the repair kits....

 

[M6erfan]

Looks like maybe "SK" in name only. Trying to profit off a once well regarded American tool company. Although most people shopping at Lowes probably don't even know, or care, about the history of SK.

Just what we need, more import tools that compete with other import tools. Are we at cheap import tool saturation in the market yet? Could this be a jump the shark moment?

 

[finn]

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.

 

[BrandonV]

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.

I agree but I'd argue it's borderline consumer fraud. I know that sounds harsh but hear me out.

Companies that buy dieing brands and recycle the name do it to basically bamboozle customers.

The average consumer has developed a reputation for a brand over decades and isn't going to be following when it's sold/etc.

When RCA, Philco, etc. went under, sketchy companies snapped at the opportunity to use the names to sell people (who are generally unaware) junk. If a company bought these brands to sell decent quality stuff it's fair but they never do... They buy the brand to peddle ****.

 

[finn]

I agree but I'd argue it's borderline consumer fraud. I know that sounds harsh but hear me out.

Companies that buy dieing brands and recycle the name do it to basically bamboozle customers.

The average consumer has developed a reputation for a brand over decades and isn't going to be following when it's sold/etc.

When RCA, Philco, etc. went under, sketchy companies snapped at the opportunity to use the names to sell people (who are generally unaware) junk. If a company bought these brands to sell decent quality stuff it's fair but they never do... They buy the brand to peddle ****.

Not fraud at all. It’s a common business practice to buy the intellectual property rights, including patents , technology, and trademark rights of a bankrupt or failing company.

The money goes to the shareholders or creditors. If anything, it would be doing them a disservice to just throw away that potential revenue, and possibly illegal.

Nothing fraudulent about it.

 

[BrandonV]

Not fraud at all. It’s a common business practice to buy the intellectual property rights, including patents , technology, and trademark rights of a bankrupt or failing company.

The money goes to the shareholders or creditors. If anything, it would be doing them a disservice to just throw away that potential revenue, and possibly illegal.

Nothing fraudulent about it.

I suppose my qualm is more of a moral one than a legal one.

Yes... Everything is totally legal but it's scummy.

 

[M635_Guy]

It's a shame, but one of the reasons I moved on from my SK wrenches. My SK sockets aren't likely to ever be an issue (IMHO). If the LP90 ratchets are ever an issue, I guess I'll see what's out there for rebuild kits. Or maybe something to grab now and put away...

 

[2ndGearRubber]

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.

Because one may, or may not, be receiving an item of equal value.

If Snap On sold you a dual 80, with a warranty, and the new buyer of the name swapped your broken tool for a HF composite, would you feel the warranty obligation was met?

Obviously it's all quite legal, and something is better than nothing when it comes to warranty. The original tool was USA made, of a given quality, and sold within a given distribution network. Things change. Doesn't mean I'd be excited about that warranty replacement I could buy from amazon for $16. FWIW I have a capri socket of the style which has done well for me.

 

[finn]

It's a shame, but one of the reasons I moved on from my SK wrenches. My SK sockets aren't likely to ever be an issue (IMHO). If the LP90 ratchets are ever an issue, I guess I'll see what's out there for rebuild kits. Or maybe something to grab now and put away...

I still use the set I got for Christmas in 1966.

They were SK-Wayne at that time

 

[finn]

Because one may, or may not, be receiving an item of equal value.

If Snap On sold you a dual 80, with a warranty, and the new buyer of the name swapped your broken tool for a HF composite, would you feel the warranty obligation was met?

Obviously it's all quite legal, and something is better than nothing when it comes to warranty. The original tool was USA made, of a given quality, and sold within a given distribution network. Things change. Doesn't mean I'd be excited about that warranty replacement I could buy from amazon for $16. FWIW I have a capri socket of the style which has done well for me.

I really wouldn’t expect that I was entitled to anything. The SnapOn company I bought from would be gone in that case, but life moves on. If the successor company gave me something, that’s great. If they gave me nothing, that’s fine, too. I bought the tools to use, and I did just that.

One could worry themselves into severe depression over woulda-shoulda-coulda scenarios over a defunct company.

Tools aren’t sentimental, and to me they serve a function , but they won’t be at my funeral.

 

[M635_Guy]

I still use the set I got for Christmas in 1966.

They were SK-Wayne at that time

If mine had been combo wrenches, I might still have them, but they were X-Frames, and I didn't want to mess with trying to get warranty//rebuild on the ratcheting bits.

 

[Steve_P]

I suppose my qualm is more of a moral one than a legal one.

Yes... Everything is totally legal but it's scummy.

The other option is that no one bought SK and it disappeared. And then there was NO warranty replacement at all.

So, between the two possible options, which is better?

And continuing SK as prior isn't an option because that wasn't working.

Yes, it *****, but that's reality. If Snap On doesn't produce all of the Malco locking plier options, then what will someone get as a warranty replacement from Snap On for the Malco mfg plier that they purchased? Something other than what they purchased initially.

 

[BrandonV]

The other option is that no one bought SK and it disappeared. And then there was NO warranty replacement at all.

So, between the two possible options, which is better?

And continuing SK as prior isn't an option because that wasn't working.

Yes, it *****, but that's reality. If Snap On doesn't produce all of the Malco locking plier options, then what will someone get as a warranty replacement from Snap On for the Malco mfg plier that they purchased? Something other than what they purchased initially.

I'd probably be good with them just doing warranty replacements (even if that meant just giving a Duratek tool in lieu of something marked SK).

I've warrantied old brands/discontinued brands with a lifetime warranty with SB&D and they try to give the closest thing they have on hand. I'm not mad if I get something marked Proto or Mac as a replacement... if they replace it with a China Stanley tool? Maybe.

As for Snap-on... they made good locking pliers before and I don't think they're going to stop making the ones in Spain. I'm sure you'll get the closest thing on hand if the Malcos go out of stock are no longer produced by them/for them. Sometimes this forum tends to hold some of these products to near god-like tiers of amazing. Decent quality locking pliers are locking pliers. Nobody should be mad if they get non-Malco locking pliers as a replacement.

I had a 1930s Craftsman ratchet that finally grenaded. Couldn't find any rebuild parts/etc. I just turned it into Lowes for a replacement. Yes... it's an old tool and old tools are cool but even the Chinese or Taiwan Craftsman is night and day superior to that old Craftsman.

 

[neophyte]

Not fraud at all. It’s a common business practice to buy the intellectual property rights, including patents , technology, and trademark rights of a bankrupt or failing company.

The money goes to the shareholders or creditors. If anything, it would be doing them a disservice to just throw away that potential revenue, and possibly illegal.

Nothing fraudulent about it.

Using a trademark on items that have little or nothing to do with the history of the trademark is literally designed to bilk customers.
It’s “bait and switch” tactics.
With SK, at least with the X-frame wrenches, the original design is being used, even if the wrenches are now made in China.
With other brands like “Rockwell”, the idea is to fool the consumer.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

The other option is that no one bought SK and it disappeared. And then there was NO warranty replacement at all.

So, between the two possible options, which is better?

And continuing SK as prior isn't an option because that wasn't working.

Yes, it *****, but that's reality. If Snap On doesn't produce all of the Malco locking plier options, then what will someone get as a warranty replacement from Snap On for the Malco mfg plier that they purchased? Something other than what they purchased initially.

Certainly better than nothing.

 

[finn]

Using a trademark on items that have little or nothing to do with the history of the trademark is literally designed to bilk customers.
It’s “bait and switch” tactics.
With SK, at least with the X-frame wrenches, the original design is being used, even if the wrenches are now made in China.
With other brands like “Rockwell”, the idea is to fool the consumer.

So the fact that Stelantis sells Jeep branded vehicles is fraudulant to consumers since the brand was originally owned by Willys Overland, correct?
Same with BMW now selling cars under the Mini brand and Tata selling cars under the Jaguar brand, or TTI selling tools under the Milwaukee brand, or Apex selling Crescent branded tools, or Chevron selling Skil tools

I don’t follow your logic.

Change is unrelenting. You can’t stop it. It makes life easier if you accept it as inevitable.

 

[BrandonV]

So the fact that Stelantis sells Jeep branded vehicles is fraudulant to consumers since the brand was originally owned by Willys Overland, correct?
Same with BMW now selling cars under the Mini brand and Tata selling cars under the Jaguar brand, or TTI selling tools under the Milwaukee brand, or Apex selling Crescent branded tools, or Chevron selling Skil tools

I don’t follow your logic.

Change is unrelenting. You can’t stop it. It makes life easier if you accept it as inevitable.

I think the biggest differentiator is when those brands sold the product quality and expectations from the consumer side didn't change.

The same way I could careless if Snap-on, Mac, or Matco make tools in China (I prefer here obviously) if they're quality.

I needed a pair of SAE flare nut wrenches... I bought a set from Matco made in Taiwan. I am 99.9% sure they're more than adequate because Matco tends to source/sell professional tools regardless of COO.

Tata sells a luxury car that meets the expectation of Jaguar buyers, TTI makes rock solid power tools that hold up to Milwaukee when they made them here, etc.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

So the fact that Stelantis sells Jeep branded vehicles is fraudulant to consumers since the brand was originally owned by Willys Overland, correct?
Same with BMW now selling cars under the Mini brand and Tata selling cars under the Jaguar brand, or TTI selling tools under the Milwaukee brand, or Apex selling Crescent branded tools, or Chevron selling Skil tools

I don’t follow your logic.

Change is unrelenting. You can’t stop it. It makes life easier if you accept it as inevitable.

When my warranty replacement engine in my Jeep Grand Cherokee is downgraded from the 5.7L to the 3.6L, should I be happy I "at least got something"? GM went through a bankruptcy. You bought a 2007 top of the line model from "old" GM, and need a warranty radio. "New" GM "warranties" you into a base model radio?


That's the idea. The product was sold with a warranty, which was to replace the item with a like item. I would not describe the replacement item as a "like" item. It's a cheaper quality, foreign made, larger diameter base, shorter overall length and depth, socket. Sure, it's better than nothing, that's 100% true. I keep both the replacement and the original style of swivel on my cart, because the added depth of the original is sometimes a help, other times a hindrance. They're not exactly interchangeable in use. The replacement would be too shallow for use on alignment cam-bolts for instance. It would bottom out before fully engaging the nut. But the replacement has a shorter overall profile, better for some caliper bolts.

SK could have told him to **** off, because the name has been sold. They're at least giving him something, which is nice. Did he get the "warranty replacement" item he was promised by the old SK? I would say no. That said, I'm not sure any action we take is going to produce a NOS SK swivel impact socket, so it's moot.

 

[Etchase]

How much are they charging for the shipping on the “warranty” replacement?

 

[finn]

When my warranty replacement engine in my Jeep Grand Cherokee is downgraded from the 5.7L to the 3.6L, should I be happy I "at least got something"? GM went through a bankruptcy. You bought a 2007 top of the line model from "old" GM, and need a warranty radio. "New" GM "warranties" you into a base model radio?


That's the idea. The product was sold with a warranty, which was to replace the item with a like item. I would not describe the replacement item as a "like" item. It's a cheaper quality, foreign made, larger diameter base, shorter overall length and depth, socket. Sure, it's better than nothing, that's 100% true. I keep both the replacement and the original style of swivel on my cart, because the added depth of the original is sometimes a help, other times a hindrance. They're not exactly interchangeable in use. The replacement would be too shallow for use on alignment cam-bolts for instance. It would bottom out before fully engaging the nut. But the replacement has a shorter overall profile, better for some caliper bolts.

SK could have told him to **** off, because the name has been sold. They're at least giving him something, which is nice. Did he get the "warranty replacement" item he was promised by the old SK? I would say no. That said, I'm not sure any action we take is going to produce a NOS SK swivel impact socket, so it's moot.

You missed the point.

The company you bought from is gone, finished, lost to the annals of time, down the tubes.

You can be butthurt all you want, but unless the company that picked up the pieces also picks up warrant for something they didn’t make, you’re potentially SOL,

Having a hissy fit doesn’t change those facts.

I broke an old Thorsen breaker bar a number of years ago, Thorsen went bankrupt in 1995, and the assets were sold to Elgin Elgin National who integrated it into Olympia tools. Olympia went Bankrupt in 2006, when the name was purchased by someone else.

Should they now send me a replacement breaker bar??

Mot in my book.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

You missed the point.

The company you bought from is gone, finished, lost to the annals of time, down the tubes.

You can be butthurt all you want, but unless the company that picked up the pieces also picks up warrant for something they didn’t make, you’re potentially SOL,

Having a hissy fit doesn’t change those facts.

I broke an old Thorsen breaker bar a number of years ago, Thorsen went bankrupt in 1995, and the assets were sold to Elgin Elgin National who integrated it into Olympia tools. Olympia went Bankrupt in 2006, when the name was purchased by someone else.

Should they now send me a replacement breaker bar??

Mot in my book.

No hissyfit. Just wish things would've worked out better.

Agreed, dead and gone. (Taps plays in the background)

 

[neophyte]

So the fact that Stelantis sells Jeep branded vehicles is fraudulant to consumers since the brand was originally owned by Willys Overland, correct?
Same with BMW now selling cars under the Mini brand and Tata selling cars under the Jaguar brand, or TTI selling tools under the Milwaukee brand, or Apex selling Crescent branded tools, or Chevron selling Skil tools

I don’t follow your logic.

Change is unrelenting. You can’t stop it. It makes life easier if you accept it as inevitable.

Change may be unrelenting.
In the case of Apex, it’s just a continuation of the same corporation after being churned threw corporate mergers and sales.
Apex was a bit and tool manufacturer, that was owned by the same conglomerate that owned Crescent, and a bunch if other brands.
There was even foreign tool production under the original conglomerate that went back at least two or three decades.
The advertising for the tool brands even linked linked the brands together.
Now Apex is just using the Crescent brand name from the conglomerate on more items.

As for Chevton, I presume they may have been making a bunch of the saws for years for Skil and Bosch since the Skil Saw production moved to Asia.
That is usually how this type of sale is done.
Subcontractor makes tools for major brand for a certain amount of time, possibly using engineering and designs from the major brand.
Major brand then sells brand yo subcontractor, probably including some future designs and intellectual property.

In the case of SK and other Great Star brands, Great Star was literally buying a company they had no previous relationship with, although they do seem to have gotten intellectual property with the sales, so they are not just slapping an old name one completely different products, at least totally.

In the case of Rockwell, and Wen, and certain other brands, the current iteration gas nothing what so ever to do with the former product, except the current product being in the same product category.

Craftsman is sort of the same, but Stanley has been producing tools for more than a century, and produced Craftsman tools in the past, so a bit different.

 

[neophyte]

You missed the point.

The company you bought from is gone, finished, lost to the annals of time, down the tubes.

You can be butthurt all you want, but unless the company that picked up the pieces also picks up warrant for something they didn’t make, you’re potentially SOL,

Having a hissy fit doesn’t change those facts.

I broke an old Thorsen breaker bar a number of years ago, Thorsen went bankrupt in 1995, and the assets were sold to Elgin Elgin National who integrated it into Olympia tools. Olympia went Bankrupt in 2006, when the name was purchased by someone else.

Should they now send me a replacement breaker bar??

Mot in my book.

There is a difference between the sale of a brand, and a bankruptcy.
Typically, bankruptcies tend to nullify past contracts to a large extent.
Sales supposedly just transfer the company and their rights and obligations to a new owner.

 

[M6erfan]

The other option is that no one bought SK and it disappeared. And then there was NO warranty replacement at all.

So, between the two possible options, which is better?

Assuming the replacement is as good quality as the original, it's fine. But I'd rather foot the bill and self warranty a good replacement than get a POS tool, for "free".

 

[Freakazooid52]

Assuming the replacement is as good quality as the original, it's fine. But I'd rather foot the bill and self warranty a good replacement than get a POS tool, for "free".

My feelings also^

Shipping was 8 and some change, was nice to get a replacement I went in not expecting much since I couldn't produce my original receipt from 10+ years ago when I originally bought the set and it took over a month for a reply saying my case was being fulfilled

Just would have been nice if website was updated showing the sockets changed to rebranded duratech ones and not newly produced original design. If that update happened I would have just bought nos eBay one or a grey pneumatic replacement

 

[Etchase]

If you buy a brand or other assets, whether the debt, warranties, and other liabilities like responsibility for employee lawsuits, or product liability is dependent on how the sale is structured. Typically these liabilities are left with the shell of the company that was the selling entity. Are you claiming your western forge products warrenty at your local ideal office. That wasn’t even sold.

 

[uscarry45]

I am in the process of warranting a 3/4 drive socket. They say they no longer make 3/4 drive sockets so are going to issue me a credit on my online account. I had to ship the socket back to them, which cost be about 7.00 at the post office - I figured it would be a good gauge to see if I will continue to be a loyal customer

I like the looks of some of their new products, but this is not a company I would invest in. I would be willing to bet they will be out of business within 24 months.

S-K is the perfect business study case. It is so sad how an American company that was sold at all the local auto parts stores when I was a kid, has turned out

I would love to see them innovate some new products or at least new takes on old ones. I think they could do ok as the premier brand in auto parts stores even at a higher price. If they are going the overseas route they should strike a deal with harbor freight have immediate distribution across the us and be the alternative to icon (although this would have been much better about 5 years ago)

I really do wish them well but they have an uphill battle - and I am very curious to see how my warranty socket claim turns out

 

[M6erfan]

This is why I give no weight to warranty when buying hand tools.

 

[KnurledNut]

Looks similar to GearWrench, Capri, Powerbuilt, etc. I wouldn’t write it off as junk until its put through the paces.
It also looks lower profile than the USA version, which can be a good thing.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Looks similar to GearWrench, Capri, Powerbuilt, etc. I wouldn’t write it off as junk until its put through the paces.
It also looks lower profile than the USA version, which can be a good thing.

I can't speak to the quality of SK vs. GearWrench, but I think one thing that stands out is that SK vs. GW is probably not the same price point. If you shelled out for SK and got a GW look alike for warranty replacement, I can see how that'd rub some people the wrong way.

 

[shanny19]

This is why I give no weight to warranty when buying hand tools.

THANK YOU! This 52 year old thought he might be the only tool junkie on this board that buys quality, with zero, and I mean zero, thought given to the GD, Grandpa style, Hank Hill, OhMyGodDidCraftsmanDoIt RightBackThen, SucksIfIDontHaveAToolTruckDriverAndIHaveToMailItIn, warranty.

 

[finn]

I can't speak to the quality of SK vs. GearWrench, but I think one thing that stands out is that SK vs. GW is probably not the same price point. If you shelled out for SK and got a GW look alike for warranty replacement, I can see how that'd rub some people the wrong way.

Why?

Price and quality aren’t necessarily linked

case in point. My Apple phone probably cast half again more than my wife’s Samsung phone. Both function the same. Does the higher price have any link to quality? I don’t think so. They will both be obsolete before they fail to function.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Why?

Price and quality aren’t necessarily linked

case in point. My Apple phone probably cast half again more than my wife’s Samsung phone. Both function the same. Does the higher price have any link to quality? I don’t think so. They will both be obsolete before they fail to function.

To use your example, if most people took an expensive iPhone in for warranty repair and got handed back a cheaper Samsung with the Apple logo stamped on it, they'd probably not be too thrilled.

I agree that quality and price aren't always linked, but often they are to some degree. I also said it would rub people the wrong way, and that's because of the perception that they received something cheaper than they sent in. Whether or not it's actually inferior, that's another issue altogether, which is why I explicitly said I couldn't speak to the quality differences.

 

[jonshonda]

I think most business owners dreams may include building a business and brand that someone else will pay money for. Not just for your assets, but for the name itself because it means something. Seems like the people that bought SK Tools bought it for a few reasons, and one of them was the branding.

What the new owner chooses to do with it is their decision, but I am sure there a lot of former SK employees who would be disappointed in the direction it is being driven. I will say in a world of cheap ****, it's not easy to see something that may have once been good quality turn into big box store trash.

 

[KnurledNut]

I can't speak to the quality of SK vs. GearWrench, but I think one thing that stands out is that SK vs. GW is probably not the same price point. If you shelled out for SK and got a GW look alike for warranty replacement, I can see how that'd rub some people the wrong way.

Quoting but speaking to all:
I do completely agree.
I liked the company formerly known as SK, and would be disappointed too.
Wish as we may, SK’s in-house domestic manufacturing is no longer and anyone that is an active member here probably knows that by now. To expect the same exact tool under warranty is just not reasonable, when we know its not being made.
I was offering something positive, instead of beating the dead horse in this thread.
COO aside, that replacement swivel should perform as well or possibly better than the one he had. I have some of those swivels in the brandings I mentioned, and assuming its the same Taiwan manufacturer, they are good quality.
The whole reason this thread exists is because the USA swivel broke, so just how how superior was it?

 

[Bubba Fett]

This is why I give no weight to warranty when buying hand tools.

Warranties only last as long as the company does. SK, as we know it, is dead, and Great Star is selling Duratech under the SK brand for a premium.