Sears Auto shop tool question

[Ksullivan]

I had a crazy thought today, must be all the mechanic's that work at the Sears auto shop's can't have craftsman tools because they would go to warranty them and the guy's in the tool section would know who they are haha!

 

[knocker]

I don't get it....

 

[e-tek]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Oh wait - that was another joke....

 

[efoster01]

Fairly certain he is referring to Sears not warrantying tools used by proffesionals in a shop environment.

 

[Thegratenate]

I believe that the reference is to the warranty being void under professional use.

 

[Ksullivan]

haha you got it guys! I was at my local sears last night and realized that the auto shop desk can't be more than 40' away from the tool counter I was just thinking how much that stinks that if the guy wanted to use a craftsman brand tool he couldnt utilize the warranty because he is a professional...

 

[Joe B.]

For things like power tools there is often different warranties for comerical use. However, the hand tool warranty on things line ratchets and wrenches does not discriminate against professional or commercial users. Everyone gets the same forever warranty on the hand tools.

 

[Seanbev24]

I used to work at a Sears Auto center. The auto employees are highly encouraged to buy tools there. They get an additional 5% tool discount over main store employees and the warranty was truly no questions asked. That being said, I still waited for the tool trucks to come around unless I needed something immediately.

 

[Murphy4570]

sears greasemonkeys probably use shop tools, or harbor freight stuff. They get paid like min wage.

 

[Ksullivan]

joe I am fairly positive sears doesnt warranty their hand held tools to commercial user's.
Ie shop mechanic's.

 

[Seanbev24]

sears greasemonkeys probably use shop tools, or harbor freight stuff. They get paid like min wage.

I averaged about $20/hr. when I was there. The lube techs make around $10. There were very few shop tools provided.

 

[Seanbev24]

joe I am fairly positive sears doesnt warranty their hand held tools to commercial user's.
Ie shop mechanic's.

I'm no fan of Sears but yes, they do.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I was also under the impression that Sears Auto Center guys were encouraged to use Craftsman tools. Don't know why the warranty would exclude them though?

... Snap-On and other trucks don't exclude DIYers from their warranty.

 

[Ksullivan]

I have been proven wrong I just looked up craftsman hand tool warranty on their website and it doesn't say anything about being exempt because of being a professional.


11. Other Craftsman Hand Tools labeled HAND TOOL FULL WARRANTY in warranty header CRAFTSMAN HAND TOOL FULL WARRANTY
If this Craftsman hand tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction, it will be repaired or replaced free of charge. This warranty does not cover expendable parts that can wear out from normal use within the warranty period.

WARRANTY SERVICE
To obtain warranty coverage, return the product to the retailer from which it was purchased for free repair or replacement if repair is unavailable.

 

[Murphy4570]

I averaged about $20/hr. when I was there. The lube techs make around $10. There were very few shop tools provided.

No ****! That's actually a decent wage. I'm surprised.

 

[SiGmA_X]

For things like power tools there is often different warranties for comerical use. However, the hand tool warranty on things line ratchets and wrenches does not discriminate against professional or commercial users. Everyone gets the same forever warranty on the hand tools.

That's how I read the warranty too, but you better believe my local Sears gave me a hard time about breaking ratchets when I warrantied them after work in my uniform.

No ****! That's actually a decent wage. I'm surprised.

I was a sales guy at a Sears Auto for about 6mo back in 05, and the techs made $15-20/hr. The not so good techs made $12-15/hr or so. Lube and slow tire guys made around $9-11/hr. Our shop was kind of slow too, so that didn't help. The good techs had at least 10hr/wk of standing around time, which doesn't help that average. They'd have been well in the 20's if they could keep busy

And they were also encouraged to buy Sears, but the top guys all had SnapOn - and did a lot of side work at home to pay for it lol.

 

[MattPersman]

i have found this a wives tale people spread around, probably started by a tool truck driver to sell there own tools. i worked at a dealership that had a sears across the street, the guy who worked the day shift in the tool section welcomed me with open arms and told me to send everyone over there he would get whatever we wanted and warranty stuff all day long no questions asked. i have never had any problem at any sears no matter how broken the tool was or just even telling them it was worn out

 

[fourtythree]

Last time I was at Sears, a Mac truck was parked in front of the auto center. Should've grabbed a pic...

 

[joedodge]

Just don't say ur a pro that's what I do just go in and get it warrantied just keep ur mouth shut and ill be fine that said not much of my stuff is craftsman anymore becuz they feel like bones in ur hand and break far to often

 

[5mall5nail5]

Just don't say ur a pro that's what I do just go in and get it warrantied just keep ur mouth shut and ill be fine that said not much of my stuff is craftsman anymore becuz they feel like bones in ur hand and break far to often

Bones huh?


Craftsman Industrial Combination Wrench by Jon Kensy, on Flickr

They make snap on seem lame

 

[joedodge]

Lmao I new i would get gigged on that the proffesional line are actually really nice and affordable. I was talkin the old style I got some Sears stuff still the old Sears sockets hold up well the ones I've warrantied absolutely ****

 

[5mall5nail5]

I got that set for $59!

 

[jeffmoss26]

I was at Sears last year and saw the SO guy in the parking lot...went on the truck and got a catalog

 

[firebox40dash5]

Just don't say ur a pro that's what I do just go in and get it warrantied just keep ur mouth shut and ill be fine that said not much of my stuff is craftsman anymore becuz they feel like bones in ur hand and break far to often

I go in there in my work shirt to warranty tools all the time, Sears is on my way to/from work, and close to places for lunch. They've never given me any **** about warrantying stuff. Of course, I don't go in and say "Hey, I was wrenching on this crappy ratchet with a 3' pipe so I wouldn't break my real pro tools, and the handle snapped, can I get another one?" either.

I would say if they give you **** to ask for a manager, but at least at this store, just getting anyone to help takes an act of god. Last time I went in to try to replace a couple impact sockets I couldn't find, and they had pulled them all off the shelf, and stuck them in a cart back in the stockroom. When I finally found the guy who could find the cart, he brings it out and says "I don't know what idiot put this in the back where customers can't get to it"... then put it back there when I was done not finding anything I needed in a mess of loose sockets in a shopping cart.

 

[kossuth]

I averaged about $20/hr. when I was there. The lube techs make around $10. There were very few shop tools provided.

I wouldn't knock the techs there too much. Sears is the only place in Frederick MD that I'll take a vehicle to be aligned anymore. I had a 01 Dodge Ram that the frontend was just plum wore out on that I had to rebuild. Obviously had to get it aligned afterwards. I ended up taking it to 2 different shops to be aligned and when I got it back the wheel was at the 2 oclock position and pulling when going straight down the road Told me it was a bad track bar and needed to be replaced (hey buddy I just replaced the track bar along with all the tie rod ends and the steering stablizer, tell me another one). Finally took it to Sears after the jerk at the other place wouldn't fix it and make it right. The 50 year old guy that runs their alignment rack got it right the first time. Won't take it anyplace else now.

If I had to align the 06 Ram I have now I would take it there as well.

 

[joedodge]

Why's it always gotta be that the 50 year old guy did it.......young techs are good also qaulified techs are rare no matter the age

 

[Hootbro]

Last time I was at Sears, a Mac truck was parked in front of the auto center. Should've grabbed a pic...

What would that have proved? Craftsman line even in years past, was not all encompassing and some niche tools would still need to come off a tool truck.

 

[mtd240]

Why's it always gotta be that the 50 year old guy did it.......young techs are good also qaulified techs are rare no matter the age

Sure there are good, young techs. But the best young tech could never be anywhere near as knowledgeable (or "able" in general) as the best "aged" tech. Well, aside from being able to lift large objects, which is what us "young bucks" are best at.

Knowledge, especially in an industry like this, comes with experience, and experience with age. I think our society has lost sight of the fact that elders know more - they are wiser and smarter, and should be looked up to. Every young person needs an older fellow to iron 'em out. Reading 100 books couldn't replace a year or two of working and aging.

 

[dandan111]

Nice to know sears retains good techs. I have been scared of any of those places ever since my last Walmart experience. My oil drain bolt looked like a rounder off star. They didn't know what happened to it.

 

[joedodge]

Mtd240 I agree older techs have expierence and knowledge just don't like when I see young guys like myself 25 been doin this for 7 years now get crapped on no one knows it all just don't discount the younger guys

 

[mtd240]

Mtd240 I agree older techs have expierence and knowledge just don't like when I see young guys like myself 25 been doin this for 7 years now get crapped on no one knows it all just don't discount the younger guys

Yeah - that makes sense - sometimes the older folk take the younger's respect for granted and turn all pompous and "howdy ho". That is probably one of the reasons alot of younger guys don't respect them anymore (would still put more of the blame on our pathetic "rights-based" government, but I suppose going into that could get me booted lol?)

I am only a DIY, and have been at it for ~4 years, so I am at the bottom of the "totem pole of car knowledge "here.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I had a crazy thought today, must be all the mechanic's that work at the Sears auto shop's can't have craftsman tools because they would go to warranty them and the guy's in the tool section would know who they are haha!

I agree. You have crazy thoughts

There are medications to help you with that. Should that fail there is the institutionalize option

 

[Ksullivan]

I do have the occasional crazy thought and until recently I didn't have an outlet to share those crazy thought so I kept them all inside! Sometimes it gets crazy in there.

 

[Coach James]

I do remember reading in the Sears tool catalog some years back that C-man hand tools were not warrantied for pro use. The Sears over in Fayetteville/Ft Bragg would still warranty any C-man hand tool that a pro brought in though.

Coach

 

[NoFatChicks]

The only craftsman **** not warrantied for pro use is their power tools. If you heard otherwise your wrong. End Thread. Next topic.

 

[firebox40dash5]

Knowledge, especially in an industry like this, comes with experience, and experience with age. I think our society has lost sight of the fact that elders know more - they are wiser and smarter, and should be looked up to. Every young person needs an older fellow to iron 'em out. Reading 100 books couldn't replace a year or two of working and aging.

Not that you're wrong in general, but come by my shop, and I'll introduce you to the owner of the shop next door. Owned the place all his life, wrenching all his life, and still wouldn't know his *** from a hole in the ground. Wine doesn't age well if the lid's not tight.