Sears Robo-Grips

[dakotart1984]

Sorry if this has been posted before but my searching hasn't turned up any results. I have a pair of robo grips that have a bad mechanism. I do have much better options in my boxes but in the art of handing down tools to my son I was trying to get them replaced so that he may one day get some use out of them. I went to Sears with the expectation that someone there would know something about them or even do a replacement on them but to my avail that turned out to be a dead end. I picked up the packaging and it did say lifetime warranty on it. Now before I pitch them is there anyone that knows who and what I might try to get a replacement? It seems odd sears still sells them and they couldn't help one bit..

 

[Buckgnarly]

You should be able to get store credit for their value, that is what the two stores near me does. They might also exchange for something equivalent.

 

[dakotart1984]

The kid said there wasnt anything they could do unless it has a craftsman badge on it. I didn't want to challenge him too much on it. I might try my luck with another store or possibly see if there is a manager that can help.

 

[Buckgnarly]

The kid said there wasnt anything they could do unless it has a craftsman badge on it. I didn't want to challenge him too much on it. I might try my luck with another store or possibly see if there is a manager that can help.

Get the manager, and trade up for some of the Craftsman rebadged Knipex. Just remember, you get more flies with honey than vinegar.... I am sure this post will degrade into the usual chest thumping Sears and Sears employee bashing in no time!

 

[Boilerhouse]

I too have robo grips and I don't really like them. If they failed I would likely pitch them. That said, if you have the paperwork which indicates they had a lifetime warranty then Sears has to **** it up and replace them - no ifs and/or buts.

 

[Al Borland]

Aew they actually a sears branded product or were they merely purchased there? Does Sears warranty them or the manufacturer?

 

[dakotart1984]

Thats whats odd to me. I remember as a kid seeing the Bob Vila endorsed commercials that pointed to sears. Theres no mention of it anywhere on the packaging that its a sears or craftsman product. If I could prorate them for a set of the rebadged knipexes id do that in a heartbeat. I know that they arent the best pliers but they are still a tool that can be used for things. I understand sears has its short falls but im hoping to make something happen from this.

 

[Hawk]

Robo Grips were sold by a number of stores, so without some sort of proof that they were sold by Sears or you get lucky talking to an older sears tool man you are probably out of luck.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I'm not going to bash Sears, but approaching the manager should get you something. In any event, Sears (and K-Mart) are struggling to survive.

Good luck

 

[ryan20021982]

I went and looked at mine and I have 2 pairs of the small and 1 big, and all of them say craftsman professional on the plastic handle covers but only 1 pair of the little ones has craftsman stamped on them with a part number

 

[ezriderga]

Here's mine. I can't even remember when I bought them but I still use them.

 

[drink]

Sorry if this has been posted before but my searching hasn't turned up any results. I have a pair of robo grips that have a bad mechanism. I do have much better options in my boxes but in the art of handing down tools to my son I was trying to get them replaced so that he may one day get some use out of them. I went to Sears with the expectation that someone there would know something about them or even do a replacement on them but to my avail that turned out to be a dead end. I picked up the packaging and it did say lifetime warranty on it. Now before I pitch them is there anyone that knows who and what I might try to get a replacement? It seems odd sears still sells them and they couldn't help one bit..

Did you buy them at Sears? Can you upload some pictures of the broken pair? Did Sears have a new pair of matching pliers in stock? Why not call them and ask what you have to do to get warranty service? If they are a genuine product with a lifetime warranty they should be covered provided there are no exclusions to the warranty. I'm not sure if Sears sells Robo-Grip pliers anymore. When they discontinue a tool they might ask to bring a receipt to get a refund or they might exchange them for something equivalent. Ask the manager.

 

[dodge610]

I have 2 sets of those they still look like new and still work like new. Have all the rubber end caps for them both sets are marked craftsman on the handle. The guy at sears told me it is a obsolete item now but they would refund purchase price if mine ever broke.

 

[TK-421]

My dad had a set of those when I was a kid, and I'm pretty danged sure they said "Craftsman" on them, and I saw them all the time when we went to Sears, back when Sears was booming and it wasn't a ghost town.

I'd try to talk to a manager, don't be demanding, be polite, and try to be civil. Like a poster said above about honey and vinegar. Maybe try something like "I'm trying to support you guys instead of your competition, and I'd like to continue to do so, but I can't if my tools are broken, so do you think you could help me out and help me exchange this with another Craftsman tool so I can show my kids just how great of a company you are and get them excited about Craftsman too?"

 

[SignalZero]

My dad had a set of those when I was a kid, and I'm pretty danged sure they said "Craftsman" on them, and I saw them all the time when we went to Sears, back when Sears was booming and it wasn't a ghost town.

Same. My dad still has his and sometimes I still use them when helping him. They definitely say Craftsman on the grips.
Every now and then my mom would buy my dad the gimmicky Craftsman stuff at Christmas. The robogrips are the only ones I ever thought were worth a damn. I'd have probably a pair if they still sold them.

 

[ryan20021982]

Don't know if this will help but here are some Craftsman part numbers and the location of them

First 2 are identical but have different part numbers in different locations, these are the small ones

Here is the large pair

 

[sberry]

They cost about the same as a fast food meal, is it really worth it? It wouldn't even occur to me wo mess with warranty on some of the stuff people fuss with just because they think they are going to get a pinch for free. It was junk to start with.

 

[pauls_workshop]

You can easily still buy NOS or gently used robo grips off ebay if you really want a set. These actually aren't terrible and some like them for certain things, but not things that need heavy gripping power, more finesse holding of things. They were both Craftsman and non-craftsman versions out there for a time. - Paul

 

[LB-1911]

I'd have probably a pair if they still sold them.

Still around.

http://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/catalogsearch/result/?q=robo+grip+pliers

 

[wesst]

With the rubber cap on, they work awesome for plumbing fixtures because they don't damage the finish

 

[bdelmar2]

I keep an old pair next to my grinder/wire wheel, they work decent for holding smaller stuff for a little grinding or cleaning. Never found anything else they are good for.

 

[Keyrick]

I like my two pairs. The jaws are parallel like a pliers wrench, and they self-adjust, although they are not as robust as the Knipex. As long as you don't try to use them with too much pressure, they are pretty good for some applications.

 

[dodge610]

If I remember correctly they had an angled jaw and a straight jaw. I have both sets of the craftsman robo grip. Didnt run up to the shop to look to be sure going from memory.

 

[Keyrick]

Both of mine are Straight jaw. I have seen the V- jaw and the Arc-jaw as well.

 

[rlitman]

The jaws are parallel like a pliers wrench, and they self-adjust, although they are not as robust as the Knipex.

Huh? Not any Robo Grip I've seen. They pivot like any set of channellocks, though the mechanism simulates something like a dozen grooves in the space where channellocks would only have around 5, so they're a little closer to parallel, but are certainly not parallel.

Now if you're talking about the Kobalt Magnum grip pliers, then yes, those are parallel action. But are not smooth jaw, and have nowhere near the mechanical clamping advantage of the Knipex.

 

[dodge610]

Both my sets have the rubber caps that came with them to go over the jaws. Great little things when working with soft metal you do not want to mar up.

 

[Keyrick]

Huh? Not any Robo Grip I've seen. They pivot like any set of channellocks, though the mechanism simulates something like a dozen grooves in the space where channellocks would only have around 5, so they're a little closer to parallel, but are certainly not parallel.

Now if you're talking about the Kobalt Magnum grip pliers, then yes, those are parallel action. But are not smooth jaw, and have nowhere near the mechanical clamping advantage of the Knipex.

OK, they are not exactly parallel, but when you close them they adjust to an almost parallel grip. Channellocks do not. You probably are not going to bust any rusted nuts with them, but if you just need to hold a nut that requires a little pressure, they work just as well as the Plierswrench.

 

[nine4gmc]

I got a store credit for mine, the warranty covers customer satisfaction and if the tools does not satisfy you, swap it in on one that does.

 

[Gmonkee]

Some tasks, light duty, soft metal....

Not for hard gripping means useless in my work. Yes, I owned some years ago and they were cool if way too limited in the most important functions of any pliers.

 

[Bdgjr215]

I was just in sears looking around and i remember seeing robogrips there still.they no longer say craftsman on them but they are pretty close to identical if I recall.They were in the isle with the other non-craftsman badged tools like channelocks and knipex etc.I will
Be passing there tommorrow and will stop and check again.

 

[methomas70]

Get the manager, and trade up for some of the Craftsman rebadged Knipex. Just remember, you get more flies with honey than vinegar.... I am sure this post will degrade into the usual chest thumping Sears and Sears employee bashing in no time!

Agreed.

I've heard of more than one person warranty-exchanging the Robo-**** for the rebadged Craftsman-Knipex.

And I'm another vote for being nice and talking to a manager.
The mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging, iPhone-texting kid will be of no help, unless you need a doorstop.

 

[Bdgjr215]

I was just in sears looking around and i remember seeing robogrips there still.they no longer say craftsman on them but they are pretty close to identical if I recall.They were in the isle with the other non-craftsman badged tools like channelocks and knipex etc.I will
Be passing there tommorrow and will stop and check again.

Here you go

 

[Bdgjr215]

Warranty on back