SK Tools Customer Service & Warranty Replacement

[Dzmax77]

I believe I discussed this on another thread but I just wanted to follow up and mention that SK finally responded to my emails asking for a replacement on my LP90 3/8” ratchet (due to over grinding that left the back plate lip sticking out). They were very nice in their reply and immediately sent the replacement out. Within a few days I received a new ratchet in perfect working condition via FedEx.

If you have requested any warranty replacements or are awaiting a purchase to be sent, be patient. With all the changes going on I’m sure the staff at SK need some time to adjust and figure out what this all means for them.

Anyway, Im pleased with the new ratchet. Works great. No issues with the ratchet and the process to request replacement under warranty was extremely easy. I still recommend buying their USA made products.

 

[M635_Guy]

I'm honestly not sure what I'm looking at in the pix, but glad to hear they took care of you.

I had a similar slow-but-fine experience with them. Seems like they live in the era of fax machines a bit, but as I've said elsewhere I think Amazon has us all expecting things instantaneously and I try to avoid applying that bar to everyone.

 

[Ton ton]

Great to hear you got what you needed.

 

[Dzmax77]

I was perhaps too aggressive in my criticism when I first saw these issues. Coupled with the recent news involving SK ownership, it may have also made me sound unjustly biased against SK.

I thought it was only fair that I point out this positive experience and the great tool and quality I got back. The internet makes it easy to vent on negative experiences, but rarely do people take the time and point out positive ones. I want to be fair to those employees who work hard trying to make an honest living and deserve credit where credit is due.

 

[Diffident]

I sent an email to them on July 18th asking for rebuild kits for my 1/2 dr and 1/4 dr palm control ratchets....have only gotten an automated reply so far.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I haven't had good luck emailing them. I have better luck sending a message through their website and calling works best. I think they're extremely short handed right now. Majority of warehouses are like ghost towns at the moment.

 

[Dzmax77]

I haven't had good luck emailing them. I have better luck sending a message through their website and calling works best. I think they're extremely short handed right now. Majority of warehouses are like ghost towns at the moment.

Interesting. Are they short handed due to layoffs or were there unfilled positions?
Prior to the ownership announcement, they had a really extensive steals and deals offering (and regret not buying more); I wonder if their inventory shortages are related to these sales.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I don't think they employed a lot of people before the pandemic. Trying to hire new employees for entry level work right now is almost impossible. I know several companies who can't find help right now and shipping parts/tools is taking much longer.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

They emailed me back in about a week for two torx bit sockets I needed replaced. I was pleased that you no longer have to send the old one in on your dime like you used too. Glad they took care of you. I’m getting ready to place an order soon with some stuff maybe before they leave the USA.

 

[SKrazy82]

They emailed me back in about a week for two torx bit sockets I needed replaced. I was pleased that you no longer have to send the old one in on your dime like you used too. Glad they took care of you. I’m getting ready to place an order soon with some stuff maybe before they leave the USA.

They aren't going anywhere.... Ideal ind. promised me that.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

They aren't going anywhere.... Ideal ind. promised me that.

They were recently bought out and I believe production is moving.

 

[M635_Guy]

They were recently bought out and I believe production is moving.

Inside the US...

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Inside the US...

Oh ok. Everyone here and on my other forum was saying they were moving overseas. I haven’t heard anything about them staying in the US.

 

[M635_Guy]

Oh ok. Everyone here and on my other forum was saying they were moving overseas. I haven’t heard anything about them staying in the US.

I might have missed it, but I don't think they've made any announcement about moving overseas. My understanding is they were moving production from IL to PA. Since the acquisition announcement, lots of people are flinging around assumptions about offshoring that aren't based on any facts.

It wouldn't surprise me if they add things to their catalog that aren't US-made at some point, but I guess we'll see...

 

[AirMech#406]

Oh ok. Everyone here and on my other forum was saying they were moving overseas. I haven’t heard anything about them staying in the US.

Straight from the horses mouth: https://sktools.com/blogs/news/grea...sional-hand-tools-brand-sk-professional-tools

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Straight from the horses mouth: https://sktools.com/blogs/news/grea...sional-hand-tools-brand-sk-professional-tools

Thanks. It’s good to hear they are staying. I’ll have to tell everyone here and on my other forum since we all thought they weren’t.

 

[woodscaper]

This is on Shop-Vacs facebook page, hadn't heard anything about it in the local Williamsport paper. Good for us maybe, although all the Shop-Vacs I see in the local stores say "made in china" on them. Dunno?

 

[908Jim]

Notice the website now says "Made in USA with Global Components" in the About section....

 

[finn]

Notice the website now says "Made in USA with Global Components" in the About section....

Is that a problem?

 

[908Jim]

Is that a problem?

If a factor in your decision to make the purchase is country of origin, then it may very well be. It's an interesting update for SK under this new management, particularly when there's little reason for such simple products to go overseas aside from cost savings.

 

[M635_Guy]

If a factor in your decision to make the purchase is country of origin, then it may very well be. It's an interesting update for SK under this new management, particularly when there's little reason for such simple products to go overseas aside from cost savings.

Except they haven't made any announcements at all about any of their products going overseas...

 

[908Jim]

Except they haven't made any announcements at all about any of their products going overseas...

Do you honestly believe that Great Star management would announce this? They just acquired a company that has spent the last decade under Ideal Industries trumpeting their made in USA commitment, heritage, etc. This change would be a silent one, as any half-competent product management group understands the perception (justified or not) of Chinese/Taiwanese imports being of lower quality to domestic tool users.

 

[lardy1]

Sigh.

 

[M635_Guy]

Do you honestly believe that Great Star management would announce this? They just acquired a company that has spent the last decade under Ideal Industries trumpeting their made in USA commitment, heritage, etc. This change would be a silent one, as any half-competent product management group understands the perception (justified or not) of Chinese/Taiwanese imports being of lower quality to domestic tool users.

You need to get some sun brother - sheesh

 

[Zewnten]

Do you honestly believe that Great Star management would announce this? They just acquired a company that has spent the last decade under Ideal Industries trumpeting their made in USA commitment, heritage, etc. This change would be a silent one, as any half-competent product management group understands the perception (justified or not) of Chinese/Taiwanese imports being of lower quality to domestic tool users.

If the economy has any hiccups or even without, I can see SK going the same route as most of the Apex line when gearwrench bought them and "moved' the factories to another state and then just closed them.

 

[Ton ton]

You need to get some sun brother - sheesh

Well said.

 

[finn]

If the economy has any hiccups or even without, I can see SK going the same route as most of the Apex line when gearwrench bought them and "moved' the factories to another state and then just closed them.

I had a Warranty claim in with Matco at the time of the move. Story I got was that the machines and tooling they bought and moved was supposed to be refurbished as part of restarting production. Once they got into it, the idea, and the tooling was scrapped. “The bride was not as young as she seemed to be”. Basically, it was junk.

I recall that there was a flooded facility on top of that.

That led to the move offshore. Simple economics.

I eventually got my warranty ratchet, but it took maybe eight or ten months, because they had no factory.