Something I noticed at sears today.

[kiatech]

Ive seen videos of people using torque wrenches as breaker bars because of the name they think it gives them more torque.:what:

 

[Coach James]

I lived in Panama until I was 12 when the old man headed north to open a drywall outfit with his older brother.He dragged me along screaming and crying. I hated the fact that all those cookie cutter joints were so impersonal. It was like a bunch of slaves punching a card in a time clock for a check, delivered by some company, without knowing who they actually worked FOR. I still feel the same way. The drones with name tags and uniforms will eventually be replaced with robots that don't need to eat or **** and never get tired or sick.

Now I won't set foot in a store (or especially a restaurant-food related business) that doesn't have at least a member of the family working there.
I guess that's why I got the Hell out and came home 9 years ago.

Styx wrote a song called "The Grand Illusion". It should have been called "Gran Delusion".

Not being a wiseguy, but are you replying to this thread?

Coach

 

[MagnumForce]

It's a thread about Sears, the bashers, haters and everyone else comes out of the woodwork even when it has nothing to do with anything.

 

[toolslut6.0]

I'll be completely honest with every craftsman lover here. I work professionaly as a heavy diesel mechanic and I have mostly mac and snap on stuff due to the large discounts offered through my school. Anyway I decided that I'd buy the 300 and some piece mechanics tool set on sale for like 200 bucks last Christmas for beater tools. I figured that it's made I. The USA so it should hold up decent. I was wrong. Withing a few months after purchase I had about half of the 3/8s sockets were worn out and loose fitting. I don't even use them on my impact! Cman won't warranty them because "they seem fine" except for the fact that they round off bolts. So I just gave up and threw them in my junk drawer on my shop at home.

And yes I do use the correct size socket.


Anyone else ever have issues with the sockets?

 

[Pumpman1968]

Anyone else ever have issues with the sockets?

Their 12 point sockets do wear out pretty fast.........but, for about 75 cents a socket, NEW, they are fine by me. I just bought 2 big zip lock bags full of VERY lightly used Craftsman sockets for $9.00....with 7 or 8 3/8" drive 10mm....just toss 'em and refill the hole in the box.

 

[MagnumForce]

I'll be completely honest with every craftsman lover here. I work professionaly as a heavy diesel mechanic and I have mostly mac and snap on stuff due to the large discounts offered through my school. Anyway I decided that I'd buy the 300 and some piece mechanics tool set on sale for like 200 bucks last Christmas for beater tools. I figured that it's made I. The USA so it should hold up decent. I was wrong. Withing a few months after purchase I had about half of the 3/8s sockets were worn out and loose fitting. I don't even use them on my impact! Cman won't warranty them because "they seem fine" except for the fact that they round off bolts. So I just gave up and threw them in my junk drawer on my shop at home.

And yes I do use the correct size socket.


Anyone else ever have issues with the sockets?

I use them professionally daily in an industrial environment and they are totally fine.

 

[Pumpman1968]

I use them professionally daily in an industrial environment and they are totally fine.

I use them in an industrial environment as well.....but, most of what I deal with is pretty wet and involves some fairly aggressive water.

 

[MagnumForce]

Guess that is the difference.

 

[chicane]

Sears was the only one who ever marketed the way they did as well so of course you don't see other tool brands with ads like that. Craftsman was the only one that ever had tool ads on TV.

Seriously, mention Sears or Craftsman and every thread becomes a bash fest. I simply do not understand it, go to Lowes, go to Home Depot, find any Husky or Kobalt stuff that is made in the USA other than screwdrivers. Now go to Sears and go holy ****, more than half of this hard line stuff is still made in the USA. Oh they are the devil for continuing to make all this stuff in the US still while outsourcing those evil sockets and ratchets and combination wrenches.

Now we are accusing them of being greedy misleading bastards in advertisements that are 25 years old?

This ^.

 

[Project_shadow]

Sorry to take MN4x4's story out of context, but, just stop for a minute and think about what he said..........







I know we all ***** and bash sometimes......but how great is it to have OTHER people like MN4x4 and ourselves who bought stuff like a vise for our 16th birthday to ***** and bash WITH. This is why I come to GJ!

Just bought a viper toolbox from sears at 19 as an early Christmas for myself
My 16th birthdayI bought the kobalt 300pc tool set and still have it
Love kobalt
I go to sears now since it's closer than lowes and the girlfriend goes shopping while I meander at the tools
Haven't had a craftsman break yet but not happy with the fit on bolts

 

[Hootbro]

.......... Cman won't warranty them because "they seem fine" except for the fact that they round off bolts. So I just gave up and threw them in my junk drawer on my shop at home.

And yes I do use the correct size socket.


Anyone else ever have issues with the sockets?

You need to elevate the warranty process then with either the manager or contact Sears corporate. The hand tools are a "satisfaction" warranty and not a judgement call by the local clerk or department manager. If you are not satisfied, they are to repair or replace.

You are not the first to get push back from the local level and a call up the food chain usually brings it back down for them to swap out your tools as needed.

As to issues with the sockets, you must be pretty hard on them and being a diesel mechanic, I am sure you deal with worn and rusted fasteners alot and that can wear any brand regardless. I have used Craftsman tools and sockets for close to 30 years in an aviation environment with hardly any issue. Then again, fasteners in aviation are not usually corroded or rusted to the point they are in vehicles.

 

[veks]

He should have bought the extended warranty which I think is 3 years after your first year expires.

 

[arms1970]

exactly, i had no problem replacing a broken tool for it actualy breaking, even chrome sockets put on impacts stuff like that. I had a problem with the non legit stuff.

And yes between, the dropping in sales because of moving some production overseas, rampant abuse of the system, and rediculous amount of theft (we usually had about 5 sets of knipex pliers stolen to every 1 sold) had over 30K in theft the last year in a small hardware store, there was a huge chunk of our bottom line taken out. Obviously sears has other issues going on with the way the stores are actually run but these were some major issues. It seems like every year people got worse and worse, for you this was the first time seeing something like this but this was pretty much all i dealt with day to day. Honestly its part cman/sears/upper managements fault but is also the customers taking advantage. It seemed like as the years went on and on there were more and more peole trying to take advantage and less and less good customers.

When i first started working there none of these were issues, and my store always made a good profit.

And the store i was in closed up, i wasnt let go. I had about 35 employees that lost their jobs. Sad to see it happen but i saw it coming for a while

You're right, I remember guys using a heat wrench on a wrench to make it custom. Then bring it back to sears and expect a new one out of warranty. It was absurd.

 

[Dust Devil]

Warranty abuse costs everyone in the end.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Dear Sears: what you need:

35 page warranty claim form that customers have to download. Lifetime Warranty should require a certified copy of a birth certificate... The tools don't have a lifetime,, they were not born and do not have a mommy.. why would you want to talk like they had a mommy??

$15 processing and handling fee

also, please send me a new USA made rope for the lynch mob to use if they catch up with me,,, I don't like dirty old ropes that stink and tend to break.

 

[Coach James]

I use them in an industrial environment as well.....but, most of what I deal with is pretty wet and involves some fairly aggressive water.

Maybe if you gave that water a good beatdown, it would learn some respect and quit being so aggressive.

Coach

 

[Mohawk Dave]

^lol

 

[3baygarage]

It's nice to hear stories from guys that worked at Sears just to know what it's like in the shoes of a sales associate.

As far as tape measures, I remember at first they switched to red ones made in I believe the Dominican Republic. I have no clue what they are now. Sadly, there was a time a couple years ago when they sold no Craftsman tape measure but I didn't know that. I went in to warranty one of mine for something mechanical or case related, not some "the tape is dirty so I want a new one" garbage.
Anyways, the counter guy did something at the register, then handed me some cash. I said what is this? He told me they didn't sell Craftsman tape measures anymore. So I said why in the world would you give a refund though? He told me it was cheaper for Sears to do that than to produce new tape measures. I just left shaking my head.

MN4X4, I don't think I ever knew the vises were lifetime, so interesting to hear that. I believe I recall the C-clamp packages saying they were lifetime but then suddenly that wasn't printed on there anymore.

 

[MagnumForce]

I guess I don't understand why you walked out shaking your head.

 

[3baygarage]

They didn't have a replacement so just handed me cash (probably way more than what I originally paid because it was most current price), and sent me on my way. Guess I was supposed to go over to Home Depot and buy one with that then.

 

[Super Sport]

It's nice to hear stories from guys that worked at Sears just to know what it's like in the shoes of a sales associate.

As far as tape measures, I remember at first they switched to red ones made in I believe the Dominican Republic. I have no clue what they are now. Sadly, there was a time a couple years ago when they sold no Craftsman tape measure but I didn't know that. I went in to warranty one of mine for something mechanical or case related, not some "the tape is dirty so I want a new one" garbage.
Anyways, the counter guy did something at the register, then handed me some cash. I said what is this? He told me they didn't sell Craftsman tape measures anymore. So I said why in the world would you give a refund though? He told me it was cheaper for Sears to do that than to produce new tape measures. I just left shaking my head.

MN4X4, I don't think I ever knew the vises were lifetime, so interesting to hear that. I believe I recall the C-clamp packages saying they were lifetime but then suddenly that wasn't printed on there anymore.

They still do not make Craftsman tape measures. It's cheaper for them to give you your money back, than to have to constantly replace tape measures for years into the future.

Also, vises do not have a lifetime warranty, but I believe all of the clamps do.

 

[DenisG]

Craftsman warranty information:
http://www.craftsman.com/cswarranty/nb-100000000227082

Corded power tools covered under Section 13:
CRAFTSMAN LIMITED WARRANTY
FOR ONE YEAR from the date of sale, this product is warranted against any defects in material or workmanship.
WITH PROOF OF SALE, a defective product will be replaced free of charge.
This warranty does not cover expendable parts that can wear out from normal use within the warranty period. *
This ONE YEAR warranty is void if this product is ever used while providing commercial services or if rented to another person. For 90 DAY commercial and rental use terms, see the Craftsman warranty web page.

WARRANTY SERVICE
To obtain warranty coverage, return a defective product with proof of sale to the retailer from which it was purchased for free replacement.

*This warranty does not cover expendable parts (if supplied) that can wear out from normal use within the warranty period, including but not limited to bits, bulbs, replacement blades, alkaline batteries, filters, belts, sandpaper, pads, bonnets, abrasion discs, grinding wheels, contact tips, nozzles, inflation needles, trimmer line and spark plugs.

 

[monomach]

If people really want to be scumbags and ruin another tape measure warranty by abusing it, they can go buy Kobalts. Those are still covered under their "lifetime, no-hassle" warranty. The entire thing is covered, even the tape.

It's the last brand still doing that, as far as I can tell.

Or a clamp? How is a clamp not a hand tool? I was making a pile of the Chinese **** I'm taking back and noticed that the quick clamp I have only has a one year warranty

It's a clamping/holding tool. If anything, it'd be in a class with vises.

 

[chicane]

They still do not make Craftsman tape measures. It's cheaper for them to give you your money back, than to have to constantly replace tape measures for years into the future.

Yeah, but then they just take that money and buy a new tape measure and start the process all over again.

 

[chicane]

I'll be completely honest with every craftsman lover here. I work professionaly as a heavy diesel mechanic and I have mostly mac and snap on stuff due to the large discounts offered through my school. Anyway I decided that I'd buy the 300 and some piece mechanics tool set on sale for like 200 bucks last Christmas for beater tools. I figured that it's made I. The USA so it should hold up decent. I was wrong. Withing a few months after purchase I had about half of the 3/8s sockets were worn out and loose fitting. I don't even use them on my impact! Cman won't warranty them because "they seem fine" except for the fact that they round off bolts. So I just gave up and threw them in my junk drawer on my shop at home.

And yes I do use the correct size socket.


Anyone else ever have issues with the sockets?

Nope mine work fine and I beat the hell out of them. You must be a Snap-On salesman.

 

[chicane]

It's a thread about Sears, the bashers, haters and everyone else comes out of the woodwork even when it has nothing to do with anything.

This ^^^.

 

[G60ING]

I went to Sears to replace my tape measure, I used to work there from 1999-2001 and repeatedly replaced them for all the framers. Well I found out they no longer make them. The store offered to trade me for a Stanley which didn't have the bottom lock like my Craftsman. I bought a cheaper Stanley for $5 and replaced the worn tape on mine.

 

[Leaky88]

Sears always made good on any defective/unabused tool I returned to them...and that number is low. A lot has to do with the owner,his/her respect for the tool, and more importantly using the right tool for the job. I worked in a muffler shop in 69-70 and worked with guy who routinely took 1/2 drive ratchets back for exchange. He used them to beat off clamp after they were heated with oxy/ace torch. Leaky

 

[carterbeauford]

I've witnessed the same exact thing, was he an older gentleman? and by older gentleman, I mean old *******?

"I SPENT $10,000 ON CRAFTSMAN TOOLS IN 1985! I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CRAFTSMAN TOOL AGAIN!" I'm sure the 16 year old kid behind the counter cares.

there is really no reason to go into a Sears, last Sears I was in was nothing but said old men browsing the $9.99 and under Craftsman cardboard trinket displays, it looked like a flea market. one must question the tool credibility of someone who buys one of these $9.99 tools and then throws a fit because it broke.

 

[ryanedoyle]

I have seen people doing the exact same thing at Sears. I too have been guilty of assuming all Craftsman tools have a lifetime warranty. I have taken some things back in before but once they explained it to me I was fine. It doesn't mean I wont buy another craftsman tool though.

Craftsman tools have always worked just fine for me as they did for my father and his father before him. Sure I have broken a few things but I have broken other brands as well. It only saddens me that the Craftsman brand is not quite what it use to be. I find myself almost depresses searching the sears tool department and finding it to be unorganized and very limited in tools.

 

[Palmer812]

It's nice to hear stories from guys that worked at Sears just to know what it's like in the shoes of a sales associate.

As far as tape measures, I remember at first they switched to red ones made in I believe the Dominican Republic. I have no clue what they are now. Sadly, there was a time a couple years ago when they sold no Craftsman tape measure but I didn't know that. I went in to warranty one of mine for something mechanical or case related, not some "the tape is dirty so I want a new one" garbage.
Anyways, the counter guy did something at the register, then handed me some cash. I said what is this? He told me they didn't sell Craftsman tape measures anymore. So I said why in the world would you give a refund though? He told me it was cheaper for Sears to do that than to produce new tape measures. I just left shaking my head.

MN4X4, I don't think I ever knew the vises were lifetime, so interesting to hear that. I believe I recall the C-clamp packages saying they were lifetime but then suddenly that wasn't printed on there anymore.

I had a broke one about a year ago and they replaced it with a Stanley.

 

[redmed]

That lifetime warranty was a factor in Sears becoming the a major national chain. I have bought many tools, shovels, rakes etc there because of that lifetime warranty. Many times I paid more than twice the price of a tool just because I knew that it was a "one time purchase". I had found tools in other stores that were a better quality and at a lower price but bought a Craftsman because I trusted that promise.

In the last few years I have brought in 15-20 year old tools that have worn to discover that they no longer make that tool in the Craftsman line but do have the tool in a different brand. Shame on me for trusting that promise. I spend my tool money in other places because of that broken promise. I suspect many others are doing the same. In fact I see them in other stores. The last time I walked into a Sears I found the store almost empty of customers. I wonder why?

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[redmed]

When they don't have the tool available for replacement anymore, they give you your money back (in the form of a gift card). You got the tool for free the whole time. You're really complaining about this? Don't we all have bigger problems?
.

I never have been offered a gift card. Just a clerk that shrugs their shoulder and tells me they don't make that anymore. Maybe I need to make bigger fuss. I will now that I know.

I agree about running the business into the ground, from what I have heard he bought Sears & Kmart not for the business but because of the value of the real estate the stores are on.

 

[stikman56]

Since some people are so stupid, maybe they should call them "manually operated tools".

 

[thebeekeeper1]

Yea...it says HAND tools, but to the average Joe that means a tool you use in your hand, like a saw or drill....

I bought a Craftsman hand stapler that didn't work shortly after I bought it. It wouldn't recock itself without manually pulling the lever back to position. It still was functional, albeit a pain to use. After several years I finally managed to grab it BEFORE I went to Sears for something else.

I was informed it only had a one year warranty. I didn't raise a fuss (much), but I still think a stapler is a "hand tool."

 

[Big Bad Dad]

If people really want to be scumbags and ruin another tape measure warranty by abusing it, they can go buy Kobalts. Those are still covered under their "lifetime, no-hassle" warranty. The entire thing is covered, even the tape.

It's the last brand still doing that, as far as I can tell.

You had any experience with Lowe's and Kobalt? I bought a 3 pc set of their "vice grips" or locking pliers. I managed to round off the teeth on one trying to remove a rusted bolt with a rounded head. They are happy to replace it if I bring in my reciept from a couple of years ago along with the other two locking pliers so they can replace the entire set. They didn't have the individual one in stock....

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I bought a Craftsman hand stapler that didn't work shortly after I bought it. It wouldn't recock itself without manually pulling the lever back to position. It still was functional, albeit a pain to use. After several years I finally managed to grab it BEFORE I went to Sears for something else.

I was informed it only had a one year warranty. I didn't raise a fuss (much), but I still think a stapler is a "hand tool."

Yea, I agree. What kind of company is incapable of making a stapler that can't last anyways. I mean, what do they have? 5 moving parts? And they drive staple, not 50BMG with a ton of pressure!

You would barely have to build it overkill to last forever. That being said, get an Arrow T50 from the next yard sale you're at.

 

[Big Bad Dad]

I have been a fan of Craftsman tools ever since I was kid, and a lot of my tools are Craftsman that I got from my Dad, who has been using them since the late 40's. I really like the oldeer stuff better, but the stuff I have bought in recent years still seems to be decent quality. The packaging and marketing is kind of weird. I lost a 7/16 combination wrench a few weeks ago, and went to Sears to buy a replacement. The single wrench was nearly 5 bucks, but they had a 9 or 10 piece set boxed and selling for about 10 bucks. Guess which way I went? And the best part was, I found the original missing wrench yesterday in my trailer box!
The thing I have always disliked about Sears is the replacement parts thing. It always seems like they deliberatly have their stuff (Appliances, Mowers, Water Softeners, etc.) designed so the replacement parts are different from everybody elses, and you HAVE to buy parts through them. And then they **** you on the pricing...

 

[bobbycos]

i've seen this thing before at my local Sears and at my local HF