So I had a $12 sink drain cleaner that wouldn't roll up anymore, the plastic housing was starting to bulge and not line up anymore so the plastic mechanism and steel rod was binding somewhere. I was going to replace it eventually with a different one but I thought to myself, let me test out that Husky lifetime warranty. So I go to my local home depot with my old one in a bag and find the new equivalent. I see they changed the housing so I thought, wow, maybe this new one is improved. After waiting on line at customer service (after setting off the anti theft alarm lol) I bring everything to the counter and ask for a warranty exchange. Mind you they advertise no receipt no questions asked and whatnot. The guy asks for a receipt and when I say its 5 years old he says I should contact Husky. I have to inform him that Husky is the Home Depot brand he sends me off to the next counter with someone who has more experience. He asks the same question, where is my receipt, why dont I contact Husky, why am I bringing back used equipment, what credit card did I use, why does the new sink drain cleaner have a different part number then the old sink drain cleaner. I had to argue for a good five minutes telling him that Husky is the home depot house brand and it says lifetime guarantee and says any issues to bring it back. Just because home depot changes the part number means they dont have to honor warrantys anymore? After huffing and puffing he eventually let me exchange it but it was a very negative experience. I went from thinking I would buy many more Husky tools to thinking I may not buy any more at all. Are all Home Depots like this? Should I just buy tools from Amazon/China from now on so I don't have to worry about warranty? For reference my warranty experience at Harbor Freight was excellent and at Sears back in the day it was ok.
Tested Husky Warranty Today . . .
- Thread starter kage860
- Start date
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
I think there are a lot of positive experiences and a lot of negative experiences.
It's all depends.
It's all depends.
fourjeepin
Well-known member
If you are a regular and get to know someone that works returns, things will be a lot easier. Or start by getting it approved by management first. Pay attention to their aprons as the mgr and assistants have this designation under their name.
I never tried to warrant anything to Home Depot, I just avoid there tools tbh. Same for Lowes because honestly I’ve seen this movie before. I made a comment on a recent thread about sockets and I said I wouldn’t buy husky because the warranty would be a nightmare compared to HF or Tekton.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Where is this advertised?
finn
Well-known member
Who brings five year old sewer snakes back for warranty?
Life’s too short to stress out haggling with a store clerk over such a trivial matter.
Life’s too short to stress out haggling with a store clerk over such a trivial matter.
nadogail
Well-known member
The good part is that the Drain Cleaner was replaced under warranty.
All's well that ends well.
All's well that ends well.
Seems like a training issue.
example product.
good on you to make them stand by it
example product.
Husky 1/4 in. x 15 ft. Hand Drain Snake Drum Auger 410-186-0111 - The Home Depot
Get your professional cleaning job done with comfort and ease by choosing this Husky Drum Auger.
www.homedepot.com
- Lifetime Warranty with no questions, no receipt required
good on you to make them stand by it
wolfinator
Well-known member
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- Messages
- 87
I've had a negative experience. I brought a (brand new but defective) ratchet back. It was from a kit, but identical to their open stock ratchets. I got into such a tiff with the idiots behind the counter - who insisted I needed to bring back the entire kit and a receipt, and refused to exchange just the ratchet - that I ended up leaving.
I later exchanged the ratchet at a different store, where the nice young lady behind the counter had a better grasp of the implied Husky warranty experience. She just waved me to the tool aisle and told me to go pick a replacement.
So I would say that my experience has been extremely uneven - with new hand tools that I wouldn't expect to be a problem. It's definitely soured me a little bit. I don't believe in abusing warranties, but if you CLAIM you have a "lifetime warranty" with an ad that says "...bring it to any Home Depot and get a new one...no questions asked." - I expect to NOT be hassled when exchanging a defective tool I recently purchased.
I later exchanged the ratchet at a different store, where the nice young lady behind the counter had a better grasp of the implied Husky warranty experience. She just waved me to the tool aisle and told me to go pick a replacement.
So I would say that my experience has been extremely uneven - with new hand tools that I wouldn't expect to be a problem. It's definitely soured me a little bit. I don't believe in abusing warranties, but if you CLAIM you have a "lifetime warranty" with an ad that says "...bring it to any Home Depot and get a new one...no questions asked." - I expect to NOT be hassled when exchanging a defective tool I recently purchased.
The only lifetime warranties that are actual lifetime warranties are those that are built into the culture and business model of the brands/retailers that advertise them. Snap On, Harbor Freight, a few others.
Home Depot and Lowes are not interested in honoring lifetime warranties, and their entire corporate culture revolves around loss prevention/shrink reduction. To give away free product in the form of a warranty claim is the complete antithesis to their entire corporate ethos. The advertised lifetime warranties are more for consumer confidence when making a purchase right there in the store to help secure a sale. Yes, the warranty exists and can be used, but the hoops you have to jump through and the loopholes in small print are there to make purchasing a new product far faster and easier.
The issue is compounded further by crappy wages, crappy hours, crappy customers, crappy coworkers, crappy training, crappy management, and overall crappy corporate culture at these chain retailers.
It’s easier and faster to buy a new $10 screwdriver there in the store than to get into a warranty argument with all three of the warm bodies occupying the other side of the customer service desk, each of whom are sending you to another, who each tell you something different for 20 minutes before one decides to get it over with and push one button on the computer screen approving the claim and sends you home with a new ****** Husky branded soft mystery metal Chinese screwdriver with a Lifetime Warranty.
Do not buy a product for its stated warranty. Buy the brand behind it. A warranty is only as good as those who honor it without making it a miserable experience for the consumer, punishing them for actually having the audacity to use a warranty that was sold to them as part of the product.
Home Depot and Lowes are not interested in honoring lifetime warranties, and their entire corporate culture revolves around loss prevention/shrink reduction. To give away free product in the form of a warranty claim is the complete antithesis to their entire corporate ethos. The advertised lifetime warranties are more for consumer confidence when making a purchase right there in the store to help secure a sale. Yes, the warranty exists and can be used, but the hoops you have to jump through and the loopholes in small print are there to make purchasing a new product far faster and easier.
The issue is compounded further by crappy wages, crappy hours, crappy customers, crappy coworkers, crappy training, crappy management, and overall crappy corporate culture at these chain retailers.
It’s easier and faster to buy a new $10 screwdriver there in the store than to get into a warranty argument with all three of the warm bodies occupying the other side of the customer service desk, each of whom are sending you to another, who each tell you something different for 20 minutes before one decides to get it over with and push one button on the computer screen approving the claim and sends you home with a new ****** Husky branded soft mystery metal Chinese screwdriver with a Lifetime Warranty.
Do not buy a product for its stated warranty. Buy the brand behind it. A warranty is only as good as those who honor it without making it a miserable experience for the consumer, punishing them for actually having the audacity to use a warranty that was sold to them as part of the product.
Last edited:
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Nope... Had no idea Home Depot was starting to sell that stuff.
3baygarage
Well-known member
Just wait for the return self check in. That ought to be fun!
Publix. Three workers danced around me as I decided to place the shrimp in the bag under the Doritos rather than next to the Mothers Day flowers. Good decision. Fun times we live in.
Then I had to plead my case with the woman at a hot dog joint who gave me a half filled tiny cup of sauce I paid for to go with some over priced large fries. She tells me "We don't do half cups, they're all measured." Ok, what about the one you placed on my tray? Luckily the owner was standing by and paying attention, and explained to her that I was saying the sauce was low, just give him another one!
Good grief.
Publix. Three workers danced around me as I decided to place the shrimp in the bag under the Doritos rather than next to the Mothers Day flowers. Good decision. Fun times we live in.
Then I had to plead my case with the woman at a hot dog joint who gave me a half filled tiny cup of sauce I paid for to go with some over priced large fries. She tells me "We don't do half cups, they're all measured." Ok, what about the one you placed on my tray? Luckily the owner was standing by and paying attention, and explained to her that I was saying the sauce was low, just give him another one!
Good grief.
3baygarage
Well-known member
Btw it was ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, dill spears. 
In case anyone is interested here is what the warranty is advertised as with video:
Says you can warranty your grandfather's old tools, your neighbors tools with no receipt in store, etc.
Here's the list of what tools qualify:
Here' the item I was trying to exchange:
Husky Warranty - The Home Depot
Husky tools from The Home Depot are protected by the Husky Warranty. Get additional information about the Husky Warranty on Husky tools and equipment.
www.homedepot.com
Here's the list of what tools qualify:
Here' the item I was trying to exchange:
Husky 1/4 in. x 20 ft. Encased Sink Cleaner 82-978-0111 - The Home Depot
Get your professional cleaning job done with comfort and ease by choosing this Husky Encased Sink Cleaner.
www.homedepot.com
finn
Well-known member
Well said.
I don’t want my **** (literally) returned to the store. Any store.
Another case of warranty obsession here on GJ.
rust in the eye
Well-known member
OP bought an item the seller promised would be warranteed for life, no questions asked. Agreed, it may be a bit of trouble explaining this to untrained staff.
The lifetime warranty has value the customer pays for. I'm with the OP in holding their feet to the fire.
What I find more remarkable is that while the OP is fighting to get what he paid for some ******* is pushing a shopping cart full of power tools out the door without paying and the same staff just watches.
The lifetime warranty has value the customer pays for. I'm with the OP in holding their feet to the fire.
What I find more remarkable is that while the OP is fighting to get what he paid for some ******* is pushing a shopping cart full of power tools out the door without paying and the same staff just watches.
Yes, listening to a customer complaining about warranty on a $12 item, carries the same level of personal safety risk, as confronting thieves who may be meth head or gang bangers.
rust in the eye
Well-known member
Well said.
I'm still with the OP. If you promise me something I expect you to deliver.
While it's still somewhat subject to how well a particular employee is trained, one of the reasons I'm fairly loyal to HF is they seem to have much better control of their warranty. Part of that is simplicity - there are (I think) only three groups:
- 90 day walk-in/walk-out
- Extended warranty customers walk-in/walk-out
- Lifetime warranty customers walk-in/walk-out
No receipt is supposed to be required for the lifetime stuff, nor are you required to bring the whole set if the <whatever> came in one.
They're definitely not perfect, but I hear vastly more good stories than bad on this experience. HD/Lowe's/etc. don't "own" all of their brands, so there's a sliver of me that understands it's a complex issue to train and manage to, but it doesn't mean I'll lower my expectations. Mainly it means I don't buy tools from box stores.
I've recently had to warranty two tools: My Matco88 locking flex ratchet for the handle locking mechanism and an 18mm Sunex impact socket which was marred so badly at the square end that I couldn't mount it (which is really odd since I rarely use 18mm and it's always mounted to an impact, so I really don't get how that much metal was moved inside the 1/2" opening to make it unusable. But I digress...).
In both cases the warranty process was zero-hassle and I got both items so fast I actually felt guilty for the expensive shipping.
It's the reason nearly all my hand tools are HF, Tekton and truck tool brands - SO and the Matco ratchet. Even with the most-recent items, I could probably count on one hand the number of tools I've had to warranty, but that kind of customer-focused execution helps clarify who I want to spend my money with.
- 90 day walk-in/walk-out
- Extended warranty customers walk-in/walk-out
- Lifetime warranty customers walk-in/walk-out
No receipt is supposed to be required for the lifetime stuff, nor are you required to bring the whole set if the <whatever> came in one.
They're definitely not perfect, but I hear vastly more good stories than bad on this experience. HD/Lowe's/etc. don't "own" all of their brands, so there's a sliver of me that understands it's a complex issue to train and manage to, but it doesn't mean I'll lower my expectations. Mainly it means I don't buy tools from box stores.
I've recently had to warranty two tools: My Matco88 locking flex ratchet for the handle locking mechanism and an 18mm Sunex impact socket which was marred so badly at the square end that I couldn't mount it (which is really odd since I rarely use 18mm and it's always mounted to an impact, so I really don't get how that much metal was moved inside the 1/2" opening to make it unusable. But I digress...).
In both cases the warranty process was zero-hassle and I got both items so fast I actually felt guilty for the expensive shipping.
It's the reason nearly all my hand tools are HF, Tekton and truck tool brands - SO and the Matco ratchet. Even with the most-recent items, I could probably count on one hand the number of tools I've had to warranty, but that kind of customer-focused execution helps clarify who I want to spend my money with.
Why in the world are you familiar with that process???
kbuhagiar
Well-known member
^^^This right here^^^
neophyte
Well-known member
I gave a Ridgid drain snake “that died”.
It wasn’t actually the Snake, I think it was the turn knob, but the knob is apparently not available as a replacement part.
It is one of the Power Spin models that Home Depot has sold for a couple decades or more.
It was significantly more expensive than the Husky or other cheaper options.
I still don’t know whether there is an “actual” warrantee, since the knob wore out from “normal use” even though I’m not a professional plumber, and just use the tool to occasionally clear out home clogs.
The actual spring snake is fine.
neophyte
Well-known member
I knew someone who worked at a “*** shop”.While it's still somewhat subject to how well a particular employee is trained, one of the reasons I'm fairly loyal to HF is they seem to have much better control of their warranty. Part of that is simplicity - there are (I think) only three groups:
- 90 day walk-in/walk-out
- Extended warranty customers walk-in/walk-out
- Lifetime warranty customers walk-in/walk-out
No receipt is supposed to be required for the lifetime stuff, nor are you required to bring the whole set if the <whatever> came in one.
They're definitely not perfect, but I hear vastly more good stories than bad on this experience. HD/Lowe's/etc. don't "own" all of their brands, so there's a sliver of me that understands it's a complex issue to train and manage to, but it doesn't mean I'll lower my expectations. Mainly it means I don't buy tools from box stores.
I've recently had to warranty two tools: My Matco88 locking flex ratchet for the handle locking mechanism and an 18mm Sunex impact socket which was marred so badly at the square end that I couldn't mount it (which is really odd since I rarely use 18mm and it's always mounted to an impact, so I really don't get how that much metal was moved inside the 1/2" opening to make it unusable. But I digress...).
In both cases the warranty process was zero-hassle and I got both items so fast I actually felt guilty for the expensive shipping.
It's the reason nearly all my hand tools are HF, Tekton and truck tool brands - SO and the Matco ratchet. Even with the most-recent items, I could probably count on one hand the number of tools I've had to warranty, but that kind of customer-focused execution helps clarify who I want to spend my money with.
Why in the world are you familiar with that process???
I’m sure some people who work at stores like this must be “interesting”, but it just sounded like for most employees, it was just “”another job” like working the register at any mom & pop store or Walmart.
Employees tended to be disgusted by all returns, and in no way, shape, or form, wanted to handle opened or possibly used returns.
wolfinator
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2021
- Messages
- 87
I think you might be right about HF and their simplified warranty buckets, but Husky is absolutely "owned" by Home Depot. It's their house brand! They completely control it. Same for Kobalt at Lowe's.
It's just a case of cheaping out (on employees and training, mostly). Every excuse being made in this thread is bunk. All of them could have applied to Sears, who originated this whole concept and kept it rolling for decades by training their staff.
wolfinator
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2021
- Messages
- 87
Then Home Depot shouldn't put "lifetime warranty" on the box, and then put out an ad saying that even if it belonged to your grandfather, you could just come in and get a new one, no questions asked.
Nobody held a gun to Home Depot's head and made them construct this set of guarantees. If it was me, I would absolutely never offer a warranty of this form - it invites abuse.
But a bunch of executives who make more money than you will ever dream of sat in a conference room and got mansion sized bonuses off this. And when they decide avoid follow-through by underpaying their employees, a giant fat chorus of defenders come out of the woodwork to attack the poor schlub who's just trying to get what he literally paid for.
I don't get it.
neophyte
Well-known member
I once returned a pair of Facom cutters to Sears because the cutters wouldn’t cleanly cut thru a paperclip.
It’s probably the only pair of Facom cutters I’ve ever had that were bad.
While Sears took the return, they also put the cutters back on the hook for the next customer.
While you can complain that the return difficulties are “lack of employee training”, my experience in retail and customer service reminds me more of Grisham’s “The Rainmaker”, where the corporate policy is to deny claims where possible, since most returns are a pain, and take money from the bottom line.
A lot of stores while claiming otherwise, routinely have an opinion of Apathy towards their customers, other than just getting the customer’s money.
This apathy trickles down to employees in a lot of cases.
kbuhagiar
Well-known member
I do, it's called business by deception, and it's becoming more prevalent with each passing year.
I understand Husky/Kobalt, but there are so many brands in those stores - some 'owned' (like Husky/Kobalt), some semi-owned (like Craftsman or RIGID power tools), and some that are just general brands they carry (Milwaukee, DeWalt, etc.). I'm sure there are dozens of warranty permutations involved there (and I probably haven't described all the buckets, much less how many different variations of warranty that are going on). Given how many different things are going in general at a box store and how many brands are involved, I'm only sorta-surprised consistency is non-existent.
Hassling you for a return is part of the plan. How much training does it take to inform employees at the service desk that Husky tools have a lifetime warranty? There would be zero investment on HD's part to explain that to the person that needs to know it. There's a reason I avoid Home Depot.
I remember when Craftsman was THE Sears brand. if you broke a socket wrench, for example, you walked in there, gave the wrench to the sales associate, he/she went to the aisle and grabbed another one and you were on the way.
Toward the end of Craftsman as a Sears brand (and Sears itself), it started to become "do you have the receipt," or "we don't make that SKU anymore - even though the warranty remained exactly the same, the only change was the corporate attitude.
Toward the end of Craftsman as a Sears brand (and Sears itself), it started to become "do you have the receipt," or "we don't make that SKU anymore - even though the warranty remained exactly the same, the only change was the corporate attitude.
My approach to this sort of thing, where an employee tells me the policy is something other than what it is, is to ask them to get the manager. And I don't move out of the way, so that register isn't going to do anything else. This approach works best when there's a line, because a bunch of disgruntled customers might turn into a bunch of disgruntled ex-customers. They're trying to reduce the cost of returns, so I'm helping them out, by making it more expensive to not train people than it is to train them properly. (Or, more cynically, to actually follow their policy as written, and not lie to their customers, which I'm sure is what is actually happening in many cases.)
If the manager doesn't take care of it, I ask for, and write down, their name, and send a polite note via post to the CEO, saying "Manger X said the policy was Y, but your website (or package, receipt, whatever) says Z. Is this a recent change?" This has always resulted in corrective action.
If the manager doesn't take care of it, I ask for, and write down, their name, and send a polite note via post to the CEO, saying "Manger X said the policy was Y, but your website (or package, receipt, whatever) says Z. Is this a recent change?" This has always resulted in corrective action.
When I am that customer in line, I am never angry at the store, only the guy holding up the line over some nonsense.
Toxictom
Well-known member
There is a raunchy video store in my town that regularly advertises for used *** toys on Craigslist. They must get a few or they'd stop advertising for them is my theory.
Some Husky items have different warranty "fine print", but I don't see any mention of or a blanket policy regarding receipts or proof of purchase.
There is PDF breakdown and other clarification on the HD website.
Regarding Husky tools ownership;
en.m.wikipedia.org
There is PDF breakdown and other clarification on the HD website.
Husky Warranty - The Home Depot
Husky tools from The Home Depot are protected by the Husky Warranty. Get additional information about the Husky Warranty on Husky tools and equipment.
www.homedepot.com
Regarding Husky tools ownership;
Husky (tool brand) - Wikipedia
Just scrub them up, new batteries, repackage and resell as "refurbished" *** toys.Why in the world are you familiar with that process???
Great discount!
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
Last time I purchased the husky tool I noticed that somewhere it said I needed to have the receipt for a warranty replacement. That was quite some years ago, but, even though I have a tendency to save those sorts of things, I don't do it for everything I buy. I used to but I so rarely had to warrant some things unless they were high ticket items I didn't bother.
At that point I could still do Craftsman so I just stopped buying husky and I haven't looked at anything husky ever since. Sounds like maybe they've changed how they do their warranty.
At that point I could still do Craftsman so I just stopped buying husky and I haven't looked at anything husky ever since. Sounds like maybe they've changed how they do their warranty.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
Warranties are nothing more than a sales gimmick. They are strait up lying. They don't care if it's wrong or not, because they only care about profits. The do not care about customers at all. If you get mad and never shop there again, they don't care. There are plenty of others to make up for it and then some.
Tool truck warranties are better, but that's because you already paid for the replacement up front.
Tool truck warranties are better, but that's because you already paid for the replacement up front.
Blame Snap On, Sears etc.
In order to compete, many others felt they had to play "follow the leader" and offer lifetime warranties, even on cheap "brand name" ****.
They probably hoped people would forget, of just not bother, but underestimating the American cheapskate.
In order to compete, many others felt they had to play "follow the leader" and offer lifetime warranties, even on cheap "brand name" ****.
They probably hoped people would forget, of just not bother, but underestimating the American cheapskate.