Vise-Grip customer service

[rjtack]

Hi, I'm almost new to this board. I do have a charred *** from yesterday's debacle but I have thick skin.
Another customer service story for you all. When I was in Sears getting ripped for my socket exchange, I noticed they had a three pack of vise-grips for $25. I bought it and upon reading the back of the package learned that these tools also have a lifetime warranty. I have many of these pliers already, and two have peeling chrome. I called the number, talked with a very personable and helpful CS rep who asked that I send in a few pics of the tools with issues. I did and then received an email telling me my new tools are on the way to my house! Irwin is the company on the label, but it seems that a company named Lenox must now own Irwin. No matter, they stood behind 25 plus year old Petterson Vise-Grips! So I don't feel so bad about getting ripped for a $5 socket . Oh, for some of you out there, debacle means a sudden and ignominious failure.

 

[1950mercury]

It a good thing you got to keep the old ones. Much like your socket the Irwin's are china and the teeth are as soft as aluminum foil

 

[Tellingthem]

Heh...better not open that package when it comes because you wont like it...

 

[gungatim]

Heh...better not open that package when it comes because you wont like it...

(getting fresh popcorn now)

 

[sk farmer]

if you didn't like the socket you will hate the new pliers.

irwin has great service, i won't argue that part and have a contact in the company who has sent me promo items in trade for some damaged vise grips (new ones of course). if and when it ever comes time to thin the herd the new ones will go first. they simply are not as good.

 

[Major Ramifications]

Sell the new ones to someone who doesn't know better.

 

[rjtack]

****, So the guy who posted the Rip Van Winkle crack yesterday hit it on the head! I need to research more about the tool industry. I haven't bought new hand tools since the 80's.

 

[sk farmer]

sorry. a lot has changed in the last 10 years. go back to the 80's and almost everything has changed.

 

[countryroad82]

Pretty much if you want U.S. made stuff anymore you're going to have to pony up and go with SK, Williams, Wright, Cornwell, or Snap On. Mac is owned by Stanley, which most of their stuff is overseas now. So yeah, you might want to dig up some old threads on here because you're not going to be happy with what has happened since the 80s. Not that I'm knocking any of the overseas brands, there's plenty out there that is top notch! I love Gearwrench products. Heck for that matter Harbor Freight has a pretty good following on here and having handled some of their nicer ratchets I wouldn't give it a second thought of adding them to my box. But if you're wanting to stay all U.S.A. it's going to be tough........... and expensive!!!

 

[woody 73]

Sigh I remember in the 80's some guys walking around with bricks in their hands they called them phones...Sorry op you got a lot of catching up to do better start reading a ton of posts on the GJ.

 

[Rosso]

Peeling chrome on 25 year old grips !?

 

[thebeekeeper1]

What's an "ignominious?" Sounds like some kind of lizard. Do they bite?

 

[PRND3L]

I think it's like an ignoramus but smaller.

 

[Zrexxer]

Oh you just can't make this kind of stuff up.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

OK,,,, For a brief update on Vise Grips;; A Good Bunch of Dedicated Workers in Nebraska were left without jobs; as the bean counters decided that selling a Rice Jip would be more profitable...
Far as I am concerned; the bean counters can cook their beams and fart, then use the gas to heat their houses...
I bought a good supply of Nebraska made Vice Grips while the getting was good.

 

[Askme42]

OK,,,, For a brief update on Vise Grips;; A Good Bunch of Dedicated Workers in Nebraska were left without jobs; as the bean counters decided that selling a Rice Jip would be more profitable...
Far as I am concerned; the bean counters can cook their beams and fart, then use the gas to heat their houses...
I bought a good supply of Nebraska made Vice Grips while the getting was good.

The race to the bottom is very real. I found a pair of petersen vise grips today. New in box still on the shelve. The original price marking on them was $1 more than the new Chinese ones right next to them. In 20+ years the price has actually went down. Lmao


Same goes with craftsmen. Looks up prices from the 70's and 80's or even farther back then run it into an inflation calculator.

 

[zakmartin]

Those rusty old vice grips can probably be made nice again.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Those rusty old vice grips can probably be made nice again.

Yes, I sand blast and parkerize them and they turn out pretty good.
Wipe on a little oil for rust protection .
Anyone know what the original finish was ? Nickle ?

 

[Bricago]

What's an "ignominious?" Sounds like some kind of lizard. Do they bite?

I think it's like an ignoramus but smaller.

 

[supertooljunkie]

New Vice Grips ****. I haunt pawn shops frequently. If I find old Peterson Vice Grips that work well, I buy them no matter how good, or bad they look. Bad looking tools that work are much better than pretty ones that do not.

 

[winlinmac]

Thank goodness for Evapo-rust

 

[rjtack]

Resurrecting this post to totally agree that new Vise-Grip pliers are junk. This is literally the first use.