Warranty Information on Benchtop?

[Red Green]

I have a broken long handle 3/8 ratchet form Benchtop. Now before you guys say throw it in the trash and buy a good ratchet I already bought a Matco at the local pawn shop. Pics here I just can't bring my self to throw this in the trash can it would be good for the emergency kit in my truck. Is the repair kit still available or if I take it to Kmart will they tell me the lifetime warranty expired when Kmart stopped selling Benchtop tools?

 

[Fedwrench]

I'm thinking the worst thing Kmart would do is say that you're out of luck and Benchtop is extinct. However, Kmart may say that since we don't have benchtop anymore, take this Craftsman ratchet instead. Either way, you've got nothing to lose from trying except time and gas.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

When did Kmart STOP selling Benchtop tools? I've seen them recently and to my knowledge they still have a warranty. I contacted them via email when they first merged, and they told me they still had the warranty.

 

[ImportTuner]

Since I have never bought any tools at Kmart, what does a Benchtop ratchet look like?

 

[G-force]

Sidenote on Benchtop: My first tool kit was given to me as a Christmas gift around 1990. It was a Benchtop kit. about 100-200 piece kit. I still have it today and have put it through it's paces. The only thing that ever broke on me was the 3/8 ratchet on/off lever. I never had it replaced as it can still be turned on/off.

This kit was designated as my salvage yard kit for many years. Anyone who spends much time in the salvage yard knows that you have to do some pretty nasty things with your tools in a pinch. These tools while not the best have been through hell and back and have never failed me.

I personally am proud that I still have this kit complete and functional. It's now become like a keepsake to me.

 

[Red Green]

When did Kmart STOP selling Benchtop tools? I've seen them recently and to my knowledge they still have a warranty. I contacted them via email when they first merged, and they told me they still had the warranty.

I am not positive they have stopped. I looked on Kmart's website and they had 1 small set of sockets with no racthets listed.

ImportTuner
I will take a pic this evening. It was in a lot of used tools I bought. I have never bought any tools directly from Kmart either.

 

[Red Green]

Sorry about the pic quality I need a better camera and a better camera operator

 

[justinmc]

Wow that almost looks like a quality made ratchet... Kmart you say eh? The round head setup kinda looks like an old round head craftsman.

 

[ImportTuner]

Not a bad looking ratchet for being from Kmart; very similar to my Indestro ..

 

[Joe B.]

Kmart made the guarantee and Kmart is still in business. (It was Kmart that bought Sears.) You should be able to get a replacement in the form of a Craftsman ratchet if that will make you happy. Go into a Kmart and ask for a replacement. You might need to show up at an off hour and find a store manager to get it done.

 

[Crasen]

I would like to know what warranty replacement they have as well I bought a few benchtop tools about 10 years ago and they have held up reasonably well. I have not been in A K mart in a long time though.

 

[Red Green]

I am going into "town" Wednesday about 40 minutes from the house in the winter. I will report results for all the interested parties.

 

[wrenchr]

Yes please keep us posted.

 

[Red Green]

So I went to Kmart today. When I walked in the door the "woman" at customer service was less than pleasant. She told me that I would have to find the ratchet with the exact part number to be able to exchange it. So when I got home I called the number on Kmart's website. I talked to lady who was nice, but knew nothing about tools she keep asking what brand my benchtop was. She said I would have to talk to the manufacture of the tools so she gave me a different phone number. Any guess as to who's phone number it is? If you said Kmart you are right. The next lady keep asking me if Craftsman made my ratchet. Finally I was told that a Manager would contact me with in 48 hours. I am waiting by the phone to make sure I don't miss any calls. After I don't hear from them by monday I will call again and update this thread. I know a $20 ratchet is hardly worth this much effort but they are 800 numbers and work is slow this time of year so trying to make Kmart do the right thing is like my current hobby

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

Go find a Man to talk to. I have had this issue before about talking to Women managers with regards to the warranty on a tool.

Somehow, they must be insecure about their knowledge of tools and think you are getting over on them because they don't know anything about tools. (Revenge on Mechanics for charging them $500 on Muffler bearings??)

Also, women have been brought up since their teen years to use the word 'no' and that they are expected to be as tough as the men managers. This is a way of 'proving to themselves' that they can be tough.

Since I learned my lesson, I have always found a dude to go to get a tool replaced. Haven't had a single issue since.

Here is my misadventure. This was 2 years ago.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6976

-BWP

 

[buening]

Kinda sad, but my Benchtop ratchet is heavier duty than my craftsman ratchets. I received it as a gift set as well, but rarely use it. I keep the set in my truck as an emergency kit. It isn't a fine tooth ratchet like some of the Snappys but the tool set is amazingly well made for the price......and I'm never one to brag about a cheap Kmart tool

 

[Uncle Buck]

I just get the dept mgr, if they are no help then I am on my way to the store mgr. That generally takes care of things. If that doesn't work I am on my way up the food chain!

 

[Red Green]

Update
Success! I got a $20 gift card. After four more calls on the 800 number Monday and talking to about 8 people I asked for a $20 gift card. I was asked about 15 times if I had a Craftsman ratchet and I just keep saying it was a Benchtop brand. So the woman at the 800 number called my local store and talked to the manager to get a store credit approved. I got to the store today and a different woman at customer service tried to tell me that they couldn't do anything for me. I asked her to get the manager who had already approved the return. If anyone needs the phone number and person I talked to at customer service feel free to PM me.

 

[wrenchr]

Update
Success! I got a $20 gift card. After four more calls on the 800 number Monday and talking to about 8 people I asked for a $20 gift card. I was asked about 15 times if I had a Craftsman ratchet and I just keep saying it was a Benchtop brand. So the woman at the 800 number called my local store and talked to the manager to get a store credit approved. I got to the store today and a different woman at customer service tried to tell me that they couldn't do anything for me. I asked her to get the manager who had already approved the return. If anyone needs the phone number and person I talked to at customer service feel free to PM me.

That is good to here, glad it worked out for yuh.

 

[Nicky Bobby]

I had a 3/8 ratchet of benchtop that broke and took it to kmart in sioux fall,sd on east 10th st and they offer to give me a craftsman however they didn't have one but they had there cheaper craftsman brand evolve and gave that to me free as warranty replacement

 

[sixpack_sid]

That is good to here, glad it worked out for yuh.

I'm having the same problem!
I have the same ratchet except mine is a 1/2" drive. I cannot find a replacement at any Kmart in my area. I was given a # to call 1-866-Kmart4U.
I called 4 times and am getting nowhere! What is the # that you called?
Thanks!

 

[j789139]

I'm having the same problem!
I have the same ratchet except mine is a 1/2" drive. I cannot find a replacement at any Kmart in my area. I was given a # to call 1-866-Kmart4U.
I called 4 times and am getting nowhere! What is the # that you called?
Thanks!

My experience, so far...Got the 189? piece Benchtop ratchet & socket, NEW, from KMart, back in the day. Rust has enveloped all 1/2" 12pt sockets, which I've never used as well as, several 3/8" sockets, plus sockets will NOT lock onto the 1/4" ratchet.

Called the Kmart 1-866-Kmart4U, they gave me a Sears 800# (Don't recall), called the Sears 800#, they gave me a case# and said "go to local Sears". Went to local Sears...Didn't need case #, and as expected, no help with rust but said they would try to fix 1/4" ratchet...I have to bring back, when tool dept mgr. is on duty...We shall see!

 

[gkoester]

I have Benchtop screwdriver set brand new. Putting on Ebay with the ratchet driver