Going through my socket drawer the other day I noticed that a lot of my sockets are pretty beat up. Missing chrome, rounded off points etc. This set is the old stuff that grabs the corners of the fasteners not the flat spots like the new flank drive style. I read here that the newer sockets are made by Armstrong. Should I take these all back to Sears and swap them out for the newer flank drive style? Normally I wouldn't care but not knowing if they are going overseas with production leaves me with a sense of urgency to get them replaced before they are gone.
what should i do with my cman sockets?
- Thread starter monster1
- Start date
Copytech
Well-known member
Having worked at Sears I can tell you If the sockets at not damaged they will not exchange them. Just because they are rusty or not the newest style does not mean they are defective.
I have sent many people out the door when they carried in a full tool box and wanted it all exchanged.
I have sent many people out the door when they carried in a full tool box and wanted it all exchanged.
countryroad82
Well-known member
^^ This
kissmeimgerman
Well-known member
Though that's how it should be, that's not really how it works. Craftsman warranty states that if you are not happy for ANY reason you can exchange the product. I have tested the waters with my local store and have been able to exchange everything I have brought in. Now I doubt they would do a whole toolbox at once however. I am talking a few sockets here and there.
lotsoftools
Well-known member
I've exchanged Craftsman tools for rust and peeling chrome before. No hassle at all.
smschriefer
Well-known member
"If any Craftsman Hand Tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction, return it to any
Sears store...", that is their motto.
I took back my standard ratchets and exchanged them for professional series ratchets. I only had to pay the difference. I have also returned sockets for flaking chrome as I was not satisfied with the tool. The policy is no questions asks. The issue you are facing is a sales associate and I would say you should go back and talk to another associate, or ask to speak with the manager.
Sears store...", that is their motto.
I took back my standard ratchets and exchanged them for professional series ratchets. I only had to pay the difference. I have also returned sockets for flaking chrome as I was not satisfied with the tool. The policy is no questions asks. The issue you are facing is a sales associate and I would say you should go back and talk to another associate, or ask to speak with the manager.
Last edited:
kythri
Well-known member
If they're damaged, exchange them.
If some counter-mutant gives you any grief about exchanging them, direct them to the VP of Sears statement (which is in direct contradiction to statements made in this thread by supposedly former employees):
http://consumerist.com/2009/03/sears-clarifies-craftsman-tools-warranty.html
If some counter-mutant gives you any grief about exchanging them, direct them to the VP of Sears statement (which is in direct contradiction to statements made in this thread by supposedly former employees):
http://consumerist.com/2009/03/sears-clarifies-craftsman-tools-warranty.html
Sounds like you are one of the ones people had to go around.
Exactly. My nearest store has a "5 item a day" rule, but have broken it many times for me. I just tell them it's a 45 minute drive for me to come down there (which is the truth) and they make them up no questions asked.
Only issue I've ever had is they won't break open a set to replace something. They will have it mailed to you if they don't have it individually on the shelf.
Same here. I've never been questioned what was wrong with the item. They just took it and said go get your new one (unless it was a ratchet, they keep rebuilt ones behind the counter).
Never done that before, but might try that one day.
I despise RP tools in any brand.
chris142
Well-known member
Peeling Chrome is a safety issue byt try to explain that to the Dolt behind the counter.
If the chrome is peeling or the tool is broken then I would exchange it. While the satisfaction guarantee is part of their warranty I don't like to take advantage of the situation by exchanging tools that are not defective but just "outdated". That's just me.
These sockets are 20 years old. They've been used pretty hard and the only issues I have with them are peeling chrome and rounded points. I really don't see a need to change any out that aren't damage. I was just going to sell them and start a set of Williams until someone said the cmans are rebranded Armstrong. BTW, I pulled all the ones that were damaged. Only talking about a dozen or so.
byoungblood
Well-known member
Same with me. Peeling chrome (which is a quality defect, funny how my pre-environazi Craftsman sockets don't have this problem) is something I will, and have, exchanged sockets for, but just because they're worn or have some superficial rust from use, no.
they cant say no, he isn't satisfied. read the warranty, it doesn't say if the product breaks in half or causes a war they will replace it; it is worded for satisfaction. Challenge a desk jockey's ability to read, they tend to take offense and try to prove you wrong, which they cant.
Armstrong doesn't make them, they are made by Danaher who makes the sockets from both companies.
Personally, I would buy a new socket set. I love the laser etching and flank drive type cutouts of the newer sockets. To much of a hassle to swap out the entire set of sockets if I had them.
Copytech
Well-known member
Not at all, If you brought them a few at a time I would not question the exchange. Bring them all in and them you are abusing the warranty.
I think rolling an entire tool box into Sears to swap it out would be a little much. Personally, I wouldn't do it. But I think swapping out a dozen or more sockets shouldn't be an issue especially since Sears made the rules. How much money do it cost to make that dozen sockets that Sears would warranty to keep a customer loyal and happy?
That's what I meant to say. LOL
Good Lord man, buy yourself a new socket set! Everybody ought to do that once every 20 years. Wait til they put them on sale for half price. Or get them to give you new sockets for free, it doesn't much matter. Sears is probably the only retailer in the world who could figure out a way to lose more money on the sale of a new set than on a warranty replacement.
That sounds like a good idea. I think I'm going to buy some more 1/2" drive metrics as well.