Craftsman Tools - Sears

kevhed72

Hand tools come with a lifetime warranty - I believe.

Do screwdrivers with stripped heads fall under this category?

I just bought a new set of sweet DeWalt with the comfy grips, so I need to thin the herd....

mhardy6647

Well, they used to - I assume they still do. My father'd use 'em for chisels and then take 'em back when they wouldn't turn a screw any more :-)

pitdogg2

not all of the craftsmen tools have a lifetime warranty. Best to ask the store they may just do it for customer satisfaction.

exalted512

all of their hand tools do...

zingo

Give them a call as you have nothing to loose but new tools!

F1nut

Craftsman Tools - Sears
Hand tools come with a lifetime warranty - I believe.

Do screwdrivers with stripped heads fall under this category?

I just bought a new set of sweet DeWalt with the comfy grips, so I need to thin the herd....

Sears will replace a tool under warranty, but they aren't going to refund the money if that's what you're thinking.

decal

I've taken several f'ed up screw drivers for replacement with no problem.

WilliamM2

They replaced the screwdrivers I took them years ago. But the last tool I returned was a broken 3/8" ratchet. It was polished chrome, and looked like new, They replaced it with a different model, not polished, and it looked like it had been used as a hammer. It won't even fit in my socket case. At least it works.

When I complained, I was told take it or leave it, it's their new policy to issue refurbed tools as warranty replacements. No more Craftsman for me.

sucks2beme

They handed me a rebuild kit for my 1/4 ratchet. They do still exchange broken sockets.
They have gotten pretty bad. Their newer toolboxes are downright
worthless. Got to harbor freight and get a general. Cheaper and better built.

F1nut

They replaced the screwdrivers I took them years ago. But the last tool I returned was a broken 3/8" ratchet. It was polished chrome, and looked like new, They replaced it with a different model, not polished, and it looked like it had been used as a hammer. It won't even fit in my socket case. At least it works.

When I complained, I was told take it or leave it, it's their new policy to issue refurbed tools as warranty replacements. No more Craftsman for me.

They tried that with me. I told them the refurb replacement they were offering was a lower grade version and I wanted an equal replacement. They gave me a new one equal to the one I was returning.

WilliamM2

F1nut wrote: »

They tried that with me. I told them the refurb replacement they were offering was a lower grade version and I wanted an equal replacement. They gave me a new one equal to the one I was returning.

That's a the same thing I told them. Glad you had better luck than I did. I would have been happier if they offered me a rebuild kit like they did sucks2beme. At least then I wouldn't have an old beat up wrench, that doesn't fit in the case.

I'll just shop elsewhere, I don't go to Sears for anything now. Why pay a premium for poorly made tools?

sucks2beme

A lot of the tools are still good. But service has dived.
Their toolbox stuff has dropped in quality. They still have nice
boxes, just catalog/online only (yes, last time I checked they still have a tool catalog!).
There is a 1 1/2 bay general box at Harbor freight that goes on sale every other month for
$369 that is head and shoulders better than anything else for the price.
Still a pretty good pace for ratchets and sockets. But they have been setting up three lines of tools
as of late. Cheap , middle and premium. A lot of the middle line stuff (used to be the main line)
has been dropping off in quality, forcing you to go premium. The only other option is go NAPA.

exalted512

I didn't realize the quality has been that bad lately...especially the service. That's why I always got a lot of my tools from there. That's disappointing.

I know I got a set of their Craftsman professional screw drivers a while back and they are junk. They only go into the handle about 3/4" or less, so I was snapping them pretty often. I finally bought a set of their standard series and they were much better...just didnt look as nice.
-Cody

DaveHo

Most of the Craftsman hand tools are now made in China. Which in my book, makes them no better than what I can buy at Harbor Freight. Same lifetime warranty, better price, why shop at Sears anymore, I don't.

heiney9

Sears is a shell of it's former self and the ship is sinking fast. Kind of sad watching my grandfather and my father buy from them all the time and now they are sketchy. I've tried to support them but I now look at other alternatives too.

Recently I have bought a Craftsman push mower with a Honda motor. Had one issue in year two and they fixed under warranty. I bought a washer and dryer (Kenmore) a couple years ago, so far so good. I had a old refrigerator replaced with a new one under a home warranty that came with my house (Kenmore) also. The home warranty company only worked with Sears.

Basic tools I have been buying at Harbor Freight or Farm and Fleet. Just last weekend I bought a gas powered leaf blower/vacuum/shredder and I looked at the Craftsman brand and they were getting horrible reviews so I spent more at Home Depot for an Echo, which got great reviews.

It's sad to see and American retailer like Sears bite it, but they haven't kept up with the times and have been poorly managed. So I'm not surprised to hear of some of the above stories. Sears used to be my go to place for tools and yard appliances and home appliances..........not anymore.

H9

kevhed72

I just question the strategic decision that many companies such as Sears have made over the years to sacrifice quality to save on cost. I think many folks would actually pay more for tools, appliances, etc. if they know the name guaranteed a certain level of quality. Sears had a much stronger position in the marketplace for these types of things years ago and let it slip away.
Terrible upper management IMO....

Ricardo

I never thought I'd say this, but I am also buying at Harbor Freight. As someone already said, the same Chinese stuff at a heck of a better price.

sucks2beme

I do get some stuff from Harbor freight and Northern tool. But when I was young my dad
always had the cheap stuff. And out on the farm we broke them a lot. When I was old
enough to drive and buy my own, I went and bought a Craftsman tool set because
I was tired of busting my knuckles when stuff broke. A lot of my tools are 40 years old.
Other than extreme abuse, it doesn't break. A couple of 1/4 inch sockets and a 1/4 ratchet.
And of course a couple of craftsman screwdrivers used not as screwdrivers
( i have small pry bars now!). I have breaker bars of different sizes and styles,
so it's not likely I'll break another ratchet. I only buy oddball stuff right now from the other guys,
but have been looking at a bigger bottom box, so the General box has caught my eye.
After some research, just about everyone other than snap-on and MAC have gone this route.
I guess if I need anything else, It's time to go hit pawn shops for used stuff.

sucks2beme

The sad part is kmart bought Sears. And it shows.

brgman

Lots if not most of Craftsman hand tools are still made in the US.
Gearwrench is the offshore offering.
Craftsman sold off to DanaherTools in CT some years ago and they were doing it for a while but it fell apart about 2 years ago and now other foundries around the country are doing the "good stuff" in the US.Quality has gone down due to cost cutting even on the best wrenches etc.Low bid contracts from foundries to keep the lights on in most cases.
Craftsman customer service is about as lousy as you can find and has been for years.
Here's the new catalog.

http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/t/53969

I also buy lots of Martin Tools as they are forged in TX and they make a lot for Snap-ON,MAC and others.

brgman

^^^^^^
I'm just talking about hand tools that are cast in foundries,not lawn mowers,snowblowers,power tools etc.Just to be clear......

headrott

I was using a Harbor Freight swivel ratchet connector and a torque wrench to free a tight bolt on my BMW. The swivel wratchet connector snapped in two. Chinese made stuff indeed. If the Sears tool quality is now on par with the Harbor Freight tools (if I understood correctly), then what do you buy for a high quality ratchet set (or tools in general). I ask because at Lowe's and Home Depot only sell Chineese made (low quality) drill bits, socket sets, etc. (at least at my Lowe's and Home Depot).

Any suggesttions for quality tools and where to buy them?

jflail2

headrott wrote: »

I was using a Harbor Freight swivel ratchet connector and a torque wrench to free a tight bolt on my BMW. The swivel wratchet connector snapped in two. Chinese made stuff indeed. If the Sears tool quality is now on par with the Harbor Freight tools (if I understood correctly), then what do you buy for a high quality ratchet set (or tools in general). I ask because at Lowe's and Home Depot only sell Chineese made (low quality) drill bits, socket sets, etc. (at least at my Lowe's and Home Depot).

Any suggesttions for quality tools and where to buy them?

My dad has been in aircraft maintenance for about 45 years now. I think he's been pleased with the Snap On tools they get from the weekly truck visit. I think you can buy Snap on Online as well, and their non-US tools fall under the Blue Point line.

pitdogg2

kevhed72 wrote: »

I just question the strategic decision that many companies such as Sears have made over the years to sacrifice quality to save on cost.....

It is called share holders. They all want fast money on their investment it is happening everywhere. The more profit they show the more money shareholders and upper management get which in turn is less money to reinvest in your core products so you must keep making cheaper products vicious cycle...

WilliamM2

Here is an interesting test of ratchet's:

http://www.hotrod.com/feature_stories/1310_ratchet_handles_torture_test/

The one's made in Taiwan seem the strongest, with Chana very close behind. But it apears any of them will take more torque that you are ever likely to apply. Like I said, why pay a premium for Craftsman?

sucks2beme

Sadly, offshoring has leveled the playing field?
I've broken those cheap sockets from autozone before.
Son #1 and his friends used to use my tools, and sockets went missing.
After breaking the cheap replacements ones, went to a pawn shop and got a whole
lot of replacement craftsman sockets for .25 and .50 per. Yes, doubled up on
some popular sizes. I even found a bunch of Snapon stuff, so I added some to my collection.
Now that son #1 is in his 30's he has a snapon box full of snapon and MAC.
No more lost sockets! Now if I could just swing a box like his!
BTW, my 24" 1/2" snanpon breaker bar sets new standards on what's excessive
force. Between that and the IR air impact, everything bends to my will.

JimKellyfan

All Craftsman hand tools, yes. Their offshoot names like Evolv, some are. Anything that fits in a power screwdriver, no. I use Sears, Matco, Mac, Snap-On and some Evolv, and other off shoots, but I always try Sears first, depending on the need. Dewalt power tools are nice and light, but Sears 19.2 cheaper. Matco for wrenches (same maker as Sears, but Matco are longer). You can do some stuff from Harbor Freight and Northern, but careful what you buy there. I use their vacuum pump, and funnels and bins, but stay away from power tools at these two places.

jbooker82

One of my favorite ratchets to use is an SK 3870. It is a swivel head, and a fairly fine gear set, and a longer than average handle. I also like the flex head snap on's that have the screwdriver handle on them.

pumpkinman

WilliamM2 wrote: »

They replaced the screwdrivers I took them years ago. But the last tool I returned was a broken 3/8" ratchet. It was polished chrome, and looked like new, They replaced it with a different model, not polished, and it looked like it had been used as a hammer. It won't even fit in my socket case. At least it works.

When I complained, I was told take it or leave it, it's their new policy to issue refurbed tools as warranty replacements. No more Craftsman for me.

Same here they offered me a rachet rebuild kit.
With tin snips they did offer me my money back or a generic pair of snips which could no be returned for replacement. I took my the money.