Returned a Craftsman 3/8 ratchet

[truckerdave397]

I found a 3/4 inch drive Craftsman ratchet in the scrap yard where I work that was missing some parts. I took it to Sears and traded it for a new one off the shelf. Price on the new one was $75.

 

[hittman77]

Same experience as you ..... I hand them a broken tool, they hand me a new one.

 

[Gunhacker]

My only experience was kind of a humorous one, due mainly to the salesperson's lack of "seniority/experience"... insisting that what I brought in was not "one of ours" because it didn't look like anything currently on the store shelves.

Well... that part was certainly true, as the 1/2" drive ratchet I brought in that lost it's ball detent that belonged to my Father, and was well over 60 years old when it broke in the mid '80's. The "Craftsman" font was entirely different and larger, and the machine knurled handle really threw him off.

The replacement is still going strong and hasn't received any sort of pampering, as did the one that my Father used and passed on to me.

 

[Simmer down]

My experiences have been hit and miss. I gave up when I took a torque wrench in, the kind that has the big needle against a scale on the grip. The salesman told me to just bend it back into shape and see how close I could get it. Gee, thanks.

 

[Dennis The B]

I had a 3/8" ratchet fail. When I took it back to Sears, they told me that the policy was to swap out broken tools for re-built ones. However, they didn't have a re-built in stock, so they replaced it with a brand new one.

PS - At current trends, Sears will be lucky to remain open until 2020.

 

[drkuhar]

I took a craftsman pro 3/8 ratchet in and they would only give me the plain jane replacement. The pro has more teeth for working in tight areas and is twice as much to buy and after that i was done with sears.

 

[litenlarry]

Disappointed the replacement was not a US product. Thank goodness I only use it occasionally..
I always have my 42 year old SK ratchet as a go to....

 

[shouldazagged]

PS - At current trends, Sears will be lucky to remain open until 2020.

I doubt they will. They can't compete with the world's biggest retailer (who can?), and they've made some decisions that have helped screw them into the ground.

Sad, but they've been in decline for years.

 

[Squarebutt]

I have bought plenty of Craftsman tools over the years. I took back a 1/4" ratchet and they gave me a rebuilt. Later I found somebody's initials on it. They wouldn't exchange it. The ratchets used to be made in Springfield MA, but they laid everybody off and moved the operation to Mexico and that's when I became an ex-customer.

 

[quneur]

I found a craftsman ratchet in the dirt half buried next to the rail road tracks. It looked like it was in a fire. Took it in and got a new one.

 

[Naples22]

They have always give me new tools, to include 3/8 drive ratchets. I recently returned a defective T15 torx screwdriver. They didn't have one in stock, handed me a package of 6 that had a T15 in it at no charge. great customer service.

 

[rwsmith]

This sounds wrong....

I bought a fair amount of their tools for my construction company, but I was given as a gift a complete set of Craftsman metal drill bits. Something went wrong in their manufacturing and the literally wouldn't drill more than a 1/16th of an inch and stop. I would have to resharpen and again 1/16th of an inch and stop again. I tried two different bits with same results, so I took them back to a Sears store with only 2 of the bits used and they said sorry but their bits had no warranty or guarantee they would actually work! I never bought another tool from them.

It seems that consumer law says that a product has to perform its basic function but the alternative is starting a legal action. The old, "Ok, so sue me." ploy. I guess small claims court would apply in this case if you are hyped up about the principle of the thing. I suppose the satisfaction of never buy anything again is punishment enough.

 

[aphelion]

Back in the 70's I was with my dad in his pickup when he got a flat rear tire. We found that the front had kicked up a 7/16" Craftsman combination wrench that had landed just so that it penetrated the rear. The wrench was scarred up but serviceable, so dad kept it. Then about 10 years ago I came across that wrench in the tool box under the passenger seat of his CJ5. The jeep had sat for many years, the top rotting away, nothing to keep the rain out. Everything in the underseat tool box was a rusted mess, but I recognized the wrench from the gouges out of it. It was so rusty that the size could hardly be read but "Craftsman" was legible. One say I was going to Sears and took it along as a joke, saying the wrench was defective. Without batting an eye, the salesman offered me a new one. I said that was above and beyond the call, but he said no problem. I took him up on it, though later I wished I'd kept the wrench as a momento. I'll never forget my dad's reaction when we found that dang wrench imbedded in the almost new 8 ply tire. As you might imagine, it ruined the tire.

 

[gordon21]

Most of you guys are very in getting replacements that easily. There is a difference between SEARS brand hand tools and CRAFTSMAN. I learned that the hard way years ago. I had always assumed they were one in the same.

I took a 3/8 ratchet in for replacement. It said Sears on it. It was originally from a multi piece socket set like the kind that come packed in molded plastic boxes. No replacement. I was politely told it wasn't a Craftsman. That ended my buying their tools. For 30 years Sears and Craftsman had been synonymous in my mind. I was wrong.

Does anyone know if the Craftsman sold at other chains are warranted?
For example: the sets sold at ace Hardware.

 

[Evil Dog]

About 25 years my dog chewed a Craftsman brand rubber garden hose in half.... Sears actually replaced it !!!

 

[yeti]

As far as I know if it says "Craftsman" hand tools are still covered by their replacement warranty.
Their "Evolv" line (don't own any) is covered for defects only.

Early this year I took in a 1/2" drive that was slipping and was offered a cheap rebuilt plastic center housed unit about half the weight of the one I was returning. I asked for a fair exchange and they dug around to find me an upgrade. I left pleased enough, but I will readily accept rebuild kits for my all steel drives in the future.

 

[dh2683]

Most of you guys are very in getting replacements that easily. There is a difference between SEARS brand hand tools and CRAFTSMAN. I learned that the hard way years ago. I had always assumed they were one in the same.

I took a 3/8 ratchet in for replacement. It said Sears on it. It was originally from a multi piece socket set like the kind that come packed in molded plastic boxes. No replacement. I was politely told it wasn't a Craftsman. That ended my buying their tools. For 30 years Sears and Craftsman had been synonymous in my mind. I was wrong.

Does anyone know if the Craftsman sold at other chains are warranted?
For example: the sets sold at ace Hardware.

I was told by my local Sears store if the tool says "Craftsman" on it it's guaranteed for life no matter where its from. YRMV

 

[GaryS]

Thanks to my legal professor (Judge Wapner) I know that is called an "implied warranty of merchantability". I would have complained enough that the manager either would have tossed me out or given me a new set to shut me up.

It seems that consumer law says that a product has to perform its basic function but the alternative is starting a legal action. The old, "Ok, so sue me." ploy. I guess small claims court would apply in this case if you are hyped up about the principle of the thing. I suppose the satisfaction of never buy anything again is punishment enough.

 

[islamoradamark]

i had a craftsman three 8 s slipping on me brought it back the lady had a few under the counter i guess i got a rebuild

 

[walnutred]

Hate to ask but have you guys with slipping ratchet wrenches tried taking them apart and cleaning them? The innards gum up just like a revolvers innards and also just like a revolvers need a little clean oil occasionally.