Craftsman Warranty?

K

Ken B

Well-known member
Oct 9, 2002
16,834
279
83
I broke a medium size Craftsman screwdriver on Sunday loosening a hose clamp. I am not very strong any more, but I managed to break the tip on this
one. The only Sears store left around is closing and refused to replace it. So I went to Lowes and they do not stock it, so no replacement. Then I
went to two Ace Hardware stores and both did not stock it, so no warranty. Ace prices on single screwdrivers are out of sight, $6.00 to $7.00 each
for normal size ones.

Sorry Stanley, I will not buy any new Craftsman hand tools and probably nothing else branded Craftsman in the future.

Are there any K-marts left? They were selling Craftsman a while back.

I have not tried Menards yet. I am not making special trips for this. I need to be going by these places for other reasons.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
Ken,

Thanks for that report. I've been wondering whether the new Craftsman
dealers would stand behind the warranty.

Ken H.

On Tue, Sep 17, 2019 at 12:57 PM Ken Burton via Gmclist <

> I broke a medium size Craftsman screwdriver on Sunday loosening a hose
> clamp. I am not very strong any more, but I managed to break the tip on
> this
> one. The only Sears store left around is closing and refused to replace
> it. So I went to Lowes and they do not stock it, so no replacement. Then I
> went to two Ace Hardware stores and both did not stock it, so no
> warranty. Ace prices on single screwdrivers are out of sight, $6.00 to
> $7.00 each
> for normal size ones.
>
> Sorry Stanley, I will not buy any new Craftsman hand tools and probably
> nothing else branded Craftsman in the future.
>
> Are there any K-marts left? They were selling Craftsman a while back.
>
>
> I have not tried Menards yet. I am not making special trips for this. I
> need to be going by these places for other reasons.
> --
>
 
Ken
Lowe's now sells craftsmen tools. You can take there for a swap no questions asked. I just bought a craftsmen tool set from them and the ratchet broke
immediately. I returned the whole thing and bought the Kobalt brand. In my opinion the new craftsman tools are garbage. The actual Lowe's version
Kobalt are a lot better. I've had one kit for over 15 years no problems.
--
M Beam
75’ Avion Lots of Mods
Zuki Sidekick
 
Not my Lowes, they only honor the lifetime for tools they sell, which all have new numbers on them. So none of the 'old' craftsmen tools are lifetime
anymore. Only the ones you buy at Lowes.
--
Todd Snyder, Buffalo NY
1976 Eleganza II
 
> Not my Lowes, they only honor the lifetime for tools they sell, which all have new numbers on them. So none of the 'old' craftsmen tools are
> lifetime anymore. Only the ones you buy at Lowes.

I had exactly the same experience at 2 Lowes stores. They have what looks like the same screw drivers with different numbers. If you have one with
a number that begins with 4, forget it. All of their numbers begin with 6. Ace stores have both 4's and 6's.

--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
I've been buying HF tools lately. Price is right and the one tool that broke (ratchet on a 9/16 ratchet/openend combo) easy replace. Just wanted to
see what broke. They took a new one off the shelf. The HF tools that I have, have held up under some pretty severe use. JMHO
--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
 
Craftsman actually dropped the lifetime warranty when they were bought out by K-mark. I recently tried to get a ratchet repaired/replaced. All they
would do was offer to sell me a repair kit.

Didn't use to be this way, so now there is no reason to plan on buy more Craftsman.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
So now I'll stop saving my cracked Craftsman deep sockets...
In the trash they go.
--
Bill Wevers GMC49ers, GMC Western States
1975 Glenbrook - Manny Powerdrive, OneTon
455 F Block, G heads
San Jose
 
NO NO NO. Do not do that yet. I do not give up easily and I have a 1-888-number to call. There still might be a solution.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
I'll stop by the Sears today in San Jose and see what they say.
--
Bill Wevers GMC49ers, GMC Western States
1975 Glenbrook - Manny Powerdrive, OneTon
455 F Block, G heads
San Jose
 
When Sears discontinued the printed Catalog, and quit using the name
Roebuck, their fate was sealed. Then, they got in bed with K-Mart, another
bad decision.
Think what might have happened if they had embraced the internet, and
put their catalog online then.
Another American Institution succumbed to market changes, and they
joined the ranks of Montgomery Wards, F.W Woolworths, Rexall, etc.
Almost glad I'm not going to be around to see the final collapse.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

On Tue, Sep 17, 2019, 2:02 PM Bill Wevers via Gmclist <

> So now I'll stop saving my cracked Craftsman deep sockets...
> In the trash they go.
> --
> Bill Wevers GMC49ers, GMC Western States
> 1975 Glenbrook - Manny Powerdrive, OneTon
> 455 F Block, G heads
> San Jose
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
I’ve had no problem getting warranty replacement at LOWE’S.

One of my last trips to the Sears store before it closed, and all I had to do was ask for a replacement) as opposed to a repair)

Yesterday. 7/16” 6 point. Happily replaced.

Dolph Santorine

DE AD0LF

Wheeling, West Virginia

1977 ex-Palm Beach TZE167V100820
Howell EFI/EBL , Reaction Arms, Manny Transmission

>
> I'll stop by the Sears today in San Jose and see what they say.
> --
> Bill Wevers GMC49ers, GMC Western States
> 1975 Glenbrook - Manny Powerdrive, OneTon
> 455 F Block, G heads
> San Jose
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Well I know for sure Lowe's in Enterprise and Mobile Alabama honored all craftsman tools.
--
M Beam
75’ Avion Lots of Mods
Zuki Sidekick
 
Guess I'd better take some of my years-long collection to the local Lowes &
try.

Ken H.

On Tue, Sep 17, 2019 at 8:00 PM mtb8114--- via Gmclist <

> Well I know for sure Lowe's in Enterprise and Mobile Alabama honored all
> craftsman tools.
> --
> M Beam
>
>
 
Here is what you do. Stop by and ask to replace a craftsman screw driver 9-41584. If they do not have it, they will not replace it. It is labeled as
a 1/4" and has a shank about 8" long. I stopped by another Lowes, and another Ace, with a Kmart right across the street. Ace carried the 9-41583
and 9-41585, but not the one in the middle. There were signs up at all three places saying if we don't stock it we won't exchange it. The one I
broke came from my tool box at the airport. When I got home I checked and I have another one out of a set her with the same number. It is not an odd
ball size. It was not a lot of chasing. I had to Ace to get a pair of 1/4" schrader valves anyway for a coach I am working on.

Are you sure the Sears in San Jose is still there. Every one in the Chicago area is closed or closing and they were headquartered here in Chicago. I
asked at Kmart today and they said they were closing in December.

--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
For one - time use with spotty quality - some excellent, some lousy, many in between, I hit Freight, Harbor. For good tools of heavy use, watch the
local repair shops, and when you see a Snap - On or Mac truck go treat with them. They're expensive, seldom break (Took a 30" cheater to bust a Mac
socket) and are instantly replaced. Just keep a piece or to for the guy driving the truck.

There's a reason for referring to them as "Freight, Harbor". Web crawlers don't see it as the correct name and consequently I don't get bombarded
with spam from them.

--johnny
--
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
 
Its sad, really. Sears was an American Icon...

I guess they ment the lifetime of the company, not yours.

Their power tools have been junk for years, but the hand tools were still pretty good.

Can still find the old stuff at swap meets.

--
76 Glenbrook
 
Limited Lifetime warranty is generally what is offered, and mainly applies to tools still in production. I have a box full of SnapOn british standard tools. They haven’t been made in years and SnapOn can no longer warranty them if I break one.

I also have thousands of dollars invested in other tools & equipment that originally carried lifetime warranty/service. Many of those manufacturers no longer exist, or have changed ownership with no transfer of liability.

It is what it is, sadly.

Les Burt
Montreal
'75 Eleganza 26'
 
I’d rather have tools that don’t break in the first place. I’ve broken a
few Craftsman sockets, but never a wrench.

I greatly prefer Snap-On or Cornwell, but those are harder to afford, so I
have lots of Craftsman tools. My Snap-On tools from my 70’s mechanic days
were stolen in 1982, and I’m still in mourning.

Rick “noting that Snap-On makes most of its money from software these days”
Denney

On Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 10:55 AM Les Burt via Gmclist <

> Limited Lifetime warranty is generally what is offered, and mainly applies
> to tools still in production. I have a box full of SnapOn british standard
> tools. They haven’t been made in years and SnapOn can no longer warranty
> them if I break one.
>
> I also have thousands of dollars invested in other tools & equipment that
> originally carried lifetime warranty/service. Many of those manufacturers
> no longer exist, or have changed ownership with no transfer of liability.
>
> It is what it is, sadly.
>
> Les Burt
> Montreal
> '75 Eleganza 26'
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
'73 X-Glacier 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
Offlist email: rick at rickdenney dot com
 
Hi All, I have had good fortune with Craftsman warrenty work at the Sears
Home Stores. They are not closing and are independently owned.

Jim Ernst
Columbus, NE
77 PB

On Wed, Sep 18, 2019, 10:36 AM Richard Denney via Gmclist <

> I’d rather have tools that don’t break in the first place. I’ve broken a
> few Craftsman sockets, but never a wrench.
>
> I greatly prefer Snap-On or Cornwell, but those are harder to afford, so I
> have lots of Craftsman tools. My Snap-On tools from my 70’s mechanic days
> were stolen in 1982, and I’m still in mourning.
>
> Rick “noting that Snap-On makes most of its money from software these days”
> Denney
>
> On Wed, Sep 18, 2019 at 10:55 AM Les Burt via Gmclist <

>
> > Limited Lifetime warranty is generally what is offered, and mainly
> applies
> > to tools still in production. I have a box full of SnapOn british
> standard
> > tools. They haven’t been made in years and SnapOn can no longer warranty
> > them if I break one.
> >
> > I also have thousands of dollars invested in other tools & equipment
> that
> > originally carried lifetime warranty/service. Many of those manufacturers
> > no longer exist, or have changed ownership with no transfer of liability.
> >
> > It is what it is, sadly.
> >
> > Les Burt
> > Montreal
> > '75 Eleganza 26'
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> >
> --
> '73 X-Glacier 230 "Jaws"
> Northern Virginia
> Offlist email: rick at rickdenney dot com
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
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