Craftsman tools warranty and workmanship today

[Richard]

I once had a ratchet also break. They pulled one out of the drawer. Said they rebuild them now. As it was the same thing I already had, I took it and have had no issues since (some ratchets are shaped differently than others as I recall)

Different time, I had a SMALL straight screwdriver who's blade had been twisted. Took it to the store and he said essentially "I'm sorry but I can't replace that for you....we do not HAVE that screwdriver..."

Unbeknown to him I had been looking around and found one of those 'mega packs" where you can buy 544 tools for $150 or something... and inside of THIS mega pack was voila.... my tiny screwdriver.

When he said they didn't HAVE (as in carry) the small screwdriver, I casually walked over to this pack and pointed it out to him.

He asked what did I expect him to do, open that pack to replace my screwdriver?

I said it was THEIR warranty, not mine and I didn't care HOW he replaced it but it did need to be replaced and we both happened to be looking at one that would replace it.

He opened the package and gave it to me.

 

[yankeerider]

Craftsman tools aren't nearly as good today as they used to be. I know because my father spent 36 years (before the late 1970's, when he retired) setting up the machines that did the final machining after the wrenches, sockets, etc. were forged. That plant has been gone for very many years now. (Dad passed away in in 1998.) I remember walking the picket line with him during what i believe was their longest strike in the 1960's.

As you might imagine, I have a good many older Craftsman mechanic's tools, right down to the 1940's vintage combination wrenches I still use the most. I no longer buy exclusively Craftsman, and I make sure to inspect what i do buy before purchase. Of course, I don't need to buy very many tools after 40+ years of accumulating them.

 

[Paystar]

I have a lot of older (1980's) craftsman tools, never really had to return any. I mostly use Craftsman and Mastercraft for everyday uses, but anything that has to be precision like torque wreches, or good cutters, I spend the extra and go Snap-On.
Mastercraft is Canadian Tire, and like sears they have lifetime warranty. Pretty good tools and I have returned some, no problem. They have cut back also though. Before, if you broke a drill bit, they would just give you a two-pack as that was how they are packaged. Now they open them and only give you one.
On the subject of Sears, even their Kenmore appliances are crap now. I've had Kenmore appliances that my parents had for 30 plus years and they were still going. Then I thought I'd be smart and impress the wife with some nice fancy new energy efficient ones. What a mistake. My washing machine (a top end model, not a cheapy) broke literally a week after the warranty run out. I didn't buy the extended warranty based on thinking how good the old ones were. Two years old, it's had the repairman out three times now.
New oven, not even a year old (luckily still under warranty) the control panel just went. They are on their way out to replace the circuit board and control panel. Didn't even have to come to diagnose, knew exactly what was wrong when I phoned them. Sad.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

I do make my living with tools and I think Snapon is the best. The biggest problem in my area is you may have a dealer today and not see another for a year (Unless you owe him money) It seems they have a high turnover rate in dealers. The greatest warrenty in the world isn't wort a dam if you can't find a dealer to return it to.
Bill

 

[LBrown59]

I do make my living with tools and I think Snapon is the best. The biggest problem in my area is you may have a dealer today and not see another for a year (Unless you owe him money) It seems they have a high turnover rate in dealers. The greatest warrenty in the world isn't wort a dam if you can't find a dealer to return it to.
Bill

My cousins and uncle made good stuff didn't they!
I had a dealer practically next door for 20 or 30 years.

 

[weldingisfun]

Has anyone, besides me, noticed that the Craftsman ratchet failing most often is the 3/8 Drive? I have replaced mine 2 or three times since I bought the toolset back in the early 70's. Still using the same 1/4 and 1/2 Drives.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

I do make my living with tools and I think Snapon is the best. The biggest problem in my area is you may have a dealer today and not see another for a year (Unless you owe him money) It seems they have a high turnover rate in dealers. The greatest warrenty in the world isn't wort a dam if you can't find a dealer to return it to.
Bill

I guess I've always been lucky. I've always had a Snap-on dealer available. I tried a couple of the other tool trucks but them guys would really come and go with the weather. I agree, Snap-on is by far the best tool made.

Dang Bill, you sure got the skinnys in the air on that El Camino.

 

[tallyho8]

Has anyone, besides me, noticed that the Craftsman ratchet failing most often is the 3/8 Drive? I have replaced mine 2 or three times since I bought the toolset back in the early 70's. Still using the same 1/4 and 1/2 Drives.

Do you have a 3/4" or larger socket in 3/8 drive? If so, throw them away and use your 1/2" ratchet when working with these larger sizes.

 

[Bird]

I agree, Snap-on is by far the best tool made.

If you'd repaired as many of them as I did, you might have a different opinion. As with any tools, properly used and maintained, they're good tools; no better and no worse overall than MAC or Matco. But parts are much more expensive. I had one customer who had Snap-On's biggest, most expensive air ratchet they made, and I replaced the broken anvil in it 3 times in one year. It was a body shop and he hired kids to remove damaged parts such as bumpers and they'd pull hard enough on it to actually break the anvil. One time he got a new anvil from his Snap-On truck and put it in himself. Then when it didn't work, he sent it on to me to fix again.

 

[jinman]

Do you have a 3/4" or larger socket in 3/8 drive? If so, throw them away and use your 1/2" ratchet when working with these larger sizes.

Well, you might have to have a shorty ratchet to have room enough to use it. My primary reason for liking my 3/8 ratchet is the size/length of the handle and the tight spaces I can get into. If I can't get one click on the ratchet, it ain't much good.