Sears Tools That Suck On The Price

[JDgreen227]

So we now know who is driving Sears bankrupt.

Two PHD's will never bankrupt them, but about those wood handed leaf rakes...I purchased a pair of them (poly tines) back about 1991, and have probably had each replaced by exchange ten times or more...either the handles finally break, or the tines flex and break...but they have finally stopped selling the wood handled leaf rakes and now sell only fiberglass handed, we will see how durable the two I have are. And, I still have a few wood handled axes, sledges, and mauls that I paid about $8 for new...last time I broke a wood handled sledge, they gave me a $25 fiberglass handled one.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Two PHD's will never bankrupt them, but about those wood handed leaf rakes...I purchased a pair of them (poly tines) back about 1991, and have probably had each replaced by exchange ten times or more...either the handles finally break, or the tines flex and break...but they have finally stopped selling the wood handled leaf rakes and now sell only fiberglass handed, we will see how durable the two I have are. And, I still have a few wood handled axes, sledges, and mauls that I paid about $8 for new...last time I broke a wood handled sledge, they gave me a $25 fiberglass handled one.

I like bamboo leaf rakes for their durable and appropriate stiffness. Unfortunately, probably all from China.
larry

 

[JDgreen227]

I like bamboo leaf rakes for their durable and appropriate stiffness. Unfortunately, probably all from China.
larry

Have never used a bamboo leaf rake myself...just remembered this though:

Late last fall, the local Menards stores were selling a 20 inch wide poly tine leaf rake with a yellow fiberglass handle for half price ($4.99 vs $9.99 regular price) and I purchased two of them. Best leaf rake I have ever used, and get this...MADE IN THE USA !!!

 

[SPYDERLK]

Have never used a bamboo leaf rake myself...just remembered this though:

Late last fall, the local Menards stores were selling a 20 inch wide poly tine leaf rake with a yellow fiberglass handle for half price ($4.99 vs $9.99 regular price) and I purchased two of them. Best leaf rake I have ever used, and get this...MADE IN THE USA !!!

All the plastic rakes Iv ever used broke at the transition from the handle socket into the body of the rake. I sometimes have to use a rake a bit firmly. The plastic wont take it. Bamboo is great.
larry

 

[Soundguy]

I saw that too on the razor blades:laughing::laughing:

Sad thing though....HF has a MUCH better picture quality than sears.

too funny!

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Two PHD's will never bankrupt them, but about those wood handed leaf rakes...I purchased a pair of them (poly tines) back about 1991, and have probably had each replaced by exchange ten times or more...either the handles finally break, or the tines flex and break...but they have finally stopped selling the wood handled leaf rakes and now sell only fiberglass handed, we will see how durable the two I have are. And, I still have a few wood handled axes, sledges, and mauls that I paid about $8 for new...last time I broke a wood handled sledge, they gave me a $25 fiberglass handled one.

I can see how these kinds of returns will eat up the profit from many new sales. Life time backing for today's junk is a right step if one wants to go
bankrupt for sure.

HF sells extended time insurance and make a huge market up on that. Just watch how the reps will run over you to help fill out the paper work for you.

 

[WM75Guy]

Now is the time to exchange all those broke tools. I drove by my local Sears franchise store, had a big sign out front "This Sears Store Fore Sale, Inquire Within". Probably will not sell but just go out of business. Next store is 40 miles away.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Back about 1989 when Sears had Surplus Stores, I purchased a pair of lightweight wood handled posthole diggers that were labeled Craftsman for about $8 each. Last year the handles on one finally broke, and the digging end of the other pair had been bent so many times it flexed back and forth. Took these back to Sears, who has a lifetime warranty on yard tools (Craftsman) and of course they no longer sell wood handed PHD. So they gave me two brand new True Temper fiberglass handled PHD's, regular price $40 each, in exchange. I have NEVER had any problem getting tools replaced at Sears. If I return something they don't have in stock, they express mail me the replacement.

Seems like nothing of theirs is made form wood handles anymore. In the mid 2000's I bought a garden hoe from them. Good hoe, long solid wood handle, it just felt well made. A few years alter the blade "fell apart" at the point where it attaches to the handle. Took it to the local sears for replacement. They gave me in return a piece of junk lightweight fiberglass that they call a "hoe". The handle is even shorter which makes using it uncomfortable...We had a similar story with hedge clippers recently too, the blades were way shorter on the replacements...

I find myself going to Home Depot for my garden tools now. They still make solid wood-handle tools at reasonable prices with pretty good warranties.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

All the plastic rakes Iv ever used broke at the transition from the handle socket into the body of the rake. I sometimes have to use a rake a bit firmly. The plastic wont take it. Bamboo is great.
larry

Same here...Never seen a bamboo rake before...

 

[Builder]

I find myself going to Home Depot for my garden tools now. They still make solid wood-handle tools at reasonable prices with pretty good warranties.

Just be careful of their pitchforks. ~10 years ago, I bought one of the typical junk pitchforks sold by Dears, HD, Lowes. I was pitching bark mulch from my dumptruck into a landscape bed. Dogs were nearby. Unexpectedly, the steel tine head flew out of the handle, just missing one of the little guys. Would have impaled the dog.

I notice they're all still made the same cheap/dangerous way, head is pushed into a slot in the end of the handle and expected to never come loose. Would be much better if a pin was driven through handle to secure it better.