Date:         Sat, 10 Nov 2012 12:18:35 -0600
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Craftsman Tools, Ace Hardware
In-Reply-To:  <0df401cdbf68$5f927470$1eb75d50$@net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I think that Cobalt, Craftsman, and all the good quality mid-price-range
tools you buy nowadays are made in taiwan, which seems to be the toolmaker
to the world. The US stuff, like Greenlee, etc (which could be made in
taiwan as far as I know) still has the old fashioned heat-treatment
techniques, superior materials, good design and careful work that makes a
tool a lifetime investment. You pay for it. If I were going to get a
replacement, even a free one, I would rather know it was a good one. Some
sears stuff is really good, some not so good. You have to know.

I too have had split sockets replaced by sears after years of hard use. I
LOVE a good craftsman ratchet from the 80s or 90s. When one of those wore
out, a stubby, I went to sears for a replacement. I picked out the stubby,
flex handle model nearest to the one that I was returning. The cashier
asked for, I don't know, whatever the full price was. When I questioned why
they were charging for a free return, they pulled out a cardboard box from
under the counter that was full of mediocre rebuilds from what looked like
the 1940s. "These are our exhange wrenches." They all looked like crap, and
the one I got was crap.

But when I took a worn out 13mm 12 point that I had since I was about 16,
they gave me a new one off the rack. Again, you have to know.

Nowadays, I look for the model numbers I want and order then off of ebay
for a fraction of the cost of a crappy new one, and just hope that whatever
I am looking for hasn't been "discovered" by collectors who run the price
up by taking serviceable tools off the market.

Jim

On Sat, Nov 10, 2012 at 11:25 AM, Tom Hargrave <thargrav@hiwaay.net> wrote:

> I agree with you - Sears will replace Craftsman tools & I have had worn out
> ratchets & split sockets replaced by Sears.
>
> I also own some JC Penny's tools from back when they offered a line. They
> were sold with a lifetime replacement guarantee but the company has not
> been
> in the tool business in years - try and get a free replacement for a line
> of
> tools that doesn't exist anymore!
>
> But Lowes offers the same "no questions asked" guarantee with their Cobalt
> store brand & I suspect they will be around longer that Sears.
>
> Thanks, Tom Hargrave
> www.stir-plate.com
> www.towercooler.com
> www.kegkits.com
> www.grow-sun.com
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
> Tom Buese
> Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2012 11:06 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Craftsman Tools, Ace Hardware
>
> Bought a Craftsman 1/2" drive socket wrench in Hawaii in 1968- broke in
> 2006 +- after much use.  In Utah, took it to another Sears, & no questions
> asked, they gave moi a new one!
>
> YMMV,
>
> Mr. BZ-Husky @ HD does the same thing.
>
>
> On Sat, Nov 10, 2012 at 11:46 AM, Tom Hargrave <thargrav@hiwaay.net>
> wrote:
>
> > Free isn't free if I have to make a special trip to Sears to replace a
> > broken tool.
> >
> > Thanks, Tom Hargrave
> > www.stir-plate.com
> > www.towercooler.com
> > www.kegkits.com
> > www.grow-sun.com
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On
> > Behalf Of Rob
> > Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2012 10:17 AM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: Craftsman Tools, Ace Hardware
> >
> > At  11/10/2012 04:59 AM, James Felder wrote:
> > >I'd like to know more about the screwdrivers you mentioned. The sears
> > >set (clear plastic handles with red and blue stripes) are pretty
> > >disappointing. / I don't abuse them, but the tips on my set are
> > >warped or bent, something I would expect from a cheap set.
> > >
> > >Jim/
> >
> > Take them back if they are Craftsman, they will replace them for free.
> >
> >
> >
> > Rob
> >
> > vwrobb@gmail.com
> > Somewhere in Oregon
> > -----
> > No virus found in this message.
> > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> > Version: 10.0.1382 / Virus Database: 2441/5386 - Release Date:
> > 11/10/12
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Tom Buese
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
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>