as it's never gone away.
I've been a mechanic most of my 76 years.
I have several tool full chests. Craftsman. SnapOn. Mactools. Even some HarborFreight.
A few years back, a Craftsman ratchet wrench that I had purchased in 1964 (OMG!) had lost it's ability to
tighten nuts/bolts in one direction.
On a whim I took it to my local Sears store.
I walked out with a new ratchet. No question asked.
A DECADES old tool!
There's a difference, policy-wise and country of origin, between their 'good,better,best' lines nowadays.
There's tools marked 'SEARS' (good) and 'CRAFTSMAN' (better) that you would find in all stores.
Not all carry the PRO INDUSTRIAL line.
Back then in '64, when I bought that ratchet, there was only 'Best'. No receipt needed for warranty.
Receipt is needed for (good) SEARS branded tools.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craftsman_(tools)
Snip>
Warranty:
Most Craftsman hand tools are advertised as having an unlimited lifetime warranty.[26] This lifetime warranty program was instituted by Sears when they began selling the Craftsman line in 1927.[27] This warranty program requires no receipt or dated proof of purchase. If the owner takes the item into a local retail store, it may be replaced or repaired free of charge.[28] In some cases, such as ratchets, the customer may be offered a repair kit with which to repair the item or an already refurbished item.
The full text of the warranty is as follows:
If for any reason your Craftsman hand tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction, return it to any Sears store or other Craftsman outlet in the United States for free repair or replacement. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.[29]
Sears has reduced the warranty in effect on many Craftsman non-powered lawn and garden products including rakes, shovels, clippers, brooms, trowels, pruners, hoses, sprinklers, hose nozzles, and other small gardening hand tools. Previously it was a lifetime warranty which on August 2, 2012, was reduced to 25 years with receipt required.[30] The lifetime warranty does not include precision hand tools, such as calipers and torque wrenches,[31]
Many consumers have also been reporting problems when attempting to obtain warranty repair or replacement on tools that are covered by the full lifetime warranty. Sears' official position is that the warranty should be honored, and much of the problem may lie with individual sales associates.[29] In some cases Sears no longer sells particular Craftsman tools, (tape measures, and wood clamps are two examples), making it impossible to replace a tool sold with a lifetime warranty with a similar Craftsman tool that will continue the warranty.
Some local store locations institute a 'daily limit' on the number of Craftsman hand tools which can be exchanged per day under the Sears Lifetime Warranty. This issue was addressed in 2009 in an inquiry to Sears Holding by consumerist.com. A corporate reply from then VP David Figler stated the Lifetime Warranty was to provide "complete customer satisfaction--period." His reply went on to state that a 'daily limit is not a valid reason for denying a customer's right to exchange their Craftsman tools under the Lifetime Warranty. Despite that letter and his assurance, individual stores currently [2015] have varying policies.
Power tools have a one-year warranty.[30]
After the merger, Kmart began selling Craftsman products and honoring the hand tool lifetime warranty.
Happy New You -- (I love saying that, as it applies to each moment of each day, rather than once a year)
= new reply since forum marked as read
(from a Boomer)
