Sears refurbishing tools on the sales floor?

[123c]

I was at my local Sears today, and I noticed that they had a bunch of ratchets taken apart down one of the aisles in the tool department, and then a large box of replacement mechanisms. I was just wondering if this is a new practice for Sears?

[okyoureabeast]

No they would send back an item to the manufacture before they would do that.

When I worked hard lines at kmart (same company) I would get the same service notes for stocking for sears stores. He was probably stocking shelves with different parts for the same product. This rarely ever happened when I worked at Kmart because occasionally we would get boxes mixed up and say for example have too much of one item.

[my83300cd]

I took a Craftsman 3/8" rachet driver back a few months ago as it had begun to slip too often and was initially offered a 'refurbished' one rather than a replacement. The refurbished ones had a variety of handle styles, some of which I recognized from the late 60's and 70's. Some were just as sloppy as the one I was returning.

I went for a new fully polished one, as the outright replacement was a poor imitation of the one that has worn out. Sales guy didnt blink an eye as he processed the exchange.

[thorsen]

That was SOP at least as far back as 1997 when I managed the Hardware department. A new internal kit cost me $.01 while a new ratchet cost me anywhere from $5 to $25. Guess what we pushed.

[TheDon]

i need to take my 3/8" ratchet since its really sloppy. I want a new one not a refurb

[Chas H]

Back in the day, both Mac and Snap-On would put a new ratchet assembly in a handle before they replaced the entire wrench. Never heard a complaint from my mechanic buddies.

[Billybob]

"The Craftsman Unlimited Lifetime Warranty Policy is as follows:

If this Craftsman hand tool ever fails to give 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 have other rights, which vary, from state to state."

My understanding and experience has been the choice is up to Sears; I've argued and prevailed as to specific model replacement. I hand a couple of their higher end smooth polished ratchets and ended up getting a brand new replacements because there where no high end polished "repaired" ratchets available. It's usually much more conducive to a mutually happy ending to be pleasant but firm as opposed to angry or belligerent!

Young men are usually the most accommodating and older women are usually a tougher nut to crack! If you run into too much resistance just go back another day or time or another store.

[Bondavi]

Craftsman....the decline.

Is it me or are they making cheap tools or what? I've had handles break, things pop off, and even gasoline engines seize even with proper oil mixtures. Don't get me started on the lawnmowers...

With everything made abroad, this shouldn't be surprising, but even if made in America, I expect better.

[davestlouis]

My local Sears Hardware store is great...bring in the sick ratchet, or even just the damaged "guts" and they'll hand me the new gut kit, with gears, pawl, tang, the whole insert. I like to install my own in the handle so I can lubricate it while it's apart. They do stock refurbished ratchets on a rack near the register, but I refuse those...they are beat up, some have initials engraved on them, they're a mess. The new ratchets are nothing to jump up and down about either, except the Thin Profile line, so I just rebuild my old round head fine tooth Moore Drop Forge/Easco-style ratchets and keep on truckin'.

As far as the decline of Sears, tools are the only things I'll buy there anyway. Their basic tools are serviceable, but nothing special. Their higher-end tools are made by reputable manufacturers, like Danaher Tool Group, who also makes Matco, NAPA's nice line, Allen, K-D, etc. You just have to know what you're looking at. I think Danaher also makes their cheap ratchets, but they're building them down to a price point, and I can't stand the way they feel.

Do yourself, buy good ratchets, it's worth the extra $$.

[Yak]

You mean I can get a new kit and keep my matched set, highly polished ratchet?

I ran into the same "we'll trade your old one for maybe another old one, that may/may not be much better" deal at my local store. I went through their re-furb stock in the hope of finding a good one and pointed out several that didn't ratchet correctly. They simply put them back under the counter.

I'd be happy to rebuild my own. It just takes ring pliers to pop the clip, right?

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by Bondavi

Craftsman....the decline.

Is it me or are they making cheap tools or what? I've had handles break, things pop off, and even gasoline engines seize even with proper oil mixtures. Don't get me started on the lawnmowers...

With everything made abroad, this shouldn't be surprising, but even if made in America, I expect better.

That's why I go to garage sales and just buy the older Craftsman tools, before the decline.

[davestlouis]

They should stock kits for MOST ratchets. Some of the 60s era ones with the v-shaped selector lever are obsolete and there are no kits, but most of the newer ones are able to be serviced.

[davestlouis]

If Sears won't help you, NAPA sells rebuild kits, and a lot of the NAPA ratchets interchange with the Craftsman items, at least internally...the handles tend to be shaped differently. A gut kit will run $10 give or take.

[jplinville]

In store repairs are becoming the norm. You no longer get a new tape measure if the tape is broken, they replace the tape for you. Same with other hand tools.

Full replacements were costing the company way too much money due to idiots taking perfectly good tools and wanting a new one 'cause the old was as shiny as it used to be.

[jplinville]

Originally Posted by Bondavi

Craftsman....the decline.

Is it me or are they making cheap tools or what? I've had handles break, things pop off, and even gasoline engines seize even with proper oil mixtures. Don't get me started on the lawnmowers...

With everything made abroad, this shouldn't be surprising, but even if made in America, I expect better.

Check the new tools...made in china