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?

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2018 Subaru Crosstrek (Mine)
2019 Subaru Outback (Wife's)
1979 300CD (sold)

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.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

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.

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95 E300D gave away
77 300D, 227k, station car
83 300CD 370k, body gone away to the rust gods, engine is in a Yota pickup, going strong
89 190E 2.6- 335k, no more
79 VW FI Bus- 154k summer driver
59 VW Beetle ragtop- 175k
12 VW Jetta- 250k
74 MG Midget-78k

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.

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

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.

"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.

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.

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 $$.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

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

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

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.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

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.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

Check the new tools...made in china

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Next on the list is returning the 1/4" drive rachet, as it ships too often, but only in one direction....if I could get a rebuild kit I'd be happy to fix it my self. If not, I'll be going for a new one.

I'd just as soon keep what I have because the finish on the old ones is better than the 'identical' new ones- edges were eased where on the new ones they are sharp and uncomfortable.

__________________
95 E300D gave away
77 300D, 227k, station car
83 300CD 370k, body gone away to the rust gods, engine is in a Yota pickup, going strong
89 190E 2.6- 335k, no more
79 VW FI Bus- 154k summer driver
59 VW Beetle ragtop- 175k
12 VW Jetta- 250k
74 MG Midget-78k

Don't look now but even Snap On is gradually moving production to Asia...so that $80 3/8in drive ratchet may not have a country of origin on it...I'd hate to spend "tool truck" money for imported tools. I have a tiny little MAC MR4C 1/4 inch drive ratchet that doesn't say Made in USA anywhere on it...$58 retail on the truck, and I assume it's Taiwanese. Beautifully made and works just fine, but $58??? (I didn't pay retail, I did some horse-trading).

I have watched Sears quality drop for years, and the level of service I have gotten in most of their stores is shameful. For the moment anyway, some of their tools are still a good value, and well made. The allure of Sears has always been the warranty, and if that changes, there's no reason to shop there.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics