Tool Truck Tools

[Bill C.]

Years ago I and my Dad like Craftsman tools. They used to have life time warranties. The last ratchet we had to break they issued a repair kit instead of a new one. I seldom buy Sears these days.

 

[markknx]

You should not have allowed them to issue you a repair kit. make them repair it! The same thing happened with their tape rulers. they started issuing the new red ones and then saying the red ones are not lifetime warranted. nobody complained. Everyone said well what can you do.I Tell them I bought it with a warranty, so it is still warrantied. Sometimes they give a new one but all they have is Stanley tapes now. One more reason I don't buy there any more. Sears tool and hardware store is as close as the big home improvement store to me.(all the same shopping area) I used to go to sears for all my stuff, now I go to the one with the made in USA sales.
Mark

 

[jmcghee]

I was a Snap On dealer from 02'-07' and sadly this is the way the company is going (has gone). Screwdriver handles are listed as "consumable" along with drill bits, taps & dies, etc meaning that the dealer can warranty them if he'd like, but only gets partial credit back (66 cents on the dollar) when he sends the broken one in. The dealer has to weigh how much money he wants to eat on warranties for strangers vs. customers on his list of calls. One screwdriver handle might not seem like much, but when you're sending in 5k/ week in warranties, it adds up in a hurry. The company hangs their dealers out to dry every chance they get, and care only about answering to shareholders. Every company employee (dealers are franchises) is terrified for their job, and for good reason. Once upon a time Snap On had the best product and best service at a premium price. These days they have a few things that are still better then the competition, but fewer and fewer as time goes on and more of it comes from overseas (their "Made in the USA" brag is at best a technicality at this point) and on average have easily the worst customer service compared to Mac/Matco/Cornwell.

 

[David S]

It is a real shame that once famous company names are letting their products go down the sewer hole. It seems like a race to the bottom, in order to "increase share holder value".

Our company would licence our company name to some third party folks, with very little due diligence that their product was up to our brand name.

When we see stuff branded with company names that we have come to trust in the past, there is no insurance that we will get the same product quality and reliability today.

While I hope this trend will turn around... I am not too confident.

David

 

[GA Gyro]

IMO it is our whole society...

Somehow we have lost our morals... and decided $$$ (money) will buy happiness, love, etc...
And as a mature person knows... not particularly so.

However.... this thread is headed towards a political/social discussion... which HM forums prefers to not host... so this will be my last comment on the subject.

 

[GLCarlson]

Yes it is snap-on. Sure is ALOT of trouble to get something warranted

A local rumor (unsubstantiated) is that Snap-on is making the Kobalt line for Lowes. If so, that may be a way to get adequate quality without paying for a warranty that may disappear a few decades later. I'm mindful of the Craftsman debacle; just try to get a warranty replacement out of K-sears these days. But the tools were pretty good quality, and hold up decently regardless.

 

[great white]

Dunno about everyone else, but every warranty ratchet handle I've ever had they've always tried to install a kit first.

Only time I've gotten complete replacements is when my tools are so old they no longer stock a ratchet repair kit.

My last one was a 1/2" drive torque wrench. Had it since I was 14 years old. The ratchet assembly finally let go and they didn't have a kit. So they gave me a new one.

Seemed like a good deal, the original lasted 36 years. I'd call that acceptable service from a Crappy Tire "Mastercraft" brand tool....

 

[MARVIN GARDENS]

So is the bottom line everything depends on your driver? I inherited a couple of Snap-On roll-around boxes full of tools from my diesel mechanic cousin. I had quite a bit of Snap-On before. There are still tools that I need when a project calls for them but the Snap-On driver won't come by my residential shop. The old driver would and I bought from him. There have been some purchases of eBay "new" Snap-On tools but some of the unpackaged ones look like possible returns to me.

My normal auto work is the restoration and maintenance of 1955-1957 Ford Thunderbirds. The next in the rotation is a 1958 Mack truck and it may call for some tools I don't own. I would be willing to switch to a different brand/vendor but don't like to buy Chinese tools and don't know know if the service with other brands is any better than Snap-On. I am open to recommendations.

Best regards.

Bob

 

[MARVIN GARDENS]

A local rumor (unsubstantiated) is that Snap-on is making the Kobalt line for Lowes. If so, that may be a way to get adequate quality without paying for a warranty that may disappear a few decades later. I'm mindful of the Craftsman debacle; just try to get a warranty replacement out of K-sears these days. But the tools were pretty good quality, and hold up decently regardless.

I have looked at Kobalt tools a couple of times when in Lowes. Apparently, if you register, they will even replace lost pieces. I ave always assumed Kobalt was made in China. The quality seemed pretty decent when I handled it and there is a Lowes a quarter of mile from my house.

Maybe that is where the tool truck drives want us to buy wrenches?

I have no experience with Kobalt hand tools but would like to hear from folks that do.

Thanks.

Bob

 

[WisJim]

I have tools made by a wide variety of companies and the last broken or worn out tool that needed replacement was a Craftsman ratchet that I had bought at a garage sale a few years ago. The Sears store employee looked it up, took my name and address and the broken tool and I got a new one in the mail before the week was over.