GearWrench Heads Up

JamesMcD wrote:

irish44j wrote:

JamesMcD wrote:

irish44j wrote: I know many people hate craftsman, but this kind of thing is exactly why I buy craftsman hand tools. The warranty is always honored with no trouble. I once (in an emergency) had to use a 3/8" drive craftsman torque wrench as a breaker bar. After applying my entire body weight to it repeatedly, I eventually sheared of the little nub that holds the socket. oops. It was 4 years old. Took it into Sears, no receipt, told them I sheard it off. They didn't have a 3/8 in stock so they just swapped it for a new 1/2" drive one, with an apology. win. I've also brought at least 5 super-rusty or broken screwdrivers in, a few wrenches, and a wratchet that I had used as a BFH. All were replaced no questions asked. And Sears is 5 miles from me. I can put up with certain craftsman tools being so-so strength/quality, because I can afford to have 3 of them on-hand and know I can always get a new one free.

Craftsman officially does not cover torque wrenches under the lifetime warranty. I had one that broke fatally upon my first attempted use (which was proper), tried to return it, and they told me it was not covered and I was SOL. This was a $90 torque wrench that didn't do a lick of work, and the counter lady condescendingly told me that I shouldn't be too upset because I could now use it as breaker-bar.

I guess your sears isn't as nice. Yeah, I know it wasn't warrantied - that was my point in that they did it anyways since they see me a couple times a month and know I buy tools :)

You said "The warranty is always honored with no trouble." and proceeded to tell a story about a torque wrench. Now you're saying "Yeah, I know it wasn't warrantied," Not trying to bust your balls...I just wanted to make the point that torque wrenches DO NOT fall under the Craftsman lifetime warranty (and there are other things, too) so as to give a further heads-up to GRM readership.

truth, sorry I wasn't clear. The warranty reference was to the other standard hand tools (screwdrivers, wrenches, etc). I think the torque wrench and certain other more complicated hand tools have a 1-year warranty, but could be wrong.

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I hope this helps.

irish44j wrote: I know many people hate craftsman, but this kind of thing is exactly why I buy craftsman hand tools. The warranty is always honored with no trouble. I once (in an emergency) had to use a 3/8" drive craftsman torque wrench as a breaker bar. After applying my entire body weight to it repeatedly, I eventually sheared of the little nub that holds the socket. oops. It was 4 years old. Took it into Sears, no receipt, told them I sheard it off. They didn't have a 3/8 in stock so they just swapped it for a new 1/2" drive one, with an apology. win. I've also brought at least 5 super-rusty or broken screwdrivers in, a few wrenches, and a wratchet that I had used as a BFH. All were replaced no questions asked. And Sears is 5 miles from me. I can put up with certain craftsman tools being so-so strength/quality, because I can afford to have 3 of them on-hand and know I can always get a new one free.

Torque wrenches are no longer (if they ever were) covered under the lifetime warranty.
Snap On has never questioned me on a warranty part, even when there was still part of a cheater bar welded to the breaker bar.