double drive screwdrivers

[Bob Sliwinski]

Howdy,
Just received a Kobalt "double drive" screwdriver set as a gift. What some crap, small screwdriver don't work at all (just freewheels in drive position), and large driver won't "double drive" when torque is applied. I had been hinting about this tool since I saw it on TV, my wife had a friend in Milw buy it and send it to her. I don't know how much she spent on it but shipping alone cost $11.75 to get it to me. What junk, and what do I do with it?---No receipt! How can crap like this have a US patent? It's made in China!
Bob S.
 

[pete black]

kobalt has a non-hassel guarantee, return it, without a receipt they will give you an in store cash card. i too looked at it the other day, was not impressed with it. another yuppie tool.
 

[Bob Huntress]

Bob, it sounds like you wanted her to get it for you? I got a couple of Kobalt tools, though not that. I've found them to be as good as anyone else's. I have their 6 in 1 driver. It does fine, and I use it at work. How bad can this double driver be? It sounds like those old Yankee screwdrivers, which I was never a fan of, but, it had to have some interest for you, as you say that you hinted about it. I also have a facing trowel, but I only use that around the house.
 

[Fergienewbee]

I have a Kobalt socket set that works fine for anything I am mechanically capable of fixing. Been using them to expand my dog kennel.

Larryi
 

[George Marsh]

Lowes has been good to me when returning items, I returned lawn sprinklers with no receipt.

They may give you an in store credit or replace it.
 

[M-MAN]

If it don't work take it to any Lowes and they will hand you a new one. Can't get any simpler than that.
 

[Tom in TN]

Bob,

This is advice from an old man who has been married for more than 50 years.

Regardless of whether or not the tool works, the much more important thing is to thank and praise your wife for obtaining the tool for you. She needs to be loved and spoken kindly to about her thoughtfulness.

If you can exchange the tool at Lowe's or not doesn't make a bit of difference in the larger picture. I have quite few tools that my family has bought for me that I seldom (if ever) use, but they don't have any idea that it isn't absolutely the best thing I've ever received.

Love her. She's more important than any tool that has ever been made.

At least, that's this old man's perspective.

Tom in TN
 

[Brian G. NY]

Tom,

With age comes wisdom! Well. that's the way it is supposed to work anyway.
A lot of young people would be wise to print your posting and use it as a guideline for living.
I too have been married for over 50 years and I strive to use the wisdom gained over all those years.
I'm probably not as good at it as you, but I do try!! I hope others will take your fine advice.
If you are a grandaddy, I bet your grandkids are proud of you.
 

[Lanse]

Tom DOES have some really good advice...

That being said, if it doesn't work, just exchange it for one that does. I worked at Tractor Supply and even with no reciept, we exchanged broken things all the time. Even if it looked liked user error, if its for some chinese widget that cost ten cents to make, we would do it because it made the customer happy and they'd be back for something else later on. I knew when things had been abused, but most people who worked there dont know tools thus didnt know.

Im sure Lowe's has the same policy.

Id have them exchange it for something identical, and just never tell her. lol.
 

[Bob S.]

Howdy Guys,
Good advice, and I agree, but I didn"t want to write a short story so I gave the Readers Digest version. My wife does not drive anymore, I keep driving to a minimum because of poor eyesight, the nearest Lowes is over 60 miles away. She called a friend in Milw and had her buy it and ship it to us. The tool does not work right out of the box and I sure don"t want to try another, as I said the postage is $11.75 each time. She feels bad, I feel bad, and to top it off her friend bought one for her husband at the same time because I said it looked like a great tool.I already have a 100 screw drivers so that is not a big deal but with a wife and 4 kids always asking "the man that has everything", "what do you want for Christmas,birthday,fathers day, etc", you know what I mean, they won"t take "nothing" for an answer. Beleive me, if any of us had money to burn I"d ask for a cottage on a lake, but we don"t so I thought a screwdriver might have been a good sugestion.
Bob S.
 

[Goose]

I agree. My wife of (now) 47 years once bought me a dehydrator for making jerky, etc. It had no heating element, and the directions said the meat had to be cooked first. What the heck? The unit was worthless.

I bought a new unit on the sly that was what I wanted and looked similar. My wife never knew the difference.