Craftsman Tools

[Meangreen]

Does Craftsman still honor the lifetime warranty of "if it breaks, we'll replace it for free no questions asked?"

I know the brand has changed hands since the Sears days and it's been since then when I last returned a broken tool. If not, I'll just replace with something else.

 

[GChief]

Google is your friend!

Their site says they do for hand tools and something about model #'s starting with "CMHT" and "9" numbers that I didn't dig into.

 

[Jim.ME]

Some places with Craftsman tools do some don't from what I have seen. About all you can do is try. I am pretty sure this has been discussed several times here. If you do a search here for Craftsman Tools, I think you will find a number of threads on the subject to review.

 

[chvet73]

I have had Lowe’s honor the warranty. Exchanged a few sockets with no problem.

 

[kencombs]

Mixed bag at retailers, some do, some require the specific part number to be in stock before swapping, some just don't.

But, I've contacted them through their web site and got a new ratchet by mail.. They're owned by Stanley Black and Decker and all the correspondence I got was from the Black and Decker address.

Craftsman.com, scroll to the bottom and select customer support and follow the menu/prompts. Probably not worth the effort for a socket or two, but for an newish higher quality ratchet it was.

 

[Steven Allen]

I have had Lowe’s honor the warranty. Exchanged a few sockets with no problem.

Me, too, when they have replacements in stock.

 

[hurleyjd]

The Lowes where I shop will if you have a receipt that shows you bought it there so in other words no they do not honor the warranty. Harbor freight has some good tools with a good warranty. I never break any just lose them.

 

[johndeeregreg]

Broke off 1 side our 3/4 inch breaker bar where the square drive pivots a couple years ago, couldn't find anyone that could warranty it and the craftsman website wasn't any help so I finally welded the pieces together and replaced the pin with a bolt and nut just last week. It got replaced with a John Deere breaker bar after I couldn't get it warrantied so now the craftsman one is the back up.

 

[stevieb49829]

Broke off 1 side our 3/4 inch breaker bar where the square drive pivots a couple years ago, couldn't find anyone that could warranty it and the craftsman website wasn't any help so I finally welded the pieces together and replaced the pin with a bolt and nut just last week. It got replaced with a John Deere breaker bar after I couldn't get it warrantied so now the craftsman one is the back up.

I did the same for my broken Snap On breaker bar - welded the swivel up solid. After they shipped me a brand new one, no questions asked. Now I have a spare, too.

 

[M-MAN]

The Ace hardware store I use honors the warranty. I've had them hand me what was in stock and order stuff that wasn't.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

Ace hardware carries Craftsman and I took one in for replacement. They would only replace if it's an item they stock in the store.

 

[MeanGene1]

I've been using Craftsman hand and power tools since the early 60's and have never broken anything

 

[Loosehandle]

Does Craftsman still honor the lifetime warranty of "if it breaks, we'll replace it for free no questions asked?"

I know the brand has changed hands since the Sears days and it's been since then when I last returned a broken tool. If not, I'll just replace with something else.

Not in my experience, they have a list of excuses.

 

[GChief]

Again, Google is your friend!
Why all to speculation?

I have showed retailers by part number on the site why I am do a new one.

That said they do have some flexibility in what they honor, thats when you mail it in.

Warranty

Get warranty information on your CRAFTSMAN® products at Craftsman.com. CRAFTSMAN® products are backed by some of the strongest warranties on the market today.

www.craftsman.com

 

[kencombs]

Again, Google is your friend!
Why all to speculation?

I have showed retailers by part number on the site why I am do a new one.

That said they do have some flexibility in what they honor, thats when you mail it in.

Warranty

Get warranty information on your CRAFTSMAN® products at Craftsman.com. CRAFTSMAN® products are backed by some of the strongest warranties on the market today.

www.craftsman.com

This is copied from the 'official' SBD Craftsman site referenced:
CRAFTSMAN® tools are backed by some of the strongest warranties in the market today. If you have a product that requires repair or replacement under warranty, simply return the product to the original place of purchase for repair or replacement, depending on the warranty coverage outlined below. Or create an account to register your product and view its warranty coverage.

The red is only true if it is a currently sold product, or recent production. Part numbers no longer in the system will not be honored at most retailers, but it does vary by location, even with the same retailer brand.

I know this from first hand experience. A pre-SBD Craftsman tool warranty will most likely not be honored by Lowes for instance. So that official information is not correct, at least not entirely. The original seller doesn't exist for most such tools.

Immediately after the SBD purchase of the brand, they made a big deal of honoring the 'lifetime satisfaction' warranty. But promptly realized how large the potential liability could become and backtracked. That promise is no longer in any SBD publication I can find.

Don't blame them at all though. Who should expect tools sold by Sears in the 60s-70s-etc to be warrantied by SBD. The mistake was stating they would and could, then changing.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Craftsman still honor the lifetime warranty of "if it breaks, we'll replace it for free no questions asked?"

I know the brand has changed hands since the Sears days and it's been since then when I last returned a broken tool. If not, I'll just replace with something else.

Ace Hardware sells craftsman tool.
Go talk to them. I think craftsman tools are still under warranty at 'Ace.
Post back if Ace doesn't honor the craftsman warranty.

 

[Gambles]

My mailing address town has a population of about 600 people. It also has an Ace hardware store that employs a total of three people, closes at noon on Saturday and the doors are shut on Sunday. It also sells Craftsman tools.
A few years ago, I came across a 1/4” Craftsman ratchet that was beyond repair. I showed it to the owner of the hardware store and asked him about any warranty. He said that he would take care of it. I asked him if his decision was of goodwill or if the Craftsman warranty would give him a free replacement. He said it was warranted and would cost him nothing.
I got a warranted new ratchet a few days later and no receipt was needed.

 

[Meangreen]

This is copied from the 'official' SBD Craftsman site referenced:
CRAFTSMAN® tools are backed by some of the strongest warranties in the market today. If you have a product that requires repair or replacement under warranty, simply return the product to the original place of purchase for repair or replacement, depending on the warranty coverage outlined below. Or create an account to register your product and view its warranty coverage.

The red is only true if it is a currently sold product, or recent production. Part numbers no longer in the system will not be honored at most retailers, but it does vary by location, even with the same retailer brand.

I know this from first hand experience. A pre-SBD Craftsman tool warranty will most likely not be honored by Lowes for instance. So that official information is not correct, at least not entirely. The original seller doesn't exist for most such tools.

Immediately after the SBD purchase of the brand, they made a big deal of honoring the 'lifetime satisfaction' warranty. But promptly realized how large the potential liability could become and backtracked. That promise is no longer in any SBD publication I can find.

Don't blame them at all though. Who should expect tools sold by Sears in the 60s-70s-etc to be warrantied by SBD. The mistake was stating they would and could, then changing.

I may just be out of luck as my socket wrench was purchased back in the Sears days about 20 years ago. May try Ace as it's a lot closer to me than Lowes. Won't blame them if they don't replace it.

 

[GChief]

I may just be out of luck as my socket wrench was purchased back in the Sears days about 20 years ago. May try Ace as it's a lot closer to me than Lowes. Won't blame them if they don't replace it.

Go to the Craftsman site, you can probably send it in.

 

[AlabamaDan]

The problem is that if you find someone that will replace them, you’ll get a made in china version in return. I guess a Chinese made tool is better than a broken tool though. I remember back in the days of old, we had a bucket sitting in the corner of the shop and everytime we broke a tool (all craftsman) we would toss it in the bucket and about once a year we would drive to Birmingham and exchange them all at sears. A working farm is rough on tools!