Craftsman tool returns

[FatWheels]

I got out my little battery charger and washing soda the other day as I picked up a nice craftsman 3/8" quick release ratchet at the pawn shop for a buck. I got it because it was frozen stiffer'n a mackeral with rust and crud. The guy who sold it to me said, "goin' to Sears, huh?" and I had to puzzle out what he meant. Anyway, after several long . . . errmmmm seconds I realized his intent. I guess my brain doesn't work that way but perhaps everyone else tumbles to it quicker than me.

Now, I do use return policies when I think it's fair as in the time I returned a set of Harbor Freight taps because the 10-24 straight tap I started with looked like a spiral flute tap halfway into the hole. Even I can heat treat butter better than that, I just use my freezer. However, my ethics keep my from using Sears like a tool cage. I talked to a counter man at Sears one time and he said he's had people return nailguns after roofing jobs and the stated dissatisfaction with the tool was quote, "it's the wrong color!" It seems it's alright to be crooked if it's just against someone with deeper pockets than yourself. Oh well, what do you all say?

By the way, the rust removal works great. It freed up the ratchet and after a nice soak in wd-40 it now resides in my tool box. Problem is, too much stuff follows me home as is. Now being able to de-rust may lead to more trouble than the rust causes. Also, I freed up a couple of seized up crescent wrenches while I was at it.

Cheers,

Jim

[PHiers]

For what it is worth I agree with you. To buy a old tool from a pawn shop and then go to Sears to get it replaced is completely dishonest in my (not) so humble opinion!

[CCWKen]

Yep, collecting stuff sort of gets into your blood. I'm about knee deep in hand tools so I go after the bigger items. Yesterday, I was on one of my regular visits to the salvage yard and came across something I just couldn't leave. When I saw it in a pile of other scrap, I thought it was a blower for a forge. Pulled it out and couldn't believe what I was holding. Turned out to be an only slightly used H1C Hoset Turbo (Cummins Turbo Technologies). Cost me about $2.30.

[Scishopguy]

I agree, it is not fair to take advantage of a place like Sears (even if their actions sometimes warrant it) just because you can get away with it. I noticed, about ten years ago, that an awful lot of craftsman screwdrivers were showing up in the flea markets down here. The guys selling them told everyone that you could just take em back to Sears and get a new one. I found out(by the rumor mill) that someone had bought a whole bunch of manufacturers seconds and was marketing them to the flea market crowd. Too bad that kind of mentality always wins out. That is probably the kids these days would rather look for a "hook up" rather than to pay for something like the rest of us.

I am looking forward to using the derusting trick. I frequent junk yards, flea markets, and scrap dealers with an eye for things that can be fixed and put into use for my shop. There is just a bit of satisfaction to rebuilding or repairing something.

[BigBoy1]

Has any one returned a broken tool Sears via mail? My "local" Sears store is about 75 miles away and I really can't see driving there to return a broken tap handle. The pot metal body cracked in three places and fell apart. Yes, I have been doing a lot of tapping lately! Thanks.

Bill

[Tin Falcon]

This is a little bit of a thought provoker and could lead to an ethics discussion.
IMHO sears encourages such behavior to some extent. Case in point. Several years ago I purchased a Craftman 8 oz Soft faced hammer at a flea market. The hammer was in good shape the replaceable pop off faces were beat up. OK no big deal. So I went to the large sears store near the flea market to puchase replacements . No replacement faces in stock. IIRC they were rearanging the tool dept so stock levels were low.I did some research, the hammer is a vaughn and MSC caries the replacements. So I called the local Sears to inquire about buying replacements there. There responce, bring in the hammer we will give you a new one. So do I put in an MSC order and pay shipping or drive to sears ? I drove to sears and got the new hammer!!
Another thought along similar lines. Some folks are bottom feeding scum suckers when it comes to tools and return policies. I needed powered hand drill and driver to re-do my parents deck. I did not have them at the time and was inquiring to borrow them from "friends" . The advise I got? Go to sears or home depot get what you need use it and return it when you are done. It will not cost you anything!! Yeah it will!! if lots of folks have that attitude it jacks the prices up just like us having to pay for loss due to shrinkage. Shrinkage : a term retail operators use for loss due to employee theft and shoplifting. As for the drill and driver I bought what I needed got my mom to pitch in a few bucks and I still have them.
Tin

[dan s]

That is probably the kids these days would rather look for a "hook up" rather than to pay for something like the rest of us.

I find your comment midley insulting, considering last time I checked no age group could lay claim to the moral high ground.

[Scishopguy]

I find your comment midley insulting, considering last time I checked no age group could lay claim to the moral high ground.

Sorry Dan, no insult intended. I just see too much of it living in a college town, where the average age is about 25. I had a real hard time with my own kid trying to teach him what is right and wrong because all his "buds" were always bragging about getting hook ups from their friends who worked at restaurants. Free food for all your friends. I know that my generation has plenty of dishonest folks. Hell, I deal with them any time I have to hire anything done. It is a rare and happy thing to find someone who is not trying to rip you off these days.

[lynnl]

This problem is not just limited to Sears' tool return policy by any means. I've heard numerous disgusting examples from friends who had worked or spouses worked at retail outlets with liberal return policies: People buying big ticket (relatively) items like TV's, appliances, etc. and using them for a period, then returning them to go pull the same scam at some other outlet. One coworker's wife managed a Service Merchandise store here locally, and he said after a time you start seeing a pattern developing with certain people, ...buying, but then always returning, in an obviously used condition, then a few months later buying the same thing again.

Yep, we all end up paying for that kind of thing in one way or another. Makes you wonder about the mentality of some of these high lever managers.
I bought a pocket knife several years ago from WalMart... it was a Schrade as I recall, the Uncle Henry, or Uncle <somebody> model. And it came with a certificate that you were to register with the knife company, and they guaranteed replacement if you LOSE it. Now how's that for a fraud setup!!
(I still have mine BTW. ...and only the one!! )

Certainly, replacement for a tool that breaks is a good marketing strategy. But replacing a rusty one...?? Rediculous!

[rantbot]

I had a Craftsman socket attachment split in half. One half flew into the woods and I was left with the other half, which said "AFTSMAN" on it - the "C" was lost with the other part in the woods. The guy at Sears mused for a few seconds - "... I don't know; I don't think we cover Aftsman ..."

Just joking on a slow day; he exchanged it. I haven't busted the replacement yet.