I did not show a receipt at any of these stores and I did not tell them any story about what happened. Just walked in and said, "I need a warranty replacement".
That's easy for the employee to just do an exchange and mark it as broken for the return to vendor label. Your information is desirable to prevent systemic abuse by exceeding the quantity/time frame quota by the vendor.
Thank you again. Another great video. I have enough ratchets to last me until I retire, so I was watching for enjoyment / entertainment. Your video was both.
I dont mind if the store does a bit of record keeping as long as they dont try to interrogate me on how it broke so they can weasel out of replacement. "will make it right no matter what" - I am willing to give the guy some time
You are correct. I always use craftsman tools and Sears sold the brand. I have hard time getting replace at Lowest store. Now I moving toward tekton tools.
Worked at homedepot in tools. People would weld stuff on ratchets or come in missing half the tool it didn't matter always gave them the closest replacement and got them out as soon as possible. All you had to do was scan the new item with your scanner gun thing and mark it as a warranty item then throw the old one away. Tool section manager later personaly decided we had to throw old warranty stuff in this drawer by key machine.
One more reason I decided to go with Carlyle as my go-to tool brand. Napa is everywhere (at least in my region), absolute hassle free warranty for tools that feel far better in quality than their price suggests.
A few years ago I called AAA for a flat tire (for medical reasons I have been told not to do those things). The guy who showed up pulled out a HF cordless impact and quickly handled things. I commented on the HF cordless impact had to make his life easier and questioned how well in held up. His reply was I change about 8 tires a day, these thing last about 8 months so when it breaks I take it back to HF. The store manager keeps one in the back at all times so they will have one to warranty replace my broken (totally worn out) one. He then laughed saying he went to HF to buy something a few days ago and before he found what he was after they handed him a new cordless impact.
Harbor Freight (HB) Cashier: “I don’t do warranty returns.” The Tool Bear (TB): Oh really? (The TB quickly removes his cell phone presses speed dial #9) Eric L. Smidt: Only one person has this number. The Tool Bear must be in trouble! “Yes TB what is it.” “I see” “Wait right their” Eric hopes onto company helicopter and flies to TB’s location. Makes the cashier make the return and then fires them. “You don’t disrespect the Tool Bear”
I’ve only been hassled twice on a very few warrant claims over 40 years, both on broken tape measures .One at Sears one at Home Depot . Both young guys and I asked for another person to replace. “What did you do to it” ,I recall.
"Lifetime Warranty" has taken on a whole new meaning at Lowes when it comes to Craftsman brand tools. I went in to exchange a 4 inch, round shank, flat blade Craftsman screwdriver and the only thing they had that was comparable was a 6 inch size of the same style screwdriver. I carried them both up to the tool desk and the guy told me, "we're only supposed to do warranty exchange for the exact same item," to which I said, "so, if you don't stock the exact same item on the shelf, then your 'lifetime warranty' is worthless?" To which he says "essentially, yes." Then he took the old tool from me and laid it on the counter, and took the new screwdriver and pulled the tag and shelf hanger off of it and said, "just put it in your pocket and have a nice day, I'll take care of it." From this exchange, I would suggest to everyone out there to never buy a Craftsman tool if you are banking on the same warranty that Sears used to give. This nice fellow also told me that he has been instructed not to warranty any Craftsman tools that have "rust" on them, and to not warranty any Craftsman tape measures. So there you go, the Craftsman warranty is worthless. You will be much better served to buy Harbor Freight tools since their warranty actually means something. I will never buy anything else with the Craftsman brand on it.
Last year the Lowe's here let me "trade in'' a functioning, cheapo Craftsman for store credit - then I just picked out one of the nicer, polished, flex-head Craftsman ratchets and paid the difference. They didn't seem to care.
About 45 years ago, a friend of mine found a large Sears Craftsman plumbers wrench in the alley behind his Chicago apartment. It was old, broken, and totally rusted from top to bottom. He brought it to the local Sears store, and even without a receipt he was promptly given a new one, no questions asked.
My mechanic who has been wrenching for about 60 years said he tells the new kids to go out and buy all of their tools from Harbor Freight. He said as they break or get lost then they will begin to get a feel for which ones they need to invest more money in.
Interesting. My local NAPA doesn't honored the Evercraft warranty. I was told to have my original receipt and price tag to my tool. Something I didn't have after purchasing my tool 6 years prior.
I’ve had a mix bag at Home Depot. I’ve replaced a couple of screwdrivers (husky brand) and it’s been pretty painless, just went a grabbed another and they replaced it. Not so much when I took a hammer, it had a fiberglass handle and it was cracked, One store said no because they didn’t carry that model anymore, so I took it to another store and they pushed back a little bit replaced it after about 10-15 minutes.
I know you say you don't like Napa but you need to try their Carlyle stuff get one of their catalogs it puts Snap-on to shame one of their Parts and Equipment catalog not the monthly Flyers
I am a huge Duralast fan. I work at a local heavy duty mechanics shop, and whether you want to admit it or not, stuff at that level, will break. I don't care if you have hyper-tough, Craftsman or Snap-on. I find myself always going to or driving past an Autozone, so their Duralast tools were a good choice. The way I found out about their return policy, is I was doing a brake job on my truck, and needed brake grease for the pad kit I bought online. While I was there, I picked up their T55 torx head socket because I knew I needed on. I was using it on a craftsman ratchet, blew the guts out of that ratchet and lollipopped the torx head. I went to ACE where I heard I could get Craftsman tools. They handed me a 5 page document asking if I had taken care of the tool, if it was maintained properly and whatnot. On the last page, it asked, was I a professional mechanic. I am. They wouldn't cover it if I was, so I checked no. And finally they stated, if i lied, I could be found under perjury of law. All of this BS For a $20 ratchet. I threw the ratchet on the ground and left. I needed a new caliper bolt from Autozone, so I went back to pick up the bolts, and also attempted to warrantee the torx head. I showed it to them, they asked me to grab a new one off the shelf. When i brought it up, they said; "have a nice day. Hope that one works better." No questions, no comments, just a simple return policy. I quickly went back to the aisle and got a ratchet which is also under the same warrantee and fell in love with their ratchet as well. Now most of my box is Duralast and the stuff that isn't is stuff that they just don't have like taps and dies, Square head sockets and really long ratchets. Most of which I go with snap-on or another respectable brand. Sorry for the long story, just figured I would share my Autozone experience.
Should have taken the ratchet to Lowe's. They'll exchange with few-to-no questions asked. I actually traded-in an old, crappy "Craftsman Industrial" ratchet that came in an inexpensive set (from a job I had over a decade ago) at my local Lowe's last year. The ratchet 'worked' (barely ever used it, honestly), but was just bottom-tier, cheaply-made Craftsman. Lowe's gave me credit for that ratchet (credited me the price of a new, 'cheap' Craftsman) and let me put that credit towards the purchase of the nicer, Taiwan-made, flex head, 'Craftsman Professional'. I'll have to keep the DURALAST tools in mind. I'm fleshing-out my 3/8" ratchet collection and have been buying one or two ratchets of different brands and price points to compare.
Thank you bear I’ve bin trying to decide if I’m going to stick with craftsman or move to harbor freight icon I’ve heard good things about them and the price is right
The Den of Tools the accuracy of the bear makes me believe you are using some high end software and probably hardware. I’m a union ironworker by trade. Have never animated a thing in my life. But my guess is you are using something owned by your day employer.
Went in Lowes one time to replace a garden hose that leaked around the fitting. It was years old but I had saved the receipt. The lady called a man to see how to do this and he said there was no lifetime warranty. I thought I was wrong but something told me to read the label which I also had. I said well then what does this mean, pointing to the part that read "lifetime warranty". He said well I guess it does and directed me to the hose section. I got a new one and went on my way after the scanning and everything.
Thanks bear for as always a great vid. Returned a 3/8" Craftsman fine tooth ratchet set twice at Sears years ago. They would install a rebuild kit while you waited. Best time is when they did not have a rebuild kit and gave me a better ratchet. Like they say Lowes blows. They suck returning Craftsman tools. Have to check out NAPA for next tool purchase. They closed the closest 3 Sears from me so know would have to go to another state and pay $5 bridge toll.
I haven't purchased any tools from Napa but they deliver parts and things like fuses to our dealership any time we call and they told me they would also deliver any replacement tool that broke in just a few minutes if they had it in stock. I'm mighty tempted to go see if there's anything I just have to have because no questions asked and free instant delivery is pretty hard to beat
I work in auto parts store, sometimes we have to ask seemingly dumb questions like that because it actually matters. Two-door and four-door Chrysler Sebring have different parts and they're both completely different vehicles than the Sebring convertible. If your Jeep or Mitsubishi says "sport" it's not the same as a non-sport. If you order brakes and I asked about your engine it's because the brake size depends on the engine size.
Hey, I work in the hardware department at home depot. Here's a tip to make it way faster next time. When you go up to the service desk; tell them that you want to speak to a hardware associate. Don't bring up the exchange right from the get go. Explain that you need a exchange to the hardware associate and they will take it from there facilitating the process. The service desk associate still has to do the transaction, but most service desk associates have no idea what tools are or look like so they are slow as hell.
Home Depot gave me a problem when I tried to replace a husky 1/2 inch breaker bar. The return lady had to call a manager and the manager had to call the tool guy and then I got a new one.
I keep kobalt sockets and ratchet wrenches cause our lowes does a no questions asked thing. And its across the street from our shop. Walk in at lunch with a broken wrench, they thow it on the counter tell ys to grab another one and come back. They'll rip the tag off and send ya out the door with a new wrench in less than 10 minutes.
Kinda the same experience at the depot... went in there and cashier gal was about to take her coffee break...so she kinda gave me the look and she didn't know what to do... after 3 min she finally said "just get another one and bring it here", ..not so painless experience but not too bad either...
"I don't do warranty stuff." Nah, you'll just ring it up as a no receipt return, get an override from leader on duty, scan the new one, hit the end return button, scan the new one again (so it comes out of inventory) and that's it. Sign the receipt and you're good to go. I might work at a Harbor Freight.
i returned my icon 1/2 flex back to harbor freight, i stripped one of the star-bit screws, and i assume i overgreased it because the pawl was stuck and wouldn't come loose to grab onto the ratcheting mechanism. they did not have the same one on hand and ended up getting a refund over it. No questions that i can remember 50/50 satisfied
Got a friggin Oregon electric corded chainsaw for Christmas. Tried taking it back to home depot for something useful and was DENIED. They changed the no receipt returns on February 20th(?) but this was in January. Another contact the manufacture scenario...
I found a Kobalt 3/8" drive 10 mm socket that I lost a long time ago. It was on the floor, under my tool box, behind a wheel, and I don't remember how long it had been missing (I bought a new one back then), so it wasn't exactly broken, but it was rusty as hell. The guy at the Lowes Customer Service Desk had no idea how to process a warranty return, but there was a young woman behind him looking over his shoulder who walked him through it. This guy did the return by the book (literally as he and the young lady were referring to a manual) and apparently their return policy is to write up a store credit and place it on a gift card. THEN they wrote up the new socket as a sale and paid for it using the gift card, handed me the new socket and wished me a pleasant day. Total time spent ... about 8 to ten minutes, most of which was spent standing there as the dude learned how to do the return. But they were very pleasant about it and asked me no questions about how it got so freaking rusty. Now I have an extra 10 mm socket and who couldn't use a few of those?
I took a broken Kobalt 3/8 ratchet back to Lowes and the head cashier at the customer service counter demanded a receipt which I did not take especially since I had already spoke to corporate seeing as the wrench was constantly out of stock and was told that they had found one in store and they were putting it aside for me. Luckily I ran into the Assistant Store Manager and asked him about it and he said no problem and told Customer Service to do it. then when I got back home I found an email from corporate so I replied asking how this could be a no hassle lifetime warranty When I was being hassled at the store.
These have been very timely for me. I lost a BUNCH of top quality tools to rust when my storage leaked. I began buying used SO and a few Matco tools on craigslist. But, I am now looking to other possible sources, thanks to these sorts of vids. Mahalo. As far as odd places to meet single women, I'm going back now to the late 1970s. I lived in Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii. Very busy and visitor oriented. A half block down and a block over from my apt, there was the most famous local gay bar, Hula's. Still going, but moved to the other end of the strip. Back then, is was a cool place, literally, as it was outdoors with a big banyan tree over it, all enclosed in wood and bamboo walls. Kinda kitch tiki bar style. I liked it. I had no laundry facilities at my apt, so I schlepped the laundry to an apt. that had some, and it was almost across the st. from Hula's. So, why not go over an get a beer while I wait. At first the regulars hit on me a bit, (I was 6'4", good looking and tan and fit) but their not-gaydar was generally pretty good and it was never a problem. Well, after a couple of cold ones, in comes about a half dozen attractive, well-turned-out ladies and they go sit at a table in the corner. Someone turned up the music a bit and some of the guys walked over and asked them to dance. They tore it up. Well, I figured I would give it a shot. So, I got to talking to this very attractive Pacific Blend woman. She took off her heels and slipped on her "dancin' shoes". I found out that they always went to Hula's after work, since they didn't get hassled there by military guys on leave and the usual chest beaters. Over the next three hours, there were at least a dozen straight women who seemed to be regulars who came in. I talked to some more, and it seemed it was pretty well known to womanhood that Hula's was like a sanctuary. I was often the only straight guy in there. Fish in a barrel.
Former O'Reilly employee here, kinda difficult to look up vehicle parts unless one follows the computerized drill down path. If you try to skip you could end up in never never land and need to start over. After a while you learn which questions can be answered with the "ALL" answer. Of course you know the markup on this stuff is astronomical so it's much cheaper to pacify the guy who saws the handle off his ratchet than it is to distinguish between the scammers and those with a more realistic claim. LMAO through the entire video picturing you handing clerks a ratchet with a sawed of handle as well as picturing myself waiting on you during my first few weeks working in the store.
I wouldn't buy any handtools at Walmart. Service counter is usually faraway from tool department, some employees are terrible, usually there is a line at service counter. Harbor Freight is good if you hit the great employee. AutoZone or any other auto parts store, I think it depends on the store, not individual employee.
10:30 I know, right!? Nevermind the cashiers, can't even eat a few dozen chickens at the grocery store these days without somebody glaring and asking if you're a service animal, or whether you're going to pay for "all" those chickens
Having worked in retail sale, I assume at HF the return counted as a negative sale on his daily tally. Some places this can actually cost you money. Woodcraft here said it didn't matter but at the end of the year the franchise owner gives the top sales guy a cash money (off the books) bonus. A ratchet is nothing. With floor standing power tools you can get a dock of $1000 pretty quickly. First day I was there a guy "showed" me how to do one on my number and my first sale at the store was a -$340 for a Porter Cable 7518 return. I ended up with about a $100 day and thought nothing of it until the end of year atta boys.
I have worked and managed retail and I have never seen an accouting system that would negativly impact the store much less the associate for doing a return. That is damn near criminal and if true would cause me to stop buying from that company. That would amount to promoting poor customer service by penalizing associates for doing their job.
I noticed that several brands of ratchets appeared to be the same damn product. I work at a Sears hometown store and we honor the OG Craftsman lifetime warranty. Go get it off the shelf. No questions asked, unless we have to ship it to your home (free). Which is often, nowadays, because they keep fucking up what we have and what is being actively produced/sold, which is directly because of the fallout with the main Sears company and their brand subsidiary which handled Kenmore and Craftsman
I’ve broken two husky 3/4 breaker bars this year and the second time I warrantied it, at a different HD and they told me they wouldn’t warranty it again that I’d have to contact the manufacture. And Lowe’s is Awful, I’ve had them tell me they can’t warranty the item that there isn’t a warranty only a return policy. I will be buying mostly Tekton tools from now on! Lol. About to order a 3/4 breaker bar from them since I broke my husky one again so that’s 3 times.
With Home Depot it depends on the region, store, and employee... Some may get it in their head that they are saving the company money. But not only is it built into the original purchase price, and not only does it build brand loyalty in the long run, it literally gets you to come into the store that day... There is a good chance the customer makes another purchase while there especially if they have good feelings after the exchange process. Usually they just tell me to grab another one, if it looks the same they'll keep the packaging but give me what's inside. Occasionally it does need to be politely pointed out they are the authorized distributor for the product and it's sold with a full lifetime warranty. I would also press it with Lowe's, if they no longer carry a Kobalt tool that's on them. I would expect a comparable tool of equal or GREATER value, so be it if they need to give up a Craftsman tool. I mean that or a full refund, dealers choice.
Autozone was pretty good. I bought some brake pads from them. They turned out to have horrible performance compared to stock. I brought them back complaining about it and they issued me a refund via cash. If they would do it to brake pads, i am sure they would return tools too.
Oh, now I REALLY wish you had purchased a Sears Craftsman ratchet! We've heard so much about how recently Sears is making it much harder to honor the Craftsman Lifetime Warranty at the stores....... Would have loved to have heard about your experience there trying to return a Craftsman tool.
Years ago sears used to just grab a new one and hand it to you. Kobalt does replace no questions ask but ya gotta do the process. What I hate are sockets or wrenches with rust. Even though always kept in a toolbox if they're out for a bit and get some surface rust and it grows. Anyway most of the problems are usually asshole store clerks that act like they own the company and the trade is coming out of their pocket. If it says lifetime warranty,,, give it.
I have 2 Carlyle ratchets from Napa I use daily (auto tech). They used to just give me a new ratchet when one broke. Now they want to send them off and have them rebuilt. These ratchets used to me my full time first pick. Not anymore. They stay in the bottom drawer as a backup to Snap On. Yes, a substantial difference, I know. However, the Carlyle ratchets were nice enough and tough enough I wanted to use them daily and the (used to be) painless exchange made it worthwhile.
I have been told on more than one occasion the Harbor Freight Tools do not have a lifetime warranty. One time I was in the store and I asked the manager if there was a lifetime warranty and he said no. I pointed to the sign that read "lifetime warranty", and asked, what does that mean? He answered " Nothing, all this stuff is made in China there is no warranty.
I had this issue with Lowe’s. I brought in a ratchet that I had purchased from Sears(Craftsman ratchet). I was told that I had to call the 800-number for craftsman. The Lowe’s that I went to, stated that I would have to have a Lowe’s receipt showing that I purchased a craftsman tool from Lowe’s to get a replacement ratchet. When Sears is open I never had this issue.
That’s why I only buy from Home Depot and buy Husky Tools only, craftsmen’s was great buy not now that want to give you a refurbished ratchet instead of a brand new one off the shelf
At my cousin’s shop, I found a 1/4” drive Duralast ratchet at the bottom of the parts washer. It had been in there for years, soaking in diesel and other solvents, long forgotten. I took it to AutoZone and the manager looked up the item number. It wasn’t in the system anymore. He thought for a moment, then took me to the tool section and gave me a choice between a 100-tooth non-quick release ratchet and a 72-tooth quick release ratchet. I choose the 100-tooth and walked out. Easy peasy!
That gift card from Home Depot is to track your return frequency. I have always had a terrible time with Home Depot warranties. When I used to buy a lot of Klein tools I’d take them in for exchange at my local Home Depot’s. Each time I’d have no receipt and each time they’d ring it out and have me put in my number or scan my drivers license. If warranty more frequent than most as I was hard on my pliers when I was a low voltage electrician. It’s been 3 years and I still am blocked from no receipt returns... and that includes warranties as that’s how Home Depot processes their warranties, as no receipt returns. Hence your gift card which I have recieved in the past when the pliers were out of stock. As far as the no questions asked. It was always a nightmare as they were acting as if I was taking something from them. Each time I’d have to pull up the lifetime warranty/return policy on Klein’s website where it clearly states any vendor that sells Klein tools is required to exchange for a new one. One time they even had one of their department “specialists “ take my worn diagonal cutters and start cutting different gauge copper wire and romex and said “they’re still cutting “ and refused my warranty.
I'm a sales supervisor at Harbor Freight. The behavior of the first associate is absolutely unacceptable. We pride ourselves with our excellent customer service.
Bought $700 into the Kobalt line because of the “No Hassle” warranty and excellent reviews. Out of the box a battery in a two pack failed. No problem right? No hassle? Two managers later and about 30 minutes they cut me a battery out of a two pack. Seems Kobalt only excepts items as sets for returns. The manager acted if she did me a favor and said “ Kobalt used to be easy with returns but realized they were losing money so we have to call for tools and they give 2-3 options for returns and make it hard for us and customers”. Seems like Kobalt isn’t true store brand if Lowes employees hate dealing with them. Considering taking everything back since under 30 days and going with harbor freight as a diy guy and not a pro. HF has never asked any questions just easy returns. One possible hack is always buy a two pack and return both for two new batteries before the 3 year warranty expires.
sounds good... I have just recently heard of Tekton and I am going to buy a handful of tools that I don't have. I was impressed by the selection of tools they offer considering I had never heard of them. Now I just have to convince my shop owner to get on board with it... since we have such trouble with the Snap-off guy, now using Matco which is a better experience but they get lost etc...
I bought a new set of Tekton sockets SECONDHAND and the set had a duplicate... I sent them a message and a photo and they sent me the missing one... even though I told them I didn't buy it new.
I have some "gear wrench" tools sold at advanced auto. "Guaranteed for life" is worthless. They ask for a receipt then tell you to *f* off. and act like you stole it.
I used AutoZone for brakes on my 98 Ranger with lifetime warranty. I had the truck for 16 years and put 189,000 on it. They replaced the brakes 4 times, shocks on both back and front twice. Loved them.......
Damn that's just for defects. How you get new pads after wearing them out? Tie rod ends or ball joints yes they will give new ones for free. But brake pads that are used?
No. If you wear them out, they will replace the parts. I had to provide the labor. I would replace them about every 40,000 miles. I didn’t buy the best ones. They also replaced an alternator. Their rebuilt lasted about 60,000 miles. I think they was very happy when I traded it off.
Over the winter I had a complete set of screwdrivers disappear and this spring my sister and brother-in-law who I've been living with in my house moved out because they bought a house and I was packing up my niece is sandbox and I found my screwdrivers that were arrested so I went to Lowe's and for six bucks I replaced them so it's all water under the bridge so I threw the old Stanley Rusty screwdriver set out and replaced them with the irwins
I've always had trouble returning items to Lowes without a receipt (even Kobalt). I bought a 28 oz Eastwing which got ran over by a forklift. Lowes wouldn't take it exchange it, so I went to HD to buy a new one. Told them what happened and they replaced it on the spot.
I had a similar experience with HD when i had a brand new ryobi battery kick the bucket in one charge. Woman told me to go get a replacement and I couldn't find any so I talked with a manager that was nearby to help me look. He couldn't find one and grabbed a 4a battery instead of the 2a i was exchanging. He came to the register with me and the woman told me (in front of the manager!!) I needed to go to another store because they couldn't help me without a replacement. The manager told her to give me a gift card and then discount the bigger battery to the same price and sell it to me. Took about 30 min total. I have way worse HD stories but I'll spare you those. I'll stick with Lowes and Ace in a pinch.
i want to know about the stores that ask no questions and don't even bother with a receipt. lets say i bought a used tool and want to just switch out for a new tool.
@@denoftools ok but my concern is if they are asking for phone number or id, then they want to check records. i don't want to give out any information.
I can remember when Sears had the bright idea to give you replacement parts for ratchets. The employee would say the handle isn’t broken. Here’s your replacement. You wonder why Sears wound up in so much trouble. And you had to do the warranty repair yourself. And when the Harbor Freight store first opened up by me. I brought a Pittsburgh chain binder back the store to be warrantied . They insisted I had to mail it back for a replacement. Which didn’t happen because I kept wanting to speak to the manager. Finally they replaced the broken one and I left.
Kobalt exchanges have been good for me except they won't warranty blades (it was a hand plane). It did say on the package though that they wouldn't. I took back a multi tool (kobalt) that was in pieces and they handed me a new one without hassle.
What has your experience been when a tool that is part of a set breaks? Have the stores tried to tell you that you must return the entire set or will they replace only the part that broke?
