wsm@mh3bs.UUCP (03/05/84)
While Sears prices may not be cheap, their stuff on sale is comparable to other stores, so there's no reason to write them off entirely. Also, if you EVER break a Craftsman tool, they'll replace it free. I took back a metal tape measure with a snapped blade (I'd stepped on it) and they replaced it with no questions about how it broke. Walt Morris AT&T Technologies ihnp4!eagle!mh3bs!wsm
dda@houxz.UUCP (D.ALLEN) (03/06/84)
In regard to Sears always replacing Craftsman tools, this apparently only applies to hand (non-power) tools. I tried returning a pad sander that I had only used about 15-20 hours, but with the warranty expired, and they told me too bad. The tool hadn't been abused, it just wasn't built for sanding.:) I wish I had used it more while it was under the warranty, so that they would have replaced it. Until then, I was under the impression that Sears stood behind all their Craftsman tools. My other experiences with Sears lately were also not to my liking, but I won't go into those here. By the way, I also had applied for a Sears card at their urging and got turned down. I don't understand why they do that. Penney's gave me a card at the same time as Sears refused.
parnass@ihuxf.UUCP (Bob Parnass, AJ9S) (03/06/84)
I watched as a guy returned a 40 year old ratchet wrench to the Tool Department at Sears. He found this wrench in his grandfather's garage, and it no longer worked. This wrench was exchanged, no questions asked! -- ========================================================================== Bob Parnass, AT&T Bell Laboratories - ihnp4!ihuxf!parnass - (312)979-5760
rkp@drufl.UUCP (Pierce) (03/06/84)
I used to work at Sears in the paint department. Some guy once brought back a 2 year old compressor (used for spray painting). The comparable model at the time was selling for about $350.00. He didn't want an exchange, he wanted his money back, so they settled with him for about $250.00! We who worked there always had a private joke: Bring ANYTHING back to Sears and you will get your money back (even if you didn't buy it from Sears)! I really think that their return policy is set at a local basis for some of the things that aren't automatic replacements. I am about to test them out here soon. I bought a reconditioned auto analyzer last fall that had a 90-day warranty. I didn't use it until a few weeks ago, and the RPM pickup seems to be defective. I'm going to take it back and let them check it out at the store to wee if they have the same problem. I'll let you all know what happens. Russ Pierce drufl!rkp
wookie@alice.UUCP (Keith Bauer White Tiger Racing) (03/07/84)
It has been my experience that any good tool company like Bonney, Proto,SK,and of course Snap-on will replace HAND tools when they break so the Sears deal is not unusual. However Sears is generally more convenient! Keith Bauer White Tiger Racing
trb@masscomp.UUCP (03/07/84)
I can't see Sears extending their Craftsman warrantee to power tools. I have an ANCIENT Sears band saw which still works, but if it broke, I couldn't see them replacing it with a new Craftsman band saw. Spanky, be reasonable. Andy Tannenbaum Masscomp Inc Westford MA (617) 692-6200 x274
dms@fluke.UUCP (Dave Sherman) (03/07/84)
ly their policy.
(above is my own opinion only, of course)
---David Sherman
...{decvax!microsof,uw-beaver,allegra,lbl-csam,ssc-vax}!fluke!dms keller@uicsl.UUCP (03/08/84)
#R:mh3bs:-38300:uicsl:25200001:000:1533 uicsl!keller Mar 8 12:31:00 1984 Money Since you get what you pay for (or a lot less) I suspect that Sears makes plenty on its tool sales. There are other companys that offer free replacement. Leitz cameras will be replaced if they can't be repaired, but then you pay $1000 for the body of an R4. If you are rich, and you can afford that ultimate of luxuries exculsivity, then you pay a premium. If you ain't rich then you look out for good deals. This makes me wonder why so many middle class people will pay a premium for products that offer no aura of exclusivity. They shop at SEARS without sale prices. Why do department stores bother with TVs, appliances, and other things that can be gotten from the local discount stores? Lots of somebodys must not care about price. Thinking like a psychologist I can imagine lots of people without the motivation to optomize use of discretionary income. I am amazed by the effort put into coupon clipping vs the effort put into investment analysis. Living for the day vs living for a lifetime. I overheard a wealth lady in a department store near Washington DC talking about after Xmass sales with a friend. They were joking about living in the Watergate (yes, that Watergate), driving Mercedes and shopping at sales. One of them said something like, "Watching prices is how we were able to amass our fortune." Now maybe she had financial troubles, but I doubt it. I don't know how serious she was but lots of people think that the way to max the income is to clip coupons. The real way is to make investments. -Shaun
berry@zinfandel.UUCP (03/09/84)
#R:mh3bs:-38300:zinfandel:24200001:000:533 zinfandel!berry Mar 7 16:00:00 1984 It's true -- the Sears/Craftsman unconditional guarantee applies only to hand tools. It says it on the wrapper when you buy it. A friend of mine needed a 15mm thinwall deep socket to dismantle a VW transaxle once. He bought one at Sears, and found it STILL wasn't thin-wall enough, so he took it to the bench grinder and MADE it thin. It then lasted just long enough to finish the job and died. He took it back and exchanged it -- no questions asked. Berry Kercheval Zehntel Inc. (ihnp4!zehntel!zinfandel!berry) (415)932-6900