A lot of people rag on Craftsman tools but...

[weezracen]

I like the craftsman tapes cause you can bring them back. There screw guns are not to bad either. How could you not like a all american company like craftsman? I even have a craftsman grill set! Ok there not the best but they are far far from the worst!!

 

[digger]

They aren't taking the tapes back now.
Well they are being picky about it where I live.

If the tape itself is broke, you are out of luck.
Something happens to the case ya got a 50-50 chance of them replacing it.


I bought my last one at Lowe's.
Are you guys having trouble finding anything but the "E-Z read" rules? Damn those mess with me! I must have looked at 5 or 6 before I found a regular one.

 

[gnarkill]

Alot of American tools do this. Matco, Craftsman, Snap-On, SK, and many more.

 

[alien13]

anyone who rags on craftsman tools obviously never owned or even used them. There some of the best tools on the market and have the best customer service/return policy out there hands down.. Id take Craftsman of Crap-on ANY day.

I've owned them and used them. And I'll never buy another Craftsman tool again. Right now I buy only Matco and Snap-On tools. Warranty without question, without receipt. Craftsman has told me before that if the tool is not used in their "proper" way, they cannot honor the warranty. With Matco and Snap-On, I can hand them a screwdriver bent three ways, and they'll hand me a new one. Craftsman ratchets suck. I've busted my knuckles more times than I care to remember from gears letting go. I've had Craftsman screwdriver handle spin, wrenches break, etc. I grew up on Craftsman tools, and I'm set to inherit a very large collection from my dad that I doubt I'll ever use.

And yes, I do pay more for Snap-On or Matco, but I don't have to drive somewhere, and they come through the shop at least twice a week, and have even delivered to my home.

 

[Jeep]

I've owned them and used them. And I'll never buy another Craftsman tool again. Right now I buy only Matco and Snap-On tools. Warranty without question, without receipt. Craftsman has told me before that if the tool is not used in their "proper" way, they cannot honor the warranty. With Matco and Snap-On, I can hand them a screwdriver bent three ways, and they'll hand me a new one. Craftsman ratchets suck. I've busted my knuckles more times than I care to remember from gears letting go. I've had Craftsman screwdriver handle spin, wrenches break, etc. I grew up on Craftsman tools, and I'm set to inherit a very large collection from my dad that I doubt I'll ever use.

And yes, I do pay more for Snap-On or Matco, but I don't have to drive somewhere, and they come through the shop at least twice a week, and have even delivered to my home.

Last job I worked at as a harley tech, our snap-on guy absolutely required a receipt or the tool was NOT replaced/repaired.
One tool I had, a compression tester, I hadn't even used. The first time I tried, the bleed down valve leaked. Offered it for repair/replacement, I never kept up w/receipt, he denied to accept the tester. I repaired it, as it was a bit of lock-tite that was trapped in the valve seat from the threads upon assembly. Regardless, it cost me out the ass to buy it and then no warranty, BULL. Screw Snap-On's over priced crap.

 

[Metalhead Matt]

I've changed more springs on Chevy trucks than I can even begin to count. All with the same 1/2" Craftsman ratchet. 'Nuff said.

 

[moe7404]

when i graduated from high school in 1967, my mom and dad bought a medium size set of tools. still got most of them. the spark plug socket looks like its been through a war. i think ill not be useing them enough in the next 10 years to justifie going to all that trouble. besides i like the old school look they have.

 

[alien13]

Last job I worked at as a harley tech, our snap-on guy absolutely required a receipt or the tool was NOT replaced/repaired.
One tool I had, a compression tester, I hadn't even used. The first time I tried, the bleed down valve leaked. Offered it for repair/replacement, I never kept up w/receipt, he denied to accept the tester. I repaired it, as it was a bit of lock-tite that was trapped in the valve seat from the threads upon assembly. Regardless, it cost me out the ass to buy it and then no warranty, BULL. Screw Snap-On's over priced crap.

I spoke with my Snap-On dealer last Friday about this, and he said at no point are you required to have a Snap-On receipt for tool warranties. He alos said that some dealers are just plain idiots.

Now before this turns into a tool war, everybody has their own experiences with different brands. I was a die hard Craftsman user for many years, spent a ton of money on Craftsman tools, only to get crappy service, and to be continuously returning to the store to warranty tools. I have two Snap-On ratchets that I bought used, about 8-10 years ago. I've torqued on them to the point of a cheater bar with my entire body weight on them, never to have one snap. Now on the same note, I've had Craftsman ratchets that would buckle under just the force of me pushing/pulling on them, without the excess assist.

We all have our preferences, and I personally will never again pay for a Craftsman tool.

 

[moe7404]

tools are like spaghetti its all good, just some are better than others. like i have never owned snap-on , but if someone gave a full set i wouldnt turn it down.

 

[Dragd]

I personally think that Craftsman is the best in tools, ALL of my dads tools are Craftsman and anything else was in the trash, he has always told me that Craftsman has plaid the game in tools the longest, like I said before i think Craftsmen is the best, but when it comes to using the tools I really dont care what brand it is as long as it gets me finished with the project I'm working on, hell I've even used an Xacto knife just to tighten a flat head screw and it worked lmao

 

[cwest3355]

About the only power tool my dad owns that isn't craftsman is the weedeater--made by Weed Eater. It's about 15 years old though, probably longer than craftsman has been making weed eaters.

It's beginning to die though. It won't idle for more than 15 seconds. On the upside, you don't even have to prime it to start it, cold start after 3 weeks of non use. Just set it to full choke, and yank the starter about 6 times and it starts. Then it'll run long enough to switch it to no choke and you're ready to go.

Shoulndt really be posting this here but heres some advice

 

[jimc]

always been a craftsman fan, to a certain point. Let me explain something about thier tools. They were once much better than they are today. I have some sets that date prolly to the 70's and if you look closely at them you will see that that they look much more like current snap on or matco. I am being specific to sockets by the way but there are similarities regaeding wrenches, pliers and such. Specifically, the sockets are very thin walled, allowing you into very tight places. Craftsman now a days has relatively speaking thick walled sockets. warranty has not changed but they are using more metal to avoid breakage which can make them bulky in tight places. Snap on/matco are still thin walled and covered by replacement warranty so the steel must be superior. Again, this is not a craftsman bash, for the money and non proffessional mechanic there hard to beat.

 

[alien13]

Actually, Craftsman warranty has changed, at least according to the employees at Sears. When I first started wrenching, around '90 or so, I could walk into Sears, hand them any broken Craftsman tool, and with no questions, they would hand me a new replacement. Now, they are quick to say it is broken from mis-use.

I still use Craftsman tools, but I don't have very many, and I use my Snap-On or Matco tools first.

 

[Kfarron1]

Great story, They really aim to please the customer, The few times I've had to replace a tool, I had no issues....

 

[WoodiE]

I've not heard of any issues with the Craftsman warranty. In fact I remember when I was in college I used to work for Sears and there was always this one guy that would come in almost every weekend. He would attend auctions and yard sales through the week and buy old nasty looking craftsman tools and get them replaced with brand new.

Right or wrong, the warranty allowed it... http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/nb_10155_12602_NB_CSwarranty#point10

 

[granjer]

Most of the tool experience relies on the sales rep. I have had sears rep replace with no questions asked, and walk down the street to another sears store and have to show a reciept. I have a wide variety of tools, 90% are snap on though. They have even cut back on what they warranty. Drill bits under 1/8" are considered consumable. Aren't they all? We do have to sharpen them. I'm disappointed in snap on due to my 1/4" driver drill is made in china! What's up with that? My snap on pressure washer was made by alltrade! (It now resides in the trash). My point is, when I invest in tools, I make sure what I'm buying is quality and service, not a fancy name or sticker. Craftsman has tons of good tools also and haven't had that many problems with them. Cheers!