Now that Sears is all but dead, where can you turn in a busted ratchet? Or did Stanley screw us out of that when they bought the name? I have local access to Menards, Lowe's, Home Depot, and Ace.
Now that Sears is all but dead, where can you turn in a busted ratchet? Or did Stanley screw us out of that when they bought the name? I have local access to Menards, Lowe's, Home Depot, and Ace.
I've read elsewhere that some places will exchange and some won't. If your broken ratchet was an older US made one you won't get the same in exchange. My local ACE carries Craftsman but I haven't tried an exchange there. I read Lowes MAY be clearance-ing Craftsman already but I don't have one local.
There are repair / rebuild parts available for some CM tools.
My Lowes will exchange but only for the same tool. I fractured the head on a long Craftsman screwdriver (on a 1 3/4" wood screw using one hand) but the new one was not the same thickness or length as the old one. The 40 year old screwdriver was about half as thick as the new one. That was interesting.
I've exchanged a few different Craftsman tools at my local Lowes in the last 2 or 3 years. As mentioned above, the quality of the replacement might not be at the same level depending on how old your original is. For now, my tools aren't very old and I'd rather have a new one that still functions for $0 than a broken one that does me no good.
Ace will usually do it, or lowes. Both run a same for same policy though.
I think Lowes is discontinuing Kobalt in favor of Craftsmen. Lowes and True Value Hardware have Craftsman here.
My 36" ratcheting breaker bar broke and I tried Lowes; they didn't know anything about the exchange program and wouldn't deal with me. I just welded it up when I got home. Curious to see how this ends.
Take it into Harbor Freight.
Then find a similar one and buy it for 4 bucks.
You can find a retailer close to you from their website, or you can contact them directly for repair or replacement. https://www.craftsman.com/find-a-retailer
I'd think that Ace would probably try to do it.
I called the number listed below probably 18 months ago and they took information and just sent me new tool. Didn't ask for broken tool to be sent back. It did take several weeks for tool to arrive. Also be prepared to go through a laundry list of options from there phone system.
You can contact the customer service representative of Craftsman calling Craftsman's helpline phone numbers.
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
701 E. Joppa Road, Mail Stop No. TW230
Towson, Maryland 21286
United States
pirate said:I called the number listed below probably 18 months ago and they took information and just sent me new tool. Didn't ask for broken tool to be sent back. It did take several weeks for tool to arrive. Also be prepared to go through a laundry list of options from there phone system.
Contact Information
You can contact the customer service representative of Craftsman calling Craftsman's helpline phone numbers.
Toll-Free Number:
Customer Service:
Corporate Office Address:
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
701 E. Joppa Road, Mail Stop No. TW230
Towson, Maryland 21286
United States
Oh good lord. I'm doing the HF option as mentioned above. Phone menus like that make me ill and feel less as a human.
Its like 20$ for a rebuild kit for all of the craftsman ratchets. Short of breaking the handle this is the cheap and easy way.
Cheaper than going to a local (less than 7 miles) store and getting a free replacement? Maybe as a last ditch option.
In reply to wearymicrobe :
Another vote for the rebuild kits. Why send something usable to a landfill and have another one shipped all the way from china? I love my grandfathers craftsman rachets and think of him every time i pick one up.
Don't forget, rachets need to be cleaned and lubricated occasionally or they will begin to "skip," which feels like broken teeth. Lots of threads out there on disassembly and lube type.
The problem is not finding a place to warrantee it, will you get back a ratchet that is in any better shape?
I think the last ratchet or two I bought (and am happy with) were fine tooth Ace lifetime guarantee.
Is Fastenal still warrantying Craftsman?
This is a more modern Craftsman ratchet, not more than 10-15 years old, not some classi, well made vintage one, so any replacement rachet will probably be of equal quality.
Throw it in the garbage and buy a Tekton
Fellas, I'm asking where to take this thing to exploit the FREE LIFETIME REPLACEMENT. Unless the alternative is cheaper than free, I'm going to try to get what was vaguely promised to me first.
I broke a Craftsman ratchet a few years ago and took it to Sears. They replaced it with a used one that already seemed to be missing most of its teeth.
Then Sears closed, so I went to Lowe's for my next broken craftsman tool. They basically said "uhhh grab whatever you want as a replacement" so I grabbed a (completely different, expensive, low-profile) ratchet off the shelf and they processed the exchange. $0. I think I could have grabbed a shovel or a table saw and as long as it was Craftsman they would have given it to me in trade for that broken 1/4" ratchet.
both of my 1/4" ratchets suck and seem to be missing teeth
Appleseed said:Fellas, I'm asking where to take this thing to exploit the FREE LIFETIME REPLACEMENT. Unless the alternative is cheaper than free, I'm going to try to get what was vaguely promised to me first.
Have you looked at the Craftsman website or called the 1-800 numbers posted earlier?
Had easy exchange at both Lowe's and Ace. I don't like the newer Craftsman stuff, just getting replacements broken items.
I hope they still keep the Kobalt line, it's much nicer.
In reply to stuart in mn :
Not yet, going to call the local Ace and Lowe's first. But I will use that if necessary.
I've exchanged 2 broken sockets at Lowes. First time was a simple exchange with no paperwork. Second time required 15 minutes to do all the paperwork. Same store, so may depend on the clerk or the policy has changed.
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