Title was supposed to say "I'm done with sears" hit the enter key too soon.

I really dont know why i even bother with sears anymore. I've had several really bad experiences with them, at this point the only thing i buy from them is tools....and i'm not even crazy about that anymore.

Most of my sockets are craftsman, i bought them all about 15 years ago when they were still good quality. It's gone downhill since then, if i compare my old stuff to the new ones, it's a huge difference. Personally, i think harbor freight has better quality sockets. So i was missing a few things, figured i might as well just stop by and grab them.

So i get my stuff, check it out at the counter, and i'm expecting the sales associate to ask me to put it on my sears card, or to sign me up for one. Instead he pulls out this new card and starts babbling about it, not sure what it was because i wasnt really listening, i was just shaking my head, saying "no...no...no" over, and he keeps going on.

So finally when he's all over, i say one more time and he goes "Well, you have to".

I say "Huh?"

"Well you have to sign up for the card if you want to purchase something."

I just glared at him for a second, and said "Ok, fine" and left my stuff at the counter and started walking out.

He seemed pretty surprised that i would just walk out, and he goes "Uh...wait wait! I was just kidding", and rung me out.

I left a little confused, i wonder if thats company policy or if the kid is trying to make his quota. I dunno....for some reason though, thats it, i'm flat out done with sears and craftsman, i'm tired of their crap.

 

I own thousands of dollars of Craftsman tools. I only go to Sears when I need a warranty replacement. I got tired of the lifetime warrantied items being discontinued and them saying what I had did not have a lifetime warranty or they did not make the tool anymore so they could not help me.

A lot of the new mechanics hand tools [wrenches included] are now made in China. If I want a tool made in China I can find it for a lot less somewhere else.

No more Craftsman purchases for me.

 

I went to Sears a few years ago looking to buy one tire. I had bought 3 virtually brand new tires off a wreck. Talked to the sales weinie, told me I had to go ahead and pay for the tire BEFORE he could look to see availability! I couldn't believe this, so I asked for the manager. He stated the same thing, saying if it wasn't available, then he would credit me back..... Didn't buy anything, won't buy anything from Sears.

 

Sears is really Kmart now. They merged a few years ago out of a complicated bankruptcy arrangement. Companies come and go. Walmart is the dominant retailer today, taking the place of Sears. Sears had a reputation for being just as ruthless with suppliers as Walmart is today.

I still buy some Craftsman stuff, but rarely set foot in a Sears store. Both Orchard Supply and ACE Hardware now carry some Craftsman. ACE actually still has more USA made hand tools (not Craftsman) than most other stores. If im stuck buying China, it might as well be HF.

 

I'm with you on that, I try to buy American as much as possible, but its getting harder.

 

Im with all of you on that. Im currently going to a school in indiana to become a diesel truck mechanic. The tools i bought through the school are napa. Quite pleased with them, they hold up very well. Napa's warrenty seems to be hassle free even though they do not mention that part. They never ask me one question when i go to replace my stuff though im sure some napa stores do. Good quality and i believe 95% of what i bought are american made. Although you better be ready to pay a little extra. My friend bought a kobalt set from lowes. 200$ and it comes with about everything you need for basic auto set! Much better than a craftman deal. 1/2 inch sockets, 3/8th sockets with deep well, and 1/4 with deep well with lots and lots more. What a buy. They have a Lifetime hassle free warrenty much like harbor frieght. They never seem to have a problem exchanging things for you. They have a good varity for just starting to make tools. Im really enjoying them. The box cutter blades are always the best quality (just bought some steel blades that are coated in titanium), just bought some six inch side cuts that cut about anything i needed, and im about to buy more. Im going to be buying locking plyers (vice grip style) next, why? because they too are hassle free. Vice grip's warrenty is not as good as theirs even. And they are not american made either. So when it comes down to it i buy napa, kobalt, harbor frieght if its not a significant tool, and my newest one is gear wrench! They not only have ratcheting wrenches but nice ratchets, sockets and breaker bars Just bought a 1/2 inch drive, 24 inch breaker bar that is treating me very well. They also have a life time warrenty. I know they are not american made but snap on is too pricey or i would be buying them. Besides, there is not a snap on truck near me! Good luck guys

 

That's exactly how i feel. If i want made in china quality, i can just go to harbor freight and save a ton of money. In fact, i think harbor freight sockets and such arent all that bad quality for the price.

Someone gave me a this craftsman plier set for Christmas, those things are absolutely pathetic. The set is like $30, quality is very poor, the rubber hand grips fell off one the first time i used it, one other one is put together so poorly it takes both hand just too open and close it it's so tight.

The only reason i really even considered going to sears anymore is simply because the store is closer to me than harbor freight. I'd have to drive about 45 minutes to harbor freight, only like 20 to sears. but...oh well, screw them, i'll make the trip from now on.

If i want real quality tools, i can just call the tooltruck guys, i have a cornwell dealer right down the street from me. I dont mind paying quality for things i need, but for sockets and pliars and stuff that will probably never break, but i'll just end up losing, screw it i'll just get cheap stuff.

I wont even get into my other problems with sears. I tried (notice i say "tried") to buy a tv, and a washer from them once, both experiences turned out to be a total nightmare.

 

I hear that. There's a monster in my garage that steals all my 10mm sockets. I've lost more 10mm sockets than I can even start to count. HF is the best replacement lol.

 

That sounds like my attempted appliance buying experiences with Best Buy.

 

I haven't been in a Sears store in about 20 years...ever since they closed the local store for one about 35 miles away. I don't understand why the OP went back to the counter after the smart **** clerk mouthed off. I would have sought out the nearest manager and given him a piece of my mind before continuing out the door.

 

Everyone that works at sears is paid a commission of some type. That's a pretty crappy environment to work in in regards to retail sales.

The last time I was in sears was about 3 years ago at Christmas time. I had gone in to look at a GPS that was on sale for $99.00. It turned out to be a typo in the paper as the real sale price was $199.00. I was a $225.00 unit. I stood my ground and refused to move until th e store manager came to the counter to verify the ad. This took an hour.

I bought three of them and they wanted to argue with me about that.

 

Went in to get a 7/8" wrench this last weekend, I see they now have a cheaper tool brand that is only warranted IF you have the receipt, not a big deal but thought it was interesting. I have several 1/4" ratchets that have crapped out that I need to take in but I am hearing they just want to give you a repair kit instead of a new ratchet.

I do still buy their tools usually, tried some NAPA stuff all made in China and it almost all broke, I've had better luck with Harbor freight and can't afford Snapon nor will pay their premium if I could. Probably bought $500 of specialty wrenches over the last 6 months from Sears and have been very happy with them.

I did sign up for the Sears rewards card, caught me on an "easy" day usually I don't so that stuff, last weekend they wanted me to buy some plastic storage thing to save 10% on my purchase and I just said no, think I lost $5 on that but oh well.

 

Well, the good stuff at napa isn't really displayed well behind the counter or at all. You want the professial line of tools, their "Napa" brand, or their premium line of tools. The ever quest tools are junk. They are cheap for a reason lol. Everquest is one of their lines and they also have something else that is chinease made. But all their napa brand stuff or at least 95% of it is american made. I stick with napa, kobalt, gear wrench!, and harbor frieght i will get one or two things from. There are so many options besides sears. I went to replace a pair of vice grips at sears the other night. Did not work out. The guy told me they did not have them so no. Well, i said what if he got it in by ordering it, then he told me i could only buy it and thats not what i wanted to hear. But as far as harbor frieght ratchets and breaker bars, i guess some of them are really strong. My friend has the 25inch half inch drive breaker bar and he can't break it. Even with a 6 foot cheater pipe on it using it for things he should not. And this guy is the one i watched bend a napa 1 1/4 wrench! Those wrenches are pretty good too which just means he has some strenth! Task force is another great option for cheap. But you do have to watch warrentys on all tool brands! Some times its not what you thought like its mail in or they will only replace it if... To my knowledge only a few are "hassle- free" like kobalt or harbor freight. Good luck shopping guys! Sears is not what it used to be and has gone south!

 

yeap, sears sucks

 

last time i went, i was looking for something and i asked one of the employees if they had the product and then she laughed like i was asking a stupid question and said NO we dont sell those. so i looked around 5 more mins and found the product i was looking for. what a stupid girl