Quote:
Originally Posted by JFP in PA
Your problem is when did you buy your Craftsman tool? The Craftsman brand was sold to Stanley tools sometime ago, which is why Lowes and other outlets like Ace hardware now carry the brand. I'm sure Stanley made the purchase without any responsibility for warranties issued by Sears. And long before Sears sold the brand, the entire Craftsman line had turned to Asian junk, so they want no parts of what happened before they bought the line.
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all of this in context, they (Stanley, or whomever else has ownership now) should've bought the company and rebranded it. That's the most common practice for someone buying a company with liabilities. And yes, any promise made by the acquired company is, in fact, a liability. I deal with this all the time in my business. Yes, it sucks to acquire a brand / business with undisclosed liabilities (Craftsman's warranty wasn't "undisclosed" though) but most companies are made-up of good people who will move heaven and earth to honor those commitments. This proves itself to be the absolute BEST thing they can do, from a marketing perspective, because people know it sucks, but they honor it anyway: Instant Brand Loyalty.
Here's MY problem with Craftsman, though. (Not too dissimilar from what you said too, JFP)
The ONLY thing Craftsman has had going for it in a very long time is the lifetime swap-out warranty. Their tools form anytime since about 1985 are just junk. Sure, it's nice to know you can take it in and trade it.... but what about when the failure happens at 7pm on a saturday at the racetrack? Or while you're laying under a car bench-pressing a transmission into place? a tool that is junk isn't worth having, regardless of how easy the warranty process is.
Just my $0.02