[kookykrispy]

Sears/Craftsman: overpriced, but known for their customer service, right? Well, that ended today... not the overpriced part... they are still overpriced, but the customer service part is officially over. I am done buying Craftsman tools forever, and shopping at sears altogether for that matter.

2 days ago I bought a little portable craftsman air tank to try and change out my valvesprings with. It holds not quite enough air to fill your tires on a car. I bought it, cut the tape on the box with an exacto knife, carefully unwrapped it (saved all the packaging incase it didn't work for what I was doing) and filled it with air from a service station. It held not even enough air to pressurize one cylinder for the valvespring operation. So I drained the tank, put it back in its orginal packaging, original plastic, all zip ties in place, and returned it to Sears with my receipt. They gave me a refund, but minus this complete bull**** 15% restocking fee that I only noticed on my receipt once they had credited my card. Keep in mind this was not a special order item. A single peice of scotch tape on the box and it is brand new and completely resaleable. It could go right back on the shelf where I got it. The 15% restock fee is a total ripoff. The policy is obviously designed to fleece customers and put money into the pockets of Sears... I felt it was wrong and I felt ripped off. The clerk giving me the refund said that is Sears brand new policy (2 months ago or something like that) and they can call the store Manager if I want. So I say, fine, call the Manager... I'm thinking to myself, "hopefully this can be waived for just this once". I nicely explain to the store's head manager how I have a large toolbox at home filled with literally thousands of dollars of craftsman tools, and so does my father.. he always bought Craftsman tools... I am a second generation loyal craftsman tool customer and I think this 15% restock charge is unnecessary considering the item is perfect, carefully returned in the original packaging and can go directly back on your shelf. She will not budge stating the policy AGAIN and telling me if they did it for me they would have to do it for everybody. (15% restocking fee is only $3 lousy dollars on this item)... I ask one more time, explaining that I will need to purchase an air compressor to do this operation, and I would like to give Sears my business. She states the Sears policy AGAIN to me... She obviously could not care a single bit less about me as a Sears customer. The $3 that Sears jacked me for was way more important to her than keeping a loyal customer who was in the market for a large item purchase. I told her I would shop for an air compressor elsewhere... as I walked off towards the door she called out the obligitory and insulting "Have a nice day" to my back. As this whole conversation was going on, all the other clerks had gathered 'round and were listening intently, in anticipation that I would be told off by this first class royal ***** of a McManager that Sears has hired to make them a shady $3 and cost them a lifelong customer.

I will NOT be buying anymore Craftsman tools.

Alternative tools are available for cheaper with the same warranty from Lowe's or Home Depot. Even Autozone's "duralast" line of handtools carries the same no-questions replacement warranty. I have had several Craftsman power tools fail on me and they are usually of questionable quality anyway.

I recommend everyone here on PY to shop somewhere other than Sears for tools, and anything else for that matter.

I am considering writing an official letter of complaint to Sears about this.