Anyone else miss Sears?

[Sheepdip]

My local Ace Hardware carries the Craftsman Tool line and I was told by an employee they honor the "Lifetime Warranty"
I've never had to take a Craftsman Tool back....I usually lose it and have to replace it.

I supported myself thru school busting tires at Monkey Wards. They had a full service Auto Center, Tires, Batteries, Oil Changes, Brakes, Tune-ups, Frontend Work and Alignment. They actually employed some pretty talented and knowledgeable people back then.

[Dead Parrot]

They were Amazon before Amazon. I remember looking through the catalog as a kid when I was getting old enough that working on cars was starting to sound interesting. They had a rather robust selection of engine parts. In my town, we only had a Sears Catalog store but we did have a full service Montgomery Wards complete with auto shop.

One of my first tool purchases was a set of Craftsman pliers(normal, needle nose, diagonal and linemans). While Craftsman, they were made in Japan. They have held up, still have them several decades later.

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by Sheepdip

I supported myself thru school busting tires at Monkey Wards. They had a full service Auto Center, Tires, Batteries, Oil Changes, Brakes, Tune-ups, Frontend Work and Alignment. They actually employed some pretty talented and knowledgeable people back then.

We shopped at the Fort Worth Store when I was a kid. My mom and dad liked it better than Sears. It also had an auto service center. Yes, many of the mechanics were top-notch.

Heck, you could even find good mechanics working at gas stations back then. I remember getting a 4-wheel brake job at one. Also, a guy literally working under a shade tree (because his single shop bay had a car in it) showed me how to set the points and ignition timing on my 283, after I had changed intake manifold and carb. I think he charged me around $2 labor.

[Getter-Done]

Yes, I do.

My Grandpa loved Sears.

My brother and I share his tools and his Old Craftsman box.

We went thru and split them after Grandma passed.

Grandpa passed first and we left them till we had to settle the estate.

[davischevy]

Originally Posted by MikeB

We shopped at the Fort Worth Store when I was a kid. My mom and dad liked it better than Sears. It also had an auto service center. Yes, many of the mechanics were top-notch.

Heck, you could even find good mechanics working at gas stations back then. I remember getting a 4-wheel brake job at one. Also, a guy literally working under a shade tree (because his single shop bay had a car in it) showed me how to set the points and ignition timing on my 283, after I had changed intake manifold and carb. I think he charged me around $2 labor.

"Monkey Ward" had a nice store in Harrison, Arkansas and it was busy. They were "the" tire store. The tires were mounted under an open shed out back in the alley. There was usually a line waiting, especially on Saturday.

[yuccales]

Originally Posted by Sheepdip

I supported myself thru school busting tires at Monkey Wards. They had a full service Auto Center, Tires, Batteries, Oil Changes, Brakes, Tune-ups, Frontend Work and Alignment. They actually employed some pretty talented and knowledgeable people back then.

Wards and Sears sold everything back in the day. Used to get tires at Wards. My Ted Williams Model 100 was a big purchase for me at Sears. And plinking ammo. I miss Sears and Wards, Western Auto, Coast to Coast. Different times nowadays.

[davischevy]

Originally Posted by yuccales

Wards and Sears sold everything back in the day. Used to get tires at Wards. My Ted Williams Model 100 was a big purchase for me at Sears. And plinking ammo. I miss Sears and Wards, Western Auto, Coast to Coast. Different times nowadays.

And Oklahoma Tire and Supply Company (Otasco)

[davischevy]

Sears sold Michelin tires under their brand. I ran them on my 72 Cheyenne for years. We bought a lot of goods from sears over the years.

I read somewhere that in the 1960's Sears had the same market share that Amazon has now.

[dave6672]

Originally Posted by Sheepdip

My local Ace Hardware carries the Craftsman Tool line and I was told by an employee they honor the "Lifetime Warranty"
I've never had to take a Craftsman Tool back....I usually lose it and have to replace it.

They do still honor the lifetime warranty but make it such a pain, few probably mess with it. You have to open a case on-line, the submit pics and explanations, etc. Eventually they will ship you a replacement.

The core of my hand tools is still a Craftsman hand tool set that my parents gave me as a Christmas gift in the 80's.

[1slo64]

Originally Posted by Sheepdip

My local Ace Hardware carries the Craftsman Tool line and I was told by an employee they honor the "Lifetime Warranty"
I've never had to take a Craftsman Tool back....I usually lose it and have to replace it.

I tested the warranty at Lowes last year and it is true. I got them to replace my 1/4 and 3/8 ratchets, no questions asked.