Americana: Craftsman Tools
Beat up? Nah. Just broken in good. Uploaded by accesstotools.com.
Name all the things you can think of that come with a lifetime warranty. I’m sure there must be some, but only one comes instantly to mind: Craftsman hand tools.
Uploaded to Flickr by tanminivan.
Sears introduced the Craftsman line in 1927. Any covered tool (and there are a few that aren’t) can be returned to the retail store for repair or replacement. This is the warranty: “If any Craftsman guaranteed forever hand tool fails to provide complete satisfaction, return it for free repair or replacement.” Obviously, this statement was developed before lawyers got involved.
Sears sells a broad line – several lines, actually – under the Craftsman name. Hand tools, power tools, lawn and garden products, tool and garage storage, and shop equipment all bear the 82-year-old brand name.
This is one area in which Sears has always excelled. What evidence supports such a claim? Well, the readers of Popular Mechanics chose Craftsman as their favorite hand tools in their Readers Choice Awards. That’s a quite demanding group. And Harris Interactive surveys found that Craftsman was the most trusted brand among men (2002) and was America’s most trusted brand (2007).
I have several complete sets of craftsman tools. I have had several that broke, but were replaced whenever I got to the store to exchange them. It didn’t even matter that I didn’t have a receipt anymore! Awesome!