Edit - Since the time of this posting K Tool has since taken care of my warranty issues. I have left the thread mostly in tact so people can understand the difficulties I faced, which made my warranty efforts seem impossible at the time. I'm here to say that if you need warranty issues resolved with K Tool products, don't give up!
Email Bob! He took great care of my warranty needs at bob.geisinger@ktool.com
----- original thread -----
Well, after buying two sets of standard and metric swivel 3/8 impact sockets from a local hardware store, and having two of them break after a few years of regular use I tried to get them exchanged thru the original seller (S&W hardware) who told me at the time that K-tools was very bad about their warranties. I then tried to exchange them at Napa Auto Parts in Plymouth who said they could "try" and exchange them, however it might take two weeks because K-tool went out of business and is now PTE or Preferred Tool & Equipment, right here in Wixom Michigan. They said the long wait was because they first had to check and see if they were going to honor their warranty, even though PTE is still selling tools branded under the K - Tool name! So I wanted to warn anyone who may be considering buying K-Tools or PTE that even the manufacture will not stand behind their product! I even called K-tool / PTE direct in Wixom Michigan at 248-669-5000 where I was informed by a very rude lady that PTE does not deal with the public. She suggested that I go to a place that sells them and after telling her that everywhere that sells them refused to return them, no effort was made to return them.
---- end of original thread ----
Hopefully this thread might help other mechanics with their K tool needs, and save them some hassel.
-- Edited by SELLC on Thursday 16th of October 2014 11:19:38 AM
What a bummer ! I don't suppose that you could try finding & then fitting a hardened-steel pin in there to do the job could you ? It always seems to be the weak-link in these sorts of things. Other-wise, it actually looks good-for-age in terms of wear & tear. Don't forget that you probably use it everyday, so it gets a pretty hard work-out I'd think living on the end of your impact gun LOL !
I know with my breaker-bars that the pins have sheared on more than a few occasions, & it was possible to replace these, & it was a lot better than waiting around for a warranty to be honored etc etc.
Good luck though.
Cheers,
Rastus
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"Only an alert & knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial & military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods & goals, so that security & liberty may prosper together". Dwight D.Eisenhower.
Yes, I have installed roll pins on breaker bars and even sockets too in the past. However the problem with trying to use a roll pin on a socket is it eventually works it's way out a little and ends up cutting your hand up as your holding it on a bolt.
I think the real problem here is the amount of hassle, and the amount of time it takes to get a replacement. SnapOn and Matco have an online system to submit items for warranty that basically allows you to go online, fill out a form and they give you an RGA#. You send the defective tools in and they send you replacements.
Since writing this article, a K Tool international rep has reached out to me and instructed me to send them to HQ with his attention. I guess that's all anyone could ask for but what if I had not been persistent? I'll tell you what would have happened... Absolutely nothing! Then again I'm getting ahead of myself, I still have two broken sockets. I'll send them in tomorrow because honestly they were just going in the trash bin otherwise. I'll report back after we see what happens.
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
