UPDATE: This has nothing to do with Katrina victims. Clarification: Craftsman Lifetime Warranty Doesn’t Apply To Rusty Tools

New Orleans Sears, in a misguided attempt to steal the reverence earned by insurance companies, is refusing to honor the lifetime warranty on Craftsman tools. The unlimited, unconditional, full lifetime warranty, lets you bring in a stick and call it a hammer so long it still bears that precious, preservative Craftsman logo. Unless you live in New Orleans, according to Rufus.

I took some of my Craftsman tools — sockets and socket drivers – back for exchange after Kartina under the FULL UNLIMITED WARRANTY and was told they are not accepting any rusty tools notwithstanding the FULL UNLIMITED WARRANTY. My hurt puppy response got one socket driver exchanged but the sales staff told me I’m out of luck on the rest of my Craftsman tools.

That’s not right. Our neighbor haunts garage sales in search of rusty Craftsman tools to exchange at Sears. He has never been denied on account of rust. Why would Sears possibly make such a heartless change of policy?

Rufus’ email, inside.

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Greetings from the eye of Hurricane Katrina. Things are still pretty messed up down here. Insurance companies are denying coverage because the class 5 hurricane didnt have any wind so they dont have to pay. Seems Sears got inspired by this creative interpretation of the insurance contract.

Sears Craftsman hand tools (sockets, wrenches etc.) are sold with a FULL UNJLIMITED WARRANTY. I took some of my Craftsman tools — sockets and socket drivers – back for exchange after Kartina under the FULL UNLIMITED WARRANTY and was told they are not accepting any rusty tools notwithstanding the FULL UNLIMITED WARRANTY. My hurt puppy response got one socket driver exchanged but the sales staff told me I’m out of luck on the rest of my Craftsman tools.

The salesman said its only after Katrina, in areas affected, they dont want to pay for rusted tools down here.

Please, someone, tell us in the comments that Sears hasn’t succumbed to such an offensive policy. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER
(Photo: e-magic)

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