But let me begin by saying Sears was once great. Especially for farmers... their tools were once the best on the market.. and they're still at the top. There was a time when I didn't know a farmer, (and I knew many), who didn't own Craftsman tools exclusively. Other tool manufacturers gradually entered the market, and we farmers began using them... but I believe that even today Craftsman is the most purchased.
I'm not sure when Sears began to fall on hard times.. this was after the slide began. Bought a refrigerator from them... ice maker went out immediately, (within a month), and it leaked. Called service.. came out, worked on it, didn't work.
So began the saga.. come out, attempt to fix, fail, go back... call them, come out, attempt to fix, fail... I'd say in a 3 month period they came out a half dozen times minimum, perhaps closer to 10. This kept up over a year with perhaps 15 calls in to service and a repairman coming out.
In their warranty, I forget exactly how it reads, there is a paragraph that says something about after 3 failed attempts they have to replace the appliance... they wouldn't. They said it didn't apply to me at first, then they said it did but I didn't meet the criteria, then they said I did but it was too late.
Result.. they never fixed it, they never replaced it, I bought another from Costco. Buying that refrigerator was the last time I was ever in Sears.
I still have some Craftsman tools, many in fact, (they are very good tools)... but when I buy new, or replace, no more Craftsman. - JamesJM
