So apparently this is just a problem with certain stores, there’s dozens of people in the comments who have had the same experience I did with being made to take back the entire set. Some other people said their store allows them to exchange single sockets. Very lame that a store manager doesn’t know the policy and makes me feel like an idiot for bringing in a single socket for exchange.
The harbor freight near me does this to. They refuse to warranty a single thing out of a set. That's not just icon either. That includes Pittsburgh too.
100 percent these guys are just jerks. my store has never done this. they throw the set missing a socket/wrench or whatever from the warranty replacement on the discount shelf and call it a day
@@jedediahhoffman7925 icon should give you BETTER warranty service than Pittsburg as it's their pre.ium brand. Like I said to the OP, email harbor freight. Don't be angry. Just explain what happened, when and where and tell them how disappointed you are as a customer and how it damages your trust in the warranty and how you discussed it online and how you want clarification of their policies.
Stanley sent me one socket I emailed them and said was missing sent to it me and again I said I used the 3/8 rachet to tighten my mugs nuts on car with a breaker bar to boot thenteeth where missing in some spots causing it to skip and they sent me a brand new one. No photos no receipt no questions. Just what was the number stamped on ratchet and my address
You’ve got a bum store, that’s not their policy. Just like another commentator said, they take one out of a new package and discount the rest. “My” store manager told me that’s the company policy. It also explained to me why there were several sets missing sockets on the markdown table. And when I say several I mean like 4. I was blaming it on theft. Anyway try another location or question management . Both that I deal with are excellent ! The ladies at Claremont NH , are excellent 👍
Yea, they care so little about those other pieces that they usually don't even bother to check the discount shelf first before grabbing one from a new set. Although for all I know they make complete sets from the clearance sets and put them back on the shelf as they are able.
It also depends on the employee - Haven't had to 'warranty' anything recently, but the other weekend I did go back the day after buying one of the Wobble Extension sets because one of them was missing - they do it back and let me go grab one off of the shelf (No Questions Asked) -- I actually looked to see if the missing, mid-length 1/4" extension has fallen off AT the display shelf so I could just grab it and go home with what I had already bought - it wasn't there. No problem. One of the 3/8" extensions actually broke off while I was handing it to them at the register, cheap packaging issue. A couple of the chicks that work there are usually there whenever I grab something on the 25% Member's Only and they just automatically scan the laminated coupon RIGHT NEXT to the register when they see I have Inside Track. The ONE old dude at mine(I think he's the Manager, he's almost ALWAYS there) won't do it and claims you need to have a physical coupon for it or some other BS...and if you press him he'll finally admit that it's RIGHT THERE at the register for them to scan --- like he gets to keep that extra, measly 5%. He's also the dork that tries to keep me from buying a couple or different items at 25% off on different orders - the younger 'Assistant Manager' there told me I could buy as many of whatever I wanted with a coupon as long as I was willing to let him ring them up separately. Like, why wouldn't he want to sell more stuff if I want to buy it..?!
Have exchanged single sockets and extensions many times. One time took back a single extension from a 1/2 inch impact wobble set, grabbed a new set before getting to the register. While i was pulling my relacement off the set the employee told me not to worry about it and just take the whole new set. That was a pretty sweet deal.
When I used to work at harbor freight we would take the 1 socket back pull the socket from the set to give them and toss the incomplete set on the discount shelf
Harbor Freight used to have bins in their stores that were singles of everything, sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc, that's what they were, if a socket was warrantied, they took it either from the bins or a new set if there wasn't a matching tool in the bins, but it was great, because if there was a tool you needed in a single, it was easily found in the bins, for $.99-$2.99 each, it was much less wasteful and definitely more convenient than what they do now
All three of my local ones wouldn’t a couple of years ago, I really don’t shop at HF anymore (for two reason and this being one) so one of or all these stores may have changed their policy to be fair.
the most commonly used ones are missing from the set. Thanks, I always wondered why those incomplete sets were on the bargain bin, but never gave it much thought
I used to work for HF. Reasons why they recommend to bring the whole set its because every time time we take a socket out new set that new set will now be discounted as a open box. That new set most likely will never be sold and that practice can hurt the new inventory, so it’s better to bring the whole set specially if you owe the Pittsburgh 300 pc a missing 10 mml won’t hurt that warranty exchange. Make you money worth Harbor Freight the place for that 😎
My experience is some Harbor Freight stores are more customer friendly than others. Last year I went to HF after surgery and I thought my ability to walk was ok. The staff got me a chair to sit in. The staff grabbed my items while I rested. Unbelievable great staff.
I wanted to confirm the warranty procedure so I called my Harbor Freight and told them I had a broken Icon socket what should I do. She was very nice and told me to bring in either the single broken piece or the whole set. I confirmed once again that I did not need to bring everything in and she said "absolutely". She did say I might need an ID to verify I was the original buyer though but I've never had to do that personally. Perhaps someone might want to check into this and make a follow up to the video since this appears to be an outlier. I think rather than bashing the company warranty it is more appropriate to notify the store manager/corporate that some employees may need to be redirected.
Here is the question I have. I have a very nice set of icon tools that my grandson will probably get one day. Will he not be able to warranty the tools bc he did not purchase them? If so we really have been duped. Life time guarantee is just what it says. Doesn’t matter who bought them only that they are guaranteed for lifetime of the tool not the man
@@JJJobsonthat doesn’t really make any sense. If you use lifetime of the tool then when the tool breaks it’s life is over. Exactly what is a lifetime of a tool? A lifetime warranty guarantees a product for the lifetime of the original purchaser not their great great great grandchildren. Come on man use some common sense. And please tell me how we have been duped by this?
@@OShackHennessy bro I could walk in to a sears back in the day and they would replace it no questions asked. I found broken craftsman wrenches and had them exchanged no questions asked. It is the tool that is guaranteed for life. The Tool. No problem with the actual harbor freight tools it is the warranty
Have that problem with Kobalt's lifetime warranty at Lowes as well. Had a screwdriver break. I was told I had to bring them all in for replacement. Turns out the set I bought isn't packaged that way anymore, so there was no valid set to exchange. Keep changing the sets, and you'll never have to replace under warranty!
Pretty sure that not a valid reason to deny a lifetime warranty, they should have to swap with a like set, if there isn’t one that has what you have they should be giving you a better set. I hope you called their corporate number and chewed someone a new asshole
I work for harbor freight, and you're definitely going to the wrong store. They're supposed to take out the ones that you need from a new kit, exchange your broken ones, and then they will just open box the kit they took the new ones from. It sounds like the store manager there does not like to have open box items on their shelf so they're telling their leadership team to only exchange entire kits instead so their open box reports are smaller, while they can just defect out the entire kit since these reports don't matter as much as their open box ones. The video is very much appreciated as there are stores that pull this kind of stuff, but please keep in mind that not every harbor freight acts like this.
@@madamandmeatball hello most people who actually use their tools will lose at least one in a "couple years down the road" which is the entire point of the video. your warranty is gone the minute one socket is gone
@@bmxscape Spent 20 years doing heavy machine assembly (heavy electrical, wiring, routing, panel building), and medium level mechanical assembly and fabrication as well as field service and test. I have lost more than one set or two of tools and broken many more. Nothing made me more mad than a socket that gets 90 percent use failing in the field of that old faithful prybar shattering in my face. Or even worse. Losing a precision screwdriver. If you wired a 48"x84" electrical panel. You would understand Especially if it was a Wiha or a Snap-On ESD Screwdriver - Meatball
@@madamandmeatball i believe you, but the topic at hand is how many years it would take for the average person to lose at least one piece from a set, thus making a replacement not possible
@@bmxscape I have never lost a socket out of a socket set. Occasionally lose or misplace an Allen wrench. I am careful with my tools; I put them back immediately after use and I do not loan them out.
It also depends on the employee - Haven't had to 'warranty' anything recently, but the other weekend I did go back the day after buying one of the Wobble Extension sets because one of them was missing - they do it back and let me go grab one off of the shelf (No Questions Asked) -- I actually looked to see if the missing, mid-length 1/4" extension has fallen off AT the display shelf so I could just grab it and go home with what I had already bought - it wasn't there. No problem. One of the 3/8" extensions actually broke off while I was handing it to them at the register, cheap packaging issue. A couple of the chicks that work there are usually there whenever I grab something on the 25% Member's Only and they just automatically scan the laminated coupon RIGHT NEXT to the register when they see I have Inside Track. The ONE old dude at mine(I think he's the Manager, he's almost ALWAYS there) won't do it and claims you need to have a physical coupon for it or some other BS...and if you press him he'll finally admit that it's RIGHT THERE at the register for them to scan --- like he gets to keep that extra, measly 5%. He's also the dork that tries to keep me from buying a couple or different items at 25% off on different orders - the younger 'Assistant Manager' there told me I could buy as many of whatever I wanted with a coupon as long as I was willing to let him ring them up separately. Like, why wouldn't he want to sell more stuff if I want to buy it..?!
I am a field tech and routinely go to four different HFTs in South Georgia, never has any of these locations required that. I warranty tools fairly regularly.
That's everywhere. I work for O'Reillys and it's the same with us. You buy it as a and it has to returned as a set. All they do is pull the replacement off the shelf for you and take your busted set and send it back to the manufacturer
I’ve been workin part time at Harbor Freight now for a couple months and the written policy is that any single item from a set can be warrantied. Basically we just take a new set off the shelf and take out what you need then place an “open box” label that’s a 20% discount on the new partial set. It doesn’t require a receipt for any lifetime warranty product out of 90 days. If an entire set or product is replaced we do have to call a manger to ok a “no receipt” return which can be difficult so many will just lie and say they can’t do it. A lot of cashiers are just part-time and don’t follow policy a lot of time so some issues are just a result of poor workers not doing their job well.
I’ve ran into this same issue. It is so more stores can sell a unit rather than damage out a good item for one socket. In the companies eyes a zero dollar charge for warranty exchange is better than a 30$ negativity because they had to remove one or two sockets
Just a tip on those socket rails are designed for the nut end to be facing down because then you're able to easily read all the sizes and the support at the bottom of the stick fits inside of the corresponding socket
Yea those old timers sure get angry when they get a new shiney 2004 Craftsman ratchet instead of their crap laced 1957 rusted one. Geez. Yes they don’t make them like they used to (but it’s gonna break either way) but what exactly were you expecting?? Carry the same ratchet from 1913 thru now?!
@@hardtymz2517 I get that but when the store changes brands 6 months after you purchased your lifetime warranty tools it doesn’t make things less annoying
I can return just the broken one. There's a shelf in the back of the store where they hang the sets they've pirated a warranty tool from. Those sets are priced at a discount, and the price drops if they pirate another tool from the set. Pretty fair system!
Never had an issue returning just one socket, warranty is actually awesome. My dumbass bent one of the drawer slides when I dropped the top drawer taking it out to install the stainless top. Had 4 brand new slides sent to me in the mail the next week completely free…I only needed one.
I've worked at Harbor Freight for nearly 2 years, at 2 different stores that is. Your supposed to bring in just the damaged piece and we must open up a brand new set and replace that single piece. Now as far as the brand new set that is missing a socket, well we "open box" that set and sell it at 20% off. Simple as that
I’m not sure about the Icon brand, but I’ve returned a couple of Pittsburgh ratcheting wrenches that broke and I just swapped the single piece. They took a new one from a set, replaced my broken one and put the rest of the new set on the clearance shelf. Still better than filling out a form, then replacing the broken piece through the mail. I gave up Craftsman tools when Sears stopped swapping out in-store
Solution: Tell them to open the package they were going to give you, had you returned them all. Exchange the bad one with the good and tell them to keep and just use the set of returned items. Most stores will do this. Tell them its the same thing in the end. Works most times, because it is.
Someone told you the wrong thing. Had a Lowe's employee tell me, I needed the receipt for a socket, to exchange it. Had an old craftsman 18mm that cracked. I walked in and picked up a new 18mm socket. Walked to the customer service desk. Said "my old 18mm socket cracked, it's a craftsman, here's a new one to exchange". She took the old one, scanned the new one. Cut the tag off. And handed it to me. No receipt.
@@Axle-Mackwithasinglestack same I had my flathead chip off. When into ace and got the exact flathead and went to the register and said, "Hey can I get this warrantied my old on busted". The kid just looks at the busted one and lets me off. Also Craftsman
I used to dig Craftsman. Still use old stuff inherited from my dad and grandfather as well as tools I bought in the '70s and '80s. They were US made. I demand tools that last, made by my fellow citizens. It's good to support local business too. I won't buy Craftsman anymore. Their quality has gone way downhill. Several years ago, I took back a broken tool to Lowe's and they handed me a form to fill out that you ship with your broken tool. Screw 'em! Never again. They lost a loyal customer. Sears used to have a much simpler policy. No questions asked. Here's a new tool with a smile.
It stops shrinkage they don’t have the partial set on the shelf that doesn’t sell. They can warranty the whole set and it doesn’t hurt store numbers. More importantly it doesn’t hurt the managers bonus.
I recently bought some Icon sockets with two 14mm, missing a 15mm. I took the two 14 mm back. They opened a new set, traded one of the 14’s for a 15, and marked down the remaining set. Didn’t have to bring back the entire original set.
So I got an idea. If you're an inside track member at Harbor Freight then all the stores have your electronic receipt so you can go to ANY store and return just the bad socket and eliminate the issue you had plus keep your set and boom 💥 good to go
Harley Davidson sales an Icon edition motorcycle about every year or so. They're usually colored a little different, use parts off of unused previous icon bikes and get premium money for them. I've taken my 800 dollar torque wrenches and have busted Pittsburgh and Icon sockets at about the same torque. Returning the entire set gives them something to re polish and resale. If they didn't do that they would have a warehouse full of 10 12 13 14 and 15 millimeter sockets. The tool trucks ain't much better anymore. Gotta send it off to be rebuilt and without that tool for a month or better. The trick with hand tools and such is to know when to buy the expensive stuff and the not so expensive stuff. The bigger the bolt, the bigger the quality. You start hitting the 12 or 13 millimeter mark buy some quality sockets. Why? A 13 millimeter socket that is actually 13 millimeter keeps you from rounding a bolt. Which now takes up to a couple of hours to get out depending on where it's at and what you have to take out the way to get to it. Harbor freight has alot of 13 and a tenth type of sockets and wrenches. The wrenches are the worst. If you need to put an extender on a harbor freight wrench, stop! Go borrow a quality wrench from someone and if the Gods shine on you you'll know someone like me that still has old school 6 point wrenches. The elixir of bolt fortune telling.
I’ve never had a problem returning broken tools to harbor freight. That’s why I use them. I’ve had good luck with s the snap on guy( bless his heart selling tools to high school auto tech class lol). But the best was when a good friend managed a sears tool store. I took advantage of that craftsman situation lol.
I had the same issue with Home Depot and their Husky brand. My 1/4 drive ratchet handle was stripped and they wouldn’t just replace it unless I returned the whole set including the case. The case was long gone due to being damaged years ago. They denied my claim so I was forced to buy another brand from a different source.
In the uk we have a similar thing with lifetime warranty on tools from a store called Halfords, lifetimes warranty on all Halfords advanced tools etc and all the tools have it etched into them so all you have to do is take the tool/socket in and they’ll either take one out of an already opened box and replace it or open a new box just to replace that said part, doesn’t cost anything to get it replaced either
I'm a supervisor at a store in Washington. I have never heard of this issue till today. In my opinion it is stupid. Because again if you lose one you are screwed. The stores reason for doing this from what I understand is because we are not supposed to "open box" (like a set that is missing 1 is discounted) icon sets
In so cal where I live, I’ve taken in 1, they take that one out of the set, then sell the set later at a “clearance” price. (Usually like $3-4 under retail.. most times not worth it is you divide # of sockets by price/ea.) 🤷🏻♂️
I work at a place that sells lifetime warranty tools, with no real help from the company on how those policies work that I know of. We typically will take the single socket or tool off the shelf if we can, but will do the full set as well. Just swap and damage out the piece given to the customer in the system so our inventory is correct. It would be nice if they put it in the digital warranty so we don't have to adjust the inventory manually, but the way we do it works since we can tell what brand the tool is anyway.
I've just been hitting Menards lately. Have full sets, but sometimes you need to cut/bend/modify 1 size, since they don't sell individual pieces like Craftsman used to, Menards still does.
I had the opposite happen, broke a swivel out of the Pittsburgh 150+ piece set, hand it to the guy he walked over grabbed a set off the shelf and gave me the swivel out of that one.
Never had a problem with even the Petersburg line. I brought in one of the broken sockets and told them I broke it using it incorrectly. They said go grab a new one. No receipt, no verification, just swapped and said have a nice day.
I work there and we swap out one socket or wrench all the time. If that store tells you that then they are lying to you. It's like the stores that say you have to have a phone number for a return. No you can use the receipt. I would talk to the manager there and if they still try to lie to you then contact corporate. Let them be aware this store is trying to pull something. I had another store in our area tell a customer that a item was online only but it said on the website in store only. They just didn't want to load a heavy awkward item. Even with a forklift. Anyways he came to our store and we sold it to him. We got the $1000 sale.
Back in the day, I went to Sears to exchange a broken “Craftsman Professional” screwdriver that was only available as part of a set. I was told the same thing. I had to exchange the entire set, since there was no individual matching screwdriver available.
Just a little bit of info if you care, those organizers are for the sockets to sit upside down. It wont let a smaller socket go on the bigger slot and the bigger socket will shake on the next size up. Flip a few and see how it feels but obviously works both ways. Princess auto here in canada does single sockets and thought they were the same sister companies 🤷🏼♂️
Thanks for the information. I’ll have to check the discount bin for deals on sets missing sockets. Because I have a tool store close by that sells used tools that people bring to sell for cash. I can probably replace that missing socket for 1.00 dollar.
I broke one of my ratchet wrenches and was missing one. I took back what I had, got them exchanged and regained my lost wrench. Was a win win in my situation.
Never had that problem in Texas . The harbor freight I've been to honor the lifetime warranty and replace one piece. I've never had to bring in the whole set.
yeah, I worked there, they are supposed to replace just the one socket and sell the now opened kit at open box price. don't forget your receipt if its within 90 days.
Never purchases the icon stuff but i broke a 3/8 ratchet from a set. They took the ratchet back and allowed me to snatch one from another set. Ive had no issues with getting warranties honored. And i work on heavy equipment and break stuff constantly. Might just be a franchise deal or something. Who knows
This is why I chose Tekton over Icon. I've only been to one HF that tried to pull that crap but it was one too many. If you break something from Tekton you just email them a picture of the broken item and a new one shows up in the mail a couple days later. Icon does have a nicer fit and finish though.
Yeah definitely not an all around problem. There is constantly a bunch of icon or any brand sets on the rack at my store with a discount on them because one or two is missing.
I exchanged a broken extension a couple weeks ago and they told me that all I have to do is just bring the broken one back, see if they have the new one in stock, if they do I just pick out the new extension from the set and they warranty. After that pleasant experience I would definitely buy more tools again. Btw it was an icon extension set
Never heard of “Icon” but bought plenty of “Pittsburgh” from Harbor Freight and no trouble exchanging what did manage to break. Makes sense if they don’t keep loose sockets for lifetime warranty, that they want an entire set to exchange for a new set out the door. Nobody should warranty their tools against loss!
Totally correct there. Don't lose a socket. Good to know, but I wonder if attention is brought to this, they will change the policy. Also, it sounds like the store might just be being ridiculously tough about it. Great way to lose certain customers loyalty.
Dude I bought a set of metric sockets on clearance with a broken 15mm and it was 35$ I took the single socket back a couple days later and swapped it for a good one. I got a 50$ set for 35 and was pretty happy about it lol. They just put my broken socket back in the package and put that set they took it from on clearance lol
As an Assistant Manager at a Harbor Freight, that is not the policy. They're suppose to pull whatever size(s) you need off the set and do an even exchange for you. Then open box the set from which they pull your new sockets off of. Someone wherever you are doesn't know the policies correctly.
I work at advance auto and all of our tools are a lifetime warranty as well. When one socket or wrench gets brought back, we open the set and give them the one that's defective and then put the rest of the set in the back for the next time someone comes in with a defective tool. We always check the back to see if we have it in a set already defected out. If we don't, we open a new one and add the rest to the other defects for next time. Saves a lot of hassle and inventory loss.
Yes very true its all up to the individual store the two stores in my town has the policy that they replace tool for tool I have broken several ratchet wrenches they take the one out that I need and discount the set they removed it from if I wanted I could then go back and purchase the set they just took the wrench out of and expand my set at a reduced price
In Canada we have Canadian tire. I bought a 500 piece tool set regular $699.00 for $299 and used it for 7 years at least. The plastic trays that the sockets sit in were broken apart and as they are counted as pieces of the set I took them in for warranty. Plastic trays were no longer available so they said bring in the old set and they would replace it. I tried finding all 500 pieces but likely only got 450. Nobody even checked, and I got a new set. I've used the new set about 10 years more and even using the impact I've only broken one socket. Set is now $1199.00 and my trays are broken. Hmmmm....
Long ago I had a young woman at Sears try to tell me the same thing in regards to warranting a combination ratchet wrench. Inconvenient, but whatever. I guess I have all new wrenches now. If I had to do that today, I would definitely balk. I don’t want to swap my hood USA made wrenches for the cheaper stuff made today.
Only time they've made me bring in entire sets was that one time I broke like 5 of a particular socket working on a tractor. They straight told me that if they had the entire set, they can order another of that specific socket or exchange the set for inventory credit, otherwise it was all just waste. Not an issue typically for the once or twice, but when it becomes a thing or money gets tight....
Never needed a receipt at a harbor freight. They're the only place that sells icon and Pittsburgh so its impossible that you didn't get it from harbor freight. Also have never had to return the entire set to get one socket replaced in 20 years of going to harbor freight at 4 different stores. You guys should talk to corporate about you stores not following policy.
Depends on your harbor freight. I would get on the phone with hf customer service when you walk in with 1 socket and see what the harbor freight employees have to say when they are told they’re wrong
I work for harbor freight lifetime warranty can be done on any single item in a set. If you have a broken icon 13mm we will exchange it for a new icon 13mm with no problems. All harbor freights are the same if they ever give you an issue with lifetime warranty just call the manager because on our website it says you can exchange any lifetime warranty with no issues.
They told me they like the whole set, but if don’t no big deal will take one out of the new set. That’s what they told me when I bought mine. I guess some stores more friendly then others.
We have a store, Canadian tire. They have a wall of singles, all over price. Just for that reason, life time warranty, socket, wrench, and plyers. The catch. They change the lineup every 5 years or so. Some tool become unavailable for warranty.
A harbor freight employee told me if i didn't sign up for an account, they wouldn't honor the warranty, and i couldn't make returns on any of my purchases. She also told me it was stupid make a 2K purchase and not create an account. Ill never go back to harbor freight.
So apparently this is just a problem with certain stores, there’s dozens of people in the comments who have had the same experience I did with being made to take back the entire set. Some other people said their store allows them to exchange single sockets. Very lame that a store manager doesn’t know the policy and makes me feel like an idiot for bringing in a single socket for exchange.
The harbor freight near me does this to. They refuse to warranty a single thing out of a set. That's not just icon either. That includes Pittsburgh too.
So HF doesn’t sell individual sockets, wrenches etc ?
100 percent these guys are just jerks. my store has never done this. they throw the set missing a socket/wrench or whatever from the warranty replacement on the discount shelf and call it a day
@@michaelmccarthy4615 they do but it's a mail order system and it's convoluted. doesn't work like the tool trucks at all
@@jedediahhoffman7925 icon should give you BETTER warranty service than Pittsburg as it's their pre.ium brand. Like I said to the OP, email harbor freight. Don't be angry. Just explain what happened, when and where and tell them how disappointed you are as a customer and how it damages your trust in the warranty and how you discussed it online and how you want clarification of their policies.
Never had that problem here in Michigan they take one off the shelf give ya what ya need then they put the rest on the discount shelf.
Home Depot does that too for their Husky stuff.
Same here. I see socket sets ALL the time on the discount shelf that are missing just one socket, wrench, or bit.
That makes sense.
Same in NY
Stanley sent me one socket I emailed them and said was missing sent to it me and again I said I used the 3/8 rachet to tighten my mugs nuts on car with a breaker bar to boot thenteeth where missing in some spots causing it to skip and they sent me a brand new one. No photos no receipt no questions. Just what was the number stamped on ratchet and my address
You’ve got a bum store, that’s not their policy. Just like another commentator said, they take one out of a new package and discount the rest. “My” store manager told me that’s the company policy. It also explained to me why there were several sets missing sockets on the markdown table. And when I say several I mean like 4. I was blaming it on theft. Anyway try another location or question management . Both that I deal with are excellent ! The ladies at Claremont NH , are excellent 👍
I think we should stop making china great again
Yea, they care so little about those other pieces that they usually don't even bother to check the discount shelf first before grabbing one from a new set. Although for all I know they make complete sets from the clearance sets and put them back on the shelf as they are able.
It also depends on the employee -
Haven't had to 'warranty' anything recently, but the other weekend I did go back the day after buying one of the Wobble Extension
sets because one of them was missing - they do it back and let me go grab one off of the shelf (No Questions Asked) -- I actually looked to see if the missing, mid-length 1/4" extension has fallen off AT the display shelf so I could just grab it and go home with what I had already bought - it wasn't there. No problem.
One of the 3/8" extensions actually broke off while I was handing it to them at the register, cheap packaging issue.
A couple of the chicks that work there are usually there whenever I grab something on the 25% Member's Only and they just automatically scan the laminated coupon RIGHT NEXT to the register when they see I have Inside Track.
The ONE old dude at mine(I think he's the Manager, he's almost ALWAYS there) won't do it and claims you need to have a physical coupon for it or some other BS...and if you press him he'll finally admit that it's RIGHT THERE at the register for them to scan --- like he gets to keep that extra, measly 5%.
He's also the dork that tries to keep me from buying a couple or different items at 25% off on different orders - the younger 'Assistant Manager' there told me I could buy as many of whatever I wanted with a coupon as long as I was willing to let him ring them up separately.
Like, why wouldn't he want to sell more stuff if I want to buy it..?!
Have exchanged single sockets and extensions many times. One time took back a single extension from a 1/2 inch impact wobble set, grabbed a new set before getting to the register. While i was pulling my relacement off the set the employee told me not to worry about it and just take the whole new set. That was a pretty sweet deal.
When I used to work at harbor freight we would take the 1 socket back pull the socket from the set to give them and toss the incomplete set on the discount shelf
Hmmm at my harbor freight they exchanged just one socket. Then they put the the rest on sale a clearance price.
Same at our store.
Same at my store
I've seen many sets missing one or two pieces on the clearance shelf.
Pay attention, usually Pittsburgh
@@dyllinroberts1442 what about Pittsburgh? They do they same with the icon sets as the Pittsburgh, Quinn, ect they break open a pack and clearance it.
Harbor Freight used to have bins in their stores that were singles of everything, sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc, that's what they were, if a socket was warrantied, they took it either from the bins or a new set if there wasn't a matching tool in the bins, but it was great, because if there was a tool you needed in a single, it was easily found in the bins, for $.99-$2.99 each, it was much less wasteful and definitely more convenient than what they do now
In my opinion this is awesome you get a entire new set instead of just a replacement socket
Will it still be awesome when homosexual special rights are denied ?
They don't even need to be illegal mexicans !
Must be just your store. Mine does individual pieces all the time.
You put your sockets in the trays upside down BTW... 😅
Mine too
All three of my local ones wouldn’t a couple of years ago, I really don’t shop at HF anymore (for two reason and this being one) so one of or all these stores may have changed their policy to be fair.
They re-sell the remaining sockets as a partial set. You see it all the time on the clearance rack at HF
the most commonly used ones are missing from the set. Thanks, I always wondered why those incomplete sets were on the bargain bin, but never gave it much thought
I used to work for HF. Reasons why they recommend to bring the whole set its because every time time we take a socket out new set that new set will now be discounted as a open box. That new set most likely will never be sold and that practice can hurt the new inventory, so it’s better to bring the whole set specially if you owe the Pittsburgh 300 pc a missing 10 mml won’t hurt that warranty exchange. Make you money worth Harbor Freight the place for that 😎
Newsflash. You get a whole new set. What is the reason to cry. Once I found out how it works..NO PROBLEM. Love Harbor Freight.
My experience is some Harbor Freight stores are more customer friendly than others. Last year I went to HF after surgery and I thought my ability to walk was ok. The staff got me a chair to sit in. The staff grabbed my items while I rested. Unbelievable great staff.
By "grabbed my items" do you mean they handled yer junk 😜?
I've had extremely good service also at my two most local stores. Way better than Home Despot.
Sounds like me. Surgery stay seventeen days. Recovery from stupid aftercare was another four weeks at medical nursing home..
Hospitals will kill you
I wanted to confirm the warranty procedure so I called my Harbor Freight and told them I had a broken Icon socket what should I do. She was very nice and told me to bring in either the single broken piece or the whole set. I confirmed once again that I did not need to bring everything in and she said "absolutely". She did say I might need an ID to verify I was the original buyer though but I've never had to do that personally. Perhaps someone might want to check into this and make a follow up to the video since this appears to be an outlier. I think rather than bashing the company warranty it is more appropriate to notify the store manager/corporate that some employees may need to be redirected.
well said, so would I have to bring in the receipt
Managers always always always tell the correct policy ...never lie. Ever. At work. All business people in public. Lies are a fairytale. 😅
Here is the question I have. I have a very nice set of icon tools that my grandson will probably get one day. Will he not be able to warranty the tools bc he did not purchase them? If so we really have been duped. Life time guarantee is just what it says. Doesn’t matter who bought them only that they are guaranteed for lifetime of the tool not the man
@@JJJobsonthat doesn’t really make any sense. If you use lifetime of the tool then when the tool breaks it’s life is over. Exactly what is a lifetime of a tool? A lifetime warranty guarantees a product for the lifetime of the original purchaser not their great great great grandchildren. Come on man use some common sense. And please tell me how we have been duped by this?
@@OShackHennessy bro I could walk in to a sears back in the day and they would replace it no questions asked. I found broken craftsman wrenches and had them exchanged no questions asked. It is the tool that is guaranteed for life. The Tool. No problem with the actual harbor freight tools it is the warranty
Have that problem with Kobalt's lifetime warranty at Lowes as well. Had a screwdriver break. I was told I had to bring them all in for replacement. Turns out the set I bought isn't packaged that way anymore, so there was no valid set to exchange. Keep changing the sets, and you'll never have to replace under warranty!
Pretty sure that not a valid reason to deny a lifetime warranty, they should have to swap with a like set, if there isn’t one that has what you have they should be giving you a better set.
I hope you called their corporate number and chewed someone a new asshole
I work for harbor freight, and you're definitely going to the wrong store. They're supposed to take out the ones that you need from a new kit, exchange your broken ones, and then they will just open box the kit they took the new ones from. It sounds like the store manager there does not like to have open box items on their shelf so they're telling their leadership team to only exchange entire kits instead so their open box reports are smaller, while they can just defect out the entire kit since these reports don't matter as much as their open box ones. The video is very much appreciated as there are stores that pull this kind of stuff, but please keep in mind that not every harbor freight acts like this.
Seems like a great way to just get a whole new set of sockets a couple years down the road!
finally someone who speaks and thinks in english.
@@madamandmeatball hello most people who actually use their tools will lose at least one in a "couple years down the road" which is the entire point of the video. your warranty is gone the minute one socket is gone
@@bmxscape Spent 20 years doing heavy machine assembly (heavy electrical, wiring, routing, panel building), and medium level mechanical assembly and fabrication as well as field service and test. I have lost more than one set or two of tools and broken many more. Nothing made me more mad than a socket that gets 90 percent use failing in the field of that old faithful prybar shattering in my face. Or even worse. Losing a precision screwdriver. If you wired a 48"x84" electrical panel. You would understand Especially if it was a Wiha or a Snap-On ESD Screwdriver - Meatball
@@madamandmeatball i believe you, but the topic at hand is how many years it would take for the average person to lose at least one piece from a set, thus making a replacement not possible
@@bmxscape I have never lost a socket out of a socket set. Occasionally lose or misplace an Allen wrench. I am careful with my tools; I put them back immediately after use and I do not loan them out.
PSA the sockets go the other way on those socket trays... the bottom of the Stand is sized for the socket. Hope it helps
I was literally looking to see if anyone else caught that! I got the same tray and was like wtf lol
He probably did that just so you'd comment on his video.
I see people use those trays like that all time. Drives me nuts.
Was just about to comment that. But again this is a harbor freight customer
@@gdavis8588 what? I’m talking about how he put the sockets on the stands the wrong way
It also depends on the employee -
Haven't had to 'warranty' anything recently, but the other weekend I did go back the day after buying one of the Wobble Extension
sets because one of them was missing - they do it back and let me go grab one off of the shelf (No Questions Asked) -- I actually looked to see if the missing, mid-length 1/4" extension has fallen off AT the display shelf so I could just grab it and go home with what I had already bought - it wasn't there. No problem.
One of the 3/8" extensions actually broke off while I was handing it to them at the register, cheap packaging issue.
A couple of the chicks that work there are usually there whenever I grab something on the 25% Member's Only and they just automatically scan the laminated coupon RIGHT NEXT to the register when they see I have Inside Track.
The ONE old dude at mine(I think he's the Manager, he's almost ALWAYS there) won't do it and claims you need to have a physical coupon for it or some other BS...and if you press him he'll finally admit that it's RIGHT THERE at the register for them to scan --- like he gets to keep that extra, measly 5%.
He's also the dork that tries to keep me from buying a couple or different items at 25% off on different orders - the younger 'Assistant Manager' there told me I could buy as many of whatever I wanted with a coupon as long as I was willing to let him ring them up separately.
Like, why wouldn't he want to sell more stuff if I want to buy it..?!
I am a field tech and routinely go to four different HFTs in South Georgia, never has any of these locations required that. I warranty tools fairly regularly.
I've never had that issue in IL.. I take back the broken socket and they open a pack and hand me a new one
I did for their Pittsburgh wobble extensions. I took the one that broke back and they broke open a new set and just replaced the broken one.
Anything that says Pittsburgh on it can be exchanged as a single item no questions asked. The Pittsburgh brands lifetime warranty is insane.
That's everywhere. I work for O'Reillys and it's the same with us. You buy it as a and it has to returned as a set. All they do is pull the replacement off the shelf for you and take your busted set and send it back to the manufacturer
My local HF opens a new box and pulls out the socket, discounts the set. But you are correct, if you lose a socket you can't just replace it
I heard somewhere they also make indestructable lifts.
Too soon? 😆
Ouch! 😂
Did something happen with one of their lifts?
Whats the story with this?
Do tell!
Those socket trays are designed to have the socket put in the other way. If you flip the sockets you’ll find they go all the way down
Lol I was going to say the same thing
Yep.
I’ve been workin part time at Harbor Freight now for a couple months and the written policy is that any single item from a set can be warrantied. Basically we just take a new set off the shelf and take out what you need then place an “open box” label that’s a 20% discount on the new partial set. It doesn’t require a receipt for any lifetime warranty product out of 90 days. If an entire set or product is replaced we do have to call a manger to ok a “no receipt” return which can be difficult so many will just lie and say they can’t do it. A lot of cashiers are just part-time and don’t follow policy a lot of time so some issues are just a result of poor workers not doing their job well.
I’ve ran into this same issue. It is so more stores can sell a unit rather than damage out a good item for one socket. In the companies eyes a zero dollar charge for warranty exchange is better than a 30$ negativity because they had to remove one or two sockets
Just a tip on those socket rails are designed for the nut end to be facing down because then you're able to easily read all the sizes and the support at the bottom of the stick fits inside of the corresponding socket
Was searching the comments wondering if I was the only one thinking this.
Came here just for this comment
Maybe he likes them that way
I have dealt with this on Parts Store lifetime tools, even worse when the store doesn’t carry the same line anymore
Yea those old timers sure get angry when they get a new shiney 2004 Craftsman ratchet instead of their crap laced 1957 rusted one. Geez. Yes they don’t make them like they used to (but it’s gonna break either way) but what exactly were you expecting?? Carry the same ratchet from 1913 thru now?!
@@hardtymz2517 I get that but when the store changes brands 6 months after you purchased your lifetime warranty tools it doesn’t make things less annoying
I can return just the broken one. There's a shelf in the back of the store where they hang the sets they've pirated a warranty tool from. Those sets are priced at a discount, and the price drops if they pirate another tool from the set. Pretty fair system!
Never had an issue returning just one socket, warranty is actually awesome. My dumbass bent one of the drawer slides when I dropped the top drawer taking it out to install the stainless top. Had 4 brand new slides sent to me in the mail the next week completely free…I only needed one.
Then after hours, you go behind the place and get the set you brought in back out of the dumpster and have almost a whole backup set.
No, they dont throw away the sockets they go back.
@@silverdragonden872 nearly my entire tool chest in my garage at home would beg to differ.
Had a friend ...all his tools were from HF dumpster
Some might still but I think they use to
Na you got shafted. I was missing a few and split 4 sockets and returned it for a new set of sockets. And I use them quite often.
Corporate policy is that you just have to bring in the one tool. Certain managers misunderstand the policy. Call corporate if you're having problems.
I've worked at Harbor Freight for nearly 2 years, at 2 different stores that is. Your supposed to bring in just the damaged piece and we must open up a brand new set and replace that single piece. Now as far as the brand new set that is missing a socket, well we "open box" that set and sell it at 20% off. Simple as that
I'm sure you just didn't look intimidating enough when you asked.
Never had that issue. Just broke an Icon Torx bit, took it in and they swapped it no problem.
I’m not sure about the Icon brand, but I’ve returned a couple of Pittsburgh ratcheting wrenches that broke and I just swapped the single piece. They took a new one from a set, replaced my broken one and put the rest of the new set on the clearance shelf.
Still better than filling out a form, then replacing the broken piece through the mail. I gave up Craftsman tools when Sears stopped swapping out in-store
Solution: Tell them to open the package they were going to give you, had you returned them all. Exchange the bad one with the good and tell them to keep and just use the set of returned items. Most stores will do this. Tell them its the same thing in the end. Works most times, because it is.
💯, also lowes sells Craftsman and they do the exact same thing, worthless warranty
Someone told you the wrong thing. Had a Lowe's employee tell me, I needed the receipt for a socket, to exchange it. Had an old craftsman 18mm that cracked. I walked in and picked up a new 18mm socket. Walked to the customer service desk. Said "my old 18mm socket cracked, it's a craftsman, here's a new one to exchange". She took the old one, scanned the new one. Cut the tag off. And handed it to me. No receipt.
@@Axle-Mackwithasinglestack same I had my flathead chip off. When into ace and got the exact flathead and went to the register and said, "Hey can I get this warrantied my old on busted". The kid just looks at the busted one and lets me off. Also Craftsman
@Alex B it was the store manager at the service counter also the lowes near me doesn't sell individual sockets anymore, next hypothesis?
@@scuff433 well that's stupid. Every Lowe's I've walked into in the past 3 years, has Craftsman and Kobalt sockets in drawers. Oh well, life goes on
I used to dig Craftsman. Still use old stuff inherited from my dad and grandfather as well as tools I bought in the '70s and '80s. They were US made. I demand tools that last, made by my fellow citizens. It's good to support local business too.
I won't buy Craftsman anymore. Their quality has gone way downhill. Several years ago, I took back a broken tool to Lowe's and they handed me a form to fill out that you ship with your broken tool. Screw 'em! Never again. They lost a loyal customer.
Sears used to have a much simpler policy. No questions asked. Here's a new tool with a smile.
The problem with these tools… they are not always the right size and they break.
Snap-On Matco is the answer. Just pay and enjoy life
I’ve had a complete set of icon 1/4” sockets going on two years, use them daily as a body shop tech and haven not broken one yet.
Just don't lose your tools!
It stops shrinkage they don’t have the partial set on the shelf that doesn’t sell. They can warranty the whole set and it doesn’t hurt store numbers. More importantly it doesn’t hurt the managers bonus.
I recently bought some Icon sockets with two 14mm, missing a 15mm. I took the two 14 mm back. They opened a new set, traded one of the 14’s for a 15, and marked down the remaining set. Didn’t have to bring back the entire original set.
So I got an idea. If you're an inside track member at Harbor Freight then all the stores have your electronic receipt so you can go to ANY store and return just the bad socket and eliminate the issue you had plus keep your set and boom 💥 good to go
Harley Davidson sales an Icon edition motorcycle about every year or so. They're usually colored a little different, use parts off of unused previous icon bikes and get premium money for them. I've taken my 800 dollar torque wrenches and have busted Pittsburgh and Icon sockets at about the same torque. Returning the entire set gives them something to re polish and resale. If they didn't do that they would have a warehouse full of 10 12 13 14 and 15 millimeter sockets. The tool trucks ain't much better anymore. Gotta send it off to be rebuilt and without that tool for a month or better. The trick with hand tools and such is to know when to buy the expensive stuff and the not so expensive stuff. The bigger the bolt, the bigger the quality. You start hitting the 12 or 13 millimeter mark buy some quality sockets. Why? A 13 millimeter socket that is actually 13 millimeter keeps you from rounding a bolt. Which now takes up to a couple of hours to get out depending on where it's at and what you have to take out the way to get to it. Harbor freight has alot of 13 and a tenth type of sockets and wrenches. The wrenches are the worst. If you need to put an extender on a harbor freight wrench, stop! Go borrow a quality wrench from someone and if the Gods shine on you you'll know someone like me that still has old school 6 point wrenches. The elixir of bolt fortune telling.
I’ve never had a problem returning broken tools to harbor freight. That’s why I use them. I’ve had good luck with s the snap on guy( bless his heart selling tools to high school auto tech class lol). But the best was when a good friend managed a sears tool store. I took advantage of that craftsman situation lol.
I have had several individual Pittsburg tools replaced. No questions asked, grabbed another off the shelf
I had the same issue with Home Depot and their Husky brand. My 1/4 drive ratchet handle was stripped and they wouldn’t just replace it unless I returned the whole set including the case. The case was long gone due to being damaged years ago. They denied my claim so I was forced to buy another brand from a different source.
Never had that problem. The only problem I've ever had was the store near me always being out of stock on the tool I needed to replace.
In the uk we have a similar thing with lifetime warranty on tools from a store called Halfords, lifetimes warranty on all Halfords advanced tools etc and all the tools have it etched into them so all you have to do is take the tool/socket in and they’ll either take one out of an already opened box and replace it or open a new box just to replace that said part, doesn’t cost anything to get it replaced either
I'm a supervisor at a store in Washington. I have never heard of this issue till today. In my opinion it is stupid. Because again if you lose one you are screwed. The stores reason for doing this from what I understand is because we are not supposed to "open box" (like a set that is missing 1 is discounted) icon sets
In so cal where I live, I’ve taken in 1, they take that one out of the set, then sell the set later at a “clearance” price. (Usually like $3-4 under retail.. most times not worth it is you divide # of sockets by price/ea.) 🤷🏻♂️
I work at a place that sells lifetime warranty tools, with no real help from the company on how those policies work that I know of. We typically will take the single socket or tool off the shelf if we can, but will do the full set as well. Just swap and damage out the piece given to the customer in the system so our inventory is correct. It would be nice if they put it in the digital warranty so we don't have to adjust the inventory manually, but the way we do it works since we can tell what brand the tool is anyway.
I've just been hitting Menards lately. Have full sets, but sometimes you need to cut/bend/modify 1 size, since they don't sell individual pieces like Craftsman used to, Menards still does.
I had the opposite happen, broke a swivel out of the Pittsburgh 150+ piece set, hand it to the guy he walked over grabbed a set off the shelf and gave me the swivel out of that one.
Never had a problem with even the Petersburg line. I brought in one of the broken sockets and told them I broke it using it incorrectly. They said go grab a new one. No receipt, no verification, just swapped and said have a nice day.
Never heard of that. Even had a socket that was manufactured upside down. They open up a brand new set gave me my 17mm and off I went.
I work there and we swap out one socket or wrench all the time. If that store tells you that then they are lying to you. It's like the stores that say you have to have a phone number for a return. No you can use the receipt. I would talk to the manager there and if they still try to lie to you then contact corporate. Let them be aware this store is trying to pull something. I had another store in our area tell a customer that a item was online only but it said on the website in store only. They just didn't want to load a heavy awkward item. Even with a forklift. Anyways he came to our store and we sold it to him. We got the $1000 sale.
Back in the day, I went to Sears to exchange a broken “Craftsman Professional” screwdriver that was only available as part of a set. I was told the same thing. I had to exchange the entire set, since there was no individual matching screwdriver available.
Just a little bit of info if you care, those organizers are for the sockets to sit upside down. It wont let a smaller socket go on the bigger slot and the bigger socket will shake on the next size up.
Flip a few and see how it feels but obviously works both ways. Princess auto here in canada does single sockets and thought they were the same sister companies 🤷🏼♂️
*unless theyre the square drive bases, the snap on and some lisle and such are flipped with round bases
Thanks for the information. I’ll have to check the discount bin for deals on sets missing sockets. Because I have a tool store close by that sells used tools that people bring to sell for cash. I can probably replace that missing socket for 1.00 dollar.
I broke one of my ratchet wrenches and was missing one. I took back what I had, got them exchanged and regained my lost wrench. Was a win win in my situation.
Our store is so cool. Anytime something breaks they just hand me a new one no questions or waiting in line.
Never had that problem in Texas . The harbor freight I've been to honor the lifetime warranty and replace one piece. I've never had to bring in the whole set.
yeah, I worked there, they are supposed to replace just the one socket and sell the now opened kit at open box price. don't forget your receipt if its within 90 days.
That's why I love mastcrafts lifetime warranty. They sell individual sockets and wrenches so this isn't a problem
I've never had that experience. Zero issues doing exchanges and warranty returns.. ever.
Never purchases the icon stuff but i broke a 3/8 ratchet from a set. They took the ratchet back and allowed me to snatch one from another set. Ive had no issues with getting warranties honored. And i work on heavy equipment and break stuff constantly. Might just be a franchise deal or something. Who knows
This is why I chose Tekton over Icon. I've only been to one HF that tried to pull that crap but it was one too many. If you break something from Tekton you just email them a picture of the broken item and a new one shows up in the mail a couple days later. Icon does have a nicer fit and finish though.
Yeah definitely not an all around problem. There is constantly a bunch of icon or any brand sets on the rack at my store with a discount on them because one or two is missing.
I exchanged a broken extension a couple weeks ago and they told me that all I have to do is just bring the broken one back, see if they have the new one in stock, if they do I just pick out the new extension from the set and they warranty. After that pleasant experience I would definitely buy more tools again. Btw it was an icon extension set
Never heard of “Icon” but bought plenty of “Pittsburgh” from Harbor Freight and no trouble exchanging what did manage to break. Makes sense if they don’t keep loose sockets for lifetime warranty, that they want an entire set to exchange for a new set out the door. Nobody should warranty their tools against loss!
Totally correct there. Don't lose a socket. Good to know, but I wonder if attention is brought to this, they will change the policy. Also, it sounds like the store might just be being ridiculously tough about it. Great way to lose certain customers loyalty.
Dude I bought a set of metric sockets on clearance with a broken 15mm and it was 35$ I took the single socket back a couple days later and swapped it for a good one. I got a 50$ set for 35 and was pretty happy about it lol. They just put my broken socket back in the package and put that set they took it from on clearance lol
As an Assistant Manager at a Harbor Freight, that is not the policy. They're suppose to pull whatever size(s) you need off the set and do an even exchange for you. Then open box the set from which they pull your new sockets off of. Someone wherever you are doesn't know the policies correctly.
I work at advance auto and all of our tools are a lifetime warranty as well. When one socket or wrench gets brought back, we open the set and give them the one that's defective and then put the rest of the set in the back for the next time someone comes in with a defective tool. We always check the back to see if we have it in a set already defected out. If we don't, we open a new one and add the rest to the other defects for next time. Saves a lot of hassle and inventory loss.
Ive brought in one broken tool, and left with an entire set at 3 different store and 3 different icon tools. Win win to me
Ran into the same problem. Had one busted socket and needed the whole set back. This way if you dont have the whole set their warrany is over.
Yes very true its all up to the individual store the two stores in my town has the policy that they replace tool for tool I have broken several ratchet wrenches they take the one out that I need and discount the set they removed it from if I wanted I could then go back and purchase the set they just took the wrench out of and expand my set at a reduced price
In Canada we have Canadian tire. I bought a 500 piece tool set regular $699.00 for $299 and used it for 7 years at least. The plastic trays that the sockets sit in were broken apart and as they are counted as pieces of the set I took them in for warranty. Plastic trays were no longer available so they said bring in the old set and they would replace it. I tried finding all 500 pieces but likely only got 450. Nobody even checked, and I got a new set. I've used the new set about 10 years more and even using the impact I've only broken one socket. Set is now $1199.00 and my trays are broken. Hmmmm....
Long ago I had a young woman at Sears try to tell me the same thing in regards to warranting a combination ratchet wrench. Inconvenient, but whatever. I guess I have all new wrenches now. If I had to do that today, I would definitely balk. I don’t want to swap my hood USA made wrenches for the cheaper stuff made today.
Never had that problem. They exchanged the single wrench i needed.
Took one back to my store, they took the one broken socket out of a new set and put the opened box in the clearance/ open box rack!
I called them and they informed me the lifetime warranty covers missing or damaged tools. I lost a 10mm wrench and they mailed me an entire new set
Had the same experience at a Home Depot. One socket was bad, but they needed me to return the whole set. 🤷♂️
Only time they've made me bring in entire sets was that one time I broke like 5 of a particular socket working on a tractor. They straight told me that if they had the entire set, they can order another of that specific socket or exchange the set for inventory credit, otherwise it was all just waste. Not an issue typically for the once or twice, but when it becomes a thing or money gets tight....
Plus, you need to keep the receipt in a lot of stores.
Not snap-on
Never needed a receipt at a harbor freight. They're the only place that sells icon and Pittsburgh so its impossible that you didn't get it from harbor freight. Also have never had to return the entire set to get one socket replaced in 20 years of going to harbor freight at 4 different stores. You guys should talk to corporate about you stores not following policy.
Depends on your harbor freight. I would get on the phone with hf customer service when you walk in with 1 socket and see what the harbor freight employees have to say when they are told they’re wrong
My Harbor freight at least with the Pittsburgh friend will open a brand new set and pull the single socket out that I need
I work for harbor freight lifetime warranty can be done on any single item in a set. If you have a broken icon 13mm we will exchange it for a new icon 13mm with no problems. All harbor freights are the same if they ever give you an issue with lifetime warranty just call the manager because on our website it says you can exchange any lifetime warranty with no issues.
I've never had this problem. Ive returned harbor freight stuff countless times and always had it replaced easily
ran into this before simply purchased a new set swapped the broken wrench, warranty the set and then returned my on unopened set.
They told me they like the whole set, but if don’t no big deal will take one out of the new set. That’s what they told me when I bought mine. I guess some stores more friendly then others.
Yup, they pull from the set for me and discount the rest in the back of the store.
Most likely they would tell you to take the missing one out of the new set
We have a store, Canadian tire. They have a wall of singles, all over price. Just for that reason, life time warranty, socket, wrench, and plyers.
The catch. They change the lineup every 5 years or so. Some tool become unavailable for warranty.
A harbor freight employee told me if i didn't sign up for an account, they wouldn't honor the warranty, and i couldn't make returns on any of my purchases. She also told me it was stupid make a 2K purchase and not create an account. Ill never go back to harbor freight.