Kobalt Tools?

jfiscus · 03-15-2010, 04:21 PM

Years ago, I purchased 2 sets of Kobalt tools in grey cases. They have always been dependable, never broken & thanks to the decent plastic cases I've never lost any of them so far... anyways the 1/4" ratchet is finally at the end of its lifespan. (becoming a pin to use; not reversign easily)

I went to take it back to Lowes for the "no hassle warranty". The lady with a thick accent at the service desk told me to go see the man in the hardware dept to discuss exchanging the ratchet. He told me that he'd never seen a kobalt ratchet like that. All of the ratchets they have in-stock in the store have plastic "switches" for forward/reverse & are an entirely different shape to the handle. (much worse imho) He told me he would swap out my ratchet for one of those reluctantly, stating that the tool exchange is supposed to be for the "exact same model", which they don't seem to carry. I told him I wanted a ratchet up to the same specs as was originally purchased; and the replacement wouldnt fit into my set/case. He said I could try the 800#, so I called it with him standing there, and it just asked for my zip code & then told me the address of the store I was standing in at the time... at that point I was upset so I said I'll try online. Went to the website & there's no info about the warranty, just links to Lowes.com & photos of the new (junk) ratchets, nothing like mine at all...

What gives? I assume at this point I'm SOL unless I want to exchange for the new chinese junk, mine says Made in USA on it.

I cannot recommend Kobalt anymore, and to think I was going to buy a larger chest and a set of their nice through ratchets... I guess not now.

03-15-2010, 04:21 PM	#1
jfiscus Terrain Stomper Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Crittenden, KY Posts: 633	Kobalt Tools? Years ago, I purchased 2 sets of Kobalt tools in grey cases. They have always been dependable, never broken & thanks to the decent plastic cases I've never lost any of them so far... anyways the 1/4" ratchet is finally at the end of its lifespan. (becoming a pin to use; not reversign easily) I went to take it back to Lowes for the "no hassle warranty". The lady with a thick accent at the service desk told me to go see the man in the hardware dept to discuss exchanging the ratchet. He told me that he'd never seen a kobalt ratchet like that. All of the ratchets they have in-stock in the store have plastic "switches" for forward/reverse & are an entirely different shape to the handle. (much worse imho) He told me he would swap out my ratchet for one of those reluctantly, stating that the tool exchange is supposed to be for the "exact same model", which they don't seem to carry. I told him I wanted a ratchet up to the same specs as was originally purchased; and the replacement wouldnt fit into my set/case. He said I could try the 800#, so I called it with him standing there, and it just asked for my zip code & then told me the address of the store I was standing in at the time... at that point I was upset so I said I'll try online. Went to the website & there's no info about the warranty, just links to Lowes.com & photos of the new (junk) ratchets, nothing like mine at all... What gives? I assume at this point I'm SOL unless I want to exchange for the new chinese junk, mine says Made in USA on it. I cannot recommend Kobalt anymore, and to think I was going to buy a larger chest and a set of their nice through ratchets... I guess not now. Attached Images Last edited by jfiscus; 03-15-2010 at 04:27 PM.