Craftsman Club

[stg2500]

How many members are members of the Craftsman Club? I personally have been a member since early 1997 and have been very happy up until now.



Is anyone else having problems getting the Sears store to actually acept the card and give you the discount? Up until a few months ago whenevewr I went to purchase tools during the Club days I could purchase any Craftsman Tool and get the discount.



Now they are telling me that the discount only applies to what is in the flyer. So what do you do when you don't receive the flyer? I just got the last flyer and on the front cover it said 10% off the items in the flyer plus 10% off other Craftsman purchases. So I went and bought a new set of 1/2" drive sockets. When I got to the register they said that since they were not in the flyer the discount did not apply. The cashier and manager both said that it had to be in the flyer. So I called Craftsman Club and they could not see any reason why the discount was not applied. So I went back to the store and spoke with the manager who gave me the same go around before going and hiding in the office.



My biggest gripe is what do those of us that have most every tool but want to buy more do? If the discount only applies to what is in the flyer how about getting some more speacialty tool in there. I have all of the basic tools that are in most of the flyers. I am interested in buying the tools that are more speacialized not socket sets, drills, etc.



I think at this point that I will probably sicontinue my Craftsman Club and start buying Snap-on. After all most every Sears purchase I ever made was for a Craftsman tool with the exception of their power tools which I never liked.



Sorry for this being so long but I felt that I needed to vent.



Any opinions would be appreciated.



Thanks

 

[Hale on wheels]

Sounds like a shady store to me. I have never had a problem getting the club discount on anything that has the name "Craftsman" on it. I would call Sears headquarters and complain.

 

[ftb87]

Sounds like you got the run around. I just purchased 2/80 piece sets (metric & standard) sockets and wrenches. I purchased the set (while on vacation in Dodge City, KS) off their clearance area 29. 95 per set (close out) plus the 10% discount.



This was the best deal I ever seen on craftman tools.



Frank

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Sounds like your store needs a new manager especially if the Carftsman Club HQ (that's still SEARS, right??) can't understand their (stores) problem. Knowing several people who have worked for Sears for long times, they have had a strong policy to attempt to placate the customer "better to lose on a sale than lose on a customer". But I will say recently, undertrained staff have been appearing in Sears everywhere. After responding to a feedback poll, my next trip I had to show the newby how to enter the 'reward' coupon in the computer. Won't be long before Sears is a self-help checkout like Stop&Shop!!

 

[swamp rat]

Funny this topic should come up so soon after I got the runaround at one Sears in a large mall. I couldn't even get the jerks to acknowledge me so that I could find out if they had a particular tool much less get any info on the club. An hour later I was at a small franchise type Sears in small town. The cashier not only helped me fill out an application for a card, but she borrowed a card from one of her coworkers with which to scan to allow me the discount! I guess everyone knows where I'll go to buy my tools from now on! Screw the large Sears stores. From now on I'm going out of my way to give the smaller ones my business, because they go out of their way to help, and they usually have what I needed in the first place.

 

[BK]

By me they only give a card holder the discounts that come out for the card holder in the special members' flyers...



THATS IT... .





And if you watch the special flyers they are soo well timed as NOT to be on top of any other sale...



Rarely have I gotten a double dipping of the discount... twice since I've had the club card... and thats since it started. .

And both times it was because it was advertised for what I bought...



It's real BS. . I'm glad it never cost a thing.



But recently... .

I spoke with a manager, it turned out that he was just "imported" from NJ to the NY stores by me to straighten them out and close a few. He gave me some decent discounts without asking for the card after that.

I got a sale weeks ahead of time on one of the last sets of a particular model of patio set they had, that the wife wanted... he could have just stuck me with the old. . gotta wait for the sale. . but he said it's coming in a few weeks and he was able to extend it to me ahead of time on all the pieces I was buying. . When the sale did come, it wasnt on all the pieces of the set that I bought...



I bought one of those work-cart/tool-chests... double discounted with the sale and CC card... but the box had a hole in it and it was the last one, he knocked another 20% off if I would take it , I was welcomed to inspect it. There wasnt a blessid thing wrong with it.

As said in another one of the posts. . it's the manager... .



Bob

 

[TxDieselKid]

well let me tell you a story...

I work at Sears in the Hardware depatment. On this let me tell you, the training there is pitiful. It is a complete joke if you ask me. The flyers you get in the mail we NEVER see. Yeah we got some in the back, but they are different from the ones you get.



Some of you may have gotten a "floater", or a worker trying to get a sale in a different department from they work in for commission reasons. It is kinda cut-throught there.



I am very sorry for your problems at Sears, I hope that this just means you will look for better workers, and repeat bussiness from that worker.



Think we get much commission from selling a screwdriver? Sure we make $3. 50 an hour too, but it barly scraps the surface of what I need to pay for, school (read: room and board, classes, books, etc... ), and a truck note, and fuel.



Once again, very sorry for your troubles. Please e-mail if I can answer any questions you might have.



AJB



P. S. Do I have to list this in my sigy now???

 

[BK]

TxDieselKid,

Sounds as if you have your head on staight... And I bet you can make change without the use of the cash register.....



I'm not trying to tease you, but the sad truth is I cant find a kid working in one of these stores, or any that I've encountered in any store that can make change from basic calculations in their head. If the register is down... your SOL... I've had todo it for them. Maybe I should be a bit softer, cause after all these years my spelling still bites...



TxDK... I've spent a lot of time in Texas for business... weekes on end over a 15year period... Different world, people are nicer, drivers are better... more relaxing drive... never encountered one fresh kid... .

I used to get honked at for running yellow lights!!!

Keep the faith, try and make a difference in that store... I know if it was me you did well by, I'd be back. I also didn't know that the Sears Stores worked on commission...





I'm sure there are some good ones around here and it's just that I havent been lucky enough to encounter them... but it never fails that they just cant do it and never mind that, but try and get their attention from BS'ing with their friends, whether it's because their on their Cellphone when they should be working , or there's just a BS session... To me it rare to find a kid around here (high school or college)...

 

[swamp rat]

I'll go a step further than BK. I'd wager that TDK won't be stuck working retail after he gets out of college so long as he stays the course and keeps his head looking toward that horizon!



The stars and beyond are the limits. The only thing stopping you from acquiring those goals is yourself! Go get 'em. ^5 But while you're at it, see if you can get some of that to rub off on a few of those lax co-workers.

 

[BK]

I'll second all of that swamp rat... .

 

[TxDieselKid]

hey now...

My goodness guys, your makeing me blush! I know I will not be working retail after i get out of college, at least I hope not.



Let me do say this about the Craftsmen Warrenty, the lifetime thing is only on handtools, i. e. - wrenches, screwdrivers, sockets, etc. A LOT of people do not know this. Most power tools, and other things come with a 1 year, and an option to get a matenance agreement, which is an option from Sears. GET THE LONGEST AGREMENT YOU CAN!!! On most things it's 5 years, for $79. 99. I hear all the time, "Man, I wish I had gotten that", because we have to say, "Sorry Sir"



If you ever need anything, look up Sears in Lufkin, TX, and get hardware, and ask for Andrew Bell (we got more then 1 Andrew).



AJB

 

[BK]

TXDK;



Thanks... .



I've taken advantage of the Craftsman Hand tool warranty a few times. And after a bowl broke on my Craftsman Filter/seperator, I too found out that it's stricktly on the "Mechanical" Hand Tools holding the "Craftsman" name.



I heard that their cordless drills are terrible... ... The prices are seem good... but... . heard some terrible experiances by some folks in discussion groups...



Seen a lot of returns?



Bob

 

[TxDieselKid]

well....

If a customer comes up to me and wants a cordless drill, I will point them to the Dewalts, or the Makita. I don't know if I would use a Craftsmen drill for a door stop even.



They do make some pretty good impact wrinches though. You got to check them out before you buy them to make sure they are the right ones, you'll know what I mean when you look.



For nail guns, Paslode all the way.



The air compressors from Craftsmen do have a VERY good reputation. I have had several custormers that bought their second one after 20 years from the first one.



I can give you part numbers for anything I recomend, and there is a catalog, we give them for free, it has Craftsmen labled on the front, and has a table saw on the cover. It has ALL things that we sell. Anything can be ordered to any store, and in some cases, delivered to your door.



Today (Sunday) there is a good deal on a 241 piece socket set, and you get a 4-drawer Craftmens Tool box. I want this deal!!! Good deal. I had to make good on the ad yesterday(Saturday) because we had the Sunday ad around the register, and a customer saw it. Oh well, I also upgraded 2 different table saws because they didn't goto the back to check the stock. Bunch of lazy bums.



AJB

----------------

Sears Hardware Department

 

[swamp rat]

I'll second the DeWalt Drill/Driver comment. I've got a 10YO 12v D/D that I have absolutely no problems with. Bought a second battery from Central Hardware in Nashville before they went uner and both batteries still charge and hold charges nearly like new.





I don't buy Craftsman power hand tools, but I do have a really nice 10inch Craftsman Contractors table saw, and wouldn't mind a good radial arm saw.

 

[BK]

I've stayed away from the Craftsman hand power tools too, it seems about 15 years ago they started going down hill...



My cirular saw was the last hand powered tool I bought from them. Burnt it up and bent the base. . Wasnt impressed.



I have the 1/2 " impact wrench , that was one of the double advertised sales I was able to get... got my CC discount and the advertised sale price.

Paid around 160 bucks for it.

I found out that Ingrossol Rand (sp?) actually makes it and it does kick butt.



I know the old Craftsman compressor were good. . but I've reserved my opinions on the new oil-less ones. I have the smallest tank mounted on for my basement. Noisy as heck. . but it works. My garage compressor is a SeedyAir All Cast Iron unit thats going on 15 years of service.



TXDK, Is that the set that comes in the plastic tool chest with the formed draws... I bought that set (the other double advertised discount I got). , loved the formed draw. Got tired of running out to the garage for wrenches and sockets, when I needed something in my basement. My garage is detached and in the very back of my yard.



Swamp Rat, where do you live... I got an very old, hardly used B&D radial arm saw thats looking for a good home, for free, just gotta come and get it... . I never use it, I always use my old table saw and chop saw.

I guess the reason no one ever takes it, all low tech, basic solid saw.

 

[Big White Beast]

Just got a new card........

Old one says member since 1991 new one say 2001. Same membership # and everything.



After reading this post I was looking for benefits.



Free craftsman club newsletter (Never seen one)

Free craftsman calender (Always hanging in the garage)

The recognition of being a prefered customer (Like anyone cares)



Those are the only things listed as benefits.



I recently bought a new lawn mower and asked about a discount for being a member and was nixed. I guess I'll keep it in my wallet though. If I leave an open spot I might end up with another credit card



Garrett

 

[LandShark]

I've been buying Craftsman tools for years and have never heard of the 'Club Card'. How do I get one?



I've had good luck with the Craftsman name. The only tools I've broken (and replaced free) were abused. I just replaced a 30 year old socket I cracked removing (with an impact wrench!) the big track bar bolt! Even my 1/2" drill and 9" grinder have given good service.

 

[BK]

LS,

the hand tool are the best thing, IMHO, that they sell today.

Most others depends on who makes them for them.



To get you CCC, just ask for an application at any Sear Hardware store, or any Sears Store tool department.

 

[swamp rat]

Phone number to call to join

1-800-682-8691. Still takes 6-8 weeks to get your card, but at least it saves you postage.