Anyone take advantage of a "lifetime warranty"?

[bcla]

I was wearing some "waterproof" shell pants yesterday as it was raining heavily. Normally I'd stay really dry, but suddenly I felt a spot underneath feel wet. I thought maybe the rain was getting in through an open pocket, but when I took it off the wet spot was only at around my knee. Then I noticed that the waterproofing membrane was cracked all over and flaking off. They were from The North Face, and these were full retail items with their supposed lifetime warranty.

I've returned stuff to The North Face for warranty repair before. We have a few stores (including one outlet store) and they used to accept warranty returns at the store. If a zipper part was busted, sometimes I've had them fixed quickly in the store. I had a jacket fixed when the Velcro patches started peeling off, and I dropped it off and picked it up at a TNF retail store. However, these days they only seem to accept returns that are shipped to their warranty return facility in Alameda, California.

So I guess I"m going to send it off, but the return instructions say to send it in a way that can be tracked and insured. I don't know about spending that much for a relatively inexpensive pair of pants, so I'm just going to stuff it into an envelope and see what happens.

I guess the thing that sort of gets me is that the warranty service isn't as convenient as it once was when I could drop it off at one of their retail stores. The same goes for the leather brand Coach. I bought several of their handbags for my mom, and they used to be really easy to get fixed. Then they started charging for return shipping. Later they wouldn't accept returns at the store and handed out return information where the customer had to ship at their own expense. I suppose they're trying to reduce the number of returns since it's costing them a bunch when someone returns an item.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

My mom took a 20 year old hammer back to Sears with a cracked handle. They replaced it, no charge.

 

[jdb in AZ]

i have a lifetime replacement guarantee on my watch battery. The batteries haven't lasted as long as advertised, so it's good to have the freebie replacement. Last time it died I took it to the jewelry shop at the maul (spelling intentional) where I had bought it, and they said they couldn't find the tool to remove the back of the watch. Do their tools normally walk away like that? Maybe they used it as a bottle opener and bent the tool. There wasn't another customer in the store, so it seemed rather strange that they couldn't (or wouldn't) look around enough to find the thing. I took it to a different maul and the service was much friendlier. They easily replaced the battery. So I'll be going there next time the battery dies, especially since the store at the first maul is now out of business.

 

[bcla]

My mom took a 20 year old hammer back to Sears with a cracked handle. They replaced it, no charge.

Craftsman tool? I've done that plenty of times. A few were some special bargain version of their standard screwdrivers with solid colored handles in a 99 cent bin. My dad borrowed one and managed to strip the head, while another rusted. The only replacements available were standard clear handle versions, with no hassle. I think Ace and OSH (used to be owned by Sears) will also handle warranty replacements as a condition of their contracts to sell Craftsman.

Not quite sure how long that will last since Sears looks ready to close down.

 

[tvguy]

My mom put a JCPenney Lifetime battery in her 1976 Pinto in 1979 for $59.95. She kept the car for 27 years. About every 3 years, the battery failed, and she went back to the JCPenney for a free replacement. When JCPENNEY closed their auto centers, they paid Firestone to honor those warranties. So she got at least 6 new batteries for free altogether.
She put Montgomery Wards Lifetime warranty shock absorbers on that car too. When they started leaking, she took it in. They did balk, the kid at the counter wanted to replace the ONE in front, and the ONE in back that were leaking, not all 4. The manager stepped in, and said shocks have to be replaced in pairs, and said they would order 4, but would have to charge $25 each to put them in. Mom pointed out in the original paperwork, that it said "If Montgomery Wards installed the shocks and they fail, the labor for replacements will be free". Manager said he had never heard of such a thing, but agreed that it was clearly stated in the paperwork, so they ordered the shocks and put them in for free.

 

[tvguy]

Craftsman tool? I've done that plenty of times. A few were some special bargain version of their standard screwdrivers with solid colored handles in a 99 cent bin. My dad borrowed one and managed to strip the head, while another rusted. The only replacements available were standard clear handle versions, with no hassle. I think Ace and OSH (used to be owned by Sears) will also handle warranty replacements as a condition of their contracts to sell Craftsman.

Not quite sure how long that will last since Sears looks ready to close down.

I keep reading that Sears is in trouble, and that their shelves were bare. I made a point last weekend of going into Sears when I was at Arden Fair last weekend, and the shelves were full, and the lines long at the checkout. I know people who find broken Craftsman tools at garage sales, get them for free, and turn them in for new ones at the store.

 

[bcla]

My mom put a JCPenney Lifetime battery in her 1976 Pinto in 1979 for $59.95. She kept the car for 27 years. About every 3 years, the battery failed, and she went back to the JCPenney for a free replacement. When JCPENNEY closed their auto centers, they paid Firestone to honor those warranties. So she got at least 6 new batteries for free altogether.
She put Montgomery Wards Lifetime warranty shock absorbers on that car too. When they started leaking, she took it in. They did balk, the kid at the counter wanted to replace the ONE in front, and the ONE in back that were leaking, not all 4. The manager stepped in, and said shocks have to be replaced in pairs, and said they would order 4, but would have to charge $25 each to put them in. Mom pointed out in the original paperwork, that it said "If Montgomery Wards installed the shocks and they fail, the labor for replacements will be free". Manager said he had never heard of such a thing, but agreed that it was clearly stated in the paperwork, so they ordered the shocks and put them in for free.

Never thought of the automotive stuff. Most of these warranties are premised on most customers not using them. I've got lifetime alignments from Firestone. I don't even need the original paperwork.

My dad got a lifetime alignment from a local department store called Capwell's. They had a tire center, but eventually sold that location to a Goodyear Tire Center franchisee. That place honored the lifetime alignment, but only with the original receipt.

 

[ronandannette]

I keep reading that Sears is in trouble, and that their shelves were bare. I made a point last weekend of going into Sears when I was at Arden Fair last weekend, and the shelves were full, and the lines long at the checkout. I know people who find broken Craftsman tools at garage sales, get them for free, and turn them in for new ones at the store.

I did a lot of shopping a Sears in years past (still would but I'm in a season of life where we need very little we don't already have). Their warranty and return policies were unsurpassed and we benefited from them many times. My DS was a very slow-grower; my all-time record was getting 4 successive pairs of pants on their "if you wear it out before you outgrow it" policy on the kids' clothes!

A family-member used to work the customer service desk of a large Sears store - the stories she can tell about customer returns range from to .

 

[North of Mouse]

I keep reading that Sears is in trouble, and that their shelves were bare. I made a point last weekend of going into Sears when I was at Arden Fair last weekend, and the shelves were full, and the lines long at the checkout. I know people who find broken Craftsman tools at garage sales, get them for free, and turn them in for new ones at the store.

Sears is definitely in trouble here in NC. One of our best Malls was bustling as usual today, but the huge Sears store was empty of patrons except for a very few - the same as always. We never shop there anymore, but used to buy nearly everything there. They have a great warranty, but we're just afraid they won't be around to honor them much longer.

 

[Heidict]

Had to return a coat to LL Bean a few weeks ago. The zipper busted after about 5 wears. No problems and no cost. Had the new one in about a week.

 

[bcla]

I keep reading that Sears is in trouble, and that their shelves were bare. I made a point last weekend of going into Sears when I was at Arden Fair last weekend, and the shelves were full, and the lines long at the checkout. I know people who find broken Craftsman tools at garage sales, get them for free, and turn them in for new ones at the store.

Sears Holdings lacks the cash to keep Sears and KMart stores open much longer. They've been borrowing from an equity fund owned by their CEO. I have seen Sears and KMart stores that have almost no traffic. They're borrowing and selling real estate to stay afloat.

http://www.businessinsider.com/moodys-report-sears-and-kmart-2016-9

They've already divested Lands End. I suppose the Craftsman, Kenmore, and DieHard brands might hold some value, but the warranty liabilities for Craftsman might make it hard to sell. I don't see those being separate from Sears unless they totally liquidate.

 

[tvguy]

Never thought of the automotive stuff. Most of these warranties are premised on most customers not using them. I've got lifetime alignments from Firestone. I don't even need the original paperwork.

My dad got a lifetime alignment from a local department store called Capwell's. They had a tire center, but eventually sold that location to a Goodyear Tire Center franchisee. That place honored the lifetime alignment, but only with the original receipt.

My FIL lived outside Houston where rust is still an issue. He used to get his cars Ziebarted. They guaranteed, as long as you brought them in for a free inspection every year, that the car would not rust for life. When his 1980 Chevy Citation started rusting in 1992, they fixed it, but he mysteriously started getting calls from car dealers wanting to sell him a new car!

 

[manning]

I did a lot of shopping a Sears in years past (still would but I'm in a season of life where we need very little we don't already have). Their warranty and return policies were unsurpassed and we benefited from them many times. My DS was a very slow-grower; my all-time record was getting 4 successive pairs of pants on their "if you wear it out before you outgrow it" policy on the kids' clothes!

A family-member used to work the customer service desk of a large Sears store - the stories she can tell about customer returns range from to .

Mom worked in linens years ago (and I mean years ago). She said a woman came in with towel for a refund and claimed she bought them several months back. She had no receipt. That Sears quit selling that brand four years previously. They gave her a refund.

 

[robinb]

This is an interesting thread for me. I bought a Lands End jacket about 4 years ago and it has a lifetime warranty on it. I sent it back a year ago for a warranty repair to the main zipper. In the spring the zipper on the pocket broke too. When I called Lands End a couple weeks ago on it (I'm a procrastinator) they said they only fix the main zipper but then gave me a big guilt trip "If you're not satisfied with the product after you have owned it for 4 years of course we will refund you the lowest price of the jacket." I didn't send it back because 4 years is a good run for a jacket. Now I'm thinking maybe I should send it back.

 

[PollyannaMom]

As organized as I am about some things, I'm awful about keeping and using warranty information.

 

[Squirlz]

Craftsman 1/2 inch ratchets must fail a lot. I took one back and the clerk just reached under the counter and handed me a new one.

 

[bcla]

Craftsman 1/2 inch ratchets must fail a lot. I took one back and the clerk just reached under the counter and handed me a new one.

I remember buying my first Craftsman ratchet back in the 90s, which I still have. It hasn't broken yet. However, back then I saw repair kits being "sold" for one cent each. I suppose those were for the supposed warranty repair.

Almost none of their tools are made in the US now. Maybe just the screwdrivers?

 

[Albort]

I used to have a Jansport backpack, i would send it in like every other year because of wear and tear. Got like 4 replacements throughout middle/high school.

currently, only item i have on life time is my iPhone 6 glass protector. i dont think its really life time as they make you pay $6 for shipping, item itself cost like $20 retail. still saves money but when u see other brand protectors go for $2, it seems quite expensive. haha

 

[robinb]

currently, only item i have on life time is my iPhone 6 glass protector. i dont think its really life time as they make you pay $6 for shipping, item itself cost like $20 retail. still saves money but when u see other brand protectors go for $2, it seems quite expensive. haha

I had a Zagg screen protector on my old iPhone 4s. It would scratch and/or start to peel up every 6-8 months of use and I would go back to the kiosk and have it replaced for $5 (the fee for them to do the work). Then the kiosk closed .

 

[Micca]

I have an inexpensive pair of Koss headphones with a lifetime warranty. I've sent them in a couple of times because one side of the phones would short out. There is a shipping/handling fee of $6 or $7 dollars, but each time they just sent me a brand new set. They sell on Amazon for $40-$50 so it's well worth it to me.