5 ms·

Sears was still doing this when I worked there in 2016. They went as far as to bust open a set of 24 drill bits to replace one of them on the spot.

sokoloff 3y ago
Wait. Someone returned a drill bit (a wear item) for replacement? Crap like that is why companies have walked away from consumer-biased warranty policies. LLBean had to change theirs as well: https://www.businessinsider.com/why-ll-bean-changed-its-return-policy-2018-2 https://www.businessinsider.com/why-ll-bean-changed-its-retu...
- aaronax 3y ago
  It is plausible that it did not live up to reasonable expectations in some way. Equally likely that someone was being dishonest though. Example: I once returned a board that I had cut in half. It was window trim with a shaped profile, and I had previously purchased and installed some of the same SKU before. When I went to install my freshly cut board next to the first ones, it was a little too obvious that it was from a different batch or manufacturer with a slightly different profile.
- jandrese 3y ago
  I’d totally bring one back if it failed because they forgot to harden it or something. Put it in some wood and the first time you use it the threads reverse because the metal is so soft.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
- Dylan16807 3y ago
  What else is a lifetime warranty supposed to mean on a drill bit? It's not something vague like the "100% satisfaction" you linked. If they offer the warranty on drill bits, then there's nothing wrong with using the warranty on drill bits. It's not being a bad customer.
  - justinclift 3y ago
    It's kind of like returning sandpaper that you've worn out though. :/
    - Dylan16807 3y ago
      Same thing, if the sandpaper has an over the top warranty for the product category then it's fine to use it.
- packetlost 3y ago
  The bit had snapped in half iirc, not worn out.
- lelanthran 3y ago
  > Wait. Someone returned a drill bit (a wear item) for replacement? Could be. Maybe it snapped?
  - sokoloff 3y ago
    I've snapped dozens of drill bits in my life (from many different brands). Exactly zero of those were a manufacturing defect.
    - lelanthran 3y ago
      > I've snapped dozens of drill bits in my life (from many different brands). Exactly zero of those were a manufacturing defect. Oh, I agree - I've snapped dozens as well due to misuse. But it is not inconceivable that a bit snapped due to manufacturing defect (I just don't know how the store can tell the difference).

sokoloff 3y ago

Wait. Someone returned a drill bit (a wear item) for replacement? Crap like that is why companies have walked away from consumer-biased warranty policies. LLBean had to change theirs as well: https://www.businessinsider.com/why-ll-bean-changed-its-return-policy-2018-2 https://www.businessinsider.com/why-ll-bean-changed-its-retu...

aaronax 3y ago
It is plausible that it did not live up to reasonable expectations in some way. Equally likely that someone was being dishonest though. Example: I once returned a board that I had cut in half. It was window trim with a shaped profile, and I had previously purchased and installed some of the same SKU before. When I went to install my freshly cut board next to the first ones, it was a little too obvious that it was from a different batch or manufacturer with a slightly different profile.
jandrese 3y ago
I’d totally bring one back if it failed because they forgot to harden it or something. Put it in some wood and the first time you use it the threads reverse because the metal is so soft.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
Dylan16807 3y ago
What else is a lifetime warranty supposed to mean on a drill bit? It's not something vague like the "100% satisfaction" you linked. If they offer the warranty on drill bits, then there's nothing wrong with using the warranty on drill bits. It's not being a bad customer.
- justinclift 3y ago
  It's kind of like returning sandpaper that you've worn out though. :/
  - Dylan16807 3y ago
    Same thing, if the sandpaper has an over the top warranty for the product category then it's fine to use it.
packetlost 3y ago
The bit had snapped in half iirc, not worn out.
lelanthran 3y ago
> Wait. Someone returned a drill bit (a wear item) for replacement? Could be. Maybe it snapped?
- sokoloff 3y ago
  I've snapped dozens of drill bits in my life (from many different brands). Exactly zero of those were a manufacturing defect.
  - lelanthran 3y ago
    > I've snapped dozens of drill bits in my life (from many different brands). Exactly zero of those were a manufacturing defect. Oh, I agree - I've snapped dozens as well due to misuse. But it is not inconceivable that a bit snapped due to manufacturing defect (I just don't know how the store can tell the difference).