Can You Exchange Craftsman Tools at Ace Hardware in 2024?
Ace Hardware, with over 5,000 independently owned stores across the United States, does not accept Craftsman‘s famous lifetime warranty. This makes exchanging Craftsman tools tricky for Ace customers. Here‘s what you need to know about the Craftsman lifetime warranty, Ace Hardware‘s return policy, and the best way to exchange Craftsman tools purchased at Ace.
Craftsman Lifetime Warranty vs. Ace Hardware Return Policy
The famous Craftsman lifetime warranty allows you to exchange any broken or defective Craftsman hand tool, at any point during its lifetime, no questions asked. This is what makes Craftsman tools so popular.
Ace Hardware has a more limited 30-day return policy for unopened and unused items. See a comparison:
| Craftsman Lifetime Warranty | Ace Hardware Return Policy | |
|---|---|---|
| Time Limit | No time limit, lifetime of tool | 30 days from purchase |
| Requirements | None, no proof of purchase needed | Must have receipt, unused/unopened |
| What‘s Covered | All Craftsman brand hand tools | All products from Ace Hardware |
With over 5,000 independently owned stores, Ace Hardware does not accept the Craftsman lifetime warranty due to the complexity of servicing it across all retail locations.
Exchanging Craftsman Tools at Ace Hardware
The only way to exchange Craftsman tools at Ace Hardware is if they were originally purchased at Ace Hardware and you have a receipt showing the purchase date within the past 30 days.
Even if the tools have a lifetime warranty, Ace Hardware will only allow exchanges within their standard 30 day policy for items purchased in-store.
Craftsman tools purchased elsewhere cannot be exchanged at Ace Hardware, even if recently purchased. You‘ll need to visit a Craftsman retailer to utilize the lifetime warranty.
Where You Can Exchange Craftsman Tools
While Ace Hardware won‘t exchange Craftsman tools purchased elsewhere, here are some options that do accept the lifetime warranty:
Craftsman Retail Stores – Your best option, as they can exchange tools anytime with no receipt required. There are about 500 standalone Craftsman retail stores.
Sears – Sears department stores offer lifetime warranty exchanges for Craftsman tools. Sears has about 300 full-line locations remaining.
Lowe‘s (select tools) – Reports indicate some Lowe‘s locations may exchange certain Craftsman tools under the lifetime warranty. Availability varies.
Direct from Craftsman – Call Craftsman at 888-331-4569 if no eligible retailers are nearby. They can help facilitate exchanges by mail.
Conclusion
Due to their decentralized franchise model, exchanging Craftsman tools at Ace Hardware using the lifetime warranty is unfortunately not possible. Only tools purchased originally at Ace Hardware within the past 30 days can be exchanged there. To leverage the Craftsman lifetime warranty fully, shop at Craftsman retailers or Sears.
