Short answer: partly. Craftsman still offers a full lifetime replacement warranty for specified hand and mechanics tools, including listed older model numbers. However, many current power tools carry a three-year limited warranty, and other categories have different rules. The published documents show a narrower, category-by-category system than the simple “lifetime warranty” reputation many Sears-era users remember. They do not establish whether claims are faster, easier, or more often approved today.
What Craftsman’s current warranty actually covers
CRAFTSMAN’s current warranty page is the controlling starting point for a claim. It separates tools by category, model and conditions rather than promising lifetime coverage for every red Craftsman product: CRAFTSMAN Warranty.
| Category or term | Published coverage | Important conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Selected hand tools and mechanics tools | Full lifetime warranty | For listed products, Craftsman says, “If the product fails to perform for any reason, we will replace it.” The page says “No proof of purchase required” and includes specified older model numbers beginning with 9. |
| Many power tools | Three-year limited warranty | Examples listed include drills, grinders, impact drivers and wrenches, oscillating tools, sanders, saws and wet/dry vacuums. The exact model statement controls. |
| Certain gas-powered outdoor equipment | Two-year limited warranty | Coverage can depend on the product, purchaser, use and proof-of-purchase terms. |
| Other product categories | Varying limited-lifetime or other limited terms | Read the product-specific language for duration, exclusions, seller rules and use restrictions. |
Some warranties require the original purchaser, a purchase date, proof of purchase or an authorized seller. Commercial service or rental use can reduce coverage, and normal-wear consumable parts may be excluded. State or country consumer-law rights may add protections or limit disclaimers.
Does “lifetime” mean the same thing it did on older Craftsman tools?
Not necessarily. “Lifetime” is a label applied to different written promises. A full lifetime warranty for an eligible hand tool can cover failure for any reason, while a limited lifetime warranty may impose exclusions or define what failure is covered. A fixed three-year warranty ends under its stated time limit even if the tool still looks like a traditional Craftsman product.
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- Full Lifetime Warranty
- Includes: (91) Sockets (3) Ratchets (21) Wrenches (44) Hex Keys (66) Specialty Bits (5) Accessories
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A current set illustrates the distinction
The official listing for the CRAFTSMAN 102PC Mixed Mechanics Tool Set describes full lifetime coverage for its mechanics tools but limited lifetime coverage for hand tools in the same set. That is why the model, component and package language matter more than the brand name or a box headline.
What the Sears-era document says
A Sears/Transformco-hosted warranty document uses the phrase “FOR AS LONG AS IT IS USED” for specified products. It directs the customer to return a defective part, with proof of original sale, to Sears, Kmart or another Transformco-authorized retailer for free replacement: historical warranty document.
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- LOW PROFILE RATCHET: Up to 25% thinner head* for access in tight spaces (as compared to CMMT81747 & CMMT81748)
- 90-TOOTH RATCHET: Delivers 5 degree arc swing
- CONVENIENCE: Comprehensive set of 1/4-in and 3/8-in drive mechanics tools and mixed hand tools
- DURABLE BLOW MOLD CASE: For mobility and easy storage
- Full Lifetime Warranty on Mechanics Tools; Limited Lifetime Warranty on Hand Tools
That is meaningful evidence of a broad historical written promise, but the document’s issue date and complete product range are not clear in the available copy. It does not prove that every Craftsman tool had identical coverage, that every claim required the same paperwork, or that every customer received an effortless replacement.
What changed after the brand moved from Sears?
CRAFTSMAN’s official history records Stanley Black & Decker’s purchase of the brand in 2017: CRAFTSMAN history. The acquisition itself does not show that lifetime coverage ended. In an August 16, 2018 announcement, Craftsman promoted a new mechanics-tool lineup backed by a full lifetime warranty: 2018 mechanics-tool announcement.
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- LOW PROFILE RATCHET: Up to 25% thinner head* for access in tight spaces (as compared to CMMT81747)
- 72-TOOTH RATCHET: Delivers 5 degree arc swing
- CONVENIENCE: Comprehensive set of 1/4-in drive mechanics tools and mixed hand tools
- DURABLE BLOW MOLD CASE: For mobility and easy storage
- Full Lifetime Warranty on Mechanics Tools; Limited Lifetime Warranty on Hand Tools
The defensible conclusion is therefore narrower than “the old warranty disappeared.” Selected current hand and mechanics tools still have full lifetime coverage, while many other tools follow time-limited or restricted terms.
Is today’s claim experience worse?
The published terms cannot answer that question. They do not provide a reliable comparison of approval rates, denial rates, turnaround time, inventory, shipping or the ease of dealing with Sears-era versus current support. Warranty wording shows legal scope; it is not a customer-service performance study.
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- LOW PROFILE RATCHET: Up to 25% thinner head* for access in tight spaces (1/4" DR & 3/8" DR only as compared to CMMT81747, CMMT81748, & CMMT81749)
- 72-TOOTH RATCHET: Delivers 5 degree arc swing
- ORGANIZATION: Tools packed into plastic trays for organization and storage
- ALL IN ONE MECHANICS SET: Contains a full assortment of sockets, ratchets, wrenches, and specialty bits for automotive enthusiasts and mechanics
- CORROSION RESISTANCE: Full Polish Chrome Finish
Current instructions send eligible full-lifetime hand and mechanics-tool customers to a stocking retail partner or CRAFTSMAN Customer Care. The official support page provides warranty information, manuals, product help and parts: CRAFTSMAN Customer Service, Manuals and Warranty Help. Whether a nearby retailer stocks a replacement, or Customer Care offers another remedy, can vary by model and availability.
How to check coverage before making a claim
- Identify the exact item. Record the model number, tool type and any date or serial information. Do not rely on the color, set name or a general Craftsman advertisement.
- Read the product-specific warranty. Check the current warranty page and the statement supplied with the tool or printed on its packaging.
- Classify the promise. Determine whether it is full lifetime, limited lifetime, three-year, two-year or another term. Note whether coverage is for any failure or only defects in materials and workmanship.
- Check eligibility rules. Confirm purchase date, original-purchaser status, authorized-seller requirements, proof-of-purchase rules and whether commercial, rental or other use changes coverage.
- Separate covered parts from wear items. Consumable or normal-wear parts may be excluded even when the tool category has a long warranty.
- Use the designated route. For an eligible full-lifetime hand or mechanics tool, take the damaged item to a stocking retail partner or contact CRAFTSMAN Customer Care as directed by the current policy.
- Keep records. Save the model number, receipt when available, seller information, photos and correspondence. They help resolve a question about a limited or seller-dependent warranty.
What this means for construction and jobsite buyers
For frequently used hand and mechanics tools, the current full-lifetime promise can still be valuable, especially when the model is explicitly listed and no proof of purchase is required. For cordless drills, saws, grinders, vacuums and similar equipment, budget and maintenance decisions around a three-year limited warranty rather than assuming lifetime replacement.
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- Low profile ratchet: up to 25% thinner head* for access in tight spaces. 90-tooth ratchet delivers 5 degree arc swing
- All in one mechanics set: hand tools contains a full assortment of socket wrench set, ratchet set, wrenches, hex socket set and specialty bits for automotive enthusiasts and mechanics, packed in a durable 3-drawer automotive tools box
- Includes (118) Sockets (3) Ratchets (24) Wrenches (44) Hex Keys (66) Specialty Bits (7) Accessories
- Full Lifetime Warranty
- One handed locking dial: spring loaded dial enables users to open and close drawers with one hand and lock drawers when not in use. Drawers can be nested on top of the tool box for easy access and temporary storage. VERSASTACK compatible: this flexible storage system allows for custom combination based on user needs
- Verify the warranty before buying a replacement set or outfitting a crew.
- Use authorized sellers when the category’s terms require them.
- Keep receipts for power tools and outdoor equipment with time-limited coverage.
- Do not treat a lifetime hand-tool policy as protection against every battery, charger, blade, belt or other consumable failure.
- Check live terms immediately before filing because model lists and claim routes can change.
Bottom line
Craftsman’s warranty is not uniformly as broad as the reputation attached to older Sears-era tools, but it has not abandoned lifetime coverage altogether. The current policy preserves a strong full-lifetime replacement promise for specified hand and mechanics tools—including listed older models—while placing many power tools under three-year limited coverage and applying separate rules elsewhere. Compare the exact model’s written terms and claim route; the available documents do not justify a blanket verdict that today’s service is better or worse.
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