Icon Tools- Warning on the warranty

Harbor Freight's Icon line

[Jaspel]

A few people have pointed out that stores will sometimes not require the full kit and or help you out in other ways. Buy it for what the hard good is, not what the service could be. Going beyond the stated warranty is great when they will do it, but YMMV and in that sense similar to any other retail and dare I say tool truck.

[fireguy]

Considering they’re cost and availability, worth every penny. I have no problem buying ICON so far I have not been disappointed. I’m done taking out loans to buy hand tools.

[WalkerKlondyke]

You’ve gotta find another store if they’re requiring you to bring back the entire set just to warranty out one socket.

[narcissistinjurygiver]

i am a professional mechanic. been using the Pittsburgh pro colored sockets for over 25 years now. none of them broke. love my Pittsburgh pro ratchets almost as much as be Gearwrench 120 ratchets

[FoeSho]

I've just been buying up the USA made Williams tools. They are the best value out there I think especially since they are USA made and some are identical to the snap on products but at a quarter of the price if not less

[brandonhowes]

They do sell them individually, you just need to call and order them. Warranty wise both stores near me will just swap the one I broke with one out of an already open set or a new set. Then this set is discounted. I’ve actually purchased a set that was open and purchased the missing size. I have never been asked for my phone # or a receipt when doing this, and I’m usually in and out of the store in 5 minutes or less. I do agree with the supply issue, I haven’t seen 1/2” sets in stock in ages, though the supply chain has also been messed up for awhile now. I prefer the icons as they have nice thin walls and tight tolerances, just like snap on sockets. For me they fit the bill and are way cheaper than getting a full snap on set. I have every size both deep and shallow, and it’s nice to have so many options when working

[norge]

This is why I like tekton. I don't even have to get off my ass for a replacement. I live 15min from HQ. I usually get my replacement in 1-2 days. Gear wrench is absolutely terrible. took 2 months just to get a replacement breaker bar.

[markfanny]

I don't know if their policy is different where you are, but in NH I can bring in one bad Icon socket, and they will open a package a new package and replace it. As for what they have in stock, I haven't run into that problem either.

[nutzboltztoolz]

I’ve been using and abusing these Icon sockets over 3 years now and love them over Tekton, Craftsman, Kobalt etc. they are definitely worth the money

[_Ptat_]

I believe they spent money on the packaging as a marketing move. Packaging is the first thing you see on the store shelves, so if the packaging is nice, it plays with your head to think the products are actually good as well.

Then it was realized that the packaging was costing them too much money, so instead of jacking up the price they ditched the packaging. Which, let’s be honest, the packaging was actually really nice looking. Just an absolute waste of material.

[vabearcub]

How many have you broken? Asking for a friend.

[TheSailingwoodworker]

One thing about the Icon brand is that the packaging covers the entire set so you can't look at them before buying. I went in to compare a Quinn set to an Icon set and just bought the Quinn because I could not compare and the price difference was substantial. I did buy a 3/8 drive Icon breaker bar because it looked really high quality compared to the other brands. (the Icon was not covered in packaging)

[sscustomcaraudio]

How often are people warranting sockets?? I’ve never. Ratchets yes sure but just a socket.

[gtcam]

I think Icon is basically Snap On styling but really competes more with your Taiwan tool truck stuff. A LOT of which is actually pretty well executed.

[rhbowhunter]

That must be your store That is not the case at my store, only need to bring the broken one back and the stock in my store is insane they always have almost everything in stock and when something does go outta stock it's in stock very fast within a few days. I guess it goes store-by-store experience.

[craigchiddo]

Hf would need to revamp their security to sell icon sockets individual

[grousedog]

There are some videos of HF taking a socket out of a set. Then there are videos where you need the whole set. So basically it’s hit or miss warranty wise.

[pdpofalltrades]

Some of your experience with applying warranty to replace a single socket, availability sounds very much associated to your store. I have not had that problem and when version's changed they were happy to exchange mine to the new ones. Might not want to cast so much shade without a use case example/s but otherwise appreciate review.

[cesare]

Can you review the ball joint press and the expansion set for 4wd? What are your thoughts for the diy and the professional? As well as maybe the caliper turn in tool.

[jmackinjersey]

My main gripe with Icon is that they don't have any large sets. They barely cover the typical sizes and even those you are forced to buy as a stand alone set. Where are the 500, 600, 1200 piece sets? Plus, as you said, you can't just walk in to HF and buy a single wrench/socket etc. You must buy the entire set. When you do warranty the single tool, they would rather that you bring in the entire set that that tool came with. The other silly thing they do is when you bring in a socket or wrench, they often take one tool out of another set, and then mark that set down a dollar or two. Plus, according to their store and even website, they want you to have proof of purchase. I can walk into and HD or God Forbid Lowe's, and hand them a Husky or Craftsman or Cobalt tool and they will hand me a brand new tool, right off of the rack. Now, the only thing is Lowe's can give you some flack if they want to and ask for your proof of purchase, whereas HD does not. They simply hand you a new tool.

That's a major problem with a lot of tool companies, they have "Limited Lifetime Warranty", meaning they only cover the original purchaser.