Socket set from costco

[Warnie]

I'm after a decent socket and spanner set and was looking to buy one from halfords at £60 half price (90 piece)and of course you get the lifetime guarantee. But on my weekly trip to costco I noticed a Kirkland mechanics set that included everything in the halfords set and more (156 piece).

Just wondering how good the set is? has anyone used tools from costco before? The kirkland stuff is usually of decent quality but no idea on tools.

[RizzoTheRat]

Can't help on the Costco ones but the lifetime guarantee on the Halfords ones is well worth it IMO, the mechanism failed on 1/4" ratchet a while back, took it in to the shop and they swapped it for a new one straight away.

[Aphex]

As above, the cover outweighs the cost saving when you're happily hammering away sockets onto bolts that are too big for it

[Richyvrlimited]

Costco stuff has a similar guarantee.

My Costco kit has served me incredibly well over the years. I've lost a few screwdriver bits, and managed to break the 1/2" ratchet, but really it's taken a lot of abuse and survived.

[eltax91]

RizzoTheRat said:

Can't help on the Costco ones but the lifetime guarantee on the Halfords ones is well worth it IMO, the mechanism failed on 1/4" ratchet a while back, took it in to the shop and they swapped it for a new one straight away.

The ratchet mechanisms are not covered under the lifetime guarantee are they? I think it specifically states they are not on the website? I bought 3 x new mech's a few weeks ago for my 3 ratchets without even asking as i thought they were not covered!

[spats]

eltax91 said:

The ratchet mechanisms are not covered under the lifetime guarantee are they? I think it specifically states they are not on the website? I bought 3 x new mech's a few weeks ago for my 3 ratchets without even asking as i thought they were not covered!

They used to be. Ive had my set for well over a decade and they used to cover mechs. I've never broken one myself but my friend did a few, he used to walk in with no receipt and simply offer the broken one to a sales bod who would go grab a replacement for him.

Now I notice they ask for a receipt and wont replace mechs either. Shame but I cant complain till one breaks!

[kambites]

In my experience Kirkland stuff is generally pretty good although I have no actual experience of their tools.

[RizzoTheRat]

It was the ratchet mechanism that failed on my one of these http://www.halfords.com/motoring-travel/tools-diy/...

I wasn't asked for a receipt in either shop I went to. Farnham branch didn't have a replacement in stock so told me they could either order it in for me or the Farnborough store did have one in stock. Went to Farnborough and the girl on the counter checked with a manager who said just replace it.

[Cabinet Enforcer]

The Costco set is very good value, and their returns policy is great, though how it works when you bust a single item I don't know.

The set has more imperial tools than a halfords one, which may or may not be a good thing depending on what you want, on the plus side the 1/2" sockets are 6 point as opposed to the 12 point halfords ones, thats the main thing which puts me off the big halfords sets.

[RizzoTheRat]

Cabinet Enforcer said:

The set has more imperial tools than a halfords one, which may or may not be a good thing depending on what you want

That's one of the reasons I went of the Halfords one, at the time most other sets seemed to be a mix of metric and imperial, great if you own a classic but I don't.

[BigMacDaddy]

I've got a slightly older Costco set than the one they currently sell, but it's taken some real abuse over the 5 years I've owned it and nothing's broken thus far. A friend of mines uses the Halfords Pro stuff and is equally impressed though, so you'll not really go wrong whichever way you choose.

[Warnie]

The Costco one is only £12 more for 66 pieces extra, but if some are imperial then I probably wouldn't use them as my alfa is 2005. Thanks for the responses, I'll check the guarantee regarding the rachets then probably get the halfords one, as I know Costco are great for returns but I can't see them accepting one or two pieces.

Actually thinking about it, knowing Costco they'd probably replace the whole set...