Draper Tools - Great Customer Service

[Tiger 55]

I've got a real mix'n'match tool kit - Draper, Clarke, Teng, B&Q own brand - and I managed to lose a tiny ball bearing out of my ratchet screwdriver last week, doh! The ball is an integral part of the 1/4" bit holder, so the driver isn't much cop without it.

Now we're talking about 10 quids worth of tool here but I thought it couldn't hurt to fire off an email seeing if it was possible to get just the ball, either through the post or from my local Draper dealer.

Couple of hours later the customer service department replied to say they would send me a new one F.O.C. as a gesture of goodwill. Nice one.

But imagine my surprise this morning when the postie brings me not just a new ball bearing but a whole new tool! :D

No more mix'n'match for me, I'm getting out the Draper catalogue for everything except toilet paper and bananas.

[JamesMio]

As a Draper dealer, might I be bold enough to suggest sticking to their 'Expert' and 'Elora' ranges, otherwise you'll likely find yourself contacting their customer services dept more often!

[Woz]

Excellent service that. And I can vouch for Draper's Expert range. The socket set I have is fantastic.

[Dangerous Dave]

I always find it a little odd when manufacturers offer a 'expert' or 'high range' product, pretty much saying we make a product but it could be better.

[Tiger 55]

As a Draper dealer, might I be bold enough to suggest sticking to their 'Expert' and 'Elora' ranges, otherwise you'll likely find yourself contacting their customer services dept more often!
You may be bold enough, by all means, I always go for Expert if they have a tool in that range. Even bottom of the range is better than the B&Q tool (I am ashamed) it's likley replacing though. As for Elora, alas no, got two kids see?

So....can you get us stuff wholesale? :D

[JamesMio]

I can get my staff discount (I perhaps have over-estimated my importance there, it should have read that I work for a dealer!) on things, which is pretty substantial off their list prices.

If you're after anything in particular gimme a shout (or let me know on the Aviemore run if you're going?) & I'll certainly see what I can do...

The Expert stuff is fine, we rarely get many problems with it, but the normal Draper stuff can be really shoddy at times, and as for the 'Value' range.......

[northwind]

I always find it a little odd when manufacturers offer a 'expert' or 'high range' product, pretty much saying we make a product but it could be better.

Yup, it always means "Our basic range is appalling" :D

[Sean_C]

I don't like this thread. I've spent an hour drooling over 800 quid- 2 grand tool sets from various manufacturers. Hmph. One day soon ;)

[Dangerous Dave]

Yup, it always means "Our basic range is appalling" :D
Exactly, it doesn't give the company a good name either if some products are good and some are crap. Surely a company would want a name for quality products only.

[Tiger 55]

One day soon ;)
Today? :D

[Sean_C]

I wish :(
I like my teng tools, when I'm on my apprenticeship I'll save for a nice set of them. I do love some nice tools :D

[kwak zzr]

ive had draper years, i rate em.

[Davido]

Worx/Dewalt get my vote.

Bit expensive, but worth it if you rely on them. Same goes with snap-on (don't like Mac as it seems over-priced for what it is).

That's awesome service though. Should ring them again. "yeah my £200 drill needs a new chuck, any chance of sending us one over?" :lol:

[gavinsky23]

I go for halfords pro. Lifetime guarantee and with a trade card you get a decent discount, can't really go wrong!

[northwind]

I like Teng, they're good quality but also they look and feel nice ;)

[Tiger 55]

That's awesome service though. Should ring them again. "yeah my £200 drill needs a new chuck, any chance of sending us one over?" :lol:
Aye, if i'd known they were going to do it I wouldn't have shot my bolt on a bloody screwdriver.

Hello? A, um, castor is broken on my De-luxe Tool Kit (http://www.drapertools-online.com/b2c/b2citmdsp.pgm?pp_skmno=43750)....

[jimmy-james]

Sealey are superb too and quick to resolve problems, highly recommended!

[Lozzo]

I don't like this thread. I've spent an hour drooling over 800 quid- 2 grand tool sets from various manufacturers. Hmph. One day soon ;)

Is that all?

After Ogden had his tools stolen I went right through my toolchests and valued my collection for insurance purposes. Bearing in mind I had a Snap-On account for a few years and I've been buying tools for 30 years, I thought the £22,000 worth I had was quite astounding. I'd always thought they were only worth about 8 or 9 grand to replace with new.

[Sean_C]

Got to start somewhere Lozzo ;) I love snap on, but they're a bit pricey for me :-(

[mister c]

I've got a real mix'n'match tool kit - Draper, Clarke, Teng, B&Q own brand - and I managed to lose a tiny ball bearing out of my ratchet screwdriver last week, doh! The ball is an integral part of the 1/4" bit holder, so the driver isn't much cop without it.

Now we're talking about 10 quids worth of tool here but I thought it couldn't hurt to fire off an email seeing if it was possible to get just the ball, either through the post or from my local Draper dealer.

Couple of hours later the customer service department replied to say they would send me a new one F.O.C. as a gesture of goodwill. Nice one.

But imagine my surprise this morning when the postie brings me not just a new ball bearing but a whole new tool! :D

No more mix'n'match for me, I'm getting out the Draper catalogue for everything except toilet paper and bananas.

As a Draper dealer, might I be bold enough to suggest sticking to their 'Expert' and 'Elora' ranges, otherwise you'll likely find yourself contacting their customer services dept more often!

Used to sell Draper Tools myself & all of my tools are, & always will be Draper.
As James says stick to Draper Expert, Elora & Knipex & you wont go wrong. They come with a lifetime warranty just like the over rated & overpriced Snap on stuff & as you have found, the after sales service is 2nd to none :)

[Tiger 55]

Post Script.

I got an invoice for this tool from Draper today. In red print at the bottom it warns...

This invoice is due for payment by the 20th of the month following the tax point date otherwise it will be considered overdue.

Net Amount - .00
VAT 17.5% - .00
Total - .00

Will they take payment over the phone do you think? I'd hate to be overdue.

[thefallenangel]

Bought a draper value 1/2" socket set. Within an hour i'd snapped 2 sockets and the ratchet was fudged. Bag of crap.

[mister c]

Bought a draper value 1/2" socket set. Within an hour i'd snapped 2 sockets and the ratchet was fudged. Bag of crap.
The one word that sticks out there is "VALUE". If you buy cheap, you expect cheap. I have Draper tools that are 20 years old, have been used for jobs they shouldn't have been used for & still work fine. These are Draper Expert, Knipex & Elora. It's always worth paying a little bit extra & get a lot more quality. :)

[thefallenangel]

The one word that sticks out there is "VALUE". If you buy cheap, you expect cheap. I have Draper tools that are 20 years old, have been used for jobs they shouldn't have been used for & still work fine. These are Draper Expert, Knipex & Elora. It's always worth paying a little bit extra & get a lot more quality. :)

but snapping on first use? i got a bahco set now which is a billion times better.

[ricky_t]

The one word that sticks out there is "VALUE". If you buy cheap, you expect cheap. I have Draper tools that are 20 years old, have been used for jobs they shouldn't have been used for & still work fine. These are Draper Expert, Knipex & Elora. It's always worth paying a little bit extra & get a lot more quality. :)

I am using my dad's draper set from the late 70s or early 80s. Does yours come in a orange metal tin that looks very dated?

They were made well and have not rusted or worn. The rachet still works and totally dependable. I have added torxs bits to it using halford professional range about 5 years ago and they have started to show wear but more than that of the draper set.

I guess the expression goes, "buy quality, buy once but buy cheap, buy twice!"

[northwind]

See up page, comments about value and premium ranges ;) Draper value is ****. But still, "get what you pay for" doesn't really apply like that, because here the tools are just obviously not fit for purpose. Hope you took them back... You can't justify selling **** just because it's cheap.

[JamesMio]

You'd be better to roughly carve the shape of tool you're looking for out of a block of Edam, for a more reliable and 'fit for purpose' tool than the Draper Value stuff.

Even the normal Draper stuff is iffy, at best. Stick to Expert & Elora (German made) and you'll not go far wrong.

[Draper]

I can vouch for the quality of Draper's tools

[yorkie_chris]

You'd be better to roughly carve the shape of tool you're looking for out of a block of Edam,

Have we just discovered who supplies suzuki with their stock tool kit?

[Raf]

Strange, I've been trying to contact them to get a torque wrench calibrated and I can't get a reply from them, at all. Good for you though.