Let's suppose you bought a roughneck plastic garbage container from
them 15 years ago. It claimed to be guaranteed for life. You now have
a cracked container, but no original receipt. Then you are SOL, buddy.
Their policy is that you cut off a portion of the container where the
part number is located and mail this and your receipt (or a copy) to
their warranty facility. Read the details at:

http://www.rubbermaid.com/hpd/consum...antycard.jhtml

But who keeps receipts for 10 - 15 years for a $20 item? What a crock.
I remember the cover cracking at 7 years. Now the handle cracked from
UV exposure, and the garbage can is unusable.

At least with Sears Craftsman tools, you just bring the defective item
into the store and they replace it. No receipt required. Possessing
the tool is prima facie evidence that you are the rightful owner and
entitled to get a replacement tool (actually reconditioned,
sometimes).