Stopped by a sale today and bought two CRAFTSMAN ratchets: VU-44807 in 1/4" and VQ-44809 in 1/2"  Both looked very nice, but the guts were shot.  Completely.
The two of them and a couple of other things for $3.  Drove straight to the Sears store and the nice lady swapped them out for rebuilt ones, nice as you please.
Now, I know that they are not old or collectable, but still! 
I think I have a couple of stocking stuffers two weeks from now.

Nice score!

Can I take a different approach to this?....

If they had gone and gotten replacements for them and then put them on the table for $5 each would you have bought them or passed them by? Yes, they could have done it on a trip that wasn't specifically to replace them, but maybe they don't go to sears (like most in the country anymore). I just think sometimes it's smarter and easier to be rid of some of the excess we gather than to spend a lot of effort on something and possibly not end up any further ahead, at least in these type situations.

Good score!

You're lucky: my local Sears store is asking for the receipt and proof that I bought it at that store before replacing Craftsman tools - something not mentioned in their warranty language.   Fortunately, the local Ace hardware store is stocking (some) Craftsman tools, and they're honoring the warranty the way it's written.

I had several broken one's myself, and took them to the Tyler, TX Sears and exchanged them for rebuilt ones. They have an employee who does this instead of just re-stocking re-build kits.