Craftsman V Series...

[allinon72]

This is more of a ramble than anything...

I don't go to Lowes often unless there's a certain brand I'm looking for (rare). Their target market is Johnny homeowner, meaning it's mainly a junk mart with a poor tool section (just my opinion). Regardless, I was driving by and remembered reading about the V Series tools and figured I'd stop in and check them out.

I head to the Craftsman section and there's "V Series" banners everywhere. So I start looking closer on the shelves for the V Series products and none are found. Not one. So then I look in the screwdriver section for those (made by Vessel). None there either. Perplexed, I look them up on the app and it says they're in the Seasonal section. So I head there and finally find their limited selection, way in the corner next to the "my first toolkit" holiday specials.

This product line is doomed to fail. Maybe it already has and I'm not aware. There's no effort being put into marketing these tools properly to compete with other medium tier brands. Even when I did eventually find them, the packaging isn't differentiated enough from regular old Craftsman to even tell the difference.

I bought a 3/8" set and a stubby 1/4" ratchet out of curiosity. Everything seems of pretty good quality, although the ratchets were very stiff, likely bone dry. I didn't find them to be overwhelmingly better feeling in the hand the regular Craftsman currently on the shelf.

Shame, what a wasted opportunity to bring back the Craftsman brand.

 

[Steel_Rain]

Buying the Craftsman V-Series earlier this year was my first purchase of Craftsman tools in 20 years, and I’m not that old.

It was a horrid experience that mimics yours. Blowes is awful. The employees are clueless and anti-helpful. The website stock status is useless and communication of information about these tools is nonexistent.

I would have never bought anything at Lowe’s or Craftsman if these weren’t on clearance and I don’t want to ever go back to Blowes.

 

[Toold_up]

I believe SBD bought the name just so nobody else could use it. Once they break even it will disappear entirely.

 

[finn]

This is more of a ramble than anything...

I don't go to Lowes often unless there's a certain brand I'm looking for (rare). Their target market is Johnny homeowner, meaning it's mainly a junk mart with a poor tool section (just my opinion). Regardless, I was driving by and remembered reading about the V Series tools and figured I'd stop in and check them out.

I head to the Craftsman section and there's "V Series" banners everywhere. So I start looking closer on the shelves for the V Series products and none are found. Not one. So then I look in the screwdriver section for those (made by Vessel). None there either. Perplexed, I look them up on the app and it says they're in the Seasonal section. So I head there and finally find their limited selection, way in the corner next to the "my first toolkit" holiday specials.

This product line is doomed to fail. Maybe it already has and I'm not aware. There's no effort being put into marketing these tools properly to compete with other medium tier brands. Even when I did eventually find them, the packaging isn't differentiated enough from regular old Craftsman to even tell the difference.

I bought a 3/8" set and a stubby 1/4" ratchet out of curiosity. Everything seems of pretty good quality, although the ratchets were very stiff, likely bone dry. I didn't find them to be overwhelmingly better feeling in the hand the regular Craftsman currently on the shelf.

Shame, what a wasted opportunity to bring back the Craftsman brand.

The Lowe’s stores in Tucson were flooded with V series before Black Friday, at very good prices. They literally flew off the shelves.

Since they were a seasonal buy, though, they aren’t being restocked. They were probably 95% gone from the shelves by Christmas, with only a few stragglers by last Thursday.

Pretty successful Christmas promotion, the way I see it.

You snoozed and lost. Better luck next year, though.

The online website was pretty accurate in my experience, and was consistent with what the associate in the Marana Lowes tool department pulled up on the hand held device. I ended up buying that particular item online and picking it up at Casa Grande, an hour or so to the north.

Lowe’s here is much better organized than the shithole Home Depot down the street or in Oro Valley.

I still prefer Menards in general, but the nearest one is two days drive.

 

[Steel_Rain]

the shithole Home Depot down the street

taken out of context, but I've heard this same sentence uttered 100's of times in my life.

 

[IRQVET]

Did you check the clearance section? I was in Lowes today and that where the V-Series were, next to all the other stuff they cannot sell.

It was sad being a Craftsman fanboy, but older Craftsman (USA and Japanese made), but not that newer junk.

One thing I was specifically looking for was Diablo or CMT saw blades, nada. Plenty on sub quality blades like Crescent, Craftsman, Dewalt, and Spider.

But to Lowes credit, it's the only place that carries Jacobsen, Johnson, and few other quality brands you cannot find at Home Depot.

I thinks that's why I appreciate the fact that Lowes marketing plans for new stores, is to build them next to Home Depot. . . gives us the opportunity to bounce back and forth to find the brands we want.

 

[finn]

taken out of context, but I've heard this same sentence uttered 100's of times in my life.

Had to pick up something today, so I wert to the shithole HD, since a 10% coupon came in the mail.

Found what I needed but in the process I figured out why I prefer Lowe’s! Other than its a mile closer and has a better parking layout….. the HD store interior / aisles is darker than the inside of a cow, while Lowe’s apparently believes in lighting the aisles

 

[Ohio Andy]

They sold almost immediately near my house. Many stores near my parents had no v-series screwdrivers.

I ordered some Williams screwdrivers

This 8 piece set is a great deal

Williams 8-Piece Endurogrip Multi-Size Screwdriver Set, Keystone Slots Hex Bolster & Phillips, Comfort Grip Prevents Slippage, Extra Strength Steel Chrome Blades

Amazon.com

 

[Skellyii]

Two of the three Lowe's closest to me had all of the special Craftsman stuff in the seasonal display right next to the entrance. After Black Friday, most of it was gone. I dropped by one the other day and checked the clearance section, and no CF stuff was there.

BTW: @allinon72 a friend of mine purchased the ratchets. He mentioned that after putting a few drops of oil in them, they were fairly decent.

 

[woody 73]

I guess that sometimes that I am clueless, I would think that 99 percent of the shoppers have no clue what the v series ever stood for. I asked my wife, and she gave me that deer in the headlights look if you know what i mean.

Again, me being clueless and not a businessman either, I never understood why SBD bought the craftsman name, oh sure most people would recognize the name, but if they let it die and pushed their own line tools, they could have saved 950 million and all the millions in cost for their failed factory in the states; that must have cost them a boat load of cash, but I digress.

I guess when you have billions of dollars losing millions means nothing.

Sigh if only I could get easy replacement parts I would be a happy camper.

 

[dchawk81]

*pops in*

Oh my bad I thought I was in this thread:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/we-love-to-complain.541670/

 

[Mirage]

I guess that sometimes that I am clueless, I would think that 99 percent of the shoppers have no clue what the v series ever stood for. I asked my wife, and she gave me that deer in the headlights look if you know what i mean.

Again, me being clueless and not a businessman either, I never understood why SBD bought the craftsman name, oh sure most people would recognize the name, but if they let it die and pushed their own line tools, they could have saved 950 million and all the millions in cost for their failed factory in the states; that must have cost them a boat load of cash, but I digress.

I guess when you have billions of dollars losing millions means nothing.

Sigh if only I could get easy replacement parts I would be a happy camper.

I think they bought the name so no one else could have it. It really seems like they don't give a **** about it, zero marketing and effort displaying it. They had like 3' of shelf space at the few lowes that actually had it. I contacted "craftsman" the other week asking what the plan for the v-series was and why aren't they expanding it with more facom tools. I've yet to get a response.

 

[lardy1]

There is such a huge market in between their Stanley line of hand tools and their proto line. I know it's a crowded market but others are thriving in it. No opinion or cares but it does seem odd that they basically have what they need to flood that market and they don't.

 

[IRQVET]

after putting a few drops of oil in them, they were fairly decent.

Fairly decent and V-Series don't belong in the same sentence. Again my gripe, vintage V-Series compared to that new garbage under the same name. It's criminal IMHO and SBD is to blame. . .

 

[racer1735]

You have to watch closely, as Craftsman has a 'standard' range of screwdrivers which appear to have the same red/black handles as the V-series (but priced around $23.**). My local Lowes didn't carry any V-series this fall. I would have been interested in them (shopped for them online at various merchants), but decided to go with USAG instead.
Also, I believe the V-series screwdrivers are made in France (by Facom).

 

[Hakeem]

It’s a shame because you have a) a well-liked heritage brand in Craftsman and b) quality, innovative tool design from Facom/USAG/MAC lineage to draw from. How could they not make it work? Boggles the mind.

I managed to snag a set of these for $50 and like them a lot.


I’m mildly annoyed I didn’t get the metric set, but so it goes. Bummed to see this endeavor seemingly fizzle out!

 

[Andres26tnt]

so you came super late to a blowout and complain nothing is left? This site been talking about the sale for two months at least.

Anyway the v line is a reaction to the troubles they had with producing tools in the USA. IMO it wasn't meant to be permanent. Basically just a stopgap for the eventual release of the USA line. Also Stanley isn't loosing money with craftsman, I would say it's one of the most profitable names they own. Who knows what's going on with the line, but they sure for people's attention with the sale. Even with that 0 marketing .

 

[Toold_up]

I would say it's one of the most profitable names they own.

How do you know that? They have one HELL of an investment into the name, I don't think they have made that profitable yet.

 

[finn]

How do you know that? They have one HELL of an investment into the name, I don't think they have made that profitable yet.

How would you know it’s not profitable?

 

[allinon72]

I don’t see how some of you are coming to the conclusion that I was somehow upset that I “missed the boat”, I didn’t even know the boat existed at the time. I was just curious.

My point was SBD had a golden opportunity to revive this brand and is simply content to mailing it in. I yearn for the Sears days where I could walk into a brick and mortar store and buy quality off the shelf.

 

[Steve_P]

Fairly decent and V-Series don't belong in the same sentence. Again my gripe, vintage V-Series compared to that new garbage under the same name. It's criminal IMHO and SBD is to blame. . .

Do you actually own any of the new V series stuff? Or are you just pissed off that it's not made in the USA and therefore because of that it's automatically junk?

I bought the metric combo wrench set for $40 (regularly $80), and they're really, really nice- you couldn't make a nicer identical wrench in the US. While the regular price of $80 may not be a bargain, given the quality, it's fair at only $6.67 a wrench; they also have 4.7* on Amazon. I haven't seen too many people ranting here about the Icon set being too expensive at $120 or $8.57 a wrench. Yeah, I know, easy warranty, blah blah blah. If you have to warranty a combo wrench, and it's not for an out of package defect, you abused it.

Too many people here just can't get past that it's not made in the USA and then default to "it's junk". The reality is that you can make a nicer quality tool in Taiwan at ~half the cost of the US due to lower cost of labor; in addition, they most likely have more modern machinery than ancient US legacy tool companies like Channellock, Wright, Wilde... This is why the majority of people don't give a **** about COO today; it's no longer the deciding factor for quality like it was 30+ years ago.

The reality is that the Craftsman name still has value. I was looking for a single socket on Amazon recently and Craftsman popped up and it said "over 100 sold in the last month"

 

[Ohio Andy]

Do you actually own any of the new V series stuff? Or are you just pissed off that it's not made in the USA and therefore because of that it's automatically junk?

I bought the metric combo wrench set for $40 (regularly $80), and they're really, really nice- you couldn't make a nicer identical wrench in the US. While the regular price of $80 may not be a bargain, given the quality, it's fair at only $6.67 a wrench; they also have 4.7* on Amazon. I haven't seen too many people ranting here about the Icon set being too expensive at $120 or $8.57 a wrench. Yeah, I know, easy warranty, blah blah blah. If you have to warranty a combo wrench, and it's not for an out of package defect, you abused it.

Too many people here just can't get past that it's not made in the USA and then default to "it's junk". The reality is that you can make a nicer quality tool in Taiwan at ~half the cost of the US due to lower cost of labor; in addition, they most likely have more modern machinery than ancient US legacy tool companies like Channellock, Wright, Wilde... This is why the majority of people don't give a **** about COO today; it's no longer the deciding factor for quality like it was 30+ years ago.

The reality is that the Craftsman name still has value. I was looking for a single socket on Amazon recently and Craftsman popped up and it said "over 100 sold in the last month"

I like the wrenches, didn't care for the ratchets.

 

[IRQVET]

Do you actually own any of the new V series stuff? Or are you just pissed off that it's not made in the USA and therefore because of that it's automatically junk?

I've used several of their tools. Ratchets, sockets, and swing arc mainly, was not very impressed. There is no argument that the Craftsman name holds value, why else would SBD spend millions purchasing it. But to purchase an iconic brand just to cheapen it out and ruin the name is very concerning. I know this isn't the only brand to suffer a similar fate, as global companies mere and things get realigned. It's just upsetting to watch.

 

[allinon72]

Do you actually own any of the new V series stuff? Or are you just pissed off that it's not made in the USA and therefore because of that it's automatically junk?

I bought the metric combo wrench set for $40 (regularly $80), and they're really, really nice- you couldn't make a nicer identical wrench in the US. While the regular price of $80 may not be a bargain, given the quality, it's fair at only $6.67 a wrench; they also have 4.7* on Amazon. I haven't seen too many people ranting here about the Icon set being too expensive at $120 or $8.57 a wrench. Yeah, I know, easy warranty, blah blah blah. If you have to warranty a combo wrench, and it's not for an out of package defect, you abused it.

Too many people here just can't get past that it's not made in the USA and then default to "it's junk". The reality is that you can make a nicer quality tool in Taiwan at ~half the cost of the US due to lower cost of labor; in addition, they most likely have more modern machinery than ancient US legacy tool companies like Channellock, Wright, Wilde... This is why the majority of people don't give a **** about COO today; it's no longer the deciding factor for quality like it was 30+ years ago.

The reality is that the Craftsman name still has value. I was looking for a single socket on Amazon recently and Craftsman popped up and it said "over 100 sold in the last month"

Wasn’t the original premise that the V Series would be mainly made in the USA? They would return the brand to its former glory. Then they put the brakes on all that, including the factory under construction? Of course people are upset.

 

[Jtels85]

This isn’t your grandfathers Craftsman, blah blah blah..

**grumpy old man noises**

V-Series was a stop gap until they got the new USA plant up and running, which ultimately failed. My guess is that they used this past holiday season to clearance out remaining stock and that’ll be the end of it. The line had piss poor marketing from the get go.

Stanley Black & Decker has had multiple opportunities to make Craftsman something to behold, but they’re persistent on rebranding their bottom of the barrel Stanley hand tools by changing the color to red and slapping the Craftsman name on them. Craftsman is a DIY brand worthy of decent quality. Chucky grip pot metal pliers, wrenches made in India and non-serviceable ratchets are where I draw the line. I’ve accepted it’ll never be made in the USA, but the least they can do is make it better than it is.

 

[JradM]

Wasn’t the original premise that the V Series would be mainly made in the USA? They would return the brand to its former glory. Then they put the brakes on all that, including the factory under construction? Of course people are upset.

No. V-series wasn't the MiUSA line. No one knew why SBD did it, but it's mostly rebranded FACOM or USAG. I speculated when it came out that it was intended to test the market for premium Craftsman-branded tools - but it stuck around a lot longer than I expected, so now I'm not so sure.

Do you actually own any of the new V series stuff? Or are you just pissed off that it's not made in the USA and therefore because of that it's automatically junk?

This was my thought too. Someone's feelings were hurt by what SBD did with the Craftsman brand name - it's not like you remember, so it's junk. I understand that. Craftsman has a storied history.

However, V-series tools are premium tools. The prices they sold at in Lowes over the holidays was insane. I don't know what that forebodes. Maybe it was the V-series's last hurrah. That would be sad though.

The wrenches especially. I have the reversible ratcheting metric set - it's nearly as good as my Protos (which were like 5x more expensive). I also have the non-ratcheting offset combo SAE and Metric sets. They're very precise and that case is amazing. Honestly, I now use my V-series wrenches more than anything else just because of that case.

 

[Toold_up]

How would you know it’s not profitable?

Touche! I'm just spitballin but the sales volume (liquidation through clearance) isn't there. The profit margins ($80 wrenches sold for $40) does not equal profit!

The reality is that you can make a nicer quality tool in Taiwan at ~half the cost of the US due to lower cost of labor

^ That is the problem. Out of control market. Inxpensive goods through unfare labor and trade to the expense of domestic manufacturing! Stabme-intheback-anddeckr promised domestic manufacturing (bait) and delivered foreign made goods regardless of quality (switch) in place of the initial offering.

Wasn’t the original premise that the V Series would be mainly made in the USA? They would return the brand to its former glory. Then they put the brakes on all that, including the factory under construction? Of course people are upset.

70% of all goods would be manufactured domestically if I recollect from their press confrence. So far they have shut down the dallas tool plant and i'm not 100% sure about the other products but I don't see anything on the shelves at my local store with red white and blue packaging anymore. The only things Craftsman with the USA sticker are tool boxes and air compressors.

CRAFTSMAN® BUILD ON™ | Tools, Storage and Outdoor Equipment

From quick fixes to big builds, CRAFTSMAN® helps DIY-ers tackle projects around the home, yard, garage and everywhere in between with confidence.

www.craftsman.com

I'd love to see some tarrifs on foreign goods to even out the playing field and return some manufacturing to this country! SBD is trying to out harbor-freight Harbor-Freight with the Craftaman name and I think thats a war of attrition.

 

[four.cycle]

^ The only people who are "upset" are a few GarageJournal.com members. The product line has been aggressively promoted for the last couple months, with some stores apparently running out of stock, and some stores apparently having no inventory at all.
The closest "Lowes" to me had 24 linear feet of "V" stuff on display, so I'm rather puzzled by some of the comments.

These wild "doomsday" predictions are actually kind of amusing.... some of you guys really believe the largest tool manufacturer on the planet is stupid?

RLY?

 

[Toold_up]

^ The only people who are "upset" are a few GarageJournal.com members. The product line has been aggressively promoted for the last couple months, with some stores apparently running out of stock, and some stores apparently having no inventory at all.
The closest "Lowes" to me had 24 linear feet of "V" stuff on display, so I'm rather puzzled by some of the comments.

These wild "doomsday" predictions are actually kind of amusing.... some of you guys really believe the largest tool manufacturer on the planet is stupid?

RLY?

I don't think they are stupid, I think they are deceiving!

 

[four.cycle]

What is "deceiving" about it?
That your expectations weren't met because they didn't open the Ft. Worth plant and start cranking out U.S. made "Craftsman" like Grandpa owned?

They don't make wagon wheels any more either.

 

[JradM]

^ That is the problem. Out of control market. Inxpensive goods through unfare labor and trade to the expense of domestic manufacturing! Stabme-intheback-anddeckr promised domestic manufacturing (bait) and delivered foreign made goods regardless of quality (switch) in place of the initial offering.

I think you're missing a few details about what went down. A "race to the bottom" is certainly problematic, but that doesn't seem to be what SBD intended. Should they have gone about their USA-production differently? In retrospect - yes. At the time though... their plan was understandable.

They sought to automatize tool production to the highest degree possible to reduce labor costs and allow for competitive USA-production. Sounds like their machinery was defective, they couldn't fix it fast-enough and lost out on all their contracts - or at least that's what they're saying in their pleadings.

Here's an excerpt from a recent Toolguyd article:

Craftsman was unable to successfully launch a new USA factory for the production of hand tools. Stanley Black & Decker sued equipment supplier Ajax-CECO in 2023, with both parties filing for dismissal in mid-2024.

Here is an excerpt from the complaint:

As a result of Ajax’s continuing, aggravated refusal to perform under the Agreement, SBD has suffered significant additional harm as well. Without operational Tooling, SBD was left unable to meet production schedules and commitments, or complete and ship sufficient wrenches, ratchets, and other products to fulfill its obligations to retailers and other customers. These retailers canceled their orders for SBD’s hand-tools, and SBD was left without a viable market for the tools it had planned to manufacture and sell from its Fort Worth facility.

Eventually, in March 2023, SBD announced the closure of the Fort Worth manufacturing facility.

The suit was seeking to recover $3,785,082 in funds paid towards flawed, faulty, and delayed equipment needed for the production of hand tools at the Fort Worth, Texas facility.

$3.8 million is a lot of money, but I think this is the big takeaway: retailers canceled their orders for SBD’s hand-tools, and SBD was left without a viable market for the tools it had planned to manufacture and sell from its Fort Worth facility.

With the Fort Worth plant plans abandoned, and everything presumably sold off and settled by now, what are the chances that we’ll be seeing USA-made Craftsman hand tools anytime soon?

[...]

Craftsman never provided clues about why their USA tool factory was delayed. They also didn’t say much about why they were closing the factory before the first tools shipped to retailers, other than that there were unresolvable obstacles.

Personally, I thought it was because they couldn’t arrive at a low enough price point to get the tools into Lowe’s.

Apparently, there were years of 3rd party equipment delays, flaws, and defects that plagued production quality and pacing, and Craftsman eventually lost all of their retail contracts for the tools that would be produced at the factory.

They would NEVER have told me this. But thanks to digging deeper and a couple of bucks for court records, we know the truth. And, the truth isn’t too far off from what I had thought – “retailers canceled their orders for SBD’s hand-tools, and SBD was left without a viable market for the tools,” and the reasons behind that are significant.

SBD is part of the problem though. They're so tight-lipped that we internet goons were free to speculate. It's not till years later that we're getting additional details.

It's fine to say: "they promised USA-made tools and didn't deliver". It's not fair to say: "they made promises with no intention of producing tools in the USA". They lost millions of dollars in the attempt. They failed, but that wasn't the plan.

 

[mrjaw14]

I looked at the ratchets on special for a vehicle kit. They felt horrible. All of them in all drive sizes. I would have bought a Pittsburgh pro from hazard fraught before I bought one of the craftsman ones

 

[wolfinator]

I head to the Craftsman section and there's "V Series" banners everywhere. So I start looking closer on the shelves for the V Series products and none are found. Not one. So then I look in the screwdriver section for those (made by Vessel). None there either. Perplexed, I look them up on the app and it says they're in the Seasonal section. So I head there and finally find their limited selection, way in the corner next to the "my first toolkit" holiday specials.

This product line is doomed to fail. Maybe it already has and I'm not aware. There's no effort being put into marketing these tools properly to compete with other medium tier brands. Even when I did eventually find them, the packaging isn't differentiated enough from regular old Craftsman to even tell the difference.

As far as I know, SBD has been uncommunicative about their long-term plans for the "V series". So it's hard to say if it's a "failure" or not, since we don't know what their intentions and metrics for success are.

Anecdotally, everything V-Series sold out insanely fast around me. Without any meaningful marketing they just flew out the door. People were ordering them online for pickup so fast that the most desirable SKUs didn't even make it to the sales floor - they just went straight from the backroom pallet to customers.

I stopped by one local Lowe's and asked a floor employee about them prior to the holiday sales setup just after Halloween - he said "Oh yeah, a lot of people have been asking about those. They're not set up yet." There was clearly some kind of word-of-mouth interest.

Most of what actually made it out to the floor in the two Lowe's by me were ratchets - which then lingered through the entire holiday sales period.

If SBD is using this as an info gathering exercise - I think it's clear that there's interest in this type of lineup. It's unclear what the market clearing price point is, though - the promo prices were clearly unsustainable. The couple of items (wrenches, sockets) that I've gotten my hands on seem very nice. The packaging alone for all of them was clever and in some cases quite innovative.

I hope SBD is paying attention and using whatever this stunt was to improve their lineup / keep the quality of the V-Series going for their sockets, wrenches, and packaging.

However, it's clear nobody likes the ratchets. If SBD is smart, they'll use this market feedback to improve.

I wouldn't hold my breath though. I have a very, very low opinion of the empty suits running Stanley Black and Decker.

 

[Toold_up]

What is "deceiving" about it?
That your expectations weren't met because they didn't open the Ft. Worth plant and start cranking out U.S. made "Craftsman" like Grandpa owned?

They don't make wagon wheels any more either.

I see fewer domestically manufactured products offered than foreign. 70% is a large offering!

I guess 100% of their domestic manufactured products are at least 70% domestic (fingers crossed) sourced materials.

 

[Toold_up]

I think you're missing a few details about what went down. A "race to the bottom" is certainly problematic, but that doesn't seem to be what SBD intended. Should they have gone about their USA-production differently? In retrospect - yes. At the time though... their plan was understandable.

They sought to automatize tool production to the highest degree possible to reduce labor costs and allow for competitive USA-production. Sounds like their machinery was defective, they couldn't fix it fast-enough and lost out on all their contracts - or at least that's what they're saying in their pleadings.

Here's an excerpt from a recent Toolguyd article:



SBD is part of the problem though. They're so tight-lipped that we internet goons were free to speculate. It's not till years later that we're getting additional details.

It's fine to say: "they promised USA-made tools and didn't deliver". It's not fair to say: "they made promises with no intention of producing tools in the USA". They lost millions of dollars in the attempt. They failed, but that wasn't the plan.

Thats fair, the deck is stacked against anyone trying to manufacture tools in this country. It doesn't help when the tooling required to do the job also comes from less than favorable nations.


I wish they would have continued with the campaign of promoting USA. The steam from that movement has slowed.

 

[finn]

As far as I know, SBD has been uncommunicative about their long-term plans for the "V series". So it's hard to say if it's a "failure" or not, since we don't know what their intentions and metrics for success are.

Anecdotally, everything V-Series sold out insanely fast around me. Without any meaningful marketing they just flew out the door. People were ordering them online for pickup so fast that the most desirable SKUs didn't even make it to the sales floor - they just went straight from the backroom pallet to customers.

I stopped by one local Lowe's and asked a floor employee about them prior to the holiday sales setup just after Halloween - he said "Oh yeah, a lot of people have been asking about those. They're not set up yet." There was clearly some kind of word-of-mouth interest.

Most of what actually made it out to the floor in the two Lowe's by me were ratchets - which then lingered through the entire holiday sales period.

If SBD is using this as an info gathering exercise - I think it's clear that there's interest in this type of lineup. It's unclear what the market clearing price point is, though - the promo prices were clearly unsustainable. The couple of items (wrenches, sockets) that I've gotten my hands on seem very nice. The packaging alone for all of them was clever and in some cases quite innovative.

I hope SBD is paying attention and using whatever this stunt was to improve their lineup / keep the quality of the V-Series going for their sockets, wrenches, and packaging.

However, it's clear nobody likes the ratchets. If SBD is smart, they'll use this market feedback to improve.

I wouldn't hold my breath though. I have a very, very low opinion of the empty suits running Stanley Black and Decker.

Not sure it’s true that nobody likes the ratchets. There have multiple reports that the ratchets become more than acceptable after a little use, specially if given a little lube.

We’ll see. I bought a set of three, not that I needed them, plus the 3/8” metric set (for the van). I haven’t even opened the packages yet, though.

 

[Fedwrench]

I'll be honest, I rarely buy made in the USA tools these days. I think the last made in the USA tool I bought was the three-position long nose slip joint pliers from Snap on. There just isn't anything made here that's appealing to me, and I have more tools than I'll ever use in my remaining life.
New Craftsman isn't the pennies on the piece, take back to Sears for a replacement when you break it type tools anymore.
I feel SBD made three major errors with the Craftsman V series line up. First was marketing. The new V series was poorly launched being only available online at Lowes & Ace Hardware. I know several of you stated that there were large Craftsman V Series displays at your local Lowes but, that wasn't the case in my area. The only displays for V Series stuff I've seen were the recent holiday special cardboard displays. The line up only consisted of approximately 36 items and no open stock. Perhaps SBD should have used a different name than V series since more than a few peeps here have objections.
The second major error SBD made was with the tools themselves. They should have rebadged the entire FACOM/USAG line up. Of course, that might have been too many tools to sell only at Ace/Lowes. SBD should not have invented their own unique V series ratchets aside from the flex heads because, the last decent FACOM/USAG flex head ratchet was round head, 72 tooth, palm control version no longer offered by them. I don't care how long you soak it in the snake oil of your choice, chuck it up in a vise spinning the square drive with a drill in both directions until it heats up, it's still going to have super high back drag. You might not break it though. The ratchets to their credit, are built like a tank. I do like the reverse fork design on the flex heads but, that tiny comfort handle on the 1/4 drive flex head is laughable. SBD also omitted the key sizes of 15 & 18 mm in their ratcheting wrench sets which to me is mind boggling in the land of Ford/GM/Stellantis vehicles. I feel that aside from the ratchets, the new V series tools are outstanding. They're durable, well made, and nicely finished. People may not like the shape of the sockets or their length, or that the ratchets are unserviceable, and I understand tool selection is very personal.
Lastly, I feel SBD failed to recall a previous smaller scale experiment regarding Blackhawk tools. Several years ago, the compact 1/4 drive nano socket sets sold under FACOM/USAG and most recently, Craftsman V Series were offered in Blackhawk trim. Only then they rebadged the Facom quick release ratchet as Blackhawk instead of using a new version. Great socket set!! Issue was the only place I ever saw them for sale was on Ebay. never in anyone's catalog, parts house, or online vendor. Lessons SBD ignored or forgot.
My only disappointment with the new Craftsman V Series line is that could be so much more than it is. SBD sells a ton of USAG/FACOM tools around the world. Why can't they here? Sorry for the extended rant

 

[Farmall450]

It’s a shame because you have a) a well-liked heritage brand in Craftsman and b) quality, innovative tool design from Facom/USAG/MAC lineage to draw from. How could they not make it work? Boggles the mind.

I managed to snag a set of these for $50 and like them a lot.


I’m mildly annoyed I didn’t get the metric set, but so it goes. Bummed to see this endeavor seemingly fizzle out!

I'm digging the overdrive long panel wrenches similar to FD+ or Icon. Need some crusty brass or aluminum fittings to really test the open ends tho. However, the Torque Test Channel testing showed the overdrive wrenches are super legit (and nicely finished). Way better than a PT-esque wrench set, or any auto part store's (other than Carlyle).

 

[Farmall450]

The new V series was poorly launched being only available online at Lowes & Ace Hardware.

Normally Farm & Fleet has them too (they were one of the few places besides Ace and Orchard Hardware when Sears first started licensing them) but I had to buy the overdrives from their website (free shipping to home fortunately).

 

[Farmall450]

Then they put the brakes on all that, including the factory under construction? Of course people are upset.

The USA stuff I have out of that factory is NOT V-series. I think they gave it a go, but there were issues with the (Ukrainian) automation technology that ultimately made it too costly.