Craftsman going back to USA

[Trucky]

^Well there's something! I guess lol xD

 

[wreckerman5357]

I believe that Sears is bringing Craftsman back to the USA about as much as the claim that Snap-On ratchets are not made in the USA. Both claims are bogus.

For everyone that thinks Dual 80s are foriegn read the country of origin on this page. USA, period, argument over.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=682323&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[woody 73]

Sears again...

Say I bet that rumor about an early April Fools joke was started by Betty in Accounting, she is my third cousin twice removed; Oh that Betty has a funny sense of humor!

Don't tell anyone but we here at Sears Management liked your ideas about moving the tool production to India, Wow I wonder why we did not think about that move!

Sears Management committed to making you happy.

 

[geologist]

Somali Pirates!
Brilliant !!!!!!!!!

Combining a low cost "almost free" mfg. operation with a known shipping operation component = "lean manufacturing" IRC.

LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!

Wait, those "pirates" don't own shipping vessels do they? They only hijack and rob them.
Derp.
Bad idea.

Hahahahaha.

The theory is as follows:

Sears will arm a flotilla of Somali pirates with those damned aluminum jon boats they used to sell via catalog and some larger stores. They'll be equipped with those early 90s dinky little donut compressors, and nail guns.

If all goes well, they'll begin seizing tool ships.

Of course, we can arm ourselves with knowledge. Since Craftsman is notoriously bad about the markings stamped in their screwdrivers, sockets, and wrenches, subtle rebranding mistakes may be present. Among these are tools bearing the name "Craftsmalast" or "Craftstanley".

 

[pipsters]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07183525000P

I am actually searching out for made in USA lawn stuff, and I need a shovel. Perfect!

 

[woody 73]

Sears Management;

Gosh I wonder if I could talk to John in Shipping about hiring some of those Somali Pirates to run our shipping? It won't be easy maybe I can pull some strings and get them a few Green cards. Then again I would have to deal with all those people over at Home Security; heck I hope maybe a bribe of a few nice Craftsman tools would help turn their backs while we get those workers into downtown Chicago.

Keep coming up with those great ideas GJ'ers.

Sears Management where the good life starts...

 

[el tanque prohibido]

They'll never go back to USA. The idiot executives up in the Sears tower think that outsourcing labor is the best way to cut prices for their valued customers. They think they're doing you a favor.

 

[kippieland]

 

[bcradio]

I believe that Sears is bringing Craftsman back to the USA about as much as the claim that Snap-On ratchets are not made in the USA. Both claims are bogus.

For everyone that thinks Dual 80s are foriegn read the country of origin on this page. USA, period, argument over.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=682323&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Uh Oh... Looks like someone is upset because they paid too much for their dual 80's and they don't say USA

But yeah I doubt that Cman prod will come back to US anytime soon (if ever)

 

[vssjim]

They'll never go back to USA. The idiot executives up in the Sears tower think that outsourcing labor is the best way to cut prices for their valued customers. They think they're doing you a favor.

They sold the Sears tower and moved out of it to hoffman Estates, Il. along time ago.

 

[Joe B.]

Remember the guy that said he heard people at a Lowe's saying that Kobalt was going to move away from Danaher and offshore? He got slammed & mocked for pages on this board....

then it turned out he was right.

 

[treasureseeker]

I believe Craftsman's identity is that of the discount tool store with all the crazy deals they run. To be made in the USA again they would have to change their target audience.

 

[el tanque prohibido]

To be made in the USA again they would have to change their target audience.

Their target audience now are the same people who shop at Dollar Tree.

 

[Trucky]

ok, we will all shut up, and put our heads in the sand, while we thank obama for allowing us to breathe some of his precious air

I don't care much (well to be honest I don't give a damn) about your political motivations nor your opinion on this issue. In other words, go somewhere else with it. I'm not talking about it. Maybe someone else does. Either way, I don't get into **** like that.

 

[BMB]

So what's the story with this?
Other than it looks like the old standard tools at Sears that used to be US made.

Are they producing two lines? US made for Grainger and import for Sears?

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/craftsman-industrial/ecatalog/N-1z0gxp5

 

[JASTECH]

That is true on the feather duster mechanics at Steers! My son and I was in there for clearance items. We were greeted by a skinny dude with straight hair like the Beatles, head hanging down like a dunce, out here there rocker dudes. Anyways he didn't know about clearance, but he stated they have tools on sale! So I figured get me some USA old stock cheep.

Well that didn't work, he looked then said...Oh, think the sale ended yesterday!.....I asked for the USA made line and he thought they were all USA, LOL ...So I asked the kid that was behind the counter surfing the net, oops, that was just his bro, he don't know anything he stated.


There was only 2 isles oof tools! I had bought the router bits in wooden box, they go for 63.00. awhile back, opened them and China bits! They are going back tomarrow.

Rant over, sorry yall

 

[pipsters]

So what's the story with this?
Other than it looks like the old standard tools at Sears used to be US made.

Are they producing two lines? US made for Grainger and import for Sears? level

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/craftsman-industrial/ecatalog/N-1z0gxp5

Hmm. I wonder if the industrial is triple chrome plated. Looks like it's just stamped and not laser etched as well. Would like to see some up close, hopefully someone orders some here soon.

For the price though might as well go SK.

 

[hamma]

I saw that shovel in Sears the other day and it looked pretty nice, heavy duty. They also had iron rakes and hoes that had the red fiberglass handle and they were made in USA as well. In another section not too far away they had the old stuff that is being replaced which were mostly Mexican made. I bought a Craftsman USA made shovel just before they switched to the Mexican made stuff, its nice to see they're going back.

 

[B17E1943]

Since Craftsman is notoriously bad about the markings stamped in their screwdrivers, sockets, and wrenches, subtle rebranding mistakes may be present.

I remember a lawn tractor we had in for repair one time - where it says Craftsman on the back of the seat, it said Cratfsman.

 

[rsieracki]

I was talking to a Sears employee and they said that Craftsman will be going back to making their hand tools in the USA because they have been losing so much business. Can anyone confirm or deny this "rumor"?

I had a sears employee come up to me a few years ago as i was eyeing a Craftsman pro box and tell me it was the same quality as a snap on box at half the price..same thing with there ratchets... i smiled and asked if he ever held a Snapon ratchet in his hand and felt how it conformed to his hand or opened n closed the drawer of a KRL? when he said no i said "dont repeat what you said earlier, you make yourself sound stupid"...compairing a ratchet with a raised panel, plastic selector to something like a snapon ratchet with more ergonomics incorporated then the seat in his car let alone compairing this rebranded HF72" box thats compaired to a USA Made Snap On box makes the Cman Professional box look like a yellow metal hunk of **** on whells.

These store "shelf dusters" are the last to know news like this. I'd take it with a grain of salt.

I doubt an employee at a store would know that considering the associates at my Sears didn't even know all the new stuff was Chinese. It also seems to me that it hasn't been long enough for them make the decision back. I think its a rumor with little merit.

Store employees don't know jack. The shift in production to China will continue, there's nothing that says otherwise.

+1

While I hope this person is right, they likely have no idea what they're talking about.

I should note, I worked for Sears for 4 years, and I never knew anything about what was happening at corporate.

was this "employee" a business manager at corporate or a retail worker employee? i would have more confidence in this "rumor" if it came from a business manager at corporate... but then again, most of the people "in the know" aren't really allowed to talk about this stuff as it could affect stock price. retail employees don't know jack sh1t.

He was probably told that in some sales meeting.

I agree with all of the above. These store yahoo's can't keep straight between associates whats acceptable to warrantee and what isnt, do you really believe they are 'in the know' reguarding what direction "the company" is moving its production?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07183525000P

thats great for shoveling all the bs rumers about craftsman tools.

They'll never go back to USA. The idiot executives up in the Sears tower think that outsourcing labor is the best way to cut prices for their valued customers. They think they're doing you a favor.

They sold the Sears tower and moved out of it to hoffman Estates, Il. along time ago.

there not going overseas to cut prices, its to increase profits and sell **** to a customer base who looks as things as disposible and thinks everything is a 'deal' because its on sale. craftsman aint what it use to be but we all know that.

 

[jteck75]

I certainly hope that you are right. It would be a great thing to put some people back to work here in the States. I guess I'm just over-optimistic when I hear news like this because I have made my living from being a maintenance tech in manufacturing most of my adult life. There are lots and lots of very skilled people here in the manufaturing labor community that cling to even the slightest rumor of jobs returning back from overseas. So I'm going to have to break from the doubters and look at the glass like it's half full.

 

[tlowery04]

while i think this is most likely a rumor, i did notice all of those shiny craftsman professional wrenches have been replaced by Made in USA models. a few weeks ago I'm pretty sure they were made in Taiwan.

The thing about china is, the international community has finally figured out that china has been screwing with its currency to bring production in. More exports = More GDP. And now that the world pretty much knows they've been cheating, I would suspect more manufacturing to disperse to other locations, with the recession in the US and un employment being what it is, manufacturing looks pretty good here, especially if the Gov throws in some incentive like tax breaks for factories or something.

check it.
http://www.americanmanufacturing.org/issues

 

[sk farmer]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07183525000P

I can't believe all of the people in this thread who think this is a shovel.

It's a spade.

 

[tlowery04]

please tell them to make sharp shooters again

 

[WR250F]

Shovel, spade or whatever it is, take a look at the description in the link.

" This shovel is proudly made in the USA."

Now Sears is promoting COO in descriptions ?

I wonder...

 

[pipsters]

Maybe they finally realized that anyone can go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy a Chinese shovel for less. No reason to go to Sears unless it's US made.

 

[otis66]

Is there any rumor SO bringing dual 80 production back to US?

Once Snap On puts USA back On the Daul 80 ratchets I will buy every Snap On racthetthey have. I will not buy a Snap On tool not stamped USA.

 

[otis66]

I was talking to a Sears employee and they said that Craftsman will be going back to making their hand tools in the USA because they have been losing so much business. Can anyone confirm or deny this "rumor"?

If this is true SEARS should make a public apology to everyone and announce when the NEW USA made tools will be made, and when the NEW USA tools will be in the Store. Only then will I step into a SEARS store again.

 

[wreckerman5357]

Uh Oh... Looks like someone is upset because they paid too much for their dual 80's and they don't say USA

But yeah I doubt that Cman prod will come back to US anytime soon (if ever)

Honestly, I don't care that my Dual 80s don't say USA. Even if they were made someplace else I wouldn't care because they are great ratchets and that alone makes them worth the money I gave the toolman. Never the less, they are made in the USA, as per the product description on the SO website.

Back on topic, the Craftsman outsourcing is a bummer and does detract from the appeal of Craftsman products for me. Pretty much the only Craftsman stuff left in my work box anymore is sockets, a 1/2" RP ratchet, combo wrenches, and a couple odd size screwdrivers. I dont plan on replacing the sockets for a while as they have always performed well for me and they are priced right.

The real problem for me is not the Asian products but the fact that my local Sears is closing and I'm not going to be making any 95 mile trips to warranty or buy new Craftsman tools. So my Cman stuff will be replaced as needed.

 

[american lockpicker]

Shovel, spade or whatever it is, take a look at the description in the link.

" This shovel is proudly made in the USA."

Now Sears is promoting COO in descriptions ?

I wonder...

How interesting.

 

[bob ny]

I have an 8 in india dbe S wrench it did not start out as an S wrench though bob w.

 

[bob ny]

How interesting.

all i get on your link is a little box with a x in it. i tried chatting but i got no answer bob w:

 

[Fedwrench]

I say no. Sears hasn't been hawking the PRC made tools long enough to change direction. There's still tons of US made stock out there aside from the popular sets. I think it's wishful thinking.
If it bothers you, vote with your money. Find and purchase US made tools. Just remember, those purchases need to be made new and in real stores or online. Ebay and closeout places don't count.

 

[Mickey O]

Just got off the phone with Mr. Sears, it's official they will return production of all tools back to the USA and every tool sold will come with a lollipop and a ticket for a fee unicorn ride.

 

[Lightfoot]

The idiot executives up in the Sears tower think that outsourcing labor is the best way to cut prices for their valued customers.

They are truly idiots if they are still working in the Sears tower. Sears moved out of the tower years ago.
It's called the Willis tower now.

 

[uhohjim]

They are truly idiots if they are still working in the Sears tower. Sears moved out of the tower years ago.
It's called the Willis tower now.

It'll always be called the Sears tower ...............whether Brucre Willis owns it or not!! LOL!!

 

[slob]

Sears should have converted about a thousand K-Marts into Home Depot/Lowe's clones as soon as they merged. That they didn't adapt to the business model that lured their customers away pretty much cements their fate as a doomed company. Maybe Craftsman will survive in some independent capacity, but it won't matter. American or Chinese, Craftsman's reputation and market share will continue to plummet.

 

[GoFaster2]

A issue I noticed is that in a 2007 catalog the prices for Craftsman tools is the same as they are now in 2012. So that's five years that labor,material,and fuel cost have risen but they haven't changed the price. They have to be almost losing money on the USA tools. If they thought that they couldn't raise prices because of the market then increasing the quality cost almost nothing compared to moving to china built tools and then loosing the core base of tool buyers. Craftsman has always been USA tool and should always be a USA tool. If warranty is costing them to much then maybe a little stiffer policy like SK is doing. You could put education info in stores about warranty cheaper then what they pay in warranty a yr.
If Craftsman came out with a high quality nicely finished raised panel long wrench set and it cost $30 more then the short, wouldn't you have to have a set in the toolbox? yes What if they had a $45-$55 80-tooth long cushion gripped ratchet?
The whole craftsman china just irks me, give me six months of running the Craftsman brand and it would be headed in the right direction.

 

[kythri]

A issue I noticed is that in a 2007 catalog the prices for Craftsman tools is the same as they are now in 2012. So that's five years that labor,material,and fuel cost have risen but they haven't changed the price. They have to be almost losing money on the USA tools.

And this very aspect is why cries of "IMPORT TOOLS FOR USA PRICES!!!" rings completely and utterly hollow.

 

[mattygee]

Sears is on life support...Where they make their tools will be irrelevant in 10 years when they are out of business.

M