Final Nail in the Craftsman Coffin.

[RedFordTruck]

Well, gang, it looks like Craftsman has finally been taken off of life support.

Saw an Ad in the paper for the 4-piece Craftsman adapter set at 50% off. Went in today to get it, but after I grabbed the $9.99 deal set, i took a look at some extension bars that had different packaging than before.

Then the U-joints.

Then the Drive adapters.

China. China. And you guessed it, China.

Core line of Socket accessories ALL made in China.

The "Made in China" Label was so small my phone couldnt see it clearly.

1/4'' drive Socket Accessory set. Made in China.

3'' 1/2'' drive extension. Notice that TINY little line of writing near the barcode? Made in China. My Phone couldnt even get a clear picture of it.

Exact same Prices as the American ones. Who knows whats next as far as the Chinese made **** goes, but this is it for me. Off I go to another brand! Sears just lost yet another customer!

 

[allinon72]

You didn't expect Sears to make good decisions did you?

 

[redwrench60]

I take no pleasure in this.....its *****.

 

[Vibrolux]

Wow, that's really pathetic...

 

[Pro-Painter]

wait until you guys find the made in china raised panel wrenches. My store already has them. At my local store all singles and small sets are still USA, the larger (ie 28pc set) that come in the plastic cases are now china made. They are even wrapped in plastic wrap like gearwrench.

Sockets will be soon to follow if not already. I did notice on my last visit to sears that the 2XXpc set that comes with the ratchet wrenches said made in china, however I could not tell if it was just the ratchet wrenches or the sockets too.

 

[RedFordTruck]

wait until you guys find the made in china raised panel wrenches. My store already has them. At my local store all singles and small sets are still USA, the larger (ie 28pc set) that come in the plastic cases are now china made. They are even wrapped in plastic wrap like gearwrench.

Sockets will be soon to follow if not already. I did notice on my last visit to sears that the 2XXpc set that comes with the ratchet wrenches said made in china, however I could not tell if it was just the ratchet wrenches or the sockets too.

Raised panels are now coming from China too? Didnt see any of those today but it wouldnt surprise me.

 

[franzdom]

I am so over Craftsman. I went in the other day and picked up a really nice 12oz. Estwing claw hammer but there was nothing Craftsman I wanted. I even thought their remaining USA deep impact 1/2" metric socket set on sale didn't look as nice as my Grey Pneumatic, in that they weren't nearly as deep. Otherwise I may have wanted them but the rest of their stock was Chinese so you know what you are getting if you ever need singles or need to warranty one.

 

[OEXL16B]

As long as you're going to be buying Asian tools anyway, GearWrench makes better tools than Craftsman China. And they're easily available from ToolTopia. Just sayin'.

 

[nato]

wow, I totally missed the memo on this......I heard they were doing bad BUT...
When did this conspiracy take shape???? When did this all start or is in the process of right now?

Also, a bit out of the range, but speaking of 'Sears' in general demise, I noticed my local one at our mall doesn't sell Nike or Adidas clothing anymore....only footwear/socks.
You know it's bad when two major brands such as that pull stake in a retail operation

 

[RedFordTruck]

If I want Asian Sockets/ratchets/wrenches I can go to Lowes and get Taiwan Kobalt that seems to be higher quality than Chinese. Why pay USA prices for Chinese **** at sears?

 

[nato]

If I want Asian Sockets/ratchets/wrenches I can go to Lowes and get Taiwan Kobalt that seems to be higher quality than Chinese. Why pay USA prices for Chinese **** at sears?

Exactly. I needed to replace a couple lost Craftsman eary 2000's 1/2" drive impact sockets and the newly style Kobalt's fit the bill perfectly. And for like $5-7 each, you can't argue with that.

 

[Skin]

soon as the impacts went china i knew this was just a matter of time. Maybe they can actually use chrome now instead of the **** finish they had. For the money i still think there are plenty of bargains to be had and the over the counter exchange is still unbeatable. Its just a shame they dont offer any alternatives for the consumer except their stupid industrial line.

 

[otis66]

If you have to buy Tiawan/China made tools but GearWrench.

 

[OEXL16B]

I've got a few GearWrench sockets and extensions and they seam to be better quality than Kobalt China. GearWrench non-ratcheting wrenches are definitely better than Kobalt because GearWrench copied the Snap-on combination wrench.

 

[nato]

If you have to buy Tiawan/China made tools but GearWrench.

Or, another option if you guys have access to mobile franchises, I am also finding that Matco's Silver Eagle chrome sockets are very good. Competetively prices (maybe a couple bucks more more than USA-grade Craftsman) but the overall fit & finish, IMHO, is better. I've acquired a few 3/8" and 1/4" sockets to complete some of my lost sets and they hold up nice at my shop...in a professional environment.

 

[signcrafter]

That ***** that the mainline tools are all going overseas now. Not that I didn't see it coming, guess I just hoped they would try and keep production of sockets and wrenches here. It was one of the easily assesable, almost only local, good warranty, good tool at a fair price made in the USA tools around. I can see them going over seas with stuff like ratcheting wrenches and what not but I think they are going to lose a huge following now. They were the middle choice, not snap on and not made in china. They really had their own market of "high end" home tools compared to all the other local offerings. The one thing they had going for them was the made in the USA being sold locally. I can go to a hundred other stores within a ten mile radius and get made in china tools, HD, lowes, menards, fleet farm, advance auto, oreillys, auto zone, walmart, ace hardware, true value, the list goes one. Sears had pretty much the only made in the USA tools locally besides tool trucks. They had their own market, now they are going to be competing with a hundred other stores in every city that offer the same quality tools with the same warranty. I guess they are hoping to ride the coat tails of their name from years ago before they sold out.

Oh well. I try to support local business' but I can go online and order a good made in the USA tool for a decent price and forget craftsman ever existed in five years. I should check and see if I have anything that needs warrantying and see if it's too late. The only problem with online purchases is warranty but I would rather have a made in the USA quality tool and gamble on the warranty over a made in china tool and gamble on the tool. Yes I know that not all made in china tools are junk but from my experience most of them are not as good as made in the USA tools.

 

[bobbar]

Oooo well. Life goes on

 

[shoturtle]

If I want Asian Sockets/ratchets/wrenches I can go to Lowes and get Taiwan Kobalt that seems to be higher quality than Chinese. Why pay USA prices for Chinese **** at sears?

Have you compare prices of kolbalt to craftsman. The Chinese made stuff is on par with the other asian tools on the market. They are just 2-3 dollars more for a ratchet, and their 4 piece set is less then the kolbalt set. Their 3 piece set for each size is about 19 dollars. Sears had a 40 dollar set that covered all the sizes the 3 kolbalt set and 3 u joints. They are uS made.

This new set at full price is right on par with kolbalt stuff.

So craftsman is one of the brands not charging uUS prices for Asian tool. Take that up with William and blue point.

It is sad to see. But they are doing what they can to compete with lowes and he, and the hf and autopart stores selling Asian tools.

 

[metaldad]

That ***** that the mainline tools are all going overseas now. Not that I didn't see it coming, guess I just hoped they would try and keep production of sockets and wrenches here. It was one of the easily assesable, almost only local, good warranty, good tool at a fair price made in the USA tools around. I can see them going over seas with stuff like ratcheting wrenches and what not but I think they are going to lose a huge following now. They were the middle choice, not snap on and not made in china. They really had their own market of "high end" home tools compared to all the other local offerings. The one thing they had going for them was the made in the USA being sold locally. I can go to a hundred other stores within a ten mile radius and get made in china tools, HD, lowes, menards, fleet farm, advance auto, oreillys, auto zone, walmart, ace hardware, true value, the list goes one. Sears had pretty much the only made in the USA tools locally besides tool trucks. They had their own market, now they are going to be competing with a hundred other stores in every city that offer the same quality tools with the same warranty. I guess they are hoping to ride the coat tails of their name from years ago before they sold out.

Oh well. I try to support local business' but I can go online and order a good made in the USA tool for a decent price and forget craftsman ever existed in five years. I should check and see if I have anything that needs warrantying and see if it's too late. The only problem with online purchases is warranty but I would rather have a made in the USA quality tool and gamble on the warranty over a made in china tool and gamble on the tool. Yes I know that not all made in china tools are junk but from my experience most of them are not as good as made in the USA tools.

Menards sells Masterforce - some of the line is USA - screwdrivers and wrenches

 

[tjmonsen5]

I think its safe to say I will not be buying a single tool at sears anymore. I sure hope my tools last a long time so I dont need to replace with China. My whole box is full of USA craftsman too.

 

[nato]

lol, just think, wait til we all start seeing Craftsman, black hard handled flex-head ratchets fetching a $100 preium on ebay.....



riiiiiiiiiiight?

 

[osborn.ozzy]

I wonder what they are going to do about cman pro screwdrivers, Ill be getting my money back before I accept some chicom junk.

 

[CloseEnough]

Craftsman has been selling Chinese quality tools forever now. At least now they aren't disgracing what it should mean for a tool to have USA stamped in it.

 

[BillK]

OK,

I didnt read all of the other posts, but ..... what exactly is wrong with the tools ?? Have you purchased one and used it ? Is it any different than the ones that were made here ??

Dont get me wrong, I am as patriotic as any of you guys, but some of the best things in the world have been traditionally made in other countries. I have a Nikon camera, guess where that is made ?? Swiss watches ?? How many of you are going to stop atching TV because you cant buy one made in the USA ?? Etc.

I guess I am a little tired of hearing this deal. What difference does place of manufacture really make IF the quality is good ???? If they are making junk, it is for one reason only . . . Sears has spec'd it that way, period. And why have they done that ? Because as a nation we are concerned with one thing only .... PRICE. Ask 1000 people and I bet that less than 10 of them care about the quality of something they buy, they care about the price. And I am not talking about us tool nerds here on GJ, the population in general.

Would you be willing to pay the 50% additional it would cost to have the tools made here and still get the sme exact tool ???? I doubt it.

Personally, being in business for myself, I cannot see how they can make the tools as inexpensively as they do anyway.

By the way, I have seen plenty of things made here in our country that were pure junk

Rant over,

 

[Rico.]

Why pay USA prices for Chinese **** at sears?

This isn't a poke at all, so please don't take it as one. I was just wondering if anyone if
anyone has actually done a strength test on a couple of USA made Craftsman sockets
and then done a strength test on the same size China made Craftsman sockets as a
direct comparison, to see if the China made sockets are as "****" as allot of people say
they are.

I personally will try and avoid China made stuff, but it's becuase of political reasons more
than quality concerns.

 

[oldtools]

You need to get a good Chinese camera phone.

 

[Toolhorder]

Would you be willing to pay the 50% additional it would cost to have the tools made here and still get the sme exact tool ???? I doubt it.

50%??? it's the same price as the USA made equivalent. Sears is firing the American worker, using communist labor and keeping the cost savings in their profit. We in turn lose jobs and get less quality tools (maybe, maybe not we'll see)

To counter your argument I do spend more on US made stuff if I have a choice in the matter. I just spent like $400 more on a motorcycle lift over a Chinese made copy to have the US made version and someone gets to keep their job another day here in MY country.

 

[RedFordTruck]

^AMEN. Its a lot about Patriotism and knowing I can help keep jobs here rather than have tools made by a 12 year old chinese.

 

[BillK]

Sears is firing the American worker

First of all, I dont think that Sears is firing the worker. The manufacturer is if they cannot make the tools for the price needed for Sears.

and keeping the cost savings in their profit.

And explain to me exactly what is wrong with this ?????? Exactly why do you think Sears, or anyone else for that matter, is in business ?

 

[Brownsfan]

I've got a few GearWrench sockets and extensions and they seam to be better quality than Kobalt China. GearWrench non-ratcheting wrenches are definitely better than Kobalt because GearWrench copied the Snap-on combination wrench.

Kobalt sockets and ratchets are made in Taiwan not China. It is a shame what has become of Craftsman. I will not buy another Craftsman tool unless it is not available made in the USA anywhere. I will buy USA truck tools and pay more for it. I may not even buy USA craftsman because if it breaks I get a chinese replacement. I hope there are more like us and it sends a messsage and they move it back to the USA

 

[bigbearcraig]

I try to buy only American tools. Sears has been a pretty cheesy company for the last few years. I think their demise is just a matter of when. They used to be a good company, but not anymore.

 

[biscuit141]

From what I have seen at my Sears, it seems it is mostly the socket/ratchet arena that has moved to China (or Taiwan). So far the screwdrivers and pliers are still US made. Personally, I like how Kobalt has expanded their socket and ratchet offerings in their stores. I think they are now on par with Sears, however I wish both would lower their prices slightly because they outsourced the product and kept the price the same. I wish Sears would have went Taiwan instead of China, regardless of quality concerns, "China" just has such a negative connotation to a lot of people in this country.

Menards still offers US made sockets if you have one nearby. They pride themselves on offering USA made products, so I hope they keep their tools US made. I have been filling in a few skips in my impact sets with their Masterforce impacts made by Danaher. Nice socket for the price, my next option would be Kobalt. Unfortunately Menards doesn't have near the selection of sockets or socket sets that Craftsman and Kobolt offer. And to compare, I was looking for an 18mm 1/2" drive shallow impact socket today, it was $7.** ON SALE and Menards (the 20mm was cheaper???) and only $5.** regular price at Lowes. I was surprised to see it a bit higher as I picked up a few impact skips in SAE sizes for under $5 on sale at Menards, the metrics were all higher in price than the SAE counterparts. Go figure.

 

[lowbucktruck]

The writing was on the wall some time ago. This is exactly why I've been making alot of Craftsman tool purchases the past few months, filling in gaps in my home toolbox with the last of the made-in-USA tools available. I do not intend to warranty ANY of them if I can help it.

I just don't see how Sears can compete with Lowes on a quality/price perspective when it comes to the import tool product market. Lowes Kobalt are some good Taiwan-made tools for a decent price. Given the choice, think I'd choose the Taiwan-made Kobalt purchase over the China-made Craftsman at a higher price point.
It does make me think about the Craftsman Industrial tools line as a USA-made alternative though.

 

[signcrafter]

OK,

I didnt read all of the other posts, but ..... what exactly is wrong with the tools ?? Have you purchased one and used it ? Is it any different than the ones that were made here ??

Dont get me wrong, I am as patriotic as any of you guys, but some of the best things in the world have been traditionally made in other countries. I have a Nikon camera, guess where that is made ?? Swiss watches ?? How many of you are going to stop atching TV because you cant buy one made in the USA ?? Etc.

I guess I am a little tired of hearing this deal. What difference does place of manufacture really make IF the quality is good ???? If they are making junk, it is for one reason only . . . Sears has spec'd it that way, period. And why have they done that ? Because as a nation we are concerned with one thing only .... PRICE. Ask 1000 people and I bet that less than 10 of them care about the quality of something they buy, they care about the price. And I am not talking about us tool nerds here on GJ, the population in general.

Would you be willing to pay the 50% additional it would cost to have the tools made here and still get the sme exact tool ???? I doubt it.

Personally, being in business for myself, I cannot see how they can make the tools as inexpensively as they do anyway.

By the way, I have seen plenty of things made here in our country that were pure junk

Rant over,

I don't have any of the new china stuff and I'll agree that craftsman's quality has gone down hill in the last ten years or so. With that being said their quality was still on par with the china stuff every other tool store sells, some tools a little better and some a little worse. If I have a choice of a craftsman USA made socket or another brand china made were the quality is fairly equal and the price is equal I will buy the craftsman. The money stays in this country and helps put food one a US worker's table. The prices didn't drop any when their costs went down. So it can't be that much more expensive to produce in the US. If they raised prices a tad I would still rather buy them over some china made brand, even if quality was the same.

I know there are millions of Americans that buy only based on price which is sad but it is what it is. I am not one of them. I would rather spend a few extra dollars and buy American if I have a choice. I liked that craftsman was always there offering US made tools at a decent price and locally, now that that option is gone it leaves a big hole, either cheap china stuff or really expensive US tools except a few brands that I can only get online.

Like one poster said "life goes on".

 

[Super Sport]

Oooo well. Life goes on

I'm not sure the American workers who used to make these feel the same way.



I refuse to buy any imported Cman hand tools and put them in my tool box. I can't say I blame Sears in the least, and I knew this was coming. It's impossible to compete when "Made in USA" is not any advantage to most buyers.

 

[shoturtle]

This isn't a poke at all, so please don't take it as one. I was just wondering if anyone if
anyone has actually done a strength test on a couple of USA made Craftsman sockets
and then done a strength test on the same size China made Craftsman sockets as a
direct comparison, to see if the China made sockets are as "****" as allot of people say
they are.

I personally will try and avoid China made stuff, but it's becuase of political reasons more
than quality concerns.

I am pretty sure no one has tested the US impact socket to the Asian impact socket. Nor have they tested the chinese made to the US made RP ratchet. From some reviews the asian slim profile is better then the US made one.

I look at it this way, sears has allot of competition for tools. They have a well recognized brand name, but unless they price them in the ball park of their competition the brand name will not draw the diy'er. They will keep loosing market sears. So the only way to keep the tools prices low to compete is to import the asian tools into their line up.

Craftsman has always been the brand for the do it yourself guy, and have always been the lower costing tools vs the snap on, matco, sk and other. And they are pricing tools to their market segment. As cost of production at the current US plants are not cost effective vs Asia. Plants in the wrong states to do business of manufacturing.

I think if Sears made and effort to keep production in the US and is force to raise price to close to Armstrong and Proto. They will be selling allot less tools, and in a bigger financial position. Some on hear might be okay paying 45 dollars for a 3/8dr 36t RP ratchet made in the US. But my money say Sears would lose their shirts even faster.

 

[balane]

sad times.

 

[shoturtle]

50%??? it's the same price as the USA made equivalent. Sears is firing the American worker, using communist labor and keeping the cost savings in their profit. We in turn lose jobs and get less quality tools (maybe, maybe not we'll see)

To counter your argument I do spend more on US made stuff if I have a choice in the matter. I just spent like $400 more on a motorcycle lift over a Chinese made copy to have the US made version and someone gets to keep their job another day here in MY country.

Not everyone is willing to speed 400 dollars on a lift they use once or twice a year. But it is good you do live what you believe.

But Sear is doing that because the consumer demand cheaper tools and cheaper product. It is easy to bash Sears, but if you look at the root cause. It is the US consumers demand for cheaper products.

I am guilt I have am asian built macbook pro, iPad, DLP and Flat panel TV. But I will give sears my business so they keep the stores open by me. So when I need that new device I can go look at it in the store, and play with it and ask questions about it. Then have one of there sales guys pack it up for me to take home.

 

[ishiboo]

I've got a few GearWrench sockets and extensions and they seam to be better quality than Kobalt China. GearWrench non-ratcheting wrenches are definitely better than Kobalt because GearWrench copied the Snap-on combination wrench.

I have both GearWrench and Kobalt... the GW stuff is good for China, but out of about 15 Kobalt sets I've bought I have yet to find one flaw, and out of my GearWrench sets brand new I had two sockets which were stamped improperly and one dead ratchet.

The GW stuff seems nice, but overall the Kobalt is nicer. Both seem much nicer than the most recent Craftsman USA-made stuff.

 

[BUCKNERBUCK2]

So, I have a box full of Cman tools that I paid a pretty penny for, USA made. When something breaks, its not going to be acceptable to me to receive a Chinese replacement.
If you break something in a kobalt set and Lowes doesn't have an equal, you get a merchandise credit (ie - break a ratchet in a set - get a refund for the entire set)
When one of my Cman ratchet wrenches (that I paid a ton for) pops...I will be wanting a refund for the set.