Craftsman 1/2" deep SAE 6 pt sockets (USA)

[down_shift_garage]

Other than eBay, these socket sets are becoming harder to find with "made in the USA." My local Sears (Dulles, VA) has a few of the 1/2" metric and 3/8" and 1/4" in metric and SAE in deep 6 pt remaining.
When did Sears stop producing them in the states and go 100% off shore?

 

[Fordman7795]

Within the last year

 

[jjjrmx5]

Within the last year

Yep.

Summer 2013 was the first big push in Sears brick and mortar to rid the USA stamped sockets from stock.

Spring 2013 was the trickle in and most USA are now gone except for warehouse sets or NOS singles or sets in low volume stores or Ace HW's.

2013 is also the year Sears pulled the print catalog from stores and are available but very hard to get via online request but are void of many long time C'man offerings.
Coincidence? I think not.

Time to expand your tool buying horizons. BTDT.

 

[down_shift_garage]

jjjrmx5 - great intel, thanks.

On my quest to plug these holes with the real USA stuff. I ordered the 1/2" 6 pt deep set on eBay this morning and will swing by Sears at lunch for the 1/4" deep set today. Note the imposter set on the right. Sad.

 

[gungatim]

was at costco yesterday and they had the made in USA screwdriver sets around $14 and the mechanic 174pc tool sets for $99. Was surprised to see they were made in USA as well...pick em up while they last...

 

[down_shift_garage]

Well I was successful at plugging my holes with USA made in the individual racks. For the sets, only one USA made remained pictured here next to its Chinese knockoff. Interesting that even the packaging (and price) are the same. At first I thought the grey or black plastic cases meant something.

 

[AndrewH]

Well I was successful at plugging my holes with USA made in the individual racks. For the sets, only one USA made remained pictured here next to its Chinese knockoff. Interesting that even the packaging (and price) are the same. At first I thought the grey or black plastic cases meant something.

The color of the plastic denotes either Metric (grey) or Sat (black) or at least I thought they did anyways.

 

[Fordman7795]

was at costco yesterday and they had the made in USA screwdriver sets around $14 and the mechanic 174pc tool sets for $99. Was surprised to see they were made in USA as well...pick em up while they last...

The mechanic sets are almost completely infiltrated with chinese made sets now. The screwdrivers however, i have not seen any made outside of the USA

 

[gungatim]

The mechanic sets are almost completely infiltrated with chinese made sets now. The screwdrivers however, i have not seen any made outside of the USA

Are you saying the tools inside the case of the big set are NOT made in USA?

I assumed they were since it said made in USA on the packaging...glad I didn't buy one then.

I don't buy the screwdrivers anymore, sick of them stripping out the first time and have too many anyway but I thought it was a good deal, something like $1.20 per driver. Didn't know they hadn't been outsourced yet, wouldn't know it by the quality.

 

[Fordman7795]

If it says Made in USA its made in usa. Its just old stock. The ones being made now are china.