I used to believe in CM. I bought my 309pc kit about 3 or 4 years ago when they they included the raised handle wrenches. I was in there a couple of weeks ago and picked up a motorcycle jack for 79.99. Last thing ill ever buy from Sears. Just started working in a shop as an extra hand. Im going to start buying s o and replacing all my cm stuff.
Anybody still supporting Craftsman
- Thread starter GreaseMonkey45170
- Start date
volleyball
Well-known member
Re: Anybody still supporting craftsman
Old doesn't make you smarter, but it is much more likely. You aren't born with wisdom. It is learning from the dumb **** you and others around you do.
The irony of the old guy buying a brand name and you avoiding a brand name is the identical ideology. So you are cut from the same cloth as the 80 year old guy.
I don't buy because of brand, not my tools, not my vehicle. Not "my" sport team. None of this stuff has any loyalty to you or even know you exist.
If sears, HF or the back room of the chinese restaurant has the best deal for me, that is where I am spending.
Old doesn't make you smarter, but it is much more likely. You aren't born with wisdom. It is learning from the dumb **** you and others around you do.
The irony of the old guy buying a brand name and you avoiding a brand name is the identical ideology. So you are cut from the same cloth as the 80 year old guy.
I don't buy because of brand, not my tools, not my vehicle. Not "my" sport team. None of this stuff has any loyalty to you or even know you exist.
If sears, HF or the back room of the chinese restaurant has the best deal for me, that is where I am spending.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
That last statement is the reason craftsman,Kobalt, Husky etc are made over seas now. Everyone wants the cheapest price that will get them by for now.
volleyball
Well-known member
I never said the cheapest. I buy the quality I need or can afford.
The reason all these tools are made overseas is because this country got out of the manufacturing business. People thought we could all be white collar workers and leave all the low pay, dirty manual work to those poor 3rd world countries.
We did it to ourselves. I am glad we are reversing that trend
The reason all these tools are made overseas is because this country got out of the manufacturing business. People thought we could all be white collar workers and leave all the low pay, dirty manual work to those poor 3rd world countries.
We did it to ourselves. I am glad we are reversing that trend
These threads are exhausting.
Almost all of the tools I have are Craftsman and pretty much all of the handtools are made in the USA.
Everyone talks about what a stab in the back it is that most new Craftsman is made overseas, yet there are several brand new retread threads every week talking about how they will not be here is 5 years.
So you honestly think that as they are circling the drain, the way to increase profitability is to start selling more expensive tools manufactured in the US? The people who think that have their head in a cloud. You believe that the average tool buyer is willing to pay more for a product that performs minimally better in light use (which is how most tool buyers use their tools)?
The bottom line is that people want cheap and cheap is made overseas not here. Overseas tool quality can be pretty darn good these days too. The people who use their tools heavily and are breaking tools are relatively few and far between. The average tool buyer used their tools for changing a car battery or assembling Ikea furniture. They are not willing to pay more. Sorry for the **** hurt over Craftsman going overseas. It simply puts them in the same category as Husky, Kobalt, etc. I've got a feeling that the "I haven't stepped foot in a Sears store in 5 years" are the same guys picking up the $5 Kobalt sockets sets and HF color coded sockets and plastic body ratchets.
To answer the original question: if I can get Craftsman made in the USA, I will buy it and am willing to pay more than for the Lowe's overseas equivalent. If it's Craftsman made overseas, I will consider it as I would the overseas equivalents. I don't like Craftsman made overseas either but am a realist that this is economics these days.
Almost all of the tools I have are Craftsman and pretty much all of the handtools are made in the USA.
Everyone talks about what a stab in the back it is that most new Craftsman is made overseas, yet there are several brand new retread threads every week talking about how they will not be here is 5 years.
So you honestly think that as they are circling the drain, the way to increase profitability is to start selling more expensive tools manufactured in the US? The people who think that have their head in a cloud. You believe that the average tool buyer is willing to pay more for a product that performs minimally better in light use (which is how most tool buyers use their tools)?
The bottom line is that people want cheap and cheap is made overseas not here. Overseas tool quality can be pretty darn good these days too. The people who use their tools heavily and are breaking tools are relatively few and far between. The average tool buyer used their tools for changing a car battery or assembling Ikea furniture. They are not willing to pay more. Sorry for the **** hurt over Craftsman going overseas. It simply puts them in the same category as Husky, Kobalt, etc. I've got a feeling that the "I haven't stepped foot in a Sears store in 5 years" are the same guys picking up the $5 Kobalt sockets sets and HF color coded sockets and plastic body ratchets.
To answer the original question: if I can get Craftsman made in the USA, I will buy it and am willing to pay more than for the Lowe's overseas equivalent. If it's Craftsman made overseas, I will consider it as I would the overseas equivalents. I don't like Craftsman made overseas either but am a realist that this is economics these days.
Sheriff Roscoe
Well-known member
WE AS A NATION have told Craftsman and so many others to go overseas. Not directly, but each time we buy a cheaper overseas product, U.S. companies have no choice but to compete with that or die. And yet each of us that work do not want a reduction in wages...heck we want a raise! Simple logic says this cannot continue.
Many companies fake the "Made in USA" moniker by buying parts overseas and assembling them here. So yes, American-made...sort of but the dollars are still going overseas. Foreign cars the same way: "My Honda is made right here in America"...really? There's still a large pipeline of cash going overseas.
Spend more and BUY AMERICAN FOLKS...that is if you want to maintain our standard of living in the future.
OK, I'm done for now and feel a little better
Many companies fake the "Made in USA" moniker by buying parts overseas and assembling them here. So yes, American-made...sort of but the dollars are still going overseas. Foreign cars the same way: "My Honda is made right here in America"...really? There's still a large pipeline of cash going overseas.
Spend more and BUY AMERICAN FOLKS...that is if you want to maintain our standard of living in the future.
OK, I'm done for now and feel a little better
I'll still buy cman if the price is right and USA made. I got another set of pry bars last week when they was on sale for $20. And this week I bought some 6 point wrenches that were also USA made to round out an almost complete set I got from a pawn shop for cheap.
Bottom line, if it says china, it ain't going in my box. But, I am a ok with Taiwan if the price reflects that and the quality is there. (Carlyle and gear wrench, followed by kobalt)
Bottom line, if it says china, it ain't going in my box. But, I am a ok with Taiwan if the price reflects that and the quality is there. (Carlyle and gear wrench, followed by kobalt)
tjpavlov
Well-known member
I'm looking for a minivan right now. The only "American" one is the Chrysler/Dodge. It is made in Ontario by an Italian company. Wouldn't the Honda, made in Alabama, be better?
Givl Reggin
Banned
It wasn't too many years ago Taiwan was the producer of the cheapest of the cheap! And before them it was Japan, now China has taken over that title. I still won't buy a foreign made product when there's a USA made alternative.
Givl Reggin
Banned
Re: Anybody still supporting craftsman
Price isn't a consideration for me - I'm much more interested in quality (and I'm a quality freak!). I like the little attention to details that separate out the top brands from the rest.
Price isn't a consideration for me - I'm much more interested in quality (and I'm a quality freak!). I like the little attention to details that separate out the top brands from the rest.
Sheriff Roscoe
Well-known member
I hear ya tjpavlov...it's tough buying 100% American anymore. No doubt my Chevy Trailblazer has some foreign parts on it.
I do the best I can to support American companies and workers. With the "hybrid" of parts and assembly, for me it comes down to which product will funnel the highest percentage of money back to American companies and workers. Not always an easy determination.
Re: Anybody still supporting craftsman
Problem you didn't realize is that our 2013/14 idiots are not the old people! Most idiots I see are under 30.
Problem you didn't realize is that our 2013/14 idiots are not the old people! Most idiots I see are under 30.
Kinda hope Fozzy hangs around. Thanks!
Sheriff Roscoe
Well-known member
Well I just supported Craftsman some more by picking up their 3/8 drive Premium ratchet this evening.
brit road garage
Banned
zakmartin
Well-known member
It has more to do with shareholders squeezing every drop of blood out of a business until it goes under. That's why Craftsman, Kobalt, Husky, etc. tools that are made in China cost the same as when they were made in the USA. It's all about gouging the consumer. If you want cheap tools, you go to HF, which is privately held and isn't hostage to the shareholder. Sears, Home Depot, Lowes... those are public, hence the outsourcing without the savings.
As Thomas Tusser once wrote: "A foole and his money be soone at debate: which after with sorow repents him too late."
DieselRiver
Well-known member
Not since they lost there main selling point of being made in the USA, ashame they moved to china. I used to love Craftsman
impactsocket
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2014
- Messages
- 769
The CM premium ratchets are made in USA and have great reviews. Perhaps someone should start a thread with a list of all the US made CM tools still for sale. Then everyone who says they would buy CM made in USA, should buy the items on the CM made in USA list.
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Rickedstyles
Well-known member
The ones around me all open stock wrenches and sockets are US..bummed the one thing I wanted (breaker bar) looked like it came from hf..did exchange some old us pliers for new us though before its too late
I still buy Craftsman tools from time to time, especially when on sale. I try to find USA made in the store but rarely do. Right now I'm getting ready to buy some 1/2" sockets from a seller on ebay and they are American made.
However, I don't understand the logic of buying "USA-made Craftsman tools" to support the American economy. All you are really doing is buying some old stock that was produced in the past when production was onshore. Buying something that was produced years ago does nothing to help the domestic manufacturing base today. Maybe I'm misunderstanding something there.
I agree with others here that believe that, in general, people tend to buy low-priced products (including tools) over higher-priced ones and that to the majority of buyers, high quality products are not a worthwhile investment of their extra money. This is just another example of today's "throw-away product" belief system. Yes, there are some products being sold that are designed to last for years or decades, but they are vastly outnumbered by the "disposable" products that are specifically created to be used and quickly discarded. This fact is obvious to anyone willing to take a minute to stop and think about it.
I think Sears is simply following the trend of giving the American consumer what they want. The real question is; Why do they want this? My opinion is that they (we) have been convinced by nonstop advertising and marketing by companies that we must buy more, more, more... How can we buy more if the things we buy last a very long time? How can corporations increase their sales if we buy a tool set or lawnmower that lasts for decades instead of a year or two? Also, people would rather buy a cheap set of tools, a cheap fishing rod, and a cheap set of camping gear rather than buy that nice SO set and skip the vacation this year. And I don't think the attitude is going back to the "old days" anytime soon. Anyway, that's just the way I'm seeing it right now.
However, I don't understand the logic of buying "USA-made Craftsman tools" to support the American economy. All you are really doing is buying some old stock that was produced in the past when production was onshore. Buying something that was produced years ago does nothing to help the domestic manufacturing base today. Maybe I'm misunderstanding something there.
I agree with others here that believe that, in general, people tend to buy low-priced products (including tools) over higher-priced ones and that to the majority of buyers, high quality products are not a worthwhile investment of their extra money. This is just another example of today's "throw-away product" belief system. Yes, there are some products being sold that are designed to last for years or decades, but they are vastly outnumbered by the "disposable" products that are specifically created to be used and quickly discarded. This fact is obvious to anyone willing to take a minute to stop and think about it.
I think Sears is simply following the trend of giving the American consumer what they want. The real question is; Why do they want this? My opinion is that they (we) have been convinced by nonstop advertising and marketing by companies that we must buy more, more, more... How can we buy more if the things we buy last a very long time? How can corporations increase their sales if we buy a tool set or lawnmower that lasts for decades instead of a year or two? Also, people would rather buy a cheap set of tools, a cheap fishing rod, and a cheap set of camping gear rather than buy that nice SO set and skip the vacation this year. And I don't think the attitude is going back to the "old days" anytime soon. Anyway, that's just the way I'm seeing it right now.
panknuckshovel
Well-known member
I swore off spending anymore on Craftsman a few years ago when my ratchet was replaced with a Chinese fisher price type thing. I did go against myself today though when i got these and a few of the metric sets right off the shelf. I used every angle they had, craftsman club, online coupon and opened a charge to bring the price down even further from mark down.
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n8n
Well-known member
I too am buying USA Craftsman when I see it but faced with the lack of any available in deep 3/8" drive 6 point metric I bought SK. Yeah I paid more but I'm willing to do it if that's what it takes. Only reason I even have bought Craftsman at all recently is it's cheap enough compared to any current USA brand that I can live without the warranty; if I break anything I'll get SK or Snap-On in singles to replace it.
syeater
Member
I will continue buy Craftsman as long as they are USA. I recently had to build a box for my younger son. Build a pretty good box that filled a 10 drawer roll around. I kept most of the Craftsman stuff, he got a collection of KAL, Kobalt, SK and KD. He did get some Craftsman but it was stuff that I don't need anymore.
I'm 52 and sit behind a desk now. But I have decided I am buying one more tool kit. The large mechanics set from Craftsman with the easy to read sizes (hard to read. Once I buy that (just missed out on a crazy sale) my oldest will get my current mechanic set.
If I can't get Craftsman made in USA I have already decided I will be buying Wright tools
I'm 52 and sit behind a desk now. But I have decided I am buying one more tool kit. The large mechanics set from Craftsman with the easy to read sizes (hard to read. Once I buy that (just missed out on a crazy sale) my oldest will get my current mechanic set.
If I can't get Craftsman made in USA I have already decided I will be buying Wright tools
sonvolt
Well-known member
I still use their screwdrivers and sockets that get the least amount of use line 1/2 drive.
RivennHewn
Well-known member
Support them? Nah
Swoop in like a vulture and pick the bones clean? Sure
Swoop in like a vulture and pick the bones clean? Sure
My folks got me my first craftsman 220 piece tool set as a high school graduation gift. Still have much of the set. Just finished up a brake job on my sons family van with them. I have pretty good luck picking up Craftsman made in the USA stuff at auctions and such. Plan to split the set up some day and give half to each son if they would like them.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
Nope. SK,Klein, snap on, and a few other USA brands. I do own some craftsman cordless tools and am pretty invested. So for cordless yes anything else no.