A new Craftsman ratchet

[Stuey]

It's a swivel-style push/pull 3/8" ratchet.

While I really like swivel-head ratchets, this looks way too impractical to me, and it's priced a bit high.

More of my thoughts: http://toolguyd.com/craftsman-mach-ratchet-socket-set/

What do you guys think? Am I being too harsh in my assessment, or is it really as unappealing as I think it is?

 

[ganymede]

It doesn't look like it'd take very much torque if you used it as a standard ratchet.
I'd rather use a real roto rat or even a breaker bar with an adapter .

 

[byoungblood]

Sears spending more money on a gimmick instead of keeping Craftsman production in the US and quality high. No thanks.

 

[GortonsFisherman]

More gimmick junk aimed at the diy market, probably timed for Father's Day.

 

[Bigplum]

Might be ok on new free running fittings , shite on everything else , its like the spiral on the old Yankee screwdrivers , they struggled when the going got hard

 

[jjjrmx5]

A Roto head drive ratchet and a Yankee Screwdriver made sweet lovin'.

Now meet the offspring.

Oi vey.

Sears product plans like my mother with dimentia used to Christmas Shop.

It never ends well.

Thanks Stuey for taking one for the GJ team.

 

[woody 73]

A Roto head drive ratchet and a Yankee Screwdriver made sweet lovin'.

Now meet the offspring.

Oi vey.

Sears product plans like my mother with dimentia used to Christmas Shop.

It never ends well.

Thanks Stuey for taking one for the GJ team.

Oy Vey is right

 

[jim1987]

I actually kind of like it, except it would be 99% chance its coo is PRC.. no thanks. And the price is too high. Even off sale the GW 1/4 roto and 3/8 are what, $59.99?

 

[larryq]

I'd say your review is spot-on Stuey.

 

[quattroJoe]

The ratchet looks gimmicky, but those black chrome sockets sure are purty! No doubt their made in China though

 

[sk farmer]

 

[Stuey]

I'd say your review is spot-on Stuey.

It's not really a review, since I didn't test one. It's more of a preview assessment.

The ratchet *could* be useful, but it will take a lot to convince me it's not just a flashy tool aimed at Father's Day gift shoppers.

 

[Steinmetz]

The lifetime of this tool would be measured in minutes rather than years. Just another pos compounding the general solid waste disposal problem.

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[Fordman7795]

More **** for non-tool people to buy for relatives

 

[TDLMOMOWERS]

POS normal Craftsman gimmick tool aimed at the uninformed do it yourself handyman wannabe.

 

[mucksavage]

Pray with me now...
"Lord, keep everyone we know healthy, so that someone we know won't be home sick from work, see a commercial for this product, & think that I might need it, Amen"

 

[Hantke]

My first thought:
what in the actual **** is that? it looks flimsy and breakable.
i don't like the plastic on it, Universal joint or a Breaker bar would work for me.

 

[thesilverone]

just in time for a fathers day special

 

[doan]

It's either Father's Day or Xmas present. Not a real tool

 

[nine4gmc]

That looks like a bad photochop

 

[Stuey]

just in time for a fathers day special

Pretty much.

 

[Conductor562]

This exactly the kind of **** I've come to expect from Craftsman these days.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

OK Stuey;

I'll see If I can slip one into your fruit basket..

 

[Farmall450]

More gimmick junk aimed at the diy market, probably timed for Father's Day.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[getahammer]

That thing looks like it would get in its' own way, while performing a simple task like putting a screw in a wall. I will dub it the ***********.

 

[3baygarage]

Pray with me now...
"Lord, keep everyone we know healthy, so that someone we know won't be home sick from work, see a commercial for this product, & think that I might need it, Amen"

Amen to that.

Is this a late April Fools joke Stuey? That thing looks like an injury (or many) in the making.

Finally though, critics will ease up on the dog bone, the pocket socket, and all the others.

 

[monomach]

I'd bet everything I own that this thing is on the display right in front of the entrance doors from the last week in May through the week after Father's Day. It'll be on sale between $19.99 and $29.99.

So, so stupid. They should have just made a high-quality 84t plain roto ratchet in Taiwan with a price point of $24.99. It would have sold like gangbusters.

 

[CoopVA]

Looks like something my mother in law would buy for stocking stuffers... But not at that price...


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[3baygarage]

I'd bet everything I own that this thing is on the display right in front of the entrance doors from the last week in May through the week after Father's Day. It'll be on sale between $19.99 and $29.99.

So, so stupid. They should have just made a high-quality 84t plain roto ratchet in Taiwan with a price point of $24.99. It would have sold like gangbusters.

I was thinking the same thing. Why not a regular one first?

Maybe there's some agreement with GearWrench.

 

[Outlawmws]

Just when you think they can't stoop any lower...

 

[Stuey]

Amen to that.

Is this a late April Fools joke Stuey? That thing looks like an injury (or many) in the making.

Finally though, critics will ease up on the dog bone, the pocket socket, and all the others.

Nope, not a joke, at least that I know of.

I'd bet everything I own that this thing is on the display right in front of the entrance doors from the last week in May through the week after Father's Day. It'll be on sale between $19.99 and $29.99.

So, so stupid. They should have just made a high-quality 84t plain roto ratchet in Taiwan with a price point of $24.99. It would have sold like gangbusters.

Sears already sells Gearwrench Roto Ratchets. They might have looked at the sales numbers and thought it's not worth the investment to commission a Craftsman version.

Craftsman has been making silent improvements to some of the products, such as circular saw blades, but they haven't really come out with any mid-range or premium mechanics tools since their premium ratchets a few years back. They did widen their range of Max Axess thru-socket products, but that's about it.

If it wasn't for the added "innovations," I doubt that a lesser featured product would have been produced.

 

[allinon72]

I think it's a rebranded Little Tikes

 

[Stuey]

I tested one a little bit today, and I have to say - it's not as terrible a product as I anticipated. It might even be good for certain uses, if the sale price is right.

As a screwdriver, it's a new take on the Yankee screwdriver. I don't care for it but some might find it useful. As a ratchet, I like that it's compact for storage and can be extended for use. There's a little too much plastic in the ratchet's construction for my liking, but construction feels pretty solid.

I think that this would sell a lot better at $25 or $30 than $45-$50.

For $50, or $45 on sale, I would prefer to see more professional touches. Maybe the price will drop between now and Father's Day.

 

[mudflap]

pray with me now...
"lord, keep everyone we know healthy, so that someone we know won't be home sick from work, see a commercial for this product, & think that i might need it, amen"

lol.........................

 

[adstock]

Looks flexy

 

[mudflap]

It's hard to believe...but that thing had to make it past several corporate execs before landing on the shelf..........If i ran Sears , i would hire an ASE Master Tech to run the Craftsman division..He would always be bitching about the coffee, but you wouldnt have abortions like this slipping by the college kids...And you could always hire him a good secretary to check his spelling/grammar, and get him cleaned up for the fancy meetings..

 

[nicksnothereman]

This is one of those things that you'll never need but you think you may need it. Not at that price though.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Dear Lord.

I couldn't quite make it out in the thumbnail pic. Then I clicked it.......I wish I hadn't.

Welp, that's it. Craftsman is dead. Send the elves home.

Death of a brand. I think it's going to fade into obscurity from this type of ****. It'll be a long, slow, painful death. Not a quick and painless one.

 

[Jarhead0408]

I'll stick with my old SK swivel heads. At least they LOOK respectable.