Anything good at Sears anymore?

[383 240z]

Not looking to bash Sears, it's just I got a few gift cards to Sears from family members for Christmas. Is there anything worth getting tool wise? Keith

 

[Bobcat753]

I'm in the same boat. I know they have knipex though.

 

[Askme42]

Yes.

 

[jsharpphoto]

There is still some USA made stuff. Last week I picked up a very nice crow bar for like $10. You can always get consumables like sandpaper.

 

[logical]

Its all **** now.... I'll buy them for 50 cents on the dollar.

Seriously, go walk through a store. At least around me they have all kinds of stuff worth buying. True, the basic socket sets aren't what they used to be and the standard screwdrivers never were much good but they sell dozens of brands now. The new T-handle spinners and most anything in the "professional line" is worth a look.

 

[Davefr]

The CM Professional Ratchets (USA) are highly regarded.

 

[Tellingthem]

Adjustable wrenches, pry bars, hammers, nut drivers, damaged bolt removers, snips, and all of those should be USA. I also picked up some bit ratchets and finger drive bits. Those were also USA. If you look around I'm sure you will find some decent things. My store also carries brands like channellock and lisle so there are some other options besides craftsman.

 

[sberry]

I have been in the TC store about once in 20 yrs but they have a pretty good selection. I lost a 13 swivel from a set, had to pay the 10 to get it but they had them in stock as singles.

 

[383 240z]

I'm not so much concerned with COO as I am with tools I need/want/don't have. Walked thru a few monthsago and didn't see much that I was interested in. Not saying that I own every tool I need, but I'm getting close. The knipex has me interested, have not seen much of that brand since I stopped buying from tool trucks. Keith

 

[n8n]

The CM pliers are still USA made, most of the sockets and wrenches are China now though.

I like the cheap Taiwan made red handled ratcheting screwdriver/bit holder set. It may not be a Snap-On but I use the snot out of mine.

They supposedly sell Knipex and Channellock but the stock in my local stores is disappointing.

The "impact grade bolt-outs" are great too; I don't know if they are as good as S-K or Snap-On but they quite literally saved me days of work once (VW Corrado supercharger bracket held on with socket head cap screws recessed into the aluminum bracket; if the bolt-outs didn't work, I'd have had to tear the whole front end of the car out to drill them.)

You can also order some stuff for ship to store; I was in a similar situation once (had gift cards, did not need anything on the shelf in the store) and ordered a front end service kit (tie rod/ball joint presses etc.) from their online catalog.

 

[Stooge]

I had found some sears gift cards i had forgotten about in my nightstand drawer a few months ago. Sears/craftsman isnt my favorite and my local one's tool dept is pretty sparce. Ended up with a nice carhartt sweatshirt that was on clearance, bunch of socks and undershirts and a new table and chairs for the patio, all ridiculously marked down, like 90%. ...surprisngly, that store isnt on the closing list.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I don't know if the still stock them, but all my long wooden handles garden tools are Craftsman. Over the years, my round point shovel has been replaced at least a dozen times !

 

[bpjr]

Sears has their 3/8" x 50' heavy duty rubber air hoses on sale for $19.99. Anyone know how good these are compared to the GoodYear brand?

bp

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

There's still some gems there if you don't have them. Another option is to cash out your gift cards and buy tools from other places

 

[BFHtime]

Premium ratchets like Matco

Channellock

Pry bars

NOS sets have to pick through

Portable toolbox I like ones with drawers for organization

Twist lock socket holders

Mini pliers and strippers

Pliers wrench by knipex

Measuring tape

Bits all types

 

[teamarctic]

Craftsman somehow got knipex to make cobras for em. 7 and 10 inch for around $45. Thats what im going after

 

[mrvm]

Feels real good to have just used up nearly all my points and gift cards recently. I'm hoping for the best for Sears and would like to see some meaningful restructuring but the future looks dim and I don't want to be holding some worthless points or gift cards. There will probably be some promo coming up soon to generate some points again. Most of my recent Knipex additions have been through sywr points.

 

[CNGsaves]

Look around on SearsOutlet.com and see if any screaming deals at your local Sears or Sears outlet. Find a super low price, and have your store price match the other store.

I just helped guy in FL in another thread . . . find Craftsman Pro full polish combo wrench set for a song . . . . . YES, they were Made in USA.

+1 that the Craftsman cobra pliers are re-branded Knipex . . . I LOVE them ! The push button slide adjustment is great.

Finally, you can never have too many 8" and 12" adjustable wrenches and have no problem with the current Craftsman "crescent" wrenches, regardless of COO.

 

[Notgrownup]

Just got a 20 piece gearwrench set for $50.00 I thought that was a good deal.

 

[mikebaker1129]

The wires strippers are USA made and are good quality for the price.they are the same crimpers and strippers as other big name brands at less $.

 

[Wamsutta]

They supposedly sell Knipex and Channellock but the stock in my local stores is disappointing.

Same here. If I want Knipex or Channellock, I have to go to the industrial store.

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[panknuckshovel]

Ball Peen hammers are still nice for the home shop or middle of the road use kind of guy. They constantly rotate discounts and sales between the sizes.

 

[zkling]

No brand specific: pliers, hammers, picks, meters, tape measure. They have a new USA made bit ratchet for $10 that looks really nice.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

There screwdrivers are good as long as you don't pry with the flat heads. They also make decent hammers, I got a rubber mallet and a ball peen recently and there pretty nice. The only other thing I have experience with and I can say is good now in days is the flat pry bars, I picked one up to pry some trim off an old junk car I have laying around and it works ok. I think you'll find something.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Rethread Kastar kit

Rebranded Mayhew Cman pro striking prybars

Various auto specific tools (like radiator test kit, OBDII scanners, brake bleeder kits, etc.)

Bolt remover kits


Just some off the top of my head, there are other gems out there....

 

[Forsythe04]

Some recent made in the USA items i purchased...
Nut Driver set
Clearanced CM professional screwdrivers
T handle hex sets
old stock USA made sockets
Cm Professional prybar set

 

[mrborohachi]

I really like the new for the holidays BB'ed T-handle tool. I was needing a 1/4" socket that held 1/4 bits and when I saw the t handle had that in the kit I was sold.


Theses are the same as the Tool Truck MAC and SK ones

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

They have tons of rebranded tools that are great.

Cobra pliers
wire strippers
thread restorer kit
various Lisle tools
hose pinch off pliers
hose clamp pliers (type with a cable)
Nut driver sets
t-handle sets
hansen socket trays
Gasket scrapers
pry bars
ball pien hammers
Industrial stubby wrenches
interchangeable tip snap ring pliers
Various Channellock pliers
Various Knipex pliers
bit ratchets
chisel/punch sets

 

[Lone Star Blaze]

I saw some good tools at good prices there tonight. It was just hard to shop and concentrate on what I wanted and needed with a 5 year old girl bouncing off the walls. I saw a really nice 3 drawer box for $139 I think i'd like to ****** up for my oldest sons birthday in February.

I was excited to see some Allen branded tools

 

[boobag]

its depressing to walk into a sears nowadays. its like they have done nothing to the stores in 20 years.

 

[Leaky88]

The stores are not what they use to be for sure. I can recall going to a Mall just 10 years ago and telling my wife to come get me at Sears tool section. They have downsized considerably and went to the order on line and pick up at store concept. The eye candy is gone. HOWEVER, I did find a nice set of Stubby Wrenchs (both metric and SAE) online. Not Snap-on but they are stamped Made in USA, and I found ZERO flaws in them. Only complaint is there is no 11. But I can live with that. Said it before, I hate to see Sears fall like so many of our other ICONs have. Leaky

 

[Leaky88]

If anyone has gift cards for Sears they don't want. Please send me a PM and you can send them to me. Just kidding. I'm certain there are many good quality tools available either online or in the stores still. Leaky

 

[Wes Tex]

They still have USA made snap ring pliers. I had to have some for a job last night about 8:00. Went to the Sears mall store and asked two young male employees where the snap ring pliers were. In unison they said "what?" I had to describe the pliers so they could find them. One asked what they were used for. The days of the knowledgeable tool salesman at Sears is long gone.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

They still have USA made snap ring pliers. I had to have some for a job last night about 8:00. Went to the Sears mall store and asked two young male employees where the snap ring pliers were. In unison they said "what?" I had to describe the pliers so they could find them. One asked what they were used for. The days of the knowledgeable tool salesman at Sears is long gone.

It may be regional, but the Sears by me seems to rotate sales staff. I never see them same people in the tools and hardware department for more than a month or two & none of them have the product knowledge they used to.

Tommy

 

[TOOL FANATIK]

They sell knipex and leatherman....the Sears closest me still has craftsman sockets MIUSA and the pro ratchets as well as pro wrenches. Their breaker bars used to be MIUSA but now they are truly junk IMO. the finish just looks like **** compared to the old MIUSA

 

[n8n]

I was excited to see some Allen branded tools

Unfortunately the Allen brand Allen wrench set is China made now :/

found that out when I ordered one online for store pickup for the girl's son for (he specifically asked for tools) I did pretty well otherwise, everything I got for him was USA save for one Taiwan tool (the Cman ratcheting screwdriver/bit holder) but I assumed Allen was still USA, I was wrong. Now that I know that I'd have got Bondhus instead.

 

[n8n]

The stores are not what they use to be for sure. I can recall going to a Mall just 10 years ago and telling my wife to come get me at Sears tool section. They have downsized considerably and went to the order on line and pick up at store concept. The eye candy is gone. HOWEVER, I did find a nice set of Stubby Wrenchs (both metric and SAE) online. Not Snap-on but they are stamped Made in USA, and I found ZERO flaws in them. Only complaint is there is no 11. But I can live with that. Said it before, I hate to see Sears fall like so many of our other ICONs have. Leaky

the polished set? They don't make an 11 sadly. I have the same set, purchased when it was on sale online (thanks GJ!) - I bought an SK stubby to fill it out.

 

[PT Doc]

Kastar thread restorer, knipex cobra, knipex plier wrench, 299 socket set, cm bench grinder stand.

 

[nanofrog]

Another option is to cash out your gift cards

How do you do this?