Craftsman toolboxes "assembled in USA"?

[fordgasm]

Took a trip to my local sears today to get a C3 Li-ion battery replaced under warranty and saw this sign over one of their tool box combos. Some loophole Sears is using to say assembled in USA over made in USA? Or is Waterloo making their boxes again (of course poor quality ones)....the world wonders.....

 

[softailgarage]

Nope, made in China, assembled in U.S. . If Waterloo was making them they would say "made in the U.S.A."

 

[Mr.clean]

Depends on the box.

The 3771, 37711, 37710 stack in your pic is produced in mexico i believe, the black box to the left of it is china COO

 

[wesst]

I have one of the late 90's Waterloo sets and it is stamped Made in USA in the top shelf near the left side. I believe that had been a standard practice for the Waterloo ones.

 

[fordgasm]

so what exactly does "assembled in USA" mean? Parts are shipped over just as that, parts and then someone in a US facility puts them all together? Or does it men someone at that Sears location just stacked the boxes ontop of each other.

 

[ohblondi]

As I always say. Assembled in the U.S.A. means the quality is still ****. Just someone over the age of 18 made it

 

[1982fxr]

Well, if they were to be sold in Cali, literally everything could be made in the US EXCEPT the washers that go with the bolts to hold the wheels on and they would have to call it ''assembled''...something to chew on.

 

[1nterceptor]

I think the last box I got from Craftsman said assembled in Mexico. will double check.

 

[dodge610]

so what exactly does "assembled in USA" mean? Parts are shipped over just as that, parts and then someone in a US facility puts them all together? Or does it men someone at that Sears location just stacked the boxes ontop of each other.

No no the assembled in the usa is when you buy them un-box them and put the wheels on them and stack them up in your garage. Bingo assembled in the usa.

 

[DSLTRK]

http://www.nspa.com/documents/AssembledvsMadeinUSA.pdf


According to the linked page, the Craftsman boxes are most likely bent up and painted in Iowa(or another US factory) by Waterloo, and the casters/locks/trim are imported from China or Mexico.

Just to get major components and screw them together and put drawers in is not considered even for the "assembled in USA" claim.


Regardless, they are not a bad box for the money when on sale, and great for someone starting out. i started building my set out of a cheapie CM box when I was 14 and never had any issues for 8 years.

 

[Jim C.]

I just bought the 3 drawer mid box in the photo about a week ago. It was also advertised as "assembled in USA" and priced at $161.99. I asked the sales assistant if it would be on sale any time soon because $162 seemed kind of expensive for it, and he told me that it was currently on sale. Long story short, with a 20% off coupon and $10 in Sears rewards points, I ended up getting it for $77 and some change. It seems pretty sturdy and the drawers operate smoothly. I'm using it to store/organize my ratchets, so it's more than suited for the task. Priced at $77 it's definitely a good DIYer box for the money.

Jim C.

 

[drink]

The last time I purchased a Craftsman portable metal tool box the box said made in Mexico. They have since removed those boxes from the store shelves and are supposed to have a new box out next March. Who knows where it will be made? Proto makes their hand boxes in the USA.

 

[Oldgloryfirearms]

I just bought the 3 drawer mid box in the photo about a week ago. It was also advertised as "assembled in USA" and priced at $161.99. I asked the sales assistant if it would be on sale any time soon because $162 seemed kind of expensive for it, and he told me that it was currently on sale. Long story short, with a 20% off coupon and $10 in Sears rewards points, I ended up getting it for $77 and some change. It seems pretty sturdy and the drawers operate smoothly. I'm using it to store/organize my ratchets, so it's more than suited for the task. Priced at $77 it's definitely a good DIYer box for the money.

Jim C.

How do you get it for $77? your math doesn't add up. i would buy one at that price?

 

[LB-1911]

How do you get it for $77? your math doesn't add up. i would buy one at that price?

I'm pretty sure this is the same one shown above -

26 in. 3-Drawer Heavy-Duty Ball Bearing Middle Chest - Red/Black
Item # 00937710000P Model # 113612
Regular Price
$161.99
Sale Price
$69.99

http://www.craftsman.com/26-in-3-dr...p-00937710000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

 

[oldtools]

Well, if they were to be sold in Cali, literally everything could be made in the US EXCEPT the washers that go with the bolts to hold the wheels on and they would have to call it ''assembled''...something to chew on.

California relax its requirement.

www.natlawreview.com/article/california-relaxes-its-made-usa-law

 

[Banjorear]

I think the last box I got from Craftsman said assembled in Mexico. will double check.

I just purchased a CM Industrial top and bottom. Bottom, made by Waterloo, said made in Mexico on the box. The top, not sure who made it, said made in USA on the box.

 

[SMKS]

Remember, for something to be marked "made in the USA" it has to pass the "all or virtually all" test.
https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-made-usa-standard

What is the standard for a product to be called Made in USA without qualification?

For a product to be called Made in USA, or claimed to be of domestic origin without qualifications or limits on the claim, the product must be "all or virtually all" made in the U.S. The term "United States," as referred to in the Enforcement Policy Statement, includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories and possessions.

What does "all or virtually all" mean?

"All or virtually all" means that all significant parts and processing that go into the product must be of U.S. origin. That is, the product should contain no — or negligible — foreign content.

So, if something like the drawer slides or casters were imported you could argue that's enough not to be able to use the phrase "made in the USA."

I don't know what the situation is with these boxes in particular, but there are cases where things marked as "assembled in the USA" can still have a lot of manufacturing associated with them.

 

[fordgasm]

I'm pretty sure this is the same one shown above -

26 in. 3-Drawer Heavy-Duty Ball Bearing Middle Chest - Red/Black
Item # 00937710000P Model # 113612
Regular Price
$161.99
Sale Price
$69.99

http://www.craftsman.com/26-in-3-dr...p-00937710000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

I think youre right. Hell I have $21 in points plus a $7 off $70 coupon, add a filer item for like a buck and I could get it real cheap lol.

 

[rednotch]

work benches are assembled in the usa, by the buyer when he takes it out of the box lol.

 

[bob15]

That sign is referring to the work benches and not the tool box.

 

[fordgasm]

That sign is referring to the work benches and not the tool box.

Sears should probably take it off the toolbox then

 

[Tellingthem]

Sears should probably take it off the toolbox then

Im pretty sure he was thinking the sign hanging over the toolbox for the workbenches was the one they were talking about. And missed that the sign in the toolbox also says assembled in USA. And as far as I know the 26" heavy duty line is still that way unless they changed it in the past couple of weeks.

 

[bob15]

Sears should probably take it off the toolbox then

What exactly is written on the signs in the tool box, especially to the left of what looks like a made in usa? I cannot read them......

Have a picture (legible) of the complete sign in the box?

 

[Tellingthem]

I'm not sure. I can go to Sears tomorrow and take a better picture. But it does say Assembled in USA. And here is how the FTC defines that. So if anyone here thinks that Sears is misleading people with the assembled in USA claim then report them to the FTC.

Assembled in USA Claims Link

A product that includes foreign components may be called "Assembled in USA" without qualification when its principal assembly takes place in the U.S. and the assembly is substantial. For the "assembly" claim to be valid, the product’s last "substantial transformation" also should have occurred in the U.S. That’s why a "screwdriver" assembly in the U.S. of foreign components into a final product at the end of the manufacturing process doesn’t usually qualify for the "Assembled in USA" claim.

What if I suspect noncompliance with the FTC’s Made in USA standard or other country-of-origin mislabeling?

Information about possible illegal activity helps law enforcement officials target companies whose practices warrant scrutiny. If you suspect noncompliance, contact the Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580; (202) 326-2996 or send an e-mail to [email protected] (link sends e-mail). If you know about import or export fraud, call Customs’ toll-free Commercial Fraud Hotline, 1-800-ITS-FAKE. Examples of fraudulent practices involving imports include removing a required foreign origin label before the product is delivered to the ultimate purchaser (with or without the improper substitution of a Made in USA label) and failing to label a product with a required country of origin.

You also can contact your state Attorney General and your local Better Business Bureau to report a company. Or you can refer your complaint to the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus by calling (212) 754-1320. NAD handles complaints about the truth and accuracy of national advertising. You can reach the Council of Better Business Bureaus on the web at adweb.com/adassoc17.html.

Finally, the Lanham Act gives any person (such as a competitor) who is damaged by a false designation of origin the right to sue the party making the false claim. Consult a lawyer to see if this private right of action is an appropriate course of action for you.

 

[Jim C.]

How do you get it for $77? your math doesn't add up. i would buy one at that price?

Like I said, it was on sale. It rung up at the register on sale for $109. I had a 20% off coupon for purchases over $100 and $10 in Sears reward points.

Jim C.

 

[four.cycle]

thank you very much for the post just above regarding COO labeling, Tellingthem.

so I have to ask: how and why is Sears getting away with marketing hand tools which are NOT marked with country of origin and can only be identified as having been made in China by deciphering cryptic "production codes" or comparing end finish on combination wrenches?

or ANY other tool manufacturer?

 

[fordgasm]

What exactly is written on the signs in the tool box, especially to the left of what looks like a made in usa? I cannot read them......

Have a picture (legible) of the complete sign in the box?

That's the only pic I took but you can tell from the toolbox on the right, ontop of the lid it has the same oval sign on it as well.

 

[1982fxr]

thank you very much for the post just above regarding COO labeling, Tellingthem.

so I have to ask: how and why is Sears getting away with marketing hand tools which are NOT marked with country of origin and can only be identified as having been made in China by deciphering cryptic "production codes" or comparing end finish on combination wrenches?

or ANY other tool manufacturer?

they put coo on the package. Has to be on the package or the item.

 

[Tellingthem]

Here are three pictures of the boxes that say assembled in USA. And yes all the tools have the coo on the packages. The single wrenches have a little tag the says made in china.

 

[bob15]

Waterloo does have "assembled in usa" boxes. Why couldn't it be these boxes?

http://www.waterlooindustries.com/about-waterloo/made-in-usa

Thanks for the close-ups pictures.

 

[Tellingthem]

Waterloo does have "assembled in usa" boxes. Why couldn't it be these boxes?

http://www.waterlooindustries.com/about-waterloo/made-in-usa

Thanks for the close-ups pictures.

Ahh I think most people just like to rag on craftsman these days. Plus the whole "assembled" vs "made" thing. When they are on sale I think they are fine for that price and have bought a few myself.

 

[Spdfreak91]

My craftsman box says made in Canada , but its still fine by me

 

[jeepboy4life]

I bought the top box on sale a couple years ago and love it. The box works perfectly.

 

[Don53]

I have the 26" Craftsman Edge series. Made (or at least assembled?) by Waterloo in Missouri.

 

[tube_guy]

so what exactly does "assembled in USA" mean? Parts are shipped over just as that, parts and then someone in a US facility puts them all together? Or does it men someone at that Sears location just stacked the boxes ontop of each other.

I think it means that the boxes are actually made and packaged in China or Mexico. Then they are shipped to a Sears store where a person in the USA buys them and then stacks them on top of each other in their USA based garage or basement. Bingo! Assembled in the USA.