Craftsman is at Lowes

[Sco Deac]

Out with Kobalt and in with PENNCRAFT. Kidding of course.

 

[WWheeler]

Well, nothing Craftsman a week ago at our Lowes, then today I saw this ...



None of the socket sets were visible besides the pics on the boxes, but the one thing that stood out to me about the wrenches that you can see is how wide the body is. It's almost as wide as the closed end. I guess I just didn't expect Stanley to take the old Sears raised panel design and make it even fatter.



Didn't see any boxes or anything else there, but perhaps they had some near the main entrance like some others mentioned at theirs, but I use the Contractor side.

 

[Al Borland]

One good thing about the thicker/wider body, it keeps the cheater pipes in line with the wrench better.

 

[WWheeler]

One good thing about the thicker/wider body, it keeps the cheater pipes in line with the wrench better.

Can't think of a better way to test out Lowe's/Stanley's new Craftsman 'Lifetime Guarantee' policy.

 

[skunkape1]

Well, nothing Craftsman a week ago at our Lowes, then today I saw this ...



None of the socket sets were visible besides the pics on the boxes, but the one thing that stood out to me about the wrenches that you can see is how wide the body is. It's almost as wide as the closed end. I guess I just didn't expect Stanley to take the old Sears raised panel design and make it even fatter.



Didn't see any boxes or anything else there, but perhaps they had some near the main entrance like some others mentioned at theirs, but I use the Contractor side.

These exact items and display, as well as several Craftsman tool boxes, are what I found at the Mankato, MN Lowes this past weekend.

 

[coleman10]

Craftsman is no longer a Sears brand. For the first time ever, the Craftsman name is owned by a manufacturer. You don't see things getting any better yet, but you might over the next few years. Stanley wants really badly to get some good out of the name they bought. They may not run it into the ground.

Which explains why if you go to craftsman.com and look for locations to buy Craftsman tools, Sears isn't on the list.

 

[AmishFury]

little thing i noticed recently...

the kobalt 3 drawer portable box is on clearance for $30... probably phasing it out to try to get people buying the CM 3 drawer

picked one up (and also had a friend ask me to grab him the CM version... yes i got paid for that box) so i got a chance to compare them

kobalt is heavier, a bit larger, ball bearing slides, comes with liners

CM is a touch smaller, friction slides, no liners included... pretty much the same as the 3 drawer you could buy before but with a "made in usa of global materials" sticker on it

 

[JazzBlueRT]

Which explains why if you go to craftsman.com and look for locations to buy Craftsman tools, Sears isn't on the list.

I never noticed that. Is Sears going to drop the craftsman line.

 

[AmishFury]

I never noticed that. Is Sears going to drop the craftsman line.

actually the deal is that for 15 years stanley has to pay sears a percentage of its craftsman sales after which sears will have to pay stanley a percentage

realistically sears will go under before 15 years is up... i mean IIRC they recently announced another 60+ store closings

 

[6PTsocket]

actually the deal is that for 15 years stanley has to pay sears a percentage of its craftsman sales after which sears will have to pay stanley a percentage

realistically sears will go under before 15 years is up... i mean IIRC they recently announced another 60+ store closings

Their stock was at $2.66 today. The other day it was $2.28. For comparison HD was at $200.31 today. Lowes is around 80 bucks. Any day now.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Dirtydan69]

actually the deal is that for 15 years stanley has to pay sears a percentage of its craftsman sales after which sears will have to pay stanley a percentage

realistically sears will go under before 15 years is up... i mean IIRC they recently announced another 60+ store closings

They owe me a check for work I did. Hope it comes soon n

 

[Jaysreal]

I went ahead and put together a video of what I found in stores around me for anyone interested

I actually went ahead and picked up the "made in Taiwan" 51 Pc Gunmetal set for later review. Case seems Very Nice. One thing I did notice immediately is that the case is designed to be separated and re attached easily.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Tom White]

Their stock was at $2.66 today. The other day it was $2.28. For comparison HD was at $200.31 today. Lowes is around 80 bucks. Any day now.

Although Sears is indeed in the toilet, the share price by itself doesn't tell you anything about the total market value of the company (share price X number of shares issued).

For demonstration purposes only, let's say company "A" has a share price of $1.00 per share and company "B" has a share price of $5.00 per share. You might think company "B" has a total market value of five times that of company "A". Not so fast.

For example if company "A" has issued 2,000 shares and company "B" has only issued 200 shares, you would be wrong.

Company "A"'s value would be $2,000 ( $1.00 per share X 2,000 shares).
Company "B"'s value would only be $1,000 ($5.00 per share X 200 shares).

Also, none of that is going to tell you which company is turning a better profit (or less loss).

So, it is never just the share price you have to look at. Although in the case of Sears..........it is better to just not look at all.

 

[mangorockfish]

Home Depot in Mountain Home, AR has Craftsman now also.

 

[Fedwrench]

I went ahead and put together a video of what I found in stores around me for anyone interested

Thanks for sharing. I would have rather Stanley cloned the Dewalt mechanics tools as craftsman but, it looks like they used Stanley/Stanley fat max as the basis. The ratchet looks heavy and its head doesn't appear to be servicable. On the plus side though, it looks like the double detents on the socket female square drive of older craftsman are gone. Is it just me, or do the deep sockets in the set seem more like mid length sockets?

 

[JazzBlueRT]

actually the deal is that for 15 years stanley has to pay sears a percentage of its craftsman sales after which sears will have to pay stanley a percentage

realistically sears will go under before 15 years is up... i mean IIRC they recently announced another 60+ store closings

That means they still have 20 years of store closings to go

 

[Jaysreal]

Thanks for sharing. I would have rather Stanley cloned the Dewalt mechanics tools as craftsman but, it looks like they used Stanley/Stanley fat max as the basis. The ratchet looks heavy and its head doesn't appear to be servicable. On the plus side though, it looks like the double detents on the socket female square drive of older craftsman are gone. Is it just me, or do the deep sockets in the set seem more like mid length sockets?

Yes, the ratchet appears to be a rebrand of the high position ratchet available at Walmart. The double detents are gone and only the smaller of the deep sockets seem like mid length not all of them.

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[WWheeler]

Has anyone tried yet to warranty a Sears Craftsman tool at Lowes? I'm curious how Lowes is going to handle when someone comes in with a beat up old Craftsman ratchet or broken socket, etc. Stanley does say on Craftsman.com that they are going to honor all the old Craftsman warranties.

https://www.craftsman.com/customer-care/warranty-information/

We understand the CRAFTSMAN warranties are important to existing customers and intend to honor existing and offer similar warranties going forward. CRAFTSMAN branded products will continue to be covered under their existing warranties. In the immediate term, there are no changes to how you will get service regarding your warranty.

 

[Fedwrench]

Has anyone tried yet to warranty a Sears Craftsman tool at Lowes? I'm curious how Lowes is going to handle when someone comes in with a beat up old Craftsman ratchet or broken socket, etc. Stanley does say on Craftsman.com that they are going to honor all the old Craftsman warranties.

Since there aren't any open stock craftsman tools at lowes yet, it will probably be awhile before you can test the warranty on old broken craftsman tools. However, the jury is still out what you would get in exchange or where it will be made.

 

[WWheeler]

Since there aren't any open stock craftsman tools at lowes yet, it will probably be awhile before you can test the warranty on old broken craftsman tools. However, the jury is still out what you would get in exchange or where it will be made.

Hmmm, so I wonder what will happen when someone comes in with a broken Stanley Craftsman tool that they bought at Lowes. Surely that will start happening soon if it hasn't already. Methinks a customer service manager is either going to have to solve that 'no-open-stock' dilemma with a boxcutter or they are going to be risking some seriously bad publicity.

 

[AmishFury]

On the plus side though, it looks like the double detents on the socket female square drive of older craftsman are gone.

maybe with the taiwan sets.... i would imagine the sockets in the chinese RP ratchet sets might be the same double detent sockets you get from sears

 

[Wamsutta]

I went ahead and put together a video of what I found in stores around me for anyone interested

I actually went ahead and picked up the "made in Taiwan" 51 Pc Gunmetal set for later review. Case seems Very Nice. One thing I did notice immediately is that the case is designed to be separated and re attached easily.

Is that you Garnett Tools?!!? I always wanted to know: How'd you get that southern accent when you're from Pittsburgh?

 

[Ben1967]

Just popped up in my lowes this past week, everything from the boxes to hand tools, and yard equipment.

 

[2point2]

Looks like craftsman tools are available in Lowe's Canada as well!

I've always like craftsman tools. Just didn't have much desire to go to the 'mall' to buy tools.. crappy tire was always more convenient. I'm at Lowe's once a week!

 

[kythri]

Home Depot in Mountain Home, AR has Craftsman now also.

Home Depot?

 

[Al Borland]

maybe with the taiwan sets.... i would imagine the sockets in the chinese RP ratchet sets might be the same double detent sockets you get from sears

Chinese RP sets were APEX sourced. Stanley also gets Chinese product, but it's not APEX, so there is hope.

 

[xin]

When is the USA manufactured Craftsman coming out?

 

[kythri]

When is the USA manufactured Craftsman coming out?

September 14th, 2018.

 

[2point2]

^ fake news...?

 

[kythri]

No, more just an attempt to get xin to stop asking the same question in 5 separate threads daily.

 

[Sco Deac]

No, more just an attempt to get xin to stop asking the same question in 5 separate threads daily.

xin can't read your responses when you use the standard default font. You have to make the font microscopic, use italics, and different colors for xin to notice.

 

[Andres26tnt]

lowes is about to expand the line soon

 

[AmishFury]

the power tools part makes me wonder if SBD will continue/expand the C3 product line or if they will phase it out and slap the craftsman name on tools based on existing SBD product

 

[Moose Legs]

I have started to see craftsman stuff sold at Rona here in Canada, makes sense since Rona is owned by Lowes these days

 

[Jazzman442]

Most everything Craftsman in my Lowes is made in USA. Hand tools are made over there. LOL

 

[Andres26tnt]

the power tools part makes me wonder if SBD will continue/expand the C3 product line or if they will phase it out and slap the craftsman name on tools based on existing SBD product

SBD will probably slap the craftsman name to dewalt power tools, makes more financial/marketing sense. This makes me think that they will be facing out the Kobalt name in favor for craftsman and all the brand brings with it.

 

[powertrip]

SBD will probably slap the craftsman name to dewalt power tools, makes more financial/marketing sense. This makes me think that they will be facing out the Kobalt name in favor for craftsman and all the brand brings with it.

Lowes does not own craftsman, but they do own Kobalt. They have invested a lot into the new 24v lineup. Why would they abandon it after the large investment made and good reviews it receives for a platform that they do not own, do not control and could leave there stores anytime SBD wanted. Makes no sense. Also at this point the C3 line up is basically dead. The Kobalt 24v tools are far better tools than the C3. All Craftsman is going to be to Lowes is just another brand they carry. Much like all the other brands they sell. Lowes will never turn into the sears of old where USA made craftsman line the aisles. Those days are gone.

 

[WWheeler]

SBD will probably slap the craftsman name to dewalt power tools, makes more financial/marketing sense. This makes me think that they will be facing out the Kobalt name in favor for craftsman and all the brand brings with it.

Lowes does not own craftsman, but they do own Kobalt. They have invested a lot into the new 24v lineup. Why would they abandon it after the large investment made and good reviews it receives for a platform that they do not own, do not control and could leave there stores anytime SBD wanted. Makes no sense. Also at this point the C3 line up is basically dead. The Kobalt 24v tools are far better tools than the C3. All Craftsman is going to be to Lowes is just another brand they carry. Much like all the other brands they sell. Lowes will never turn into the sears of old where USA made craftsman line the aisles. Those days are gone.

Agree with you on most points except powertrip wasn't talking about Sears' C3 line. He's talking about Stanley taking their Dewalt power tool lineup (corded and cordless) and rebadging them as 'Craftsman Professional' or whatnot. On that point I agree with powertrip that it's very likely something Stanley will do with the Craftsman name they bought.

I suspect that's where most of Stanley's claims that they want to bring back Craftsman to the US will happen, where Stanley had already been investing in bringing back many US assembly jobs for their Dewalt line, as opposed to hand tools like ratchets, sockets, and wrenches. I'm not sure Stanley plans to bring any of those back to the US.

 

[AmishFury]

SBD will probably slap the craftsman name to dewalt power tools, makes more financial/marketing sense. This makes me think that they will be facing out the Kobalt name in favor for craftsman and all the brand brings with it.

i would think they might put craftsman more on the mid tier stuff... somewhere in between B&D and Dewalt

 

[Sco Deac]

i would think they might put craftsman more on the mid tier stuff... somewhere in between B&D and Dewalt

Porter Cable?