So what’s the latest with Craftsman?

[Jtels85]

Last we heard IIRC, they broke ground on their new “USA” facility in Ft. Worth.

Does anyone know how far they’ve come with the project and when we might expect to see some sneak peaks of new “USA” tools?

The current lineup at Lowe’s is stale, too expensive and poor quality. The brand needs some excitement pumped back into it.

Sincerely, Impatient Tool User

 

[lardy1]

I wish them well in the domestic production endeavor. Although they've done about all they can to destroy it, it's still a recognizable and marketable name.

 

[Bogie1632]

Haven't seen much newer than this article from last May. Plant is supposed to be done in late 2020.

https://www.stanleyblackanddecker.c...-opening-new-craftsman-plant-fort-worth-texas

Any newer news out there?

V/R
Bogie

 

[woody 73]

I just heard the news "Eddie Lampert" or Edward Scott Lampert just bought a full stake in Stanley; what a day fantastic news...

 

[Jtels85]

Haven't seen much newer than this article from last May. Plant is supposed to be done in late 2020.

https://www.stanleyblackanddecker.c...-opening-new-craftsman-plant-fort-worth-texas

Any newer news out there?

V/R
Bogie

I wonder how soon after that we will begin seeing new tools...

 

[u2slow]

Check them out at Lowes or Rona. Think they took over the line about a year ago.

https://www.lowes.ca/brands/craftsman-722

 

[yrly]

The Lowe’s stuff is import Stanley rebadged as Craftsman and as expected is import Stanley quality but more expensive. Plus they have to pay fast Eddie 3-5% royalty on this stuff for like 7 or 8 more years which drives up the cost even more.

Meanwhile Eddie is having much of the Sears stuff sourced from Hangzhou Great Star, which makes some of the nicer finished Chinese tools. These are arguably better finished than Stanley’s Chinese stuff. They are also cheaper overall.

Until Stanley gets this factory off the ground nothing will improve. Lowe’s will still sell overpriced Chinese Stanley Craftsman and as long as Sears exists they’re going to continue to undercut it on price using their supplier since they don’t have to pay royalties.

The average person who doesn’t know any better is just going to purchase the good deals, same as always.

 

[lardy1]

I made a rare trip to Lowe's today and looked at the tool displays. They just scream cheap. One six or seven foot section of what's left of Kobalt. Pretty sad.

 

[dogdog]

Few discussions about that... they (the ft worth facility) is not manufacturing average joe in store sets but only professional sets ... There was a discussion post about this here ... So you might not find them at Lowes. or Blowes

 

[SILVERPLATE]

Time will tell, but I think Lowes all in for Craftsman will bite them right in the ***. Should have kept up and expanded Kobalt.

 

[Jtels85]

I should have clarified. I am well aware of who currently owns Craftsman, the who, what, where, when, why and how. I also know which stores sell the brand and their current offerings. I was asking if anyone had updates on SB&D’s new Craftsman facility in Ft. Worth and if/when we might expect to see sneak peaks of their new “USA” made mechanics tools.

 

[LB-1911]

I should have clarified. I am well aware of who currently owns Craftsman, the who, what, where, when, why and how. I also know which stores sell the brand and their current offerings. I was asking if anyone had updates on SB&D’s new Craftsman facility in Ft. Worth and if/when we might expect to see sneak peaks of their new “USA” made mechanics tools.

Nothing has changed.

May 15, 2019
the plant is expected to be completed in late 2020.

source & full text @
https://www.stanleyblackanddecker.c...-opening-new-craftsman-plant-fort-worth-texas

May 2019
Stanley Black & Decker is Reshoring More Production of Craftsman Tools

 

[Vinny]

Few discussions about that... they (the ft worth facility) is not manufacturing average joe in store sets but only professional sets ... There was a discussion post about this here ... So you might not find them at Lowes. or Blowes

So bringing back the Craftsman Industrial line?

 

[Andres26tnt]

So bringing back the Craftsman Industrial line?

nowhere(in official channels) does it mention that craftsman is bringing back the industrial line or where they are going to sell them. everything is speculation on this forum.

I wouldn't be too excited over their new USA made line up, it will more than likely be the current raised panel tools they have always sold.

 

[Jtels85]

nowhere(in official channels) does it mention that craftsman is bringing back the industrial line or where they are going to sell them. everything is speculation on this forum.

I wouldn't be too excited over their new USA made line up, it will more than likely be the current raised panel tools they have always sold.

I’m a fan of the raised panel wrenches. The ratchets, well not so much. I can’t see them building this new facility just to churn out the same **** Sears was making for the last several decades, but then again nothing surprises me anymore. Whatever they make has got to be better than their current offerings at stores like Lowe’s.

I’m starting to forget the brand exists at all. Some sneak peeks to keep us on our toes would be nice at this point. Somewhere out, some designs or prototypes exist. Give us just a taste... c’mon Stanley.

 

[chaosracing]

Honestly I think its to late for this brand. And its a shame. If the plant is up and running late 2020, then do not expect to see any tools untill 2021, or later (you really think they will recall and destroy current inventory? HA)
Meanwhile Gearwrench is now competing with them, plus directly with Snap On, MAC, Matco and other tool truck brands by having their own tool trucks now. Harbor Freight has upped their tool game tremendously. Kobalt has taken a back seat to Craftman at Lowes because Lowes wanted a historical name brand tool to sell.

I had been a die hard Craftman tool guy, but have not really bought anything since they started making them in China. I look now at farmers markets, auctions, etc for the old stuff. With the last Sears closing this past Monday in my area, the "lifetime" warranty is basically gone to. Sure they still have it, but I wonder what the policies and actual tool replacement is. I know at my local ACE stores, they only replace what they carry in stock. Which isnt much. Lowes, well again, I only see a very small amount of loose tools, most of what they are selling are sets, so if one tool out of the set breaks, then what??

 

[Bretny]

Craftsman is dead to me.
Now I buy what I can warranty easily, for me this is Husky. I find there moving parts have had more quality than craftsman for a long time.

 

[demarpaint]

Craftsman is dead to me.
Now I buy what I can warranty easily, for me this is Husky. I find there moving parts have had more quality than craftsman for a long time.

I feel the same way. When I walk into Lowes with a defective lifetime warrantied Craftsman tool from Sears or vice versa, and hear a BS story about it not being covered, I'm done. If that changes and they up the quality I might view them differently.

 

[dogdog]

So bringing back the Craftsman Industrial line?

I dunno, just remember few discussion about what they are bring back... as far as what who knows....things change or not. but this Ft Worth Facility is old news.


This was the old thread and few similar ones keep popping up like it was ground hog day or something here... Always as if it was new News...


https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=421499

Pretty sure you can find other few threads speculating here. Last I remember they say Premium line reported all over the press... if they released something new... because of... who knows.

 

[DwightS]

I really hope Craftsman can pull through and bring back manufacturing to the USA. I remember as a kid wondering through the isles of the tool department at Sears with my dad, seeing all the shiny sockets and wrenches, The displays of mechanics tool sets, the wall of hand saws, power tools, table saws, grinders, vices, all the different tool boxes... And most importantly, a knowledgeable staff, that knew the brand and the tools, not some person at a "Customer Service" register that can barely operate said register. That's something I wish was still there, not the half empty display walls that I last saw at my local Sears.

Since Lowes has picked up Craftsman, I believe you're going to see Ace drop the Craftsman line and pick up Milwaukee & Crescent. My local Ace has already started the transition. About the only thing they have left of Craftsman are a few screwdrivers, wrench sets and loose 1/2" drive sockets in sizes that Crescent apparently doesn't have. (what store manager told me...)

As for Lowes, I think they could do better with the Craftsman offerings. I don't know if I like their tool drawer scheme for selling loose tools & sockets. (See first paragraph above) Out of sight, out of mind.

 

[mikeinri]

Lowe's putting the loose tools in the drawers makes sense to me, once you get used to it.

Not that I plan to buy any there, but I hope they don't do with the tool drawer inventory what they've done with the hardware drawer inventory:

For the past year or two, their stock is so low that you're lucky to find one fastener in the size you need, let alone enough for a project.

Mike

 

[dogdog]

Reading the press release from here:

https://www.stanleyblackanddecker.c...-opening-new-craftsman-plant-fort-worth-texas

and here:

https://fortworthtexas.gov/news/2019/05/Stanley-Black-Decker-Deal/

I don't see any mentions about screwdrivers only mechanics tools:

Maybe... That is something we will have to wait and see...

There was a discussion here sometime back on what SBD craftsman will manufacturing in that "new" facility.. can't find it now...

As far as this "News' how is this Ft Worth Tx facility different from the one mention on the other thread... is this another new facility? or just some one trying to restart a dead topic or just something old folks do... ground hog day all over as if it was new new news ...

 

[bpjr]

This email came to me the other day.

Dear Valued Customer,

On February 11, 2019, Transformco purchased substantially all of the Sears Holdings assets*. As part of that sale, Transformco acquired Sears Holdings’ customer information, including personally identifiable information.

At Transformco, we want to ensure that you know that your privacy is important to us, and that our privacy policy is just as protective of your privacy as the Sears Holdings policy.

At Transformco, we constantly look for new and innovative ways to improve your shopping experience online and in stores. To reflect these improvements, we are making changes to our Privacy Policy.

We encourage you to review the policy in its entirety, but we would like to highlight a few key changes for your review:
We provided greater detail on the types of personal information we may collect and how we may use that information, and
We updated the Privacy Policy to address the rights afforded to California residents under the new California Consumer Privacy Act.
The policy can be viewed by clicking on this link: https://transformco.com/privacy

*Brands and assets acquired include Sears, Kmart, Shop Your Way, Kenmore, Diehard, Sears Auto Center, and Sears Home Services.

 

[chaosracing]

Transformco is a holding company that was created by former Sears CEO Eddie Lampert to try and stem the bankruptcy tide hitting them. He only became former CEO when Sears Holding went into bankruptcy.

It looks like you just got a standard email updating cetain policies.

 

[chaosracing]

I just heard the news "Eddie Lampert" or Edward Scott Lampert just bought a full stake in Stanley; what a day fantastic news...

Only stuff I have seen is about SB&D suing Lampert and Sears for their new "Craftsman" stuff.

 

[Jtels85]

Who cares if I started a new thread about this topic? Is that all people have to worry about around here? It got plenty of attention and my question was answered.

I see new threads all of the time about topics that have been previously discussed. Who cares? Move on. Sometimes it’s nice to see the same discussion and a fresh prospective from folks. Going back and rehashing an old thread hasn’t netted the results I was looking for in the past, but starting a new one always does.

 

[Vinny]

Meanwhile Gearwrench is now competing with them, plus directly with Snap On, MAC, Matco and other tool truck brands by having their own tool trucks now.

Saw one the other day. How do owners make money? With Snap On, the mark ups are so ridiculously high on tools that it makes sense, but Gearwrench stuff seems so cheap that I don't see what possible cut the truck owner could get.

 

[USAMatt]

Re: So what’s the latest with Craftsman?

I'm thinking maybe positive changes are coming? I don't know. I was pretty set on dumping the V20 line I have on ebay but I checked Lowe's website today and they have some new stuff listed. None of it's available yet though. I wonder if they are getting ready for a fresh launch of tools? V12, V20, V60 & the rumored V80? And I assume the deal with Napa has to do with the upcoming launch of the USA hand tools. Our local Blaine's has also expanded their Craftsman line as it appears Menard's is really putting emphasis on their new Masterforce line. Including new tv commercials.

For one, Lowe's has listed a new Brushless Mid Torque impact wrench! Finally! Their current impact was such a let down... Add to it, it appears from the picture that they beefed up their forward/reverse switch which was so chintzy on the current tools it drove me nuts. It's also adjustable torque which was sorely needed. Perhaps a similar High Torque is coming? A Stubby? A 3/8's ratchet? I sure hope so. In my view Craftsman should have some of the highest quality automotive tools out there, impacts included. Another thing that was awesome to see is a Real V20 circular saw! Another tool that was a huge let down. This new one is brushless, 7 1/4, blade right with a metal upper guard. I'm looking into both the day they arrive. Also, a 6ah battery is finally here I could use on both new tools. They also have a V20 air compressor now. Perhaps all hope is not lost? I guess we'll see.

 

[dogdog]

Who cares if I started a new thread about this topic? Is that all people have to worry about around here? It got plenty of attention and my question was answered.

I see new threads all of the time about topics that have been previously discussed. Who cares? Move on. Sometimes it’s nice to see the same discussion and a fresh prospective from folks. Going back and rehashing an old thread hasn’t netted the results I was looking for in the past, but starting a new one always does.

Yes of cause, just restart the topics with new thread till you see what you wanted to see...

It's common here. I am just pointing it out.. you can always do what you wanted... Don't let the truth stop you in any way...

 

[Toold_up]

I can't find it now, but last year on the Craftsman website there was a link at the bottom of the page for "Craftsman Industrial". Maybe a hint to what's coming?

I like the old Craftsman Industrial tools. I really like that satin finish with polished accents (I know, I know, not all of them are satin finish):

I hope they do return that lineup. Proto has an industrial line. Proto has an industrial line with the same sort of satin finish:

I'd love to see it happen!

 

[USAMatt]

I can't find it now, but last year on the Craftsman website there was a link at the bottom of the page for "Craftsman Industrial". Maybe a hint to what's coming?

It's still there. Just type Industrial in the search and Craftsman-Industrial shows up. It doesn't take you to anything though. I too was big on the industrial stuff. Hand tools and power tools both. Sears changed industrial to professional towards the end there but either way there were some seriously nice tools that carried the Craftsman name. Actually before Industrial or Professional I believe the higher end stuff was actually called Commercial. I could be wrong.