What is Craftsman's pricing strategy now?

[dnschmidt]

Who cares? I haven't bought anything from Craftsman for 35 years and I wasn't too happy about the stuff I bought back then. To me they are irrelevant. I'm more concerned about the inflated pricing for Carlyle at NAPA than I am about Craftsman at wherever.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Craftsman is fine for 98% of people. The other 2% is split between guys who actually need better, and those who think they do.

 

[R.Bolte.Jr]

Its a strange day when Craftsman makes SK look like the low price leader. lol

https://sktools.com/80290-3-8-drive-lp90-flex-head-ratchet-11-in.html

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Odd because the power tools are cheap and good. I'm not confident they'll stick around though.

 

[jonesg]

"Just pick a few guys off of this board to run the company and they’ll make that brand the be all, end all."

hahahahaha

 

[dimichele]

Craftsman raised panel ratchets are rubbish. They haven't been any good for years and aren't even worth bringing in for the warranty. The 3/8 I have from my grandfather is ok. The ratchets that came with the set I bought ~20 years ago have failed almost instantly or have never been used. They're either in the trash or in a pile of tools I never plan on using.

 

[trainer]

High-Low retailing strategy.
They'll put a stupid regular price on the shelf, then put them on special a few times a year for 75 or 80% off.

They can also claim inflated savings on multi-piece sets.

In many jurisdictions, they may be called on to prove "regular" or "was" pricing or face fines and other penalties.

 

[nbpt100]

The one practicle feature of the Craftsman Brand Home Owners like is the lifetime warranty. If what I am reading is true about how Lowes is turning people away and sending them to Craftsman to warrantee out something then even the naive homeowner will start to loose some likeing to the brand. They do not want the extra work and hassle. who does? If this becomes the norm at Lowes, Ace, Napa, etc, the causual Craftsman tool user will give HF serious consideration.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

The one practicle feature of the Craftsman Brand Home Owners like is the lifetime warranty. If what I am reading is true about how Lowes is turning people away and sending them to Craftsman to warrantee out something then even the naive homeowner will start to loose some likeing to the brand. They do not want the extra work and hassle. who does? If this becomes the norm at Lowes, Ace, Napa, etc, the causual Craftsman tool user will give HF serious consideration.

Yep Lowe’s and Ace have turned me away for all my warranties. I just email Craftsman directly and get a replacement sent to me. But I’ve also been denied at Harbor Freight because it was one of their cheaper tools without a name on it.

 

[Rabid Badger]

Craftsman is fine for 98% of people. The other 2% is split between guys who actually need better, and those who think they do.

Nobody said the tools don't work. The problem is there are superior products available at far lower prices.

 

[JazzBlueRT]

The equivalent Snap-On is $165.00 and on backorder. The Craftsman seems to be priced about right for a 3/8th flex head extra long prosumer ratchet.

 

[JazzBlueRT]

Nobody said the tools don't work. The problem is there are superior products available at far lower prices.

Have you used this particular ratchet? If not, how do you know if there are superior products at far lower prices?

 

[dwasifar]

I wouldn't buy the China-made Craftsman ratchets I've seen. The China version of the venerable raised panel is just horrible. But the Taiwan ones are better. I have the 120t (actually 60t dual-pawl) Taiwan Craftsman gunmetal-chrome ratchets in all three sizes.

Are they as good as tool truck tools? Well, duh, no. But for what they cost ($25-$30-$35) they're actually super nice. I used to have a set of 1990s-vintage tri-wing Craftsman ratchets, and a couple of raised panel USA CM from the 80s, and these new ones are way better than either of those. The fit and finish is excellent, the chrome is flawless, the action is smooth and accurate with no slop, the lever and button work as expected.

I don't wrench for a living, so I will likely never give these the kind of use (or abuse) that would make a truck tool worth the money. So I don't have truck tools to compare them to, and they probably wouldn't fare really well in that comparison if I did. But I think they could be considered prosumer grade. I do have Stanley, Kobalt and Tekton ratchets to compare them to, all Taiwan manufacture, and they're definitely better than the Stanley and Kobalt. Not sure whether I would say they're better quality than Tekton, but I reach for the new CMs more than the Tektons because of the finer tooth and because I like the grip better.

 

[toddmorr]

have to agree, i recently got a 3/8 long pattern flex, #99426, 72 tooth on a warranty exchange for an ancient ratchet that was skipping. list price of 68 bucks.
Anyway, I quite like it. Nice smooth movement, feels strong.....kinda doubt I would ever pay list price for it but on sale I think it's quite competitive with anything from Tekton and many other brands.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

I went to Lowe's recently and was amazed at this



Do they really want to sell the flex head ratchet or not? Unless the new Cman is seriously good, how can they justify the lofty price?

Sent from my SM-G981U1 using The Garage Journal mobile app

That is worth two lulz and one LMAO

 

[Rabid Badger]

Have you used this particular ratchet? If not, how do you know if there are superior products at far lower prices?

I have eyes.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

I have the CM 3/8 flex ratchet, it worked well and saved me a few times. I don't have other flex head ratchet for comparison but it was enough for this DIY.

 

[rice rocket]

The equivalent Snap-On is $165.00 and on backorder. The Craftsman seems to be priced about right for a 3/8th flex head extra long prosumer ratchet.

Yeah I'd guess this guy has it nailed here.

I'd wager the standard 3/8" fixed head outsells the flex head extra long 30 to 1.

 

[Walkers]

I went into my local Napa today and their back wall display was full of Craftsman tools. I never liked their ratchets when I was young (70s), but their wrenches seemed fine. It was the stuff I got for Christmas. I wish I valued it a little more back then. My SO ratchet was the first expensive tool that I bought, my gateway tool.

 

[littlelebowski]

Craftsman is dead, gents.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Nobody said the tools don't work. The problem is there are superior products available at far lower prices.

Should have clarified I was generally speaking about the older stuff.. the world is drowning in it.

I don't know anything about new Craftsman because my old stuff lasts.

 

[Al Borland]

Their pricing strategy is what it always was. "How can we separate a fool from his money?"
Business 101.

 

[JazzBlueRT]

I went into my local Napa today and their back wall display was full of Craftsman tools. I never liked their ratchets when I was young (70s), but their wrenches seemed fine. It was the stuff I got for Christmas. I wish I valued it a little more back then. My SO ratchet was the first expensive tool that I bought, my gateway tool.

A lot of things have changed since 1970.

Words cannot describe the logic fail of comparing an 18 tooth 1970's Craftsman ratchet to a modern 72 tooth Craftsman ratchet.

 

[plinker]

A lot of things have changed since 1970.

Words cannot describe the logic fail of comparing an 18 tooth 1970's Craftsman ratchet to a modern 72 tooth Craftsman ratchet.

Them being raised panel didnt change much for a long time. Not a fan of them myself. I do have my doubts that the 70's ratchet was 18 tooth, Likely it would have been 30-some tooth by then and a lot of people* will never have a problem with it (unless they visit this site and learn the truth).




*In particular, average homeowner who may change the oil and blade on their lawnmower, maybe their car's oil, and assemble something from Ikea.

 

[Al Borland]

Some of those low-tooth-count undesirable raised-panel Craftsman ratchets are amazingly strong.
(At least the ones I put a cheater pipe on. )
Great junkyard wrenches. Most people don't know/notice/care about tooth count.

 

[Wrench97]

They were strong because the teeth were big, but horrible to use in tight spots the average homeowner would have no idea how big a difference that can make.

 

[consti2tion]

I grew up using the RP craftsman 18 tooth ratchets, it wasn't until I used one of my dad's high tooth count SO rats until I realized the difference. I can say without a doubt I have no desire to go back to those old RP ratchets, but I do believe their sockets are pretty decent at least the old stuff is. The new Craftsman USA I snagged on eBay seem to have a nice finish, too bad they're not consistent on having detents.

 

[nbpt100]

Some of those low-tooth-count undesirable raised-panel Craftsman ratchets are amazingly strong.
(At least the ones I put a cheater pipe on. )
Great junkyard wrenches. Most people don't know/notice/care about tooth count.

Exactly. The larger the teeth the stronger. I have done the same with the old 30 something tooth CM and have only broken the 1/4 inch.

I find the new CM flex ratchets at Lowes heavy. If you are using it a lot that can matter. Never used one but have looked them over at the store. I prefer Roto ratchets over flex heads. But I used both. There is a time and place when one is preferred over the other.
People on the Garage Journal care about the teeth in the ratchet. Just about anyone else doesn't.

 

[Ton ton]

The current craftsmen is the best advertisement for Harbor Freight ever.

Yes please.

 

[m6z]

The current craftsmen is the best advertisement for Harbor Freight ever.

Some truth there.

The Icon tools look like quality stuff. From the packaging, the tools themselves and the way they're displayed in store.

 

[Wrench97]

Some truth there.

The Icon tools look like quality stuff. From the packaging, the tools themselves and the way they're displayed in store.

The problem with Icon is you can't buy individual wrenches, sockets etc. so if you lose a 10mm socket you have to buy another set.................................

 

[65ranchero]

The problem with Icon is you can't buy individual wrenches, sockets etc. so if you lose a 10mm socket you have to buy another set.................................

So, that's when you go to the box store and buy the individual socket .
See.......... that's how it works!

 

[Wrench97]

What and have a mismatched set!!!

 

[Rabid Badger]

The current craftsmen is the best advertisement for Harbor Freight ever.

Some truth there.

The Icon tools look like quality stuff. From the packaging, the tools themselves and the way they're displayed in store.

The problem with Icon is you can't buy individual wrenches, sockets etc. so if you lose a 10mm socket you have to buy another set......................

Hence the next logical step: Tekton.