Just out of curiosity (since I work in the business) what manner of fine pitch electronics requires assembly with commercial ratchet wrenches?
I think the whole problem is you guys are complaining about how these look. They're tools! What, are we buying tools now because of how they look? I know in your circumstance you need them for electronics and they can't flake. But how strong of a socket do you need to tighten nuts and bolts on electronics? I buy Craftsman because it's strong, not because it looks pretty.(even though it doesn't really)
I work on thin film deposition coating systems, which can go anywhere from refrigerator sized, to house sized. You can have a 2000lb cryopump head bolted up right next to a tiny circuit board.
I can't use expensive tools because oftentimes I am required to share my tools with the employees at the companies I am contracting at while I am working on the job, and I won't spend my hard earned money so some knuclehead can beat up my fancy tools, or even worse, steal them.
That's the same reason I won't pop $600-800 for a set of industrial finish sockets.
However, that does not mean I should have to settle with sockets that can't seem to keep their clothes on.
If the OP is speaking the truth (we didn't actually see pictures of the sockets, so we have to take his word for it) then in this case Cman has crossed that line where quality is unacceptable.
If the picture of one of them wasn't enough, how many must I post to prove that I was telling the truth?
Half of you guys are in dire need of some Monistat 7 for the yeast infections you've developed.
Look if you're not satisfied with your Craftsman socket set, take it back. You can either get a refund or find a set that you like.
Tools are not trophy queens. (Merkava's exempted) They are meant to be used, abused, and serve your will. If you want Hotter or prettier tools, pony up the coin and buy appropriately. One man's choice doesn't make the other guys choice of brand wrong. Now can we get past this, please?
Better yet, write Sears and Danaher voicing your unhappiness. You guys want too much for hardly anything spent.
I did take it back, and I left all of the other tools there as well.
I don't give a **** what my tools look like, as long as they don't cut me or drop metal particles into my repairs.
When I've got the TV going in the background as I type this, hearing a Craftsman commercial "Craftsman tools... trust, in your hands", I guess that means if I buy Craftsman tools I can trust that I'll have a ************* in my hands.
It seems that roughly 3/4 of the people in this thread COMPLETELY missed the point, which was for me to find out whether this is a fluke, or standard operating procedure for Craftsman nowadays. Judging by the few people that have gotten decent ones, and the few people that have gotten the exact same thing as me, I'd say it's a mix of both.
Also, with Craftsman selling their sockets at $30-40 a set, they're dangerously close to some low end premium tools in price... they had better damn well have the quality to show it.
The fact that I got a good deal on them doesn't have a damn thing to do with what they typically go for, and the quality that SHOULD come along with that price.
I'd say you're right. Those are the guys who demand they look flawless. After use tools start to look...well...used, which isn't flawless...
I have tools that I've used every day for ten years that still look new. I take good care of my tools, and they take good care of me, whether they're HF or Snap-on.
I don't care whether I can see the reflection of my face in the chrome, as long as the damned stuff actually stays on the socket for longer than the first day I have them... Craftsman could start by actually washing the tools before they plate them.
