A Craftsman knockoff?

[dwasifar]

"Toolrich," in the Craftsman font on a Craftsman-red field.

These were on the same end cap with actual Craftsman sets at Farm & Fleet. At first I thought this was an unauthorized Craftsman knockoff, trading on Craftsman's remaining reputation among the general public. I thought maybe they figured Sears is too distracted by the process of dying to chase them for trademark infringement.

But then I found this brand being sold at the Sears Outlet online.

As far as Google can tell me, Toolrich is just another rinky-dink China importer. But if they're knocking off Craftsman, what are they doing at Sears?

 

[Ehrmantraut]

Sears corporate is in about the same state as the German high command was in late March 1945. The bean counters who approved this product and saw it as a line item on a spreadsheet probably have no idea what it is or looks like and the drones that stock it on the shelves don't care what it is or what it looks like and know that no one in corporate is going to care or listen to what they have to say.

 

[dwasifar]

Sears corporate is in about the same state as the German high command was in late March 1945. The bean counters who approved this product and saw it as a line item on a spreadsheet probably have no idea what it is or looks like and the drones that stock it on the shelves don't care what it is or what it looks like and know that no one in corporate is going to care or listen to what they have to say.

But that makes Eddie Lampert... Hitler.

Someone needs to make one of those Downfall caption parodies for this. I realize that meme is all 2008, but it needs doing anyway.

 

[928'er]

Sears is pounding nails in its own coffin from the inside!

 

[Roberts210]

Well said Ehrmantraut.

 

[zendriver]

"Toolrich," in the Craftsman font on a Craftsman-red field.

These were on the same end cap with actual Craftsman sets at Farm & Fleet. At first I thought this was an unauthorized Craftsman knockoff, trading on Craftsman's remaining reputation among the general public. I thought maybe they figured Sears is too distracted by the process of dying to chase them for trademark infringement.

But then I found this brand being sold at the Sears Outlet online.

As far as Google can tell me, Toolrich is just another rinky-dink China importer. But if they're knocking off Craftsman, what are they doing at Sears?

Trying to help pay the electric bill?

 

[JohnDeere1]

Wish I was tool rich I'm gettin there though lol

 

[mbshop]

Just a knock off. Not craftsman no matter what.

 

[jumbojak]

How is that a knockoff? It doesn't even have a copy of the cruby raised panel ratchet.

Edit: I didon't see that it was a 3/4 drive set. But I still don't remember a round head 3/4 craftsman ratchet. Could be mistaken though.

 

[M_George]

I was at the Sears store in Hagerstown Md. this afternoon. What a joke... the hole place looks like an ad hock bargain outlet with the prices jacked up and a 10% discount sign posted above them.

 

[dwasifar]

How is that a knockoff? It doesn't even have a copy of the cruby raised panel ratchet.

Edit: I didon't see that it was a 3/4 drive set. But I still don't remember a round head 3/4 craftsman ratchet. Could be mistaken though.

The branding. Not the tool.

 

[PelicanPines]

Anyone notice... it's actually 21 piece... not 20.

 

[APS2000]

They count the case as a piece.

 

[PelicanPines]

They count the case as a piece.

That's what I just said... but the box says 20

 

[APS2000]

Maybe the QC department's english or math isn't their first language.

 

[Gmonkee]

Sears can't use the CM name anymore and Stanley isn't up to speed on products getting made.

They are filling the holes on the shelves with whatever they can. And if the ratchet works plus the sockets actually fit its a major improvement.

Making them look like CM packages of old kind of helps the casual buyer identity the new product with the store, best of all no warranty.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Toolrich tools have been showing up at the local Sears outlet store for 3-5 years. Until now, the similarity between the look of the Craftsman logo and the Toolrich logo never occurred to me. Obviously, others caught it. Still, I can't imagine anybody confusing Toolrich tools for Craftsman tools.

I did buy a couple of sets of light duty Toolrich clamps a year or two ago. Very similar to the clamps sold by Harbor Freight. There isn't any brand on the clamps. Just the sort of semi-disposable, low end stuff which serves a purpose, if you don't expect too much.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

How is that a knockoff? It doesn't even have a copy of the cruby raised panel ratchet.

Edit: I didon't see that it was a 3/4 drive set. But I still don't remember a round head 3/4 craftsman ratchet. Could be mistaken though.

Craftsman's early 3/4" drive sets were Craftsman labeled SK sets with their name on the high quality SK round head ratchet.

The ratchet in the Toolrich set looks to be the cheesy, low end roundhead design which I've noticed has been sourced from Japan to Taiwan to Malasya to China over the last 30 years or so.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Looks like pretty much the same set is sold at Harbor Freight. The HF set has a breaker bar rather than a sliding T handle and a different cardboard sleeve around the case.

https://www.harborfreight.com/21-piece-sae-3-4-quarter-inch-industrial-quality-socket-set-40996.html

Note: The HF set is "Pittsburg" brand rather than "Pittsburgh Pro", so take a double dose of caution.