Anybody still supporting Craftsman

[kingofdogs1950]

I still buy CM tools, but primarily made in USA. I do not insist all my tools be made in USA. Many of the tools from Taiwan are very nice quality and substantially cheaper than most of the US brands. (I'm thinking of Gearwrench in particular.)
If Sears could spec some quality ROC tools I certainly would buy them, if quality tools are actually manufactured in the ROC. I don't know.
Does anyone know of any quality hand tools brands available from China? Seems like in such a large and varied country somebody could make quality tools...

Mark

 

[monster1]

Sears is not priced high, its rock bottom.

Um, no. They used to be rock bottom for a quality USA made tool. Now they are high priced Chinese ****. Harbor freight is rock bottom for the same quality tools as the new crapsman.

 

[MillerMav]

My original 285(?) piece set I got for high school graduation was still the US made stuff and it all still works awesome. I know a lot of stuff is now made in China but I am a bit of a loyalist and no Craftsman stuff has failed me yet as a homeowner/hobbyist. Anything I have from other brands is just because I like it (Matco screwdrivers for example.)


Rarely am I not posting from my phone....

 

[Hiball]

No chance...

 

[The Ratchet Man]

I supported them when I was growing up. Now I only buy things that are deeply discounted...like the Nextec deals.

The only major investment I've made in Craftsman in the last 10 years is my Professional wrench sets. That was my last nod to Craftsman...

It has nothing to do with the move to China, for me, as much as the diminishing quality over all. As an example, the quality of the chrome on some of the last USA tools was laughable at best.

 

[340wedge]

I think Craftsman still has a place, even though they are not what they once were. I bought the Craftsman cabinets and workbench recently and love them. I still have my early 1980's Craftsman tools that fill a 15 drawer toolbox and have no complaints. But I will admit my go to tools are my S-K socket set, my Matco screwdrivers and my new Channelock pliers.

 

[vga]

About 85/90% of my work hand tools are craftsman frm the very early 1980's, 80, 81, 82 and they have held up very well. I am still using them today at work. Use the right tool correctly for the right job and your tools will last a long time. I don't loan them out and I don't abuse them. As for the stuff being sold as Craftsman today, its apple and oranges compared to the older tools I own and I will not buy it. Its a bit sad to say that but its true the quality has nose dived.

 

[itguy08]

Not at all since they moved to China. Craftsman used to be decent made in the USA tools. You paid a little more but it was worth it to know they were made here and you were keeping jobs in the USA.

Now they are imported, I may as well shop Harbor Freight as they tend to be cheaper, have as good as or better tools, and also a good warranty.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Well, there are fools in this world young and old. But I do have respect for those that have lived longer than me. DO they make mistakes? Yes. Do I? Yes!

But to answer the OP, I won't buy new made Craftsman items. Just can't bear to do it. Too many good used American made tools to be had for pennies on the dollar.

 

[Anthonyca]

Re: Anybody still supporting craftsman

I used to think old people were wise, the older I got I realized they're just idiots that got older.

old people seem to put more stock in a name than people in their 30s like me. I personally will never buy another Craftsman hand tool again, only thing with the Craftsman name on it I will consider is something like a shop vac.

I agree. Put some Chinese craftsman next to the older USA made, they are NOT the same. The Chinese gear box ends won't even fit in many places. I am done with craftsman and there is a Sears right down the street from me. I can literally see the parking lot less than a mile away if I look down the street.

That is what I think of craftsman. They should have a different line with a different name that came from china.

 

[Xicaque]

I'll continue to buy as long as I can have an even exchange when I bust a socket or so. I am not a pro that has to have the Snap on **** and such. I monkey wrench in my garage as a side hobby and bc I know I can do it myself instead of getting ripped off.

 

[sberry]

Sears has tanked quality for a long time, its nothing new. I bought 80's tools and cant remember if they still had the round head ratchet but the sockets were nothing to write home about then. I think the 60's or 70's wrench seen here is an old SK die, the fat wrench is 81 or so.

 

[Coach James]

Sears has been losing money for years and has to find a way to become profitable if they are to stay in business. Two ways to do that are:

1. Maintain the expense level and sales volume while raising prices.

or

2. Maintain prices and sales volume while cutting costs.

Sears appears to have chosen #2. It has nothing to do with more money for corporate @$$holes etc. and everything with keeping the company in business.

Coach

 

[toolaholic]

I buy mostly nos usa craftsman. I did break down and buy the craftsman indexing metric wrench set(china). I even ordered a 12mm gearwrench indexing to fill in a gap in set. I think the craftsmans are gearwrenchs. Can't wait for the 12 to come in mail so I can compare.

 

[Heiny57]

Re: Anybody still supporting craftsman

they just disguise with with whimsical charm..

I am an old fossil. Will you please explain that to me? Thank you in advance.

 

[bobcatdan]

I went to sears today to get a single gearwrench standard 3/4" wrench, they didn't have one. So I wandered around the store looking at all the lobster claws there. I found the last USA made ratchet, 1/4" flex head hiding behind the chicom version. I bought my last new craftsman ratchet. It is a really nice ratchet, better then any other RP offerings in 15 years. The head is actually fully polished and is pretty much identical to my older 32 tooth matco 1/4" flex head.

 

[oldldh]

My wife bought me 96 Craftsman Raised Panel Wrenches last year for Christmas...all "Forged in the USA"...

SnapOn they ain't, but they will do for this old diy'er...

They are residing in a new HF 56" Roller Cabinet that was this years present...

She's a keeper, and so are the tools and the box, Chinese though it is...

If Sears had what I needed, and it was made in the US, I'd buy it...however, my new sockets and ratchets are going to be Gearwrench, not bought from Sears, because I get a better price elsewhere...and I like the GW stuff better than the current Craftsman offerings...

 

[Super Sport]

Sears has been losing money for years and has to find a way to become profitable if they are to stay in business. Two ways to do that are:

1. Maintain the expense level and sales volume while raising prices.

or

2. Maintain prices and sales volume while cutting costs.

Sears appears to have chosen #2. It has nothing to do with more money for corporate @$$holes etc. and everything with keeping the company in business.

Coach

My thoughts on it exactly. To be honest, I think they chose the right one...most of their customers don't really care where it's made. All they care about are cheap prices and a lifetime warranty that is easy to use/abuse. Even if Sears raised prices, they have to pay for all those warranties...which I'm sure isn't cheap!

 

[Super Sport]

I still buy a lot from Sears with the Craftsman name on it. They still offer the best selection of quality mechanic's tools of any local retailer. They have a good line up of tool storage, power tools, hand tools, and other supplies. I don't buy too many of their sockets/wrenches any more because I stocked up on USA made stuff while it was still available. I just bought a Craftsman hammer and screwdriver set today actually (all USA made). They have quite a few gems left, and a lot of USA made tools. Their prices and warranty on most of it can't be beat.

Also, if you exclude HF...there really isn't any tool store that has the quality of Craftsman for the same price, imported or not. Whether you go to True Value, Do it Best, Lowes, HD, etc. you're going to be paying similar prices for imported stuff. Most of those lack the hassle free warranty Sears has as well. HF is growing, but they still aren't a big competitor to Sears.

 

[nicksnothereman]

I still buy a lot from Sears with the Craftsman name on it. They still offer the best selection of quality mechanic's tools of any local retailer. They have a good line up of tool storage, power tools, hand tools, and other supplies. I don't buy too many of their sockets/wrenches any more because I stocked up on USA made stuff while it was still available. I just bought a Craftsman hammer and screwdriver set today actually (all USA made). They have quite a few gems left, and a lot of USA made tools. Their prices and warranty on most of it can't be beat.

Also, if you exclude HF...there really isn't any tool store that has the quality of Craftsman for the same price, imported or not. Whether you go to True Value, Do it Best, Lowes, HD, etc. you're going to be paying similar prices for imported stuff. Most of those lack the hassle free warranty Sears has as well. HF is growing, but they still aren't a big competitor to Sears.

I use a lot of kobalt stuff. A lot of their hand tools are indeed equal if not better to craftsman in my opinion (especially the ratchets and wrenches) but you're right about the cost on most things.

Though, it seems like kobalt is also shifting toward chinese suppliers. I, personally, won't touch them unless the price is significantly less.

 

[sberry]

Kobalt is snatching up Sears place of old, displacing them. The Nascar was a smart move for them.

What still make sears a value today is that most of it is just about disposable pricing or not far from it. You are not outright robbed at a Sears store. I paid 10 for a single a while back but the alternative was 40 if I chased the guy down, I need to have it on hand, lost it, use it on occasion.

The sets are insane cheap especially on sale. You own outright for one of 20 truck payments.

If the wrench cost 30 I would feel different about it but at kit pricing as low as a dollar who gives a fuk where its made, got someone to build you a wrench set for a dollar an hour, and someone to sell it along the way for a couple 10% markups, how great is that.

I am not sure how the math works but I would like some of the juice, I like a company can have 2$ into a wrench and sell it for 40. Same with those Tshirt people, a dollar shuirt and print their own company name on it and sell it on sale 50% off for 25 bucks. Absolute genius, right up there with selling bottled water.

 

[arms1970]

Re: Anybody still supporting craftsman

I do not need many tools. If I was younger and starting out I do not think I would by many craftsman tools. They now are just over priced when you consider the imported tools sold elsewhere.

I think we should be thankful that we, at one time, could walk down to the corner sears and buy decent mid grade USA tools with a life time warranty. 20 years from now if I am blessed with grandchildren I will tell them all about the good old days. They of course will think I am nuts.

Face it, sears was a great store period. Im not talking just tools, appliances, clothes etc. I bought craftsman tools when i was younger just getting tools together in the late 80's. Sold all the wrenches etc, ratchets. Always been JUNK in my opinion. Haven't stepped in a sears for a long time.

 

[sberry]

Sears should have made a comeback by pointing to the price increases in the brands above them and a little apology for having to raise prices and some more gushing stuff about better than lifetime warranty etc. Your kids lifetime etc from this old company,,,,, etc etc....

Instead they went toward Walmart and HF and out competing Sam cant be done especially from a pipsqueak like Sears and nobody does cheap tool like HF so they picked 2 strong enemy with one tactic instead of hanging on their own rung and trying to get to the one ahead of it.

 

[-Brent-]

I own a bunch of US Craftsman tools, especially sockets and I don't know what I'm going to do when something breaks because I don't care about getting a junk piece in replacement. So far I've been able to replace a couple sockets over the last few years through pawn shops or eBay if I broke or lost one.

I haven't broken anything in a while (knock on wood) but if I did I'd be even more hesitant to go to Sears for a replacement.

I foolishly brought in an old ratchet that gave up after years of service and what I got in return was pitiful.

 

[Hiball]

I would like some of the juice.

No more Juice for you Sberry, Your starting to throw Crazy numbers out there again.

 

[Jcc76]

I'm still a huge Craftsman supporter. That being said, I can name all my Chinese-made Craftsman tools on one hand:

1) My C-Pro Bench Grinder - bought this because it was about 50% off and Sears has been making bench grinders in China for almost 20 years now. Before that it was Mexico. I'm sure I was a little kid when they were making them in the U.S.

2) Ridgid Drill Press - True, it's not Craftsman, but it was built by Emerson in the late '90s and I got it brand new off Ebay. Drill Presses have been Chinese since the 1990's, and before that, "Made in Taiwan" since the early 1980's.

3) Craftsman Pro Jointer - Bought this brand new off Craigslist for less than the Porter-Cable one Lowe's was selling. And there were some problems (thanks Chinese quality!) that needed to be corrected during my assembly of the unit. Same with the drill press above.

As far as Hand Tools, I use Craftsman almost exclusively. My Grandmother worked at Sears for 20 years and retired in 1984. As a result, everything non-grocery my grandparents ever bought came from Sears. My grandfather and my Dad used Craftsman tools exclusively. So I do the same, and I've never had a problem with a U.S. made Craftsman tool.

If I had to start over buying tools, it would be rough, but you can still buy a full U.S. made set of sockets, ratchets, and wrenches at Sears if you look closely enough. The screwdrivers, hammers, pliers, and adjustable wrenches are still U.S. made. You can even still find drill bit and speed-lok sets on the shelves that are U.S. made, but it's getting a lot harder.

However, last weekend I purchased a compressor from Sears which was on sale for $279.99. It is 33 gallon and produces up to 165 psi. I had my eye on it, because it was the only compressor NOT made in China. The tag says "Assembled in USA from domestic and foreign components". The previous model, which is now being discounted, was Chinese made.

 

[DirtRoads]

I bought the tap and die set and the 3/8" drive torque wrench on black friday. I was disappointed but not very surprised to find out that they are chineese made when they arrived. I'm not sure if I want to bet on a chineese tap set or not, they may be going back. But for 50% off, maybe its worth it.

 

[comedyman809]

WHO????

craftsman???

never heard of them.

 

[NC-Shaun]

Call me a sentimental fool, but i still try and scoop up the ever so dwindling USA made Craftsman tools.

I bought an LED lighted Inspection mirror yesterday. Made in USA

 

[monomach]

Kobalt is snatching up Sears place of old, displacing them.

It's looking a lot like they're starting to shift their production over to China, too. Kinda kills them for me.

I used to wrench for a living and a large amount of my hard line stuff is US Craftsman. It's not super great, but it did get the job done.

If I were starting off today? I wouldn't even consider Craftsman. I'd go with Pittsburgh Professional from Harbor Freight. It's better than Craftsman, Husky, and the Chinese Kobalt that's starting to pop up. I don't know whether they have Pitt Pro non-ratcheting combo wrenches yet, but everything else I've seen is Taiwan now and none of it has been garbage.

 

[Daddyoneleg]

Price is always my concern.Its the companies who sell import tools and charge USA made prices under a good old name. The value on a lot of import tools is, only paying the sale price.The one day ''blow it out your *** sale" is the only time I feel ok to buy Canadian tire,new sears,ect. That is just my take... -Cheers

 

[zakmartin]

Re: Anybody still supporting craftsman

I used to think old people were wise, the older I got I realized they're just idiots that got older.

One of the best things I've read all day.

I gave up on Craftsman after the quality on their sockets took a nose-dive (and that was before their move to China). I've been mostly happy with S-K and Armstrong.

 

[John316]

Bought most of my CM tools in the 90's. I have a lot of stuff from that time period. I did ditch the raised panel wrenches (but kept my SK made CM pros!) as well as every CM ratchet except my RHFT.

More recently last 1-2 years I have been scooping up USA items here and there while they are still available. Earlier this week I picked up a couple sizes of CM wood handled Ball Peen hammers. I like the shape of the handle slightly better on my 90's version, but overall I am very happy with the quality of the new ones. USA made and very good balance. Too bad they will probably be lopsided china dolls soon ;-(

Today I grabbed a 36" USA (wilde) prybar with some SYWR points for like $15 out of pocket. Also very happy with this, but it was sad to look over the wrench isle and see all the ridiculous lobster claw wrenches. Not one USA wrench set of any style I could find. The socket/ratchet isle was equally downgraded with just a rare USA set here ant there tucked in the back of the rack behind the new offerings. Even the Christmas special bins look like ****. All the red plastic cases of cheap garbage.

Like many, I have a few more USA items I want to fill out before they are gone, but no bog deal as most can be sourced USA elsewhere (like the wilde made stuff). Once those items are scratched off my list, I may never set foot in sears again.

 

[CWP1616L]

I bought a 300 piece Craftsman set in 1985. Sold it 7 years later for $40.

 

[racer1735]

I got into the tool scene back in the early 80's. Nothing but Craftsman, and I've added to it as I've needed stuff over the years. Rarely let me down and if it did, I got a new one for free, no questions. As they've made more and more stuff in China, I've mixed in a few Pittsburgh Pro items. Again, they've treated me right for what I use them for.

Now, my son is starting to need tools and I'm fortunate to be finding Craftsman (and I only choose if its the made in USA stuff) on sale over the holidays. For the various bits that need to be purchased separate, I'm not against Pitt Pro, again. As long as the tool doesn't break and hurt you, or leave you in a pinch, I'm fine with it. But I also understand the difference between a decent price and paying just to be paying.

 

[scarney1988]

Just went to sears on 12/6/13 for a 21mm shallow impact socket. The metric set was made in China and cost ~$50.00. The fractional impact shallow set next to it was USA made and the same price. That really irritated me.

I have plenty of non-USA made tools that have taken a beating. I just never paid the full USA-made price.

A lifetime warranty is not a replacement quality manufacturing (which includes minimums wages, safety requirements being met, etc...). In addition to that, I like to support American manufacturing as my wallet can afford.

In short, I will willingly purchase a USA made craftsman piece [that I need] which has been made in the USA. If it was made in China, well its price better be comparable.

 

[camino01]

only buy craftsman made ​​in usa, I will never buy made ​​in china, poor quality at the same price!

 

[coyotejake]

In a word, no. If you're gonna turn your back on me (move to China), you should at least tell me goodbye before you leave.

 

[Travisnd]

I've been buying a lot of Craftsman Industrial wrenches.....all made in USA!!

 

[HORDERofTOOLS]

Buy USA made tools, then you get a China made one if you have a problem, Nope that does not sit well with me. All my USA made Craftsman stuff is on Ebay now, I will buy SK and Wright to replace it with.

By the way Idiots come in all ages. Then there are some that start out that way and some end up that way.

Me, I am just passing through the Idiot stage.