C-man BLACK Raised Panel SPLINE Combo

[Uncle Buck]

I actually feel sorry for you guys trying to build sets now. I think if I were having to build a set from nothing now I would have to give Wright brand a very serious look, even more so than Sears, and FYI, that opinion has only changed from Sears first in the last year. My opinion has changed as it has become crystal clear that just like doomed bomber shot from the sky, Sears is on the beginning of it's death spiral to crash. I began to believe this about a year ago, and every time I have walked in Sears over the last year I walk out out believing I am right more than ever. The annual tool catalog underscores my thoughts, and this wrench set offing is just more support for my thoughts. My thoughts on Sears have changed so much in the last two years. I will still buy some selections from Sears, but anymore I think more and more buying tools there is getting closer to shopping at HF. There are good tools to be found there, but you need to be careful because there are a good number of duds too. Unfortunately I believe that trend will grow until Sears finally folds, and I think the Craftsman name will not survive the demise of Sears because by then there will be nothing of value left; and like other brands from days gone by, the only quality left to find will be in the old remaining used tools.

Guys my age might remember how Montgomery Wards looked in the late 60's, then even in the early 70's things in the tool department were cool, but by the late 70's the hand writing was on the wall and by the early 80's and forward tools were done, and everyone knows how their story ended. Sears might have a few variations, but they too are done for. I have them on a death watch.

 

[xroad]

I actually saw improvement in Sears in the last 9 months or so. I had my share of rants about Sears and the bone heads working there after they became part of K-Mart. Stores (I use 3 different ones, one near home, two on the way from work) were in disarray and people were clueless. Inventories empty. Lately, I notice they are better stocked, more choices other than Craftsman, and expansions of tools to special automotive tools, where they don't exist years ago. Is this the last ditch effort before the last gasp of breath? I hope not. I hate to see any American institution go under.

Tool quality is just one of many factors that decides if they survive or not. Service certainly piss me off and lot of people here as well. I saw that they have improved in that as well. Online order to be pick up at the store went flawlessly this time. They have a bit sign stating they will try to get the order in 10 minutes (or something like that). So, I have to give them some credit on their effort. I hope they succeed.

As for tool quality, each individual will have to judge for themselves. I am sure if they shift their target market, they will loose some customers and they will win some new customers, or get some lost customers back (me, being on the fence). Sears as a company, probably (should) have some metrics to measure the success or failure of their business plan.

 

[lauver]

UB,

In my area, high quality vintage Craftsman tools are plentiful and cheap in the pawnshops. I can easily find just about anything I want.

If Sears goes down, you know what going to happen to the price of vintage Craftsman tools. It's going to be Plomb pebble finish all over again.

So, I hope you are wrong about Sears. In the mean time, get out there and hit the pawn shops while the gettin is good and the pickins are easy!

 

[KenB]

Back to the combo wrenches, they are on the Sears website right now for $10.79 a set.

Ken

 

[autoace]

Sears can put the China wrenches where the sun don't shine. I have and will buy imported tools for different uses, where a cheaper tool is need, and used to modify, by Craftsman will lose it's good mid-teir status with this junk. I will just wait and buy Proto spline wrenches when wanted.

 

[xroad]

Back to the combo wrenches, they are on the Sears website right now for $10.79 a set.

Ken

Great news. Do you know if in store purchase is the same price?

 

[KenB]

Great news. Do you know if in store purchase is the same price?

Yes, it looks like it. When I ordered and selected "pick up" the inventory at various nearby stores was shown. All were out of stock within a reasonable driving distance for me, so I chose to have them shipped to my home.

Ken

 

[Uncle Buck]

Yes indeed............great news! pant pant pant........

ROFLMAO!

 

[xroad]

Yes, it looks like it. When I ordered and selected "pick up" the inventory at various nearby stores was shown. All were out of stock within a reasonable driving distance for me, so I chose to have them shipped to my home.

Ken

Thanks. I'll be picking up two more sets for X'mas gifts.

 

[OldSchoolSS]

Well, I said I wouldn't pay more than 10 dollars for them and I didn't. I had my sister pick them up for me since she works there and gets 20% off. Total price came to 7.76 each plus tax. There was the 20% off discount and then two 10% off discounts, not sure where the second one came from but I'm not complaining.

 

[dakota_522]

i got both sets today for 12.99 each, now thats cheap but they feel good to the hand and it almost feels like its somthing from the 50's or 60's but they work great

 

[xroad]

i got both sets today for 12.99 each, now thats cheap but they feel good to the hand and it almost feels like its somthing from the 50's or 60's but they work great

My 30+ years old raise panel Craftsman box end slips on that rounded bicycle axle nut. This spline is fantastic on it. I can put off getting a bunch of new nuts for another 5-6 years! So it is not as shinny as the old Craftsman, but it works. That's what counts, right?

 

[Jbullfrog]

I just got back from "Friends and Family" night with my wife and daughter. Our mall (soon to be a Hamilton college) store had 1 standard and 3 metric sets left, so I snagged 1 of each. They seem to be well constructed and there is a care guide inside the package. It says "wrenches have been treated with rust-inhibiting oil for corrosion resistance. Occasionally wipe down with non detergant oil. So, they need to be treated like impact sockets. Wipe 'em down and throw a few silica packets in there storage tray.

 

[xroad]

Back to the combo wrenches, they are on the Sears website right now for $10.79 a set.

Ken

Funny ... I checked after you posted this but the website shows the set but when I click to place in shopping cart, it cannot find the product. I check again yesterday, I cannot find the set anywhere in the Sears website! Just when I made my declaration on how I saw some improvement in how Sears is run .

Guess I have to stop by the store later.

 

[T56 Impala]

I can't seem to find these on the Sears site. Anyone else?

 

[06wt]

nor can i.

 

[KenB]

Can't find them now, either. Bizarre. From "DEAL" to "DISAPPEARED" in 2 months!! I'm checking mine for radiation when they get here.

Ken

 

[BackTracker]

you can still find single wrenches, and even the case but that's about it...wierd

 

[sk farmer]

i just called the nearest store, not catalog store. the received more in today, half of what they ordered. they said they sold out over the weekend with the sale. seems if they may have went over better than anyone thought. i bet their internet store got overwelmed.

 

[olds88]

Can't find them now, either. Bizarre. From "DEAL" to "DISAPPEARED" in 2 months!! I'm checking mine for radiation when they get here.

Ken

They disappeared from Sears website shortly after I left a review, warning buyers they're made in China.

 

[bigsteve1969]

i picked up a set of metric and standards for 10 bucks per set... cant go wrong with a 20 dollar backup policy.

 

[BackTracker]

Fair warning they rust quick fast and in a hurry. I bought them a week ago set them on my bookshelf, and they are already getting some light rust.

 

[xroad]

Stopped by two stores on my way home from work. One store have a huge box they just opened. All of the content is the spline sets. I asked the clerk to do a price check on the set I got off the hook, $20.

Second store had an empty hook with a sign, $11.99. The clerk told me tomorrow will have the sets unpacked from the delivery dock.

One clerk at a very large and busy store at the mall told me they sold out two whole crate over the weekend.

 

[KenB]

They disappeared from Sears website shortly after I left a review, warning buyers they're made in China.

Of course they did.

 

[autoace]

Sears is just using this, to see if everyone will gobble up made in China Craftsman tools. Why anyone would buy China wrenches from Sears is beyond me.

 

[BigK600]

If you ask me these things look like ****.

 

[BackTracker]

They are ****, I own a set. On the other hand I can try out spline drive for next to nothing so what the hell.

 

[autoace]

They are ****, I own a set. On the other hand I can try out spline drive for next to nothing so what the hell.

That is what alot of us used Harbor freight for, to try something out, then head for the premium brands to get the real thing in the near future. Too bad everyone wants to be Harbor Freight now.

I wanted to buy a buffer, I looked for a USA polisher, and might have settled on a Makita/Japan(made in China now). A Milwaukee USA for 200 bucks would have been aok...................but no, made in China for 200 bucks. I COULD NOT FIND A F'ING non-China buffer for the life of me. I can buy a buffer from HF for 34.99.............If they are all made in China, I will just buy the cheapest China one, but it is real sad no USA ones are available.................200 plus for a previous USA company's China buffer, not that money for China products.

 

[BackTracker]

The only problem with your statement is the flawed logic behind your reasoning.

everything made in China = X quality.

That just isn't the case, anymore than everything made in

America = X quality.

Craftsman is not = to Snap-On.

They are both the same country of origin are they not?

But there are VAST differences in quality. I'm not saying China makes great stuff, but you can't ethnocentrically lump all of China's manufacturing into the same category ;anymore than you can say that a Sebring has the same quality of a CTS-V.

 

[Old Donn]

FYI. Sears is officially pushing these. Just saw a TV commercial extolling their virtues, uses on multiple fasteners, and value price. Everything except where they're made.

 

[autoace]

The only problem with your statement is the flawed logic behind your reasoning.

everything made in China = X quality.

That just isn't the case, anymore than everything made in

America = X quality.

Craftsman is not = to Snap-On.

They are both the same country of origin are they not?

But there are VAST differences in quality. I'm not saying China makes great stuff, but you can't ethnocentrically lump all of China's manufacturing into the same category ;anymore than you can say that a Sebring has the same quality of a CTS-V.

True, but I have not seen the wide gap of quality difference with China products yet. A Makita China buffer may be better than the HF China buffer, but I don't want to pay alot for a "wash out" company. When a brand name wants 7 times more for the "same" China product, I say no way, at this point. Companies that change the country of origin, and keep the price the same as their previous Japan or USA prices, ticks me off. These companies treat the consumer, like we are idiots and won't notice, and keep buying their diluted products.

 

[tj90]

The only problem with your statement is the flawed logic behind your reasoning.

everything made in China = X quality.

That just isn't the case, anymore than everything made in

America = X quality.

Craftsman is not = to Snap-On.

They are both the same country of origin are they not?

But there are VAST differences in quality. I'm not saying China makes great stuff, but you can't ethnocentrically lump all of China's manufacturing into the same category ;anymore than you can say that a Sebring has the same quality of a CTS-V.

Agree with you statement. HOWEVER, I cant stand when a co tries to use its brand equity to charge more for something made in china. All the co is doing is trying to increase profit margin without passing the savings onto the consumer.

A few months ago, I went to sears to buy needlenose pliers (the small ones) only to find out that they were made in china. Ended up leaving the store and went to HF for the same tool. I bet you could not tell the difference between the 2 tools, except HF tools were 1/2 the price.

Consumers are pretty smart. I highly doubt co's will be able to get away with charging more for a name if there is no benefit in quality, warranty etc.

If I buy china, HF is the top of the list. Sorry craftsman, you are diluting your branding....

My dad in the 80s was on a husky tool kick for a while. He could buy sockets etc they were made in USA and had a lifetime warranty. I think Home Depot killed Huskys brand equity. They moved all their tools to China and Taiwan and now they are just another obscure tool company.

I would argue that keeping the craftsman tools primarily USA has kept them alive. I think they should offer a china option to compete with HF but dont brand it Craftsman. If they go down this path, theyll end up like husky...

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

I love how everyone rags on Craftsman for making some items in China, while Snap On, Matco, and Mac are doing the same thing. They're all guilty of outsourcing. I hate it just as much as the next guy, but at least Craftsman arent charging out the *** for their imported tools, unlike some brands...

 

[tj90]

I love how everyone rags on Craftsman for making some items in China, while Snap On, Matco, and Mac are doing the same thing. They're all guilty of outsourcing. I hate it just as much as the next guy, but at least Craftsman arent charging out the *** for their imported tools, unlike some brands...

Id probably rag on them too if I owned Snap On, Matco, and Mac.

BTW, I bought Ryobi cordless power tools since they are all made in China now. I would have like a Makita (made in Buford, GA) but seems that they are made in China now... I cant image spending the $$ for the higher end brands...

 

[Merkava_4]

I love how everyone rags on Craftsman for making some items in China, while Snap On, Matco, and Mac are doing the same thing. They're all guilty of outsourcing. I hate it just as much as the next guy, but at least Craftsman arent charging out the *** for their imported tools, unlike some brands...

I rag on all of them for outsourcing; I don't play favorites. I vote with my pocketbook; if you outsource to Taiwan, China, Vietnam, or India, you're not getting my money.