Can Craftsman tools get anymore gimmicky?

[bonneyman]

I'm not defending the items you listed but, Sears is just trying to make a buck. More women are buying tools so some Genius came out with a pink tool set. Sears probably saw how much snap on pink tools were fetching on ebay and wanted a piece of the pink tool pie.
Do people that buy evolve tools actually use them more than a time or two for a household project? Who cares?
There are a couple of bright spots in the catalog though like the premium ratchets and tool box storage but, that's it to me in a 200 page catalog
.
Why did no one ***** about the Dogbone? I can't be the only one that thinks it *****.

I never thought the Dog Bones were worth anything. Or the Robogrips - or the ratcheting OE - or the Bionic wrench. And I thought Evolv was going to be the affordable alternative to C-man - like the old SEARS tool used to be. Until the 2010 catalog put the names together as "Craftsman Evolv".
I guess gimmicky tools have their place. I really like the ratcheting ball screwdrivers, and most people think they are gimmicky. To each his own in tools.

As for the pink tool tote - you've got to be very settled in your masculinity to arrive on the jobsite with a pink bag!

 

[cool50]

Sears sells great tools I have been an aircraft mechanic for over 18 years and most of my tools are craftsman and I have made a lot of money with them. Robogrips work fine, and if you get mad because you rounded off a bolt head with them than you have no right using tools at all. WHAT THE HELL IS A WRENCH FOR YOU *******!!!! So keep going on and on about how bad craftsman tools and sears are when in the end, a tool is only as good as it's user.

 

[Nosferatu]

Just because YOU don't have a use for them, doesn't mean they fit someone elses needs just fine.

I received some Robogrips as a gift. They are something I would never have bought myself, but they reside in my truck full time and have been put to use and served just fine in a few occasions. The same for a Craftsman Evolv socket set. For 20 bucks, I have all the sockets I have ever needed while out on some backwoods trail. If my toolbox gets broken into and they get stolen, so be it, I'm not out much money. For the few times they have been needed, they have been invaluable.

My family knows I like tools, so often my stocking gets stuffed with the latest Sears gimmick. I'm not going to ***** about it. If I find a use for it, great. If not, it will go in the toolbox or get exchanged for something I can use. Either way, it's helping to keep Sears' doors open long enough to keep selling the real US made Craftsman line.

 

[Wrenches of Death]

Yeah I got the new catalog in the mail the other day. I immediately looked through the whole thing, and then threw that **** in the trash. What a joke!

I did the same.

I haven't kept a Sears tool catalog since they stopped listing the open stock sockets and wrenches.

WoD

 

[5lima30]

It's really sad that Craftsman used to make some decent (not the best) hand tools that were made in USA at a fair price and had a solid warranty. Now they have EVOLVed into using crappy materials made by children in a sweatshop in China and selling these knuckle busters at K-mart. End of rant!

 

[Skin]

Craftsman never made anything. They've always been a tool vender. Its no different than the tools your local auto store or hardware store carry. Its all contracted out to huge companies [Danaher, Ideal, Stanley etc..]. People seem to forget that or not realize it.

 

[Nosferatu]

It's really sad that Craftsman used to make some decent (not the best) hand tools that were made in USA at a fair price and had a solid warranty. Now they have EVOLVed into using crappy materials made by children in a sweatshop in China and selling these knuckle busters at K-mart. End of rant!

Um, not quite. The Evolv is in ADDITION to the US made Craftsman lineup. It's not REPLACING anything. Why is this so hard for people to understand?

Sears used to sell Chinese/Taiwanese tools under the Sears brand name for years. Why does the new name for that lineup, Evolv, twist your ******* so much?

 

[evintho]

Wow, looks like I opened a can of worms! Granted, I didn't do a ton of research before I posted this thread. Maybe that's because I actually have a life! Didn't mean to slam Craftsman. I was just making a point. There's alot of gimmicky **** in the Craftsman catalog.

I've been building hot rods for 40+ years. 80% of my tools are Craftsman. Back in the day they made some quality pieces backed by a killer warranty. However, during the evolution of time, as most of you know, their quality has gone downhill. I still buy Craftsman, albeit very little. My purchases are limited to things like wrenches and individual sockets. I don't buy any Craftsman tool that has moving parts simply because they are the aforementioned ****! Yeah, Craftsman has a lifetime warranty but what good is the warranty if they replace the **** with more ****?!

Flame suit on...........let 'er rip!

 

[PaulR]

Yes, they can get more gimmicky.

I put up some mini-blinds for a tenant upstairs, when I walked in, the woman had that pink tool bag there. I had my old Porter Cable Drill, Estwing hammer, and Cobalt bits.

All I could think seriously was "wow, some people....everybody's different I suppose"

People really do buy that horse sh!t.

 

[jeffk14]

Yes, they can get more gimmicky.

I put up some mini-blinds for a tenant upstairs, when I walked in, the woman had that pink tool bag there. I had my old Porter Cable Drill, Estwing hammer, and Cobalt bits.

All I could think seriously was "wow, some people....everybody's different I suppose"

People really do buy that horse sh!t.

You can laugh all you want about those little kits but I absolutely love the concept. My wife bought herself a similar kit (it's lavender) in a blow molded case. Now she has "her own" tools and no longer walks off with half of my ****!

 

[84bimmer]

Sears used to sell Companion as their cheap tools. I just thought DEVOLV replaced those. And they do put the Craftsman name on the packaging of those Devolv tools.

 

[porphyre]

Wow, looks like I opened a can of worms! Granted, I didn't do a ton of research before I posted this thread. Maybe that's because I actually have a life! Didn't mean to slam Craftsman. I was just making a point. There's alot of gimmicky **** in the Craftsman catalog.

Flame suit on...........let 'er rip!

Ya don't need a flame suit, because I think you're just trolling now.

But you did it again.

It's not a CRAFTSMAN catalog. It's a SEARS catalog. Lookin' at the cover, there's DeWalt and Hitachi on it as well as Craftsman. Looking inside, there's IR, CP, Porter Cable, Gearwrench, Woodpeckers, Gerstner, Gladiator, Campbell Hausfield, Innova, Channellock, Wiha, Wera, Witte...

When you get a Sunday paper with those coupons in the middle... do you call them entire section the "Campbell's Soup" catalog b/c there's soup on the cover??

 

[bczygan]

They're not marketing to the tool savvy...........they're marketing to your wife, daughter or girlfriend so they will buy you a dog bone wrench for Christmas.......like mine did! She said "This is way better than all those little wrenches. You'll only need one!"

 

[ZRX61]

Yeah I got the new catalog in the mail the other day. I immediately looked through the whole thing, and then threw that **** in the trash.

Mine showed up on trash day, so I checked the mailbox as I was getting the trashcan back in. The catalog managed to move an entire 4ft from the mailbox straight to the trashcan. Didn't even bother looking through it.

 

[84bimmer]

They're not marketing to the tool savvy...........they're marketing to your wife, daughter or girlfriend so they will buy you a dog bone wrench for Christmas.......like mine did! She said "This is way better than all those little wrenches. You'll only need one!"

Man, you shoulda smacked her right up side the head with that $20 dog turd as soon as she said that . Next year maybe you could take a dump in a box, wrap it up, and give it to her.

 

[t100]

for the first time in a Looooong time, I went to Sears while my wife and her mom shopping. the manager was very curious when I was LOL'ing at their wrenches, then he asked if there's anything he could help. I said, not even one bit, these full chrome Chinese Craftsman wrenches are just really funny.

 

[Daddy_Rabbit]

None of those tools are Craftsman. Quit slandering a good brand.

That's an Evolv speeder ratchet, a Loggerhead Bionic Wrench, Alders?? wrench, and a Pink Box tool kit.

Why don't you go on the SO truck and ***** at the dealer that they're making so much **** in China. When he protests, point at the Blue-Point stuff. That makes about as much sense as this worthless thread you've started.

A RETAILER IS NOT A MANUFACTURER.

Hear. Hear.

 

[diesel research]

3 pages and still no one address another tool makers version of tool mentioned in post #1.

*hint, the tool has a large fan base on garage journal, even though from a design point the evolve version may actually be more useful.

 

[Zrexxer]

One thing in the new catalog I thought was funny is their new "TruGrip" combination wrenches... now those mean ol' metal wrenches won't hurt your soft moisturized girly hands...

 

[porphyre]

+1 Internets to Zrexxer for pointing out some gimmicky **** Sears sells that's actually a CRAFTSMAN tool!

 

[Thumper]

One thing in the new catalog I thought was funny is their new "TruGrip" combination wrenches... now those mean ol' metal wrenches won't hurt your soft moisturized girly hands...

Is it me or do those wrenches look cheap as hell....?

 

[mrholeshot]

Sears sells great tools I have been an aircraft mechanic for over 18 years and most of my tools are craftsman and I have made a lot of money with them. Robogrips work fine, and if you get mad because you rounded off a bolt head with them than you have no right using tools at all. WHAT THE HELL IS A WRENCH FOR YOU *******!!!! So keep going on and on about how bad craftsman tools and sears are when in the end, a tool is only as good as it's user.

Sears sells some **** under the Craftsman name. Tools from 10-18 years ago can differ greatly. The customer service is most Sears stores have faded like the quality. Just because something once was doesn't mean still is. What may work well for you in aircraft may not work in a hostile enviroment for tools like automotive. There is a alarming differance in the quality of todays craftsman tools and those of yesteryear with only a few exceptions. You would have to be blind and no sence of touch not to notice. As far as the tool only being as good as it's end user I'll have to agree and disagree. Some people don't know how to use a tool but as for me I'm much better than a Craftsman rasied panel ratchet or chrome (or whatever they coat the sockets with) sockets or clearhandle screwdriver. Whomever is at the wheel that dictates the quality for Craftsman at the present time is doing a miserable job. There are many brands of tools coming out of Asia right now and some with no name at all on them that are better than some of the current Craftsman offerings.

 

[Skin]

One thing in the new catalog I thought was funny is their new "TruGrip" combination wrenches... now those mean ol' metal wrenches won't hurt your soft moisturized girly hands...

Guys here whine about the beam of a combo being too thin all the time. Its one of the reasons i've embraced X-Beam/CrossForce wrenches. I actually think the sleeve is a good idea, just executed poorly [cheap short wrenches]. Cman gets a lot of **** here, quite a bit of it unjustified in my opinion. If those were long pattern high quality combos and released by SO for the bargain price of $450 it would be hailed as the best thing since the toaster.

Sears sells some **** under the Craftsman name. Tools from 10-18 years ago can differ greatly. The customer service is most Sears stores have faded like the quality. Just because something once was doesn't mean still is. What may work well for you in aircraft may not work in a hostile enviroment for tools like automotive. There is a alarming differance in the quality of todays craftsman tools and those of yesteryear with only a few exceptions. You would have to be blind and no sence of touch not to notice. As far as the tool only being as good as it's end user I'll have to agree and disagree. Some people don't know how to use a tool but as for me I'm much better than a Craftsman rasied panel ratchet or chrome (or whatever they coat the sockets with) sockets or clearhandle screwdriver. Whomever is at the wheel that dictates the quality for Craftsman at the present time is doing a miserable job. There are many brands of tools coming out of Asia right now and some with no name at all on them that are better than some of the current Craftsman offerings.

But Craftsman is cheap. Its offering America a brand with many domestic choices at far more afordable prices than the truck, or what comes out of the EU, and even compared to the big industrial brands. In most cases the savings is very substantial. I just cant get on board with quality bashing. Things like the raised panel ratchets and the clear handle screwdriver sets are dirt cheap. If they switched over to all asian brands, regardless of if the quality goes up on a product, people here would whine even more.

Remember that Sears is a public vender and that it caters to the general populuce. The goal of craftsman is not to focus only on satisfying the guy working with his tools 8-10 hours a day. If that was the case i'd wager to bet you'd see far fewer of those sub $20 ratchets and screwdriver sets that you detest. No sir, they care just as much about a guy who earns his living as they do about helping the guy who just wants to change the spark plug in his lawn mower.

If you've frequented the brand often over the decades you'd know its had its fair share of ups and downs over the last 50 years as far as quality and venders go. Cman was not ever a perfect brand as people like to make it seem. Personally i think they're doing a damn good job at the moment offering something for everyone [nobody forces you to buy said cheapo ratchet or screwdriver] and balancing affordability with quality.

As far as your issues with the quality of customer service, all my experiences have been positive. My stores are fantastic. Something breaks, i bring it in and get a replacement no questions asked. If they dont have it they ship it to me on their dime. Perhaps your stores **** but how i described it should be the norm. Is this any more unacceptable than a bad tool truck dealer or representative? Every brand has its bad seeds, so to speak.

 

[ZRX61]

I should point out that my 13yo daughter has that pink toolbag & tools in her room... She seems happy with it... but she also has a 3 piece Craftsman stack in the garage.

 

[Wrenches of Death]

I don't buy any Craftsman tool that has moving parts simply because they are the aforementioned ****!

It's sad, but this is probably some of the best advice posted in this forum this year.

WoD

 

[mrholeshot]

But Craftsman is cheap. Its offering America a brand with many domestic choices at far more afordable prices than the truck, or what comes out of the EU, and even compared to the big industrial brands. In most cases the savings is very substantial. I just cant get on board with quality bashing. Things like the raised panel ratchets and the clear handle screwdriver sets are dirt cheap. If they switched over to all asian brands, regardless of if the quality goes up on a product, people here would whine even more.

.

I'll agree Craftsman tools are cheap. They are made in the USA. Craftsman use to be Value based quality tools. Now they are going to ****. As more and more nice Chicom tools show up Craftsman keeps getting worse and worse. Up until a few years ago I always said "Dollar for dollar there is no better hand tool on the market than Craftsman" It just isn't so anymore

 

[GearJammer]

Problem is that most of us who have been around long enough to see the brand really hit the skids will have hard time paying the same price for tools that were once made in the US. Im quite sure the C-Man pro long beam wrench sales have tanked, once made in the US, now in PRC and the price remains the same. Ditto for the thumbwheel ratchets, Offset box wrenches, flare nut wrenches and so on down the line. The value they once were is no longer there. PRC hand tools are a dime a dozen.

 

[Skin]

You can still get USA long pattern wrenches in the smaller sets. Seem to be readily available online and in the stores around me. The thumbwheel ratchets and flare tools were made by SK. From what i gather most people werent too crazy about the flare nut wrenches here anyway claiming they spread easy. Cman still offers a raised panel version. Wasnt aware the full polished offset box wrenches went anywhere. Was actually contemplating buying a set last night. At least online they're still USA.

But like i said, COO of production has been a coaster for decades, not just in recent years. I wont buy Cman chinese tools either and thats the way i'll keep it. Support with your wallet, dont shun a brand completely.

 

[mikeceli]

I started buying C Man in 1969, at age 14. Then, the tool dept was incredible. Practicle American tools, all C Man and a few "companion" (USA made cheaper hand tools).

They had open stock , you could buy a set or almost any socket, wrench, screwdriver seporatly. Right in the store. Pretty much EVERY tool, hand, power, automotive, lawn, industrial was Chraftsman brand, made in USA!

A few years later, I'd go there every payday and buy something. I was 16-18 living at "home" , IN HIGH SCHOOL and working part time, fixing power equipment.

Over the years, sadly, CM has less selection, less not so common tools and LOTs of duplicate /different brands, of the same junk.



I WANT MY OLD AMERICA BACK!

 

[HandyManny]

Just went through the new Craftsman catalog that came in the mail. What a joke! 200 pages filled with a bunch of gimmicky ****! WTH is this!

Back in the day a pair of vice-grips got the job done. Now, one of these is a must have................

Completely useless....................

And, you're not a real mechanic unless you have this.................

Maybe I'm just getting old. I've got 3 rollaways filled with tools. Real tools! More than enough tools to tear a car down to a bare frame and then put it back together again. Done it many times. I'm sure Sears is probably owned now by some huge conglomerate based in the eastern portion of this world. Just another ploy to latch onto our hard earned cash by pawning off some cheesy, low quality tools that 'every real mechanic must have'. I'm totally disgusted!

They're novilty items designed and marketed to todays metrosexual. The pretty fancy boy who watches too many of those DIYer shows and now thinks he's Bob Villa or one of the Choppers or something. I've had it with Sears, started getting tired of their **** about 5 years ago. I pretty much have made up my mind now to stop buying tool there. If I need anything in a pinch I'll go to one of the local nearby hardware stores, automotive parts stores, or a specialty tool store near me, hell even walmart. The only tool kit a pretty fancy boy should own is a manicure kit

 

[HandyManny]

I'll agree Craftsman tools are cheap. They are made in the USA. Craftsman use to be Value based quality tools. Now they are going to ****. As more and more nice Chicom tools show up Craftsman keeps getting worse and worse. Up until a few years ago I always said "Dollar for dollar there is no better hand tool on the market than Craftsman" It just isn't so anymore

I totally agree. I used to rant about the exact same thing on this forum, but one member called me a broken record for repeating myself. I guess the truth was spoken one too many times and it hurt his ears. Some people just don't have ears for the truth, but would rather be a blind follower.

I've used and owned high quality USA made handtools for years, so I have too many perfect examples to compare the newer stuff with. I'll say it again though. When you can find a much better quality Taiwanese made hand tool at a better price than the current USA made Cman junk, why pay your hard earned money to support mediocrity on the current Cman tools. This country is better than that and we should be leading the way in quality. American made tools, heck American made stuff in general, was once the envy of the world. What happened?? All I know is that it makes me ashamed to see "Made in USA" on such inferior handtools like Craftsman's these days.

 

[zer0cell]

You people just can't see the merit in novel ideas can you/ Sheesh... For example that pink colored bag of tools is not a bad idea. Many of you have mentioned how people have stolen your tools... imagine you are working on someone's car, house ect and you are seen with pink colored tools... most would-be thieves would probably not even take a closer look, assuming the tools you have are worth less than the clothes on his back. Imagine however if those tools had the snap-on name or another brand that makes its user feel all warm and fuzzy inside...

With a pink tote filled with pink tools you would of course have a few new types of people who may take notice:

1) A wife/girlfriend who may "need" your tools for picture hanging or banging on stuff with.

2) A pimp with a fur coat and 20" gold colored rims, velvet seats and more jewelry than mr t

3) "Steve" from down the street who likes men in a touchy feely kind of way.


If you can avoid those people you should be golden with your new pink tote and ready to go to work.

Yeah they may not be the highest quality but they are cheap and lets face it, Americans like cheap. I don't doubt a higher priced "name brand" pink set will emerge as more men become sissies and more women become butches.

 

[HandyManny]

Remember that Sears is a public vender and that it caters to the general populuce. The goal of craftsman is not to focus only on satisfying the guy working with his tools 8-10 hours a day. If that was the case i'd wager to bet you'd see far fewer of those sub $20 ratchets and screwdriver sets that you detest. No sir, they care just as much about a guy who earns his living as they do about helping the guy who just wants to change the spark plug in his lawn mower.

I recall the days when a variety of Craftsman tools were often bought (at a substantial savings) to be used by professional mechanics, and tradesmen on the job. Typically to fill in the gaps, add to, or to suppliment their other professional grade tools with. Those older Cman tools may have been marketed and sold as consumer tools, but the quality was widely professional grade quality. In fact many of the tools once made for Craftsman were often sourced from manufacturers who were also makers of professional grade automotive handtools. I knew lots of guys in the past (myself included) who used a variety of the older Craftsman hand tools along with their other professional grade tools to make a living with and those older Cmans stood up to the test of a shop environement and the test of time way beyond that.

I think there is also a big difference between the people Sears used to sell hand tool to in the old day compared to today, so maybe their marketing strategy and offerings have had to change. Keep in mind that in decades past the average American male was raised with plenty of exposure to using hand tool. It was a right of passage. Most middle class Americans often kept themselves entertained and occupied on weekends and after work by fixing things, and working on their own cars often. This new generation of Americans is a generation of "do-it-for-me" rather than "I'll do it myself". More guys today are more interested in, glued to, and spend more time on their Blackberry, iPhone, or laptop than they do using hand tools. I come across fewer and fewer young guys everyday who are willing to do their own routine maintenence on their own vehicles, much less any who actually know how. It's a job they think is beneith them, too dirty, too much effort. Truth be told I know more younger women these days who can change a tire, when their boyfriends or husband can't.

 

[diesel research]

With a pink tote filled with pink tools you would of course have a few new types of people who may take notice:

1) A wife/girlfriend who may "need" your tools for picture hanging or banging on stuff with.

2) A pimp with a fur coat and 20" gold colored rims, velvet seats and more jewelry than mr t

3) "Steve" from down the street who likes men in a touchy feely kind of way.

Yet another idea executed by designer boutiques as well

 

[zer0cell]

@ Diesel Research

I'm sure that's a nice screwdriver but you have to admit if you did not know it was a snap on and you were not very familiar with the shape of their driver handles you could mistake that for a dollar store gimmick with that color...

 

[cool50]

Sears sells some **** under the Craftsman name. Tools from 10-18 years ago can differ greatly. The customer service is most Sears stores have faded like the quality. Just because something once was doesn't mean still is. What may work well for you in aircraft may not work in a hostile enviroment for tools like automotive. There is a alarming differance in the quality of todays craftsman tools and those of yesteryear with only a few exceptions. You would have to be blind and no sence of touch not to notice. As far as the tool only being as good as it's end user I'll have to agree and disagree. Some people don't know how to use a tool but as for me I'm much better than a Craftsman rasied panel ratchet or chrome (or whatever they coat the sockets with) sockets or clearhandle screwdriver. Whomever is at the wheel that dictates the quality for Craftsman at the present time is doing a miserable job. There are many brands of tools coming out of Asia right now and some with no name at all on them that are better than some of the current Craftsman offerings.

I don't know what can be a more hostile environment than working at Ohare Airport in January outside So maybe working on aircraft is some sort of cakewalk for an auto mechanic but I don't believe you can get in a worst condition in the auto world, you know because you CAN TOW a car to the garage.

 

[fflintstone]

I started buying C Man in 1969, at age 14. Then, the tool dept was incredible. Practicle American tools, all C Man and a few "companion" (USA made cheaper hand tools).

They had open stock , you could buy a set or almost any socket, wrench, screwdriver seporatly. Right in the store. Pretty much EVERY tool, hand, power, automotive, lawn, industrial was Chraftsman brand, made in USA!

A few years later, I'd go there every payday and buy something. I was 16-18 living at "home" , IN HIGH SCHOOL and working part time, fixing power equipment.

Over the years, sadly, CM has less selection, less not so common tools and LOTs of duplicate /different brands, of the same junk.



I WANT MY OLD AMERICA BACK!

I want my old America back too! Pre 911 with high wages and overtime!

Having lost my entire 30+ year collection of craftsman tool less than a week ago, I now find myself trying to figure out what to do to try to replace them.

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

Yes your right sears is starting to sell alot of gimmicky tools. But Keep one thing in mind. Sears is a retail chain and like all retail stores they have to conform to what sells. Unfortunately for us the kind of shoppers that walk into sears are not the mechanics making a living. They are suits and skirts with a simple stupid project to do and sears has the tool for them.

When they walk into sears all they see is prices and dolar signs. and To a suit the more money saved the more money earned (hence why everything is made in china) So all they see is "well why should I buy this 50 dollar set of wrenches when this 10 dollar set will work fine"

I argue with my girlfriends dad all the time because he is continuously buying cheep tools. I ask him why he buys cheep tools that barely work and just feel plain cheep. His reply is always the same "Sean when you have a house of your own and a family to feed you wont be buying those nice tools anymore" So I laugh shake my head and walk away. But there is truth to what he says.

Most people dont want to spend tons of money on a tool set. Sears is bleeding money left and right. So what do they do? cut the loss make it in china and make gimmicky tools that sell. Just like everyone else it is sad but its what works

Sorry end rant
Sean Scott

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

Yet another idea executed by designer boutiques as well.

I loved those pink Snapons back in the 90's - back then nobody took them seriously and left them alone, today I have to watch my screwdrivers and picks really closely before they end up on Ebay.

 

[W650Mike]

When I go to ACE I walk past the “Regent” tool bin because I know that it’s filled with ROC ****. I do the same at Sears; just walk past the **** tools and gimmicky junk. Life’s too short to get all bent out of shape about it.

This thread has some very funny responses – Sears does a pink tool and gets slammed; Snap-on does a pink tool and it’s cool. If Harbor Freight introduces an entire pink line with seven joint ratchets, many on this forum would pee their pants getting to the store.

Hey Skin – I recently purchased the full polished deep offset boxes in SAE. They are clearly stamped USA, have a beautiful chrome and polish job, and are a pleasure to use. I put them in a drawer with Snap-on combos and Matco stubbies – a pure act of defiance!