The same thing is happening at Lowes locations in Canada. Just stopped in today and looks like I'm a little late to the party for getting the most desirable clearance stuff, although they did still have quite a lot of Kobalt wrench sets and single sockets left. Probably 75% of what was left was SAE as the Metric is obviously clearing out much faster.
I'm not a big Kobalt fan, but I still picked up an 8 pc flex head ratchet wrench set in metric for $57 CDN (I think regular price was like $170 or something like that). Even buying the most bargain basement online junk a set like this would be over $100, so I thought it was a steal. Flex heads don't lock but also aren't floppy and have enough resistance to hold position. Ratchet box end has more teeth and smoother operation than my non-flex Mastercraft Maximum wrenches. Was tempted to pick up the matching SAE set because OCD, but opted against it (because I touch my SAE tools about twice a year). Also grabbed a couple single sockets and wrenches to replace some missing/broken stuff.
This is just my assumption based on what I'm seeing in the store, so take it with a grain of salt, but I noticed that Kobalt sockets/ratchets/wrenches were on clearance, as were the tool boxes. But Kobalt pliers, screwdrivers, saws, and air tools were still full price and prominently featured. Craftsman socket sets and wrench sets are featured on all the aisle ends, and huge Craftsman posters of wrenches and sockets everywhere. Craftsman tool boxes were also featured prominently with "Made in USA" in huge stickers all over them. There were some Craftsman pliers and screwdrivers as well, but not featured nearly the same way.
So my takeaway is that Kobalt will be gone completely from the wrench / socket / ratchet world, but the Kobalt name isn't necessarily being phased out completely. I think Lowes will use the Craftsman name for all of their mechanic/auto tools, and they also seem to have an extensive line of Craftsman cordless tools (and no Kobalt). I think those are the markets Lowes will use Craftsman in, and they will keep Kobalt around for corded power tools, air tools, and other small filler segments.
Comparing pricing, it looks like the Craftsman stuff is their entry level stuff all around. Despite the big marketing push on their wrenches, the sets are less expensive than the regular price of the outgoing Kobalt versions. For instance, an 8 pc metric box end wrench set is $34.99 for Craftsman, and the Kobalt was regular price $39.99 before clearance. The Craftsman hand tools were all "made in China" in very small lettering on the back, but huge "LIFETIME WARRANTY" on the front.
The cordless tools the Craftsman stuff also fit into the bottom of the price range, obviously below the name brand stuff like DeWalt and Milwaukee.
The tool boxes were in line with regular pricing on most of the local big box stores, although usually those boxes don't sell until they go on 50% off sales every few weeks. Yet to be seen if that is what they will do with the Craftsman ones too. But both the boxes and a large selection of tape measures were heavily advertised as "MADE IN USA" so that seems to be their selling point there. Basically anything they could produce at a reasonable price in the US they are and pumping that hard, and then the hand tools are made in China but lifetime warranty.
