Chinese Craftsman - Keep or Return?

[Davefr]

OP: if you really wanted affordable Craftsman USA made wrenches with no other options, the 28 pc specialty wrench set is cheap right now. Sell the wrenches you don't want out of it for most of your money back, and keep the USA-made offsets.

Yes but being this far into the CM Chinese transition, there's no assurance that the 28 pc set is US made. (past history is meaningless). It could be mixed just like his metric set.

If the OP wants USA then he simply needs to open his wallet deeper and buy from a known US manufacturer.

 

[86k10]

Yes but being this far into the CM Chinese transition, there's no assurance that the 28 pc set is US made. (past history is meaningless). It could be mixed just like his metric set.

If the OP wants USA then he simply needs to open his wallet deeper and buy from a known US manufacturer.

This is the only assurance that you will get a US made set or buy one off of Ebay. Buying from Sears online is a gamble for COO. If there is no quality control issues just keep them and move on to your next purchase.

 

[lowbucktruck]

Return 'em, spend a little more money and buy SK, Wright, Williams or Armstrong. About the only Craftsman stuff I buy are Craftsman Pro screwdrivers, and I'm sure those probably won't stick around too much longer given current trends.

Sad to say, I have to agree with byoungblood. Maybe you will be happy with the Cman wrenches, maybe you won't. Or you can spend your money on a different, quality tool brand instead. Leaving the COO out of it, if you are not happy with the quality, return them.
I've found myself buying more Proto wrenches than Cman these days. Last Cman wrench set I bought new from Sears were US-made, but that was last year.
Perhaps check Harry Epsteins?

 

[TwoInch]

Sad to say, I have to agree with byoungblood. Maybe you will be happy with the Cman wrenches, maybe you won't. Or you can spend your money on a different, quality tool brand instead. Leaving the COO out of it, if you are not happy with the quality, return them.
I've found myself buying more Proto wrenches than Cman these days. Last Cman wrench set I bought new from Sears were US-made, but that was last year.
Perhaps check Harry Epsteins?

why must COO be left out of it? if he doesnt want chinese, even decent quality chinese, then why not return them?

if i had been under the impression that a particular set or item was still USA sourced, and it showed up imported, i would send them back, and i have. i bought the metric polish flares, not realizing they were chinese some time ago, and while i did give them a chance, i sent them back and ordered the RP set. again assuming them to be USA sourced, which was correct.

if he doesnt like the idea of the wrenches, for whatever reason, he reserves the right to return and buy something which satisfies him. my .02 anyways

 

[99raptor]

Another greedy company has lost my business.

 

[Snapped-off]

Yes but being this far into the CM Chinese transition, there's no assurance that the 28 pc set is US made. (past history is meaningless). It could be mixed just like his metric set.

If the OP wants USA then he simply needs to open his wallet deeper and buy from a known US manufacturer.

If this 28 piece set is Chinese, it will be going back. I do have high hopes though.

Unless some miraculous change occurs, I think this will be my last Craftsman purchase. The road we're on now only seems to be going down imo. I have quite a few Cman tools I keep at home that my dad has given me while I was growing up, and at work the only Cman tools I have are the pro screwdrivers and 3/8 impact sockets.

I would have bought Snap-on offsets, but I don't like how they repeat sizes. Such as 1/2 9/16 and 9/16 5/8

 

[Davefr]

I would have bought Snap-on offsets, but I don't like how they repeat sizes. Such as 1/2 9/16 and 9/16 5/8

They stagger the sizes in the sets so you don't end up with duplicates:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675007&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

However you'll need to add several "benjamins" to the refund you get back from Sears!!

 

[Super Sport]

My buddy just ordered the 28 pc set the other day. It arrived yesterday all USA-made. Sure there's no guarantee, but it's a good chance.

 

[SMKS]

To the OP-

Do you need deep offset wrenches, or would regular box wrenches work?

I've been pretty happy with my Craftsman RP box wrenches. Made in the USA.

 

[6-Speed]

I bought the 12 pc set about 3 months ago and they were still made in the USA back then. They work pretty good.

 

[TwoInch]

They stagger the sizes in the sets so you don't end up with duplicates:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675007&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

However you'll need to add several "benjamins" to the refund you get back from Sears!!

there is a duplicate in the set you linked, the 9/16. seems that most companies offer the double box wrenches in two configurations, 9/16x5/8, and 9/16x1/2 as an example.... and for some reason when they put the sets together, they put duplicate sizes in the same set, instead of staggering them and having only one of each size in the set. its annoying as hell if you ask me.

snap on for example offer the wrenches in your link, in the following sizes...
5/16x3/8
3/8x7/16
1/2x9/16
9/16x5/8
5/8x11/16
5/8x3/4
11/16x13/16
3/4x7/8
7/8x15/16
15/16x1"

seems they could do a little better, so you dont end up with duplicates, if you didnt want them. those extra wrenches add up to some dough...

 

[Snapped-off]

To the OP-

Do you need deep offset wrenches, or would regular box wrenches work?

I've been pretty happy with my Craftsman RP box wrenches. Made in the USA.

Don't really need regular BE wrenches, and I have some specific needs at work where a deep offset BE would make some things less PITA.

there is a duplicate in the set you linked, the 9/16. seems that most companies offer the double box wrenches in two configurations, 9/16x5/8, and 9/16x1/2 as an example.... and for some reason when they put the sets together, they put duplicate sizes in the same set, instead of staggering them and having only one of each size in the set. its annoying as hell if you ask me.

snap on for example offer the wrenches in your link, in the following sizes...
5/16x3/8
3/8x7/16
1/2x9/16
9/16x5/8
5/8x11/16
5/8x3/4
11/16x13/16
3/4x7/8
7/8x15/16
15/16x1"

seems they could do a little better, so you dont end up with duplicates, if you didnt want them. those extra wrenches add up to some dough...

If it weren't for the duplicates, I would have went Snap-on. I really don't mind paying Snap-on prices, but I don't see a reason for all the duplicate sizes. There are seven duplicate sizes there? I mean come on...

 

[chevelle67]

Return them and order a set from SK. No guessing on the COO.

 

[SMKS]

Return them and order a set from SK. No guessing on the COO.

The SK website doesn't show metric offset box wrenches that I can find, except for short ones.

They do offer standard-length deep offset in fractional, though.

http://www.skhandtool.com/products/wrenches/wrenchesCategoryTopLevel.aspx

Perhaps the old SK offered them, I don't know. It doesn't look like the new SK does, though.

 

[cnc-me]

Lets boycott Craftsmen altogether. SK is the new Craftsmen for me.

 

[Snapped-off]

Lets boycott Craftsmen altogether. SK is the new Craftsmen for me.

I don't think I've really seen anyone outside of GJ that cared about coo. It's typically price. I know I haven't been too impressed with the asian selection from Sears.