Chinese Made Craftsman Professional Wrenches

[BackTracker]

SO I went in and bought the last two american made sets of craftsman wrenches they had in the store....I figure they ought to be antiques for sure now.

I can see it now...

"tools used to be made in America dad?" Yes, son they did and these have your name on them.

 

[BerninicaCO3]

of tangential relevance:
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2...a-but-still-profiting-americans/?ref=business

 

[twincam00]

my local sears still has the USA individual professional combination wrenches, think i'll stock up

 

[fitnessfixer]

I was just in there today and like the OP, all wrenches were made in China except for the Raised panel. While speaking to the tool dept. employee who has been at this particular Sears for as long as I can remember, he told me that Sears is currently phasing out the entire Craftsman Professional line. All hand tools, power tools, etc. sold under the Craftsman Professional label will be discounted and sold off. Power tools will be replaced with more stock from major brands, i.e. Dewalt, Milwaukee; hand tools will be replaced with a yet to be named brand. My guess is Gearwrench, as I don't think the average Sears customer would be willing to shell out for Armstrong or any of the higher end Danaher brands. He said the regular Craftsman brand, as well as Evolv, will remain as Sears is trying to go after more DIYers and less Pros, although, I thought that was always their bread and butter...

 

[thedude30]

I've been a craftsman fan for years. When a tool says US made, it gives me that extra confidence in knowing the tool was done right to standards. When I wanted cheap quality tool for 1 time use, Harbor Freight. Good quality for yrs tool craftsman. Craftsman and USA MADE go hand and hand; take that away, what's left is just another dime a dozen china tool supplier. Snap on, even thou very expensive knows once their brand is compromised, its game over with consumer trust in quality.

 

[HandyManny]

I've been a craftsman fan for years. When a tool says US made, it gives me that extra confidence in knowing the tool was done right to standards. When I wanted cheap quality tool for 1 time use, Harbor Freight. Good quality for yrs tool craftsman. Craftsman and USA MADE go hand and hand; take that away, what's left is just another dime a dozen china tool supplier. Snap on, even thou very expensive knows once their brand is compromised, its game over with consumer trust in quality.

There was a time when that statement was very true. Trust me I lived and wrenched in the days when Craftsman across the board was a good quality pro grade tool under a retail brand name selling for a fair price. From my observation and experience with the newer tools of recent manufacture (yes the USA made ones), most of them today aren't worthy of being stamped U.S.A. The quality across the board simply is no longer there with Craftsman. Not like it used to be. Though there are still some (a few) Cman tools whose quality is still as good as ever.

A good 98% of all my mechanics hand tools are older USA made quality tools. I bought most of them at a time when this country still produced quality hand tools. Some from makers that aren't even around anymore. I too try to still buy American when I can, but only if the quality is up to standard. I really have to chuckle when I hear people say that "Made in USA" means quality. That's not really true anymore, in fact I've noticed the opposite lately. There are still a few tool makers and other manufacturers still producing goods here that are up to quality standards, but overall across the board I just don't see that with most current USA produced products anymore. In many instances these days you are simply paying more for a label and getting less in quality. Heck just look at the auto industry for example. Does anyone know how and why Toyota and Honda earned such a great reputation with the American consumer back starting in 1960's, and throughout the 70's, 80's, and early 90's??? I think Detroit really got a zap on the head recently and decided that they need to compete with those other foreign makers if they want to be successfull. Hopefully the remaining USA manufacturers will follow.

 

[markoftheo]

I have never posted here before and it was over a year since this has had any new posts...but one of the people I work with has a lot of the craftsman pro line that they are ending, and when he takes them in for replacement they give him the regular one and the price difference. The problem I would have is if they stopped making like a pliers in 2010 and the regular pliers has gone up $1 or more I am guessing since they no longer make the pro line you also lose since the price of the pro line will stay at the 2010 prices and never have a price increase. But the low end will go up in price even if slowly you still lose even though you tried to buy the better tool from them. What a great thanks from Ksears.

 

[markoftheo]

Oh by the way I have come to this forum for great help a lot and I have been quiet since most often the question I wanted to ask has been asked , then answered so no need to post question again. That is how useful this forum has been for me. Long way of saying Thanks.