Craftsman Clarification

[walter34payton2002]

Hey guys- first post.

I was wondering.....I know the Craftsman importing much of their line discussion has probably run its toll here, but I have a question about it.....

I have noticed that the Industrial line seems pretty good and is always USA. Is this the replacement for professional? Why is all industrial on clearance or at outlet stores- is it discontinued? Is Industrial better than their other USA made stuff maybe hardened better or something?

Hopefully all you have to do to get USA made is get industrial. When on sale its a steal, but other than that its overpriced. If its discontinued I guess warranty will be an issue cause at best you will get a chicom replacement.

Can someone clarify??? Thanks.

 

[fivespdcat]

I'm not sure what's going on with the Industrial line. The wrenches are really nice, not sure which is better the Industrial or the Professional, but they are similar. As for outsourcing, Grainger seems to have some of the wrenches being called out as Made In Taiwan, but not all. My best guess is that as new stock comes in it is replacing the USA with Taiwan. However, this is only a guess and Grainger COO is not always accurate.

 

[otis66]

It's called a "LIQUIDATION SALE" or "FIRE SALE". A sale of goods at an extremly discounted price typically when a seller is facing bankruptcy or impending distress. Also known as a "DISSOLUTION SALE".

I believe SEARS will be going out of business in the near future.

As for CRAFTSMAN INDUSTRIAL". They are the same USA made Craftsman tools once sold as Craftsman Pro and just USA made Craftsman raise panel. Only now when you try and warranty your Craftsman Pro tool or Raise Panel wrench you will not get one made in USA but one made in China.

 

[Fedwrench]

I don't think anyone, too include Sears knows the future of the "industrial line".

 

[cburnscrx]

It's called a "LIQUIDATION SALE" or "FIRE SALE". A sale of goods at an extremly discounted price typically when a seller is facing bankruptcy or impending distress. Also known as a "DISSOLUTION SALE".

I believe SEARS will be going out of business in the near future.

As for CRAFTSMAN INDUSTRIAL". They are the same USA made Craftsman tools once sold as Craftsman Pro and just USA made Craftsman raise panel. Only now when you try and warranty your Craftsman Pro tool or Raise Panel wrench you will not get one made in USA but one made in China.

I too believe this as well. My only concern/question is who will purchase the Craftsman name, and will they return to their former quality?

http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/12/markets/thebuzz/index.htm

 

[Chadwilliam1]

the industrial wrenches are quite nice for the discounted price but for full price I would have bought Sk.

 

[dirtydogintex]

or Williams, Wright, Proto....

 

[ACepero]

Is the Industrial line sold in store or on-line only?

 

[Chadwilliam1]

as far as I know not in Sears stores aside from the outlet and at Grainger and a few other industrial suppliers.

 

[woody 73]

Walter Hi and welcome to the GJ.

First let me say you ask some great questions, but we can not answer your questions at this time as we are also in the dark or more to the point we are out of the "LOOP' of things so to speak.

Now if someone on the GJ was a higher up on the board of Sears then and only then would we be in the know...

The only thing that I can tell you is this:

For reasons unknown to all of us the INDUSTRIAL LINE tools starting showing up in brown boxes at Sears outlet stores.
When one GJ member reported it, we all went to see for ourselves and we picked up a few bargain sets.

So now you know as much as we do.

 

[Davefr]

I think Sears had high hopes for the CM Industrial Line but the only taker was Grainger who also carried many other industrial tools.

Sears probably had a volume contract with Danaher that they had to honor and thus the fire sales at the outlet stores.

I don't see how Sears can survive. I never talk to anyone that shops there and it also seems like these big B&M shopping malls are gradually dying out. Sears owns a ton of real estate but I don't see how that helps them with a flawed retail business model.

It's ironic. Sears was one of the pioneers in the mail order business and they're horrible at online which should have been a natural evolution for them.

 

[Stuey]

The last time I asked about the industrial line, I was told the tools will continue to be made in the USA. There don't seem to be any plans to retire the line in the same way as the Cman Professional tools.

My personal belief is that Craftsman will eventually be spun away from Sears. Despite Sears' woes and disapproval of oversears outsourcing, the Craftsman brand seems to remain quite strong.

Note: oversears is a typo, but so appropriate that I left it in.

 

[dirtydogintex]

...
It's ironic. Sears was one of the pioneers in the mail order business and they're horrible at online which should have been a natural evolution for them.

Sears mail order was equally horrible in the 70s and 80s.

Don't know about since then because I completely stopped dealing w/them - wasn't worth the aggravation....

 

[zakmartin]

Run away from the Craftsman Industrial RP wrenches. They're junk. The sockets aren't much better. I bought a 154 piece combo set and the tolerances are terrible. The ratchets are junk, especially the 1/4" one.

The polished wrenches are reasonably nice, so if you don't have a decent set of polished wrenches, these are a decent option.

 

[walter34payton2002]

Thanks for the replies guys. All of my tools are currently USA made Craftsman. I bought a set of the Industrial flex head locking ratchet wrenches for 55 bucks. Unbelievable value. I am a marine technician student and the school that I attend gets half off Snap On tools so as I get more or as I break stuff it will be replaced to Snap On. Maybe that's great news cause it don't look good for Craftsman......