Craftsman Dissapointments

[Walterchang]

A lot of dislike toward Craftsman tools. I will admit most of my tools are Craftsman and most I like a lot. However, some tools are just plan junk they sell.

Example 1 I broke two t handleball end drivers not small sizes 1/4, 5/16
I did not bother to exchange them I just replaced them with Bondhaus

Example 2 I purchased one of there tool bags for work I used it once and the zipper ripped. Bought another that rotted out in the bottom. I ended up just buying a Pelican Case instead.

Example 3 Craftsman Pro Wire strippers they worked great for about a year then they became dull wouldn't strip cleanly. I got a used one from my buddy same thing about a years worth of use then needed to be replaced.

 

[ImportTuner]

The older Craftsman stuff are great; the new Made in China Craftsman stuff are not .. you get what you pay for in regards to tools.

 

[nexum1919]

I recently ordered the craftsman pro 4 piece 12 inch screwdriver set. It says 'precision machined tips' on the back of the package, i tried the no.2 philips on couple of screws at home, kept slipping and pushing itself out under light torque. I looked at the tip closely, comparing with other several #2 tips, the craftsman pro tip looked like something #1.5, thin and tall, never sits in the screw right, it wasn't like it was used, brand new, just machined 'not so precisely'...
Next day I returned them to the store, ordered 2 piece 10-inch Klein set from amazon...
I mean i wasn't expecting a Klein, but my half chewed-up harborfreight was staying in the screw head without having to put half of my weight on it...

 

[Aberdale]

1. The Robogrip pliers. They just aren't right. They're Robo-weak.

2. 10" Direct Drive table saw. (Driven by cable.) Lack of power, felt cheap.

3. 1/4" drive teardrop ratchets. I've probably stripped half a dozen, all 1/4". At least they were all replaced under warranty. Maybe it was the 6 foot cheater bar? (Just kidding.)

Everything else I've been very happy with Craftsman. Of course, the majority of my tools are 30+ years old, but even the new stuff that I've bought (USA made) has been pretty good. Raised panel wrenches. Fully polished professional wrenches. Reversing ratchet wrenches. Hammers. Screw Drivers. Torque wrenches. Sockets. Ratchets. Nut drivers. T-Handle allens. Pliers. Tool boxes. Hand Power Tools.

After 30 years of adding to the tool collection, I have lots of different brands of tools from truck brands to inexpensive imports. I still believe Craftsman tools are hard to beat for the $$$, and are the best value out there.

Dale

 

[PaulR]

Yep, they've been putting out a lot of cheap, chinese, gimmicky **** for quite a few years now. I do agree the older stuff is much better.

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

Now i will say that i do beleive that some of what craftsman sells is junk. I personaly would not buy many of there soft goods. (save for a hat that doesent scream nascar or hillbilly) but many of there tools are still of good quality. I will explain. 1. sockets, I have never had an issue with my craftsman socets and extentions. 2 some ratchets, now let me explain SOME RATCHETS I have the craftsman pro thin ratchets and i love them. a decent count of teeth. all metal. and apealing. my only gripe is that they are HEAVY! 3. Screwdrivers, Cheap affordable and they work. Pliers these are nice too wire strippers never had a problem files seem to work to me. punches and chizles still no problems. I could go on for quite a while guys. lets be honest with eachother. a compleate toolset Craftsman does not make. "The best toolbox in the world will consist of a mixture of all tools." A tool is simply an extention of yourself buy the tool that helps you perform the job better/ faster/ easyer for me thats mostly craftsman. but some things craftsman doesent make/ other companies make better. So just take your time. buy whats good. leave behind whats not and ejnoy

HOPE THIS HELPS
Sean Scott

 

[Tom2]

I bought a 3/8 6mm allen head. Rounded first try.

I bought it at the mall, but went to return it to a Sears hardware because I was near by one. They wouldn't give me the full price back. Had receipt obviously. They pretty much looked at me like I was somehow trying to steal from them. They asked if I wanted to exchange it "No thanks. It doesn't work, why would I want another?".

Sorry, but if I buy something and it *****, I will return it.

I guess they're independant from the mall stores, so you can't really buy and return from different stores. Pretty annoying.. I mean, if I buy something from Lowes (or any other major chain) in any state, I can return it anywhere else I imagine. As long as you have a receipt.


Otherwise Craftsman tools are fine. For a while I've been buying stuff from HF, but I think those days are mostly over. Craftsman is really the minimum quality to consider if you work on stuff a lot. Anything above that and the prices get pretty crazy. I'll never have Snap-on unless I found some amazing garage sale find, etc..

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

yea like i said you have to really watch what you buy. Some stuff is ****. Ive heard many occasions where the alen keys and what not are junk. never had a problem with mine. But they barely get used. so i cant give proper backup argument. and yes tom unfortunately sears sees the department store and the hardwhere store as two seperate entities. The hardwhere store from what I have found is higher on prices. I bought a 1/4" air ratchet from the sears HW and then went to the department store to get some fittings and a swivel for it. and found that it was almost 10 dollars cheaper to buy it at the hw store. but to get my money back i would have to return the airtool. Hope they will give me my money back even tho its obviously been used. go back to sears retail. Buy the thing again. all to save 10 bucks. Im not that worried about it but my GF thinks I should get my $10 back. Also I do have to say that the kids behind the counter are starting to piss me off. i brought back a tire inflator i bought for my gf. and she told me that i should return it because she never used it. so I took it to the store and the kid told me that he was going to credit 20 to my card and give me $4 something in cash. WTF?

 

[Boiler]

Generally I believe I can spot the good from the bad at Sears. What I don't like about my store, is the employees BUG me. Now to their credit, there have been a couple occasions when I needed something and they helped me find it (just like any decent hardware store) but when they ask me if I'm finding everything ok 4-5 times, I get annoyed. I can look through the same tools once a week for an hour and not get bored, so let me browse!

 

[Gary S]

The only bad Craftsman tool I've ever been unlucky enough to own is the Robo-grip pliers. I found them totally useless.

 

[SCscoutguy]

The only bad Craftsman tool I've ever been unlucky enough to own is the Robo-grip pliers. I found them totally useless.

I bought a set of those when they first came out and have used them quite a bit. I have never had one problem with them. I also picked up a huge robogrip from the flea market but it was made by Ridgid but it was obvious it was made in the same factory as the sears ones.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Generally I believe I can spot the good from the bad at Sears. What I don't like about my store, is the employees BUG me. Now to their credit, there have been a couple occasions when I needed something and they helped me find it (just like any decent hardware store) but when they ask me if I'm finding everything ok 4-5 times, I get annoyed. I can look through the same tools once a week for an hour and not get bored, so let me browse!

I also could spend more time than should be healthy just looking at the same tools over and over again. My wife tells me I'm like a child with toys. So what? If I go by myself, I'm there for a few hours playing with all the tool boxes and hand tools. They had a Pro box here awhile back. I admired that baby for a solid 20 minutes I would say.

I agree that it's easy to tell the good from the bad with Craftsman. Usually I won't buy any of their new "innovative" stuff unless they have been selling it for awhile and I know people who have used it with good results. Stay away from that stuff and the Chinese **** and you're good.

 

[Jeff]

I'm in the process of changing my hand tools out to Wiha and Wera from Craftsman. The quality has gone downhill. The only Craftsman hand tools I will keep are sockets and wrenches.

 

[willf650]

The only bad Craftsman tool I've ever been unlucky enough to own is the Robo-grip pliers. I found them totally useless.

I bought a pair of those when they came out to replace my channel locks. Used them one day and got my money back. They work but their gripping power is no where near regular channel locks.

I personally hate all their pliers and regular screwdrivers but like their sockets(except the ones that are only laser etched) and pro wrenches.

Sears still has the easiest warranty for me to deal with.