Craftsman prices, sales, discounts...

[dps]

Does anybody have a handle on Craftsman prices? Is there any given time of the year when there will be a sale on things that is known in advance? Or is it just that something will always be on sale? Does the Craftsman Club always get you an extra 10% off anything that's normally priced and sometimes an extra 10 on sale-priced items?

There seem to be: in-store specials, pretty much gotta be there to know about 'em. Then there are catalog only offerings and prices (which can also be found online). Next are on-line specials that seem to come up anytime and last a few days. Finally there is the monthly C.Club offering which has its own specials.

So when do you buy? I don't mind paying a couple of dollars more than I might have had to because I was too early or late, but I'm wanting to spend several hundred over the next weeks/months and 10% really adds up, much less the 20% and more I see on some things on a regular basis.

 

[T56 Impala]

Well, I don't know that there is any rhyme or reason associated with anything Sears does. It seems to me sales or discounts just kinda happen. What I do is decide what I want, locate the "everyday" price for that item, then constantly check the store/fliers/web for a sale or discount on that item. When it comes up I buy it. Around the holidays they do seem to have more items on sale at one time.

 

[crazeesal]

the club doesnt take 10% off everything but you need it to get the club sales, I would join the craftsman club some of the specials are quite good there is a sale right now

 

[billymade]

First of all I would join the craftsman club; if you shop at sears you might as well save some money; its easy now you can join online and not have to call the 800 # like you used to. :http://www.craftsman.com/enroll/index.html
Once you enroll, they will send you a card; it looks like a credit card but all it is a id card they will swipe at the register to get your discount; there is no financial obligation. Don't worry if you go to sears and forget your card; they can look it up using your phone number; just make sure you remember which phone # you used when you signed up. Then, you will start getting the craftsman club sale flyer that is on 1 week out of every month; there is no set week it will fall on, it changes month to month. There is a misconception about the Craftsman club: you only get 10% off what is in the flyer (sometimes the prices in the ad are more then 10% off!), at that specific week stated in the flyer, not all the time and this will not be posted anywhere at the store (no signs, price stickers etc.); it is only shown in the flyer you get in the mail but you can generally look at one if you ask a associate. This is confusing but it is a issue of the post kmart buyout: before it WAS 10% everything with the craftsman club but "welcome to kmart"; that is no more. Sales: well they go from Sunday to Saturday for the normal ad and lately, we have been having Fri, Sat, and Sunday sales and some just on Sat or Fri. There isn't any rhyme or reason but there is always something on sale and traditional holiday sales will be guaranteed to happen. If you look at the ad consistently enough, you will see certain items go on sale time and time again; these are price leaders. They are typically; screwdrivers, socket sets and mechanics gloves, etc. Other sales as mentioned previously, are 10% all the tools or whatever you can fit in the bag. Another sale is called "friends and family night" these are once a quarter or so and you can get some good deals then as well. Thats what I see as being typical from Sears; look on the website, as they have special promotions on there as well; using the "pick up at store" option can get you things faster and avoid shipping issues. One last thing if you buy something that goes on sale later within 30 days (if my memory serves me correctly, if someone knows I'm wrong with how many days after purchase correct me!) just take your receipt to sears and they will credit the difference back to you; also, if you use your Sears card you can make a phone call and they will credit you over the phone! Good luck!

 

[Ducroix]

I have the craftsman club membership, there are some real good deals. For example from march 29th to april 5th they had a 7 piece locking flex ratcheting wrench set that regularly goes for $130 regular price, the member price was $90 As for sales I think pretty much every week they have a sale on different stuff.

 

[hblock72]

Billymade,

Thanks for posting the link. I just signed up.

 

[billymade]

Cool, it really is a not brainer; if you shop at sears you might as well save some money!

 

[Joe B.]

One other good thing to do is sign up for the Sears emails. They will send the reminders of some of the speical deals to you.

The best strategy with Sears is to identify what you want and then wait for it to go on sale. Another good place to watch for sales is slickdeals.com. If the deal is really good it will end up there.

 

['69 Super Sport]

Thanks for that Link .... I am all signed up at cant wait to get my membership card so I can go TOOL SHOPPING .. And I will be able to tell the wife how much MONEY we are saving ....

 

[eschoendorff]

Billymade,

Thanks for posting the link. I just signed up.

Now, if you actually get your club card - and the monthly CC fliers, it will be a small miracle!!!!!

The Craftsman Club debacle is another well documented issue on this board. You can get some deals, but getting the Craftsman Club to mail things to you can be an exercise in futility...


That being said, the Craftsman Club calendar was free for all Club members and has some coupons in teh back that are definitely worth checking out!

 

[Ducroix]

Now, if you actually get your club card - and the monthly CC fliers, it will be a small miracle!!!!!

The Craftsman Club debacle is another well documented issue on this board. You can get some deals, but getting the Craftsman Club to mail things to you can be an exercise in futility...


That being said, the Craftsman Club calendar was free for all Club members and has some coupons in teh back that are definitely worth checking out!

Lol i actually forgot I signed up for the club until my card came 2 months later, I never got a calender though???

 

[eschoendorff]

Lol i actually forgot I signed up for the club until my card came 2 months later, I never got a calender though???

You had to go to Sears to get it... the calendar will cost you $10, unless you swipe you CC card... then it's free.

 

[dps]

... the calendar will cost you $10, unless you swipe you CC card... then it's free.

Uh-oh...I just picked one up and put it in my bag...

The coupons are mostly smallish savings, but still nice, except for a big one in September for 25% off tool sets.

 

[Fedwrench]

I feel Sears uses the dart board system to determine sale items. However, the best deals are found between Thanksgiving and a couple of weeks prior to Christmas. Any closer to Christmas and they punish you by raising their prices for waiting until the last moment. Craftsman club membership, signing up for email specials are excellent ways to stay in the loop. I would also recommend visiting the website occasionally to check the tools on sale section and closeouts. Sometimes there will be specials hidden that appear when you open up a tool section. Recently, they had open stock sockets on sale 3 for $10. The sale wasn't visible until you opened up the mechanics tool section. Try to be disciplined and hold out for more than 10% off. After all, in most places 10% off is like no sales tax. Enjoy.

 

[eschoendorff]

Uh-oh...I just picked one up and put it in my bag...

The coupons are mostly smallish savings, but still nice, except for a big one in September for 25% off tool sets.

That's hilarious!!!!!! I didn't realize they were selling them either until I asked for one and they rang the damn thing up... $10!!!!!!!

 

[Stuey]

One of the first days the calendar came out, my Sears guy gave me three. =)

As for Cman prices, some of their tools are redbadged, and are priced approximately close to their equivalents.

Generally speaking though, 50% off is a great deal, but only select products are offered for those promos.

If you're looking for something in particular, google its product number. If it was on sale at a great bargain, chances are that it was discussed on a hobby or deals forum.

 

[kwyjibo]

i just wanted to chime in with my $0.02.

take eschoendorff's post seriously!! i signed up online back in december, didn't get anything for a while (like everybody else), waited some more, and then when something i really wanted was in the sale flyer i called the 800 number to see if they could get tell me my club number. they couldn't find that i had ever signed up.
"but i've been getting the club emails??!?"
"nope, not in the system. why don't we sign you up now?"
that was over a month ago, i'm still waiting for the card.

 

[T56 Impala]

I signed up for the club. Got my card 5 days later. I get all the fliers, emails, snail mailing....everything. What are you guys talking about with the club? I don't get it.

 

[Lyaec350]

My standard for the high volume craftsman stuff in store (screwdrivers, wrench sets, socket sets, etc etc) is not to buy it unless its 50% off (preferrably stacked w/ some other kind of promotion or coupon), but some things like most of the pro tools and open stock items will never get that far so you have to just sort of watch them and grab them when they're 20-30% off...

 

[hblock72]

Signed up for the Craftsman Club online Tuesday, got an email Thursday welcoming me to the club. The email also said I'd be getting my club card in the mail soon. I guess I'll go ahead and start holding my breath now. LOL

Does seem like a good deal though, especially since I need to upgrade a few items in the near future.

 

[kythri]

Uh-oh...I just picked one up and put it in my bag...

The coupons are mostly smallish savings, but still nice, except for a big one in September for 25% off tool sets.

Then swipe your card, and pick up another, and get some more coupons!

 

[kythri]

There's not really a set schedule of the discounts, but you can count on GearWrench sets going on sale for 50% off a couple times per year. The Craftsman Pro prybars usually go on sale 4-5 times/year, there's usually a 16-drawer QuietGlide combo (top chest, intermediate + roll-away) on sale for under $300 at least twice a year, and the 33-gallon Craftsman air compressors usually go on sale for under $300 with free air tools a couple times as well.

The other stuff, it just kinda depends. As many have said, sign up for free, get your card, get your calendar, and if you don't get the flyers, pay attention to the club website, or hang out here and someone will post the sweet deals.

Watch the annual Black Friday sales, too - TONS of stuff goes super-cheap.