Craftsman Professional/Industrial Tool Boxes

[stock z/28]

Has anyone used or even seen the Pro style Craftsman tool boxes that they have listed in their latest catalog?

I was shocked at the prices, close to Snap On it seems, unless Im missing something?

What is there to justify the large increase in Price?

Anyone have any ideas?


Thanks

Jeff

 

[cwstevens92]

Price of material to make the box?? Maybe?

 

[rsanter]

I saw those new pro series boxes last year at sema
they look like they are nearly direct knock-offs of the snap on boxes.
I was talking to one the Cman tool designers/engineers. I commented that it looks like they bought a snap on box and copied it, he smiled and said 'yes'.

they look like they are very well built, only they are made overseas

bob

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

They have a 75" bright yellow one with a storage enclosure top and (if I remember correctly) a stainless work surface at my local Sears. It seems well built (a whole lot more sturdy then the old pro boxes they have locally, like the 36" Professional model on display), but both too big for my space and out of my budget (I think it was a bit over $9k as it sat).

 

[Driveswifecrazy]

Nice but pricey, I was more impressed by the big stainless steel one at Lowes, with a small built in fridge & audio system in it.

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

They have a large yellow one at my sears as well.... If you look at the riser, it is bolted together.... quite pricey as well.... I don't know why they think they can compete with Snap on .... If I am going to pay Snap on prices, I am going to buy a Snap on...

-BWP

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

those are a fraction of snapper prices
freakin sears doesn't even have them on display , not much confidence they can sell them I guess

 

[Joe B.]

I was at Sears the other day and they had the Yellow one on display as well. This was a large store at a big mall. I could see not putting it into smaller stores with less traffic. It did seem like a nice box. Maybe they see it as more of a prestige item in the stores, kind of like the Corvette is to Chevy.

Eventually they will have to sell these floor models. There might be some good deals out there in a few years.

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

those are a fraction of snapper prices
freakin sears doesn't even have them on display , not much confidence they can sell them I guess

$8099 for just the bottom roll cab from Sears, it has 45,000 cu inches

A KRL1023 has 44,260 cu inches is $10,395...

Yes it is a fraction, but not that big of one when you factor in Snappy KRL's are Made in the US. Lifetime warranty on the slides and overall they are made much better, last longer and will have a higher resale value... Heck the Snappy guy would probably even knock 5 to 10 percent off of the MSRP.... Their margin on boxes is excellent..



JMHO

-BWP

 

[scottmlew]

I must say that the yellow box pictured has a nice drawer layout -- lots of nearly full-width drawers that are fairly shallow.

 

[AutoTech]

$8099 for just the bottom roll cab from Sears, it has 45,000 cu inches

A KRL1023 has 44,260 cu inches is $10,395...

Yes it is a fraction, but not that big of one when you factor in Snappy KRL's are Made in the US. Lifetime warranty on the slides and overall they are made much better, last longer and will have a higher resale value... Heck the Snappy guy would probably even knock 5 to 10 percent off of the MSRP.... Their margin on boxes is excellent..



JMHO

-BWP

Just went to sears website and the 75" wide yellow box costs $6299. Unless a Snap On dealer will come down quite abit from the retail price thats quiet a big difference than $10,400 that snap on wants for the same size box.

 

[Mach1Guy]

I must say that the yellow box pictured has a nice drawer layout -- lots of nearly full-width drawers that are fairly shallow.

If you look closely the the top drawer, the one you typically stand all your sockets up on. Its way to shallow. I have racks on my sockets, they are all in a row and all in order. It is the easiest and most organized way to keep my sockets that i know of. With this box, you will have to lay them all on their sides and its just going to be a mess. I'm not totally impressed with this unit yet.

1 other thing, my local sears store also has a big yellow roller with a hutch on it too. I wish they had a mid size to see as well. Not everybody i know or work with wants or can fit a box that size in their shop or work place.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

15/16s is a fraction ?

 

[rsanter]

they think they can compete with snap on because they have done it before.
snap on used to make the 26'' wide boxes but they do not anymore. I think that is largle because cman came out with boxes with the ball bearing slides, then they came out with the double bank boxes, then they added the pro series

bob

 

[Mike83]

I'm super happy with my C-man Professional 36" top chest, but I got it for $315 Originally $1050. Now the new 36" box is $2000!

They have the big yellow box at my Sears and it just doesn't seem worth it to me. Lots of flex in the drawers due to the large size. Nissan Crawler's new Montezuma toolbox he got from Shannon (Global72) on this board is really nice! I would go that route if I was gonna buy another box.

 

[wreckercologist]

I looked at the big yellow one at Sears tonight. They are close to a Snap-on, but still lack in the details.

1) No rolled seams on the edges of the drawers. This adds strength and is also more costly to manufacture.

2) The "Grip Latch" drawer pull is a weak link. The Snap-ons drawer pull is one piece with the drawer face, a total of 4 or 5 bends. The Sears box just has a couple of notches for the spot welded hinges to rest in, no bends to add strength.

3) By eye, I'd like to say the Sears box is made out of lighter steel. Hard to tell by just looking. Doesn't feel as thick to me, whatever that's worth.

These are just a few casual observations made in a few minutes tonight. I'd like to see a list of specs for these boxes in order to do a true, side by side comparison. The copy of the Sears tool catalog I picked up is pretty sparse on details. I'd like to know the guages of steel used, weight ratings for the slides, weight rating for the casters, how many steps were used to paint the box, ect.

After looking at them and considering the price, and considering they are an import, the box nissan crawer got is in my mind a much better value.

I wonder why the yellow ones cost more? Are these boxes wet sprayed? Powder coated? I could see wet sprayed yellow being more costly. My painter at work always has to use more coats to get a yellow to cover.

Any thought on that?

cheers

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I wonder why the yellow ones cost more? Are these boxes wet sprayed? Powder coated? I could see wet sprayed yellow being more costly. My painter at work always has to use more coats to get a yellow to cover.

Any thought on that?

cheers

The yellow ones (in more then just the large size) are a special order color. (not going to sell enough to mass produce)

 

[fordbroncodave]

they have a big yellow one at sears.

to be honest, its not as good as a krl series snap on. when the drawer is loaded down, it will twist and to me, it means failure

 

[autoace]

The previous Pro boxes they had were catching on. I liked Nisan Crawler's box and was really thinking of purchasing one, then they come out with these overpriced things. If I am going to spend that kind of money, I will call Snap-on. Like the new Cornwell boxes, the Craftsman boxes are imported also

 

[autoace]

Just went to sears website and the 75" wide yellow box costs $6299. Unless a Snap On dealer will come down quite abit from the retail price thats quiet a big difference than $10,400 that snap on wants for the same size box.

Snap-on dealers ALWAYS bend on price when you pay them cash. 7K would probably take the Snap-on box off the truck.

 

[nissan_crawler]

$8099 for just the bottom roll cab from Sears, it has 45,000 cu inches

A KRL1023 has 44,260 cu inches is $10,395...

Yes it is a fraction, but not that big of one when you factor in Snappy KRL's are Made in the US. Lifetime warranty on the slides and overall they are made much better, last longer and will have a higher resale value... Heck the Snappy guy would probably even knock 5 to 10 percent off of the MSRP.... Their margin on boxes is excellent..



JMHO

-BWP

Unless things have changed, the Craftsman is lifetime warranty.

Also, here's the Craftsman box for $6299. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...=Tool+Storage&sName=Professional+Tool+Storage I would say $4,100 less is a decent difference.

Edit: Yes, it shows less cu in, but it's the same size box. The one you were pricing was a 94" craftsman vs. 75" Craftsman. So, even at that, for 20" more of box, you're paying $2300 less for the Craftsman.

The prices may be high, but they sure as hell are not close to Snap-On territory.

 

[wreckercologist]

Snap-on dealers ALWAYS bend on price when you pay them cash. 7K would probably take the Snap-on box off the truck.

+1. I've never paid retail, and I don't know anyone who has. The amount of discount varies dealer to dealer.

 

[Paumanok]

Snap-on dealers ALWAYS bend on price when you pay them cash. 7K would probably take the Snap-on box off the truck.

Exactly. I got my new KRL 1023 off the truck for $7,000 @6months 0% with free stainless top, free $225 cover and 20% off $1000 in snapy tools. Also he made me a deal that if I buy a riser or side locker within 6mos that will be 30% off also - and yes he put it in writing on my invoice. So, for cman chinese made prices - I have an awesome USA made box

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

Unless things have changed, the Craftsman is lifetime warranty.

Also, here's the Craftsman box for $6299. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...=Tool+Storage&sName=Professional+Tool+Storage I would say $4,100 less is a decent difference.

Edit: Yes, it shows less cu in, but it's the same size box. The one you were pricing was a 94" craftsman vs. 75" Craftsman. So, even at that, for 20" more of box, you're paying $2300 less for the Craftsman.

The prices may be high, but they sure as hell are not close to Snap-On territory.

Yes I was quoting the 94" model, because that is the one my Sears has, and I used the KRL1023 as a way of comparison...

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00982462000P?keyword=craftsman

I would use the KRL 1022 If I was going to compare it to the 75" Craftsman box.

YES YES YES.... Craftsman is less than Snap on in MSRP, I ADMIT THAT, I DID BEFORE.... It is not that big of a fraction..... when you are paying thousands for a box.

Oh and if anyone can get lifetime warranty on the slides from Craftsman, Please let me have your Sears phone number. I had to buy mine when they broke.

Exactly. I got my new KRL 1023 off the truck for $7,000 @6months 0% with free stainless top, free $225 cover and 20% off $1000 in snapy tools. Also he made me a deal that if I buy a riser or side locker within 6mos that will be 30% off also - and yes he put it in writing on my invoice. So, for cman chinese made prices - I have an awesome USA made box

My point exactly.... Try negotiating a price with a Sears salesman....


-BWP

 

[nissan_crawler]

Yes I was quoting the 94" model, because that is the one my Sears has, and I used the KRL1023 as a way of comparison...

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00982462000P?keyword=craftsman

I would use the KRL 1022 If I was going to compare it to the 75" Craftsman box.

YES YES YES.... Craftsman is less than Snap on in MSRP, I ADMIT THAT, I DID BEFORE.... It is not that big of a fraction..... when you are paying thousands for a box.

Oh and if anyone can get lifetime warranty on the slides from Craftsman, Please let me have your Sears phone number. I had to buy mine when they broke.




My point exactly.... Try negotiating a price with a Sears salesman....


-BWP

My point was, it's not a fair comparison you're using. Yes, for some odd reason, the cubic inches are quite different, however, both the craftmsan/snap-on model have the same exterior dimensions. As such, it would only be fair to compare the two with the same dimensions, which brings it to the price I posted.

As for slides...I had 3 warrantied on my c-pro, all due to me being an idiot. the entire box carries a lifetime warranty.

 

[9GUY9]

I always thought the older craftsman pro box's have a very cheap feel to them. THey were much more than the regular craftsman box's but felt the same. I have yet to see one of the new Pro series box's. But they do look a lot nicer.

I know they had a lot of the old pro box's they were trying to get rid of at pretty big discounts when the new ones came out.

 

[Riverrojo]

Actually, I believe the newer pro boxes are cheaper than the last generation. The new ones have 1 griplatch per drawer, while the previous have 2 latching mechanisms. Also, open up the bottom drawer of the new pro box. Only one slide per side. My "last year model" craftsman pro has 2 slides per slide.

Here's my setup:

 

[9GUY9]

Actually, I believe the newer pro boxes are cheaper than the last generation. The new ones have 1 griplatch per drawer, while the previous have 2 latching mechanisms. Also, open up the bottom drawer of the new pro box. Only one slide per side. My "last year model" craftsman pro has 2 slides per slide.

Here's my setup:

Funny, the shop i work in looks very similar; blue walls die hard fender covers, hunter alignment machines. And the techs have a lot of cratsman stuff.

i never liked how you could grab a open drawer on the pro box's and flex it side to side quite easily. I still have a Craftsman box for at home, but I got it quite cheap.

 

[gravygrabber]

Hi,
First post here but I wanted to comment on this thread.
I too noticed a big yellow 9K sears box at the local sears recently. I told my wife the same thing others have commented on this thread, "If I'm going to spend that much I'll get a Snap-on box."
It's amusing to read others feel the same way. I went a completely different route and bought a used Snap-on box that's bigger with a side locker for $2500 on Craigslist(it was the 57 Bel Air box top and bottom). I bought a heritage Snappy box when I started out $4500 plus tax and 4 years of financing at 19% =$$$$$ and I'll never buy another one new. Being a professional dealer tech for the last 12 years I can tell you the box won't make you money anyway.