Craftsman/Stanley Factory Texas

[Dakotadadv8]

Will be interesting hoping SBD succeeds. Average young Joe in their 20's walking thru Lowes and Ace Hardware looking for tools. Not aware of other brands mentioned on GJ, will buy the Craftsman USA hand and power tools on display because of brand recognition from parents or grandparents. If good experience will hook them for life 20 years+ customer. Not sure SBD expects pros or other non pros GJ members to switch from other brands.

Case in point - I asked family member (Average Joe) to pick up a sander, go to Lowes and buys a Craftsman sander, not Dewalt, not Metabo, not Bosch. Could be price or brand or both. I said I rather have Dewalt, Makita, or Snap On (trucks or website) looked at me with deer in the headlights.

 

[Ton ton]

Will be interesting hoping SBD succeeds. Average young Joe in their 20's walking thru Lowes and Ace Hardware looking for tools. Not aware of other brands mentioned on GJ, will buy the Craftsman USA hand and power tools on display because of brand recognition from parents or grandparents. If good experience will hook them for life 20 years+ customer. Not sure SBD expects pros or other non pros GJ members to switch from other brands.

Case in point - I asked family member (Average Joe) to pick up a sander, go to Lowes and buys a Craftsman sander, not Dewalt, not Metabo, not Bosch. Could be price or brand or both. I said I rather have Dewalt, Makita, or Snap On (trucks or website) looked at me with deer in the headlights.

That's kinda funny. But I understand where you are coming from.

 

[Grokew]

I asked family member (Average Joe) to pick up a sander, go to Lowes and buys a Craftsman sander, not Dewalt, not Metabo, not Bosch. Could be price or brand or both. I said I rather have Dewalt, Makita, or Snap On (trucks or website) looked at me with deer in the headlights.

Wow! Average Joe is your relative? He is really famous. He is even more famous than Florida Man.

 

[finn]

Will be interesting hoping SBD succeeds. Average young Joe in their 20's walking thru Lowes and Ace Hardware looking for tools. Not aware of other brands mentioned on GJ, will buy the Craftsman USA hand and power tools on display because of brand recognition from parents or grandparents. If good experience will hook them for life 20 years+ customer. Not sure SBD expects pros or other non pros GJ members to switch from other brands.

Case in point - I asked family member (Average Joe) to pick up a sander, go to Lowes and buys a Craftsman sander, not Dewalt, not Metabo, not Bosch. Could be price or brand or both. I said I rather have Dewalt, Makita, or Snap On (trucks or website) looked at me with deer in the headlights.

Maybe he did you a favor. My Bosch orbital is sitting dead in its box.

The lowly $12 Craftsman is still useable. From 10’ you couldn’t distinguish which is which, if you were color blind.

 

[finn]

Have no fear SBD will screw this up somehow. They always do.

Last I checked, SBD is still doing quite well in the tool business here in the USA. They may even be considered a market leader by some.

Can’t say that about some others that tried to enter the tool market.

 

[dnschmidt]

Last I checked, SBD is still doing quite well in the tool business here in the USA. They may even be considered a market leader by some.

Can’t say that about some others that tried to enter the tool market.

Depends upon what you consider to be dong fine. Are they making money? Damn right. Are they also mostly making **** tools (see the new Craftsman) damn right. So if you're a stockholder they're doing fine if you're a customer they sort of ****.

 

[Komet]

Maybe it's because everyone keeps insisting the new made in USA tools must also be inexpensive, like they remember Craftsman of olde. I hoped they would make premium Craftsman tools, but we saw with the recent V series that no one wants to pay premium prices for it.

I can't even FIND V series tools to purchase around me. None of the Ace Hardwares, Lowes, anywhere have I ever seen a single one.

 

[Ton ton]

I don't know if it was V - series or not. But the Napa lady sold me a 1/2" ratchet and socket set that I didn't want. It was a smoky chrome, I gave it to a close friend of mine. He seem to be happy with it. Craftsman brand, Made in Taiwan.

 

[Ton ton]

Napa is starting to push Craftsman brand pretty hard for whatever reason.

 

[Lt CHEG]

Maybe it's because everyone keeps insisting the new made in USA tools must also be inexpensive, like they remember Craftsman of olde. I hoped they would make premium Craftsman tools, but we saw with the recent V series that no one wants to pay premium prices for it.

I think people are willing to pay more for premium tools, but they aren’t willing to pay more than Icon or Tekton for a premium tool that’s not made in the USA. I would seriously give a V series ratchet a try, even at 50% more cost if it was made in the USA. I warrantied an old US made 1/4” drive standard raised handle ratchet and the $20 hard chromed made in Taiwan replacement was nice enough that I’d buy a V series to try if it wasn’t priced more than an equivalent Tekton. The trick is going to be producing some tools that are US made, high quality and more expensive than Taiwanese made tools, but that are significantly cheaper than US SnapOn, US Mac, US Matco and US Cornwell. It is absolutely doable since the price of all the tool truck brands has interest free financing baked into the price. It’s just going to take a good sized company, bigger than the Ideal SK to get it done. SBD owned Craftsman CAN do it, the question is will they?

 

[Allpurpose]

I'd definitely buy Taiwanese tools over Chinese tools. Taiwan is much better at finished products with much closer tolerances and value added.. China? Not so much.
Sawstop saws are built in Taiwan or at least were.. Pretty darn good saws.

 

[finn]

Depends upon what you consider to be dong fine. Are they making money? Damn right. Are they also mostly making **** tools (see the new Craftsman) damn right. So if you're a stockholder they're doing fine if you're a customer they sort of ****.

Last I checked, the prime objective of most businesses is to provide a product or service that people want, and to return a profit to the shareholders.

McDonalds obviously doesn’t make the best, most healthful food out there, but they make a pretty decent profit.

Nobody will argue that Costco sells the best products available. It’s pretty much generic imports, but they’re wildly successful.

 

[dnschmidt]

Nobody will argue that Costco gas the best products available. It’s pretty much generic imports, but they’re wildly successful.

Costco gas is tier 1 gasoline. Even BMW recommends it. What does this sentence mean?

 

[zendriver]

Costco gas is tier 1 gasoline. Even BMW recommends it. What does this sentence mean?

That they are aware of the value of meaningless marketing?

 

[finn]

Costco gas is tier 1 gasoline. Even BMW recommends it. What does this sentence mean?

It means that Apple autocorrect strikes again and I’m a poor proofreader.

 

[JradM]

I think people are willing to pay more for premium tools, but they aren’t willing to pay more than Icon or Tekton for a premium tool that’s not made in the USA. I would seriously give a V series ratchet a try, even at 50% more cost if it was made in the USA. I warrantied an old US made 1/4” drive standard raised handle ratchet and the $20 hard chromed made in Taiwan replacement was nice enough that I’d buy a V series to try if it wasn’t priced more than an equivalent Tekton. The trick is going to be producing some tools that are US made, high quality and more expensive than Taiwanese made tools, but that are significantly cheaper than US SnapOn, US Mac, US Matco and US Cornwell. It is absolutely doable since the price of all the tool truck brands has interest free financing baked into the price. It’s just going to take a good sized company, bigger than the Ideal SK to get it done. SBD owned Craftsman CAN do it, the question is will they?

I hope so. I'm not interested in junky made-in-USA tools.

More expensive than Taiwanese but significantly less than tool-truck brands... that's Williams and Proto territory. Which leads me to the question: will Proto-priced Craftsman sell? I'm not convinced.

Consider this 205 pc Proto Socket set - it's nearly $2000 from Zoro:


How many sets like that will Craftsman sell if they sit next to something like this 347 pc Husky Master set that sells for under $300?



If its a Proto-quality tools that Craftsman puts on Lowes shelves, then it would certainly sell to me - but it seems like most comments I read indicate people want "reasonably-priced" USA tools, by which people seem to me they want the tools to be only slightly more than Taiwan production. I don't think SBD, or any company really, can achieve that and produce a premium tool. Where would that leave Proto if they did?

If you want a very good quality USA made tool that is only a little more than Taiwanese production, you can go out and buy it today: Williams. The "catch" is that it seems like Williams can produce those tools because its mostly older, legacy production techniques, so the finish quality is kind of mediocre and there's not much for recent innovation (most of the pear head ratchets are 36 tooth for example and the sockets have tiny and awkward size markings).

In that context, I expect SBD will make a lower-tier of USA tool and price it exactly where everyone seems to want.

 

[finn]

I hope so. I'm not interested in junky made-in-USA tools.

More expensive than Taiwanese but significantly less than tool-truck brands... that's Williams and Proto territory. Which leads me to the question: will Proto-priced Craftsman sell? I'm not convinced.

Consider this 205 pc Proto Socket set - it's nearly $2000 from Zoro:


How many sets like that will Craftsman sell if they sit next to something like this 347 pc Husky Master set that sells for under $300?



If its a Proto-quality tools that Craftsman puts on Lowes shelves, then it would certainly sell to me - but it seems like most comments I read indicate people want "reasonably-priced" USA tools, by which people seem to me they want the tools to be only slightly more than Taiwan production. I don't think SBD, or any company really, can achieve that and produce a premium tool. Where would that leave Proto if they did?

If you want a very good quality USA made tool that is only a little more than Taiwanese production, you can go out and buy it today: Williams. The "catch" is that it seems like Williams can produce those tools because its mostly older, legacy production techniques, so the finish quality is kind of mediocre and there's not much for recent innovation (most of the pear head ratchets are 36 tooth for example and the sockets have tiny and awkward size markings).

In that context, I expect SBD will make a lower-tier of USA tool and price it exactly where everyone seems to want.

And remember a year and a half ago when HD was selling a 200 piece Husky socket set at Christmas for maybe $99. I bought two sets when they got to $79 in January.

Not the greatest stamping on them, but for a hobbiest, which is probably the largest user group out there, how does one justify spending $1000 or more when the sub $100 does the same work?

 

[m6z]

I can't even FIND V series tools to purchase around me. None of the Ace Hardwares, Lowes, anywhere have I ever seen a single one.

You can order them from Ace or Lowes and usually have it delivered for free. I had the local Ace drop off a set of metric V-series sockets just a couple days ago. I've now got a complete set of the 3/8 drive V-series sockets.

 

[m6z]

Case in point - I asked family member (Average Joe) to pick up a sander, go to Lowes and buys a Craftsman sander, not Dewalt, not Metabo, not Bosch. Could be price or brand or both. I said I rather have Dewalt, Makita, or Snap On (trucks or website) looked at me with deer in the headlights.

Craftsman still has a lot of brand recognition. Lot of people are still buying because it's going that LIFETIME WARRANTY printed on the box.

I imagine they sell a massive number of power tools around the holidays.

 

[Grokew]

I hope so. I'm not interested in junky made-in-USA tools.

More expensive than Taiwanese but significantly less than tool-truck brands... that's Williams and Proto territory. Which leads me to the question: will Proto-priced Craftsman sell? I'm not convinced.

Consider this 205 pc Proto Socket set - it's nearly $2000 from Zoro:


How many sets like that will Craftsman sell if they sit next to something like this 347 pc Husky Master set that sells for under $300?



If its a Proto-quality tools that Craftsman puts on Lowes shelves, then it would certainly sell to me - but it seems like most comments I read indicate people want "reasonably-priced" USA tools, by which people seem to me they want the tools to be only slightly more than Taiwan production. I don't think SBD, or any company really, can achieve that and produce a premium tool. Where would that leave Proto if they did?

If you want a very good quality USA made tool that is only a little more than Taiwanese production, you can go out and buy it today: Williams. The "catch" is that it seems like Williams can produce those tools because its mostly older, legacy production techniques, so the finish quality is kind of mediocre and there's not much for recent innovation (most of the pear head ratchets are 36 tooth for example and the sockets have tiny and awkward size markings).

In that context, I expect SBD will make a lower-tier of USA tool and price it exactly where everyone seems to want.

That husky set looks lovely. No bits to inflate count. The sockets are the same as the duralast (they look the same as gearwrench/sata) I hope someone does a comparison some day.

Edited cause I was wrong.

 

[Andres26tnt]

I hope so. I'm not interested in junky made-in-USA tools.

More expensive than Taiwanese but significantly less than tool-truck brands... that's Williams and Proto territory. Which leads me to the question: will Proto-priced Craftsman sell? I'm not convinced.

Consider this 205 pc Proto Socket set - it's nearly $2000 from Zoro:


How many sets like that will Craftsman sell if they sit next to something like this 347 pc Husky Master set that sells for under $300?



If its a Proto-quality tools that Craftsman puts on Lowes shelves, then it would certainly sell to me - but it seems like most comments I read indicate people want "reasonably-priced" USA tools, by which people seem to me they want the tools to be only slightly more than Taiwan production. I don't think SBD, or any company really, can achieve that and produce a premium tool. Where would that leave Proto if they did?

If you want a very good quality USA made tool that is only a little more than Taiwanese production, you can go out and buy it today: Williams. The "catch" is that it seems like Williams can produce those tools because its mostly older, legacy production techniques, so the finish quality is kind of mediocre and there's not much for recent innovation (most of the pear head ratchets are 36 tooth for example and the sockets have tiny and awkward size markings).

In that context, I expect SBD will make a lower-tier of USA tool and price it exactly where everyone seems to want.

SBD is targeting the home owner, proto has zero relevance in this space. Also proto is a industrial brand, it's hard to get and mostly sold to companies privately. Proto will stay in the same space it's always been.

Craftsman is taking the hf approach to tools, bad, good, and best. The prices will be similar to the current pricing of the v series line. SBD know they are dead in the water if they price the tool too high.

 

[Andres26tnt]

I hope so. I'm not interested in junky made-in-USA tools.

More expensive than Taiwanese but significantly less than tool-truck brands... that's Williams and Proto territory. Which leads me to the question: will Proto-priced Craftsman sell? I'm not convinced.

Consider this 205 pc Proto Socket set - it's nearly $2000 from Zoro:


How many sets like that will Craftsman sell if they sit next to something like this 347 pc Husky Master set that sells for under $300?



If its a Proto-quality tools that Craftsman puts on Lowes shelves, then it would certainly sell to me - but it seems like most comments I read indicate people want "reasonably-priced" USA tools, by which people seem to me they want the tools to be only slightly more than Taiwan production. I don't think SBD, or any company really, can achieve that and produce a premium tool. Where would that leave Proto if they did?

If you want a very good quality USA made tool that is only a little more than Taiwanese production, you can go out and buy it today: Williams. The "catch" is that it seems like Williams can produce those tools because its mostly older, legacy production techniques, so the finish quality is kind of mediocre and there's not much for recent innovation (most of the pear head ratchets are 36 tooth for example and the sockets have tiny and awkward size markings).

In that context, I expect SBD will make a lower-tier of USA tool and price it exactly where everyone seems to want.

SBD is targeting the home owner, proto has zero relevance in this space. Also proto is a industrial brand, it's hard to get and mostly sold to companies privately. Proto will stay in the same space it's always been.

Craftsman is taking the hf approach to tools, bad, good, and best. The prices will be similar to the current pricing of the v series line. SBD know they are dead in the water if they price the tool too high.

 

[MarvinBerry]

That husky set looks lovely. No bits to inflate count. The sockets are the same as the duralast (they look the same as gearwrench/sata) I hope someone does a comparison some day.

Duralast & husky sockets are different... have both here. Also have some new cman which have all been marked Taiwan. And some old USA cman too...

Some duralast / husky / SATA is identical. Ratchets & extensions yes. Regular wrenches too. Sockets? Nah.

Looking at regular depth 19mm... 3/8 drive the duralast are taller & deeper to the naked eye. Quality of chrome on the husky sockets is also a hair nicer, more polished. Stamping & marks also different...

On grounds of overall finish quality? The new Cmans are probably the nicest looking of what's in my box. Fitment on all seem to be ok? I mean... they turn bolts and nothings grenaded?

Actually I have a fair amount of new craftsman including a roll cab, the acetate style screwdrivers... pretty much everything but the pliers has been fine. And i didnt buy the pliers they were a gift that went into the car kit...

Craftsman is plenty visible these days watch a baseball game or 3 & you'll eventually see the banner behind home plate or plastered in the outfield. Lotta eyeballs seeing that red & white advertising kinda hard to miss.

I've bought some because for one Lowes is 4 miles away & I drive past a couple times a week. Second I can kinda just grab stuff there on the house account & it's not a big deal... I don't get questions...

But realistically if the tools weren't at least passable none of it would be here. Like anything else I think ya gotta inspect the stuff in person & then it should be pretty easy to identify the junk...

But even for as cruddy as the pliers are? They still aren't THAT bad. Stanley quality home owner grade yes but they aren't made out of cheese either. Duralast is certainly a hipper choice here but again both cost far less then Channelock.

It'll be interesting to see what comes out of the new plant but at this point I'm kinda set on things... not about to replace all my chrome with USA steel just because.

 

[Grokew]

Duralast & husky sockets are different... have both here. Also have some new cman which have all been marked Taiwan. And some old USA cman too...

Some duralast / husky / SATA is identical. Ratchets & extensions yes. Regular wrenches too. Sockets? Nah.

Looking at regular depth 19mm... 3/8 drive the duralast are taller & deeper to the naked eye. Quality of chrome on the husky sockets is also a hair nicer, more polished. Stamping & marks also different...

On grounds of overall finish quality? The new Cmans are probably the nicest looking of what's in my box. Fitment on all seem to be ok? I mean... they turn bolts and nothings grenaded?

Actually I have a fair amount of new craftsman including a roll cab, the acetate style screwdrivers... pretty much everything but the pliers has been fine. And i didnt buy the pliers they were a gift that went into the car kit...

Craftsman is plenty visible these days watch a baseball game or 3 & you'll eventually see the banner behind home plate or plastered in the outfield. Lotta eyeballs seeing that red & white advertising kinda hard to miss.

I've bought some because for one Lowes is 4 miles away & I drive past a couple times a week. Second I can kinda just grab stuff there on the house account & it's not a big deal... I don't get questions...

But realistically if the tools weren't at least passable none of it would be here. Like anything else I think ya gotta inspect the stuff in person & then it should be pretty easy to identify the junk...

But even for as cruddy as the pliers are? They still aren't THAT bad. Stanley quality home owner grade yes but they aren't made out of cheese either. Duralast is certainly a hipper choice here but again both cost far less then Channelock.

It'll be interesting to see what comes out of the new plant but at this point I'm kinda set on things... not about to replace all my chrome with USA steel just because.

Interesting, for me they look so similar. But there is a huge difference, you have both of them on hand, so you can compare them side by side. I have Duralast, Taiwan coo with the color band, and the newer China coo that look similar to the husky and only one Husky socket, but universal spline in black oxide. The chrome Husky sockets I saw at the aisle in Home Depot not directly side by side.

So I should not say that they are the same, as it is definitely misleading and wrong.

Thank you!

 

[Jtels85]

I have Husky and Duralast sockets, both purchased within the past two years and they are identical, right down to the double detents on the drive end.

Essentially, they’re the same style as Sears Craftsman (China) from the past decade.

 

[UglyViking]

Just my $0.02 here, but I don't think SBD is stupid. They may be greedy, but they aren't stupid. SBD just build a massive new, "fully" automated manufacturing plant in Texas, are sourcing USA/NA made steel, and are focusing on quality, made in the USA hand tools, at a reasonable pricepoint. Now, I don't know how much of the marketing will be true, but I expect in the near term they are going to run pretty close to cost on a lot of their tools, and slowly raise them, or start with some intro coupons/sales. I'm sure SBD knows that the brand is somewhat tarnished and needs to be rebuilt.

That said, at least for me, SBD has a pretty tall ask. HF tools today are heads and shoulders better than what they were when Sears was running Craftsman into the ground. I don't own any Icon tools, but they seem like an amazing value, and a lot of the pittsburgh pro stuff is solid. HF also allows me to easily warranty stuff, and there are now a million stores about the same distance to me as anywhere I'd buy any other tools (outside Napa, Autozone, etc. brands).

The biggest things, to me, outside of quality, price point, and made in the USA will be; can I swap without a receipt? Are the sets full sets (no skips)? Will there be singles available? How much do I have to pick and choose, vs just saying "x brand is good".

When I was younger I felt that Craftsman just hit the mark. USA made, quality, affordable, and I could walk into a Sears and pick out any tool from the brand and get something that does the job. I do not feel that way about Husky, def not about Kobalt, and Craftsman lost me after some too cheap sockets and a terribly designed torque wrench.

To me, today from what I'm reading and experiencing, Tekton and Gear Wrench are filling that void. The only downsides I have with either, outside of country of origin (which doesn't kill me, but I'd love to see made here), is that they are hard to get. I know Lowes was expanding their in store Tekton line, but it's still not at my local location, and with the incoming Craftsman I'm worried it won't stay long.

As an aside, I would gladly pay a bit of a premium for Snap-on, but not what they are asking. I think Snap-on is mostly living off their brand rep and heritage, and the fact that getting tools replaced, especially when your driver changes, is such a crazy hassle isn't something I'm willing to deal with. If snappy had a more reasonable price point and were easier to buy/replace, I think I would spring for their stuff. As it stands, I think the only thing keeping Snappy alive is the heritage, brand name, and high pressure nature of the Snappy fans/sellers.

Edit: Just to be clear, I'd love to own Snappy, and especially sockets, ratchets and a box or two. I'm just not a fan of some of the above.

 

[Fedwrench]

I have Husky and Duralast sockets, both purchased within the past two years and they are identical, right down to the double detents on the drive end.

Double Detents, now that **** should have never been allowed to migrate to other brands. Double Detents would prevent me from buying those sockets not that I need any sockets.