Craftsman Tools now made in China

[earthmover1980]

I have always been a believer in Craftsman tools. They were all made in USA, and offer a lifetime warranty. And are affordable for a teenage boy to buy. No Brainer. Fast forward 20 years, now the bean counters at Sears decides to ship tool production to China. I refuse to purchase low quality tools period. What a terrible sales pitch. An American Tradition we discontinued. Fools. Now look at Sears's stocks. Down. Kmart stocks down. Apex tools makes Craftsman currently. I wonder why Menard's Masterforce line, also budget priced, and made by Apex Tools Are Made In USA? I've been bitter about this decision since they have made it. They broke a family tradition with us. I've been seeking out other USA made tools instead of Craftsman due to this. Well Sears, was shipping production to China worth alienating the loyal customer base you established? I think not. Please give your opinion, and make me feel like I'm not the only one.

 

[so2315]

Welcome to 1995!

 

[zoomieport]

Haha!

 

[woody 73]

Oh my gosh this is news to me when did they move their tool production over to mainland China ? Is this what they call the Winlinmac Effect type of posting ?

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I'll buy German tools over any USA-made Craftsman any day. Although I really don't care where the tool was made as long as it does the job.

"A nail doesn't care where the hammer was made."

 

[notlob]

And in other breaking news, Harbor Freight will begin selling low quality chinese-made tools starting immediately.

 

[WWheeler]

Rip Van Winkle? Is that you?

This was news in 2010. It's not news any more. It's surprising to find out there are still tool-oriented people just finding out about this / posting about it now.

 

[icthruu74]

In other old Craftsman news, I just discovered that they brought out a new Industrial line that at least some products are US made. Although it makes me wonder if a lifetime warranty from a company that could be out of business at any time really means anything.

 

[B_Bimmer]

My brother in law just found out last winter... apparently most people who are "in to" tools are not quite as deep as us.

 

[SweetD]

Rip Van Winkle? Is that you?

This was news in 2010. It's not news any more. It's surprising to find out there are still tool-oriented people just finding out about this / posting about it now.

LOL good one...Rip Van Winkle no doubt!

I have stopped posting in these C-Man threads for the most part...but I have to comment on your post...

I think some of us would be very surprised how many "average Joe's" out there have no idea, and no opinion, as to where Sears is sourcing their C-Man tools these days.

Anecdotally, I have many non "tool guy" friends that would have absolutely no clue about it, and probably wouldn't care, as hand tools are of little to no interest to them.

A shame, but true nonetheless...

Dave

 

[Buster21]

We just went out to dinner with some friends, the subject of buying Christmas presents came up, I got on a rant about China made Craftsman tools, they looked at me like I was crazy and just said "really, when did that happen". I bet the majority of the population hasn't got a clue where there tools are made.

 

[derosa]

Don't feel bad, I only figured it out last Christmas when I decided I actually needed a real set of wrenches and a complete socket set since I had some money to burn for the first time in several years. The craftsman screwdriver set I'd gotten the year before was US made and a couple of other minor items over the last 10 years. It was amazing to discover even the smooth polish craftsman professional were Chinese. I've since discovered Wright and want to try out the SK ratcheting wrenches and haven't looked back to craftsman. What I have has been strong enough that warrenty hasn't been an issue but as things break the nearest sears is far enough I'm just tossing the items.

 

[CGT80]

I changed out the distributor in my truck, today. To find top dead center, I used my sears remote start switch. It is just a handle with a momentary switch and two alligator clips on the wires. The current is only what is necessary to work the solenoid. It was made in the USA, but it is cheese grade. The starter would work and then next bump it would just click. Touching a jumper wire to a pos battery cable worked every time. Under the alligator clip boots, the wires had terminals crimped on and then the terminals were crimped on the alligator clips, since the clips were not made for such small wire. I soldered those connections and it still acted up, so I pulled the switch apart. it was made with tiny contacts and a spring loaded connection where the wire terminals insert into the switch housing. After cleaning the contacts, it still didn't work.

It probably doesn't have a good warranty, but I wonder if the new version is Chinese made and if it is better or worse. This switch hasn't been used that much.

All of my cman tools are post 2000, and I hear the quality already declined. The cman screw drivers I bought around 2000, looked worse than my dad's 20 year old cman, in only a year or so.

Felo screwdrivers, klein screwdrivers and journeyman pliers, and cman pro pliers, have been better than the standard cman. I have some ac delco tools, taiwan made, that my grandfather bought me around 1999. They have actually held up great.

Sears has turned the cman name into a joke.

 

[nieuport17]

Where's my popcorn?


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[Empty Pockets]

Don't feel bad, I only figured it out last Christmas when I decided I actually needed a real set of wrenches and a complete socket set since I had some money to burn for the first time in several years. The craftsman screwdriver set I'd gotten the year before was US made and a couple of other minor items over the last 10 years. It was amazing to discover even the smooth polish craftsman professional were Chinese. I've since discovered Wright and want to try out the SK ratcheting wrenches and haven't looked back to craftsman. What I have has been strong enough that warrenty hasn't been an issue but as things break the nearest sears is far enough I'm just tossing the items.

I have some SK X-Frame wrenches, Like them a lot

 

[Empty Pockets]

Last year, my son decided that he needed a fairly complete set of tools. He went to the nearest Sears store, and brought home a high count tool set.

He called me when he got home, and was surprised and upset that the many of the tools were Chinese imports.

He kept the tools, as he is only an occasional user, but tells me that he hasn't set foot in a Sears since. Soon there may not be any Sears stores to set foot in.

 

[southalabama]

Was in Sears today. Out of habit I always look at COO. About all I saw were some plier sets still made in USA. Wrenches and socket sets long gone to china.

 

[1950mercury]

The couple Menard's buy me have been replacing the master force tools with gearwrench

 

[Derek420]

My MIL acted like I was an idiot and didn't know what I was talking about when I broke the news to her that craftsman is China made now, got down right rude and actually told me I didn't know what I was talking about and sure pissed me off. She has nothing but all craftsman **** down to power tools and lawn care equipment, pretty much everything they make err use to make. ***** is dumb I hate her so much always so rude to everyone. She will learn her lesson soon enough she's one of them people who don't believe anything off internet and always thinks she's right same woman that stolen all my tools before I became atool addict partly her fault but I did get it all back under her nose but now don't use any of it or most. If Sears goes belly up I'll laugh my *** off at her with all her craftsman. I personally have a ton of craftsman USA sockets multiples upon multiples of every size all USA more than her that's for sure it won't hurt me one bit I'm sitting on a mountain of cman and use none so I'm set for life. I buy sockets and wrenches by the larger shoe box full for $5. So if anyone needs to fill a socket set I have all sizes and styles damn near except pre V but got rest I could help you out. I would feel bad for other people if they couldn't replace their tools anymore but who would want to now, I just replaced a 1/4 USA flex extension and got the China and it's not same by far it won't even flex like the old one it won't even budge it's ****. I use to like cman sockets as I used to wrench at junk yard on the rustiest of vehicles taking everything off with cman and never broken a single socket or wrench but now thanks to all you guys I got finer tastes.

 

[icu2tsx]

Wait till you find out the "made in USA" with "global components". In other words china made. Assemble here ...

 

[zoomieport]

My brother in law just found out last winter... apparently most people who are "in to" tools are not quite as deep as us.

Or as shallow, LOL!

Merry Christmas!
Mike

 

[zoomieport]

I have some SK X-Frame wrenches, Like them a lot

I have the X-Frames too, they are great, IMO.
I have gone to all new SK now, they are the real deal.

Take Care!
Mike

 

[openwheelracing]

I would take most German tools over USA, and some Taiwan over USA.

It is not China we need to blame, it is USA manufacturing not improving fast enough that we have to worry about. Made in USA does not automatically. equate to high quality

 

[Dirtydan69]

Made in China to US specifications. I do work out at Sears hq once a year. I have a client that hires us to assemble his new line of table games shipped over from China. They are all mdf and not the greatest. Especially what they charge for the stuff. At least I get a good days work out it. As a side note very few Americans walking the halls out there.

 

[Daddie05]

I stopped buying Craftsman in 2009. It's a shame how much products are made in China. Smh


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[WickedMainer]

Where's my popcorn?


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Have any to share?

 

[Moparman390]

This is so a troll thread, its amazing how fast people rush in to get their whacks in on the dead horse. I've got extra salt and butter on my popcorn.

 

[WickedMainer]

-Just buy shares in whoever buys craftsman, that way you at least gain in shareholder return what you lost in pride.

Maybe buy some eye glass stock, must sell a lot of glasses with all the laser etched sockets companies make

 

[jeffmoss26]

https://imgur.com/a/RrdZu

 

[Moparman390]

Here's the classic.

 

[four.cycle]

I think some of us would be very surprised how many "average Joe's" out there have no idea, and no opinion, as to where Sears is sourcing their C-Man tools these days.

Current US population: ( https://www.census.gov/popclock/ )

325,143,200

GarageJournal.com:

Members: 313,868, Active Members: 24,098

Total membership here is .01248 % of the total US population (that's twelve one-thousandths of one per cent, or roughly just a hair over one one-hundredth of one percent.)

It is reasonable to assume the vast majority of the US population is focused on things other than the country of origin of their hand tools:

Top Google searches of 2016:
1. Powerball
2. Prince
3. Hurricane Matthew
4. Pokémon Go
5. Slither.io
6. Olympics
7. David Bowie
8. Donald Trump
9. Election
10. Hillary Clinton

 

[FigureItOut]

Current US population: ( https://www.census.gov/popclock/ )

325,143,200

GarageJournal.com:

Members: 313,868, Active Members: 24,098

Total membership here is .01248 % of the total US population (that's twelve one-thousandths of one per cent, or roughly just a hair over one one-hundredth of one percent.)

That's so funny, I just did those same calculations yesterday as it related to a point I wanted to make in another thread. I didn't end up posting it.

 

[WickedMainer]

Current US population: ( https://www.census.gov/popclock/ )

325,143,200

GarageJournal.com:

Members: 313,868, Active Members: 24,098

Total membership here is .01248 % of the total US population (that's twelve one-thousandths of one per cent, or roughly just a hair over one one-hundredth of one percent.)

It is reasonable to assume the vast majority of the US population is focused on things other than the country of origin of their hand tools:

Top Google searches of 2016:
1. Powerball
2. Prince
3. Hurricane Matthew
4. Pokémon Go
5. Slither.io
6. Olympics
7. David Bowie
8. Donald Trump
9. Election
10. Hillary Clinton

We're ******. Do they filter their results like they do my search results?

I would hate to see yahoos.....

 

[popparoach]

what is a china?

 

[BDT/NWMN]

what is a china?

Dishes

 

[zendriver]

I'm thinking of moving over to a ladies homemaker discussion forum, to join in the PAM (******* and moaning) over the fact that the toasters, mixers and vacuum cleaners, sold by Sears, are no longer made in the U.S.

 

[1950mercury]

I'm thinking of moving over to a ladies homemaker discussion forum, to join in the PAM (******* and moaning) over the fact that the toasters, mixers and vacuum cleaners, sold by Sears, are no longer made in the U.S.

Is that the HRT talking

 

[BFHtime]

We're ******. Do they filter their results like they do my search results?

I would hate to see yahoos.....

Yes search results are filtered.

I had an internet advertising company contact me. I did the same search from three different computers, same ISP. I had three different sets of search results. Different people use the computers usually.

 

[notlob]

It is reasonable to assume the vast majority of the US population is focused on things other than the country of origin of their hand tools:

Deplorable cretins.

 

[rambo19]

Ive bought some good stuff from china.