Craftsman tools

[Pikewrench]

Have seen a lot of rumors on the net about the failure of Craftsmans warranty. I have several propane torches made by Craftsman that had that warranty, but they quit making some time ago. Sears Holding informed today that they were backing the stores decision not to honor the warranty because I don't have the box that contains the Sears part number for the tool. So apparently if Craftsman no longer makes it and it doesn't have a part number on it, regardless of the Craftsman logo, they will not warranty it. I received this in an email and will share it

 

[zkling]

Go to a different store. How did the torch break? What is the modern equivalent?

 

[7th Kahuna]

If true, that's a discouraging turn of events. I'm with zkling however, try another store, or same store different day. Good luck.

 

[Steven67fr]

same store different day. Good luck.

It's amazing what that'll do!

 

[cburnscrx]

I have a feeling this is going to be a theme with Sears going forward. (see Evolv). I just don't see this ending well for the consumer OR Sears. It was a good run while it lasted, but all good things must come to an end.

 

[7th Kahuna]

I have a feeling this is going to be a theme with Sears going forward. (see Evolv). I just don't see this ending well for the consumer OR Sears. It was a good run while it lasted, but all good things must come to an end.

Evolv is an unfortunate necessity and a line that they should have introduced much earlier, not unlike the Dunlap and Companion tools of years past. Make them cheap, sell them cheap, and offer little or no warranty in most cases. At the same time, maintain the Craftsman line as top notch and with a full warranty and a 'higher than Harbor Freight' price point. Any change to their Craftsman warranty would be a short sighted shot to the foot.

 

[Farmall450]

Evolv is an unfortunate necessity and a line that they should have introduced much earlier, not unlike the Dunlap and Companion tools of years past. Make them cheap, sell them cheap, and offer little or no warranty in most cases. At the same time, maintain the Craftsman line as top notch and with a full warranty and a 'higher than Harbor Freight' price point. Any change to their Craftsman warranty would be a short sighted shot to the foot.

Yeah, that's all that keeps us GJ guys coming back, with the few remaining US tools.

 

[3xpendable]

Sears is sinking when it does go under I hope someone with some balls rescues craftsman

 

[7th Kahuna]

Sears is sinking when it does go under I hope someone with some balls rescues craftsman

Sears won't go under per se. Sears was purchased for four reasons, 1) its real estate holdings, 2) Craftsman, 3) Kenmore, and 4) DieHard. If it discontinued it's retail operations tomorrow, those four would continue to exist. Already that real estate is being leased to other companies such as 24 Hour Fitness, and their product lines are being carried in other stores. Two years ago, Sears spun off Orchard Supply Hardware here on the west coast. Loaded with debt prior to the spin off, Orchard ended up in bankruptcy and it's assets have now been purchased by Lowes. Lowes will continue to operate Orchard as Orchard so it will be interesting to see if it continues to carry the Sears brands. Could be that those brands also end up in Lowes proper. That would be an interesting and perhaps unfortunate turn for Sears retail.

So all that to say, that unless someone offers Sears Holdings a lot of money, Craftsman won't necessarily change ownership even if Sears retail stores close their doors.

I seem to remember reading that the three 'brands' had already been spun off into their own 'company'. If not, they were contemplating it.

 

[Farmall450]

Sears won't go under per se. Sears was purchased for four reasons, 1) its real estate holdings, 2) Craftsman, 3) Kenmore, and 4) DieHard. If it discontinued it's retail operations tomorrow, those four would continue to exist. Already that real estate is being leased to other companies such as 24 Hour Fitness, and their product lines are being carried in other stores. Two years ago, Sears spun off Orchard Supply Hardware here on the west coast. Loaded with debt prior to the spin off, Orchard ended up in bankruptcy and it's assets have now been purchased by Lowes. Lowes will continue to operate Orchard as Orchard so it will be interesting to see if it continues to carry the Sears brands. Could be that those brands also end up in Lowes proper. That would be an interesting and perhaps unfortunate turn for Sears retail.

So all that to say, that unless someone offers Sears Holdings a lot of money, Craftsman won't necessarily change ownership even if Sears retail stores close their doors.

I seem to remember reading that the three 'brands' had already been spun off into their own 'company'. If not, they were contemplating it.

Between it and Kmarts debt, who knows how long they'll stay open.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Between it and Kmarts debt, who knows how long they'll stay open.

At least until 2018, perhaps longer as they recently refinanced long term debt.

Sears division is on the fence, K-mart division is maybe a lost cause

Look for Grupo Carso (Sears Mexico) to step in if Sears Holdings doesn't right the ship

 

[7th Kahuna]

Sorry about stealing the thread, but how does Grupo Carso play into this? Are they a separate entity with an equity stake? I didn't realize there was another player in the game.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Sorry about stealing the thread, but how does Grupo Carso play into this? Are they a separate entity with an equity stake? I didn't realize there was another player in the game.

They are stockholders of Sears and expressed interest in purchasing Sears back in 2011 when Sears holdings shuttered many of their stores. Grupo Carso is a solid company with assets and credit lines to follow through with their stated interest.

In the meantime Sears has around 5 years to right itself, with current assets and credit lines. ESL investments could extend this farther as well.

Home Depot is also owned by a hedge fund, and at the start of the recession they too shuttered stores, trimmed back inventory, dropped lines, off shored merchandised. HD is a much more healthy company now due to those actions. Sears is doing much of the same now. Stuff that perhaps should have been done a few years earlier.

 

[niferous]

I was in Sears last Saturday looking for an impact socket, and would have settled for a hand socket, to work on a truck the next day. I don't like shopping at Sears already because I'm a Wright Tool, Snap-On Williams, Apex, and Proto distributor, but it was Saturday and I have a Sears about two minutes from my house. So as I'm looking for the impact all they had was sets and all of those were made in China. I thought for sure I'd find it in the hand sockets. I found it but the set was also made in China. Every socket set they had, and I checked every one, was made in China. They had one large OD, standard depth, metric socket set that was made in the USA left and that was it.

I guess I will have to plan ahead and purchase my tools ahead of time at work from now on. With my employee discount most of the time they are the same price or lower than Sears anyhow.

 

[ihredo4]

Between it and Kmarts debt, who cares how long they'll stay open.

Fixed it for you or for me anyhow!

 

[7th Kahuna]

I'm not ready to give up on them yet. If there were many other options maybe, but as I don't have access to (or a budget for) the trucks, and I know better than to buy actual TOOLS at Harbor Freight or generally the box stores, I have to hope that Sears gets it together. They could if they wanted to, they have the volume. USA made tools however may be a stretch. Sears has never made their own tools, they rely on outside contractors and it seems that they aren't here anymore. China isn't the answer and I hate to see so many Chinese tools on the shelf. Reserve the China made tools for Evolv. Craftsman tools made in Taiwan, Spain, or perhaps Germany may be our best option. With the Spanish economy what it is now, there could be a good opportunity there. Snap-On's EuroTools Division makes tools there (Palmera). My local Sears has a good number of Taiwanese tools in the mix already. Maybe one day we will bring more production back home. As long as natural gas prices remain low, who knows. In the mean time I would just like to see Sears get their act together, Craftsman and otherwise, and provide a decent quality tool at a reasonable price. If something doesn't change, we may be stuck ordering tools from Amazon because all the other stores have closed up shop and moved on.

 

[niferous]

If you can't plan ahead then that's what you'll be bound to unless you can find an industrial supplier that caries one of the USA brands. I just joined tonight, but if anyone is in Houston my company is on the North side by the airport and we carry USA made tools.

Out in LA you may find a Grainger or Fastenal but they'll be really high. Look for a mom and pop industrial supply house and there is a good chance they'll carry made in the USA tools like Wright, Williams, Martin, Armstrong, or Proto. We sell into the oilfield markets so I can't really help you being out in LA. I just cut a PO two weeks ago for over six figures worth of Wright Tools up in North Dakota if anyone is stuck up in that wonderful area and needs anything.

 

[7th Kahuna]

^ Welcome.

 

[Hootbro]

People have been predicting Sears of going under "any day" for close to 20+ years now, yet they still are around. I suspect in some shape or form, they will be around 20+ years from now.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Here is your part number

 

[SMKS]

Do we know if the torch actually had a lifetime warranty? I don't know if someone can provide a picture of the other side of the package.

Sometimes with warranty that's just the way the cookie crumbles. The best the OP can probably hope for is some kind of partial refund.