Craftsman V Series...

[Ohio Andy]

The V line, is such a small part of craftsman anyway. You know they got more stuff.

I saw that channel lock sold small screwdriver handle keychains and I wanted some. Could not find them. I found some old stock craftsman on eBay, waiting on them. Didn't know if they still make keychains.... First lawnmower I bought was craftsman... To many expensive plastic parts kept breaking, but it was light and worked well enough.

 

[Ohio Andy]

Assuming the best in me is a really bad idea.

Edit: wait when did I ever make a good point? I need to record that.

Don't tell your wife, you're probably only allowed to do that once a year...

 

[dchawk81]

I saw that channel lock sold small screwdriver handle keychains and I wanted some. Could not find them. I found some old stock craftsman on eBay, waiting on them. Didn't know if they still make keychains.... First lawnmower I bought was craftsman... To many expensive plastic parts kept breaking, but it was light and worked well enough.

I spent some stupid money on some old Craftsman double box end 12 point wrenches out of curiosity and they're lacking.

That's why I look at the brand side eyed and not with rose colored glasses.

 

[dchawk81]

Don't tell your wife, you're probably only allowed to do that once a year...

I don't have a wife therefore I can go full 4-tard on anything I desire even if I'm drunk at the time.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I don't have a wife therefore I can go full 4-tard on anything I desire even if I'm drunk at the time.

Best laugh I have had in a long time.

 

[powertrip]

Just back from Lowes and picked up another 1/2” V series ratchet for $18.

Same process with every ratchet I buy. Quick lube and run it on the drill for a minute or two in each direction and these ratchets are excellent.

I cannot find a better ratchet for $18.

How are you lubing them? I have been slowly dropping super lube synthetic oil into the direction selector and waiting for it to seep in. The drive end has a oring washer that seals that side pretty good.

Scratch that, I see you are doing something similar to my way.

 

[Vinny]

This is the reason why I stopped shopping at Lowe's. I began noticing the employees hovering and following me around the store while I shopped, on more than one occasion. The last time it happened, I was looking at Craftsman Overdrive sets in the tool department and an employee asked if I needed help. I politely said "No thank you, just looking", so he proceeded to 'straighten things up' along the aisle, all while staying near me and moving to another aisle if I moved there. As someone who makes it a point to be aware of my surrounding at all times, it was nerving.

They don't do that at my Lowes because they've pretty much locked up everything besides lumber.

 

[Jtels85]

They don't do that at my Lowes because they've pretty much locked up everything besides lumber.

We have certain stores that lock up their product behind glass and cages. Not only does it deter theft, it deters honest paying customers. Our local O'Reilly's recently locked up their headlight bulbs behind a sliding glass display case. That means I now have to wait in line for 15 minutes, usually along with undesirables who reek of BO and skunk weed, just to be told by the dopey counterman that his manager has the only key but left for the day.

It's less of a hassle to buy online and have it shipped to the house.

I don't know what else retail establishments are supposed to do in order to deter theft, but when it begins to inconvenience the people who do pay for their goods... you now have a whole new problem.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Who said they are dumb?

My biggest issue with SBD is that they promised to build up domestic manufacturing. They had a strong campaign and said all the things, but in the end... what can you do?

I THINK that the craftsman line of business is still afloat because SDB has other lines of business still bringing in a profit for the business. Not every line of business needs to be profitable for a business to be profitable...

You and some others are clearly stating it. Do you really believe that Craftsman is being kept afloat by the other Stanley brands? Sorry had to laugh at that statement. I'm sure porter cable or stanley(generic line) is flying off the shelf's. Or maybe Mac Is propping up the line. Come on, craftsman has name recognition, and good enough tools for 90% of the buying public.

 

[Vinny]

We have certain stores that lock up their product behind glass and cages. Not only does it deter theft, it deters honest paying customers. Our local O'Reilly's recently locked up their headlight bulbs behind a sliding glass display case. That means I now have to wait in line for 15 minutes, usually along with undesirables who reek of BO and skunk weed, just to be told by the dopey counterman that his manager has the only key but left for the day.

It's less of a hassle to buy online and have it shipped to the house.

I don't know what else retail establishments are supposed to do in order to deter theft, but when it begins to inconvenience the people who do pay for their goods... you now have a whole new problem.

I hear that. I went to buy some breakers and nobody could find anyone that had the key. I left and just ordered it online.
It *****, but like you said, what else can they do?

 

[Toold_up]

You and some others are clearly stating it.

Let me be clear because you aren't understanding what I'm writing. I do not think SBD is dumb.

Do you really believe that Craftsman is being kept afloat by the other Stanley brands? Sorry had to laugh at that statement. I'm sure porter cable or stanley(generic line) is flying off the shelf's. Or maybe Mac Is propping up the line. Come on, craftsman has name recognition, and good enough tools for 90% of the buying public.

Do you think Porter Cable is profitable?

 

[finn]

Let me be clear because you aren't understanding what I'm writing. I do not think SBD is dumb.




Do you think Porter Cable is profitable?

Given that it has evolved to pretty much a house brand for Tractor Supply, it may very well be profitable for SBD to continue manufacturing the brand under contract for TSC.

All marketing expenses are probably borne by TSC, there’s nothing really unique about the hardware components themselves, except the plastic overlays, and engineering support likely isn’t needed.

It doesn’t cost much to build, as the tooling has been there for years, and the brand can easily latch on to product development that’s being done for the other SBD brands.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Let me be clear because you aren't understanding what I'm writing. I do not think SBD is dumb.




Do you think Porter Cable is profitable?

It profitable enough to still being kept alive. It's a cheap brand with no real investment .

Just looking at reported craftsman sales from a few years back can paint a picture. 196 million in 2019 only 2 years after the purchase. You can not be serious with your assessment.

 

[Toold_up]

It profitable enough to still being kept alive. It's a cheap brand with no real investment .

Well the way you said it before was that there is no way porter cable brings in enough to prop up Craftsman. Porter Cable's parent company was bought in 2004 and is for sure turning a profit now, especially since the tooling is in place and the only difference is a face lift.

Being profitable means bringing in net revenue. SBD is profitable, the Craftsman line of business is not. There is too much debt for their balance sheets to be in the black.

 

[Toold_up]

Given that it has evolved to pretty much a house brand for Tractor Supply, it may very well be profitable for SBD to continue manufacturing the brand under contract for TSC.

All marketing expenses are probably borne by TSC, there’s nothing really unique about the hardware components themselves, except the plastic overlays, and engineering support likely isn’t needed.

It doesn’t cost much to build, as the tooling has been there for years, and the brand can easily latch on to product development that’s being done for the other SBD brands.

100%

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Well the way you said it before was that there is no way porter cable brings in enough to prop up Craftsman. Porter Cable's parent company was bought in 2004 and is for sure turning a profit now, especially since the tooling is in place and the only difference is a face lift.

Being profitable means bringing in net revenue. SBD is profitable, the Craftsman line of business is not. There is too much debt for their balance sheets to be in the black.

I did not say that, they don't make the money the other brands do. They small compared to craftsman. I'm sure craftsman will soon be shutdown since it's loosing so much money.

 

[Toold_up]

I did not say that, they don't make the money the other brands do. They small compared to craftsman. I'm sure craftsman will soon be shutdown since it's loosing so much money.

Wow! You sure did change your point of view quickly! Are you okay?

 

[Etchase]

Stanley Black and Decker hasn’t made a profit in a couple years. I’m always surprised people haven’t realized that. They employ 15,000 and should probably be supported against the foreign competition. They make arguably the best or very close to it in every category.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Stanley Black and Decker hasn’t made a profit in a couple years. I’m always surprised people haven’t realized that. They employ 15,000 and should probably be supported against the foreign competition. They make arguably the best or very close to it in every category.

Big conglomerates operate differently. Besides that's not what we were discussing, only how much a brand contributes to the whole portfolio. To think that a popular, nostalgic, arguably great name like craftsman isn't contributing to the whole is well.... It was already sears greatest asset while the rest of the company was in flames. Even with it's declining quality and sales.

 

[finn]

Stanley Black and Decker hasn’t made a profit in a couple years. I’m always surprised people haven’t realized that. They employ 15,000 and should probably be supported against the foreign competition. They make arguably the best or very close to it in every category.

SBD net profit was $4.475 billion dollars in 2024, up from $3.9 billion in 2023.

 

[Andres26tnt]

SBD net profit was $4.475 billion dollars in 2024, up from $3.9 billion in 2023.

They are targeting 17 billion by 2027 . They should shut down craftsman immediately, is hemorrhaging too much money, it's gonna be the downfall of the company.

 

[Ohio Andy]

Boy if we talked about their profitability for a long time.

I like most of the overdrive stuff I've tried. I don't like the ratchets I've tried. The screwdrivers are great. Like the V ratcheting wrenches.

They had some interesting looking sets with a ratchet, some bits and some sockets, I never tried them but they looked interesting.

What are the other V series tools ?

 

[Dakotadadv8]

CM V series are nice tools affordable prices. Unfortunately upgraded from CM to SO wrenches, ratchets, sockets, screwdrivers over the years before the VSeries came out. Once you go SO tough to go back.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Boy if we talked about their profitability for a long time.

I like most of the overdrive stuff I've tried. I don't like the ratchets I've tried. The screwdrivers are great. Like the V ratcheting wrenches.

They had some interesting looking sets with a ratchet, some bits and some sockets, I never tried them but they looked interesting.

What are the other V series tools ?

They have a mostly full line. Sockets sets in all sizes(no skips). Tool sets in both metric/SAE separately(no skips). Two wrench sets, unfortunately skips some sizes. 2 ratchet screwdrivers. 3 sets of screwdriver regular/torx. 3 sets of hex sockets(skip sizes), 1 set of hex T handles. 3 different pliers.

I would say the majority of the V line is great quality. The ratchets are the only meh to some. They could have done a better job with them. Also offer no skip sizes at those prices points. All very fixable issues.

 

[BrandonV]

The new V series was poorly launched being only available online at Lowes & Ace Hardware. I know several of you stated that there were large Craftsman V Series displays at your local Lowes but, that wasn't the case in my area.

I do enough traveling work in Phoenix to have the pleasure or perhaps displeasure of hitting almost all the Home Depots & Lowes in the Phoenix area.

I've never seen any V Series display at a Lowes (to your point). The V series interests me enough to buy it if I happen to run into it locally... not going to seek it out online.

Not sure what their marketing strategy is with this one.

 

[finn]

I do enough traveling work in Phoenix to have the pleasure or perhaps displeasure of hitting almost all the Home Depots & Lowes in the Phoenix area.

I've never seen any V Series display at a Lowes (to your point). The V series interests me enough to buy it if I happen to run into it locally... not going to seek it out online.

Not sure what their marketing strategy is with this one.

Pretty sure Lowe’s blew out the V series during Christmas, just like they did the SK ratcheting wrenches last year.

There’s some speculation that the V series will disappear for good, as the regular prices, prior to the Christmas “ clearance”, has been gar and above what a typical Craftsman customer was willing to pay.

The V series tools were /are basically high end SBD tools normally marketed under the FACOM or MAC monikers.

Don’t hold your breath waiting for them to be restocked.

People for the most part aren’t willing to pay a premium for quality tools.

They want cheap.

That’s what killed the SBD Texas plant.

 

[Ohio Andy]

They have a mostly full line. Sockets sets in all sizes(no skips). Tool sets in both metric/SAE separately(no skips). Two wrench sets, unfortunately skips some sizes. 2 ratchet screwdrivers. 3 sets of screwdriver regular/torx. 3 sets of hex sockets(skip sizes), 1 set of hex T handles. 3 different pliers.

I would say the majority of the V line is great quality. The ratchets are the only meh to some. They could have done a better job with them. Also offer no skip sizes at those prices points. All very fixable issues.

Wow, thanks. Did but know about the wrench or wire cutters.... I knew about one of the ratcheting screwdrivers, but not the one with the bits. Looks like those have some "extract" technology.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Wow, thanks. Did but know about the wrench or wire cutters.... I knew about one of the ratcheting screwdrivers, but not the one with the bits. Looks like those have some "extract" technology.

Yeah I have most of the line. The flush cuts are great, but only that, Won't cut anything hard. The bits have the facom version of RBRT, you can buy the whole set from them. The pliers wrench is the real gem of the line. Very good quality, great button switch, slightly bigger opening. It's about par with the knipex, but probably not as strong due to only having the teeth on one side.

 

[mikey03]

I got two sets of Proto combination wrenches, a set of Wright combo wrenches, and half a set of snap on flank drive combos I’m piecing together as i find deals. And the way you guys are talking up these V series combo wrenches you got me real close to hunting for a set at Lowe’s and Ace hardware.

if you guys trick me Into buying a 5th set of combination wrenches… I swear

 

[Andres26tnt]

I got two sets of Proto combination wrenches, a set of Wright combo wrenches, and half a set of snap on flank drive combos I’m piecing together as i find deals. And the way you guys are talking up these V series combo wrenches you got me real close to hunting for a set at Lowe’s and Ace hardware.

if you guys trick me Into buying a 5th set of combination wrenches… I swear

If you hate skips buy the facom 44O or usag 285. Same wrench just with more size options. One thing for sure tho, you ain't getting those for 40$

 

[PowrKraftsman]

I got the SAE and metric sets of V series reversible ratcheting wrenches for $29 each at Lowe’s at the end of October.

 

[neophyte]

Touche! I'm just spitballin but the sales volume (liquidation through clearance) isn't there. The profit margins ($80 wrenches sold for $40) does not equal profit!



^ That is the problem. Out of control market. Inxpensive goods through unfare labor and trade to the expense of domestic manufacturing! Stabme-intheback-anddeckr promised domestic manufacturing (bait) and delivered foreign made goods regardless of quality (switch) in place of the initial offering.



70% of all goods would be manufactured domestically if I recollect from their press confrence. So far they have shut down the dallas tool plant and i'm not 100% sure about the other products but I don't see anything on the shelves at my local store with red white and blue packaging anymore. The only things Craftsman with the USA sticker are tool boxes and air compressors.

CRAFTSMAN® BUILD ON™ | Tools, Storage and Outdoor Equipment

From quick fixes to big builds, CRAFTSMAN® helps DIY-ers tackle projects around the home, yard, garage and everywhere in between with confidence.

www.craftsman.com

I'd love to see some tarrifs on foreign goods to even out the playing field and return some manufacturing to this country! SBD is trying to out harbor-freight Harbor-Freight with the Craftaman name and I think thats a war of attrition.

The profit margins on certain products at home centers may be way higher than you realize.
I think some member on here said the little bags of screws at Home Depot cost HD somewhere around $0.08-$0.10, and Home Depot sold those bagged screws for $1.00+.
Actual tools likely have a higher wholesale cost, but for hand tools, wholesale might only be 25% of retail for a high volume retailer like Lowes.
This would still leave a profit margin on a tool marked down by 60%.
If The space occupied by the Craftsman tools is simply being “rented” by Stanley, then I presume prices may be set by Stanley, and any markdown is Stanley’s choice, and likely any markdown is Stanley’s choice as well, and likely doesn’t lose money either.

 

[Toold_up]

The profit margins on certain products at home centers may be way higher than you realize.
I think some member on here said the little bags of screws at Home Depot cost HD somewhere around $0.08-$0.10, and Home Depot sold those bagged screws for $1.00+.
Actual tools likely have a higher wholesale cost, but for hand tools, wholesale might only be 25% of retail for a high volume retailer like Lowes.
This would still leave a profit margin on a tool marked down by 60%.
If The space occupied by the Craftsman tools is simply being “rented” by Stanley, then I presume prices may be set by Stanley, and any markdown is Stanley’s choice, and likely any markdown is Stanley’s choice as well, and likely doesn’t lose money either.

If the V series line has such high profit margins why isn't that on the shelves in Lowes instead of the generic raised panel stuff? The only time V series was in store was when it was being clearanced.

 

[Toold_up]

You know, maybe SBD is dumb. Why would they stand up an experimental automated tool plant in a country with such high operating expenses? They could have done that in India or China as a proof of concept for the cheap raised panel stuff. If that was successful then version 2.0 in USA...

The more I think about this, the more it doesn't make sense.

 

[Fly YX]

I turned in my two week notice at my job.. I actually gave them about a year. We had about two interviews did not go very well.

I’ve already moved pretty much all my tools to the new house in North Carolina. I had one five drawer harbor freight box there. Figure I could fit that in the back of the jeep and drive it to the house in North Carolina.


As I was doing my exit interview, they decided to fly me back-and-forth from Wisconsin to North Carolina. They gave me a raise and pay for flights. I ended up buying a bunch of new tools. I got the V series stuff when it was on sale. The rat wrenches metric and sae and the long ones. A pack of the screwdrivers and a couple ratchets.. Got some stuff at advance auto parts too on clearance.
Not as good as the stuff I originally had, but can’t complain about it either it works it works.

 

[KnurledNut]

Yeah I have most of the line. The flush cuts are great, but only that, Won't cut anything hard. The bits have the facom version of RBRT, you can buy the whole set from them. The pliers wrench is the real gem of the line. Very good quality, great button switch, slightly bigger opening. It's about par with the knipex, but probably not as strong due to only having the teeth on one side.

Craftsman X-Tract is not the same as Facom OGV.

 

[Steve_P]

You know, maybe SBD is dumb. Why would they stand up an experimental automated tool plant in a country with such high operating expenses? They could have done that in India or China as a proof of concept for the cheap raised panel stuff. If that was successful then version 2.0 in USA...

The more I think about this, the more it doesn't make sense.

I'm sure if you submit your resume to them, they'll hire you in an instant to run their billion-dollar company- since it's obvious that you're a business genius and know more than they do since you have time to post on a forum.

 

[dchawk81]

You know, maybe SBD is dumb. Why would they stand up an experimental automated tool plant in a country with such high operating expenses? They could have done that in India or China as a proof of concept for the cheap raised panel stuff. If that was successful then version 2.0 in USA...

The more I think about this, the more it doesn't make sense.

Apparently they had issues with getting the automated machinery up and running, which would have made the factory fail no matter where it was located.

Also, they kind of were stupid for spending any money on the rights to the Craftsman brand, since nobody outside the cheap, aging, vocal GJ bubble actually cares about it after all.

Companies make bad decisions all the time. This was one, IMHO.

 

[Toold_up]

I'm sure if you submit your resume to them, they'll hire you in an instant to run their billion-dollar company- since it's obvious that you're a business genius and know more than they do since you have time to post on a forum.

Yeah I'm sure they are hiring because they guy who was in charge of the Dallas plant project most definitely got reassigned.

 

[Steel_Rain]

since nobody outside the cheap, aging, vocal GJ bubble actually cares about it after all.

Hey! Not all of us!

Well…now that I think about it, I am a cheap son of a *****.

Damn.