I think China Craftsman's quality is improving.

[Onefastgsx]

Ok.. Not really. I reached for the 11mm socket in my brothers small metric socket set and clicked it onto an extention. Put the socket to the bolt I needed to loosen, and wait, I put the socket on backwards. No wait. They stamped it backwards! Left socket in the pics is the 11mm sitting next to a 12mm with the 5point side facing up on both. Has craftsmans standards really just gone down the toilet or what.

 

[nine4gmc]

Occasionally you will find that during manufacturing, a tool, especially sockets will get jumbled around on the production line and end up stamped on the wrong end/side. There have been examples of not getting broached correctly and I have couple that have the drive end but round hole where there should be a hex. Just happens sometimes with any mass producer. Some guys with the holier than thou Snap On tools find Williams or other brands mixed in their brand new unopened sets as well, can't blame this on China...unfortunately...

 

[cherokee140]

Well if you find any coins that are stamped like that please send them to me....you know quality has gone to hell.....well right after they started minting coins by machine.

So just send them my way....such garbage, and they are likely made by china as well.

 

[franzdom]

They didn't stamp it backwards so much as broach it backwards. Your thread title had me like, well I guess I should click on this and see who is buying chinese Craftsman, glad it was a bit more interesting than a Craftsman ****.

 

[Arps]

I had a Kobalt (made in USA) socket like that. I took it to Lowes and they were happy to exchange it for me.

 

[stage20]

I've got a mac socket or two like that. Back to craftsman, their china stuff is no match for older usa. Why buy china at 5 bucks a socket when you can get usa for a dollar at the flea market?

 

[dragonballz]

I have a USA made Craftsman 1/2 drive socket that is like that.

 

[monomach]

I've seen this in a ton of brands, even super expensive premiums. Chinese Craftsman has its problems, but this really isn't one of them, especially since it doesn't have an effect on actually using the thing.

 

[nieuport17]

I think I would keep it.
It's a conversation starter.
Or u can just return it and get a new one.
If the socket split on me, I would be upset. Stamp backwards not so much : )

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I've had snap on sockets stamped with the wrong size. It happens to anybody. My craftsman 1/2" ratchet got stamped twice. It looked 3-d

 

[theluke]

I bought a big Craftsman mechanic's tool set about 10 years ago. All made in the U.S.A. I have 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive sockets that came in the set that are exactly like that, probably 10 or 12 total that are upside down.

 

[lametec]

Happened when they were US made aswell.

Edit: I actually like my 14mm upside down socket. It makes it real easy to locate the 13mm and 15mm sockets on the rail!

 

[In The Doghouse]

This is too obvious. That socket is for left hand threads.

 

[Mud]

Where are we headed damn it!

 

[mrjaw14]

put it on ebay as a "rare" one of a kind craftsman socket...it'll fetch top dollar

 

[Mud]

I believe the Irish have infultrated China now!

 

[stage20]

It is for working on cars while on your back. I have a whole set like that. Wish I could find the ratchet to match. Haha

 

[SASORacing]

Why buy a China craftsman socket? There's a huge selection of USA still.

 

[atwageman]

I recently exchanged a new complete 1/2" Craftsman SAE and metric socket set because the detents on all the sockets were either missing or fucked up. They were USA sets at that.

 

[rob1200]

...Left socket in the pics is the 11mm sitting next to a 12mm with the 5point side facing up on both.

5 point would be unusual.

 

[Farmall450]

That'll be worth big money someday.

 

[stage20]

I recently exchanged a new complete 1/2" Craftsman SAE and metric socket set because the detents on all the sockets were either missing or fucked up. They were USA sets at that.

there was a thread a few weeks ago where a guys 3/8 kit would only work with the craftsman ratchet and extensions. i think he tired a snap on ratchet and the extensions and sockets would not fit. i like buying used stuff. at least you know it worked at one time.

 

[yowzer]

5 point would be unusual.

They do exist.

 

[Jim C.]

I admit that the title of the thread is misleading when compared to the picture posted by the OP. I guess it doesn't really matter much. My response would have been the same.... "I don't care, because I don't buy tools made in china."

Jim C.

 

[paulsomlo]

Why buy a China craftsman socket? There's a huge selection of USA still.

That's true - but I think you'll end up buying them from open stock.

I was at my local Sears last week, and most of the sockets and combo wrenches from open stock are still made in USA. In fact, that's how I got my set of USA made ratcheting combos - an expensive way to go. But all the sockets that I looked at that were packaged as a set, were made in China or Taiwan. I guess the economics are such that Chinese sockets are just not marketed singly. Admittedly, the prices on those socket sets are amazingly low, great, I suppose, for someone on a very limited budget and needing to get some basic tools.

 

[stage20]

My local sears just got rid of every piece of usa open stock on clearance. No stubby no more ratcheting singles or pros. Just raised panels and sockets now. All china.

 

[nochina1966]

My Sears did the same, I picked up a set of metric and SAE combo wrenches as well as linesmans pliers for 1/2 price a while back. Thinking they're making room for all the new imported stuff.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

I'm done with Craftsman (and as a happenstance, Sears) and wrote a letter to them and told them that. I'm not sure it even got read by anyone other than an "employee" named "Mike" in India.

They simply don't care about customers anymore. I went into the local Sears last weekend and they had redone the tool department (as described in the posts above) and I was disappointed even further (adding insult to injury of the move to off shore manufacturing of Craftsman). The place was deserted..

I've been buying Craftsman since I was able to get to the Sears store in Downtown South Bend myself, and got a Sears charge card in 1983. Numerous high dollar purchases over the years, appliances, home improvements, etc.

No more.

Dennis

 

[nochina1966]

I'm done with Craftsman (and as a happenstance, Sears) and wrote a letter to them and told them that. I'm not sure it even got read by anyone other than an "employee" named "Mike" in India.



They simply don't care about customers anymore. I went into the local Sears last weekend and they had redone the tool department (as described in the posts above) and I was disappointed even further (adding insult to injury of the move to off shore manufacturing of Craftsman). The place was deserted..



I've been buying Craftsman since I was able to get to the Sears store in Downtown South Bend myself, and got a Sears charge card in 1983. Numerous high dollar purchases over the years, appliances, home improvements, etc.



No more.



Dennis

Amen to that !

 

[franzdom]

I am not going to boycott them but they rarely interest me any more. I have made perhaps a purchase every year or so, latest is that good deal, the thread restoring kit.

 

[stage20]

I am not going to boycott them but they rarely interest me any more. I have made perhaps a purchase every year or so, latest is that good deal, the thread restoring kit.

yea. they are not my go to at all anymore. i can get old usa stuff from other places. anything i buy is usually online-pick-up-in-store. the service there has gotten better than it was 10 years ago, but they still have 6 or so people working that just stand there. i never see anyone doing anything. i dont know how sears pays so many employees and survives. china tools at usa prices if i had to guess. and low wages.

 

[kythri]

I am not going to boycott them but they rarely interest me any more. I have made perhaps a purchase every year or so, latest is that good deal, the thread restoring kit.

That's pretty much where I'm at, these days.

Honestly, even if Craftsman-branded stuff was still all-or-mostly domestic production, I think I'd still be in the same boat - I was lucky enough to build my collection of Craftsman tools with domestic stuff, and I can't rightly think of much I want or need that they offer.

I jumped on the thread restorer kit, I've jumped at the Craftsman Pro prybars when they came up, but overall, I'm at the point where my tool needs have progressed to specialty tools rather than general service tools.