Firebrick43
Well-known member
Um, you realized craftsman was always outsourced? It was never made by Sears but made on contract by dozens of different manufactures.
Is Lowes going to take on Craftsman?
- Thread starter IndyGarage
- Start date
Um, you realized craftsman was always outsourced? It was never made by Sears but made on contract by dozens of different manufactures.
Empty Pockets
Well-known member
My guess is that SBD is counting on two things.
1.) Brand recognition. Most casual tool users recognize the name "Craftsman", and assume it to be quality. IMO SBD will capitalize on the brand name, and ride that horse as long as they can.
2.) Anticipation of Sears failure. We all know that Sears is in a death spiral. Once Sears disappears from the landscape, They can promote the brand with no competition.
Believe it or not, there are still people out there that think Stanley made Chinese junk is still a good tool
1.) Brand recognition. Most casual tool users recognize the name "Craftsman", and assume it to be quality. IMO SBD will capitalize on the brand name, and ride that horse as long as they can.
2.) Anticipation of Sears failure. We all know that Sears is in a death spiral. Once Sears disappears from the landscape, They can promote the brand with no competition.
Believe it or not, there are still people out there that think Stanley made Chinese junk is still a good tool
OP
IndyGarage
Well-known member
It sounds like I may be out of line regarding Lowes.
However I don't think SBD is intending to pay $900 million and let the brand drop. They have the ability and the network to bring Craftsman back from the abyss. They will have to place it in some pretty big outlets, and the fact that Lowes just started carrying Stanley ratchet sets, made me think that might be the place they were planning on targeting.
For those of you who automatically think made in China means junk - you are wrong. You may not like the fact that things are made in China but that does not mean it is lower quality than made in USA or made anywhere else.
I have a couple of Stanley brand Chinese made ratchets, and they are very good.
However I don't think SBD is intending to pay $900 million and let the brand drop. They have the ability and the network to bring Craftsman back from the abyss. They will have to place it in some pretty big outlets, and the fact that Lowes just started carrying Stanley ratchet sets, made me think that might be the place they were planning on targeting.
For those of you who automatically think made in China means junk - you are wrong. You may not like the fact that things are made in China but that does not mean it is lower quality than made in USA or made anywhere else.
I have a couple of Stanley brand Chinese made ratchets, and they are very good.
True, but they contracted for lower and lower quality ( i.e. how low can you deliver it for?). Then they hit bottom and went to China. Danaher, Easco, and SK all made Craftsman back when the tools were decent. Also, a lot of the Craftsman appeal was not that the tools were that great but the replacement policy was so liberal. They would exchange anything, no matter how abused.
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I have and use the few stragglers of ¿tanley sockets from a box set I outgrew. Import from Asia and as good as the rest of the mixed import sockets I have been using a long time. No fails or proof of the idea they ruin fasteners at two yards distance.
Quite the opposite. Just good solid tools. The new wrenches impress me less after the last style change. But those before float the shop I work in.
At home a small pile of Stanley Workmaster DOE is turning slowly into a full set. COO be damned whatever it is, those are solid users.
Time proven in hard use is all I need to declare something is good. I don't need to check passports. Some Stanley products compete with the best of anyone.
Some products of the "best" brands flop with the worst of Chinese low price point junk.
Its all in learning to choose carefully.
Quite the opposite. Just good solid tools. The new wrenches impress me less after the last style change. But those before float the shop I work in.
At home a small pile of Stanley Workmaster DOE is turning slowly into a full set. COO be damned whatever it is, those are solid users.
Time proven in hard use is all I need to declare something is good. I don't need to check passports. Some Stanley products compete with the best of anyone.
Some products of the "best" brands flop with the worst of Chinese low price point junk.
Its all in learning to choose carefully.
yamaha0343
Well-known member
It seems like every one of these threads is shortsighted on the range of the Craftsman line. Craftsman is not just tools and tool boxes. Craftsman is all of that plus lawnmowers, weed whackers, blowers, hoses, rakes, etc. It's a huge line and the tool side possibly isn't even where the big money is.
On top of that, Craftsman isn't pointed at Garage Journal type users that obsess over every detail and freak out about chrome imperfections on their SK sockets. Craftsman is pointed at Joe Homeowner that just needs to get something done.
On top of that, Craftsman isn't pointed at Garage Journal type users that obsess over every detail and freak out about chrome imperfections on their SK sockets. Craftsman is pointed at Joe Homeowner that just needs to get something done.
Moparman390
Well-known member
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Once again, this ^^^
sberry
Banned
I think the Stanley stuff is good. It works and as a bonus it is cheap. I beat some cheap wrenches bad and they are still good. That is from experience, more works than doesnt. 30 yes ago I wouldn't have had the same opinion fueled by the same sound bite hype we see today, lots of opinions, little subjective fact.
I also think Snapon is as good or better than it ever was. Absolutely no reason for them to cheap it in the hardline, wouldn't save much in the grand scheme of things.
I also think Snapon is as good or better than it ever was. Absolutely no reason for them to cheap it in the hardline, wouldn't save much in the grand scheme of things.
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The Workmaster line is 30 years ago the industrial offerings.
COO unknown to me but I like them.
Then later I had import combos about 2000 vintage. A few job changes and we parted ways, only to return to work for the guy that bought them.
Still going strong.
I have import Gray combos to replace them at home.
Well used some with random owner's marks or bad chrome, who cares if I don't? Also quite good. Nearly the same generic tool with another name.
In the end I just like the old Workmaster better. Bad finish aside they aged well wherever they were before me.
The new style offered by Stanley isn't bad but frankly I don't need to change a thing to keep working. The others still do the job.
That says a lot about the quality.
COO unknown to me but I like them.
Then later I had import combos about 2000 vintage. A few job changes and we parted ways, only to return to work for the guy that bought them.
Still going strong.
I have import Gray combos to replace them at home.
Well used some with random owner's marks or bad chrome, who cares if I don't? Also quite good. Nearly the same generic tool with another name.
In the end I just like the old Workmaster better. Bad finish aside they aged well wherever they were before me.
The new style offered by Stanley isn't bad but frankly I don't need to change a thing to keep working. The others still do the job.
That says a lot about the quality.
All companies are all about making money, including making a few extra pennies if possible. Don't confuse companies for profit vs non-profit charities. Even in a $50K car, if they can save a few pennies, they will do it. So for a $4 socket, you bet they will absolutely do it.
JoJoSnap
Well-known member
Why worry over where craftsman will be destined as to be stock in one of these stores.. value the old days, take the high road, move on. Jump on in a diff band wagon. Thats what I did.. im newly proud owner of gw even tho its made in china or tawain, and if i want some usa decent quality.. has to be wright. If it goes to that
I dumped most of craftsman power tools 20v except reciprocating saw.. still waiting for this to be bought out! My new collection is Ridgid and some Kobalt. Still have craftsman pro air impact 700lbs and im keeping it. The rest from the past.. my honeymoon with them is over
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I dumped most of craftsman power tools 20v except reciprocating saw.. still waiting for this to be bought out! My new collection is Ridgid and some Kobalt. Still have craftsman pro air impact 700lbs and im keeping it. The rest from the past.. my honeymoon with them is over
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Just plain Gearwrench. Apex stopped using the KD brand name. Products inherited from the KD line are now just plain Gearwrench, though they may still have part numbers beginning KD.. They shut down the Allen and Armstrong brands, too.
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Lowes would not be out of pocket for replacements. The inconvenience is offset by something every retailer wants, to get you into the store. That is why Costco gives away food samples. If you buy the sampled product, great, but the main reason is to keep you in there and shopping.
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Furd50
Well-known member
Most of my hand tools are Craftsman but I bought them 30-plus years ago. I recently bought a new Crescent wrench and compared to the wrenches they made 50-plus years ago they are ****. Same with Diamond adjustable wrenches. I've looked at Kobalt tools and I think they are **** compared to my older tools, regardless of manufacturer.
Bottom line is that no one, except possibly Snap-On makes hand tools that compare to the same items, even the same name, tools of the 1940s through '60s. I wish I could get some more OLD Williams adjustable wrenches.
As for Craftsman returning to US manufacture OR the quality they had in the past...if you believe either I have a bridge to sell you.
Bottom line is that no one, except possibly Snap-On makes hand tools that compare to the same items, even the same name, tools of the 1940s through '60s. I wish I could get some more OLD Williams adjustable wrenches.
As for Craftsman returning to US manufacture OR the quality they had in the past...if you believe either I have a bridge to sell you.
The Craftsman threads on this forum always focus on the hand tools. That's understandable considering the focus of GJ generally. Don't forget, however, that the lawn and garden line accounts for 40% of Craftsman revenue compared to 35% for tools. The lawn and garden line fills a void in SBD's lineup. How they want to market the lawn and garden products will guide how the hand tools are marketed. (up market, value ect.)
see the presentation linked on this page. http://ir.stanleyblackanddecker.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=114416&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2252727
see the presentation linked on this page. http://ir.stanleyblackanddecker.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=114416&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2252727
Loscaldazar
Well-known member
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Hand tools have improved immensely since that time. I'll take a modern cold forged socket over a machined or drop forged socket from the 40s-60s. Or even some of the sintered metal **** that was USA made.
Modern ratchets, wrenches, pliers, adjustable wrenches, vise grips, etc have all improved. The improved version might not be USA made (vise grips), but there is some great stuff out there.
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
I'm going to sit back and wait for You to find out more and post it..
Thanks in advance for saving Me from the worries and lost sleep on the matter
The only reason I can dream up for SBD to buy the Craftsman name is to control it's future course. There are no factories; it is only a brand name.
I could dream up a better use for $900M, but maybe I dream too much
The only reason I can dream up for SBD to buy the Craftsman name is to control it's future course. There are no factories; it is only a brand name.
I could dream up a better use for $900M, but maybe I dream too much
It's a brand but also a large customer wants of some of SBD's competitors. For the price SBD acquires a brand and can stike a blow to its competitors' demand. This is more so if Sears goes away and eliminates their independent sourcing rights.
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I have a lot of old Williams and SK, too. The current SK and Wright are as good as anything previously made and they are made in USA. Lang is also made here and a quality product. There are several other US brands.
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rowerwet
Well-known member
Lowe's doesn't handle the warranty end of cobalt tools very well, I hope they don't handle Craftsman , I've been told I couldn't warranty the exact same ratchet because the current one has a different handle, and that changes the sku, so no warranty.
I stopped buying cobalt then
I stopped buying cobalt then
It makes me wonder the state of society.
We buy mid-low and fodder at big box stores based mostly on price. We know they change models and brands periodically.
Did you really expect that warranty would be honored on a fourteen dollar tool four years later?
I usually make or save enough money in the first two jobs to cover the cost of the tool and after that its all heading into profits.
I buy mid range fodder myself for the larger part. It is more than adequate to do what I need.
Some of it is ten years old and still being used daily at work without prestige or fail. Some of it the brand has long since flopped and disappeared.
Warranty is second to a solid tool that needs none for two reasons. It has long been making profits and won't break in normal use.
The guys with proudly owned old CM tools know this well. Worn but not cracked or bent, stuff dad handed down, whatever it still does what it was designed to do.
Should they finish wearing it out, hang it on the wall as metric almosts or recycle the stuff.
We buy mid-low and fodder at big box stores based mostly on price. We know they change models and brands periodically.
Did you really expect that warranty would be honored on a fourteen dollar tool four years later?
I usually make or save enough money in the first two jobs to cover the cost of the tool and after that its all heading into profits.
I buy mid range fodder myself for the larger part. It is more than adequate to do what I need.
Some of it is ten years old and still being used daily at work without prestige or fail. Some of it the brand has long since flopped and disappeared.
Warranty is second to a solid tool that needs none for two reasons. It has long been making profits and won't break in normal use.
The guys with proudly owned old CM tools know this well. Worn but not cracked or bent, stuff dad handed down, whatever it still does what it was designed to do.
Should they finish wearing it out, hang it on the wall as metric almosts or recycle the stuff.