There may be a lifetime warranty, and people may be paying pennies a piece, but will the tool last a lifetime if used everyday?
Someone using a particular Craftsman tool every day should soon have enough earnings to upgrade to a "better" or more durable tool.
Anyways, Merkava, your core argument has an ENORMOUS fundamental flaw.
You propose that Sears is dragging down Danaher's reputation.
I counter with this - many people have never heard of Danaher. We, the type of people on GJ, are not what you consider average or typical.
The typical tool buyer knows that Sears sells Craftsman tools. Everyone knows of Craftsman. Few know of Danaher.
If you ask say 100 DIYers or hobbyists what brand of tools Sears sells, most will say Craftsman. Ask them who makes those tools, they will say Craftsman. Only a select few will say "Danaher and various other manufacturers."
So... even IF Sears is bringing down the Danaher name for those that are familiar with Danaher, the majority of Craftsman shoppers are unaffected. If Sears' Craftsman line was entirely switched to a different supplier, Danaher's sales would certainly be dealt a crippling blow - such a blow in fact, that they would likely have to raise prices on their other tool lines or drop manufacturing costs.
Speculation aside, think about it, for every one person who owns say, Matco tools, how many own Craftsman. For every $1000 in Matco tools that are bought, how many $1000s and $1000s of Craftsman tools are bought.
Let me give you another example. How many people buy Dell computers? If I recall correctly, my parents' computer has a Foxconn motherboard inside. If I went to my father and told him that I was going to build his next computer with a Foxconn motherboard, he'll say no.
The majority of people don't know, nor do they care to know, about manufacturers or suppliers other than the brand name they see on a product. This why so many people buy junky "Kawasaki" and "Jeep" bicycles, and crappy imported Snap-on flashlights.
