Let sears know how i feel about chinese tools

[volpster31]

http://www.mysears.com/Tools--7018/...er-service-and-help-with-Tools-at-Sears/posts

i kinda shmoozed about the quality and warranty,but i got the ball rolling and i hope this guy remembers it.... he probobally cant do a thing about it,but i got my point across.

 

[griff99]

Thanks for pointing this out, I just posted a response, maybe they will hear us.

 

[boybacon]

I did something similar in the "Ideas" section that you can vote on:
http://www.mysears.com/ideas/Identify-country-of-origin-for-tools-in-the-product-description

 

[Hiball]

I gave them a little bit of my mind also, Its probably already deleted.. LOL

I Agree with some of the other comments, The days of impulse buys are over. The Internet as given Consumer the power to learn about there purchases prior to heading to the store. I heard some nasty rumors that Sears decided to offshore there Professional line of tools which included the Flare Wrenches and Now the Combination. I decided to make a run to a Big Sears store outside StLouis Mo and i in fact seen the Flares and the Manager confirmed that the Pro line was also moving overseas. I dont understand Sears marketing move as they already had all levels/Price points covered via the Evolve, Craftsman and Professional series. I read a earlier comment that claimed the Warranty was essentially all that was important, I strongly disagree. When i start a job.. I dont want to stop midway to have to warranty a tool. I want to be confident that the Tool i own is gonna get the job done, I also want to support a company that cares about fellow american Jobs in regards to the Manufacturing process. Ill be the first one to tell you that i ONLY purchase USA made tools, and when i see a company downgrade to a Import tool and Not lower the price.. It doesnt make me want to step inside there stores and i feel a bit like your trying to dupe me as a consumer.

 

[woody 73]

I give you an A+ for effort,but in the long run sears will make more and more tools in china.
Funny but I stopped into sears today with my wife and the whole place was dead,not sure how they keep going let alone pay the light bill ?

 

[eborcim]

I followed suite and left a post. I don't think they get it.

 

[jayoldschool]

Gone already...

 

[Indy_500]

site is being worked on right now! lol

 

[ADaughen]

The great news for you and for the rest of our customers is that our hand tools have an unconditional lifetime warranty.

Not true. The Evolv set of wrenches only has a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Salesperson should warn you to keep your receipt.

 

[mcdtommy23]

I posted a response as well for what it's worth.

 

[mkirkpatrick]

It's just marketing, to look like grass roots, the guy is talking out of both sides of his mouth. Quotes the warranty, and how many threads are there on here that are about trying to warranty something and the store they went to won't warranty it or it's a hassle. I did book mark the page, will be interesting to see if it is a bunch of fluff, or if it has some meat to it.

 

[Skin]

If keeping production in the states means we see more tools go the way of the raised panel ratcheting wrenches and ratchets then honestly i couldnt care. Personally i'm on a mission to vacuum up as much craftsman into my collection as possible while its domestic and of high quality. No point in keep tool production here if they're going to produce embarassments. Thats the way sears would go bankrupt. Look what Gearwrench did to their store brands and now i believe most of their ratcheting wrenches and combo wrenches are on their way out the door and into China.

Unfortunetly...i think it really is all just a matter of time.

 

[D9H 90V]

I don't think they get it.

Thats quite obvious, that kinda pissed me off when they basically said the warranty is the same no matter where the wrench was made, sons a *******

 

[back2class]

A friend who runs a company who's mostly Chinese products are sold at the box stores told me "it's what the customer wants". I told him not to take it personal, but his products ****. That was his response to my statement. He kind of laughed, as he knew he stuff was poor quality. I think quality brands are a prime target for the new short sighted wall street. In an earlier time men spent 30 years with the same company and decisions were not driven by the days stock price. A time when what mattered 20 years from now was important, not just the next year or two. That is how quality and reputation were built. I do not think that could happen now. Truth is none of the execs at Sears care what happens to Craftsman in 10 years. And what makes sense in the short term makes little in the long term.

I am sure they expect sales to decline, but with greater margins they expect better overall profits on the Chinese stuff. They may be right. I think, as we become more of a throwaway culture, people value tools and fixing things less. I think the Craftsman line is a throwback to those days now gone. A time where tool buyers cared about and understood quality tools. I think the Evolve line was sears answer the modern man who only uses tools to fix his kids bike or put some other thing they purchased together. Either way it was a clear message sears did not view, nor could afford it's usa Craftsman line competing with cheap imports.

Craftsman has a huge lottery ticket to cash. They can trash the name and make a bundle before the brand gets used up selling junk! I think sadly, this is the only real choice they have with the pressure for profits. Be it making Craftsman's bottom line look great for a sell off, or making the investors happy.

"It's what the consumer wants" may be wrong. It should be the consumer will not spend more for good quality. And I think this is the wall the people who run Craftsman are up against. Cash in this golden ticket now, or wait for demand for their product slowly fade away.
I am guilty of it, on items I am not passionate about I grab the cheap one. Take joint knives and trowels for instance. Not many of use really care about them. Most of us would rather spend 1/2 for the ok quality one that gets the job done fine over the top of the line knife. I think most tool buyers are like us looking at taping knives. Plus, the ethnic makeup in the USA is going through a change. Many younger people have not had the experience of Dad using Craftsman like many of us had.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I tried to post, but I am not agreeing to their sign up.

I remember when people replaced tapes, inside the tape measures, they replaced handles on hammers, etc. Then as we became more of a throw away society, it was "cheaper" to just swap the tool. After that, in the early 80's, Sears, both started importing tools, and tried swapping peoples Craftsman tools, with "Sears" branded replacements. (not lifetime warranty) As it backfired on them, they dropped some lines, which came back later, only to be dropped again, and the whole thing cycles all over again.

So, it is time they relearned the lessons.
Replacement tapes, and handles are back.
Their former low end tools, are being replaced with Craftsman EVOLVE, which are receiving more prominent displays.
Former Craftsman tools, are coming in OEM, while others have been dropped, or extremely limited (pocket knife styles).
And now they are trying the whole not USA thing again.

 

[back2class]

I should add that I think the associate who posted about letting the consumer better understand the quality of the product is right on if sears in interested in a long term answer to a better biz line. If Sears could show me how much better their product is than say the "Husky" tools, or how it is just as or near as good as the 10x more expensive snap-on. Right now most of theor consumers dont really know....show them it pays to know and care. Don't just rely on old reputations or take the easy way out and compete with the lowest end on price. Both have no good end for Craftsman. You can't just ask the typical uninformed consumer to pay more, you need to teach him that your tools are the best value.

 

[bw77]

I think I am just preaching to the choir, but I just posted a response as follows:

I was looking for flare nut wrenches the other day at Sears. The sets are now made in China, so I walked out without buying. I bought a used set of Snap-On on ebay. To me Craftsman means made in the USA, I will not buy offshore made tools at Sears. We are in a downward spiral in America. Factories close, workers cannot afford to buy USA made goods, increasing the demand for cheap foreign goods. We need to reverse that trend, or we are doomed. Sears can help by proudly selling made in USA goods.

 

[Old Donn]

I give you an A+ for effort,but in the long run sears will make more and more tools in china.

It's the way things are. DYI'ers and casual buyers will opt for the lower price every time. Said it a dozen times, take a ride to both this weekend, compare the crowd at the Sears tool dept. (Lowes and HD too), to the one at Harbor Freight. There will be more at HF than the other three combined. THAT'S what the bean counters are looking at, and that's why Craftsman and a lot of others are going off shore.

 

[woody 73]

Old Donn is right on the money,if you read my first post I pointed out that the sears store was dead,no customers in sight. Walk into the HF store at any time of the day in my area and they are packed full of people,end of story.

 

[EvenTheLoosest]

Sales of Craftsman tools have been declining for years now. Many Americans want American products but few care when they can get a foreign product for less.

The fact that products you see in stores all the time are made under horrendous conditions and the workers are paid nearly nothing is irrelevant to most. Few care when it happens site-unseen in some other part of the world, and few will accept the responsibility that their purchases actually have an effect on something.

 

[mrholeshot]

I got my 2 cent in but I'm sure it won't last long

 

[Tom2]

For everyone of us they lose by making Chinese tools - They probably gain 5 potential new buyers if the prices go down. Most people don't care about COO or quality. Sad, but true.

Within the next few years I suspect it'll be near impossible to buy American tools not from a truck brand.

 

[griff99]

For everyone of us they lose by making Chinese tools - They probably gain 5 potential new buyers if the prices go down. Most people don't care about COO or quality. Sad, but true.

Within the next few years I suspect it'll be near impossible to buy American tools not from a truck brand.

I'd agree if they were lowering the prices, I refuse to pay Craftsman prices for Chinese ****, they are outsourcing making it cheaper for them to manufacture, but not lowering the price. If I am going to buy a cheap Chinese made tool, I'll buy a Husky.

That will be a sad day...

 

[gfd_703]

Let me give an example I experienced years ago. As a young man I worked at the local hardware store. One day a gentleman came in to purchase a shovel.

He was layed off from Brown Shoe, as they had just closed the local plant and sent the jobs overseas. He ranted and raved for 15 minutes about how the US public had cost him his job by buying China ****.

We went to look at the shovel selection. I saw a great opportunity to sell a high end USA product. My first recommendation to him was a Blue Grass USA shovel with a retail price of $45. ( this was the shove we sold to the grave diggers and plumbers for heavy everyday use) He said that was too expensive so I offered him a Tru Temper USA made shovel for $29, it was also to expensive. Next up was a no name but still USA shovel at $15. He asked if I had anything cheaper because he was not going to use it very often.

Ended up selling him a China made piece of junk shovel for $4.99

I will never forget how he blamed everyone who bought and wore imported shoes for his job loss but would not spend his money to keep the American shovel worker employed.

Did I want to sell an USA made product? Yes
Did the customer want to buy American? Yes
Did I sell an American product? No
Did the customer buy the American made product? No
Why? The all mighty dollar that is why.

Blame Sears if you want to but the truth be told we are in the minority. We use tools, collect tools and enjoy tools. We are willing to pay for what we want but most of Sears customers do not give a **** about anything except the price.

Just the way I see it.

 

[Stuey]

Let me give an example I experienced years ago. As a young man I worked at the local hardware store. One day a gentleman came in to purchase a shovel.

He was layed off from Brown Shoe, as they had just closed the local plant and sent the jobs overseas. He ranted and raved for 15 minutes about how the US public had cost him his job by buying China ****.

We went to look at the shovel selection. I saw a great opportunity to sell a high end USA product. My first recommendation to him was a Blue Grass USA shovel with a retail price of $45. ( this was the shove we sold to the grave diggers and plumbers for heavy everyday use) He said that was too expensive so I offered him a Tru Temper USA made shovel for $29, it was also to expensive. Next up was a no name but still USA shovel at $15. He asked if I had anything cheaper because he was not going to use it very often.

Ended up selling him a China made piece of junk shovel for $4.99

I will never forget how he blamed everyone who bought and wore imported shoes for his job loss but would not spend his money to keep the American shovel worker employed.

Did I want to sell an USA made product? Yes
Did the customer want to buy American? Yes
Did I sell an American product? No
Did the customer buy the American made product? No
Why? The all mighty dollar that is why.

Blame Sears if you want to but the truth be told we are in the minority. We use tools, collect tools and enjoy tools. We are willing to pay for what we want but most of Sears customers do not give a **** about anything except the price.

Just the way I see it.

That's exactly right.

As many of us there are that pleads for them to keep production the USA, there are many more consumers who vote for cheaper prices with their wallets.

In today's Walmart-pricing world, domestically manufactured good will keep disappearing.

 

[littlekillertoad]

Left my two cents, for what it's worth.

 

[baucom]

I work with a guy just like the one in your anecdote. He lost his job with a scale manufacturer when they moved production to China. He b----es & moans constantly about jobs going to China, but as soon as a HF sale paper comes in the mail, he's there scooping up all the "deals." Then he complains when his $2 widget fails prematurely.

This attitude is prevalent in our society. Everyone laments the loss of American manufacturing but most are unwilling to make the financial sacrifice required to keep those jobs in the U.S.A. by paying the premium (often surprisingly small) to seek out and purchase American made products when possible.

Let me give an example I experienced years ago. As a young man I worked at the local hardware store. One day a gentleman came in to purchase a shovel.

He was layed off from Brown Shoe, as they had just closed the local plant and sent the jobs overseas. He ranted and raved for 15 minutes about how the US public had cost him his job by buying China ****.

We went to look at the shovel selection. I saw a great opportunity to sell a high end USA product. My first recommendation to him was a Blue Grass USA shovel with a retail price of $45. ( this was the shove we sold to the grave diggers and plumbers for heavy everyday use) He said that was too expensive so I offered him a Tru Temper USA made shovel for $29, it was also to expensive. Next up was a no name but still USA shovel at $15. He asked if I had anything cheaper because he was not going to use it very often.

Ended up selling him a China made piece of junk shovel for $4.99

I will never forget how he blamed everyone who bought and wore imported shoes for his job loss but would not spend his money to keep the American shovel worker employed.

Did I want to sell an USA made product? Yes
Did the customer want to buy American? Yes
Did I sell an American product? No
Did the customer buy the American made product? No
Why? The all mighty dollar that is why.

Blame Sears if you want to but the truth be told we are in the minority. We use tools, collect tools and enjoy tools. We are willing to pay for what we want but most of Sears customers do not give a **** about anything except the price.

Just the way I see it.

Sometimes we have no option but to buy an imported product, but often we do have options if we just seek them out. I don't strictly buy American, but I am conscious of COO and do buy American when I can find an American made option for a reasonable premium. If it's not made in the U.S.A., then I strongly prefer it be made in North America or Europe.

 

[mrholeshot]

I was in Sears about an hour ago. I saw a set of the new Made in China flare nut wrenches. I swear I've seen better quality stuff at Harbor Freight. The wrenches were crude under the chrome (like wrenches from India) and the Chrome was wavy. I just pray I'll never have to warranty one of my USA Craftsman Pro line wrenches for that ****.

 

[Boiler]

Somewhere in the 80's walmart exploded and pretty much the whole country started buying cheap junk for every aspect of their lives. "We" decided that foreign products were ok in all other areas too, because "we" thought we were getting more for our money. This includes tools, cars, drywall, you name it.

Now fast forward 25 years and what do we have? Struggling economy, money being drained from our country, nearly nothing but **** / poison / dangerous products available, and wages depressed greatly. Yet people act like saving $10 today is whats best for them. Instant gratification / throw away society are two of the key problems. Hmm, should I save 50% today at the cost of making 50% of what I could have on my paycheck in 10 years...hell yes.

This is not how I feel, but it is how the typical American consumer acts, and is exactly why we have what we have at sears. Price is king. Everything else just is there to differentiate between equally priced products to most people.

I'll keep buying high quality USA stuff because I'll do my part and I appreciate high quality items. I'd rather spend it once and know I can rely on it, than hope my tools don't break mid-job. It is going to take our government stepping in and imposing tarrifs and trade barriers to get this country back on track.

Its a self purpetuating cycle unless you apply rules to it. Regulate trade! Some will argue against regulation in all instances. Why? Because it hinders their ability to make huge profits today, by selling out the american worker and the future of this country to make a buck. What makes me more sick than that? The amount of American workers who are backing these yahoo's, saying regulation is socialism. Sorry folks, but unchecked capitolism is nothing but slash & burn mentality moneymaking and stepping on peoples necks to make a buck. Fine you're rich. Oh wait, our country will be third world in 25 years, but at least your kids got to drive BMW's....

 

[Givl Reggin]

Somewhere in the 80's walmart exploded and pretty much the whole country started buying cheap junk for every aspect of their lives.

Wait a minute.... I can remember walmart touting "Made in the U.S.A." and it doesn't seem like too many years ago.... somewhere along the way they lost that vision and now it seems sears/craftsman is on a quick road in that direction too.

 

[mrholeshot]

Wait a minute.... I can remember walmart touting "Made in the U.S.A." and it doesn't seem like too many years ago.... somewhere along the way they lost that vision and now it seems sears/craftsman is on a quick road in that direction too.

When Sam Walton died so did the company ethics

 

[arkangel06]

What ever you say its not going to stop them from going off shores

 

[mrholeshot]

What ever you say its not going to stop them from going off shores

Maybe not but at least they know people are paying attention to what they are doing and the sub standard quality of the tools.

 

[thesilverone]

When Sam Walton died so did the company ethics

ding ding ding

 

[Tool Pants]

Interesting. Messages such at that, or any complaints about Craftsman made in China on this site get deleted.

http://www.craftsmantooltalk.com/BBS/

I know, because 3 of my messages on craftsman tool talk were deleted. Actually, the threads were deleted. I was just replying to whoever started the thread.

 

[djb2]

Wait a minute.... I can remember walmart touting "Made in the U.S.A." and it doesn't seem like too many years ago.... somewhere along the way they lost that vision and now it seems sears/craftsman is on a quick road in that direction too.

My impression is that Walmart was waving the flag the hardest (the flag appeared on signs all over the store) just as they were setting up offshore production. Other low-end retailers were already selling Chinese goods, and they didn't want to lose the business while they were shifting their supply model to copy and expand.

I now look at retailers "waving the flag" as a sign that I'll just be funding their shift to an offshore supplier.

 

[Hiball]

Im sure this post will be deleted.

I just read the sales flyer for my local Menard's (a Home Depot type of chain). They are proudly displaying "Made In The USA" stamps next to the products in the flyer to attract customers and increase the sales of their products. The flyer for my local Sears store does not do that. Guess which tools I'm going to buy?


BlueCrewGuyInMA said…

A tiny local store (which, compared to Sears, is exactly what Menard's is) can get away with that. Vendors would cease doing business with Sears altogether if they pulled that kind of stunt with its advertising.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since when is Proudly displaying the American flag next to American made Goods a "Stunt" ? Its gonna take some time but there is a large movement of people who are sick and tired of seeing Made In China, Taiwan, Mexico, Indonesia on Everything that we buy. This goes for everything.. Not just tools in general. I promise to make it known to every consumer that i meet to let them know exactly what there buying at "Sears" I will do everything in my power to point them in a Direction that will get them Quality, Comparitive pricing and to a company that cares about Americans and Jobs here in the US. Im sure my post will be deleted, But let me say that Cached copies and Links to this thread have been distributed to many well know Garage forums where 100's of thousands of members congregate to talk about tools, Old and NEW.

 

[Skin]

I was in Sears about an hour ago. I saw a set of the new Made in China flare nut wrenches. I swear I've seen better quality stuff at Harbor Freight. The wrenches were crude under the chrome (like wrenches from India) and the Chrome was wavy. I just pray I'll never have to warranty one of my USA Craftsman Pro line wrenches for that ****.

sure it was chrome? maybe it was bondo with chrome paint

 

[woody 73]

For everyone of us they lose by making Chinese tools - They probably gain 5 potential new buyers if the prices go down. Most people don't care about COO or quality. Sad, but true.

Within the next few years I suspect it'll be near impossible to buy American tools not from a truck brand.

Sorry Tom, but truck brand tools are going to china,one tools at a time.

 

[Skin]

That's exactly right.

As many of us there are that pleads for them to keep production the USA, there are many more consumers who vote for cheaper prices with their wallets.

In today's Walmart-pricing world, domestically manufactured good will keep disappearing.

Its really not that difficult for stores to stock cheaper USA made alternatives that would still sell. Much of the import stuff that carries a brand name still demands premium price.

A recent example, i snapped the handle of a very old hammer so i wanted to purchase a new one. Nothing fancy just a 16oz wood handle claw hammer. Went to the store and my option was a Plumb made in china hammer with a $22.00 price tag or a Vaughan for $24.00. Guess which one i purchased?