Lowes Craftsman sets now Taiwan made ?

[Brownsfan]

I was at Lowes today and was looking at the socket sets and noticed the Versa Pac sets are Taiwan made. Also noticed a couple newer 11pc 1/2 drive sets were Taiwan made. While sets with the same part number on the same hook were China. Side by side the Taiwan made sets were far superior chrome wise. The Chrome looked soooooo much better in the Taiwan sets. These were not the Gun metal chrome sets either. Just the regular stuff. I wonder if this is going to be the norm going forward? The Chinese made sets the chrome looked dingy and almost cloudy looking. The Taiwan sets were super bright and just looked like a quality product. So look before you buy. Who knows the Taiwan may look better but the Chinese could be stronger.

 

[ChrisLS8]

They have plans to make Hardline Craftsman tools at the new plant in Texas

 

[dodge610]

They have plans to make Hardline Craftsman tools at the new plant in Texas

That would be a move in the right direction

 

[Jtels85]

I have the set Versa Stack set you’re referring to and I believe it did say Taiwan on it. I also noticed Lowe’s had new 1/2” socket sets that now come on actual plastic rails rather than those stupid looking trays with the holes that the socket drops into.

 

[Y00PER]

Wasn't by chance SBD re-packaging Sears Craftsman stuff was it? Last time I was at my local Lowe's, they had both SBD and obvious Sears ratchets in the same package (more like just a little piece of plastic to hand on the display hook)

 

[yrly]

Wasn't by chance SBD re-packaging Sears Craftsman stuff was it? Last time I was at my local Lowe's, they had both SBD and obvious Sears ratchets in the same package (more like just a little piece of plastic to hand on the display hook)

I actually think SBD bought products from Sears for some stuff to fill out holes in the line while working out their production of certain items. It probably is buried in the purchase agreements somewhere.

 

[woody 73]

Word on the street is SBD is now thinking about having them made in India, that should be interesting...

Just teasing you OP but if SBD could pull it off I am sure they would try it...

 

[Professional Tool User]

The last time I checked, the cheaper sets are Made in China and the more expensive socket sets in Taiwan. They'll probably keep some cheaper made in China sets around for those who don't want to spend the money.

 

[Brownsfan]

These were the cheaper sets. Same part number and peg hook with Chinese made sets behind it.

 

[PugetDude]

Word on the street is SBD is now thinking about having them made in India, that should be interesting...

Just teasing you OP but if SBD could pull it off I am sure they would try it...

Don't start that old India vs. Pakistan COO argument again...

 

[Y00PER]

I actually think SBD bought products from Sears for some stuff to fill out holes in the line while working out their production of certain items. It probably is buried in the purchase agreements somewhere.

That would make sense. It was strange to see some ratchets with the 4xXxX (Sears model number) in the same package as the CMHTxxxx (SBD model number) ratchets. Not sure if the COO between the 2 versions was the same, I thought maybe one was made in China, the other Taiwan

 

[lardy1]

Wow. Where else but Craftsman do you get your choice of COO? Gotta love it.

 

[seber]

Wow. Where else but Craftsman do you get your choice of COO? Gotta love it.

Harbor Fright.

 

[ChrisLS8]

Matco

 

[Jtels85]

It would be nice if Craftsman could tease some of those new Made In USA with global materiel mechanics tools...

 

[USAMatt]

I actually think SBD bought products from Sears for some stuff to fill out holes in the line while working out their production of certain items. It probably is buried in the purchase agreements somewhere.

I think you're right. Our Lowe's has some mechanics impact sets that have the original darker red color case like something from Sears. Yet it's wrapped in the new bright red SBD cardboard cover.

 

[yrly]

I think you're right. Our Lowe's has some mechanics impact sets that have the original darker red color case like something from Sears. Yet it's wrapped in the new bright red SBD cardboard cover.

This might be why Stanley has no qualms about filling the warranty, I wonder if Sears provided them with extra open stock individual stuff as well. This might also explain why there was a temporary shortage of open stock stuff at Sears well before the bankruptcy.

 

[BBDartCA]

I think it would be beneficial for the Craftsman brand reputation to designate in the branding a significance of being made in USA. For example, call the Asian stuff “Craftsman Red” and US product plain old “Craftsman”. Or the inverse with USA built product called “Craftsman Heritage” or something. I can’t trust buying the product anymore since it’s gone overseas.

Back when Sears has Craftsmen didn’t they introduce a low cost line called “Evolve” ??

 

[yrly]

I think it would be beneficial for the Craftsman brand reputation to designate in the branding a significance of being made in USA. For example, call the Asian stuff “Craftsman Red” and US product plain old “Craftsman”. Or the inverse with USA built product called “Craftsman Heritage” or something. I can’t trust buying the product anymore since it’s gone overseas.

Back when Sears has Craftsmen didn’t they introduce a low cost line called “Evolve” ??

Craftsman still had overseas stuff even when most of it was USA made, it just depended on what specifically it was. Other than labeling individual items I’m not sure how you’d be able to differentiate it that well.

Evolv stuff needs a receipt for warranty. Some of it is similar or identical other than color. They used Companion before Evolv for the cheap stuff at Sears. This brings up an interesting question as to whether or not Lowe’s would know you needed the receipt for Evolv warranty since it still says Craftsman. The best evolv stuff was screwdrivers (essentially the same as some regular craftsman stuff with different color handles) and impact sockets (I attached a pic of a set since I had one). Most of the Evolv stuff is decent enough, Companion was all over the place from USA screwdrivers and really nice wrenches to what looked like raised panel rejects.

Sears probably still has the Evolv trademark so you couldn’t just use that to designate cheap imported craftsman.