Menards Socket Handtool Clearance - thoughts on new Lineup

[ChrisLS8]

SBD wouldn't be dumb enough to put their entire hope of CM into one pot. Lowe's would never be an exclusive contract

 

[WWheeler]

I just noticed Menard's had Gearwrench stuff on clearance minutes ago. I wondered why. I also started another thread in the Hot Deals section about FFH getting rid of Tekton. They are replacing with Dewalt (SBD) and Milwaukee and house brand Master Mechanic.

Think about this, SBD gets Lowes to carry the line of Cman tools. Cman, Stanley and Dewalt hand tools are all under the umbrella of SBD. Why wouldn't SBD want to get in all areas of the market ? They have invested heavily in the Cman name and need to make it pay off.

Maybe there is one smart dude working at SBD. He's listened to what people have said, like, members here, about tools being made in the USA. Corner the hand tool market with big box stores like Lowes, Menard's and maybe HD will be next, they already carry Stanley/Dewalt hand tools. A tool in bought in one store and can be warrantied at any one of them, ease of use for the consumer and what does it matter to the corporate office where it gets warrantied at ?


Using some wishful thinking, this could be the beginning of a major shift of hand tool production being brought back to the USA and the availability of them being bought, sold and warrantied every where.

Wishful thinking, yep, I wish, but unfortunately AFAIK there's been no sign that Stanley plans to bring Craftsman hand tool production back to the US. Am I wrong about that?

I know Stanley did acquire Waterloo for USA toolboxes, and rebranded some made-in-USA with global materials cordless Dewalt tools, and have invested in MTD so apparently will be USA made Lawn and Garden soon enough, but if they actually had any plans to have USA made Craftsman hand tools seems likely to me they would have rebranded some of their MAC and Proto lines by now.

All of Stanley's promises to bring back Craftsman to the USA have been couched in percentages. I've never seen anything that said they plan to bring it all back to USA, or anything about hand tools like ratchets, sockets and wrenches.

 

[Harley94]

It's not that we don't believe you, but can you share your source? I honestly hope you're correct....

My grandson is the one with the account

 

[La Petite Tools]

https://www.menards.com/main/tools-...ubitRecommendationsAvailableStoreDetails=true

can't really beat that deal

 

[Farmall450]

So my original comment wasn't false then?....

Why do you think they scaled back?

More than likely because Menards was done with their US line. I don't think it would be prudent of a company to pull the plug with plentiful private labels under the same tooling they'd been using for decades.

My guess is Menards canned US masterforce, leaving Allen (hardly sold anywhere) and, of course, Armstrong standing.

It's not like they lost the ability to make US tools; they decided to stop. Take a guess why.

 

[Moparman390]

Why do you think they scaled back?

More than likely because Menards was done with their US line. I don't think it would be prudent of a company to pull the plug with plentiful private labels under the same tooling they'd been using for decades.

My guess is Menards canned US masterforce, leaving Allen (hardly sold anywhere) and, of course, Armstrong standing.

It's not like they lost the ability to make US tools; they decided to stop. Take a guess why.

Allen and Armstrong are already gone.

 

[AA/FC]

Why do you think they scaled back?

More than likely because Menards was done with their US line. I don't think it would be prudent of a company to pull the plug with plentiful private labels under the same tooling they'd been using for decades.

My guess is Menards canned US masterforce, leaving Allen (hardly sold anywhere) and, of course, Armstrong standing.

It's not like they lost the ability to make US tools; they decided to stop. Take a guess why.

No. Apex made private label tools for a lot of companies. Napa, Craftsman, Masterforce, etc. Along with their own US brands like Armstrong, Allen, etc.... I HIGHLY doubt Apex decided to close the factory because MENARDS pulled their USA tool line. Apex was NOT dependent on the few sales (relatively) at Menards in order to keep their factory here. What I do suspect happened is.... Apex is owned by a bunch of bean counters and they realized they could make more profit if they had their tools manufactured in China. The move had NOTHING to do with Menards.

In fact, Menards did NOT pull their US Masterforce tool line because they are STILL selling old stock on their shelves today.

And lastly, my original comment was "the manufacturer who made the US Masterforce tools moved their factory to China" and you replied with "False". My comment was indeed NOT false. I am not claiming to know for sure WHY they moved, only that they DID move to China.

And by the way, you claimed they (Apex) still make tools here in the USA today, and I asked you to name a few of those tools. I'm still wondering what those tools are?

.

 

[Farmall450]

No. Apex made private label tools for a lot of companies. Napa, Craftsman, Masterforce, etc. Along with their own US brands like Armstrong, Allen, etc.... I HIGHLY doubt Apex decided to close the factory because MENARDS pulled their USA tool line. Apex was NOT dependent on the few sales (relatively) at Menards in order to keep their factory here. What I do suspect happened is.... Apex is owned by a bunch of bean counters and they realized they could make more profit if they had their tools manufactured in China. The move had NOTHING to do with Menards.

In fact, Menards did NOT pull their US Masterforce tool line because they are STILL selling old stock on their shelves today.

And lastly, my original comment was "the manufacturer who made the US Masterforce tools moved their factory to China" and you replied with "False". My comment was indeed NOT false. I am not claiming to know for sure WHY they moved, only that they DID move to China.

And by the way, you claimed they (Apex) still make tools here in the USA today, and I asked you to name a few of those tools. I'm still wondering what those tools are?

.

None of the private labels you listed were still made by Apex by the time they were down to Masterforce/Allen/Armstrong.

Obviously Menards would sell off old stock - they did so quite some time ago.

They still make Apex labels here, as well as Wiss, Nicholson, Jobox, etc etc.

At the end of the day they had limited American production left. You argue they pulled it out of want, not necessity. We may never know

 

[aspireguy95]

I was just at menards and they had a few craftsman miter saws sitting on a pallet soon to be stocked on the shelves

 

[btbsandman]

And Craftsman Chain Bar Oil in the chainsaw aisle.

 

[Jtels85]

Masterforce isn’t going anywhere. Menard’s just put up a huge billboard advertising the brand on Rt. 747 near I-275 in Cincinnati... miles away from both the Evendale and Hamilton locations.

 

[Moparman390]

And Craftsman Chain Bar Oil in the chainsaw aisle.

They have had that for some time now, it's on their website too.

 

[Moparman390]

Craftsman tools are not coming to Menards, they are already the. Took these pictures today at my local Menards. As you can see the stuff is going into regular stock locations so it's not just Sears dumping product during liquidations. Also it has to be coming from SBD as they took over all distribution outside of Sears upon closing of the deal.


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[Saggs]

My local Menard's has replaced all the American made Masterforce with "Made in China" Masterforce.

ETA: Local Menard's is central ND. All of the American made Masterforce, Taiwan Gearwrench, and Crescent sockets and wrenches are being clearanced out and the aisle has been restocked with "made in China" masterforce tools. The Chinese sourced Masterforce tools (various pliers) that were previously offered are still present.

 

[Jtels85]

Craftsman tools are not coming to Menards, they are already the. Took these pictures today at my local Menards. As you can see the stuff is going into regular stock locations so it's not just Sears dumping product during liquidations. Also it has to be coming from SBD as they took over all distribution outside of Sears upon closing of the deal.


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Wow, USA made socket sets! I’m going to have to check out both local Menard’s tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[Moparman390]

Wow, USA made socket sets! I’m going to have to check out both local Menard’s tomorrow. Thanks!

I'm guessing those were NOS that won't be there going forward. Looks like Menards is being fed through the same supply chain that feeds ACE and has lots of legacy inventory in it. All the new stuff appears destined for Lowes at this point.

 

[Tom White]

I'm guessing those were NOS that won't be there going forward. Looks like Menards is being fed through the same supply chain that feeds ACE and has lots of legacy inventory in it. All the new stuff appears destined for Lowes at this point.

I wondered about that when I saw the sets were just sort of laying in a bin with Irwin stuff instead of being on hangers.

If anyone else is having trouble seeing the USA part, I had to open the image in a new tab and enlarge. Then, look at the middle socket set. On the second socket down (the 7/16 size one) you can see the USA at the bottom of that socket.

 

[nickelTwin]

It sounds like Masterforce is replacing all the gear wrench and crescent sockets and some wrenches

 

[Moparman390]

I can confirm that those sockets were USA, so they are really old NOS. The rest of the stuff was on shelves as regular stock and someone else said they saw a pallet of miter saws at their Menards and I saw the one here so I would think all that together they are going to be regularly stocking this stuff.

 

[finn]

All the Crescent, Masterforce, and Gearwrench sockets are on clearance at out local Menards, and have been for a few weeks. The stock is pretty well picked over, with lots of holes. I expect new hangers, with a different product line, before Black Friday and the holiday season.

The Masterforce sockets haven’t been restocked for over a year when Armstrong, Lisle, and the other brands made in the same factory in S.C. were discontinued at other retailers and the plant closed. That’s about when Crescent and Gearwrench appeared at Menards, probably as an interim replacement until the SBD was negotiated.

The Lowes across the street from Menards is down to 5 or 6 Kobalt tool cabinets on the floor. Really looks like Lowe’s will be exclusively Craftsman for tool storage. I also saw that the large Kobalt air compressors were all on clearance, with Craftsman and Dewalt badged compressors starting to migrate to the sales floor at Lowe’s.

 

[Cfendrick]

All new Made in China MasterForce going on display. Looks like a mix of GearWrench(shiny chrome) and Crescent(thin walls) and MasterForce without USA logo with a side of Craftsman from China lacking quality and style and thin stamps and etching. I only saw the 1/4” single sockets out and the metric sockets had an oddly wide but deep straight line knurling.

 

[Moparman390]

Yeah, it's all China made Masterforce in store now. Tools look nice though.

 

[jrobb316]

I wasn't impressed with the Chinese sockets I saw this weekend. Doesn't really matter, not in the socket market anyways. Did pick up a complete 3/4 drive crescent socket set though on the cheap. 7/8-2" My menards must have just put them on clearance this weekend, they had a lot.

 

[Cfendrick]

I wasn't impressed with the Chinese sockets I saw this weekend. Doesn't really matter, not in the socket market anyways. Did pick up a complete 3/4 drive crescent socket set though on the cheap. 7/8-2" My menards must have just put them on clearance this weekend, they had a lot.

What did you pay for the 3/4” set? It was still $106 last week instore but Amazon had the same set at $79.99 with free shipping example ( Crescent CTK14ME 3/4-Inch Metric Mechanics Tool Set, 14-Piece https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UQ42DU/?tag=atomicindus08-20. )

However the SAE is $141.61 example ( Crescent CTK14SAEN 3/4" SAE Mechanics Tool Set - 14 Piece https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079TKQ4N9/?tag=atomicindus08-20. )

 

[jrobb316]

Well, I got more sockets and cost was just under $100. I have 3/4 extensions and don't need a ratchet, but if you did those kits are a good deal. Menards didn't carry metric, those are SAE only. I have metric up to 41mm so I'm good with that in 1/2 drive. And 11% off too for what that's worth. I never get half the rebates anyways, they never shown up, so I don't really care about that sale anymore.

Edit: checked my receipt. 16 sockets total was $100 with tax, less the mail in if you count that. So not bad. Checked crescent website, it's a complete set 7/8" through 2".

What did you pay for the 3/4” set? It was still $106 last week instore but Amazon had the same set at $79.99 with free shipping example ( Crescent CTK14ME 3/4-Inch Metric Mechanics Tool Set, 14-Piece https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UQ42DU/?tag=atomicindus08-20. )

However the SAE is $141.61 example ( Crescent CTK14SAEN 3/4" SAE Mechanics Tool Set - 14 Piece https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079TKQ4N9/?tag=atomicindus08-20. )

 

[GrayFlattop]

Yep. My local Menard's switched over to a huge Masterforce display. All the tools in the new display are Made in China except for the screwdrivers which are still made in USA. The thing is, the Chinese tools, while shiny just don't look that great. And the pricing that they carry is nothing particularly special - honestly I'd rather buy Made in Taiwan brand name product than house brand generic ****.

And with Menard's pushing THREE different "house brand" lines of power tools (Masterforce, Powermax and Toolshop), they apparently plan to try to leverage that into sales. Why anyone would buy that **** is beyond me, but...

They are still carrying a decent (if smaller) selection of Bosch and Hitachi (now Metabo) power tools, but I have a feeling that those will be squeezed out of shelf space.

To me, it just looks like a race to the bottom.

 

[engineer2]

Went there today. Leftover Gearwrench and Crescent are in the clearance section. They did keep a small display of Crescent near the Masterforce section.

They are trying make Masteforce a major brand and following the good-better-best rule with Toolshop and Powermax. Be your own competition.

It would be fun to see a cordless tool shootout with Masterforce, Bauer, Milwaukee, Makita, DeWalt, etc.