Is it just me or are the newer craftsman (non professional line) screwdrivers junk? I have a full set of them and after the third one I brought back for replacement, I simply decided it wasn't worth the gas to keep replacing them. The phillips strips out easilly and the slotted ones twist. It seems like they're skipping the hardening process... I have a single craftsman #2 phillips 30+ years old that I just love that I use more than anything that hasn't ever rounded out and looks new. Now this screwdriver set is changed over to punches and scratch owl's via the grinder.
On the bright side, I've found that the orange and green handled (slotted and phillips) screwdrivers from harbour freight are far Superior to the craftsman ones and don't round out or twist. So they're made in China, half the price and double the quality of the crapsman ones? What's wrong here.
On a different note, after the second new craftsman socket wrench my father had with a failed ratchet mechanism, I bent over, took it like a man and bought him a Snap-On and it hasn't failed since.
I buy stuff based on quality, Country of origin, and price, More often than not, in that order. The problem is that all too often quality stuff isn't available at any price because the quality manufacturers were put out of business because the masses base their purchase solely on price.
I just bought a Mohawk 2 post lift, the ONLY one still manufactured in the US. I'd estimate maybe 50% better quality, but at 3X the cost. Even the US based companies have their 12,000lb and under lifts all made overseas. Why? the price that people are willing to pay is less than the cost to manufacture one in the US.
Maybe if Sears goes back to a mostly catalog order system they can provide more quality merchandise and still make a profit. I'm rooting for Sears but I already see Wal-Mart leading in the final lap.
soapbox := off
Brian
