I saw an ad on Youtube yesterday telling the world that Lowes now sells Craftsman hand tools. It was a nostalgia type ad of a guy and his Craftsman tools and his Craftsman tool box with the crown logo. He then drives to Lowes in his old pickup and the announcer tells us that Lowes sells Craftsman. I got a kick out of the fact that they went back to the 70s to remind us of the quality that Craftsman used to be.
Saw a Craftsman Lowes Ad
- Thread starter jacked_72
- Start date
Professional Tool User
Well-known member
I couldn't care less about the marketing if he issues that are currently preventing Craftsman from recovering aren't resolved.
It not about quality, it's about feeling.
IMO, That's what this is all about - feeling.
SDB picked the brand for a song and they are going to try to make us all feel like it's 1971 again.
What's not to like about that?
IMO, That's what this is all about - feeling.
SDB picked the brand for a song and they are going to try to make us all feel like it's 1971 again.
What's not to like about that?
I looked at the wrench set at lowes the other day.
Looked fine.
I bet if I threw it across the concrete a few times like I did with my old ones, you wouldn't be able to tell them apart.
Don't know about the ratchets, haven't held one yet.
I still would like someone to answer what the options are for a replacement? And not online, walk in only.
Looked fine.
I bet if I threw it across the concrete a few times like I did with my old ones, you wouldn't be able to tell them apart.
Don't know about the ratchets, haven't held one yet.
I still would like someone to answer what the options are for a replacement? And not online, walk in only.
turnthewrench 2.0
Well-known member
Hard to make me feel like that selling the crappy toolboxes they have at Lowe's now. Compared to US General, they feel like garbage. Also, the wrenches. They went back to the old RP design, the "feature" most buyers found annoying, to say the least. The market now is saturated with good quality, Taiwan Made "conventional" beam wrenches and they pretend someone is buying those? Made in Wherever?
Back when most tools sold in the USA were made here, Craftsman was the poor man alternative to Tool Trucks and all other pricier alternatives - PROTO, SK, Armstrong, Allen, KAL, KD, etc. - Good USA Made tools with a lifetime warranty, sold at Sears and cheap. Now, they're just a nostalgic curiosity.
SBD needs to step up the game with the quality if they want some success resuscitating the brand.
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sberry
Banned
Doesn't matter to me, quit buying any real amount of hand tools 20 years ago.
M_George
Well-known member
Maybe Trump's trade embargo with China will give SBD a nudge to start making then back in the USA!!
Word on the street is that most of the brands you just mentioned were contracted to make craftsman tools at one time or another.
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turnthewrench 2.0
Well-known member
True. CM was cheaper though.
So did I until my garage burned down.
"The market now is saturated with good quality, Taiwan Made "conventional" beam wrenches and they pretend someone is buying those? "
Can you list some please? I need to buy some. Not online walk in only.
nmantas
Well-known member
Tekton (Meijer and a few other retailers), Carlyle (Napa), and Gearwrench (probably less quality but easiest to find in-store) for brick and motor.....could probably add Duralast from Autozone (about the only think Autozone is good for in my opinion). Craftsman seems to be shifting production from China to Taiwan (at least their Lowes and maybe Ace Hardware sets) so their sockets and other offerings are probably going to get a little better and there is always the Taiwan offerings from Harbor Freight that probably are the best bang for your buck. Pittsburgh Pro sockets and ratchets and Doyle/Bergeran pliers.
I mean, to his credit, he didn't say how expensive of a song it was... Ha! That's crazy.
To me, the name SBD doesn't exactly make me want to buy tools (aside from the Stanley tape measures), craftsman does. My father in law has one of those blown plastic tool cases from Stanley, nothing wrong with it but I always shake my head when I'm forced to use it. It just looks cheap. Internally I have no respect for it, it's done me no wrong, the thought of using them on a car scares me, I always bring my collection of craftsman and snap on to work on his cars. It's probably just a mental thing...
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davethorik
Well-known member
SBD and Lowe's are selling nostalgia. Forged, heat treated, and chrome plated nostalgia. It could be a sound decision, if they get around to expanding their lineup before the last of the baby boomers passes away. Millennials know of Sears and Craftsman, but more like a myth or reading history books, since there are less stores every month and eventually they will be just a memory.
When the nostalgia crowd are gone, I don't know if I could predict what happens next. I think of the dwindling % of millennials who work on stuff with hand tools, most likely shop at HF. Their nonexistent nostalgia could be a death knell for the Craftsman brand, with SBD giving them a last hurrah. However for $900 million they have probably discussed all this, and hopefully have an airtight plan.
Im looking forward to what happens, but not so much these Craftsman at Lowe's threads. Lol
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woody 73
Well-known member
By any chance would you have a link so that I can see the ad ?
Sorry to hear about your garage. Unfortunately there aren’t many walk in sources for the wrenches we’re discussing. I can’t think of a store in the NE corridor that stocks Tekton. Occasionally you will see them at Ace.
The prices and quality available online are going to be hard to match. Are you concerned about package thieves or just want to touch them before you buy?
sberry
Banned
There is no shortage. If it burned down tomorrow would start over at HF or Sears for a set and move on as needed. Wouldn't worry much about quality past function. Don't care about warranty on a wrench costs a dollar or 2 and not likely to fail anyway.
If I won a mega lottery,,,,,,,, gonna drop it all like a hot rock. Tool man will starve if he is hanging around my door.
If I won a mega lottery,,,,,,,, gonna drop it all like a hot rock. Tool man will starve if he is hanging around my door.
sberry
Banned
Show pic of golden arm.
nmantas
Well-known member
I believe Tractor Supply also sells Tekton.
I agree I used to be a coo guy but now that I have a bunch of German, Taiwan, and China tools that are great, if I started over I would go fairly cheap yet surprisingly good quality tools from harbor freight, toptul, etc and skip the Snap-On, Matco, Proto, etc. Just a diy'er and not too concerned about breaking things......I never seem to do anyway (even with the low dollar Asian tools).
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"Are you concerned about package thieves or just want to touch them before you buy?"
Thieves isnt a problem.
Quality, a little, not a nut about it. I can throw them on the concrete and not cry about it. But, you can definitely feel the difference in an old craftsman and a lot of the new stuff.
Accessibility is probably the most important. I always seem to need something I don't have when I'm in the middle of something. Don't want to mail order it if I can avoid it.
Thieves isnt a problem.
Quality, a little, not a nut about it. I can throw them on the concrete and not cry about it. But, you can definitely feel the difference in an old craftsman and a lot of the new stuff.
Accessibility is probably the most important. I always seem to need something I don't have when I'm in the middle of something. Don't want to mail order it if I can avoid it.
sberry
Banned
Doesn't mean a guy has to buy it all one place. I use razor knives from Wally and bought a set of metric hex there as needed, they were so good I never replaced them. 13$ on a Sunday.
Some of that stuff just worked its way in, we bought some more and now 20 years later it has worked 20 times as well as expected. Its really impressive.
I make these comparisons having actually owned both, I got 10 brands of adjustables. If you toss them on the bench and say pick the best by feel most go for the China flea one. Its hard to improve on something that has been around for so long but they did it.
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turnthewrench 2.0
Well-known member
In my neck of the woods;
Gearwrench: Advance Auto Parts, Tractor Supply
Crescent: Tractor Supply
Husky: HD
Kobalt: Lowe's
Duralast: Auto Zone
Pittsburgh Pro: Harbor Freight
Klutch: Northern Tool and Equipment
Carlyle: NAPA <-- Top Notch
Gearhead: Pep Boys
All Made in Taiwan. All good wrenches, Carlyle outstanding.
None come with the uncomfortable RP.
Good list. Carlyle is going to be the least 'lobster claw' but on sale (they are in the flyer ATM) they are about twice as much as the other choices. If I lost everything and needed a whole set of ratchets, wrenches and sockets locally right this minute I'd get the 305 piece Klutch set at Northern Tool.
I really like Tekton wrenches though. Really good machining and chrome for the price.
https://www.tekton.com/combination-wrench-set-90191
I really like Tekton wrenches though. Really good machining and chrome for the price.
https://www.tekton.com/combination-wrench-set-90191
Geese! The more I look the more I want to go to sears and buy a big mechanic set for 299 or 399! I need nut drivers anyway.
I don't care about chrome finish and I don't like round ratchets or knurled ****.
I have to go have a look myself to make up my mind.
I don't care about chrome finish and I don't like round ratchets or knurled ****.
I have to go have a look myself to make up my mind.
turnthewrench 2.0
Well-known member
I know you want to "touch" them tools before you buy them, but don't underestimate Tekton @ Amazon. Dollar for dollar, they probably are the best option at this moment. Some are Made in USA - Screwdrivers, Pliers.
Good luck with your decision.
Apparantly the non tool obcessed public is not at all familiar with the deterioration of Craftsman at Sears. Name recognition is very high after the 100 years they have been around. Their marketing people probably have a better feel for this than we do. Another reason for the purchase is to get SB&D into new areas like outdoor products and to get them into more retailers. I have no idea to what quality level they are aiming for but I would not expect too much. The review of the new SB&D Craftsman ratchet set was not very impressive.
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Less fluff and more useful stuff if you must buy a big set. I think the closest store will be in VA but they ship too.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200624105_200624105
If you take the time to do a little shopping and pick a couple different brands will net a better set for not much more money than the big sets.