Sears and Craftsman Want Your Feedback!!!

[kctyphoon]

i hate being sold on "lifetime warranty" and then feel like im being questioned for a murder when a broken tool gets returned.. been told "theres a limit of 3 tool items a day - so youll have to come back for the rest" - how does that make any sense at all??

"this flathead looks like it was used as a chisel" - well - its 20 years old, broke a decade ago, and needs to be used for something in the meantime

bought "made in the US" tools online - was given made in china when i went to the store.

you basically elimintaed the tool section in the store - which forces me to goto home depot or HARBOR FREIGHT - which should be an embarrassment to craftsman that THEY actaully sell better ratchets for less money with a truely hassle free return..

heres an idea.. take everything in the store - throw it away - and go back to making tools they way you did 20 years ago.. my dad took me to sears to buy my first tool set and tool box 20 years ago - (which i still own) and the new sockets i just bought a year ago to replace all the ones ive lost over the years came out of the bag with rust already inside them.
anyone in charge of quality control should be on an unemployment line. its become painfully obvious that the subject of "whats the cheapest thing we can produce and still ask the same money", has been the priority of this brand

another idea - instead of handing out rebuilt ratchets for your <cough> lifetime warranty ratchets that keep breaking - why not just build a better ratchet in the first place.. then people wont get pissed off it breaks, and then more pissed off when they get one someone smashed with a hammer for 3 years before you rebult it and handed it back to the next guy.

 

[egnorant]

All my life Sears was a hallowed place. Dad would announce days in advance that we were going to Sears on Saturday and me and my brothers would make Tim Allen proud. New jeans, a few painting tool, a trowel, some curtains, a lot of our shopping was Sears.

After I left home, I got a Sears card and stocked my first home with Sears stuff! Fridge, washer, dryer, TV, sheets, laundry soap, tires, batteries, Christmas gifts.

Quality stuff, one stop shopping, put it on the card and ran a balance with a great rate and life was good. I averaged about $300 a month for about 18 years!

One day I noticed a late fee on my bill. I checked and saw that the check was cashed before my due date and took the steps to get it corrected. Got the fee removed but failed to notice that the interest rate had jumped from about 10% to 17.5%.

Still shopped there but tried to keep stuff off the card.
Then I had a legitimate late fee of 25 dollars and noticed my rate shot to 27 or 29%!

Realized that my $62 dollar payment was $50 interest and $12 to principle so my $25 late fee was really $149 as it would add 2 months and I would pay my bill off in 2042 if I followed the plan.

Paid off the bill in 8 months and still shopped there but it was now cash only and not nearly as often or as much as before. I did use the card a few times, but only when used with the "6 months same as cash" option.

Then the tools went south! My drywall tools had gone to a nephew and I needed more, but they no longer carried the items I needed. Still hooked up some folks with gifts of mechanics tool sets and bought some yard stuff (rakes, shovels, push mower).

True death knell for me was when I broke my Dad's 1/2 ratchet that he bought in the 70s. I got a Chinese made replacement and it broke the first time I used it. Had serious doubts about tool quality and got on my "Made in USA" kick.

About that time I got a letter that my Sears card was being cancelled due to lack of use.

Sorry, Sears went from a great place to buy stuff where I was a valued customer to a place where I was a mark to be played financial tricks on to **** extra money out of to buy ****.

The Sears and Craftsman I once knew is long gone. The new Sear is full of gimmicks, tricks and compromises and I will seek satisfaction elsewhere.

Bruce

 

[Wizzard]

I replied and politely as I could let them know my displeasure with Craftsman moving production to China. The main draw of Craftsman used to be that they were quality USA made tools, not anymore.

 

[-Brent-]

I've said this before elsewhere on the GJ, most of us have a tool collection that extends beyond the basics which Craftsman is known for. I cannot think of a tool I need that Cman might sell good/bad/rebranded/whatever.

The last tool I bought was a rethreading kit that's rebranded. The SYW points and it being a decent deal (found it in the tool truck equivalent thread) were what got me to buy it. It wasn't an item that could be purchased in-store.

Christmas eve day, I walked through the tool section and there was nothing for me. A couple friends of mine wanted a bottle opener with a screwdriver handle (like my Wera) so I went over to Sears to grab a few. I did notice it had been rearranged and the tools occupied less retail space. The toolboxes and garage organization items overpowered the area and it was cramped.

It was my birthday and I figured I could find something for myself to add to the toolbox. There was nothing for me. So, maybe I'm a demographic that doesn't matter in this conversation.

Thinking that, I'm absolutely miffed on what Sears could do to get folks to look at Sears for stocking their toolboxes that doesn't include "not being Sears-like anymore."

Here's the reality: A late summer mid day, last year. Not sure how this Kmart is surviving. The Sears less than 5 miles away is closed. Downtown Sears is still kicking... due to location, for sure.



This is the same day, not 5 minutes apart. These stores are across the street from each other, 4627 S & 4670 S and 900 E, Salt Lake City.

 

[zef_66]

I was very frustrated recently when I tried to get a replacement for a professional screwdriver. I was told that since the store does not sell individual professional screwdrivers, that I would need to return the entire set. Now being that the screwdrivers are probably 15 years old, I know for sure I do not have the whole set anymore. Things get misplaced. So since I lost one or two of the set, the entire warranty is basically void. I cannot return any of the screwdrivers for warranty because I don't have the entire set. Very annoying.

I do agree with others that the quality was better in years past. For me, I visit Harbor Freight for more tools than I do Sears anymore. It's a sad day.

 

[the1nonlyjl]

Time for me to jump on armstrong bandwagon. [emoji123][emoji123][emoji123][emoji123][emoji123][emoji123]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Kickstart]

As has been stated before, get the craftsman industrial in the sears supply chain. It doesn't seem to be selling that great with the industrial supply houses and I wonder how well summit racing is doing with the line now.

Also as stated before, there is nothing the makes craftsman hand tools stand out from the rest of the pack. Lowes, Harbor Freight, Home Depot have the same warranty as craftsman and like craftsman it's pretty much imported.

A huge advertising campaign could be created to point this out and surely it would entice customers to support Sears.

Secondly, stop closing stores. This does not install consumer confidence to buy products from Sears. Take a cue from McDonalds. They don't close stores. If the store *****, they bring in people to fix it. If the store is in a crappy neighborhood that was once a nice neighborhood 30 years ago, they re-open it in a better location.

 

[fordgasm]

I grew up watching my dad use Craftsman tools. When I started wrenching on mustangs I used Craftsman tools. My parents bought me a lot of USA made stuff. Even my toolbox they bought me was USA made. I still use Craftsman power tools, their C3 19.2v line as well as their Nextec 12v line. Never had a problem with either, but I couldn't tell you the last time I went into a Sears store and walked out with a hand tool. I now go to ebay or craigslist to find quality USA made Craftsman tools. Sad really.

For me its quite simple. Bring back the quality made USA tools. Support the US worker. Bring the jobs back home, earn my business again. I will pay more for USA made tools.

 

[jjkrjh]

Sears was our towns main store. They supplied the town with everything that was needed from furniture, appliances, mowers ect. We waited for the Christmas Wishbook as kids. My mother would spend hours going thru the BIG catalog. I remember my father and neighbor comparing purchases.

We had a loyalty for Sears. Their auto department had good mechanics that could actually repair things-LOL. Craftsman tools were also a big part of the store.

My loyalty to Craftsman tools has faded. The move to China has ended it. I have a few tools that need replaced and have chosen to take a loss rather than receive a China replacement.

The Evolv or whatever the name is, would be fine for an offshore source. I would change the packaging. The green is terrible. The Craftsman line should be made in the USA.

Craftsman RP stuff are great tools for the price. The ratchets need improvement. Sockets are thin with bad chrome.

The industrial line should be available in the stores. The full polished wrenches are very nice. Ratchets and sockets should not be relabeled standard Craftsman stuff. They should be more on the SK level for sockets.

Missing sizes in sets are very odd. When you buy a set and a 5/8 wrench is not included---why. The professional screwdrivers with a P3 only available in the complete set???? The industrial line should have larger sizes available also.

It would be nice to see Sears to come out with the good, better, best (Evolv/China, RP/USA, Industrial/USA). I just don't see it in their future.

 

[TOOLFREEQ]

Gimmicks aren't tools and won't keep real mechanics and the DIY coming back for more.

Focus on fundamental tools and continual improvement will result is bottom line profits.

THIS plus USA!!

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

I've been buying Craftsman since the mid 1970's..and consider myself a loyal fan and customer..that is until as of late..

. Make and Market your tools as Made in USA, and have them readily available in the retail store. I will not purchase a Craftsman tool not made in the USA, period.

. Recognize that bringing guys & gals like us into Sears for Craftsman purchases increase the foot traffic in the store that eventually spills over into appliances, clothing, shoes, etc. etc. This inherent value needs to be sold to Sears top management. The Craftsman brand is exactly that. Quality tools, made in the USA, with replacement if something breaks due to tool workmanship and design flaws.

. I can count on both hands, the number of times I've brought broken tools back to Sears for replacements. In the 1970s and 1980s, no sweat.. they always delighted me with service. I brought in my dad's manual hedge clippers where I had broken the wooden handle.. they no longer made that model so they gave me the next best one...that was obviously made by the same company / supplier in the USA. I got my but out of hot water with my dad over that. He was pleased..and as a Union employee, if I had brought back a made in GYPO country replacement, he'd be mad at me, not Sears. In the 1990s, customer service became mixed. Some good, some bad experience. Its sad when I can go to eBay to get a replacement ratchet / repair kit, but not at Sears. Heck, I would pay 2x to get it locally, and immediately if I could go to Sears and do that. I still have a Craftsman basin wrench (and I'm not a plumber by trade) that had a broken spring on it, that Sears said "we don't make that anymore and don't have a replacement". In the 2000s and 2010s... this is horrible. I still have a broken Craftsman professional screw driver hanging on my tool board, as a reminder that "it cannot be replaced". Bottom Line? Maintain enough replacement inventory for a long time, and have it readily available for purchase. I know this costs inventory carrying money, but heck as I've said.. I'd pay to be able to do that.

. Tools don't need to be super glitzy. Super polished and highly unnecessary "features" don't help me get the job done. On the opposite end of the coin, I hated it when Sears went away from the chrome plated pliers (1970/1980s) to the current state of plier finish. I gave them a try, and they immediately rusted. I don't have any of them in my tool collection, and routinely buy the chrome version when I want to via eBay. Having a tool perform well, and stand up to average use conditions (like getting wet without becoming a complete rust ball) is what the focus needs to be.

. Get a team of people across a broad spectrum of users (I'm a homeowner / hobby tinkerer with tool making background and a BS, & MBA, and a director of a fortune 500 company) as judges of your quality and brand. I can pick up and / or use a tool and tell you how it will perform after a few minutes. Get to know what your customers want and demand, and then execute.

. don't get crazy on prices..know what your competition is doing and be better then them on volume. I routinely use the high end tool companies to replace broken Craftsman tools and / or purchase new ones. I'm currently in the market for some locking socket extensions and a long handle flexible head ratchet and Snap On will be who I will spend my money on. I'd love this to be Craftsman...but not until they fix a lot of what I have ranted about above.

Dennis

 

[t4runner]

After reading through this thread and being suckered in I realized that this is an exercise in futility it has taken Sears decades to get to this point and its just not the tool line but the operation of the company in general that has led them to this point. How many times has Sears closed stores or been on the verge of bankruptcy. Who's brilliant idea was it to open Sears hardware ( out of the 5 or 6 that opened in my area there is only 1 left ) I wonder how much resource's was lost to that move. Bottom line is as long as they make money none of the share holder's or CEO's care and when it stops someone will buy it for pennies on the dollar and chop it up and sell off the pieces.

 

[Mechpilot]

This is my first post, but it's important. To this day I still use my Craftsman Professional line tools, love them and still think you can buy some of them under the Industrial label. The problem is I don't buy the industrial line because I believe these too may go over seas and they aren't carried at sears. My thinking is, what good is a lifetime warranty if a quality USA made tool is going to be replaced by an inferior Chines tool, therefore, the Craftsman warranty doesn't mean enough for me to purchase any of the USA industrial tools. Over the past two years I have moved almost exclusively to Snap On tools and certainly haven't purchased any of the China made Craftsman tools. I want to be a customer again, but it will take bringing back quality USA made tools to the household market. I understand the need to manufacture overseas, but carry a USA line of tools also, one that's focused on quality; I'd love to be a customer again.

Thanks.

P.S. Sears, you could also compliment Craftsman with a hardline USA brand like SK in stores, I'd comeback for that too.

 

[Davefr]

Sears was one of the marketing pioneers when it came to the concept of "good", "better", "best" product positioning.

All that is now gone and the entire tool lineup has gravitated to the lowest cost/lowest quality. Sears has fumbled when it comes to product positioning.

Craftsman should be the "better" (ie made in USA, good quality)

Craftsman Pro should be "best" (ie made in USA, near tool truck quality, premium price)

Sears branded tools can be the "good". (ie Chinese, low price, compete with HF and HD, basic homeowner quality).

 

[steed andersen]

Make the company what it was 40 years ago. That is when it's name was made. Return to those qualities/values and customers will return.

 

[crab]

I think I'll sell the craftsman stuff I have. It's all made in USA but if I need to replace something they'll give me a replacement made in china. Really a shame because they had good stuff. I looked at a 1/2 inch ratchet in the store yesterday just to see where it was made, yep CHINA ! Probably 80% of my tools are snap on anyway but I've always considered craftsman an option. Sears has been going down hill for awhile now and craftsman was one of the few things I would actually go into one of there stores for, well forget that.

 

[arz71]

Sears lost what they did best, catalog, made in USA high end products.

Quality over Quantity

The USA is awash in CHINA made garbage, low quality throw away junk. If everything is about quantity then the USA will eventually become a 3rd world country. It cannot sustain the current path we are on with import more 'IMPOSTOR junk from China'.

 

[DanInVA]

I'm glad someone from Sears is listening, thanks for bringing this to us Stuey. I think if you had a FULL line of professional/industrial U.S. made tools to go along with your standard line, you could do a lot to appease the angry mob. There should be enough us made pro stuff in the store to build a good complete tool set.

Clearly there is a market for cheap Asian tools, but there is a market for premium American tools as well. These tools are getting very hard to find in stores. If I have to resort to going online, it won't be Sears that I go to.

 

[Ohmthis]

I've read all of the posts and for the most part agree with what's been said about bringing production of craftsman tools back to the US, making quality tools, and having a standardized warranty policy. What has really soured me on sears is that I feel you lied to me. Built up your "Craftsman" brand of quality, affordable, made in the USA tools and then when it didn't work for you anymore bailed. I am a master electrician, hvac tech, and ********* DIY mechanic. I have so much craftsman tools that I could fill a 4 x 8 table top with them. I haven't bought a craftsman tool in a couple years, why you might ask? Tools weren't as good (broken tips on screw drivers, chrome flaking off of wrenches, thin sockets cracking, and when I went back to warranty these? "We don't cover that because of professional use". Now when my work tools break, they get replaced with proto, Armstrong, or blackhawk. In short bring tools back to the US, make them well, have standardized warranty, and don't waste my time with **** boxes and tools. I already pay a premium price on the tools that I'm replacing the craftsman with, you'd get that business with better tools. Good luck!

 

[n8n]

I already pay a premium price on the tools that I'm replacing the craftsman with, you'd get that business with better tools. Good luck!

What he said. Sell tools as good as SK/Proto/Williams for a little less and you're back in the game. Right now Craftsman tools don't give me the impression that they're good enough for even "ambitious weekend warrior" use. Yeah, I overbuy on my tools, but whoever gets them when I'm gone will thank me, just like I thank my grandfather and great-grandfather every time I pick up one of their tools.

 

[kythri]

I'm likely echoing a lot of what's already been said, but:

Growing up, the Craftsman name meant something more than "on-par with or sub-par of everyone else" - and that's why I started buying a LOT of Craftsman stuff 10-15 years ago, when I got the bug.

During that time frame, I've seen more and more of the Craftsman line devolve into nothing more than a more expensive version of somebody else's tools, or, as I had refused to believe would happen, the outsourcing of production of the main hardline tools.

Sears was, for many, many years, a destination for me. I would always include a visit to the store in my travels to look at stuff, make a wishlist, etc.

You closed my local store in January, but, that's not really a huge loss, because I stopped visiting two years prior. Quite frankly, the only thing that got me back in the store was the clearance sales, and hoping someone uncovered some NOS product that hadn't seen the light of day for a while.

But, while it's late, it's not too late.

1> Made in the USA means a lot to a lot of people. You should endeavor to return as much production as possible back to the USA. Hell, bring it all back, and hire Mike Rowe as your spokesperson.

2> Outside of that, regardless of the country of origin, you need to offer something more than a name. Your tool quality, fit, finish, etc. needs to be SUPERIOR to what I can buy at Walmart, O'Reilly, Autozone, Harbor Freight, not inferior. You can't get by with just the name.

3> Staffing at stores and online. You need to seriously investigate purging a large amount of your staff, and hiring people that actually want to work for you, not just collect a paycheck. A large amount of your staff are simply clocking in and clocking out. It's painfully obvious that they don't care about customer service.

Also, sort your house out. Sears.com staff is not Kmart.com staff is not SYWR staff is not etc. etc. etc.

You've compartmentalized your online sales staff into 18 different divisions, and none of them can do anything without transferring your call between those different divisions.

Why would I want to continue to do business with an online entity that fumbles orders, then transfers me around to multiple different support groups in New Delhi?

4> If you're going to maintain the warranty as it traditionally has been, you need to hammer it into your store managers that they don't get to make exclusions and turn people away for anything that isn't enumerated into the warranty. This needs to become a zero-tolerance policy. There is absolutely no reason that someone promoted into any level of management does not fully comprehend your most basic marketing point.

5> Outside of the tools-related arena, fire the idiot responsible for this: http://www.sears.com/en_us/dap/kardashian-kollection.html. These "ladies" are not role-models, nor would they ever be caught dead in a Sears store, so, seriously, WTF?

The entire store needs to return to good old-fashioned values and marketing. There actually is a market for wholesome in this country. Walmart, Target - if these are your competition, then it's flabbergasting that you're not blowing them out of the water.

6> Online sales are here to stay. We get that. But you're competing with your own stores by not offering the same deals there, and, your website and online sales infrastructure needs a lot of improvement. Also, refer again to what I said about staff.

Rather than an employee walking me over to the in-store sales kiosk to place an online order for in-store pickup (for which the store gets no sales credit for), how about just pricing stuff the same? If it's on sale, it's on sale. No more of this "online only!" idiocy. "Online only!" sales tell me to shop somewhere else, because, refer to how poorly your website operates.

It's not a savings if I have to jump through hoops to fix problems and spend lots of my time doing so. Online sales are supposed to be a convenience and time saver, but, at times, it seems that your development staff has specifically engineered the experience to be anything but.

I want to become a Sears customer again. I want to buy Craftsman again. You can make this happen.

 

[arz71]

What he said. Sell tools as good as SK/Proto/Williams for a little less and you're back in the game. Right now Craftsman tools don't give me the impression that they're good enough for even "ambitious weekend warrior" use. Yeah, I overbuy on my tools, but whoever gets them when I'm gone will thank me, just like I thank my grandfather and great-grandfather every time I pick up one of their tools.

I think you may be onto something, sell QUALITY tools like that and/or offer them. If they are going to let the Craftsman line continue down the toilet then just get rid of it.

Offer a premium line of tools, there is a market for them. Sears was never a 'low price' retail outlet they were a higher quality end department store.

The last time I went into a Sears it resembled a 'Flea Market'. Empty shelves, price tags written with magic markers, shelves with mis-matched products. Looked like a 'Kmart' fixin to shutdown.

It is clearly evident that SEARS is not achieving results. If the same mistakes are being repeated one has to ask themselves maybe they need a new direction.

 

[arz71]

I'm likely echoing a lot of what's already been said, but:

Growing up, the Craftsman name meant something more than "on-par with or sub-par of everyone else" - and that's why I started buying a LOT of Craftsman stuff 10-15 years ago, when I got the bug.

During that time frame, I've seen more and more of the Craftsman line devolve into nothing more than a more expensive version of somebody else's tools, or, as I had refused to believe would happen, the outsourcing of production of the main hardline tools.

Sears was, for many, many years, a destination for me. I would always include a visit to the store in my travels to look at stuff, make a wishlist, etc.

You closed my local store in January, but, that's not really a huge loss, because I stopped visiting two years prior. Quite frankly, the only thing that got me back in the store was the clearance sales, and hoping someone uncovered some NOS product that hadn't seen the light of day for a while.

But, while it's late, it's not too late.

1> Made in the USA means a lot to a lot of people. You should endeavor to return as much production as possible back to the USA. Hell, bring it all back, and hire Mike Rowe as your spokesperson.

2> Outside of that, regardless of the country of origin, you need to offer something more than a name. Your tool quality, fit, finish, etc. needs to be SUPERIOR to what I can buy at Walmart, O'Reilly, Autozone, Harbor Freight, not inferior. You can't get by with just the name.

3> Staffing at stores and online. You need to seriously investigate purging a large amount of your staff, and hiring people that actually want to work for you, not just collect a paycheck. A large amount of your staff are simply clocking in and clocking out. It's painfully obvious that they don't care about customer service.

Also, sort your house out. Sears.com staff is not Kmart.com staff is not SYWR staff is not etc. etc. etc.

You've compartmentalized your online sales staff into 18 different divisions, and none of them can do anything without transferring your call between those different divisions.

Why would I want to continue to do business with an online entity that fumbles orders, then transfers me around to multiple different support groups in New Delhi?

4> If you're going to maintain the warranty as it traditionally has been, you need to hammer it into your store managers that they don't get to make exclusions and turn people away for anything that isn't enumerated into the warranty. This needs to become a zero-tolerance policy. There is absolutely no reason that someone promoted into any level of management does not fully comprehend your most basic marketing point.

5> Outside of the tools-related arena, fire the idiot responsible for this: http://www.sears.com/en_us/dap/kardashian-kollection.html. These "ladies" are not role-models, nor would they ever be caught dead in a Sears store, so, seriously, WTF?

The entire store needs to return to good old-fashioned values and marketing. There actually is a market for wholesome in this country. Walmart, Target - if these are your competition, then it's flabbergasting that you're not blowing them out of the water.

6> Online sales are here to stay. We get that. But you're competing with your own stores by not offering the same deals there, and, your website and online sales infrastructure needs a lot of improvement. Also, refer again to what I said about staff.

Rather than an employee walking me over to the in-store sales kiosk to place an online order for in-store pickup (for which the store gets no sales credit for), how about just pricing stuff the same? If it's on sale, it's on sale. No more of this "online only!" idiocy. "Online only!" sales tell me to shop somewhere else, because, refer to how poorly your website operates.

It's not a savings if I have to jump through hoops to fix problems and spend lots of my time doing so. Online sales are supposed to be a convenience and time saver, but, at times, it seems that your development staff has specifically engineered the experience to be anything but.

I want to become a Sears customer again. I want to buy Craftsman again. You can make this happen.

Excellent write up!

I AGREE 100% on this one for sure!!!

5> Outside of the tools-related arena, fire the idiot responsible for this: http://www.sears.com/en_us/dap/kardashian-kollection.html. These "ladies" are not role-models, nor would they ever be caught dead in a Sears store, so, seriously, WTF? (more like they are absolute immoral people)

 

[Buster21]

I was part of the Toughskins jeans generation, every school year Mom would take us back to school shopping at Sears and after words we would get a box of popcorn at the snack bar at the front of the store. We bought most everything at Sears, one year all four kids chipped in and bought my Mom our first microwave oven, back then they were hundreds of dollars. Dad bought most everything from Sears, you can't even imagine the hundreds of gallons of paint that came from Sears, interior, exterior and stain for hundreds of feet of fence, lawn mowers, weed eaters, stereo speakers, TV's, vacuum cleaners, BBQ's, washers and driers and the list goes on and on. One of the reasons that Dad bought most everything from Sears was that if it did break you could go down to the local Sears parts store and get a part and fix it, I remember still getting parts for our mower 15 years after we bought it. I still stop by Sears once in a while to see if anything has changed, it only gets worse with each visit, the tool department has been revamped again to take up even less space. The last time I was there was a Saturday afternoon and it looked like a ghost town, one elderly gentleman looking for a cashier to buy a pair of hedge clippers. My wife will ask me why I still bother to go in, I guess I am still in denial and can't believe what has happened to such an American institution. Along with others I can remember getting home from school and finding that the Sears Christmas catalog had come in the mail, my brother and I would spend days pouring over the pages making out our Christmas list. To whoever is listening Craftsman has to be USA period end of discussion. If you want China tools keep the Evolve line, but Craftsman must be USA. When they were transitioning from USA wrenches to China you could buy either one for the same price, in what world could that ever make sense. I have a set of Craftsman screw drivers that were my Great Grand Dad's, they are still in use today, that should show you how well Craftsman tools were made and how well they were respected, these have been passed down through four generations.

 

[zakmartin]

If I return a Craftsman tool under its 100% satisfaction guarantee that was made in the USA and there is no longer a made in the USA equivalent, then please either give me my money back at the register for what you currently charge for the Chinese version or give me store credit. If I have a busted USA tool and don't want a Chinese version, please don't give me any grief over it. I bought most of my tools from Sears for over 30 years, because I believed in the product and the fact that I was employing my neighbor. After everything got offshored, I gave up and went with Armstrong, SK, Wright, etc. To be boldly honest, I hardly own anything that's made in China (tools or otherwise). It's a personal choice I made a long time ago. Everything's more expensive and every trip to the store is an adventure, but I have no regrets about making this decision. I find that I don't "need" things like I used to.

I haven't been inside a Sears since the one down the street from me shuttered almost a year ago. Get rid of the over-priced and over-rated Craftsman Industrial line, bring back Craftsman Professional and make them in the USA. Anything made in China should just be labeled as "Sears" brand. You've devalued the Craftsman name to the point where you'll never bring it back to the "America's most trusted brand" status. The Craftsman trademark has been squandered and there are a lot of angry (former) customers out there as a result. Sears punched its faithful buyers right in the pocket and it's going to take a big apology and a major paradigm shift to get them back.

Finally, why is Sears charging the same price for tools that are made in China as they were charging when their tools were made in the USA? Isn't the whole point in offshoring to slave-labor markets to lower overheads and pass the savings down the line to customers? It's sick logic, and again, it's why I don't buy Chinese products anymore. I just can't stomach what I saw Apple, Nike, Sears, etc. do to people with whom I share a common ancestry. Companies like Sears took advantage of people who had nothing while at the same time taking jobs away from people for whom they owed everything. It's hard for me to process.

I appreciate this thread. I hope something good comes out of it.

 

[kythri]

Finally, why is Sears charging the same price for tools that are made in China as they were charging when their tools were made in the USA?

Because Sears wasn't charging "made in the USA" prices for tools when they were being made in the USA.

The USA-made Craftsman tools were the least-expensive USA-made tools you could buy.

 

[impactsocket]

I do not think most CM customers are going to pay for more expensive USA made CM tools. They will simply go to HF, Home Depot, or Lowes for cheaper made in China tools. Perhaps CM should make tools in Taiwan like Gear Wrench.

Look at how few people purchased the USA made CM premium ratchets because of the high price.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I do not think most CM customers are going to pay for more expensive USA made CM tools. They will simply go to HF, Home Depot, or Lowes for cheaper made in China tools. Perhaps CM should make tools in Taiwan like Gear Wrench.

Look at how few people purchased the USA made CM premium ratchets because of the high price.

Because those ratchets are bad value, I have heard it locks up alot from quite a few people. Plus why would anyone buy that ratchet when you could buy used tool truck brands or brand new industrial brands for less. Armstrong 88 is $6ish cheaper, Williams is $13 cheaper, SK 47150 $6 ish too. I would buy craftsman if it was quailty usa stuff priced between hf and industrial brands.

 

[Jere]

Sears near me closed down so it's off to Harbor freight which is very close still.

Yeah same here sears made it an easy choice of where to send my business.

That said Hf has more variety more innovation better quality and better prices even though half the stuff they sell is junk.

 

[kythri]

Plus why would anyone buy that ratchet when you could buy used tool truck brands or brand new industrial brands for less.

Because the supply of used tool truck brands is not sufficient for the demand of people.

Because people want new tools, not used tools.

Because people don't have ready access to industrial brands.

Because those brands aren't nearly as recognized as the Craftsman brand.

I would buy craftsman if it was quailty usa stuff priced between hf and industrial brands.

Would you pay SK prices for it?

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Because people don't have ready access to industrial brands.

Amazon is pretty accessible,

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DNRPH4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012WJ46Q/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00003030K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Because those brands aren't nearly as recognized as the Craftsman brand.

I doubt there are that many people considering buying a $50 ratchet and don't know about at least one industrial brand.

Would you pay SK prices for it?

No, if I am going to pay SK prices for something, It's gonna be SK.
I buy most of my stuff used so it is difficult to say what I would pay, if it was around gear wrench in price I would buy some.

 

[kythri]

No, if I am going to pay SK prices for something, It's gonna be SK.
I buy most of my stuff used so it is difficult to say what I would pay, if it was around gear wrench in price I would buy some.

So, it needs to be US-made, and it needs to be high-quality, but you're only willing to pay Chinese-made prices for it.

 

[arz71]

Sears had excellent quality before they lost what made them great. The tool steel was vastly superior to any China made impostor junk. Now the USA is awash in debt, flooded out with trinkets from china.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

So, it needs to be US-made, and it needs to be high-quality, but you're only willing to pay Chinese-made prices for it.

Sums it up pretty well, craftsman used to sell USA at affordable prices

 

[kythri]

Unbelievable.

 

[ganymede]

..... ...

 

[Jeremy77]

The Craftsman brand should be disassociated with Sears and Kmart totally. I think there's enough of a following still that Craftsman could sustain as its own store. Between hand tools, power tools and lawn and garden, they could run a chain of mini hardware/home center stores. Make as much of their product in the U.S. as possible, improve quality, bring back the professional level merchandise as well as the standard line, keep evolv/companion/Sears lines out of there and in Sears/Kmart and staff the stores with TOOL/EQUIPMENT employees.Have people work there who are in the know about what they are selling and very keen on warranty issues.Yes, charge more for these tools. People wont mind spending a bit more if they know that they are getting a quality product being sold by tool savvy salespeople.This type store could be a destination on the weekends for the family. Tradespeople could have a very viable option to tool trucks and industrial supply houses. Landscapers could buy better lawn care and maintenance equipment yet not have to pay industrial costs. Craftsman...You have the name recognition, don't kill your brand by leaving it in Kmart and farming all of your tool manufacturing overseas..Hell, you could start forging your tools yourself! Leave apex, danaher etc. behind and start the Craftsman tool works and forge.

 

[sz0k30]

My opinion probably doesn't belong in this "Bash Craftsman" thread for 3 reasons.

1. I'm old, so I haven't bought any new tools lately.

2. I've never been a professional tool user, just a backyard mechanic/handyman.

3. Having said that, a lot of my tools are Craftsman and are still working and looking as new as the day I bought them. Most 35 to 45 years ago. 1/4" & 1/2" fine tooth ratchet and socket sets, combination wrenches, screwdrivers, a 7-1/4" circular saw, a table saw, a 3/8 hammer drill with enough torque to break your wrist, a 5HP 30 gal compressor, and others. And while not on an every day level, in all these years they have never failed me.

A happy & satisfied Craftsmen user and owner.

 

[impactsocket]

USA made Craftsman 3-Piece Premium Grade Ratchet Set ($125.96) has great reviews but most CM buyers are not willing to spend the extra money for US made tools. SEARS5OFF50 coupon gets you $5 off. That is $40.32 per ratchet in the 3 piece set. shopyourway rewards also gives you additional discounts.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-piece-premium-grade-ratchet-set/p-00929498000P?adCell=pvt_1_1

 

[impactsocket]

Craftsman C3 ½” Impact Wrench with 4Ah XCP battery ($159.99) with 300 ft-lbs. of torque has great reviews but most CM buyers don't want to spend the money on it.

CM does have great tools in their line up and it does have some bad tools but this is the case for most afforable tool brands.

Buyers should do a little research and find the good CM tools to buy.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-c3-189-8221-heavy-duty-impact-wrench-kit/p-00945195000P