Sears, China and the other thing

[NC-Fordguy]

Guys,

There's been several threads involving Sears and speculation on where the tools are being made and where they will be made.

There's also a thread concerning Sears selling USA made tools to make room for the supposed china made tools.

This is what I've been able to find out. This info comes from a Sears Regional manager to my wife who is a manager on the store level.

Ratchets are being made overseas. The stock is being made here and shipped overseas where it is milled, assembled and finished.

The old school sockets and raised panel wrenches are still going to be produced in the USA. This is to include extensions, adapters and swivels. The newer socket designs like the spline sockets and pass through sets are being made overseas.

Screwdrivers are still being made here.

The reason for the mark downs is not to make room for the supposed made in China stuff. Sears will periodically change stock numbers on its Merchandise. The reason for such is it prevents flea market purchases being returned to sears. Someone can't walk in and say "I bought this at another Sears yesterday and want my money back"

In addition there has been issues with the laser etching rubbing off. The newer made stuff is supposed to resolve this issue.


This is the best info I have at the moment and of course like anything it can change.

 

[nomad69]

Some screwdrivers may still be made here but not all. At Christmas I was in the columbus oh westside store and all the sets except the largest were made in the PRC. The packaging said that while the screwdrivers were unmarked.

 

[volunteers]

Very helpful information.
Glad to know the craftsman sockets are going to be made in U.S. for a period.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Some screwdrivers may still be made here but not all. At Christmas I was in the columbus oh westside store and all the sets except the largest were made in the PRC. The packaging said that while the screwdrivers were unmarked.

What sets are you referring to?? I did fail to mention that the little micro screw drivers are coming from China as well as the evolve line.
Craftsman and Craftsman pro are supposed to be usa

Do you have and pictures to verify this as what I was told through the grape vine is different.

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

About 95% of my tools are craftsman and never had a problem with them or exchanging them. So as long as the quality remains with the tools I'll keep buying them. I dont like to buy Chicom tools or any other products but to buy american tools is just too costly for me.

I was at sears last Friday and they had 11pc 1/4" socket sets 50% off so I bought both sae and a metric sets 10 bucks a set. they came with ratchet, small extension. 9 sockets and case. Hell I didnt even need them but for $20 I couldnt just let them sit there all alone!!!!

 

[djkeev]

I just received the new 1/2 drive ratchet as a warranty replacement. While the tag clearly stated the unit was made in China, the ratchet has no mention at all about Country of Origin. (see photos)
I know, I traded US made for China made but it's my not needed 2nd 1/2" ratchet.

Dave

 

[shoturtle]

It is not made in china, The slim profile is made in taiwan.

 

[Knuckle Buster]

It is not made in china, The slim profile is made in taiwan.

What about the 84 tooth prem? Are they US?

 

[shoturtle]

Yes the prem is made in the USA. It is a very nice ratchet.

 

[SMKS]

It is not made in china, The slim profile is made in taiwan.

+1

Only the raised panel ratchets are Chinese. All the fully polished ratchets are made in Taiwan.