Sears never fails to disappoint me

[bobcatdan]

While at sears getting an impact adapter replaced, I saw 3/8" drive flare crowfeet. SAE or metric, $79.99. The metric in the old packaging, USA. SAE in the new plastic tray, China. I sware, one tool at a time, the whole sha bang will ride over on a boat. I know this nothing new, but I just had to *****.

 

[mrholeshot]

Did you buy the USA ones?

 

[theoldwizard1]

I predict Sears will be out of business within 6-8 years.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Did you buy the USA ones?

x2, buy them while you can.

 

[mrholeshot]

I predict Sears will be out of business within 6-8 years.

My Crystal ball says two years but when I asked my magic 8 ball it said "Not Likely"

 

[bobcatdan]

I think at $80 a set, my buy one get matco sets was cheaper 4 or so years. Be my luck if I ever lost or some how broke one, the replacement would be china.

 

[street131]

wow, i guess i would be bitching as well. Just because the tools are made in china doesnt mean they are bad. Its when they switch to china and then dont bring the prices down enough to really reflect what country its made in.

 

[bmwpower]

I think at $80 a set, my buy one get matco sets was cheaper 4 or so years. Be my luck if I ever lost or some how broke one, the replacement would be china.

Do they sell individual pieces in the store? If not, you couldn't even make sure you'd get a USA one.

 

[toolmaker1]

wow, i guess i would be bitching as well. Just because the tools are made in china doesnt mean they are bad. Its when they switch to china and then dont bring the prices down enough to really reflect what country its made in.

Hit the nail on the head with that statement. If they are going to have that chicom evolv **** on the cheap that's one thing but charging usa prices for junk chinese just because it says craftsman is bs

 

[bobcatdan]

That is the exact reason I stopped buying mac. Matco seemed to drop the price, but the may have been only certain things.

 

[pipsters]

WAAAAAAAAY too much $$. I just bought the last two USA made ones in my local Sears for $56 each with the online sale and online coupons. Still pricey but no other real options for inexpensive USA made ones though that I could find.

I agree with the above, they are just coasting on their USA made rep at this point. Originally when I ordered for store pickup, they packaged the Chinese version. When I asked for exchanged they didn't believe they were made in China. Luckily my Sears had the metric and the one down the road had the SAE. Last ones available. If all they had were Chinese versions I'd just go to Northern Tool and buy the $16 set. No reason to pay Craftsman markup, total BS. Buy the USA stuff while you can!!

 

[Danglerb]

Sears won't be out of business in 2 years, but it might not have the same products or product mix.

We know that most any industrial country can make "good" quality tools, and more than a few can make a premium tool. The shakeout will be who can deliver the quality level we want reliably and at the best price.

Truck brands have to offer top quality, or close to it, but can get away with premium prices and perhaps less of a value.

HF needs to have the cheapest prices, or close to it, but can get away with minimum quality and less reliability, but only within a "fair" easy warranty/return arrangement.

Sears is kind of in the middle, and this one foot in each camp is doing it no good. I've bought a LOT of craftsman tools without concern due to the easy warranty, but now I am wondering if I break something 5 years from if the replacement will be junk or close to it.

 

[pipsters]

The Chinese stuff Craftsman sells is an exact copy of the US tools. They probably just moved the tooling over there. I would doubt there is much quality difference, in fact it might even be better to be honest, especially the chrome. What would piss me off is paying a premium for a USA product and getting a Chinese product in exchange for warranty. If that was the case, like I said we might as well just buy Chinese tools now and save the $$.

 

[diesel research]

The Chinese stuff Craftsman sells is an exact copy of the US tools. They probably just moved the tooling over there. I would doubt there is much quality difference,

No it isn't. Not all of it anyways, take a look at the open end of some of the newer wrenches. No where near even close to kind of a copy, let alone exact.



Then again, why do people keep shopping there after repeated poor experiences? Enjoy pain?

 

[jjjrmx5]

Then again, why do people keep shopping there after repeated poor experiences? Enjoy pain?

Nah. It's just like dining at TGI Friday's, if the product (a very well known, described and pretty consistant one--ad nauseum) is not delivered to the customer's liking, a portion of the price will be removed, or, even better, the product will be given for free.

Rinse. Repeat.

Repeating the scenario hoping for a different outcome is hopeful but not always likely. But the customer always complains, no matter the outcome.

Freud would be proud.

LOL.

I'm not a fan that they moved to China for production. Agreed.
Then don't buy them. Done.

 

[Skin]

the flarenut crowfoot wrenches were made by SK and were one of the first things to get switched. I never found them at much of a bargain for $80 anyway. Cripe has quite a few new old stock KD USA crowfoot wrenches on their site for a couple bucks each. You can almost make complete sets.

http://www.cripedistributing.com/ad...e+nut&osCsid=5052bf9173862d34d93b1a488207610c

 

[pipsters]

the flarenut crowfoot wrenches were made by SK and were one of the first things to get switched. I never found them at much of a bargain for $80 anyway. Cripe has quite a few new old stock KD USA crowfoot wrenches on their site for a couple bucks each. You can almost make complete sets.

http://www.cripedistributing.com/ad...e+nut&osCsid=5052bf9173862d34d93b1a488207610c

Hmm how popular are 14mm and 17mm bolts? If not very I could return the Craftsman and get the KD ones for about half what I bought the Craftsman for. Tempting. I can't remember if I've ever even used a 14 or 17, I don't think I have.

 

[5-0stank]

Hmm how popular are 14mm and 17mm bolts? If not very I could return the Craftsman and get the KD ones for about half what I bought the Craftsman for. Tempting. I can't remember if I've ever even used a 14 or 17, I don't think I have.

Drain plug on my truck is 14 I think, and Hondas are 17's.

 

[pipsters]

Well now what I thought was a good deal, isn't anymore! I paid $56 for those 10 metric ones, the KD ones for 8 would be about $35 with shipping, so two flare nuts for $20 more is kinda pricey "just to have". I sure do wish Sears sold them separate as well.

 

[PT Doc]

My subaru outback had a 17mm oil drain plug.

 

[Skin]

Hmm how popular are 14mm and 17mm bolts?

Bolts? Depends on the vehicle. The real question is how often would you use a flarenut crowfoot wrench let alone one of those 2 sizes?

Noticed this set on the bay too, perhaps worth asking if its USA.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KD-1...Z220692279205QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

 

[littletoes]

Wtf???

 

[littletoes]

I thought Craftsman were made by Danahur Corp.? Is Sears now "subbing" to a chinease subsidary???

Can sombody help me with my confusion???

 

[pipsters]

Bolts? Depends on the vehicle. The real question is how often would you use a flarenut crowfoot wrench let alone one of those 2 sizes?

Noticed this set on the bay too, perhaps worth asking if its USA.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/KD-1...Z220692279205QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

I dunno. I was kinda buying them to buy them at this point. I'm a home DIY guy, the answer is probably "hardly ever" but I can say I needed one two times so far, although I was able to get by without it.

 

[Toolhorder]

14MM and 17MM are all over Hondas and other Japanese cars.

 

[pipsters]

I thought Craftsman were made by Danahur Corp.? Is Sears now "subbing" to a chinease subsidary???

Can sombody help me with my confusion???

Skin seems to know pretty much everything about the Craftsman brand (not sure what his background is?) but from my understanding there have been many suppliers, most Danaher but some outside. For example, on my Craftsman flarenut set, they are stamped with an "X" indicating:

X = SK Hand tools, post-Facom , ca. 2008 - 2009

X = Mayhew, ca. 2010 - 2011

Not sure which one would apply, Skin mentioned SK though.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84807

 

[Techniker]

I predict Sears will be out of business within 6-8 years.

And your prediction is based on what? Your degree in finance and vast experience in stock appraisal? Sears is fine.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/90190-sears-bankruptcy-i-think-not

 

[pipsters]

Sears will be fine however the problem is Sears might as well not exist if they replace their USA made tool products with Chinese ones, since 80% of folks (my guess) are paying the premium for the USA product now with the expectation that it will be warrantied with a USA product.

 

[t100]

I think "playing dumb" is part of the Sears training. I went to Sears the first time in a long time to get rid of the $3 left on my gift card(store credit). I asked the guy at the counter.
me: are Cman wrenches made in China now?
him: you mean the Gearwrench?
me: no, I said Craftsman wrenches
him: oh, those black gearbox wrenches are
me: no, I said Craftsman chrome combo wrenches, the regular ones.
him: these are USA
me: you kidding, right? mind I show you? (we took a stroll to the shelf)
him: these? these are always U.S. made
me: yeah, look at the back of the package, the small prints.
him: huh, I didn't know that.

 

[Techniker]

I think "playing dumb" is part of the Sears training. I went to Sears the first time in a long time to get rid of the $3 left on my gift card(store credit). I asked the guy at the counter.
me: are Cman wrenches made in China now?
him: you mean the Gearwrench?
me: no, I said Craftsman wrenches
him: oh, those black gearbox wrenches are
me: no, I said Craftsman chrome combo wrenches, the regular ones.
him: these are USA
me: you kidding, right? mind I show you? (we took a stroll to the shelf)
him: these? these are always U.S. made
me: yeah, look at the back of the package, the small prints.
him: huh, I didn't know that.

Did Sears used to not be like that? I feel like this is the story now at every store I go into, not just Sears. I find the same thing at Lowes and Home Depot- I'll ask about a tool or a fitting and they will look at me like I am speaking in tongues. It's only going to get worse with the decline of vocational and technical education- especially with my generation coming onto the scene.

-Techniker

 

[pipsters]

On a side note Lowes sells a Stanley rubber mallet "Made in China" for the same price Home Depot sells the Estwing "Made in USA" version.

I think the big beef with Sears is they always touted Made in USA and their warranty, that was part of their selling point. Or maybe I just think it was, I dunno.

If they're not "Made in USA" anymore, I'll just go back to going to Harbor Freight or Northern Tool and saving 50%-70% of the Sears cost. My Harbor Freight store warranties stuff just like Sears.

 

[zer0cell]

Honestly IF sears ends up having everything be imported from China like harbor freight I think id rather go to harbor freight, its cheaper and the warranty is easier.

The main reason why I don't hate harbor freight like some others do is because at least their imported china **** is inexpensive and the warranty is easy. quality is sometimes questionable but at least you are not paying out the *** for it. The hand tools at lowes are just disgusting... chinese knock offs at usa pricing... just another example of corporate greed... take the jobs away from american workers and then line the pockets of the big execs by charging an arm and a leg for cheap **** that was imported... pathetic

 

[diesel research]

I thought Craftsman were made by Danahur Corp.? Is Sears now "subbing" to a chinease subsidary???

Can sombody help me with my confusion???

APEX seems to have many facilities in china and taiwan both.

 

[mrshaun]

well you have guys that buy tools simply because their father/family bought that brand. they do not care where it was made.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Hmm how popular are 14mm and 17mm bolts? .

Subaru rack and pinion lines.....damn glad I had the 17mm that day!

Also the reason I'm getting flex flare wrenches next!

 

[HandyManny]

I thought Craftsman were made by Danahur Corp.? Is Sears now "subbing" to a chinease subsidary???

Can sombody help me with my confusion???

There is a big misconception out there that Danaher makes all Craftsman hand tools. They make the sockets, combo and open end wrenches, extentions, and most ratchets. That's about it, but SK until recently made a very small portion of that stuff too for Sears. There are something like 20 other domestic manufacturers who make many other various hand tools under contract for the Craftsman line. I believe there are close to 100 total contract manufactures in all, for the entire hand tool line (both USA and imported).

 

[lowbucktruck]

APEX seems to have many facilities in china and taiwan both.

Apex Tool Group is a joint venture...
"Apex Tool Group is a joint venture between certain tool businesses from Danaher Corporation and Cooper Industries, previously doing business as Danaher Tool Group and Cooper Tools"
http://www.apextoolgroup.com/faqs/index.cfm

So who knows where Crescent, K-D and other tool brands are actually manufactured; probably overseas.

It doesn't seem to be the ENTIRE Craftsman tool line sold at Sears being changed to chinese or taiwanese manufacture; a set of Craftsman raised panel combo wrenches I purchased recently were made in USA. There isn't one one single contract manufacturer for all Craftsman tools (and tradionally that has not been the case either). See HandyManny's post above. It does get confusing and makes you want to look carefully at the product and COO before plumking down your hard-earned money for it. However, I tend to do that before buying any tools from any retailer. I also look for best-of-breed and best reviews on products before I buy them. (a more informed consumer choice).

Now if Sears wants to go down this road of subcontracting some tool manufacture to overseas countries, then they should adjust their pricing structure accordingly and pass that savings down to us, the consumer. But in doing so, they do run the risk of ticking off their long-time, loyal customer base. In the old days, I wouldn't think twice about buying Craftsman tools. Now I shop around for other tool brands and buy the best-bang/best-of-breed for the buck. And its not always Sears getting my business.
I can say the same for certain power tool manufacturers (Milwaukee).

 

[pipsters]

Subaru rack and pinion lines.....damn glad I had the 17mm that day!

Also the reason I'm getting flex flare wrenches next!

That is what worries me, I know it will be that one that I don't have. Well I've got 'em home now, might as well keep 'em. Why doesn't Sears sell open stock stuff? So frustrating.

 

[Skin]

Just a heads up i shot a message off to that ebay seller of the 10pc KD set above and he replied they're USA, so 10-19 metric flare nut crowfoot for ~$30 shipped.

 

[pipsters]

Just a heads up i shot a message off to that ebay seller of the 10pc KD set above and he replied they're USA, so 10-19 metric flare nut crowfoot for ~$30 shipped.

Yeah he got back to me as well. I might do it. Thanks for the heads up!