Sears' response on tools made in China

[eddie1278]

I only but USA made Craftsman sockets, wrenches etc on Ebay, yard sales or flea markets I will not buy the chinese ****. If Im going to buy Chinese **** I might as well go to HF and buy it for less they have the same warranty.

To me your tools are a lifetime investment. I know tons of people who have a ton more tools then I do but they are all cheap harbor freight garbage. I might have less tools but mine are higher quality.

I still have my first pair of Klein lineman pliers from 1997 and they still cut like butter. If I bought a pair of Harbor Freight or other chinese pliers they would last no more then 2 years I guarantee it.

 

[basspro]

Eddie, some things are for sure worth spending more on, Id say lineman pliers are one of those!

 

[KinzeMech]

Back when soldering was required a simple fix could be difficult if you didn't know how to. With push on fittings (like shark/gator bite), its easier than ever.

False. Sweating a fitting is easy. A propane torch, some emery cloth, flux, and a small spool of solder will pay for itself in less than a dozen joints, compared to the price of shark bite fittings. I keep a few in the toolbox, for emergency repairs (they are quick), but will sweat a joint whenever possible.

If you can't sweat a copper pipejoint, you lack a basic plumbing skillset/toolset. It's like a can of fix a flat. It has it's time and place, but shouldn't take the place of having a spare and knowing how to use it.

 

[Hako86]

I'm from the netherlands and I'm so happy I bought the last 3/8 USA made socket set off of Amazon

 

[Tranz4m]

I purchased a set of wrenches yesterday that are made to look just like the old ones from 30 years ago. When I got them home I found Made in china on the package in tiny print. No where on the wrenches does it say where they are made. The old ones say made in USA right on them. If I am forced to purchase Chinese wrenches I will not be buying them at Sears. I can get similar quality Chinese wrenches much cheaper elsewhere. Ever since Sears was purchased by KMart the quality of the merchandise and the store itself has been in steady decline. After 40 years I'm done with Sears and especially their tools and appliances! I suspect that bankruptcy is a short way down the road.

 

[AndrewV]

I purchased a set of wrenches yesterday that are made to look just like the old ones from 30 years ago. When I got them home I found Made in china on the package in tiny print. No where on the wrenches does it say where they are made. The old ones say made in USA right on them. If I am forced to purchase Chinese wrenches I will not be buying them at Sears. I can get similar quality Chinese wrenches much cheaper elsewhere. Ever since Sears was purchased by KMart the quality of the merchandise and the store itself has been in steady decline. After 40 years I'm done with Sears and especially their tools and appliances! I suspect that bankruptcy is a short way down the road.

Not forced to buy them.
Just sears blatantly averting coo, for sake of a sale.
Other brands do it to.
Just not a company that made there slogan essentialy Made in the U.S.A.

 

[SKAutomotive]

Oh look, this topic again. I mean how many years of kicking and screaming and sending strongly worded e-mails for naught are the members of this forum going to do? It hasn't changed anything, and never will. You are no longer their target audience. They are using their name on cheap tools to attract the genuinely oblivious millenial weekend warrior who will never read the package, never use the tool more than twice, may not even know how to use the tool, just thinks they should have tools cause dad did, that will just think they bought a US made tool. And you know what? There are thousands upon thousands of them far outnumbering the mumbling bunch here.

On that note, just because it says Craftsman and China on it does not mean it is bad. It's called research and conscientious shopping. I have quite a few China Craftsman tools that hold up just as well as the US made ones, and have passed on many of the ones that no longer hold up since the switch, because I spent more than 19 seconds on the purchase.

 

[KinzeMech]

Oh look, this topic again.

Not again, just still. It's a year old thread.


I've got a few pieces of the chinese craftsman, and you're right, they're not that bad. Of the few chinese tools I've got, they're the best I've ever seen. No one gives them credit for that.

 

[erty67]

I purchased a set of wrenches yesterday that are made to look just like the old ones from 30 years ago. When I got them home I found Made in china on the package in tiny print. No where on the wrenches does it say where they are made. The old ones say made in USA right on them. If I am forced to purchase Chinese wrenches I will not be buying them at Sears. I can get similar quality Chinese wrenches much cheaper elsewhere. Ever since Sears was purchased by KMart the quality of the merchandise and the store itself has been in steady decline. After 40 years I'm done with Sears and especially their tools and appliances! I suspect that bankruptcy is a short way down the road.

great first post Welcome to GJ. Please don't dig up anymore old threads just to complain. Thank you.

 

[skiingman]

It hasn't changed anything, and never will. You are no longer their target audience. They are using their name on cheap tools to attract the genuinely oblivious millenial weekend warrior who will never read the package, never use the tool more than twice, may not even know how to use the tool, just thinks they should have tools cause dad did, that will just think they bought a US made tool. And you know what? There are thousands upon thousands of them far outnumbering the mumbling bunch here.

Do you really walk into a Sears and see people under 30? Clearly "we" (tool people) aren't the target, but I'm not sure I know who is. I think the target market is people who still walk in there out of habit and inertia because I'm not sure why else you would. It's kind of like K-Mart, the place people go when it's closer than Wal-Mart.

 

[SKAutomotive]

Do you really walk into a Sears and see people under 30? Clearly "we" (tool people) aren't the target, but I'm not sure I know who is. I think the target market is people who still walk in there out of habit and inertia because I'm not sure why else you would. It's kind of like K-Mart, the place people go when it's closer than Wal-Mart.

Let me ask my wife, she happens to work in a Sears...one sec...okay I know that didn't seem like any time lapsed to you but she said yes that a huge chunk of the people coming in and buying tools are younger guys, most wearing repair shop uniforms.

 

[wild cowboy]

It's kind of like K-Mart, the place people go when it's closer than Wal-Mart.

No one goes to K-mart.

when I am there, I feel like a burglar because the store is completely empty and it's 7PM!! - like someone had a key and we snuck in after hours.

also the inside decor takes me back to 1977 - WTH? - time travel!

we have one of the old "big Sears" here, and it is much the same way!