SK Tools at Lowes?

[neophyte]

Or, maybe just wise, especially since unless they are offering factory tours, there is no point in having the address listed anyway.

Some disillusioned S-K junkie mad over the direction the company has taken, wants to pay them a "visit"?

Can be a real thing these days.

There are plenty of small manufacturing facilities that make some major item, but whose factory is fairly nondescript.
The factory doesn’t do tours (mostly), and usually doesn’t have have people in place to really handle someone who just shows up.
I’ve accidentally done this a couple times in Philly thinking some business may be used to walk in sales when they really aren’t.
Usually, the people were nice, but if it happens too often it likely becomes a problem.
W. Rose, the trowel brand that goes back 200 years used to have a factory just outside Philly, and used to have a note on their website that they didn’t do tours, likely for this reason. (The manufacturing has since moved to another state.)
There are a bunch of weird specialty brands for various products, and sometimes when you find the address, it’s some small old factory building, in some residential area, that may not look great.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

It will be nice to have SK at Lowes another option to CM or Kobalt for hand tools. For average DIYer roaming big box stores they will buy it if price is right. I think CM is better brand name so may have more looks. The last CM tools I have were gifts, impact socket sets 1/2 drive in 2021, not too bad. The person who bought the gift knows Lowes and Craftsman and Dewalt or Makita for power tools, regardless if they were made. I keep telling them I wanted Snap on for sockets, ratchets, and wrenches and I got deer in the headlight looks, need to buy it myself.

 

[zendriver]

Contractual agreements. Legally binding documents. It's "proprietary information" that they don't share.
Been that way in the tool world as long as I can remember.

You are correct: they don't have to "prove" anything.
Their failure to do so, however, undermines their credibility with their potential customer base.

It may or may not be a matter of import for some. For others, full disclosure is an absolute requisite.

If you don't want to tell me where your product is made, I am not going to buy it. Full stop.

Just a guess, but just because they don't have their factory address on a web site, does not necessarily mean everything is being done, from secret locations. It might just be a safety policy to protect them from obsessed kooks

Drivers probably know where to deliver steel.

I do agree that if people are not satisfied with the current arrangement, they should simply just take their business elsewhere.

Apparently S-K seems fine with the decision.

 

[Mgdoug3]

We have five of each in the greater Louisville area. They seem to all do about the same. There are even two HD's within like 10 miles of each other.

I find Lowe's frustrating, as they seem to be very "brand-centric". If the brand that "owns the aisle" doesn't make it, Lowe's doesn't have it. I found this really frustrating in the gardening department (of all places).

These days, honestly, if I need a hand tool in a pinch, I'll just hit Harbor Freight.

-Ryan

I'm not far from you but around here there's is no HD. My options are Lowe's, Rural King, Tractor Supply or local hardware store. I usually try to shop at the local hardware store first but after hours my only options are the big box stores.

 

[Farmall450]

The sockets look like the green banded import ones that have been showing up on Amazon lately. I’ll be interested to see what if any USA made stuff makes it to Lowe’s. That said if they have open stock x frames I may grab a couple. I got one in 10mm to try and I’m liking it so far. Not a perfect tool but has its uses

If they aren't American (and I doubt they are), Lowe's is better of continuing to sell Cman.

BTW, went to a Lowe's yesterday and they had a shocking amount of clearance (craftsman and others) as well as Craftsman specialty tools. Almost reminded me of Sears, just redder.

 

[Farmall450]

Here (LV NV) it's HD if you want to build something, Lowes if you want new patio furniture or some plants. HD has probably double the foot traffic.

My buddy and I were just talking about that. Rockford, IL has both (super close to each other). HD was way busier yesterday, but we actually found better stuff at Lowe's. Where I'm located Menards is the closest, and where I go if Farm & Fleet doesn't have it.

 

[Farmall450]

If they aren't American (and I doubt they are), Lowe's is better of continuing to sell Cman.

BTW, went to a Lowe's yesterday and they had a shocking amount of clearance (craftsman and others) as well as Craftsman specialty tools. Almost reminded me of Sears, just redder.

FYI, Lowe's had the Craftsman USA (Texas made) cases w/ sockets and ratchets on clearance and in stock. I bought quite a few at Rockford, but there were plenty more.

88 and 59 piece IIRC.

 

[Fedwrench]

Swung by Lowes this morning to look at Christmas stuff, found a small free standing cardboard SK display offering a few items. They had an adjustable wrench set, a socket set, and X Frame sets in SAE & Metric. Nothing to write home about. The X Frame set has one wrench not sealed in plastic that you can rotate the wrench to see it in action. Compared to the old USA made X frame, the chrome and finish isn't as nice, and the anti slip open end doesn't look as aggressive. It's a Duratech copy However, it will probably work as designed and serve you as well as the original SK X Frames at a fraction of the price.
SK might expand their Lowes Footprint in the future but for now, it's just a few PRC made items easily overlooked.

 

[AJHD]

I was at Lowes today and saw the SK wing stack. There were only 4 SK tools in store and all are made in China.

The wrenches actually look and feel better in person. Though I'm not a fan of the square beam and I'm not sure if I would ever buy them. I've never handled or used the original X-Frame wrenches, so I've got no reference for comparison.

The adjustable wrenches were ok, but the adjuster felt really cheap. I'd rather buy Doyle or Milwaukee.

Unfortunately the socket set was only offered in SAE, no metric. I didn't even take a picture or look at them too closely.


Side note: I really like the new Klein lineup at Lowes. Lots of new and different Klein tools I've never seen before. They have some things I'm tempted to buy.

 

[BrandonV]

Side note: I really like the new Klein lineup at Lowes. Lots of new and different Klein tools I've never seen before. They have some things I'm tempted to buy.

As much as people make jokes about Lowes being the place tool brands go to die I'm excited for Klein. I think Lowes is doing a great job shoving products in your face.

I've walked out with so many things I didn't need recently.

 

[4x4gearhead]

It's pure speculation on my part, but I am guessing that the USA made tools will be outsourced. The Olsa flex head ratchet heads are the same as the LP90, so did Olsa outsource to SK or did they both outsource to the same company? Did Ideal SK make their own or were they outsourced as well? If SK made for both, why did, or does, Olsa have plenty in stock but SK is still out of stock on most LP90's? I've also read speculation that the sockets are Wright. I don't like the fact that some (probably most) of the tools are going to be China made, but that's honestly the only way they are going to be profitable. I really don't care, I'm not in the market for anything they offer, I got everything on my wish list while they were still owned by Ideal, mainly all of the round heads and a few LP90's, some flare nut wrenches, and some screwdrivers well before the Greatstar purchase was announced.

Is SK not owned by Ideal still? It's been awhile since I kept up with all this or have even been on the Journal for that matter

 

[AJHD]

Is SK not owned by Ideal still? It's been awhile since I kept up with all this or have even been on the Journal for that matter

No. Ideal sold it to a Chinese company called Great Star... They destroyed other brands too.

 

[4x4gearhead]

Just another name I suppose. I remember in the earlier Ideal times they were a pain to deal with too. Not easy to get tools warranted, lack of stock etc. I gave up on the SK stuff some time ago. I saw the commercial for SK at Lowes. Seemed fishy to me considering most **** at Lowes is all imported brands.

 

[sparky 1971]

Is SK not owned by Ideal still? It's been awhile since I kept up with all this or have even been on the Journal for that matter

It's probably been a year, but they were sold to Greatstar. I don't know the whole story, but it appears to me that Greatstar buys floundering American companies, pumps some money into them and uses the name recognition. They also own Arrow, Goldblatt, Pony Jorgensen, and Shop Vac. All companies that were on the way out.

 

[BrandonV]

It's probably been a year, but they were sold to Greatstar. I don't know the whole story, but it appears to me that Greatstar buys floundering American companies, pumps some money into them and uses the name recognition. They also own Arrow, Goldblatt, Pony Jorgensen, and Shop Vac. All companies that were on the way out.

Just found out about Shop-Vac today. No wonder why the bag didn't seem as good as my old ones...

I noticed the big American flag was missing from some of the packages.

 

[VolvoRyan]

Never had a problem with SK's warranty, even up to the very end. Send an email, good stuff happened.

SK's fans were the worst kind of fans. Only buy stuff during the Steals and Deals... warrantying yard sale finds.... then they wave their 'murican flag and blame others for the company getting sold.

I'm bummed about the whole thing. I bought most all of their metric tools within a few years of them going bust. Some SK stuff was only "meh". Some tools were a bit too pricey for the market. Still, a lot of tools were really good and priced where they should be.

-Ryan

 

[pswallace]

Some interesting stuff here:


Made in USA huh? Yo S-K, how about a frickin street address of the manufacturing facility?

I can go to any of the reputable brands and get a street address.

SK was making tools in Sycamore, IL I believe. Now? Who knows. Pennsylvania? China? Timbuktu? Very sad either way.

 

[PowrKraftsman]

My only SK tools are a few classic ratchets that I’ve acquired fairly recently. I love them. It’s unfortunate that it took me so long to try them. One was in **** condition and I restored it to former glory. That was very satisfying. Sad to see what has happened to this once great brand and I’ll pass on the new stuff.

 

[pswallace]

My F-I-L gave me 3 5 gal buckets of assorted tools years ago. He's a retired mechanic. Nearly all of the SK tools needed replacing. I did a warranty claim and got store credit and replacements. All USA made USA steel I'm happy to report. I'm still trying to get as much new SK tools before they're all made offshore. :-(?

 

[Ohio Andy]

I like my SK LP90 usa made ratchets.

Unexpectedly, I don't mind the newer Chinese made round 216 ratchets. I initially I didn't like them, but they grew on me. They have a socket set that I really like. That is a no skip set and very small to very large both standard and deep.

Amazon.com

This goes from 1/4" / 6 mm to 7/8" / 22 mm

 

[Stick-man]

Another lowes hater here! Absolutely despise going in that store. Unfortunately, the home crepot is an hour away in either direction, and the nearest Menards, my favorite, is two hours.