So I went to Sears yesterday...

[Mechanical Noise]

As for the infamous lobster wrenches from Sears, it's very strange that I never saw another brand (cheap or expensive, anywhere in the world) with that shape.

Rumor says that the shape allows the use of lower grade steel. I think it's totally B.S., because you have to make the other jaw the same shape in order to reap any benefit. Wondering who came up with that unique design and why.

All my lobster claw wrenches are old and made in the USA. This wrench is marked "select steel" rather than something more specific like "vanadium steel" or "chrome vanadium steel". Not even "alloy steel". It's a pretty old style and we can blame Indestro this lobster claw wrench:

 

[Mechanical Noise]

One good thing about people not caring and/or knowing quality is that people who do value quality tools can find lots of deals on them.

You're welcome!

 

[MarvinBerry]

Eddie realized the real estate was worth more than the company as a whole...it cant die soon enough for him. But at some point i think most brick and mortar stores are doomed. My adult kids buy everything online..Their furniture, dog food, etc.

Brick & mortar is far from doomed.

Heard an NPR piece sometime last week on malls... why some are dead and some are thriving.

One of the facts that stuck out? Online is only 10-12% of all retail sales. Over 85% of goods are still purchased at stores.

I wouldn't have imagined it myself but apparently that's reality. And obviously Fast Eddie knows that or he wouldn't be after the retail spaces and actually finding tenants.

 

[measuredtwice]

You're welcome!

Haha! I thank you for the deals but also scorn you who putting American brands like Armstrong out of business... and choosing to give your American dollars to China.

When I go to Sears I see the same prices for tools that I saw back when they were made in the USA. There's even some of the original USA stock mixed in with the new Made in China on the same racks with the same SKU and prices. Once the foreign competition puts American manufacturers out of business there is less competition. And you end up paying the same but getting less.

 

[kythri]

Haha! I thank you for the deals but also scorn you who putting American brands like Armstrong out of business... and choosing to give your American dollars to China.

I look at it as I'm giving my American dollars to hardworking American union longshoremen. If we all only bought domestically-produced product, those American union longshoremen wouldn't have a job.

Why do you hate the American union longshoremen so much?

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Haha! I thank you for the deals but also scorn you who putting American brands like Armstrong out of business... and choosing to give your American dollars to China.

I also bought some Craftsman Industrial cheap at the Sears outlet. The stuff I bought came out of the same factories and is essentially the same as Armstrong with different roll stamps. At the prices Sears was giving that stuff away, I doubt there was any profit on those wrenches and sockets.

You seem satisfied with the deals you got and I don't blame you. But those deals cost the companies some profits. Maybe alot of profit.

And I'm not going to send Eddie Lampert a check to make up the difference on the low priced, made in the USA, tools he sold me.

 

[measuredtwice]

I look at it as I'm giving my American dollars to hardworking American union longshoremen. If we all only bought domestically-produced product, those American union longshoremen wouldn't have a job.

Why do you hate the American union longshoremen so much?

Why do you hate American industry workers so much?

Our country imports from lots of countries besides China. And more importantly, our country also exports to other countries. Lots of jobs for union longshoremen.

 

[b-boy]

Sears has had a 125+ year run. It was one of the biggest retailers for a good portion of that time. I'd call that a success.

There aren't many other companies out there that will last as long as Sears. It's decline was inevitable. Times change. Most older companies cannot keep up with the changes.

Sears deserves a lot of credit for staying as relevant as it did over the years.

 

[zendriver]

Brick & mortar is far from doomed.



Heard an NPR piece sometime last week on malls... why some are dead and some are thriving.



One of the facts that stuck out? Online is only 10-12% of all retail sales. Over 85% of goods are still purchased at stores.



I wouldn't have imagined it myself but apparently that's reality. And obviously Fast Eddie knows that or he wouldn't be after the retail spaces and actually finding tenants.

The story sounds compelling, but how much of that "85%" comes from stores like Costco, Sam's Club, Walmart and target, versus the department and small specialty stores at the mall that are filing for bankruptcy?

Another 30 year mall regular, "forever 21", filed for bankruptcy today planning on closing 300 stores.

Kind of hard to believe "it's all good" for brick and mortar retail other than the mega discounters

 

[zendriver]

Maybe if they are too ignorant or too lazy to find deals on quality tools.



One good thing about people not caring and/or knowing quality is that people who do value quality tools can find lots of deals on them.

Seems ironic, since consumers endless quest for "deals" is why companies are being forced to outsource or just going out of business all together.

Maybe we're the problem.




Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[mudflap]

Brick & mortar is far from doomed.

Heard an NPR piece sometime last week on malls... why some are dead and some are thriving.

One of the facts that stuck out? Online is only 10-12% of all retail sales. Over 85% of goods are still purchased at stores.

I wouldn't have imagined it myself but apparently that's reality. And obviously Fast Eddie knows that or he wouldn't be after the retail spaces and actually finding tenants.

Eh....wait until the 20 somethings have the real purchasing power..and all us old farts are gone. The Home improvement stores will stay around..your not going to wait for Amazon to ship your 4x8 sheet of 3/4in plywood, or your 50lb bag of dirt.. Auto parts stores will probably still be around..if your car craps out..you cant wait 3 days for rock auto to ship your water pump, you gotta get to work tomorrow morning. But even the almighty wal-mart has started building smaller "neighborhood" stores..they see it coming..and dont want to be stuck with a thousand empty "superstores"... Eddie is having the stores torn down..and selling the real estate..thats how he plans to make back his investment.

 

[measuredtwice]

Seems ironic, since consumers endless quest for "deals" is why companies are being forced to outsource or just going out of business all together.

Maybe we're the problem.

It was intended to be ironic. Consumers are definitely a big part of the problem.

Most folks have no concept of quality or value... and sometimes not common sense. There are adults watching animated bears on Youtube that are essentially paid advertisements.

 

[Davefr]

One of the facts that stuck out? Online is only 10-12% of all retail sales. Over 85% of goods are still purchased at stores.

I'm curious what that 85% consists of? What would that % be if they take out groceries stores, homecenters/lumberyards, convenience stores, tire stores, appliance stores, liquor stores, etc where online just isn't practical.

 

[Wrench97]

Eh....wait until the 20 somethings have the real purchasing power..and all us old farts are gone. The Home improvement stores will stay around..your not going to wait for Amazon to ship your 4x8 sheet of 3/4in plywood, or your 50lb bag of dirt.. Auto parts stores will probably still be around..if your car craps out..you cant wait 3 days for rock auto to ship your water pump, you gotta get to work tomorrow morning. But even the almighty wal-mart has started building smaller "neighborhood" stores..they see it coming..and dont want to be stuck with a thousand empty "superstores"... Eddie is having the stores torn down..and selling the real estate..thats how he plans to make back his investment.

They can deliver by 8 am tomorrow if I order more some junk to go with it

 

[zendriver]

You can buy Knipex from Walmart... and Klein too. ..and Victorinox... and etc.

Must be in the good neighborhoods.

Never seen any of those brands at WM in this area.

 

[L.Cheapo]

It was intended to be ironic. Consumers are definitely a big part of the problem.

Most folks have no concept of quality or value... and sometimes not common sense. There are adults watching animated bears on Youtube that are essentially paid advertisements.

On topic, my local Sears closed a couple months ago. I'm 40. I used to go in there as a teenager with my dad every Sunday to buy tools to use at my job. I'm sad to see it go, but it was like a pet in poor health that the best thing for it was for it to be put down.

 

[MarvinBerry]

I'm curious what that 85% consists of? What would that % be if they take out groceries stores, homecenters/lumberyards, convenience stores, tire stores, appliance stores, liquor stores, etc where online just isn't practical.

They mentioned things like $10k watches and for me, stuff like guitars & amps where 'ya really need to pick it up and feel it. Plus some people need local support on items if/when things go wrong.

And the Sears stores around me haven't been torn down, just re purposed. One is a Raymour furniture store and another became Dave & Busters.

Here's the piece, its specifically about malls... not Wally & CostCo.

https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/201...L6nsyFfX_b4VByZsGG1U4ki1g7cTLfYjLmb8LqhwzXEZU

 

[mudflap]

They can deliver by 8 am tomorrow if I order more some junk to go with it

Lol.................

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

The last local Sears Store in my area has announced it is closing in early 2020, next closest is over a 100 mile drive each way. I haven't been in one for years.

 

[WittHay]

That sounds cool...wish we had them down here...

Co-op stores are probably just a Canadian thing. The one in the picture opened in 1922 .Members receive yearly dividends on purchases. Its a couple of towns over from me. Bordered on each side by the usual Walmarts and Costco's but stays in business and grows.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

the sears here is still open, but not much activity. I go in every few months to look around. the tool isles are really lacking. I find it odd, maybe it's a regional thing, but the store doesn't even open until 10am. that alone must drive people away. it's been like that since it opened.

 

[kythri]

Co-op stores are probably just a Canadian thing.

Wilco is an Ag co-op here in Oregon and Washington. I shop there regularly. Best supply/assortment of fasteners in at least a 20 mile radius.

 

[measuredtwice]

I look at it as I'm giving my American dollars to hardworking American union longshoremen. If we all only bought domestically-produced product, those American union longshoremen wouldn't have a job.

Why do you hate the American union longshoremen so much?

Why do you hate American industry workers so much?

Our country imports from lots of countries besides China. And more importantly, our country also exports to other countries. Lots of jobs for union longshoremen.

Kythri, No answer for why you hate American industry workers? Seems like a fair quid pro quo to ask you this question. Did I stump the Made in China propagandist?

 

[kythri]

Kythri, No answer for why you hate American industry workers? Seems like a fair quid pro quo to ask you this question. Did I stump the Made in China propagandist?

Oh, I'm sorry - you didn't answer my question, so I ignored you, and instead, focused my attention on the new stuff coming out of Snap-on's Zheijiang factory - nicely compliments the stuff coming out of their Kunshan factory. The successor to the Dual 80 is almost on American shores!

 

[measuredtwice]

Oh, I'm sorry - you didn't answer my question, so I ignored you, and instead, focused my attention on the new stuff coming out of Snap-on's Zheijiang factory - nicely compliments the stuff coming out of their Kunshan factory. The successor to the Dual 80 is almost on American shores!

I did answer your question. And you answered mine. So you really do hate American industry workers.

 

[kythri]

I did answer your question. And you answered mine. So you really do hate American industry workers.

Incorrect on all counts.

 

[wazzabie]

Stanley is building a new factory in Texas to build Craftsman socket sets in the USA again.

 

[kythri]

Stanley is building a new factory in Texas to build Craftsman socket sets in the USA again.

With any luck, they'll get those into Lowes (and elsewhere) as open stock.

 

[giants]

I need a punch to drive out a distributor pin. Harbor Freight has a set with a lifetime warranty. I found a comparable and cheaper Craftsman, but for the life of me can't find warranty information. Both stores are out of the way, but I happen to be passing by Harbor Freight tomorrow followed by Sears, then home.

Any ideas on the Craftsman warranty, if any?

https://www.sears.com/craftsman-6-p...ellerId=SEARS&prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1#

 

[d.mcfarland]

I need a punch to drive out a distributor pin. Harbor Freight has a set with a lifetime warranty. I found a comparable and cheaper Craftsman, but for the life of me can't find warranty information. Both stores are out of the way, but I happen to be passing by Harbor Freight tomorrow followed by Sears, then home.

Any ideas on the Craftsman warranty, if any?

https://www.sears.com/craftsman-6-p...ellerId=SEARS&prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1#

Best answer is to pretend that Lowes is the new Sears. Craftsman is just the name on the tools. Part of the deal was that Lowes had to warranty all tools the same way Sears did (hand tools).

 

[Wrench97]

Lifetime as long as you don't grind on it before taking it back3................

 

[kythri]

I need a punch to drive out a distributor pin. Harbor Freight has a set with a lifetime warranty. I found a comparable and cheaper Craftsman, but for the life of me can't find warranty information. Both stores are out of the way, but I happen to be passing by Harbor Freight tomorrow followed by Sears, then home.

Any ideas on the Craftsman warranty, if any?

https://www.sears.com/craftsman-6-p...ellerId=SEARS&prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1#

From the very page you linked:

Warranties & Coverage:
General Warranty:

Lifetime Warranty

 

[dagofast]

If Lowes warranties Craftsman the same way Sears was doing it the last time I tried, then: Good luck and may goD have mercy on you.

 

[Jtels85]

Best answer is to pretend that Lowes is the new Sears. Craftsman is just the name on the tools. Part of the deal was that Lowes had to warranty all tools the same way Sears did (hand tools).

I purchased a set of raised panel wrenches from Lowe’s a couple weekends ago to throw in my junk yard box. I had a gift card so figured I’d use it. Upon arriving home, removing them and inspecting them... I was appalled at how poorly made they were. I knew they were made in China, but didn’t think they’d be that bad. They were all stamped “A-AH”. The castings were rough and uneven. The box end on the 17mm had been filed/sanded down to nothing. It was so thin on the side of the box end that any amount of force on a bolt would have cracked the box end open and resulted in bashing my hand, possibly causing serious injury. The new socket and ratchets look decent, although they’re not my cup of tea. The raised panel wrenches however are absolute trash. They have a nice set of gunmetal chrome wrenches... they should just take the raised panels off the market. It’s embarrassing.

 

[Minnesota Steve]

We don't have Sears any more, and it's kind of annoying me. I have a Craftsman 26" top chest I bought in the late 1990s, and then a bottom chest I bought maybe 10 years ago. For what I need and use them for they're fine. But I regret not buying the middle chest before Sears closed as now I find a need for more storage.

They still have it on the Sears website, but shipping is $60 on a $90 item. I could get it delivered to a Hometown store 75 miles away for free, and I considered that.

Lowes doesn't sell the middle chest.

But I did find that Menards now sells Craftsman and they had a middle chest. It's different from the one Sears sells as it's 16" deep instead of 12" and only has two drawers instead of three. But I bought it over the weekend. Haven't unpacked it but think it'll work.

It actually has ball bearing slides... my other boxes are just the friction sliders. So now it's going to sit there taunting me, like I should have just bought a different set that all matched.

I miss Sears. Hated what they became post K-Mart merger.

 

[The Fall]

The China-made RP wrenches are really bad. I've seen them bent like a boomerang new on the racks.