All,
Just wanted to offer a word of warning to any potential garage enthusiasts that are planning on buying Craftsman storage cabinets - they are cutting costs and building cheaper products. I have tried posting the below review on Lowes (where I bought the cabinet), and the review will not show up. Wondering if they don't want bad reviews on their site? I also submitted feedback to Craftsman and got a corporate non-answer response; not even an apology!
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I bought the Craftsman 74x36 storage cabinet (Model # 706.CMST23201RB0, MFG Date 4/4/18) in May of 2018. I loved it so much, I bought the same model again January 2019. Except, I didn't. Black and Decker, Craftsman, and Lowes charged me the same price on the same cabinet, but I got a different "model/version" (Model # 706.CMST23201RB1, MFG Date 10/24/18). This new model is not improved in any way; it is a reduction in quality from the previous model I bought in May.
Colors and materials are different - the old model has Red-colored shelving/backing of the same metal thickness as the the sides/top/bottom of the cabinet. The new model has flimsier Black-colored shelving and backing, of the same metal thickness as the doors. The door hinges are a signifiant quality reduction as well; the old model has a hinge the full length of the door. The new model has three small generic hinges. Two metal panels had minor bends on the corners. The instruction manual that came with the cabinet referenced build instructions for the old model, not the new one. Extra smalls screws were included that would have been used on the previous model's full door-length hinge. Both cabinets look the same on the outside - it is the inside that is vastly different.
I proudly inherited my grandfather's Craftsman tools; and my father kept telling me to continue to buy American made Craftsman. Seeing the significant reduction in quality between purchases of the same Cabinet spaced less than nine month's apart is making me reconsider my future investments in this brand. The cabinet, even the new one, is sturdy, but shame on Black and Decker, Craftsman, and Lowes, for charging the same price on an item cheapened by quality/build reduction. Craftsman used to stand for quality...what happened??
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The response from Craftsman (you can tell that they really care! #sarcasm) -
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Hi Rob,
Thank you for contacting us.
Per your email, I have forwarded your email to the appropriate departments for review your concerns. If your unit (storage) is damaged or defective under warranty, please return it to the place of purchase for an exchange. We appreciate your feedback and your business.
In case this email does not fully answer your question, or you would like to contact us for any reason, simply reply to this email.
Thank you,
NAME REMOVED
Craftsman Customer Care
Visit us online at URL REMOVED PER FORUM RULES
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I have been working on a full garage renovation, and Craftsman has been a big part of the "theme" of the reno. Beginning to wish I had looked elsewhere. I am happy to pay less for cheaper quality; I am not OK with paying the same price for reduced quality. Has anyone else experienced this in regards to other garage tool / storage manufacturers? I cannot be the only person frustrated by this.
You can see the four images enclosed. First image is the two cabinets. Second is the two cabinet's model/version numbers, third is the difference on the hinges, and forth is the shelving/backing difference of each model/version.
Just a word of warning to fellow enthusiasts...be careful with Craftsman. You might get a good quality item today, but they are obviously cutting corners, and tomorrow's item might not be so quality. I have learned this the hard way.
Rob
Richmond VA
Just wanted to offer a word of warning to any potential garage enthusiasts that are planning on buying Craftsman storage cabinets - they are cutting costs and building cheaper products. I have tried posting the below review on Lowes (where I bought the cabinet), and the review will not show up. Wondering if they don't want bad reviews on their site? I also submitted feedback to Craftsman and got a corporate non-answer response; not even an apology!
---
I bought the Craftsman 74x36 storage cabinet (Model # 706.CMST23201RB0, MFG Date 4/4/18) in May of 2018. I loved it so much, I bought the same model again January 2019. Except, I didn't. Black and Decker, Craftsman, and Lowes charged me the same price on the same cabinet, but I got a different "model/version" (Model # 706.CMST23201RB1, MFG Date 10/24/18). This new model is not improved in any way; it is a reduction in quality from the previous model I bought in May.
Colors and materials are different - the old model has Red-colored shelving/backing of the same metal thickness as the the sides/top/bottom of the cabinet. The new model has flimsier Black-colored shelving and backing, of the same metal thickness as the doors. The door hinges are a signifiant quality reduction as well; the old model has a hinge the full length of the door. The new model has three small generic hinges. Two metal panels had minor bends on the corners. The instruction manual that came with the cabinet referenced build instructions for the old model, not the new one. Extra smalls screws were included that would have been used on the previous model's full door-length hinge. Both cabinets look the same on the outside - it is the inside that is vastly different.
I proudly inherited my grandfather's Craftsman tools; and my father kept telling me to continue to buy American made Craftsman. Seeing the significant reduction in quality between purchases of the same Cabinet spaced less than nine month's apart is making me reconsider my future investments in this brand. The cabinet, even the new one, is sturdy, but shame on Black and Decker, Craftsman, and Lowes, for charging the same price on an item cheapened by quality/build reduction. Craftsman used to stand for quality...what happened??
----
The response from Craftsman (you can tell that they really care! #sarcasm) -
----
Hi Rob,
Thank you for contacting us.
Per your email, I have forwarded your email to the appropriate departments for review your concerns. If your unit (storage) is damaged or defective under warranty, please return it to the place of purchase for an exchange. We appreciate your feedback and your business.
In case this email does not fully answer your question, or you would like to contact us for any reason, simply reply to this email.
Thank you,
NAME REMOVED
Craftsman Customer Care
Visit us online at URL REMOVED PER FORUM RULES
----
I have been working on a full garage renovation, and Craftsman has been a big part of the "theme" of the reno. Beginning to wish I had looked elsewhere. I am happy to pay less for cheaper quality; I am not OK with paying the same price for reduced quality. Has anyone else experienced this in regards to other garage tool / storage manufacturers? I cannot be the only person frustrated by this.
You can see the four images enclosed. First image is the two cabinets. Second is the two cabinet's model/version numbers, third is the difference on the hinges, and forth is the shelving/backing difference of each model/version.
Just a word of warning to fellow enthusiasts...be careful with Craftsman. You might get a good quality item today, but they are obviously cutting corners, and tomorrow's item might not be so quality. I have learned this the hard way.
Rob
Richmond VA
