the NEW craftsman sockets

[concealer404]

i can imagine if snappy moved about 80%+ to china, and kept the prices where they are... what would be said about that one? hey its just business.

Big difference. Snappy isn't marketing to the amateur wrenches or "normal" homeowners that don't give a **** where their tools come from. If they did that, their real majority of customers very well might stop buying from them.

There is NO correlation at all between that rhetorical scenario and the Craftsman scenario where MAYBE, and i mean MAYBE 1% of the people are worried about where the hell their tool was made.

 

[mmack66]

Big difference. Snappy isn't marketing to the amateur wrenches or "normal" homeowners that don't give a **** where their tools come from. If they did that, their real majority of customers very well might stop buying from them.

There is NO correlation at all between that rhetorical scenario and the Craftsman scenario where MAYBE, and i mean MAYBE 1% of the people are worried about where the hell their tool was made.

What percentage of Snap-On customers are you imagining are worried about where their tools are made?

 

[TwoInch]

i would not expect any company to run an advertising campaign to inform of china production. i simply think its sad that another american icon has bit the dust.

do craftsman tools compare to snap on? no. are they amateur level, some i guess. i think they have gotten a bad rap. i dont believe they are far under the big names. i know too many that have made livings with them(me included) to say they were not upper middle level tools. i used the snappy statement, not in comparison of tool quality level, but in theoretical reaction. people say look, husky, kobalt, allen, blah blah have done it, and no one bitched. im saying craftsman has been an american icon, and i believe none of those others are near that level.

i simply think sears has let a lot of people down. and i would venture to say much more than 1% would care, if they knew the level of it.

none of it matters in the end either way.

 

[concealer404]

What percentage of Snap-On customers are you imagining are worried about where their tools are made?

The correct answer is: "More than those that worry about where Craftsman tools are made."

Craftsman knows this. This is likely part of the reason they made the decision. It's REALLY of no consequence to them.

 

[TwoInch]

im kind of curious why any amateur, or anyone who doesnt care about where there tools were made, or the quality of those tools, would pay craftsman prices, instead spending a quarter that amount, or less on true amateur, china, tools. harbor freight, or any cheap tool supplier...

 

[TwoInch]

The correct answer is: "More than those that worry about where Craftsman tools are made."

Craftsman knows this. This is likely part of the reason they made the decision. It's REALLY of no consequence to them.

im fairly sure it will have much more consequence than you believe. time will tell.

 

[concealer404]

im kind of curious why any amateur, or anyone who doesnt care about where there tools were made, or the quality of those tools, would pay craftsman prices, instead spending a quarter that amount, or less on true amateur, china, tools. harbor freight, or any cheap tool supplier...

I didn't say anything about quality of tools... i said where they were made. Don't twist my statements. Amateurs might care about quality, but place less emphasis on COO. Quality is quality, and it CAN come from anywhere. The USA is not the last place quality tools are made, and CERTAINLY not when we're talking about tools in the Craftsman price area.

Like i said earlier, i have Craftsman USA and Craftsman China tools. I can't tell the difference, i didn't find the quality amazing to begin with. (Though i DO like the Next Gen ratchets) That said, Craftsman stuff is HARDLY 4x the price of HF. Locally at least, as an average, it's like.... maybe 10-20% more expensive. (Or maybe that's just because i only buy what little Craftsman stuff i buy these days from the Sears Outlet 2 miles down the street from me.)

Myself, i like the best quality i can easily afford, and i really don't give two shits where it comes from. It's awesome that Snappy is keeping their stuff USA. To bad i can't, nor will i likely ever be able to afford to drop that kind of dough on tools.

So i'll keep buying Taiwan stuff for the most part.

 

[concealer404]

im fairly sure it will have much more consequence than you believe. time will tell.

Alrighty then... i guess i'll just hold my breath and wait.

 

[MN Falcon]

I have Craftsman USA tools, and i have Craftsman China tools. You know what? I can't tell the difference. They're both entry level "quality" tools made from the same material, to the same specifications, just in different locations.

Really? Here is my example of not same specifications and materials. I got a set of Chinese Craftsman ratcheting wrenches in a 309pc set I picked up last fall. I was working with the 14mm and was having issues with it slipping so I brought it back to the store for exchange. They replaced it with a USA made 14mm. When I got home and put it in with the sets I noticed some differences so I did a pretty good comparison to the 9/16" Chinese wrench.

If I am correct 9/16" is about 14.4mm so this is a valid comparison:

First I noticed that the USA wrench open end was broached deeper than the Chinese one, why? Possibly because the material is not strong enough to broach the same? Second thing I noticed is that the Chinese wrench has far more material at the ratcheting end. The diameter of the Chinese ratcheting end is almost a 1/4" larger than the USA one. Again why the use of more material, remember more material costs more money and they are penny pinching right now. The obvious reason is that they are using more lower quality metal than the USA ones. Remember that a 1/4" is not insignificant and makes the Chinese wrench less usable in tighter locations. I prefer the USA made tools for this reason, I don't want bulked up Chinese tools that become useless in many situations.

So I have shown evidence that the material is not the same but you say it is, can you show me evidence that the specifications and materials are the same as you say?

 

[concealer404]

Really? Here is my example of not same specifications and materials. I got a set of Chinese Craftsman ratcheting wrenches in a 309pc set I picked up last fall. I was working with the 14mm and was having issues with it slipping so I brought it back to the store for exchange. They replaced it with a USA made 14mm. When I got home and put it in with the sets I noticed some differences so I did a pretty good comparison to the 9/16" Chinese wrench.

If I am correct 9/16" is about 14.4mm so this is a valid comparison:



First I noticed that the USA wrench open end was broached deeper than the Chinese one, why? Possibly because the material is not strong enough to broach the same? Second thing I noticed is that the Chinese wrench has far more material at the ratcheting end. The diameter of the Chinese ratcheting end is almost a 1/4" larger than the USA one. Again why the use of more material, remember more material costs more money and they are penny pinching right now. The obvious reason is that they are using more lower quality metal than the USA ones. Remember that a 1/4" is not insignificant and makes the Chinese wrench less usable in tighter locations. I prefer the USA made tools for this reason, I don't want bulked up Chinese tools that become useless in many situations.

So I have shown evidence that the material is not the same but you say it is, can you show me evidence that the specifications and materials are the same as you say?

Probably not, other than that i really only have sockets, screwdrivers, a few pliers, and some ratchets from Craftsman. It's all anecdotal and heresy on my part.

Oh, and i have a bunch of USA RP wrenches that i absolutely abhor.