things don't seem to be looking up for the masterforce brand

[AmishFury]

i was just at menards... gearwrench taking up pegs in the masterforce section

not just sockets either, ratchets, extensions, adapters, wrenches

though the flex head 1/4" 84t (81012F) is $15... which isn't too bad a deal but seeing taiwan and china in a section with "made in usa" all over it does make my ******* itch

 

[Brownsfan]

Looks like they are replacing it with Gearwrench. It's because Apex couldn't supply the tools due to their factory issues. Same deal with Armstrong and Matco.

 

[1950mercury]

Hopefully once apex can get squared around they will be back

 

[Brownsfan]

Who knows if they will at this point.

 

[bobcatdan]

My guess is GW is here to stay. The real nail in the coffin will be if you start seeing GW pipers, screwdrivers and everything else GW offers. Masterforce could be slimmed down to just carpenter tools.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I think most companies are seeing what is happening to Sears with their Craftsman brand. There isn't the same margin as just selling somebody else's tools in your own store.

 

[woody 73]

Very interesting I can remember when Menards started their campaign drive buy USA products at are stores. I also wonder about apex shutting down for this long?

 

[ChevyEFI]

I think I'll check out the Masterforce a week from now when near a Menards.

 

[gdocktor3]

Well, Gearwrench is owned by Apex. So as far as they're concerned they're still making money, no matter what brand is on the shelf.

 

[Askme42]

Menards seems to be pretty dedicated to offering a lot of USA stuff. Hopefully they can figure something out.

 

[jd_1138]

You can go to Family, Farm & Home and get Tekton tools for "buy 1, get 2nd half off".

 

[mikebaker1129]

My guess is GW is here to stay. The real nail in the coffin will be if you start seeing GW pipers, screwdrivers and everything else GW offers. Masterforce could be slimmed down to just carpenter tools.

^ this is my guess also. MF made in the USA is gone for good.

 

[1950mercury]

Menards seems to be pretty dedicated to offering a lot of USA stuff. Hopefully they can figure something out.

A lot of that is changing... They just clearanced out all there USA hole saws for China. In the last few months a few of the masterforce products have gone China. There was a thread about it 6 weeks ago or so

 

[Wes J]

I was worried about this. Surprised they would pull in Gear Wrench instead of expanding the Crescent Chicom ****.

 

[AmishFury]

A lot of that is changing... They just clearanced out all there USA hole saws for China. In the last few months a few of the masterforce products have gone China. There was a thread about it 6 weeks ago or so

yeah the masterforce grinding wheels and cutting discs went from USA to china not long ago... given how little i use my angle grinders for cutting or grinding at least the stock i have should keep me going for a while

it was fun while it lasted i guess

 

[zcbauer89]

I've never seen Gearwrench at my local Menards. But I do see an awful lot of the Crescent brand hand tools.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Last time I went to the Menards closest to me they still had a large selection of the MF tools. They've always offered GW and Crescent as well. Along with really cheap brand.

The only thing they have of GW is wrenches. Crescent brand they mainly just have some socket sets and large size wrenches not covered by GW or MF. The screwdrivers were all MF. Pliers were mainly Channellock and Knipex. Punches and chisels were Wilde.

So I can't complain. The MF stuff I've bought (sockets and a few screwdrivers) hasn't been bad. I don't have a problem with GW. I've always been satisfied with Wilde and Channellock. They still have several US made brands so hopefully it'll stay like that.

 

[finn]

I've never seen Gearwrench at my local Menards. But I do see an awful lot of the Crescent brand hand tools.

Lots of empty slots in the Masterforce display at the two local Menards stores In Northern Wisconsin and the UP.

GearWrench seems to be the replacement.