Urgg I Usually Like Sears but this rubbed me wrong...

[jjarrell4]

Ok so here we go...again lol
I was NOT a sears basher, but it is becoming more and more difficult to be loyal to this once great staple of Americana.
I was flipping through the new "Santamazingtools" Catalog (The holiday one)
And I noticed that the crowfeet section.
Now we all know that the flare nut crowfeet are no longer USA (old news), but the regular crowfoot are still.

Here is the picture.

If you cannot tell the wrenches are photoed upside down, so one cannot see the lack of U.S.A., unlinke the regular U.S.A. Stamped crowfeet.

I dont know why this pissed me off enough to start a thread, but it is so sketchy of sears.
If you look back at the old catalogs even up to the 70s if a Craftsman piece was not made in the US of A it would say Made in Japan right in the description!
What happened to the up front attitude?
Why oh why?
Sorry for another shittin on sears thread, I am just kind of taken back.

 

[bw77]

On page 128 at the top, item F, long pattern full polish combo wrenches, the ones pictured say USA, but the ones you get will be Chinese. It's getting so bad, they really need to state COO for the tools in the catalog. It's obvious, at least to me, that Sears is trying to hide COO information.

 

[jjarrell4]

I feel you,
its like catch 22
you will get the respect from alot of people who care about COO, but at the same time you might turn off people if they see China on 50% of Craftsman branded items.

 

[Theloniousmonk]

Griot's quit putting coo on some of their stuff years ago too...

I only see COO when it can be used for added marketing/value - like "Made in Germany" on the Schroder stuff or "100% made in USA" on the dogbone creepers. Also see COO in various other sales flyers/cats. when the manufacturer requires it.

 

[woody 73]

I like craftsman tools,but have you ever seen many people in your sears stores? I don't no about other GJ members but the sears stores in my part of the midwest are very dead even during the weekend.
How do keep their doors open,that one is a mystery to me...

 

[Quint]

I like craftsman tools,but have you ever seen many people in your sears stores? I don't no about other GJ members but the sears stores in my part of the midwest are very dead even during the weekend.
How do keep their doors open,that one is a mystery to me...

I hear that. Not to mention there's a Home Depot RIGHT across the street killing their business. I'm waiting for the going out of business sales.

 

[lbgradwell]

+1

There are actually two levels of ethical shortcomings in your example.

It's obvious, at least to me, that Sears is trying to hide COO information.

Sears is not proud they now source tools from China. If they can "hide" or "fail to disclose" that information, they may dupe people who don't read tool forums into buying a product they would not otherwise buy. If they have made the decision to source from Asia, they should have the guts to disclose that. But I also understand they do not claim those flarenut crowfoot sockets are made in the USA, so the can ooze by any laws intended to protect consumers.

On page 128 at the top, item F, long pattern full polish combo wrenches, the ones pictured say USA, but the ones you get will be Chinese.

This is a much worse situation. In fact, it amounts to outright fraud if they show a product clearly marked "USA" an ship a product from anywhere else. Those catalogues are NOT mistakes or oversights; they are intentional attempts to deceive and I hope Sears is somehow made accountable for it.

 

[mrholeshot]

They are very deceptive. They are hoping That wives buying tool for their husbands on Black Friday will help them recover. My Sears looks like a ghost town everytime I go in nowadays. I'm picking past the China tools and grabing up the old USA professional

 

[NAYLOR]

The pro flares say USA on the back, not the front.

EDIT: Just realized you are talking about the crowsfoots...my bad.

 

[sselander]

We have a Sears hardware store 20 minutes away.
The place is never crowded and I always get a parking spot near the door. At least they have a great fastener selection.

 

[Ben Iv]

Yep thats why the anti theft devices just so happen to be over the made in china print on the packages.

 

[Skin]

nah, made in china is on the back of the packages but since you cant take stuff off the hooks due to those stupid devices they make you work for it

 

[Busted Bolts]

I prefere made in USA, but if it is a tool that is not a fast mover I would rather it come from tiwan. Their manuf, steel quality, and QC for contracted goods is far better than china, korea, or india. They still should let the consumer know the origin it came from though.

 

[travisd]

Now we all know that the flare nut crowfeet are no longer USA (old news), but the regular crowfoot are still.

Don't know if it was just old stock or not, but I bought a set of Metric Crowsfeet Flare wrenches this weekend, and each and every one of them is stampeed "USA". These were in the thin, clear plastic packaging. There were others, same SKU, on the same peg in thicker opaque "tray" packaging, but I didn't think to look at COO.

 

[mrholeshot]

Look for the union label

 

[johnnybentwrench]

I will say it again, Sears and Roebuck are no longer my brand I grew up using them damn it not high end stuff, just a good quality tool at a great price with an unbelievable warranty. know they are just nothing more than a big box store FU sears & Roebuck

 

[kc-steve]

Buy used, from garage sales, eBay, whatever, problem solved.

Steve

 

[strnjss]

"rubbing the wrong way" is the perfect words to describe the Sears experience.

 

[otis66]

I will not buy any Craftsman Hardline Tools that are not Made In The USA.
I will not buy any Snap Tools not Stamped USA
I will not buy any Matco Tools Not Stamped USA
I stopped buying MAC Tools years ago
A global corperation is not a USA company.

 

[jkeyser14]

It would be nice if the FTC made everyone put country of origin on online stores since you don't have the packaging in front of you to look at.

 

[toolnut]

I will not buy any Craftsman Hardline Tools that are not Made In The USA.
I will not buy any Snap Tools not Stamped USA
I will not buy any Matco Tools Not Stamped USA
I stopped buying MAC Tools years ago
A global corporation is not a USA company.

"Hittin' the nail right on the head!!!"

 

[Skin]

Don't know if it was just old stock or not, but I bought a set of Metric Crowsfeet Flare wrenches this weekend, and each and every one of them is stampeed "USA". These were in the thin, clear plastic packaging. There were others, same SKU, on the same peg in thicker opaque "tray" packaging, but I didn't think to look at COO.

if it was plain jane packaging [black tray with a clear cover and no card or logos if i remember right] they were NOS.

 

[Elroy]

It would be nice if the FTC made everyone put country of origin on online stores since you don't have the packaging in front of you to look at.

That would be nice but it becomes a two way sword

Elroy would also like to keep the politics out of this but at the same time would like to make a little observation.

In some respects, getting the FTC involved is exactly what needs to happen. Legislation needs to be passed that would require advertisers to post information on COO.

One little problem. That means more government. Elroy is dam tired of government. How about you??

There are too many laws on the books now and the government needs to step back and get out of my life and stay out.

The real solution comes from the market place !! The cream will float and the **** will sink to the bottom to be flushed away like the turd it is.

Information like what is contained in this post and free speech will determine who the real winners are in the market place. As far a Elroy is concerned all that Chinese **** can take a hike.

On line retailing is changing the way people spend their money. Elroy prefers to deal over the barrel not over the wire

 

[mcdtommy23]

Awsome post Elroy!!