chipper
Well-known member
With everybody looking for the last of usa made craftsman the stock will soon be gone what are the chances that there is a collector type valule to the usa made cm tools that are out there .....just a thought
usa craftsman
- Thread starter chipper
- Start date
mmack66
Well-known member
Should be very little. There are millions of USA Craftsman tools floating around.
Some of the early stuff might have some sort of collector value, though.
Some of the early stuff might have some sort of collector value, though.
water-works
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2013
- Messages
- 68
I've learned over time that pretty much ANYTHING produced has a collector somewhere out there. As far as how many collectors there might be, who knows. And how to reach the collectors for a potential buy/sell deal is another conversation. But usually collectables are worth more when there are very few of the item produced. As mmmack66 pointed out, there are millions of USA made Craftsman tools out there already.
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maddawg1952
Well-known member
Try buying a 3/8 drive ratchet spinner from 1960 or so you'll see how it values. A tool that originally cost $9.95 now sells fro an average of $110 on ebay. It's basic economics ,supply and demand. Sears made a zillion of everything , how much of any 1 product is left and what someone that wants something bad enough will pay for it amazes me daily.
cburnscrx
Well-known member
As one of the people rounding out my tools, I am snapping up as much USA Craftsman as I can afford. I just went and bought the 26 pc raised pannel wrench set in both SAE and metric. They were on sale for $50 each. Now, regardless of COO, that's a heck of a deal. It's not because I am collecting it, or even care about COO, but the USA stuff is just better made. And that will be what keeps prices steady or even going up. Not everybody has a Menards, and the Husky stuff just isn't there yet. Kobalt appears to be the best of the rest, and even that the pliers are suspect. (I like mine, but many don't)
I suspect if you have an entire set, there will be some value and nostalgia in USA made Craftsman. It will also be entertaining to me when years down the road when people recall the raised pannel wrenches how great they were...when right now a lot of people think they're ****. Too funny. Personally I've beaten the holyheck out of mine and they're still great.
I suspect if you have an entire set, there will be some value and nostalgia in USA made Craftsman. It will also be entertaining to me when years down the road when people recall the raised pannel wrenches how great they were...when right now a lot of people think they're ****. Too funny. Personally I've beaten the holyheck out of mine and they're still great.
Super Sport
Well-known member
If you look on ebay, plenty of NOS USA stuff is selling at retail or higher. I'm sure prices will go up more as more and more realize that it's no longer available.
Whether or not it will ever be worth a lot over retail, I'd be surprised. The common stuff won't ever be, the more uncommon stuff probably will be.
Whether or not it will ever be worth a lot over retail, I'd be surprised. The common stuff won't ever be, the more uncommon stuff probably will be.
Pumpman1968
Well-known member
Wait until Christmas 2013....or better yet 2014......and see what the "collectors" are paying for NOS USA Craftsman stuff on Ebay. While its true there is LOTS of Craftsman stuff out there, the collectors want SHINEY! I've put in a significant investment in NEW USA Cman stuff and I'll hold onto it till the time is right. There will be no way to lose money on this. Right now, I've seen some stuff go for stupid prices because the demand is there....and that demand will only increase when the USA stuff is gone from the shelves. I wont be taking advantage of anyone. The regular Joe Homeowner will still buy the Chinese stuff, the Pro will move onto another brand (as I have) but the "collectors" will have the money to spend and will spend it on shiny tools to sit and look pretty in their toolbox.
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nyrapscalion
Well-known member
I don't really care about the future value...I'll most likely be dead if the value goes up. I just can't stomach chinese garbage, especially labeled Craftsman. Makes me sick.
When Sears goes under with KMart, there will be no warranty . Like Penncraft and PowrKraft, warranty is a part of history.
Keep collecting. Simple. Teach your kids that Craftsman was a great brand at one time, now it's S.
I am gradually buying from SK. I can't justify SnapOn. One day, SK will be gone too...
keep buying...keep moving..
When Sears goes under with KMart, there will be no warranty . Like Penncraft and PowrKraft, warranty is a part of history.
Keep collecting. Simple. Teach your kids that Craftsman was a great brand at one time, now it's S.
I am gradually buying from SK. I can't justify SnapOn. One day, SK will be gone too...
keep buying...keep moving..
sberry
Banned
Its not worth hoarding
I hava a couple great "collector" ratchets I would be glad to part with used very little, ha
I hava a couple great "collector" ratchets I would be glad to part with used very little, ha
See line above and Sears hasnt been worth a **** in that dept before 1980 at a minimum and that wasnt what has keep them afloat, its been continually falling prices. HF has a better ratchet.
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Found this deal from slickdeals.net Is it any good?
"Sears has the Craftsman 309 pc. Mechanic's Tool Set [sears.com]for 50% off, $199.99 (Reg $399.99).
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941309000P?sid=IAx20050830x000545&PID=4485850&AID=11042411&aff=Y
The 'Craftsman Club' price (extra 10% off tools) makes it $179.99.
If you are signed up, check your email or deals center coupons for a $10 off $50 tools coupon to use, or use coupon code SEARS2013 for $5 off $50, making the total $174.99.
Use a Sears card to pay and you get another 5% ($8.75) off.
Altogether, just over $160 + tax for the set"
Found the parts list for the set
http://c.shld.net/assets/misc/spin_prod_540682101.pdf
"Sears has the Craftsman 309 pc. Mechanic's Tool Set [sears.com]for 50% off, $199.99 (Reg $399.99).
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941309000P?sid=IAx20050830x000545&PID=4485850&AID=11042411&aff=Y
The 'Craftsman Club' price (extra 10% off tools) makes it $179.99.
If you are signed up, check your email or deals center coupons for a $10 off $50 tools coupon to use, or use coupon code SEARS2013 for $5 off $50, making the total $174.99.
Use a Sears card to pay and you get another 5% ($8.75) off.
Altogether, just over $160 + tax for the set"
Found the parts list for the set
http://c.shld.net/assets/misc/spin_prod_540682101.pdf
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click through Discover and use your discover card and you will get another 5% cash back too. The 309pc set is good stuff but be aware that the ratcheting wrenches are not USA (if it matters to you).
SMKS
Well-known member
Everything except the ratcheting wrenches should be USA made. The sets are still USA made, I believe. There are now Chinese modules, but I've never seen a Chinese mechanic's tool set.
Sears said in a recent document that only the open stock ratchets will become Chinese. Currently, the ratchets in the sets are still USA made, for now. Could this change in the future? Who knows.
From the attached document:
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People have done this with LEGO sets. If you are so inclined, about the only thing I would do is buy COMPLETE sets if you have some place to store them in a climate controlled environment (ie indoors). The 260 pc sets with boxes make great starter kits, buy up 20 or 30 of them and sit on them for 10 years, might be worth 50% more. Here' the thing, so you make a grand or two, you have to devote an entire room for storage for a decade or longer. I dunno just don't compute for me.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
I have seen some of the smaller 1/4 and 3/8 sets that are china now. I am talking about the 11pc 1/4 and I think it was a 20pc or something close 3/8 sets that were china. The plastic cases are different on those sets. And lets not forget the build a set modules are china.
NOS and older rare items will have collector value in the near future.
The standard wrenches and ratches and sockets are dime a dozen and will remain so until long after I am gone. Another factor is fewer and fewer people work on this own cars anymore. Less demand for tools.
Only the complusive/obsesive type that post here will buy Cman stuff now!
John
The standard wrenches and ratches and sockets are dime a dozen and will remain so until long after I am gone. Another factor is fewer and fewer people work on this own cars anymore. Less demand for tools.
Only the complusive/obsesive type that post here will buy Cman stuff now!
John
Just to put in perspective. $9.95 in 1960 dollars is $76 in today's dollars when adjusted for inflation. So $110 selling price is not all that much of a return for 53 years of holding onto something.