Using My New Craftsman Premium Ratchet

[Hamster]

They need to cut down on the golf time if it took three years of development. No wonder we're getting our butts kicked by everyone else. Maybe it was 3 years to develop the 60 tooth ratchet this is based on. I like the handle though.
Somewhere, probably in Sparks Maryland there's a basement where engineers and product developers sit around going what if we did this.... or man every tech would buy a tool like this... I would like to visit their skunk works.

Probably most of the three years in Development were spent in politiking between the engineers and marketing people.

I would guess some engineer took a lot of career risk to get a product he believes in on the shelves.

Meanwhile, marketing are trying to get this product to fail by limiting distribution.

If you think this product is a step in the right direction you should go out and back order it. Just to show Quality, design and USA label is somethng that the customer wants.

 

[lipadj46]

I just bought the 3/8" ratchet from my local Sears (the only Sears in the area that has one). I have the 1/4" premium ratchet and really like it. Like I said in a previous post buy one of these ratchets so they stay in production and maybe Sears will throw us a few more bones in the future.

Also forgot to add, it is good to know that the matco kits fit just in case (probably a very good chance) these ratchets are discontinued (edit: saw this was mentioned already).

 

[billymade]

Toolhorder, as I have said in the past; your average sales person on the floor has limited knowledge of the stock in the warehouse! Do the store pickup; someone in the back will do their best to find it; if it is actually in the store! The primary people who work in the warehouse are the "receiving" dept.. (they load/unload the trucks and put away overstock, maintain warehouse and find, bring items to you @ the pickup area) and the mca's; mca's do the stocking and order the merchandise, when it goes out of stock. These ratchets are not on the new "planogram" yet (planogram is the "map" of the displays you see on the floor; these are revised for time to time); so, the ones that were put out.... the mca's/sales person got a extra hook, made a price sticker and put it out there (I always liked to put new items out on the floor, even if they were actually on the "planogram", if a customer doesn't see a product, that aren't going to buy it!). Other stores; probably left them in the tool cage with the "back, over stock" and they are just hanging out back in the warehouse.... but not on the floor. Order online and do a "in store pickup" and if they are there... they should be waiting for you in the pickup area... good luck! Yeah, Sears *****; how do I know? I worked there for 7 years.... welcome to sears, welcome to hell.... baby! I hope this helps!

 

[NWphotog]

The local Sears had these laying on the display at floor level. Kind of made them look like junk. I looked them over and they are nice. Since I have the thin profile models I passed. Good on those that buy 'em!

 

[old salvage]

I could only pick one up at the store. It felt good in my hand and I noticed it took very little resistance to make it ratchet. I like that because I hate having to finishing half the fastener with my fingers.

 

[Wes28376]

Are they really worth the $50-$80 price tag?

I would say so. Quality is on par with any of my snap-on, mac, matco or cornwell ratchets (Yes I'm a ratchet *****). I actually prefer the new craftsman over any of my other ratchets due to the longer more comfortable handle. Like others have said, my concern is that these ratchets will not survive in the long run. I don't think your average DIY'er is willing to shell out that amount of cash for a ratchet and I don't there will be enough professionals to embrace the new ratchet. I'm hoping they come out with rebuild kits soon so I can stock up.

 

[mrholeshot]

I Finally got mine the other day and I have to admit they are very nice. They are super smooth. The 1/4 inch feels almost gearless and the 3/8 feels much like Snap-On Dual 80's action. The lever on my 1/2 felt like it was stuck for a moment but a few movments and it seems fine. I think they assemble them and don't try the action before they send them out the door. The mid length handle is nice although I think if had to pull really hard on the 1/2 it may be painful on the hands. I'm much more comfortable to a round handle but until I'l acually able to really crank down on it I won't reay know. They do seem to have an excellant build quality and appear to be tool truck quality. I would love to see a long and flex version of the 3/8. It just seems odd that in the middle of a China invasion that Craftsman pulls of this nice of a tool.

 

[Flash21]

Fed - Any update for us now that they have been in service for a while?

 

[Fedwrench]

Fed - Any update for us now that they have been in service for a while?

I have them on my tool cart at work and use them daily. I haven't had any issues with them. I like the added length, heft, and handle shape. They're a durable Danaher product. I would like a flex head version but, my Matco 88 tooth flex head fills the void.
As for the price, it's all relative. You can find cheaper imported ratchets such as Gearwrench 60 tooth models that will serve you well. You can also find more expensive models from the trucks. Cost is is a personal choice. I would say that the quality is there on my ratchets though.

 

[Flash21]

Thanks Fed - Do you have any preference towards the 88T mechanism vs. the 84T? any notable differences in the mechanism in operation?

 

[cglasgow]

Went by my Sears and looked around a bit. Couldn't find them so I asked. The end result was me and three tool dept employees standing around their departmental computer with me saying, "THOSE ratchets" and the employees saying,"Huh, those look nice. Never heard of them. Are they something new?" Needless to say, they did not have them in stock. Neither did any other area stores. Nobody (outside this forum) is gonna buy one of these without fondling one first, so whilst the ratchet might be a major "Pass", the marketing is an unequivocal "FAIL"....

 

[Fedwrench]

Thanks Fed - Do you have any preference towards the 88T mechanism vs. the 84T? any notable differences in the mechanism in operation?

To me anything over 60 teeth is overkill. it's hard to see a performance increase in four more teeth on a gear the size of a quarter. The only performance gain with the Matco 88 tooth version would be handle options such as flex head, comfort grip and length. I think the 60, 80, or 88 teeth are variations on a theme since internally they are the same. I do like the screw held gear cover on the Craftsman Premium series though. It just seems more substanial than the usual thin steel cover with snap ring the bean counters at danaher favor.

 

[Bull]

We need to get that member who designed these ratchets in here, so he can be informed that he needs to kick the marketing staff in the gnads. He's real proud of these new ratchets, as he should be, and the friggin' store employees have never heard of nor seen them at the beginning of the holiday sales rush? Major wtf.

 

[wafrederick]

I did the swap on a Craftsman 1/2 drive ratchet and 1/2 drive Allen flex head ratchet once.Both have quick release and the guts inside are the same,perform the same too.I might do that,buy a Craftsman premium ratchet and get a kit for the 88 tooth from my Matco dealer.

 

[wrenchr]

I did the swap on a Craftsman 1/2 drive ratchet and 1/2 drive Allen flex head ratchet once.Both have quick release and the guts inside are the same,perform the same too.I might do that,buy a Craftsman premium ratchet and get a kit for the 88 tooth from my Matco dealer.

It will work no problem!!

 

[Theloniousmonk]

We need to get that member who designed these ratchets in here, so he can be informed that he needs to kick the marketing staff in the gnads. He's real proud of these new ratchets, as he should be, and the friggin' store employees have never heard of nor seen them at the beginning of the holiday sales rush? Major wtf.

It really is too bad. I never got the in stock notification from sears either. Employees are just as imortant as the customer. If store managers fail, the hoirly employee fails, the company fails. Sears seems to have bigger probs than just import wrenches.

Thank you Fedwrench for the info and update, you have done a better job selling this product than the company.

Happy thanksgiving.

 

[bchee]

+1 on improving the marketing. Can't believe it's not on the shelves in my stores.

 

[Wes28376]

We need to get that member who designed these ratchets in here, so he can be informed that he needs to kick the marketing staff in the gnads. He's real proud of these new ratchets, as he should be, and the friggin' store employees have never heard of nor seen them at the beginning of the holiday sales rush? Major wtf.

You hit the nail on the head. For a company to put that much time into development and market it as poorly as they are is unacceptable. Not only that but to have the ratchets in stock and not on the shelf is crazy. I guess they don't have room with all of that evolv **** on the shelves.

 

[Pukeballs]

I checked my local store yesterday. Didnt see them on the shelf so I asked a sales kid when they would be stocking the new Craftsman ratchet. He said "we have em, they're right over their" as he was pointing to the 60 tooth low profile ratchets. Told him those aren't the latest and greatest from Craftsman and they had a new design out. He had absolutely no idea what I was talking about.

Its sad management doesn't take the time to at least inform them that a new product will be hitting the shelves. I was a store manager for a large retail company awhile back and before new merchandise would hit the floor, I would always get my sales team pumped up about it. I believe that if your sales guys and gals are excited about a product, it spills over to the customer and consequently more sales are made. JMHO.

 

[Bull]

I just sent phi2039 a PM to read this thread, and maybe crack some skulls in the marketing department. Hopefully, he'll chime in here, if he's able.

 

[lipadj46]

I just picked up my new "Craftsma" 3/8" premium ratchet this afternoon. I think they are having some striking issues with these as my 1/4" is mis-struck a bit on the handle too. Still an awesome ratchet and I don't really care just thought it was funny that it says craftsma on it. I will add too that the 3/8" has a nice heft to it, very smooth too.

 

[bchee]

quality control issues already??!?!

 

[lipadj46]

quality control issues already??!?!

It is pretty common for there to be small (or large) issues with the first run of anything. One of the risks you take as an early adopter. It is only cosmetic and I'm not going to sweat it. I'm sure once they come up in stock I could swap it out but I probably won't bother.

 

[FordToughF250]

Why cant I find it on craftsman.com?

 

[Pro-Painter]

I checked my local store yesterday. Didnt see them on the shelf so I asked a sales kid when they would be stocking the new Craftsman ratchet. He said "we have em, they're right over their" as he was pointing to the 60 tooth low profile ratchets. Told him those aren't the latest and greatest from Craftsman and they had a new design out. He had absolutely no idea what I was talking about.

Its sad management doesn't take the time to at least inform them that a new product will be hitting the shelves. I was a store manager for a large retail company awhile back and before new merchandise would hit the floor, I would always get my sales team pumped up about it. I believe that if your sales guys and gals are excited about a product, it spills over to the customer and consequently more sales are made. JMHO.

I went through the same thing this morning. Sears.com shows two of the 1/4" , Three 3/8" and one 1/2" in stock yet their MIA in the store. I thought maybe they are locked up somewhere so I asked and was pointed to the $29.99 ratchet wrenches first, then to the thin profiles..... Afterward I gave up.

Seems this close to Christmas they would be shoving them in your face everywhere like they do with all the other craftsman **** during the holidays.

 

[lipadj46]

My experience around here is you have to order them and go pick them up.

 

[PaulR]

None of these at all in the Holyoke MA store. Didn't bother asking the sales kid about them.

 

[Bull]

None of these at all in the Holyoke MA store. Didn't bother asking the sales kid about them.

Paul, does that Sears place by the old RMV in Hadley have tools, or just equipment?

 

[TDITS]

I got a 3/8 drive one the other day at a larger store in St Louis. I had to pull the sears web site up on my phone and show them to the sales guy to ask if they had them. He still tried to direct me to the full polish ratchets. I told him not those, these are new. He finally said "oh yea, I think we have one of those in the back." He went and looked, took him about 10 minutes but he found it. Said it was the only one they had, and no other sizes.

My guess is they just don't have production geared up on these yet and what few they have made have been parceled out to the larger stores. If a store only got one of something like that in I can understand them not making a spot for it out on the sales floor. Not hardly worth the effort for one ratchet. When it's sold you have empty space on shelf. Give them time and they will show up on the shelves.

 

[thesilverone]

None of these at all in the Holyoke MA store. Didn't bother asking the sales kid about them.

They have some at the Auburn, MA store

 

[DewittMotorsports]

None in Saugus, MA either

 

[dbleskey]

Picked up a 3/8 and 1/2 inch at the Ventura California Sears.

I like them

 

[lipadj46]

I have a feeling that if not for this forum these would not have sold at all.

 

[buick215]

I have a feeling that if not for this forum these would not have sold at all.

I feel the same way. By the way are you on the Land Rover Forum your user name looks familiar.

 

[lipadj46]

I feel the same way. By the way are you on the Land Rover Forum your user name looks familiar.

Yes I am over on land rover forums.

 

[Toolhorder]

How much does that Matco cost compared to the Craftsman?

$20? Not a big deal...

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Double hit.

 

[Toolhorder]

I went to another Sears on black friday and the salesman actually knew what I was talking about and pointed to one lonely 3/8 ratchet not even in the ratchet isle. I got to check it out. Looks just like a Matco ratchet. I decided to pass because I'm going to wait for a coupon or price reduction. I also would like to whole set at once not one when I can find one.
Talked some lady into passing on some evolv ratchets for her husband and getting regular C-man ratchets. She said she thought the green cushion handle were better, ha ha. I told her as a mechanic I don't like grips at all on ratchets but that's my personal opinion.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

$20? Not a big deal...

Well, $20 could buy me something else I need more than a name printed on my ratchet. I don't buy Abercrombie when something that costs a lot less will cover my *** just the same. I guess I'm not one of the cool kids.

mrholeshot, didn't you do all those different ratchet shootouts awhile ago? I'd like to see this one go up against a Matco and SO. I MIGHT even be willing to let some one borrow my F80 to do it, haha.

 

[Toolhorder]

Well, $20 could buy me something else I need more than a name printed on my ratchet. I don't buy Abercrombie when something that costs a lot less will cover my *** just the same. I guess I'm not one of the cool kids.

Well I don't buy Abercrombie but I can tell you $20 more for a ratchet isn't going to bankrupt me. My tools make me money so spending money on them doesn't bother me. It's a pretty good investment in the long term. Are you trying to bait me with the cool kids comment?