What? A Chinese replacement Craftsman socket?

[rjtack]

So, I take one of my 3/8 drive 5/8th in. sockets for warranty replacement. It was a G series 6 point shallow. Three Sears stores later, the guy comes up with a replacement. The first two could not find the number and told me they could not replace it. B/S. So, the third guy finds one mumbling something about C/M changing the number. I was thankful to have the shiny new socket and left the store. At home I look close at the socket, no familiar 'Made in USA' on it. I look at the plastic hang tab. There it was....Made in China. That's not what I originally paid for, I'm going back today.

 

[ravenzfusion]

Get used to it.

 

[sk farmer]

rip van winkle..............

 

[mrpizza]

Get used to it, this has been going on for years.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

It's been like this for five years, get over it. We really need a sub forum for people to complain about this **** in, seems like everyday a thread like this shows up.

 

[FordTruckWench]

At home I look close at the socket, no familiar 'Made in USA' on it. I look at the plastic hang tab. There it was....Made in China.

Just noticed this (open stock Chinese sockets) a few days ago. At least they changed the graphics of the hang tag yet again. It is easy to identify the Chinese sockets from the USA ones.

This answers the question (for now) of whether Sears would keep open stock sockets, or adopt the Harbor Freight model of "sets only".

 

[CobraChevelle]

more and more people are finding this out.

I sell CM on ebay when I have left over kits from the outlet center. I would maybe get one or two people asking each month usa made? now It is almost every week people are asking me.

People are also over paying for USA made CM ****. This is crazy. Someone bought a USA CM pro screwdriver for $25 when I can get the same in snap on for cheaper and better quality.

 

[rjtack]

It's been like this for five years, get over it. We really need a sub forum for people to complain about this **** in, seems like everyday a thread like this shows up.

Really? This was my first post on this site and I get a flame from you? Nice. You know, I'm really sorry that what I posted isn't up to your obviously superior interests.
And just so all of you who have told me to 'Get used to it', yesterday was the first time I received a chinese replacement. Two 3/8 were both marked 'Made in USA'.

 

[VoodooCLD]

The day i quit buying craftsman was when i went to exchange my trusty 1/2" USA breaker bar and got a cheap Chinese replacement. Didn't even have the socket detent like the previous one. I didn't get angry. I simply made a decision to not buy craftsman anymore.

 

[CobraChevelle]

Really? This was my first post on this site and I get a flame from you? Nice. You know, I'm really sorry that what I posted isn't up to your obviously superior interests.
And just so all of you who have told me to 'Get used to it', yesterday was the first time I received a chinese replacement. Two 3/8 were both marked 'Made in USA'.

You can still get lucky sometimes with open stock USA made CM from sears.com or CM.com

I have 2 stores within 30 miles from each other. One store still has mostly USA made open stock. The other store mostly has china open stock.

I just ordered Craftsman open stock offset wrenches in metric and SAE from there web site.. Came in all USA made vs buying the china set. Yes It cost more but I had points to use.

 

[CobraChevelle]

you guys sure know how to be dicks on here.. NOT everyone spends there free time on garage journal. **** I didn't know Crapsman went china until I discovered this site.

 

[LB-1911]

So, I take one of my 3/8 drive 5/8th in. sockets for warranty replacement. It was a G series 6 point shallow. Three Sears stores later, the guy comes up with a replacement. The first two could not find the number and told me they could not replace it. B/S. So, the third guy finds one mumbling something about C/M changing the number. I was thankful to have the shiny new socket and left the store. At home I look close at the socket, no familiar 'Made in USA' on it. I look at the plastic hang tab. There it was....Made in China. That's not what I originally paid for, I'm going back today.

Really? This was my first post on this site and I get a flame from you? Nice. You know, I'm really sorry that what I posted isn't up to your obviously superior interests.

And just so all of you who have told me to 'Get used to it', yesterday was the first time I received a chinese replacement. Two 3/8 were both marked 'Made in USA'.

The Gastonia plant that manufactured sockets for Sears closed in June of 2013.

Gaston plant closing, 220 to lose jobs
http://www.gastongazette.com/20130110/gaston-plant-closing-220-to-lose-jobs/301109965


Yours is just another of many similar threads

Craftsman sockets made in China
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=242686


edit to add
Chinese vs. USA Craftsman RP ratchets (PICS)
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126875

Final Nail in the Craftsman Coffin.
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153828

 

[joe_padavano]

Really? This was my first post on this site and I get a flame from you? Nice.

Fair enough, but keep in mind that your very first post was not, "Hi, I'm new and introducing myself." It was to complain. I'm sorry you got the response you did, but most folks don't make it a habit of looking at the number of posts that someone has. And to be honest, a lot of us here joined to talk about garages and tools, and we really are tired of the frequent dump on Craftsman, HF, etc, etc posts.

Welcome and please stay and participate.

 

[jacked_72]

more and more people are finding this out.

And then joining GJ and opening up a new topic about it.

 

[ganymede]

I too was aware that sockets have different series codes but didnt know they started mfg overseas. After searching the forum I discovered that there are dozens of threads on both topics .
It baffles me how one aspect yet not the over could elude me . Especially so since series codes are a much more eclectic aspect than place of mfg.
What are the odds. ?

 

[Loscaldazar]

I know it seems like a lot here are being harsh, but this comes up a few times a week for the last several years. We get sick of seeing the same thing repeatedly posted.

People are also over paying for USA made CM ****. This is crazy. Someone bought a USA CM pro screwdriver for $25 when I can get the same in snap on for cheaper and better quality.

Shhhhh. That's how I'm funding my switch from Craftsman to SK. Selling the craftsman tools for stupid prices (that people are more than happy to pay) and then going out and buying much better tools with the money.

 

[Zrexxer]

Wow - has it been six hours already since the last thread on this?

 

[03protege]

This started happening 3 years ago with the raised panel ratchets.

How do I remember? Well that is when I joined this forum to find out WTF.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

This just in:

Beloved tool brand goes down in quality over time. OP is last to know.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Really? This was my first post on this site and I get a flame from you? Nice. You know, I'm really sorry that what I posted isn't up to your obviously superior interests.
And just so all of you who have told me to 'Get used to it', yesterday was the first time I received a chinese replacement. Two 3/8 were both marked 'Made in USA'.

Like previously mentioned, this subject is brought up about 3 times a week. That is not an exaggeration, literally three times a week like clockwork. The last one was a little over a day ago. It gets annoying hearing the same over and over again every two days. Also your first post was not hello, it was complaining. What exactly do you expect when the first impression you make is complaining?

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Shhhhh. That's how I'm funding my switch from Craftsman to SK. Selling the craftsman tools for stupid prices (that people are more than happy to pay) and then going out and buying much better tools with the money.

Brb, running to list all my craftsman stuff on eBay.

 

[trackwelder]

You guys crack me up!!! If your so sick of the subject at hand don't click on the thread!!

 

[PJNJ]

You guys crack me up!!! If your so sick of the subject at hand don't click on the thread!!

^This. Rjtack - Welcome to the forum and please stick around. You sound like a guy who probably spends more time wrenchin' than polishing and shopping for tools. And it would get boring around here pretty quick if all the members were "oldtimers" with all the info. For future reference, any threads about the quality of Snap On, Harbor Freight, SK and WrightGrip (wrenches) will often become a free-for-all and go right into the crapper.

As for Craftsman - yep they have been sourcing from China for awhile unfortunately. Last winter I picked up a number of Cman Professional USA combo wrenches on closeout from various stores. Pretty sad end to Sears and Craftsman.

Again, welcome, stick around and please post.

 

[hangfirew8]

I have no animosity towards the OP, but yes, really, this is really getting old.

See my Sig.

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

I have no animosity towards the OP, but yes, really, this is really getting old.

See my Sig.

What does it say?

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[PJNJ]

In fairness to the OP, I think the open stock only recently moved overseas. They must've had a really big back store of USA sockets and wrenches, because all the open-stock was USA for a long time after the sets moved over. I've noticed this personally, and I've read other GJ members who have said the same thing.

I think you're right. Up until Spring of this year, there were still some open stock sockets at my local Sears Hardware. They blew them out at that time and I picked up a couple.

 

[langss]

Just curious, in all of your opinions, was/is Craftsman popular because it was less expensive than other brands, or was it more for the ease of access. I worked as an A&P Mechanic for over 40 years and in that time obviously bought a lot of tools. I generally bought Craftsman because of ease of access and Snap On if I could not get it from Craftsman. I also bought other brands, but avoided that mostly because of difficulty getting broken tools replaced, Snap On included. Now that I have retired I find it sad that Craftsman is going the direction it is because over the years those tools mad me a lot of money. Once I knew I was close to retiring, if I needed something for occasional use, I bought Harbor Freight, and actually had really good service from all of it. True a lot was ****, but if it worked for what I was doing at the time, I could toss it and be ahead.

 

[softailgarage]

Where the hell have you been?


Ooops, sorry, didn't notice that was yer first post, my apologies to the OP. Ya see, around here, talking about Sears & Craftsman quality is like this...



And stay away from Harbor Freight, that place will rot your brain. Really, it will...they've proved it...its worse than smoking.

 

[M4A1Carbine]

At home I look close at the socket, no familiar 'Made in USA' on it. I look at the plastic hang tab. There it was....Made in China. That's not what I originally paid for, I'm going back today.

Yep, you can check the shelves first and sometimes they will have individual US made sockets or wrenches but most of them are China now. ACE seems to have the US stuff more often, but I've never tried to warranty there.

Some of their Taiwan made tools are nice, like the thin profile ratchets, but I don't buy any Craftsman China stuff. Not good value for money in my opinion.

 

[hangfirew8]

What does it say?

Ah, a Tapatalk user. You're handicapped. It says "Craftsman Disillusionment Proposal" and links to: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5128725&postcount=34

 

[maxpower_hd]

I stopped buying Crapsman too. The problem is I have a whole slue of CM tools and when they brake I have to get CM replacements. Unless I want to have a mix n match set. So I have been buying other brands for my work box and using the cheaper ones at home.

 

[winlinmac]

Harbor Freight replaces Craftsman for the typical DIY'er for decent acceptable tools.

 

[Chevy350]

So what ever happened with that "tell sears how you feel" thread? Did they just ignore it?

 

[thebeekeeper1]

Where the hell have you been?


Ooops, sorry, didn't notice that was yer first post, my apologies to the OP. Ya see, around here, talking about Sears & Craftsman quality is like this...



And stay away from Harbor Freight, that place will rot your brain. Really, it will...they've proved it...its worse than smoking.

I have good news--HF only seems to rot the brains of people who don't shop there. I have no idea how it works, but it's true! Maybe the place is run by a wizard.

 

[zakmartin]

Thanks for the story, OP; I'm as shocked as you are. Welcome to the Garage Journal.

 

[alpaca]

yeah I will never spend another dollar at sears, I recommend everyone do the same

your dollar is your vote

 

[pdq67]

As stupid as this sounds, hit the big flea markets and see if you can't replace what you need. And probably at way decent prices. I have.

I like to go up to the "Great Big" Rutledge, MO Flea Market a couple of times a year if I can. Sucker has more stuff there than you would think can be found!!

This "Chi-Com" replacement **** is for the birds as far as I am concerned.

It is on the 2nd full weekend of each month during warm weather. The Colony Flea Market is just over the road east of it if you want to go there too?

Colony is open the 1st and 2nd weekends.

Please check both places web sites so I don't tell you the wrong dates??

Thanks,

pdq67

 

[b7labelle]

Ahh ye ole welcome committee...yes he did not start out with "hi, I'm new", however with a post count of 1, there was a good chance...

I think what these sweethearts are trying to say is use the Search function. Welcome to GJ.

 

[Zeroek]

Flea Markets are the best. I'd just warranty my broken stuff and put the Chinese sockets on a backup rail and buy whatever sockets I need at a flea market.