What? A Chinese replacement Craftsman socket?

[WhiskeyRanger]

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.

I've been lucky, I guess. Both online and in the store, all the single sockets I've bought were Made in USA. They were all the old school style, not sure if that matters. Other than replacements, I don't buy craftsman anymore. Well, I did buy a terminal screwdriver for work while I was in buying some replacement sockets. Unfortunately the rubber sleeve slides around on it.

 

[MagnumForce]

I use the Chinese stuff daily in severe service.

Hell, Yesterday I even used a 3 foot breaker on an 3/8 rp flex head because I had no other choice because of the angle. I was absolutely shocked that the thing held with no issues. I had the handle forward about 45 degrees towards the socket which incidentally was as evolv hex bit, this was a spot on a 2000 ton transfer press 6 feet off the ground and the bolt was facing away from me with no good access. I had all of my 220 pounds hanging on that thing and it all held together.

 

[Hootbro]

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

That is like me letting my dog poop in your yard and telling to just not step in it and leave. You still got poop in your yard and see it every time you step out of the house.

Same thing here, these newbie Craftsman Chinese "sky is falling" threads are just big piles of poop cluttering the board up and kinda hard to ignore.

It is one thing if the OP had been a long time lurker and decided to post in one of the already bazillion other threads on the topic. More than likely, he never was on the board until he got the shock of his life after not being in a Sears for 5+ years and went googling the subject and landed here. Then he just bombasted his first post on the subject and now got miffed because it is a well worn subject already.

 

[franzdom]

I love these threads, very quaint!

 

[Super Sport]

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

your dollar is your vote

If you avoid all companies that have outsourced production, you'll be pretty hard pressed to buy anything. Hell, the device you typed this post on was made in China.

Sears still carries a high % of USA- and Canadian-made items in the tool department. Far more than other retailers.

 

[Mikerodrig27]

It is sad where craftsman went with their tools. unfortunantly, even if means they won't sell very many tools, I don't think they'll bring their quality back. I used to love to shop there but now I don't even bother walking into the store.

 

[Wamsutta]

Craftsman sockets were getting the strange detents even before going China; that's when I quit buying them.

 

[ChevyEFI]

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

A subforum is when threads of value need organized.

Merging every "WTF, Craftsman tools I looked at / bought aren't made in the USa" thread together as one long, useless thread would be a better solution. Pretty sure the board software allows for it.

 

[Old Donn]

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.

The day I found out Craftsman went off-shore, I cut up my Sears credit card as well as my Craftsman Club card. Happened a few years back, Lowe's went the same way with the Kobalt brand. Not a pro, don't do as much DIY as I used to so what I have should last. My kids will get my tools after I cash out. They'll have to deal with Sears, if there's still a Sears to deal with.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

rjtack, looks like you have met the celebrity skeleton in Mr Craftsman's tool locker..

Don't feel too bad,, about 18 months ago, I was in the socket isle at Sears.... The young Salesman mentioned that Craftsman tools are made in the USA... I casually walked over to a USA made tool and pointed to the USA label on the front of the package... I mentioned that the USA made tools usually carry a similar label... I showed Him the back of the tool package hanging next to that one... It said made in China... I mentioned that with the exception of three tools; that whole display was China.. Young College Fellow who needed a job. I took him by surprise when I showed him that, but He honestly didn't know that the Traditional Craftsman Tools had hoisted anchor... He was a Nice Young Fellow, and I wouldn't care to see some angry customer screaming at Him for telling a lie... So I took the time to show Him..

You are not the first to be bamboozeled or hogwinkeled on this concern..

Can't forget to Welcome You to GJ

 

[rapid robert]

Yes Sir! I sold all of my USA craftsman on eBay...then bought SK replacements on eBay... sockets and wrenches... At the end of the day I ended up with better tools and just enough "profit" to buy a case of beer...I could not believe it!

 

[Negen]

It is odd to me that this topic gets a new thread every day or two. Once more it is odd to me that people are surprised at this outcome of craftsmen tools. Since craftsmen is not a brand but a re-brand it would only make sense that they would need to get a cheaper source of tools to be able to stay afloat. With the internet and with a few brick and mortar companies it may be possible to revive some other American companies. Armstrong,Proto,Wright, SK before they close up shop. I am lucky to have a few stores locally that deal with those brands so it is easy to order I would assume warranty although I never had to.

 

[---]

Hey welcome to garage journal!

You've got over 60 replies to your 1st tread on a topic that's been discussed to death (around here anyways). Don't let them fool you people love replying to these treads.

For your second thread start one about how HF toolsboxes are of equal or greater quality to snap-on for 1/10th the price. After that one you'll be settled in and feel right at home!

Don't lose your cool or you'll get banned. I think some members have a competition on how quickly they can get a newbie banned!

 

[DanielC99]

I love these threads, very quaint!

 

[dkop1]

Dad always told me to buy craftsman... then we learned this the same way, bought a metric combo wrench set online, assuming it was US made, same as my dad's old stuff. NOPE! No wonder the sale price was as cheap as it was (should've been a hint). Returned the set, been collecting older US made craftsman at garage sales and flea markets since. SK, Snap On, Mac, etc. as well. However, I know what I think is reasonable to pay for it. If i could buy a new one from a reputable brand for the same or only slightly higher cost, I'll just buy that.

 

[Brownsfan]

You can still find USA made single wrenches and sockets. They are plentiful at stores that are slow and the Hardware /Appliance stores. My local Sears Hardware does not have one China single in wrenches or sockets. They even still have USA made ratcheting wrenches.

 

[MagnumForce]

I replaced a Chinese 9/16 reversible ratcheting end wrenches with a US made one, I wasn't thinking and used it to backup a bolt that I tightened down with an impact. Serious overuse, the US made replacement I have had to warranty 3 times, they are absolute ****. The last of the US stuff is awful. The current China stuff, my reversible end wrenches are least are completely identical to Gearwrench and probably made on the same line. They are actually really reliable.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

 

[bfm336]

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

From Nemo? We stopped by Rutledge once on a chance (it kept being just "5 more miles") but didn't shop much. Good for tools? What about the other? I'm meaning to do a Nemo trip here soon...

 

[WWShop]

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.

I was looking at a Craftsman item in ebay and I emailed the seller to ask if it was made in USA. He responded by saying...well, its made by Craftsman so it is made in USA. After further inquiry I found out it wasn't US product. So, not everyone knows about china craftsman stuff. I agree that a search should be done before posting though.

 

[Brownsfan]

First off, I think that it is pretty petty to look through pages of posting history just to find something that happened 9 months ago so you can insult me. But that is besides the point.
I have been on here for 11 months and been into tools for a few longer than that. I learned about the change that happened from the journal during the time I have been here, not from witnessing it first hand. It has been 9 months since that post, opinions change over time. After seeing the same post over and over for nine months, I can see how annoying it is to see posts like that. In retrospect, I wouldn't have made that post if I had the experience that I have now because how irritating it is to others. I got nothing against you, I am just tired of seeing things posted that could be solved by a simple search.

You have been here 11 months and learned about the Craftsman COO switch during that period. This had been going on for a couple years. So why is it so unbelievable that he is just learning about it Googled it and found this place

 

[AceofSpad3s]

You have been here 11 months and learned about the Craftsman COO switch during that period. This had been going on for a couple years. So why is it so unbelievable that he is just learning about it Googled it and found this place

What I am trying to say is that he should have searched it first instead.

 

[66354dream]

Word of advice to the OP, the words " Craftsman " and " Harbor Freight " are almost taboo on this forum to many many people and Snap On tools are like GM and Toyota they can make huge mistakes and sell big piles of **** but for some dumb *** reason they are still praised and admired for it . I'm not biased towards any tool company I simply believe in working smart and if it works why **** with it ?!!!!

 

[chevelle67]

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

This ^^^^^^^ is sounds advice.... Unless one is so unctuous that the overwhelming need of indoctrinating others to your opinions give validity to your own ego, then by all means carry on.

 

[alpaca]

If you avoid all companies that have outsourced production, you'll be pretty hard pressed to buy anything. Hell, the device you typed this post on was made in China.

Sears still carries a high % of USA- and Canadian-made items in the tool department. Far more than other retailers.

I'm not basing that soley on them being made in china. Sears has shady business practices and them switching to china on tools that are known for being affordable and american made (and warrantying these tools with subpar chinese tools) is just the icing on the cake

 

[ganymede]

... So why is it so unbelievable that he is just learning about it...

Because he's aware of something as trivial as series codes.

 

[Coach James]

I'm not basing that soley on them being made in china. Sears has shady business practices and them switching to china on tools that are known for being affordable and american made (and warrantying these tools with subpar chinese tools) is just the icing on the cake

Serious question: What shady business practices?

Coach