What does this mean for Craftsman?

[Guzzi]

http://247wallst.com/2011/06/22/247-wall-st-ten-brands-that-will-disappear-in-2012/3/

 

[pj_rage]

I've been thinking for a while that Sears' days are numbered. The ones around here are getting pretty long in the tooth, in dying malls or just haven't been renovated/updated/modernized in forever. They also always seem empty when I visit. I too have wondered what might happen to Craftsman in this case.

I personally hope that even if Sears closes, they will then open up Craftsman stores where they only sell the Craftsman tools. Regardless of what you think of the quality now, I think a lot of people still trust and use their tools, and such a store could be profitable. Hell, maybe doing it this way could somehow get them to start making better tools, and bring more of the manufacturing back into the country.

I definitely hope that the end of Sears does not mean the end of Craftsman, either way.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I've been saying that Kmart ruined Sears, just like inthe article. Kmart should have just died quietly, but no, they felt the need to drag Sears down with them.

 

[allinon72]

Craftsman is already being branched out as its own brand. All of us know this...it's available at Ace, Grainger, etc. Craftsman is the only thing within Sears that has potential value; hopefully someone will buy the brand and *gasp* start making USA tools again.

 

[Vette60]

I personally hope that even if Sears closes, they will then open up Craftsman stores where they only sell the Craftsman tools. Regardless of what you think of the quality now, I think a lot of people still trust and use their tools, and such a store could be profitable. Hell, maybe doing it this way could somehow get them to start making better tools, and bring more of the manufacturing back into the country.

I definitely hope that the end of Sears does not mean the end of Craftsman, either way.

^^^I agree. The most action that I ever see at my local Sears is in the Automotive/Tool section followed up in Appliances. There are already standalone Sears Hardware & Appliance stores. Would they dump the balance of clothing, electronics, etc and open more of these?

I don't think the Craftsman brand would disappear - there is still too much brand recognition and take with that. Heck, most of the stuff that I am buying today is Craftsman because it works for what I do and is very easy for me to get.

Only thing that I really used Sears for otherwise is to return some Lands End clothing that I ordered rather than mailing back...

R.

 

[posaune]

Craftsman is already being branched out as its own brand. All of us know this...it's available at Ace, Grainger, etc.

True, but what are the prices like at those places? I've seen Craftsman somewhere other than Sears (Fastenal maybe?) but the price was higher than Sears by a good bit. With all of the sales in recent years, it is going to be hard to convince people to buy Craftsman at an SK price, especially when so many of the tools are now more in line with Harbor Freight than SK.

No matter what, I'll find it sad if Sears/Craftsman goes away.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

When I was a kid (long time ago), Toughskins (indestructible jeans that if they were work pants today).

Other then that it is Tools, Appliances, and once in a great while, parts. However, that article doesn't mean they will go away. S mart, could do a repeat and file bankruptcy and go out and buy some other company to drag into the mud.

 

[iajonesy]

Our local Ace Hardware is selling a limited amount of Craftsman tools now. I can't see the brand going under if sSears does,but you never know.

Mike

 

[JMartel]

I do rather enjoy the fact that there's hardly any people in Sears when I shop though. I'm not really a "people person".

And, while I don't own any Snap-On or MAC stuff, the quality of Craftsman still seems good to me. At least in their hand tools.

 

[MyKingdom]

I do rather enjoy the fact that there's hardly any people in Sears when I shop though. I'm not really a "people person".

And, while I don't own any Snap-On or MAC stuff, the quality of Craftsman still seems good to me. At least in their hand tools.

...... Except the people person part for "ME"

 

[Weps]

True, but what are the prices like at those places? I've seen Craftsman somewhere other than Sears (Fastenal maybe?) but the price was higher than Sears by a good bit. With all of the sales in recent years, it is going to be hard to convince people to buy Craftsman at an SK price, especially when so many of the tools are now more in line with Harbor Freight than SK.

No matter what, I'll find it sad if Sears/Craftsman goes away.

i'd be willing to bet so few people outside of the profession have heard of SK that it is almost negligible. and to a lot of people craftsman still means quality. DIY types would likely rank it above harbor freight as well.

kmart seems to be doing a lot of the right things with craftsman. the brand at least has a chance. a year ago, it looked to be on its death bed.

 

[SuperSocket]

Sears screwed themselves, so did Kmart.

Look at Walmart, Target, Meijers, etc... they all have been keeping up on the trends, renovating, expanding, and catering to the audience. They have higher tech store features and continually are improving their image.


The Sears and Kmarts here (with the exception of the kmart beta store which is a protoype store they test all new layouts and designs in and is green not red btw) are a blast from the past. When I walk into Kmart or Sears here I can not help but to think that I just walked back into the late 80's.


Sears managed to survive all these years because all of their properties are owned and not leased and they have paid them off decades ago... so they have very little overhead compared to leasing. The problem is they never improved these properties... they outsourced their brands and they killed Craftsman. Personally I believe Sears biggest selling point was their appliances/TV's/ and Tools.... and they screwed the pooch with selling out to China with their tools.

 

[nsmith01tx]

Sears has always sold rebadged stuff from other sources and a lot of it has been foreign for many years. The bottom line is that the department store model like Sears, Penneys, Kmart, etc is going away. Walmart makes it by selling very low priced stuff, largely Chinese.

I'm not aware of any large department stores that carry the range of products that Sears does that are still going strong, are there any?

 

[meissen]

All my tools are Craftsman, and like others said they're branching outside of Sears so I don't see it being a problem. And even then, just because one website predicts it doesn't mean it will happen. I'd love to see more Sears stores popping up that sell nothing but tools and appliances.

 

[NJ Diver]

Craftsman is already being branched out as its own brand. All of us know this...it's available at Ace, Grainger, etc. Craftsman is the only thing within Sears that has potential value; hopefully someone will buy the brand and *gasp* start making USA tools again.

I think their Kenmore line would be worth saving as well.

 

[dirttracker18]

i rarely purchase Craftsman tool now. They have made it difficult in our city.

The Sears is in a large mall and the tool section is upstairs with the only access in the middle of the store. So I don't go through the trouble of going through the store and upstairs unless I am there with my wife or something.

Why would you not put the tools right near a door? Most of the purchases must be guys so why not make it easier, its not like you are going to entice me to make another purchase by making me walk through the store and past all that perfume and ****.

I for one would welcome a stand alone Craftsman store!!

 

[Leadfoot3232]

Our small local sears store sold tvs,appliances,tools and lawn mowers..They closed the doors about a month ago and immediately bulldozed the building..

 

[Tbucit]

Just to add Summit Racing now carries Craftsman tools and other items. Also the price sghould be the same as any Sears store because they will match any price you can find on a like item.
Randall

 

[JMartel]

...... Except the people person part for "ME"

I should clarify. It's more of a strong intolerance against stupid people. Which there seems to be a lot of these days.

 

[compman25]

Sears screwed themselves, so did Kmart.

Look at Walmart, Target, Meijers, etc... they all have been keeping up on the trends, renovating, expanding, and catering to the audience. They have higher tech store features and continually are improving their image.


The Sears and Kmarts here (with the exception of the kmart beta store which is a protoype store they test all new layouts and designs in and is green not red btw) are a blast from the past. When I walk into Kmart or Sears here I can not help but to think that I just walked back into the late 80's.


Sears managed to survive all these years because all of their properties are owned and not leased and they have paid them off decades ago... so they have very little overhead compared to leasing. The problem is they never improved these properties... they outsourced their brands and they killed Craftsman. Personally I believe Sears biggest selling point was their appliances/TV's/ and Tools.... and they screwed the pooch with selling out to China with their tools.

K-mart is keeping up, they got rid of the cafeteria's!

 

[trainer]

I don't think sears is going to go away. they still have $9.7 BILLION in sales to work with

 

[albaran]

I have always bought Craftsman tools and tool chests, but I won't anymore. I recently bought one of their floor standing drill presses to replace my 30 year old model. The unit vibrated so bad that the work would walk off the table. I brought it back and continue to use the old one which works far better.

 

[pj_rage]

To be honest, thinking about it more, I would love ANY stand a lone tool store with lifetime warranty, if Sears takes craftsman with it. For my area, that I'm aware of, the only one is harbor freight.

My favorite thing about craftsman tools, as a weekend wrencher / homeowner, is that I can warranty any tool any day of the week. For me, I love the truck brand quality, but don't know the truck brand culture, how to find the truck, etc. I know I can mail that stuff in, but that would take a week minimum, and if I break (or need) something, I want to be back up and running asap same day.

I know harbor freight has a lifetime warranty, but I would rather pay more for something nicer, and USA made. Also, I don't have a harbor freight conveniently close. And I don't particularly trust Lowes or Home Depot to continue carrying the same lines they have now in a few years when I need a replacement, so I haven't invested in their tools much.

Having harbor freight sized craftsman stores would be awesome. I wouldn't have to worry about walking an extra couple hundred yards through a sad retro department store that screams 1990s to get to the tool section where, if you can even find an associate, they don't know anything about the tools.

FWIW, it's nice that sears "does it all" and has departments for everything, but they are a jack of all trades, master of none (except, arguably, in store tools). Other big box stores have stepped up with more modern stores that have a more limited number of departments, but the ones they have are better than the Sears counterpart. Do any of them have every single department, like sears? No, but the ones they do have are better. Between Home Depot, Lowes, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and even Bed Bath and Beyond, Sears is the last place I'll look when I'm looking for a great selection of *insert department here*. If I had to do all of my shopping at one store, sure, Sears would be more attractive. But I don't and I don't.

 

[Lhorn]

I too would be very sad to see Sears go away although I can see Craftsman and Kenmore surviving either way.

I own a lot of Craftsman tool.

When my wife and I go to the mall, it gives me someplace to go when she's at Fredericks

Even if you don't shop there, it hurts all consumers when competition is lessened.

Kenmore makes pretty good stuff. It offers a line of small appliances that are better than the rock bottom quality Black and Decker **** that Walmart carries and the upper scale Cuisenart stuff you get at Macy's. Their large appliances are good too and when on sale have good prices. I don't want to have to go to Bestbuy to get a washing machine.
Ditto TV's. On sale you can get a real good deal.

I think they could stand to trim some fat for sure. Get rid of unsuccessful departments. I don't see many people buying jewelry there, but maybe they do. Get rid of fitness equipment. As far as clothes, hire the guys who have turned Kohl's stores into such a success. They are not hip by any means but hip enough that people don't feel uncool about shopping for clothes there; their prices are low, well organized stores.

 

[six-T-seven]

I've been saying that Kmart ruined Sears, just like inthe article. Kmart should have just died quietly, but no, they felt the need to drag Sears down with them.

Actually, if you read the article, K-Mart is doing better than Sears.

 

[Adrenolin]

KMart owns Sears as they have majority holdings.. since 05 IIRC. Craftsman will survive however you'd see a reduction of available products. Stanley used to make Craftsman until 95 when Sears took the low bidder and since then Danaher Tools makes Craftsman products.

Also Kenmore would likely be bought outright from Samsung, LG or the likes. LG currently makes most of the Kenmore lineup for the past 3 years. I believe it was Samsung before that. Go look at an LG and Kenmore Elite fridge.. they are exactly the same except for little things like the drawer designs.. in door ice makers are exactly the same.

btw.. neither company (Sears / Kmart) has done well for over 10 years and are just holding on.

 

[Zeke]

It wouldn't be all that difficult to bring Sears back to greatness. But, first, we have to find a place where we can get good people to staff a store. I think we are all sick and tired of minimum wage slackers that can't find a pillow in the bedding dept.

After installing the right people with the right compensation and motivation, bring back the stout and worthy merchandise with a bullet proof guaranty. I've never even seen a Tractor Supply, but just the name suggests good and tough merchandise. I don't know if that's necessarily the case. But, Sears might just do very well again if they adopted that motto, "Good and Tough."

 

[VWandDodge]

It wouldn't be all that difficult to bring Sears back to greatness. But, first, we have to find a place where we can get good people to staff a store. I think we are all sick and tired of minimum wage slackers that can't find a pillow in the bedding dept.

After installing the right people with the right compensation and motivation, bring back the stout and worthy merchandise with a bullet proof guaranty. I've never even seen a Tractor Supply, but just the name suggests good and tough merchandise. I don't know if that's necessarily the case. But, Sears might just do very well again if they adopted that motto, "Good and Tough."

Nope. Tractor Supply carries a lot of inferior Chinese garbage. We have another agricultural chain in this area, called Atwoods, and within a couple of years of having moved to Oklahoma the quality of products carried went from fair to ****. All imported Chinese and Taiwanese ****.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Craftsman is an important asset for Sears, sort of like Jeep is for Chrysler. The Craftsman name was (until the last decade, at least) recognizable and respected.

I've no doubt Sears/K-Mart will continue diluting it and making the Craftsman brand more and more mediocre, kind of like Chrysler has done with Jeep.

It's a real shame. And of course, it's bad business strategy.

 

[crewchief888]

K-mart is keeping up, they got rid of the cafeteria's!

i used to like eating there when i was a kid.

but it was the late 60's........

 

[dodgeramsst2003]

I too would like to see them open up more tool only "sears" stores, but sadly they closed most if not all of the sears hardware stores when Kmart took over. I used to have one about 10 minutes from me and I would buy tools there on a regular basis since I didn't have to deal with the regular store traffic and all the other **** that goes with walking through a department store. '

I recently had to go to a kmart store to help my mom and her husband pickup their new bikes.... had to wait for them so I took a stroll through the "tool" section. It still makes me cringe to see my beloved craftsman tools on the kmart shelves... I bought them because my grandpa bought craftsman tools, as did the rest of the family, I have a double bay top and bottom craftsman box (older one before they went to ****) that is stuffed full of craftsman tools that I used as a dyno tech. I bought these because they were good quality at a fair price and the warranty was good, sadly when i have to warranty an item now I usually get a chinese POS replacment. I have brought that box home since my duties have changed at work and now only keep a service cart there. I basically spend three times the money for snap on and matco now since the craftsman quality has slipped so much, and add to that the fact that it is no longer convenient to warranty a craftsman tool and I'll pay the "service charge" to the truck guy to bring my tools to me, and yes I know some of the truck tools are made overseas too, but the quality is better and you can't beat the delivered to my desk service.

 

[dreamingmuscle]

Dare I say this!!!! I wish Wal-mart would pick up Sears. Wal-mart has been trying to bring their merchandise quality image up. By buying sears they could absorb some brand names. While improving the sears stores with their great retail strategies. If they would could do this while not degrading the quality further of the of said brand names. I think they would have a winner on their hands.

But to tell you the truth I've had good luck with the Stanley tools I've bought from Wal-mart in a pinch. My son has a set of 1/2 drive Stanley sockets that I bought I bought him when he turned 16 to keep him from making a garden out of mine. He uses them all the time as a car dismantler at a salvage yard.

He has had to return sockets from snap-on matco and cornwell But never has had a problem with the Stanleys.

 

[oldwino]

I have a ton of craftsman tools from the 60's to about 74 or so and they are pretty damn good. Went in for a warranty replacement on a socket extension around 2000 and the thing was as big around as a donkey's pinkie...no where near the quality of old...anyway, went in last weekend for a crows foot I needed to change starter on the tractor; plenty of help in the department, bunch of walmart greeter wanna be's I'm guessing. Anyway, you had to buy a "set" of crows feet (foot's?) for about 50 bones...Hated to do it, but off to HF for a set for $7.00. I've got a ton of snappies, williams, etal, but didn't want to spend the coin for a one time use.

 

[wssix99]

Craftsman is already being branched out as its own brand. All of us know this...it's available at Ace, Grainger, etc. Craftsman is the only thing within Sears that has potential value; hopefully someone will buy the brand and *gasp* start making USA tools again.

This is really the point. Unless Sears/KMart is your only supply for underwear, etc. you have noting to worry about.

Sears' tools and appliances prop up the rest of the company. If they re-organize again, you'll still see the appliances and tools around. Will they still honor the warranty??? We'll have to see.

 

[WhiteTrash]

If Wal-mart bought out Sears, it would be, as you said, it would bring their merchandise quality image up. The key word being image. Folks complain about Craftsman tools being farmed in China now, wait until then. The quality would truly by comparable to Harbor Freight, as Wal-mart and Harbor Freight have similar business ideas.

As far as Sears or even Craftsman opening a tool only store, it will never happen. While tools do make them money, it isn't enough to have a stand alone store in every location that there is a Sears. That is one of the big draws of Craftsman, the warranty, which can be used at any Sears store which is usually in any decent size town in America. Once you do away with the convenience of replacing the tools, you are down to mail exchanges, which just about every tool company offers.

If Craftsman became a stand alone brand, and was available in any store like Stanley and Black and Decker, I would expect to see a drastic decline in the variety tools offered. The stores would only carry the most popular items. And they would be priced against other store brand tools. I imagine a few socket sets, some screwdrivers, and a few other misc. items. Or basically, the same selection you see in K-mart, Ace Hardware, OSH, AAFES, and the other select stores that are able to sell Craftsman. Stores that won't carry open stock items for exchange and be very resistant to open the $200 set of tools to replace your $3 socket. This will again lead to mail in exchanges.

I hope Craftsman would maintain a presence on the internet, but don't think it could survive, with the current entire line, based on internet and the limited selection carried in various stores.

If Sears does go under, the best bet for Craftsman (and Kenmore, Diehard, Land's End, etc.) is that they are kept by K-Mart and are offered in a greater selection. It is those brands that has kept Sears going this long, but they can't do it on their own. Sadly, I think if they sold off the brands, it would lead to their demise. While the name may carry on, it wouldn't be the same.

And I say all of this as an avid Craftsman fan. The majority of my tools are Craftsman. And I am an active member on Craftsman.com forums. I hope for the best, but won't hold my breath.

 

[Guzzi]

To be honest I don't understand how K-mart has survived this long against Walmart and Target. 15 years ago Circuit City was huge, Best Buy ran them out in just a few years. Sears has Kenmore and Craftsman, but K-mart doing better than Sears doesn't make sense???

 

[denis4x4]

My first real job was in the hardware department of Sears in 1959. Every week, I bought Craftsman tools using my employee discount. What I bought then ( and still have) is considerably better than the stuff sold today. Over the years, Craftsman has tried tool trucks, stand alone stores and franchise stores. None of them worked. BTW, the lifetime Craftsman tool guarantee is abused beyond belief! At the risk of being flamed, I suspect that here are a few abusers posting here!

I'm fast becoming a Snap-On snob with the demise of Sears.

 

[reddog289]

I have mostly Craftsman tools, Which many I have had for over 20 years. A few months ago I was in a pinch and bought a set of the " new " universal wrenches. I was glad that Super K carried them, Yet sad in a way.
Either I hit Sears and K Mart at a slow time or they really are in a bad way. I don't really look at the decor of the store I shop at just the stuff I am looking to buy.But I notice that now come to think of it.
Sears, Kmart and Craftsman ain't what they once were. But speaking for myself I hate to see them go away.

 

[allinon72]

Walmart wants to bring it's image up, but not at the expense of their profit margin. Walmart runs on a business model of cheap imported goods that they can sell for low prices at low profit margins, but sell high volumes of. They do this by squeezing their suppliers very tight. If they were to carry Craftsman, it would necessarily be to the detriment of Craftsman tools.

There is a reason why many suppliers have created a different product JUST for Walmart...it is often the cheapened version of their normal product, just to satisfy Walmart's pricing needs. Goodyear tires come to mind on this.

 

[VWandDodge]

Walmart wants to bring it's image up, but not at the expense of their profit margin. Walmart runs on a business model of cheap imported goods that they can sell for low prices at low profit margins, but sell high volumes of. They do this by squeezing their suppliers very tight. If they were to carry Craftsman, it would necessarily be to the detriment of Craftsman tools.

There is a reason why many suppliers have created a different product JUST for Walmart...it is often the cheapened version of their normal product, just to satisfy Walmart's pricing needs. Goodyear tires come to mind on this.

I went to Wal Mart last night and decided to replace a glass baking pan that I'd broken last year. I was amazed and pleased that the Pyrex brand baking pans are made in the USA.

As far as squeezing suppliers tight -- that's a tactic that made Sears the Wal Mart of its day.