What if Craftsman?

[michiganmike]

Until Craftsman commits to bringing manufacturing back to the US, they will always be diminished in my eyes no matter what the quality. Craftsman made it's reputation, not because of the quality, but because their tools were "Made in the USA, with Pride". That tag was a major part of their sales and marketing for decades. The commitment to quality was secondary, the profits were farther down the list. Now that Bain Capital owns Sears Holdings, I only see the name and the brand being run into the ground at Mach speed. Profits come before everything else, quality is only considered in terms of how it effects profit. I weep.

You mention that Bain Capital now owns Sears Holdings, I'm curious if you have a link that mentions this, or where you heard it
. I just like to keep up with what Eddie Lampert is up to. Thanks in advance.

 

[kythri]

Bain Capital doesn't own SHC. They bought Apex.

Contrary to what people want to believe or continually misrepresent, Apex is not Sears. Sears is a customer of Apex.

Unfortunately, we can't let pesky facts get in the way of our weeping.

 

[NHBandit]

Really, name calling like that? I see and understand his analogy. Yours on the other hand is a bit of a stretch. You are trying to compare an accident to something done deliberately. It is pretty well agreed upon that Craftsman plans to ride out their well built reputation while trying to offer non USA made tools. If there was one well known tool company to the masses, known for quality and being made in the good old USA, it is craftsman. Now that that is gone.

Jake and mech-tech said it best above.

LoL.. Thanks but it ain't no big thing. The guys calls me a drama queen and then he carries on and on and jacks his post count up by 4 just for talking stupid ****. It's nothing new here and I should have expected it. Psst.. dude.. it was a JOKE.. lighten up. My point is simple though if you're one of those guys who dosn't "get" jokes. Craftsman built their entire reputation on being an American tool company for American workers and home hobby types. We used Craftsman tools and read Popular Mechanics. Maybe you're young and don't remember the older commercials or the huge amount of hype they put on that fact. Sears was once a great company that sold everything from toilet seats to entire houses and had been for over 100 years. Us old guys probably got our first exposure to half nekkid women in the womens underwear section of the catalog that came in the mail. So please allow us to mourn the passing of an old friend. If you want to buy cheap disposable garbage that's certainly your right but don't come here bashing those of us who would rather not. I agree that we need pics of the stripper though. Even if she's an import...

 

[jakemac]

Bain Capital doesn't own SHC. They bought Apex.

Contrary to what people want to believe or continually misrepresent, Apex is not Sears. Sears is a customer of Apex.

Unfortunately, we can't let pesky facts get in the way of our weeping.

Ooops ! You're right, my bad.
But the sentiment is still the same. Sears Holdings is trying to see how fast they can run the company into the ground by turning away from the principles that made them a household name.

 

[sberry]

As far as overall quality of the ratchets go (at least, the US-made ones), well, we'll just have to disagree on that, because, quite frankly, my experience (mirrored by others here) is that there was never anything wrong with them

I just turned in 2 that had 5 minutes use on them and haven't seen one worth a dam since the round things went away, they were pretty good and should have never traded them for new ones. One can read dozens of posts here about failed sears ratchets,,, considering how many were made and returns being constant its got to be one of the junkiest tools in the world.

The NAPA is a polished turd of the same making,,, I was hoping they would fix this but noo.

 

[logixjock]

Craftsman tools haven't really been good quality since at least the mid 90's. In '94 I bought one of their "big" socket assortments (400 some odd pieces), and it was complete trash. The ratchets were knuckle busters, and the sockets all wore out at the business end. I keep them in the junkyard box now.

I might have kept buying Craftsman it they had gone to Taiwan 15 years ago and given us a better quality tool instead of cheapening them up as much as they did to keep production here for as long as they did.

I mostly have Snap-On now, but my Taiwan GearWrenches get along with them just fine.

 

[Farhaj]

I hope Warren Buffet buys the entire Craftsman line and brings production back to the US.

 

[gearhead1]

I'm definitely on board with the Craftsman USA tools. The USA stuff was perfect for the serious DIYer that doesn't want to run down a tool truck, but needs more quality than the cheaper imported stuff. I was happy to pay more for the higher quality, it was the middle road and I think most of us in that category are sad to see it gone. I'd love to see it come back to the US as well.....

 

[bonneyman]

Here's my thoughts on it. Craftsman "The tool America trusts" has betrayed out trust. Their tools have traditionally been American made since our grandfathers time (and I'm a grandfather myself) and now the corporate pencil pushers have given us a big "**** you" in the interest of cutting costs. It makes no difference what the quality is or what their excuse is or how they compare to other brands. Best way I can describe it is, you caught your wife cheating on you. Does it really matter if the guy is good looking or not or what he does for a living ? You've been betrayed and you're pissed. Yeah it really is that simple. That's my take on how those of us who are a little older feel about it. Lots of younger folks simply could care less as long as it's cheap. Personally I think they're making a mistake but Sears is counting on me being wrong... We live in a society now where everything is disposable and those of us who give a **** are dying off. PS.. Snap On knows this and that's why they can sell one wrench for the same price you can buy a complete set of wrenches at Sears. Because there are still enough guys around who do equate value with quality to keep them in business. Old joke that pertains to the age old conflict between Harley riders and ricers... Squid on a Ninja pulls up to an old duffer on a vintage Harley & revs the motor and says "wanna race" ? The guy on the Harley says sure I'll race ya. In 20 years.. on the same bikes...

Agree with the sentiments - and a great joke!

Sears has been making bad decisions for years. I used to work for them. I saw the results of some of those decisions.
Personally, I think their move to China is disappointing - but very predictable. I don't avoid Sears - I just don't go out of my way to buy tools from them (anymore).

 

[CJM8515]

I honestly cant figure out why people seem to care so much where the tool is made? Everything is made overseas pretty much these days, from the clothes your wearing to the computer I am typing this post on. If its made in the USA honestly the quality is on par or sub par to overseas usually too!

I would care IF craftsman was a GOOD tool but realistically speaking the last bunch of good CMan stuff I cam across was probably made in the 80's. I literally have broken more of their ratchets, wrenches and sockets that I wont buy them anymore unless Im in a bind or they are the only store that stocks it. The ratchets are HORRIBLE, I dont think Ive ever broken a 1/4 ratchet unless it was cheap junk but I broke 6 CMan ones (final one I made them gimme out of the case!). Doing what you ask??? Changing car batteries (its my job), even damn HF has held up over Cmans.

So why is it such a big loss to you all that they arent being made in the USA if they are junk??? Who knows, maybe quality will go up??

 

[Thumper]

Bubba shot the jukebox.......with a Ted Williams 16 gauge shotgun...bought from.......You guessed it....good old Sears & Roebuck.