I just got back from my first trip to sears in 3 years since my girlfriend gave me a gift card for there and so I figured it was a good time to update her home tool stash with some metric stuff. I'm an oilfield mechanic and am pretty used to the proto/armstrong/wright prices of the industrial supply stores, which is often times not very cheap. Are some of these craftsman tools made by professional companies and priced accordingly? Example, sears had a 1/2" drive impact swivel for $46, I bought my proto impact swivel for $25. Their deep impact sets are almost $100, their ratchet wrench sets were over $100, heck their regular torx bit sets were $70. All these prices are higher than the proto at the industrial hardware store which caters to oilfield companies. I can only assume these tools mentioned are made by another major company in the US which might explain the pricing. Am I missing something here???
When did craftsman tools get so pricey???
- Thread starter mech-tech
- Start date
Craftsman makes nothing. Most of what they sell is contracted to Asia through Apex tool group. The trick to buying Craftsman has always been to wait for sales, coupons, and more recently rewards bucks. Their full list sticker prices have never been cheap.
The only domestic line left is the Craftsman Industrial line which is basically USA craftsman relabeled and its grossly overpriced through many retailers.
I don't think their hand tools are worth buying, especially if you already have an abundance. Look into tool storage accessories or save it for something else like lawn/garden tools.
The only domestic line left is the Craftsman Industrial line which is basically USA craftsman relabeled and its grossly overpriced through many retailers.
I don't think their hand tools are worth buying, especially if you already have an abundance. Look into tool storage accessories or save it for something else like lawn/garden tools.
Last edited:
sberry
Banned
The small sets and singles are no bargain at Sears. There are occasional sales and clearance that are great and whole set sales that are super that let a guy get his feet under himself quickly.
There were about 3 times during the 80's I marched down and bought sets, the biggest master they had once and socket/wrench sets a couple different times to outright job or duplicate, a few sets of sockets as they clearance. A 9 or 10 pc 3/8 deep was 10$ at times.
There were about 3 times during the 80's I marched down and bought sets, the biggest master they had once and socket/wrench sets a couple different times to outright job or duplicate, a few sets of sockets as they clearance. A 9 or 10 pc 3/8 deep was 10$ at times.
Last edited:
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
It sounds like you're missing a sale
Seriously though, there a few items like the pinless impact swivel that are pricey but, those 1/2 drive deep impact sockets often go on sale for less than $50.
I'm not sure where you're at but, most craftsman is imported and still priced at pennies on the piece when picking up a set on sale.
Seriously though, there a few items like the pinless impact swivel that are pricey but, those 1/2 drive deep impact sockets often go on sale for less than $50.
I'm not sure where you're at but, most craftsman is imported and still priced at pennies on the piece when picking up a set on sale.
I've have thought their prices have been very high for years.
Imported Cman ratchet wrenches, for $55, or get the same thing from HF, for $18.(reg price $25).
There's no point, unless someone gives me a gift card, then I'm all in.
Imported Cman ratchet wrenches, for $55, or get the same thing from HF, for $18.(reg price $25).
There's no point, unless someone gives me a gift card, then I'm all in.
Last edited:
wesst
Well-known member
Definitely wait for a sale. Sometimes, you may even be able to score sale prices at Sears outlet stores even when tools are not on sale because they are independently owned. It's rare, but I have been pleasantly surprised by asking at local outlets.
On the other side of the coin, I really have not shopped there in the last couple years since they went offshore. I don't have anything against COO, but Sears seemed to be worse than others, yet their pricing did not change much. To me the value was lost in the transition.
On the other side of the coin, I really have not shopped there in the last couple years since they went offshore. I don't have anything against COO, but Sears seemed to be worse than others, yet their pricing did not change much. To me the value was lost in the transition.
While there I was comparing the craftsman evolve 3/8" drive metric 9 piece set at $9 to the regular craftsman 9 piece metric set at $30... I can only guess warranty plays a big part of why the prices are what they are. I have noticed that when an industrial grade tool breaks at work it is often times tossed away or lost so it never ends up being returned, they simply buy another one or make do without. I did get to talking to one of the older guys in the tool department and he told me sears got pretty mad about giving away new ratchets for warranty, so now they are required to either rebuild it on the spot or offer a previously rebuilt similar ratchet. But still, even their craftsman branded cobra pliers are $38, while the same size Knipex brand cobra sells for $28 elsewhere. Maybe I just lost touch with prices while living under my rock?
Greg85mcss
Well-known member
I think that impact swivel is pinless. They have another one that works fine for $16.99.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Zapp Branigan
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2014
- Messages
- 220
$ears has to stay in business by the skin of their teeth somehow.....
They don't and they won't.
woody 73
Well-known member
They don't seem to be doing all that well as of late:
http://www.thestreet.com/story/1347...brink-of-collapse.html?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO
http://www.thestreet.com/story/1347...brink-of-collapse.html?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO
drink
Well-known member
Here are some Craftsman tools that are currently on sale.
http://www.craftsman.com/dap/hot-deals.html?adcell=Cm_gNav_Deals
http://www.craftsman.com/dap/hot-deals.html?adcell=Cm_gNav_Deals
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
I have been buying some low use tools at Advance Auto, all Gearwrench. I have been using my Speed perks and online coupons and have made out quite well. I'm not crazy about GW, but their tools are far superior to Craftsman, and anything you can get at Lowes and HD. They some pretty good sales on sets as well. Warranty has been ok, mostly painless.
While I was there I did warranty a few tools that I broke years ago. I must admit, half of the tools I swapped out only had 1 on display. The needle nose were all gone so they got swapped for flat nose pliers, the wire cutters were the last one like it, the socket was the only one of that size left, and some of the screwdrivers weren't in stock so I took what ever was closest to it. I did eventually walk out with mostly similar tools that I brought in. When I was young and building up my sets I purposely chose craftsman cause they always had LOTS of stock for a decent price. I think they had a total of 3 individual impact sockets on display, and their bit socket supply wasn't much to brag about. I am not too offended by the whole craftsman chinese thing, wasn't even offended today when the sales guy was too busy talking to his co-worker about what exercise shirts make his ******* hurt instead of helping me find a tool...but I am a little ticked about the amount of tools they DIDN'T have and the high prices on the stuff they did stock. While I was there I saw two different guys come in and not be able to find what they needed, and I actually stood there for a few minutes teaching one guy and his wife about torque wrenches and the different torque measurements so he could fix his little boy's dirt bike, and eventually talked him into going to harbor freight since sears only had their more expensive electronic torque wrenches in stock. By the time I left I was the only one in there besides the one guy behind the counter. I know the whole subject of sears has been discussed on here before, but to see it with my own eyes was impressive to say the least. On the plus side, Lowes now stocks more hand tools than sears and is a much closer drive. 
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Apex used to be the very best division of Cooper Tools. The new owner is ruining that name by printing "Apex Tool Group" on the back of packages containing Chinese made tools. Now if I go and recommend Apex to somebody looking for quality screwdriver bits, and they're familiar with "Apex Tool Group," they think I'm recommending ****. It's a damn shame.
XJPat
Well-known member
Yeah they have two, the $45 made in USA one and Taiwan made $17
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Buying the larger sets is the way to get better prices on C-Man, but I'd stick to those other brands like Armstrong/Proto/Wright if I were you. If they're the same price, that automatically would make C-Man a distant choice for me.
Spend the gift card on clothes perhaps.
Spend the gift card on clothes perhaps.
Apex was never a division of Cooper Industries. Apex Tool Group was formed as a joint venture by Cooper Industries and Danaher by the merger of Cooper Tools and Danaher's tools and components segment. Apex was sold by it's owners, Cooper and Danaher, to Bain Capital in 2012. Several of the brands owned by Apex include Allen, Armstrong, Crescent, Erem, Gearwrench, K-D Tools,Lufkin and Plumb.