Craftsman Tools

[pulltostart]

I was in a local supermarket this morning and saw a display of Craftsman screwdrivers for sale.  They were all in sets of 5; I think there were both flat and phillips head types.  First time I've seen a Sears product for sale anywhere outside a Sears store.

 

Anyone else encountered this?

 

lawrence

 

[kb0nes]

Lawrence,

Can't say I saw them in a Supermarket, but the Craftsman name was sold off years ago. I started seeing them in online tool catalogs, then they showed up in Ace Hardware. All this was roughly concurrent with the Kmart acquisition.

While the Craftsman tool name is likely one of the most valuable names in the Sears stable, I can't say that I'd buy any Craftsman tools anymore. Yes they have the lifetime warranty but so does everyone else. Buy a Craftsman screwdriver and you WILL use the warranty in a short time, buy a Wera, Wima or Felo and it will last and last! For home use I suppose they are fine but in our shop, we don't have the time to mess with them anymore.

 

[pulltostart]

Ahhh - Ace Hardware

I wasn't aware that the brand had already been sold.  However, the connection to Ace explains it for me.  This supermarket (Greer's) sometime in the not-to-distant past became an Ace Hardware as well.

 

Thanks for the information and explanation.

 

lawrence

 

[kb0nes]

I may have mis-spoke saying that the name was "sold off", I think I meant to say sold out. I'm sure that the Craftsman name is still part of Sears holdings, just that they are willing to try to sell them anywhere it makes them a few cents now...

 

[g3bill]

I dont know but assume Orchard Supply is owned by Sears as they sell most everything Craftsman? haven't seen them in a market yet. I've bought a couple new Craftsman tools at swap meets, could be stolen I guess? I also dont know of those high end off brands but I like Snap-On, thing is those type brands aren't easily exchanged if working on a car or whatever during odd hours or weekends. Its a pain getting a repair or replacement even with Snap-On, trying to locate a truck can be a problem.

 

[kb0nes]

There is certainly something to be said for Craftsman's availability. But high quality tools, used correctly, will rarely ever need to be exchanged. On the other hand use a Craftsman #2 Phillips screw driver a few times and the tip has already lost its edge and will eventually need replacement. These days they rely more on the warranty then making a good tool in the first place

SnapOn used to be the mechanics standard with local reps that were available on even nights and weekends. I'm not too impressed with them any longer either, their quality has slipped a little also. They are available mail order via the Internet now so the independent dealers are pretty much all gone too.

 

[hydralique]

OSH was owned by Sears until fairly recently when they sold it to Lowe's. I liked having Craftsman tools there as it was handy to drop by if I needed something like light bulbs for Craftsman flashlights that use their 19.2v tool system batteries. Now I've heard that Sears is going to close their big store at Topanga Canyon mall so I'll have to go to North Hollywood or Thousand Oaks for something like this. I'm rather surprised that they're closing the Topanga store since that mall is huge and always seems very full of shoppers.

 

[sudsmaster]

Actually Orchard Supply WAS owned by Sears Holding. Then Sears spun them off and Orchard Supply became independent. That only lasted a year or two, and then I guess they ran out of money and sold themselves to Lowe's. The stores look pretty much unchanged for now, but I suspect they will reflect the new owners soon enough.

 

 

[g3bill]

So thats why? The OSH Store in Van Nuys Ca. was completely redone to a rustic look from floor to ceiling last year or two and the store in Burbank about 7 miles apart folded, I think mostly from slow sales, store was near empty many nights I was there.

Went to OSH last night looking for a drill bit thats kinda a odd size, 23/32" for tapping a 1/2 inch pipe thread, they didn't carry it yet carried the tap that requires that size but I made do with a bit 1/16th smaller I had ...

 

[vacosaurus]

Craftsman tools

Another iconic name and American made product that you could always depend upon. Going by the way. Next time you look at Craftsman tools in the store look where it's made. Their advertising used to say ( Made In America ) now I would say half is made in China or else where. Even the lifetime warranty is not what it used to be. Look careful at the warranty some of the tools say you have to keep the original package. I am shure in the not to distant future it will just be another empty name that belongs to another country like China or Korea. Like Zenith ,Rca , Hoover, ect. If our American government did not condone this it would not be happening.

 

[norgeway]

Re If our government didnt condone this!

A MEN to that, it should be made illegal to import what we can and used to make!

 

[whirlcool]

It's all about cost. I don't know how something like tools can be made in China or Korea and then shipped all the way back here for less than we can make it for here.
Tools are heavy and expensive to ship.

 

[tolivac]

It was about labor costs-but yes,the cost of shipping is going up.And the Chinese labor costs are increasing,too.These folks are organizing their labor like what we were doing at one time despite the communist gov't.

 

[vacosaurus]

It's all about cost's ?

It's all about foreign country's capturing ALL our manufacturing. China's not selling they are buying. Putting all our manufacturers out of business thru selling products below what they really cost them to produce. Once they capture a market they are a little stronger and we are weakend. They have done this systematicley to us for decades till we produce very little of what we use dailey. As I said our government condones what is happening to us on both sides of the ilse. If they did not it would not be happening. We would have import taxes and tariffs in place to make a level playing field for us. To be a strong country you have to produce what you need. not export your knowledge and expertise of manufacturing and hand over your markets to a foriegn country. The day is coming when we will be humbled for what we allowed to happen. Bill,

 

[whirlcool]

Our "dumping" laws are supposed to prevent companies from selling items here for less than they cost to make, but who knows... Was it Sony or Toshiba that got caught doing that back in the 80's? A huge lawsuit followed.

 

[nurdlinger]

Something else about the lifetime warranty

I've witnessed this particular drama several times. Guy comes in with broken/bent/destroyed Craftsman vintage tool. Salesperson says, "sorry, those are no longer available." SOL