I was reading the new this morning and came across this. I guess Sears is the most hated company in the country now. http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/michael- ... 27823.html
I think I'm done with Sears/Craftsman.
- Thread starter DRIVEN
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I'm picturing the CEO putting a spin on this article and telling everyone that Sears is number one!!!seawolf18 said:
Insert joke about Sears being more like #2, here.
I have been hanging back on this a bit, back before many of us turned our first wrench, or before some of us were born, my grandfather worked for a tool company, Utica tool, aka drop forge (50's maybe?). He made craftsman wrenches, along with snap on, among others. Same materials, just different molds, little different shape, different logo, same process went into each tool, each had to pass the same spec, there's many wrenches in my grandfathers tool box that lack a plated finish, they had a flaw somewhere and were scrapped, but as wrench, function just as good today as 60+ years ago. The point, no matter what, you're still just paying for a name, craftsman went over seas, so did snap on, it's all junk. I don't how many many snap on ratchets I've killed, same for craftsman, the best one I ever used was a 40 year old SK, 6 ft cheater finally did it in, but the ratchet mechanism never failed, the head broke first. Nothing has changed in the whoring out production, except the cheap materials that are used, nothing is made to last, it's all recycled junk.
*what many don't realize, craftsman, snap on, matco, cobalt, autocraft, etc, they're all just businesses, just a name, not manufacturers.
*what many don't realize, craftsman, snap on, matco, cobalt, autocraft, etc, they're all just businesses, just a name, not manufacturers.
Oldsmoletick said:
This is false. SnapOn has 10 manufacturing sites in the U.S.A. SnapOn still makes their core line of hand tools in the US in their own plants. Ratchets, wrenches, sockets, extensions, swivels, screwdrivers, hammers, pliers, punches,etc. Virtually every hand tool that is forged metal is still made right here. Not to mention their toolboxes and other storage stuff. Cornwell still also makes their own tools in their own plants right here in the US. As you pointed out Mac and Matco are both now just divisions of much larger companies and virtually none of their product is produced in house in the USA
The lack of the USA logo in some current SnapOn tools has caused a lot of issues with people and led to many believing they arent made here anymore. This isnt true, it had something to do with some lobby. Ill see if I can find the link. You can still find the country of origin for their tools on the website.
Im not in anyway associated with SO. I am merely a mechanic who uses almost exclusively SnapOn hand tools and storage because I beleive they remain the best on the market and are still made right here in the USA by an American company.
You must be a lot stronger than me or working more than I do because Ive never broken a SnapOn wrench using it properly, and Ive never "broken" a SnapOn ratchet, but the little springs in the Dual80 ratchets do get replaced about every 2yrs for me. :wink:
So, I took my pile in to Sears yesterday. Just 3 sockets and a pair of side cutters. First, the guy had to call his supervisor over just to locate the replacement socket on the display wall. What a disorganized mess! Then he told me that the side cutters I brought in (professional line with the fancy grip and the little spring finger that returns them to the open position and cost about $25 IIRC) were no longer available. The best he could do was the standard, cheap $12 pair. I asked if he was sure they weren't still available online. He left to check and said the number on mine doesn't even come up in the system. "So will these be okay, then?" All I could say was, "I guess they'll have to be."DRIVEN said:
But it gets better. As he was doing the exchange transaction in the computer he asked me if I broke both the 15mm sockets on the same bolt. "As a matter of fact, I did," I replied. He then proceeded to instruct me on proper tool usage. Seriously?
On a side note; As I was waiting for him to locate the replacement tools I just wandered around a bit. I hadn't been there in quite a while but was struck by how much less actual Craftsman tools they had in stock there. I'd say less than half of what was there a year ago. Lots more of their Evolv brand as well as others. The one thing that I did like was the Viper tool boxes. Seemed to be better quality than the Craftsman boxes. I know nothing about the brand or where they're made but for the money they are comparable to some of the Harbor Freight "professional grade" stuff. Not as nice as a Mac, Snap-On, Cornwell, or Matco box -- but only cost about 25%. I'd be curious to know if any of you guys know anything about them.
i take the tool i need warrantied in and get what i want to replace it off the shelf iv enever taken that junk under the counter that being said i think i have about 5 crapsman tools left in my box the rest has been upgraded with snapon matco and cornwell
Honestly the cheap two hand struggle rachets from 20 years ago were awful. I constantly lubed them and still sucked. I broke the guts out of the 3/8" rachet and broke a Snap 1" extension with a snipe. The 1/4 is especially rough to switch back and fourth. That said, I have never hurt any of the sockets or extensions. Gray tools used to be nice Canadian made tools, I have a nice old 1" drive set.
It is sad to see Sears go down the bad road of greed vs quality that is claiming many companies...
I have all USA made Craftsman and have always had good luck with them. I have broken a few sockets over the years and I can say it was from me over stressing them. Up until about 3 yrs ago Sears honored the Craftsman warranty as stated: "If this hand tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction it will be repaired or replaced free of charge. " No questions asked, no BS. This is Craftsman's warranty NOT Sears... Sears is merely a distributor. Sears is the problem not Craftsman. Craftsman is a brand name mfg by a few different American companies until just recently. My issue over the last few years is that Sears seems to have fired(or they left due to Sears BS) all the quality sales personnel and replaced with "know nothing" button pushers who don't care about the product they "sell".
I like all of you am Pissed and Saddened that I can no longer just grab a Craftsman tool and Know it is a USA made item. Now I have to look at every piece and sometimes go to different stores to find the USA version.
I have liked Craftsman because obviously USA made, but also because I never liked the "feel" of Snap-On wrenches and in my area they are a pain to find a distributor for purchase and replacement. I like Snap-On rachets and their tool quality across the line.
I have all USA made Craftsman and have always had good luck with them. I have broken a few sockets over the years and I can say it was from me over stressing them. Up until about 3 yrs ago Sears honored the Craftsman warranty as stated: "If this hand tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction it will be repaired or replaced free of charge. " No questions asked, no BS. This is Craftsman's warranty NOT Sears... Sears is merely a distributor. Sears is the problem not Craftsman. Craftsman is a brand name mfg by a few different American companies until just recently. My issue over the last few years is that Sears seems to have fired(or they left due to Sears BS) all the quality sales personnel and replaced with "know nothing" button pushers who don't care about the product they "sell".
I like all of you am Pissed and Saddened that I can no longer just grab a Craftsman tool and Know it is a USA made item. Now I have to look at every piece and sometimes go to different stores to find the USA version.
I have liked Craftsman because obviously USA made, but also because I never liked the "feel" of Snap-On wrenches and in my area they are a pain to find a distributor for purchase and replacement. I like Snap-On rachets and their tool quality across the line.
I can agree with the Quality Part, but me let pass along something to you - Most ACE Hardware Stores now carry Craftsman Tools & will do Replacements. So you will Deal with your "Helpful Hardware Man" vs the Flunkies that are collecting a Pay Check at Sears! You probably also get a Brand New Part vs a Refurbished piece.
T.C.
T.C.
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