Craftsman = China

Topic: Craftsman = China (Read 3300 times) previous topic - next topic

Craftsman = China

December 02, 2005, 11:36:32 PM

Just noticed today sears had its tool sets on sale cheap so I went a picked up a set (after years of dreaming about it) once home i'm looking at the shipping box and notice "SUPPLIER NAME = JESSIE & J CO.,LTD." so after a quick google search I find this so I guess its true.. craftsman is all made in china?!

I guess its better than Taiwan.....

Craftsman = China

Reply #1 – December 03, 2005, 04:02:28 AM

I really lost a lot of respect for sears and craftsman after seeing the tools for sale at KMART. Sure there was a buyout, but I've lost trust in that name.

Craftsman = China

Reply #2 – December 03, 2005, 05:01:14 AM

theres no doubt the craftsman tool quality has changed alot. they were never snap on but they were decent tools. now it seems im constantly breaking their stuff...

Craftsman = China

Reply #3 – December 03, 2005, 07:18:14 AM

Quote from: shame302

theres no doubt the craftsman tool quality has changed alot. they were never snap on but they were decent tools. now it seems im constantly breaking their stuff...

Even their "professional quality" tools feel really cheap

a buddy of mine worked at a performance shop, and spent some serious money on tools, he has a Mac ratchet, that doesnt have a ratched mechanism in it, it has a clutch! Its completely silent, and smoother than anything. You know when you have a bolt thats too tight for your fingers, but too loose for a ratchet? That doesnt happen with this ratchet. I forgot what he said he paid for it, but it was significantly more than my ratchet/socket set from craftsmen, and that was just the ratchet.

And what the hell is with Sears giving you "refurbished" tools now? You dont get new tools anymore, you get a ratchet that someone broke, brought back, and some people rebuilt for someone else to break when they return a broken tool. I think they might even do that with some screwdrivers. Pull out the shaft, and press a new one in.

Craftsman = China

Reply #4 – December 03, 2005, 07:27:21 AM

I didnt even know they sold them at kmart. That says alot right there.

Craftsman = China

Reply #5 – December 03, 2005, 08:46:53 AM

I was excpecting the k-mart thing. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I haven't had any problems with craftsman tools. Something breaks, I just take it and get another which doesn't happen often. However I don't have anything to say about their "professional" tools except they do feel cheap. Mostly I think due to the cheesy plastic casings. I just stick to sockets wrenches and ratchets anyway which have been fine so far.

As far as selling refurbished tools, they probably just got in over their head. So many people would probably bring tools back for the slightest thing so to help keep themselves afloat, they repair them rather than make a new batch.

Craftsman = China

Reply #6 – December 03, 2005, 08:55:31 AM

K-mart Bought sears not too long ago. probably the reason for the quality issue. For the weekend wrencher like most of us their stuff is good enough but if it was someone that worked on stuff everyday like a mechanic,etc id definently get something quality like snap-on or Mac

Craftsman = China

Reply #7 – December 03, 2005, 09:03:34 AM

Well, yeah they probably did have to source other manf's or start selling refurb tools to make up for the losses through user "fraud" (for lack of a better term)

Back in the early days of their lifetime guarrantee, back when folks were a bit more honest I'm sure it worked as intended and helped them to reengineer them a bit to improve on them.

Now when you have people breaking things when when they use them outside the realm of their intended application and specs and them go back and say "It just broke, I want a new one"..it is going to come bite you in the ass eventually. The ideas of the early 20 century to not work in the world of the 21st anymore. Even if there is good intentions behind something, it gets explioted...and then ruined.
Either spend the money on "good" tools and use them correclty, or buy 3-4 sets of cheap tools and use them however you want, but don't complain when you break something while using a 3' breaker bar on a 3/8"-drive deepwell socket on a completely rusted bolt.....

Craftsman = China

Reply #8 – December 03, 2005, 09:56:25 AM

for thr price and quality id use huskey tools. have never had a problem with em at all. same with stanley tools. havent broken one ywt.

Craftsman = China

Reply #9 – December 03, 2005, 10:46:39 AM

Quote

Either spend the money on "good" tools and use them correclty, or buy 3-4 sets of cheap tools and use them however you want, but don't complain when you break something while using a 3' breaker bar on a 3/8"-drive deepwell socket on a completely rusted bolt.....

You mean you're NOT supposed to do that? :hick:

I haven't bought a Craftsman tool for years, simply because it's 10 miles to the nearest Sears (and K-Mart is long gone in Canada). I use all Mastercraft (Canadian Tire) tools. They're made in Canada by Gray Tools

Craftsman = China

Reply #10 – December 03, 2005, 11:11:57 AM

Quote from: Cougar8775

for thr price and quality id use huskey tools. have never had a problem with em at all. same with stanley tools. havent broken one ywt.

Husky tools are up and coming, they have some nice "professional" series tools, good quality, not like a Mac, or Snap-Ons pro series, but better than craftsmen, and cheaper.

Stanley, i used to break their shiznit all the time, my friend broke two of their pro series ratchets, and was using them properly

i *just* broke a snap on ratchet, a 14 year old ratchet, the stanley my friend broke was about 3 days old

Craftsman = China

Reply #11 – December 03, 2005, 11:33:16 AM

Inheritors can't be choosers.. I'm being given most of my grandfather's old (probably 15-20 years old, I would guess) Craftsman stuff. Not that I mind.. most of my tools are cheap Wal-Mart stuff I won't feel bad if I break, because it's cheap to replace. These will be a step up for me.

Craftsman = China

Reply #12 – December 03, 2005, 12:41:20 PM

Guys, being that I work at sears I think I need to may correct a few things being said here and fill you in on a few others.

First off, to my knowledge all of the actual Sears-branded hand tools are still made in the US. I know a lot of the other stuff we sell is made in china (like all the power tools).

Second, we have been giving out refurb ratchets and tape measures to people for as long as I've been at my store (and I've been there 5 years), probably longer than that. Honestly, given what new ratches and tapes cost, how can you expect a new one every time? I was informed not too long ago that sears LOSES $34 MILLION a year on tape measures alone. Also, do you know the number of commercial businesses that use craftsman tools and bring in buckets full of them at a time to exchange (even though commercial businesses aren't supposed to be allowed to do that)
And that leads into...

Third, Chuck hit the nail on the head- abuse. People break stuff on purpose just to get it replaced. I've seen box wrenches broken in half, 1/2" and 3/4" drive ratches with the square drive part broken off, ratchets that look like they've been sitting in a field or at the bottom of a lake for 10 years, you name it. I've even seen people exchange hammers and shovels and the like just becuse they were rusty. But of course, if the stores started to really enforce the guarantee and didn't take things that were obvious cases of abuse, people would throw a fit.

Anyway- I've had no problem with the craftsman tools I own. Granted, I realize they aren't the highest quality in the world, but I've looked at stuff like Cobalt over at Lowe's and it's just as expensive (and I get a discount at sears:hick: ). And my brother has been buying snap-on stuff for the last couple years, all I can say about that is F that! He bought a 3/4" drive ratchet with a 3' handle extension and spent over $300 on it. He also just recently got a 2 box snap-on toolbox set that he spent over $1000 on (and I don't see how it's any better than the craftsman boxes with the roller bearings and drawer latches, which he could had gotten for around $600 for 3 boxes).

Craftsman = China

Reply #13 – December 03, 2005, 12:45:43 PM

As far as Quality is concerned, I think you're actually better off with those older ones.... Most of my stuff is between 10-12 years old. Everything I've bought in the last three years has been off the Snap-On truck when I happen to see it and I remember what I need.

Craftsman = China

Reply #14 – December 03, 2005, 02:05:30 PM

Craftsman hand tools are mostly made in the US. SEARS tools are made mostly overseas. My profession for a living is being a mechanic. I use Snap-On, Mac, Craftsman and other tool companies. Craftsman hold up almost just as long as Snap-On does. I have many sockets that are Craftsman and they handle the abuse to air power tools on a daily basis. Mac tools are made by Stanley. I never cared much for Mac tools but they are OK. Snap-On is just really good stuff. I went through more Snap-On ratchets than Craftsman ratchets to this day. All in all it comes down to preference. I like Craftsman tools since you can go to Sears and get another one.

Sears warranties refurbished tools for a long time. I remember breaking a 1/2" drive ratchet and they gave me a refurbished one. Still had the same warranty as if it was new so it really didnt matter. What do you think Mac and Snap-On does when your ratchet or screwdriver breaks? The rebuild it! They dont give you a new one unless the housing is actually broken and they cant rebuild it. Another thing is they dont warranty their handles! Say the plastic handle broke on your Snap-On 3/8" ratchet. You have to pay for it cause it is not under warranty! So just because it says Snap-On doesnt mean it comes with a lifetime warranty.

James