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Craftsman tools at Lowes

Darter6

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Just came back from Lowes. The place is full of Craftsman tools. I know that the local Ace is part of Sears and sells the brand. Wonder if Lowes bought out Sears or just the Craftsman line?
Any hear anything ?
 
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These days Craftsman’s quality is similar to harbor freight but twice the price. My rule of thumb is if it’s got no moving parts it comes from harbor freight.
 
Craftsman was bought out by Stanley Black and Decker. I am guessing that they signed a deal with Lowe’s for distribution. Wonder what it will do to their Kobalt line?
 
Wonder if they uphold the lifetime warranty of the Craftsman brand?
 
Wonder if they uphold the lifetime warranty of the Craftsman brand?
I was wonderng the same thing.
Also, will they be able to maintain decent enough quality in future products to be worth the lifetime warranty?
 
I got a set of GearWrench ratchet combo wrenches that Sears was selling a few years back and even though they do not have Craftsman on them, they seem to be of good quality.....at least I haven't broke any of them yet but the package they came in said made in China. Here's tidbit from Wiki....

Beginning in 2010, hand tools manufactured for Craftsman by Apex Tool Group such as ratchets, sockets, and wrenches began to be sourced overseas (mainly in China, although some are produced in Taiwan), while tools produced for Craftsman by Western Forge such as adjustable wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers and larger mechanic tool sets remain made in the United States, although some production for these products have moved over to Asia. Sears still has an Industrial line which is sold through various authorized distributors. These tools are US made, appearing identical to their previous non-industrial US made counterparts, save for the "Industrial" name stamped on them. They are manufactured by Apex on the US production lines that previously produced the USA made standard Craftsman product before production switched overseas to Asia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craftsman_(tools)
 
Wonder if they uphold the lifetime warranty of the Craftsman brand?
I'm guessing that they will. But if you need a warranty on a good 'ol craftsman, it will be replaced with a China-man craftsman.
 
Local Ace Hardware a few weeks back

Two brand new ratchets under the Craftsman warranty

No rebuilding heads like in the good ole days

One they exchanged that day in stock off the shelf

An older ratchet , round head , they make a call based on serial number , get a replacement number over the phone , if they don't have it in stock at Ace , they will in a few days , no questions asked , 100% WARRANTY
 
I was wonderng the same thing.
Also, will they be able to maintain decent enough quality in future products to be worth the lifetime warranty?
They already started making junk, last set I got was terrible in quality. I'll be phasing mine out but with what I have no idea, at this point few are much worse.
 
With no Sears in Canada any more, Lowes is the only place I can get a Craftsman tool now.
 
They already started making junk, last set I got was terrible in quality. I'll be phasing mine out but with what I have no idea, at this point few are much worse.

That's a sad state of affairs. Everyone's been priced out of the market by cheap junk. Another "zombie brand" has been born to sit on shelves as a shadow of it's former self. Sometimes it's just better to let it die.

Are there any good middle ground made in USA tools left for the home gamers?
 
That's a sad state of affairs. Everyone's been priced out of the market by cheap junk. Another "zombie brand" has been born to sit on shelves as a shadow of it's former self. Sometimes it's just better to let it die.

Are there any good middle ground made in USA tools left for the home gamers?
Channel lock is still made in USA
 
I bought a bunch of vintage craftsman tools on eBay over the last year or so.
Look for =V= or -V- series tools.
There are plenty of NOS and nice used tools available.
I alsolitely refuse to buy hazard fraught Chinese hand tools. I just can't do it.

I like to buy tools that will be handed down to my kids and still be viable in 50 years.
 
I will only buy the old stuff at yard sales the rest is Crap-Man. I was a Tech for 45 years so I have my Snappy, Mac ect and their warranty is still good. Got a buddy at the dealer that I give my broken, worn stuff for the exchange. I have a set of the good Craftsman 1/2 inch 12 point sockets my Mom got for me when I started Trade school in 73. Still pounding on them with a IR impact, Oh the stories that 3/4 socket could tell.
 
Things that happen that ya' never forget.
How I found out Craftsman brand was being outsourced back in '76. (Yeah, that's 1976, Lol)
I bought my combination wrench set that year.
When I get home and open the package I was shocked to see this...……..
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I'm like :wtf:?????? My friend Jerry looks at it and then me. He starts laughing and say's something like "you know what that BF means"!
PO'd, I remember saying a lot of "stuff" and threaten to just use them for what I was doing and return them. Never happened though.
Time has proven the 30 bucks I spent on these Craftsman wrenches way back they have been just F&D!
Of course 30 back then would be more like a 100 now I suspect.
Oh yeah, they do say Craftsman on the flip side if you are wondering...….
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