Advice to Sears

Most, if not all, Craftsman tools are manufactured by Danaher, which last I checked had a large majority of its facilities within the USA. Is there a particular tool/set of tools that you had a concern about?

Some tools are simply not manufactured by American tool makers, like precision pliers, and must be farmed out to foreign makers. The Craftsman name and guarantee are applied to them only if the quality meets the Craftsman standard. There are very few Craftsman hand tools that aren't American made. Around 99% are American-made. I'm not aware of any other hand tool brand that can boast such a claim.

Also, as you know, Craftsman tools, no matter where they are made, have a lifetime guarantee!  You can't beat that.  The product seems to be so reliable, Sears has the confidence to continue to offer that sort of warranty.

  JulieK said...

Also, as you know, Craftsman tools, no matter where they are made, have a lifetime guarantee!  You can't beat that.  The product seems to be so reliable, Sears has the confidence to continue to offer that sort of warranty.

Are they ... and ... they remain reliable?  I no longer have such blind confidence.

I used to be a Craftsman believer.  The faith is now tarnished. Confidence began a rocky road several years ago (~8 - 9) when a table and scroll saw where purchased together on a big sale, not one but both proved troublesome.  I still have them, but they are junk; however, my father's saws, purchased in the 70's, run trouble free.  

Having not yet discerned a misguided faith, I was further demoralized when a cheap HarborFreight aircompressor was excitedly upgraded to a larger Craftsman unit.  Sadly, after much work in trying to prevent it from leaking and in so doing, finding out how cheaply it was made, it was returned.

I will never-ever ... let me repeat ... "never" purchase another Craftsman power tool.

While I still hold some small reverence of respect for Craftsman hand tools.  I recently went to purchase a small jewelers set of pliers for my daughter's BD as she was into beadwork and I wanted to establish her on a path of quality tools.  I was happy to find a nice looking set in a presentation style case in not just the Craftsman brand but in the higher tier Craftsman Pro brand only to discover (accidently) the tools labeled ... made in China?!?

I have no disrespect for Chinese made products but they currently have the same reputation that Japanese products had in terms of quality years ago.  Even with high quality control and manufacture oversight, this is the crux of my message that this is a slippery slope that will doom Craftsman hand tools to the same scenario that has denigrated the power tools.

Even if true, as one poster has mentioned, that precision pliers are not available from the current maker of Craftsman hand tools - Then Don't Dell Them.  Even if products come from respected quality nations such as Japan, Germany (etc.) don't follow a path that places dominoes in a precarious state.  Keep the Craftsman name respected with 100% USA products.  Not 44, 65 or even 99.99%.  Tools supplied from other nations should not dilute the brand.  If they truly must be brought in, give them another name, not Craftsman.

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Excuse me most of the tools are NOT Made in the USA. Many of the items are ASSEMBLED in the USA. That is a big difference. Do these tools still come with the guarntee if they break bring it in and get it replaced or has that been done away with a boneheaded remark by bluecrew guy in ma, stated about products made to be obsolete so they can sell more. That behavior has killed Detroit, Hynduai has a free ten year or 100,000 mile warranty on all its cars.

Sears can't even give warranties for products to last at least five years with out billing for it.

What are you talking about? Danaher makes the vast majority of Craftsman hand tools, and the foundry that makes the Craftsman hand tools is in the United States. Craftsman hand tools, with rare exceptions, are guaranteed forever.

The built-in obsolescence has to do with big-ticket items, like cars and appliances, that people replace fairly frequently not just because they break, but because styles change, or they want to take advantage of newer technologies, or because people move to a different home. It has nothing to do with hand tools.

Your pursuit of a "gotcha" is tiresome. I have yet to tell you anything that wasn't absolutely true, yet you have repeatedly been either dishonest or ignorant of the facts. Do you want to have honest questions answered honestly, or are you here merely to try to rub our faces in the dirt?

If it's the latter, you will only end up more upset when you leave (which you will eventually do), and you will have gotten nothing worthwhile out of it. Is that what you want to do with your time? Waste it trying to be as negative and unhelpful as possible? Because that's what you're doing.

You're being mean-spirited, snarky, and juvenile. It's sad to think that a grown adult is behaving this way to people who are doing nothing more than trying to provide solutions to people they have never even met, and most of us are doing it for free.

It's nice, though, that being anonymous online gives people the license, nay, obligation, to be rude and sarcastic. I'm glad that this vast resource of knowledge and information fosters an attitude of untouchability and a general lack of civility.

When you're done trying to start a flame-war, let us know.

If quality hand tools are no longer being made in the US, no one should have a problem getting them from an alternate location supplier, capable of manufacturing long-lasting/quality hand tools.

I agree with the OP. I'm very loyal to Craftsman for my hand tools but I try not to buy the power tools that arent make in the USA, just to send Sears a message that Craftsman is respected because its made in the US, not just for its name. I have my Dad's old Craftsman power tools and they are all made in the US. I would gladly pay more for a Craftsman sawzall or drill that was made in the US. 

Power tools that are made in America usually cost at least twice as much as a Craftsman power tool.

Judging by the rate at which Milwaukee and Makita tools are purchased versus Craftsman (Sears carries a huge assortment of Milwaukee and Makita products), the sentiment is noble and common but the fact is that the vast majority of American consumers would rather pay less for a tool made elsewhere than more for one made in America.

Sears could get their power tools made in America, but Americans would not buy them because they'd be out of the average American's price comfort zone. Which would trigger complaints that Craftsman costs too much, which would trigger changes either in quality or place of manufacture, and then we'd be right back where we are today.

Heck, it's hard enough to get people to buy the C3 Li-ion drill, or the batteries & charger, priced as they are (which is far cheaper than brands like DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, etc.). I find it difficult at best to believe that any significant portion of the American market is in any way interested in plunking down double the current prices of Craftsman tools so they can have the Made In USA seal on the packaging.

You hit the nail on the head.  People moan and groan about "Made in America" and "Keep the Jobs Here!" but they aren't willing to put their money where their mouth is.

 

I disagree, I have a few older power tools form the 80's and 90's that are made in the US including aDewalt sawzall and a Skilsaw. Neither cost a extraordinary amount of money to buy, about the same amount of money as todays Chinese made counterparts. I also dont remember the prices of these power tools going down when the started manufacturing them in China. The only change is that the companies are making more profits now because they can pay someone a bowl of rice a day instead of decent wages and benefits. I remember reading a article comparing Levi jeans prices comparing US made and Chinese made and there was no change in price, no benefit to the consumer. Just more profit for Levi.

Increasing profits is part of a public corporation's obligations to its shareholders. There have actually been lawsuits by shareholders of public companies about not doing things that will provide maximum profit increases. That's the joy of selling your independence to investors. Welcome to the wacky world of capitialism!

I have a question that I actually dont know the answer a friend of mine just asked me if there is limit on exchanging warranty handtools in a single day. Like if you take in 30 sockets will sears exchange all thirty if they have it in stock? He said he went to store that would only exchange like 10 of them in a single day....thank gawd its wasnt the store i work at then he would be mad at me lol...

Dug said…

 The brand is diluted with such inclusion.

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Everything is, it is a fact of life.  I understand you want to support your country, as do I, but the reality is not all American made products are superior.  I have had many vehicles from many different manufacturer's, I own a German vehicle now and quality is far superior than any other car I have ever owned, new or used.  My Mercedes is an '86 to and it is still around.  Just an example.

If the hand tools are so great why am I told that because I am an Auto technician craftsman warranty dose not apply. I have been told this at 6 sears so as my craftsman fail i Buy Matco. They have a warranty.in 41/2 years only six tools have failed and I need a racket rebuild or replaced

joemao said, "If the hand tools are so great why am I told that because I am an Auto technician craftsman warranty dose not apply. I have been told this at 6 sears so as my craftsman fail i Buy Matco. They have a warranty.in 41/2 years only six tools have failed and I need a racket rebuild or replaced"

Is it true that the warranty might not apply in the case of an Auto tech, or any other profession? I just gave a gift card to my cousin who is learning Auto care - with the thought that he might want Craftsman hand tools!

Also, what is C3?

 

So.......the Craftsman warranty is only good if the tools are NOT used?

 

Use of Craftsmen tools by a professional mechanic voids the warranty?

Guarenteed for Life Means Guaranteed for life.

I just sold a bunch of Craftsman Mechanics' tools to a Mechanics' vocational ed student.

If a Craftsman lifetime warranted hand tool breaks - we don't even ASK how it was being used...

The "power tools" are the items having limited warranties for professional use, with standard warranties of 1 year for manufacturing defects.

The maximum portable hand tool coverage is 3 years - that, for an additional fee, modifies the manufacturer's defect warranty into a things happen Sears backed protection plan.

The value-add protection on Craftsman products used to be for 2 years.

Many Craftsman ratchets are STILL commonly rebuilt at full-line stores.

The golden plastic handled Craftsman mini pliers are built with box-joint hinges for strength and long-term alignment.

Before that Craftsman mini pliers were built in France - with Lap joints.

Before France, they WERE built here, with the same Lap joints that the current China built Craftsman black handled mini pliers are built with.

Although the place of manufacture is not a choice, there are now two distinct versions of Craftsman mini pliers.

The Craftsman Professionals use the superior hinge joint.

I've USED the chain nose and needle nose, gold-handled mini pliers to rebuild hundreds, no over 2000 ratchets.

Except for an occasional touch-up of the tips (ground the tips "tapered" to facilitate ratchet rebuilding), these mini pliers are champs!

And, they have the Craftsman Mechanic's hand tool lifetime warranty, should a pair ever not perform to expectations.

Personally, I believe the average "professional" tool user has more experience and often more "respect" for his/her tools, than many weekend warriors.

Most professional tool users understand the VALUE of owning a range of tools, and tool sizes, to do jobs.

They're also more willing to invest a little more than many neophyte users of tools.

So, when a tradesperson comes in to exchange a hand tool - they get NO attitude from me.