Craftsman tools

[Dmichels]

For years I have always bought Craftsman wrenches and sockets. I was always happy they were made in the USA. Not anymore. I just got back from Sears and noticed that the 3/8 to 1/2 adaptor says Made in China. When did this happen? Very sad now, is there anything still made in America?
Dave

[JB400]

Yep.  I got a set of wrenches from them as a gift last year.  Made in China.  If you want American made stuff, you have to go to flea markets and buy vintage stuff, or go overseas.  I hear China has a craving for American made products because of the quality.

There are websites dedicated to nothing but American made products.  But since Walmart mostly deals with Chinese made stuff, that's pretty much what's available.  Unfortunately, retailers aren't concerned about being patriotic, but more about making a buck as cheap as they can.

I would buy American if it was more readily available

Here's a directory of some American made stuff.  http://americansworking.com/

[68X426]

Unfortunately, retailers aren't concerned about being patriotic, but more about making a buck as cheap as they can.

Substitute the words "American consumers" for "retailers" ,,,

and substitute "buying crap" for "making a buck" ....

and now it's an accurate statement.

Don't blame the retailer, this is a social illness that nearly all Americans have - that is "cheapitis". The vast majority of the public simply will not buy quality, patriotic or otherwise. Most everyone wants cheap. Not the retailers' fault.

We have consumer choices (in the broadest sense, of course there are plenty of times there are no choices, which only demonstrates my point). Most everyone busts the chops of the American businessperson and American corporations that dare to charge more for USA made. The demand is for cheapest even as people say they want American made.

A certain kind of people out there (I'll not get political) hates American business, and bitches about greed and gouging, even when the product is factually better, and deserves a higher price. Most 'patriots" still buy cheap crap even when they have a choice to buy USA. Most "non-patriots" will buy cheapest even as they say they stick up for the working class.

We as a nation have a problem. Patriot or non-patriot, people claim one thing and behave differently in their buying choices. Don't blame the retailers that the public wants cheap. We are all to blame.

ps nothing personal stroker, this is just a broad observation, not meant for you individually.

[JB400]

No offense taken   After reading your statement, I have reason to believe we're both right.  As a consumer, we want things cheap, and as a retailer, we want to make as much money as possible with as little effort as possible.  Proof in point, a guy that works for my dad occasionally, worked one hr.  so that he could get $10.  The job isn't done, and dad is still working.   I help when I can when it won't interfere with my responsibilities.

[bull]

Some of the most trusted names have sold out. Timkin is one that stands out. Vise-Grip also. I even toured the Vise-Grip factory in 1985 when their stuff was still made in the USA. I think they sold out in the early 2000s. Channelock is one of the few broad distribution tool manufacturers that still makes most of their tools in the USA. A lot of the Lowe's Cobalt tools are US made.

I bought some Craftsman sockets a while back and for some strange reason they recently started putting four more points inside the base where the socket attaches to an extension or ratchet. I assume the idea was to make it so it would be easier to click it in place but the opposite is what happens.  Annoying.

[polywideblock]

just checked out my metrinch stuff  " superlab USA" in big letters on all the boxes but when you go looking found a tinny made in Taiwan , this stuff ain't cheap $ 400 for a socket/spanner set . still haven't managed to break anything seems to be better than average  and fits it ALL   

[Mopar Nut]

At lease our kids are Made In The USA!

[chargerboy69]

They are not like they used to be. . the ratchets last maybe a year or two and start slipping under pressure. . . at least mine have.

[ITSA426]

I liked Craftsman tools when they were a Sears exclusive.  I liked shopping at Sears when it was "Where America shops" and before they wanted to put everything on a high interest Sears Charge card.  Sears changed the way they do business and I quit shopping there because of that.  If they did business the same way I'd still shop there.

When I first started my career as an aircraft mechanic I bought a lot of Craftsman tools because they were good quality for the money.  Quality seemed to go down about the time they showed up on the shelves at K-mart.  Now I see brand new Craftsman tools at swap meets.  I've had some of my hand tools for almost fifty years.  I'd hate to break one knowing it would be replaced by the junk on the shelves at Sears now.

There are a lot of good tools on the market now and a lot of junk.  I just prefer to buy American because I like to spend my money as close to home as possible.  I like to think it's more about economics than politics.  I believe you should buy the very best you can afford.  As with the cheapest tools - you get what you pay for.

[Brock Lee]

A few months ago I bought a Craftsman socket set at Menards. It is all Made in the USA. Are they all China now, or is there a cheaper line made in China?

[myk]

I lost my 1/4" Craftsman drive so I went to Sears to get a replacement.  I'm pretty sure I saw "Craftsman" branded parts but they came in different styles of packaging, and at a lower price.  I'm willing to bet that's the Chinese stuff...

[Dmichels]

The regular standard package Craftsman tools are being made in China. They are slowly moving it all overseas. Kinda sucks It would be like your mom baking an apple pie and the apples were grown in Brazil. Now I am not crazy gung ho need only to buy American. I understand how the world works. But shit Craftsman tools? I thought that was always a USA product. It scarces the crap out of me that we are lousing any ability to make anything.
Dave

[myk]

Times change.  Not to get political here, but a lot of things about the America "I" grew up with have either changed, or disappeared completely.  What can we do?  I guess as long as I can get replacement Craftsman pieces for "life" it won't matter if I have to make an exchange every year or something...

[resq302]

Funny enough, my Craftsman torque wrench broke and even though it is a hand tool, they will not honor the lifetime warranty since the torque wrenches only have a 3 year warranty now.  I now have a Kobalt one that goes up to 250 ft lbs and has a LIFETIME warranty!  Oh yeh, also cheaper price than Craftsman too!

[myk]

Kobalt...who sells that?  Is it Home Depot or something? 

[JB400]

Lowes

[Charger_Fan]

I stopped buying most of Sears crap sometime in 2007, when I really became aware that most of their tools (and consequentially their quality) had been outsourced to freakin' China.
Nowdays I have to look long & hard to find a decent company who still claims to make tools in this country. The only solitude I have found is Ebay idiots who sell off their grandfather's tools...sadly, I have found a few really cool ones lately. And all were made right HERE!! Before I was an itch...

[RusTy/SE]

I recently needed a #10 torx screwdriver to remove the front turn signal lens on my 2001 Durango in order to access a broken bulb housing so off I went to Sears where I picked up a unit identical to this one:

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-professional-no-10-x-6-in-screwdriver/p-00947180000P?prdNo=8&PDP_REDIRECT=false&s_tnt=41486:3:0

This Craftsman Professional line item displays '47180 USA WF AB' with USA in large font lettering on one side of the handle while the other side displays 'Craftsman Professional'. No mention of USA that I could find in the online ad though 

[Silver R/T]

I do support American worker, I am a blue collar factory worker, working 4 10's for the past 8 years. Our bosses squeeze every little bit out of us. They want more done in less time with better quality than before. Most places here want to hire professionals for minimum wage. What a guy can do to support himself, his family, how can you do that with minimum wage?
Yes, there are lazy Americans who want to sit their butt on welfare and collect unemployment but then there's guys who get laid off and can't find a job cause their job has been outsourced overseas thanks to our greedy communist-driven government.
Then you don't have a choice when you're buying something, it's all made in China/Taiwan and you just can't afford to buy U.S. made which is 2-3 times more $$

[BigBlackDodge]

At lease our kids are Made In The USA!

Too bad Obama's parents can't say that...

Proof that he wasn't?... got any? ...any at all?

Yeah....that's what I thought. You 'birthers' crack me up!!!

Oh....and great job making a political jab at the president.....like he had anything to do with manufacturers going over seas. 

BBD

[ws23rt]

Sometimes one can't find the country of manufacture on the tool. That's one way of hiding what they know well is a marketing issue.
It's a joke (I think ) that there is a town in China named USA (yusa).

My preference in tools depends of my use needs. A cheap brand to me is disposable and can be used for much more than intended.
Other tools I need are high quality where it is really needed. And having nice things is also important to me.
A lathe I bought for instance from Ebay (13/40) was a 25K machine when it was made for 7K.
It replaces a 12/36 craftsman lathe that has nearly the same part size capacity That was maybe 2K new. I paid $800 for it.
Sorta like a chev nova vs porsche. They both get two people down the road. (although the chev can bring the kids along).

We as a country can make any quality of tool needed. That we are where we are is not something that be easily changed. It's in the hands of the world market and we are not as big as we used to be.

[Neal_J]

Recently, I stripped the clutch in my Milwaulkee cordless drill after less than 2 years of occassional use.  Only then did I notice the Made in China designation.  Dammit.

It's getting so you can't find quality even if you're willing to pay extra for it.  Tools, refrigerators, garden hose spritzer, everything.  Sucks.

[Old Moparz]

At lease our kids are Made In The USA!

Too bad Obama's parents can't say that...

Proof that he wasn't?... got any? ...any at all?

Yeah....that's what I thought. You 'birthers' crack me up!!!

Oh....and great job making a political jab at the president.....like he had anything to do with manufacturers going over seas. 

BBD

   Birthers Will Prove To Be Hypocrites With This Story   

[myk]

At lease our kids are Made In The USA!

Too bad Obama's parents can't say that...

Proof that he wasn't?... got any? ...any at all?

Yeah....that's what I thought. You 'birthers' crack me up!!!

Oh....and great job making a political jab at the president.....like he had anything to do with manufacturers going over seas.  

BBD

Lol, dude take a breath and relax.  The country obviously doesn't care about Hussein's origins so why should I?  I'm not a "birther," or anything like that, I'm just talking out of my a** on the OT forums and claim no allegiance to any political party.

You mad bro?