Craftsman Tool Lovers Worried For Brand After $900M Sale To Black & Decker

[pstokely]

https://consumerist.com/2017/01/05/craftsman-tool-lovers-worried-for-brand-after-900m-sale-to-black-decker/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

"Consumerist reader Victor says he is disappointed to see what was once a “trusted, reliable, and well made brand” be reduced to a disposable asset.

“It was obvious by 2004 the brand was no longer what it once was, but over time it continued to decline in subtle ways,” he says, noting that he hopes Black & Decker can revive the brand.

Others told us that while they are fans of Craftsman, they also use Black & Decker products, and they aren’t too worried about the change.

“If they had to find a new home for Craftsman, I think this might be a good one,” says Jacob, one of the more optimistic Craftsman users. “My understanding is that the overall quality of Craftsman products has decreased recently so perhaps that is a trend that [Black & Decker] can reverse.”

[hlthe2b]

1. they will turn life time well constructed tools to plastic full-of-defect throwaways...

made in China. So sad to see Sears (and Sears best known product) go down the tube...

[ksoze]

2. Sears was already moving to off-shore manufacturing

This will obvioulsy continue that move

[MineralMan]

3. Sears had already done that for much of their

tool selection. While Craftsman hand tools were always good, they were not really professional grade. I have quite a few items with the Craftsman brand, but I always have preferred Proto or Snap-On for mechanic's hand tools.

I'm not at all surprised by this announcement. Sears is on its way out of business, and quickly. Sears, like most national retailers, missed its chance at relevance by not embracing the Internet and online shopping early enough. Had they done so, they could have been what Amazon has become. But, they stuck with their catalog and brick and mortar strategy long after it was obvious that consumers would choose online shopping as their default.

It's too bad, really. I liked Sears. I grew up with Sears. I have a Sears Fall catalog for every decade, starting with the 1897 catalog. They provide a glimpse into history for 100 years, and it's fascinating to compare products in a category in each decade. They're a valuable reference to life in this country.

[hlthe2b]

4. I have my father's craftsman tools

and he passed nearly 20 yrs. ago, so I suspect we are not talking about the same tools at all.

[MineralMan]

6. Most of my Craftsman tools are from the same period as

your father's. I'm an old guy. In the 60s and 70s, I bought mostly Craftsman stuff, due to the lower price. As I could, however, I bought Proto and Snap-on tools, usually at swap meets and garage sales. They were simply better in many ways. My massive tool collection still has some Craftsman stuff from those days in it, but those rarely get used. They were perfectly good, but not as good as professional grade hand tools. That was especially true of their power tools. They were heavier, less precise and less capable than professional grade equivalents, but cost less. That's why they were so popular with amateur craftsmen and mechanics. The pros chose the more expensive, but more capable professional grade tools.

If I showed you two combination wrenches from the same period, with one being a Craftsman and the other a Proto or Snap-on tool, you would immediately see the difference. If you used both for the same job, you'd always reach for the Proto or Snap-on tool. It's just a fact.

That's not to say that the Craftsman tools weren't good. They were, but not as good or as handy.

[hlthe2b]

7. Your opinion is undoubtedly valid...

but do you really need to insult in delivering it? My father was NOT an amateur craftsman nor mechanic. Of course he never had Trump-type money.... Your insulting comment was not necessary to your argument, but surely hurtful.

[MineralMan]

8. No insult was intended. I didn't know your father at all, obviously.

I was relating my own experience

[Fix The Stupid]

5. I'm in this business...

I won't mention any brand names, but trust me...this is how it goes...

Giant plants in China produce most of the hand & power tools nowadays.

It is the same 'plants' that all the big manufacturers use.

There are some differences along the manufacturing process to get the inherent characteristics of each brand, but they are MOSTLY made in the same plants...

At the end of the manufacturing line, these tools go to Brand X, these go to Brand Y, etc....all made in the same plant, all under the same crappy quality programs, etc...

Now, that is the reality now, but it is changing. People/end users are demanding better quality tools and some of the manufacturers are realizing this and SLOWLY trying to move production back to North America/Mexico.. This is a positive.

Also, the quality of life for China is improving and they are demanding higher wages - couple this with the quality issues and now manufacturers are slowly coming back to North America.

Again, my opinion, but I have been selling tools for 15+ years now to the Utilites and this is the trend we are seeing. Not saying it can't go 180 deg. the other way again though...

[not fooled]

9. Buy vintage on eBay!

Instead of cheap Chinese-made crapola, you can still get quality Made in U.S.A. stuff on eBay, some of it NOS=New Old Stock that has sat around in someone's closet or garage and never got used.