I have seen an increasing trend in the number of "craftsman sucks" threads. With all of the horror stories I wonder how much longer they will survive. I don't think it's going to be if so much as when either.
Edit: Enjoy the wonderful grammar in the thread title :shaking:
Edited the title - hope it reflects what you intended.
As for Craftsman - I don't think it can die. Even if it gets bad, the *name* alone is worth something to another company who thinks they can turn it back around. So I vote that it will never go away.
Keep in mind - there are still MILLIONS of satisfied "light" users who swear by Craftsman and are perfectly happy with their tool performance.
It seems as if the "light" users (would you consider all non-professionals light users?) are becoming increasingly dissatisfied. The quality is gone way down hill and they and certain lifetime warranty tools are being replaced with 90 day warranty tools. How long until the lifetime warranty is no longer offered on any tool? I think the lifetime warranty is a huge part of their success along with availability and I see both of those things going away soon.
I'd say most of us do not qualify as "light users"... We're more "medium users". Additionally, we're "informed" medium users, which means we have an eye out for real or perceived problems through online forums like this.
I'd say the "light user" is my dad - who may bust out a tool set to use a socket wrench once a month, maybe twice. It's the guy who only uses the set to change the spark plug on his weedeater, and install some training wheels on his daughter's bike.
Other than the Fake Laser Etch BS, I have not had any problems .
I understand the reasoning behind limiting the return policy in certain areas after seeing lines of mexicans on saturdays returning bags of abused tools ( this caused the change of terms on measuring tapes BTW).
personally, I have never had a problem returning broken sockets (from using my (Air CAt 1000th) or ratchets that started slipping.
My biggest complaint with Craftsman/Sears came the last time that I went in there to exchange some ratchets that wore out. They gave me brand new ratchets, but they were a downgrade from what I had. I honestly would have preferred getting rebuilt versions of what I had over the ones they gave me.
As far as the name goes, I believe it will be around for quite a while yet whether they remain affiliated with Sears or not. As long as you can continue to get Craftsman tools at a department store of some sorts, the average joe will go there and buy tools because of Craftsman's previous reputation and ease of access. I'd still rather buy Craftsman over Snap-On, Mac, and other similar brands since I would have to track down a local dealer to buy and get tools replaced. I broke a Snap-On breaker bar a year ago and have yet to take the time to track someone down to get a replacement.
You have to be an informed consumer... sucks, but it is what it is. If you return something for exchange, and it is replaced with a lesser quality, you have to bitch. FWIW, sometimes when you return socket drivers, you can obtain a rebuild kit, instead of a replacement... allowing you to rebuild what you had and keep the quality of the original.
So tell us about the breaker bar you broke... how long an extension were you using on it? :flipoff2:
I work as an auto tech in a independant shop. I only use Snap-on. Of course they cost more, but I feel the quality is not even comparable with craftsman. Although I do work with a guy who only uses craftsman and feels that they are more than adequate.
"informed users" and those of us that are "medium" or "heavy" tool users make up a very small majority of people in there market, yes we may buy more tools as a person than an average joe, but the word of mouth spread by us as a small group is insignificant compared to the countless people with an 88-piece socket and wrench set from craftsman who only return product once every few years or never at all in there life. The price/quality ratio is bang on for those guys.
we all know the lack of quality but it's time to stop buying there and let it become a bad reputation company. the only reason i get new craftsman stuff is cause it gets waranty. its almost all been retired(except for a few retro quality items) into my trail gear or shop tools. next to nothing goes to work with me.
on big thing most people forget to take into acount is snap on and mac generaly dont give a regular sale price of 50-75% off like sears does. when you can buy a 300 piece "mechanics set" for your trail bag for 300 bucks, at a dollar a piece regardless of quality it's hard to say no.
i haven't bought anything craftsman for years. i dont' like their quality anymore. they were fine for working on cars. but ever since i got into 4 wheeling i have broken and returned about half my craftsman tools.
i now purchase tools at napa or lowes. so far those are working much better with my abuse.
i sure get sick of returning craftsmans sockets. i can break those with out a cheater bar very easily. :mr-t:
That's the other side to this, Home Depot, Lowes and NAPA ar'n't going anywhere and are offering increasingly more mechanics tools of fairly good quality with lifetime warranties. I think this will also play a part in the demise of Craftsman.
I buy Craftsman and haven't had much trouble out of them at all. I've been using my 137 piece set for a couple years now without problem.
I broke our 1/2" MAC breaker bar while taking off the head bolts on my 460. I couldn't find our other breaker bar or 1/2" wratchet...so I used my Craftsman 3/8ths wratchet with a jack handle on it. Worked like a charm.
Since they have a lifetime warranty, I'm not afraid to break them, and more times than not it comes back to suprise me of what they can do. Just bought a new 1/2" Craftsman breaker bar to replace the MAC
No, I'm not a Craftsman nut. I'll buy anything in my price range (forget about Snap-On), that has a lifetime warranty. Sears is closer than Lowe's/HD/W*M anyways...
I voted that Craftsman will never go away....BUT I think their quality and service will continue to decline to the point that they are effectively gone. When they are on the clearance rack at Big Lots.
I really don't think it will go away. It'll just slowly go the way of Great Neck quality, or insert whatever uber-cheap tool name you want. They'll find some way to stop the lifetime warranty and use pot metal from the cheapest China suppliers w the worst foundries. Hello Kmart
I voted never also for the same reasons as others above stated. It will become the Kmart brand. I too have taken back tools where they try to substitute inferior ones; round shankscrewdrivers for square shanks, 12 point 1/2" socket for a 6 point etc. Then arguing with the idiot behind the counter that it's not the same :mad3:
No problem with the sockets and wrenches...
The ratchets are shitty, but the 'pro' polished ratchets are decent. Snapon ratchets with craftsman socket's and wrenches is more than adequate for most.
most of my craftsman tools are old, so the quality is still there, except the ratchets.
I agree that craftsman wont go away. i think when it gets bad enough they will sell the tool division to some one who can make a better tool to revive the brand name again. but who knows, they could become the next great neck brand. time will tell.
i do know that i will not be buying craftsman ratchets to replace what i have. too tired of having them break or jam
I don't think it will ever die, seeing as it is such a big name. However, it will lose its status soon (if it hasn't already). I'm third generation buying Craftsman and neither myself, or my dad will touch them anymore for hand tools. I'd say thats a pretty common story. Its sad, really.
i wont buy craftsman anymore after my last few sets of sockets i bought. i bought some regular ingraved and some of those lazer etched and the outer finish started cracking and pealing off... the regular ingraved ones i can still see what size they are atleast but the lazer ones im not so lucky. its only done it to about 5 of them but there less then a year old... shouldnt happen
they wont let me exchange them, they said its only "cosmetic"
edit: i should add, they were used normally, not heated or anything... they cracked on there own
No, they should exchange that!!!! That's more than cosmetic, it's downright dangerous (you can cut up your hands) or pieces can fall into engine parts, etc. I'd fight them on it! Or come into the store with your hand all bandaged up....'
Same here. I find myself buying more and more from Snap on... the dealer in this area is great and I have most of teh basics covered. For anything I really need now, Snap On seems to be worth the cost (to me)...
they warnty my chipped chrome sockets. somone told me they stoped "double chrome dipping" there sockets a few years back and thats where the problem comes from.
And, yes it is dangerous flaking chrome is like a razor, plus it allows the socket to rust. i would make them exchange it or make them touch it and pull it out of there hand really fast...once they get a couple chrome cuts they'll exchange them for you.
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