View Full Version : Sears just sold Craftsman to Black and Decker
Can't help but feel sad about this one a bit, even though it was likely inevitable.
Been a while now since Craftsman mostly stopped meaning what it used to, but I still have a lot of old tools I'll probably have forever.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/05/investing/sears-sells-craftsman-stanley-black-decker/index.html?iid=hp-stack-dom
RCCrawler
01-05-2017, 10:27
Sears bought Craftsman for $500 in 1927, then sold it for $900,000,000, not a bad investment.
Yea sad though, I'm sure they're gonna go to shit now. Most of my box in the garage is craftsman stuff.
Zundfolge
01-05-2017, 10:37
So is the lifetime guarantee still good?
Thing is I bet Sears doesn't survive the decade, so it's probably best they sold off Craftsman so that it'll still exist.
Harbor freight has a lifetime warranty on their hand tools.
I used to love craftsman but they aren't what they used to be.
Sad to see this happen, but it was inevitable. Hopefully SB&D can bring manufacturing of Craftsman products back into to USA, improve quality and make Craftsman products and warranty claims more accessible through more outlets rather than just a Sears store. The nearest Sears to me is clear across town. Very inconvenient.
Martinjmpr
01-05-2017, 11:10
So is the lifetime guarantee still good?
Thing is I bet Sears doesn't survive the decade, so it's probably best they sold off Craftsman so that it'll still exist.
Decade? [LOL] They're like the Titanic now, throwing everything overboard in an effort to slow down their sinking. If Sears is still in business in a year I'll be shocked.
Only question is whether they'll take K-mart down with them. If my local K-mart (Englewood) is any indication, then the answer is both "yes" and "good riddance." ;)
BushMasterBoy
01-05-2017, 11:39
Their demise really started with the fall of J.C. Higgins.68640
Zundfolge
01-05-2017, 11:46
Decade? [LOL] They're like the Titanic now, throwing everything overboard in an effort to slow down their sinking.
The decade has only 3 years left ... and they just got a fat cash infusion with this sale so they might make it 3 years.
Sad to see this happen, but it was inevitable. Hopefully SB&D can bring manufacturing of Craftsman products back into to USA, improve quality and make Craftsman products and warranty claims more accessible through more outlets rather than just a Sears store. The nearest Sears to me is clear across town. Very inconvenient.
Kmart and Ace Hardware both carry Craftsman tools. Unfortunately, Craftsman tools have been steadily declining in quality since at least the early 1990s, and their screwdrivers have been garbage since I've been turning wrenches (the early 1980s). The quality of Stanley hand tools gives me zero hope that they will change for the better, as the Stanley screwdrivers and pliers are absolute junk.
StagLefty
01-05-2017, 11:58
Remember the day ? 68641
Kmart and Ace Hardware both carry Craftsman tools. Unfortunately, Craftsman tools have been steadily declining in quality since at least the early 1990s, and their screwdrivers have been garbage since I've been turning wrenches (the early 1980s). The quality of Stanley hand tools gives me zero hope that they will change for the better, as the Stanley screwdrivers and pliers are absolute junk.
Yup. They had a nice niche market with working/middle class wrench turners who wanted the best for the money. They sold down the brand and some execs probably made bank.
liberty19
01-05-2017, 12:17
Love my old Craftsman tools, but like others have said, they are not what they used to be.
Martinjmpr
01-05-2017, 12:21
I bought my first gun (a Universal .30 Carbine) at either Sears or JC Penney (back when both sold guns, along with Target and K-Mart.)
I think Wal Mart must be the last "general merchandise" store that sells firearms now.
What a timing. Most of major retailers are down big time today. Majority of then are double digit % loss.
Sears holding is up about 2.5% from craftsman deal.
Craftsman has been crap for a few years now. Cheap Chinese made tools not better than harbor freight.
I actually like harbor freight tools better. I have cracked many craftsman sockets in impacts. Have yet to break a single harbor freight one.
Even the HF screwdrivers that are FREE are better quality and have magnetic tips.
Kmart and Ace Hardware both carry Craftsman tools. Unfortunately, Craftsman tools have been steadily declining in quality since at least the early 1990s, and their screwdrivers have been garbage since I've been turning wrenches (the early 1980s). The quality of Stanley hand tools gives me zero hope that they will change for the better, as the Stanley screwdrivers and pliers are absolute junk.
I guess I'm thinking how I would change manufacturing of Craftsman tools. I bought a set of their Professional combination wrenches and was very disappointed in the flex of the shafts. I bought a replacement set of Snap-On's. Gave the Craftsman's to my kid. 99% of my tools are Snap-On or Blue Point. Even Snap-On has declined since the 2000's.
Sears/Kmart rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. The way Sears has treated customer service over the past decade is why they are where they are. It's an American tragedy playing out in slow motion. I wish someone would just put them out of their misery with a clean kill.
hurley842002
01-05-2017, 15:52
I actually like harbor freight tools better. I have cracked many craftsman sockets in impacts. Have yet to break a single harbor freight one.
Even the HF screwdrivers that are FREE are better quality and have magnetic tips.
I agree, and now that HF seems to be popping up on nearly every street corner (when I was in Thornton there was one right next door, and now in Littleton I've got one around the corner), it's not nearly as much of an inconvenience to run and have a broken tool replaced as it used to be, and that's IF I break one.
SideShow Bob
01-05-2017, 16:03
The last time I bought any Craftsman tools was in the very early 2000's.
I bought a set of Torx screwdrivers, they turned out to be all the same size & one was set backwards in the handle. That one may have been a different size........... [facepalm]
speedysst
01-05-2017, 16:14
Decade? [LOL] They're like the Titanic now, throwing everything overboard in an effort to slow down their sinking. If Sears is still in business in a year I'll be shocked.
Only question is whether they'll take K-mart down with them. If my local K-mart (Englewood) is any indication, then the answer is both "yes" and "good riddance." ;)
Read this morning that the KMart in the 300 blk of Broadway is slated for closure soon.
This goes back to the 2004 sale to Kmart. The CEO had no plans to keep both names. The intent was to sell off everything of value (Craftsman, Kenmore(?), etc) and move on.
gnihcraes
01-05-2017, 16:55
Doesn't Kmart own sears anyway? Didn't they just close down the last kmart in denver?
HF tools seem decent, Kobalt from Lowes are good looking too, no worse than the craftsman stuff. Most of my stuff is older craftsman.
I frequently break my HF ratchet. I use them the wrong way, but they still break.
SideShow Bob
01-05-2017, 17:27
Didn't they just close down the last kmart in denver?
The one in Aurora on Chambers (?) is still open, and according to the news cast this morning, they were not planning on closing that one......[hammer]
I think the one on 104th just East of Washington might still be open. I think people only go there for the Little Caesars though.
KMT, KMRT, Kmrtq, s, and now shld.
Sad....
My guess that shld is still surviving is that CDS writers are temporary pushing it.
The only KMart here in Cheyenne is closing. I never shop there anyway. And I haven't set foot in a Sears in several years.
I think the one on 104th just East of Washington might still be open. I think people only go there for the Little Caesars though.
If it is, it is liquidation only. They announced closure of that one over a month ago.
DenverGP
01-05-2017, 21:29
I used my harbor 1/2" torque wrench as a breaker bar one time, something broke inside. Took it back to the store for a new one, and picked up a 1/2" breaker bar using a 25% off coupon at the same time. I'd prefer a lot of harbor freight "pittsburg pro" tools over any recent craftsman/kobalt/husky tools for sure.
Would be nice to see the Craftsman name return to it's prior reputation, but I won't buy them just based on name.
I used my harbor 1/2" torque wrench as a breaker bar one time, something broke inside. Took it back to the store for a new one, and picked up a 1/2" breaker bar using a 25% off coupon at the same time. I'd prefer a lot of harbor freight "pittsburg pro" tools over any recent craftsman/kobalt/husky tools for sure.
Would be nice to see the Craftsman name return to it's prior reputation, but I won't buy them just based on name.
That's exactly what I did, including purchasing the breaker bar. Then the very next time I needed to use it, the breaker bar was too large to fit so I broke the 1/2" ratchet in the exact same way.
Stanley might do a good job, but I doubt it. The make Proto tools and I think Mac, someone will tell us. Most the tools I've purchased in the last 10 years have come from the internet, for high quality specialty tools. The regular , common tools have come from Harbor Freight. The made in Taiwan tools are super high quality. Growing up Taiwanese tools were a joke. I'd say they are some of the best value right now. Makes me sad saying that.
Give that Taiwanese junk here, I'll show how "super high quality" they are.
Dang weekend warriors. [LOL]
Give that Taiwanese junk here, I'll show how "super high quality" they are.
Dang weekend warriors. [LOL]
I won't deny being a weekend warrior, but somebody has to change training wheels and put together Walmarts Chinese made storage boxes! [LOL]
LOL!
Nothing wrong with being a weekend warrior at all...but trying to set the mark with limited experience?..Nah, bruh!
Are the tools at Tool King, that seem to be 4x as much as every where else that much better than other tools?
nisils14
01-06-2017, 04:24
Are the tools at Tool King, that seem to be 4x as much as every where else that much better than other tools?
I have yet to be impressed by anything they offer. I bought a expensive specialty bit to drill out a broken tap only to crap out and finish the job with 5 dollar mason bit from home depot. Some of the stuff offered at home depot and lowe's is pretty solid. I'm impressed with the Rigid impact and drill I bought recently.
CobaltSkink
01-06-2017, 07:48
Tool King? On 6th Av? Aren't they out of business?
Martinjmpr
01-06-2017, 08:53
Doesn't Kmart own sears anyway? Didn't they just close down the last kmart in denver?
Wife heard on the news that our Kmart at Belleview and Broadway is slated for closure. As I said, if it wasn't for the fact that I drive by there frequently I'd have been surprised to hear that it was still open.
Kind of like one of those "celebrities" that you didn't know they were even still alive until you hear that they died. :D
gnihcraes
01-06-2017, 09:02
Tool King? On 6th Av? Aren't they out of business?
online only, no storefronts that I'm aware of. I believe they still occupy the back warehouse portion of their former retail front on 6th ave.
Edit: appears everything for them online is dead too.
The one I've been to is by the American Furniture Warehouse in Thornton. They were still there this fall. I'll try to remember to drive by and see if they are still around.
What I find disturbing is that Taiwan made tools are now considered High Quality compared to ones made in China. So made in USA must be Unobtainium.
The one I've been to is by the American Furniture Warehouse in Thornton. They were still there this fall. I'll try to remember to drive by and see if they are still around.
That one is Tool Zone, and in my experience, their prices are garbage.
That one is Tool Zone, and in my experience, their prices are garbage.
Yeah, Tool Zone. I went in there once, did a lap, and laughed the whole time. But, as Graves said, I'm a weekend warrior for sure.
What I find disturbing is that Taiwan made tools are now considered High Quality compared to ones made in China. So made in USA must be Unobtainium.
MAKE TOOLS GREAT AGAIN!
wctriumph
01-06-2017, 23:22
I have Craftsman and many other brands that go back over 50 years. Here is one I can't even remember when I got it. And yes, I did use this on a regular basis in the late 80's.
Give that Taiwanese junk here, I'll show how "super high quality" they are.
Dang weekend warriors. [LOL]
Hand to God, the only wrench I've ever had to warranty was a Snap-On. Mostly because I loose stuff. And I had a Mac torx bit that was so soft it was unusable after one use. As a whole most my tools are US made , but I'm really finding lately the Europeans make great stuff.
sellersm
01-12-2017, 18:33
Probably posted elsewhere, but oh well. Family Guy's take on Sears stores:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5087isMudEs
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