History Hold on to your Craftsman tools...

It's just a prediction, but I'd bet if it really happens that Craftsman tools will be picked up by a number of retail stores.

 

Can you get the gutz for it???

 

"It seems A&W in the US will become another of those brands that giant companies buy and sell every few years until it's just a novelty or fades away completely. "

Like Jeep?

In all seriousness, I am also one of the hundreds of thousands that only go to Sears for tools. I had a card but got rid of it- they were the first company to jack up my interest over a late payment- and that was back in 2001!!! I paid off the balance and now only go there for tools... when I need them! And ditto the comments about Kmart being the same as it was in the 1980's, except they need to bring back the KMart sub!

JK

 

Last week I broke the snap ring that retains the ratcheting mechanism in an old ('50's) 3/8" drive ratchet...took it to my local Ace Hardware. The sales clerk offered me a new ratchet (w/o release button and had a 'plastic' selector). I said "No thanks, do you have a replacement snap ring?" Yes we do. "OK, just fix the old one." And he did. They are good people. They let me buy Chrome & S/S fasteners on special order...something Fastenall won't do.

I'm going to miss A&W's RB floats and chili dogs! Our favorite store shut down last winter.

 

Maybe Craftsman will not be at Orchard Supply Hardware Stores for long since Sears/K Mart have separated from OSH

 

Aa kmart sub??? Sorry! Never had one..

 

Man, that sucks!

 

Umm... What's OHS???...

 

I just recently had Fastenall near me order and deliver some Grade 10 Metric Bolts. I think my distributor would order just about anything I need. They would get more of my business if they weren't so expen$ive.



"

 

3 for a dollar

 

The Craftsman and Kenmore lines are the only profitable factions of the Sears/K-Mart deal. Even if K-Mart/sears store go into the shitter, you can believe that someone, if not them, will continue to produce and sell these two lines cause they are solid money makers. They have an ideal market in that they manufacture simple , everyday used items that don't have a limited shelf life like electronics and clothing and such. People will always need fridges, washer-dryers, stoves, and tools. Lots and lots of tools. As a matter of fact I'm gonna make my way to Sears this weekend and get a set of those racheting wrenches. I can't live any longer without them.

 

Dunno, I will have to check, I hope so. None of the ones shown on thier website have the socket release button. Maybe its just not on the website?

 

The world is going to shit. We need to turn back the clocks to when the US was leading the industrial reveolution!

 

In the last five years or so, craftsman tools have gone up price. Have you browsed their catalog lately ?! I've been experimenting with Kobalt and they've been ok.

 

Yeah, my parents used to by those all the time. I really miss those K-Subs. I remember when A&W had 2 locations in Whittier and we would stop to buy the Root Beer to take home. I still have a old A&W mug. I remember how Big Sears was at one time. I will never forget the wish book. I remember going to the local Sears store and making a beeline for the basement to check out all the toys. After I was done, I would head back up to where the candy counter was and waiting for my parents so I could pick out some fresh chocolate candies and some fresh hot peanuts. (They had a variety of nuts and all were serve warmed)
When I think of those times growing up during the 60s/70s, it pains me to see how much my country has changed. When I light my fireworks on the 4th of July, it will be with thanks to my city for still allowing me the freedom to use fireworks to celebrate the 4th. And when Sears and A&W close shop, there goes two more icons that made America Great. God help America!

 

x2........

 

Bingo!!

 

Sears and K-Mart have just remained a decent mainstream company for generations and have bucked the trend of trying to be fresh and trendy like all of the other retailers out there who try to do it by remodeling their damn stores every 6 weeks so that you can't find anything. I like a little consistency out there!

I've purchased about 90% of my hand tools there (but I'm also experimenting with some Kobalt stuff from Lowes) and a majority of our appliances from there over the years and have been happy with almost all of it.

 

you're right...major bummer...

 

I was walking through a Sears store one day with my son when he asked how much a certain tool cost.

I told him the tool cost nothing and when he looked at me with this strange look on his face and said what are you taking about I explained the following to him.

When you think about how many years you will have the tool and how much money that tool will make if you are in the trades the cost of the tool really is nothing compared to how much that tool will make you.

I have had the exact same tools since the mid 60's and they have made me a great deal of money over the years so I ask you is should the cost of the tool be the main concern when purchasing tools?

Jimbo

 

Be Amellican... Buy Amellican!

.

 

Sometimes I just love stuff I read here

 

And thus the reason for Sears going under.. no true customer base.

 

I guess I'm a real loser. I drive a Pontiac, work at a Saab store, eat lunch down the street at A and W, own a Nokia phone on the T-Moble network and I use Craftsman tools. I've got a bunch of Mac stuff, but they sold out to the Stanley works and the local dealer gets pissy when I demand replacement of my brokens. My Stanley garage door opener still works, so I'm O.K. there.

 

Didnt even know that. Wonder if thats why they dont make my favorite ratchet anymore??

 

Me too. They did that to me also the last time I went. The guy that worked in the department told one of their employees would rebuild every broken ratchet they got. I also took in a screwdriver that I accidentally destroyed with my lawnmower. There was almost nothing left of the handle, it was just a chunk of plastic with no name left and the metal shaft was separated from it, but they exchanged it no questions asked.

 

The demise of Sears has been a rumor that's going around for at least the last 30 years. My mom worked there in the accounting department for 30 years and retired back in the 80's. Sears had been struggling with a stodgy image, poor sales and mismanagement since the 70's. Sears always manages to pull a rabbit out of their ass and keep going. The interesting thing is that their stocks have always done well as was mentioned in an earlier post.
It's all just a rumor.

 

i wonder what the warranty was on the house 'kits' sears used to sell.......

 

If the tools have the Craftsman name on them, they have a lifetime warranty on them...

 

Is it the long handle 3/8 with the red handle? I've had that thing in my tool box for the last 15 years! Use it all the time...
But anyway, Stanley now has Mac, DeWalt, Proto, Black and Decker and God only knows who else. That's why you find DeWalt stuff on Mac pie wagons.