Is Sears made in the U.S.A.???

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Sears is about ready to go under.

This is no surprise. They have leveraged the "Craftsman" name to the point that you can buy Craftsman products at Ace Hardware, and have recently seen some offerings at Menards and Costco.

So much of their tools are made overseas. That is pretty much across the board. Look at Kobalt, Husky, and Stanley to name but a few. Names that one stood for quality have been reduced to, merely names. As sad as I personally think it is, the "WalMart" mentality has overcome this country.

Everyone wants to make at least $30 an hour and buy a "Made in USA" socket set for $10 or $15. The economics of that scenario do not jibe.
 
Sears should be a wake up call, but Tdbo hit the nail on the head with his last sentence.

Back in August the square socket adapter on the head of my Craftsman ratchet snapped off. This was a chrome plated slim line ratchet that I had purchased in early 2005. I took it in to my local Sears and the counter guy went in back and fetched another.

The difference between the two was night and day. My original ratchet had "MADE IN THE U.S.A." engraved on the handle along with the Craftsman logo on the reverse. The engravings and plating were top notch.

The one I received as a replacement had product numbers engraved where the "made in the usa" once was and the engraving looked as though it had been done with a rusty nail and a hammer. The chrome plating also looked cheaply done.

I won't be going back.
 
KD Tools used to make Craftsman wrenches and ratchets.KD started sourcing from Taiwan for its tools,then dropped their handtool line altogether (Gearwrench is the new name of the company,they still make filter wrenches,Gearwrench boxed wrenches and such but no screwdrivers,ratchets,pliers...).That left Sears without a supplier.And like everybody else with homebrand tools,picked the cheapest suppliers overseas to affix their Craftsman name to.The "Performance Tool" line of tools is basically the same that you get from everyone else that gets them from Taiwan (HF,Husky,Kobalt....)....they are pretty much the same now.However,there are 2 grades of China tools...the cheapos that come in PT sets (sockets primarily) and the ones sold separately (noticeably thicker and shinier chrome).Still,no old KD/New Britian/Napa Hand Tools/Craftsman level though.
 
I was at Kmart the other day looking at what they had for Craftsman tools. While some did say Made in China, many of them still say Made in USA.
 
wow after reading the link it sure seems like Sears was not being honest with the public. why would you black out the made in America stamp if it was made in the gold ole USA ? it is a shame as I think they could have made the tools here and touted their brand, not to mention create or save some jobs.
 
I might also add that IMO, the staging of this suit IMO has nothing to do with the consumer, it has to do with a group of emergency vehicle pursuers, who IMO are trying to make a quick buck at the expense of others.

No, I am not defending nor am I a fan boy for Sears, but every tool that I have bought in recent history from Sears, has had the origin of manufacture listed clearly on it. Simple matter of reading the box, packaging, or tool.

Kind of reminds me of what a group of jackals did with the Blitz company. Now toast.
 
Originally Posted By: matrass
wow after reading the link it sure seems like Sears was not being honest with the public. why would you black out the made in America stamp if it was made in the gold ole USA ? it is a shame as I think they could have made the tools here and touted their brand, not to mention create or save some jobs.


Umm...that was 8 years ago! And it's an issue which they've long-since corrected (posting a generic "Craftman USA" sign over all of the tools, regardless of C.O.O.).

All of their tools are clearly labeled, and they have more U.S. made tools than any other brick and mortar store I've seen, so I think the outrage is a bit misplaced.
 
I have been following this Sear debacle for quite some time. I have now come to the conclusion that it may be best to just let them go. Their problems run much deeper than Craftsman. Their demise among other things can be attributed to poor management. They have become an outdated retailer. Their problems are too numerous for me to list. I say relieve the pain and go under. If you like Craftsman tools I thing someone else would pick them up and sell them.
 
Originally Posted By: 65convertible
I have been following this Sear debacle for quite some time. I have now come to the conclusion that it may be best to just let them go. Their problems run much deeper than Craftsman.


Yeah, I totally agree with that one. Walking through the store it's like a neutron bomb when off or something. Personally, I do think the Craftsman brand has some value, and that'll continue as long as they make a significant portion of stuff in the U.S. But selling that stuff through Sears? That's going the way of the dodo.

Of course, the most likely scenario is that someone will buy the name, make all of the stuff in China, and that name will die off after 3-5 years of profiteering.
 
It's refreshing to read the concern and attention to al this that people have. There are so many apologists for china and third world garbage that it makes me sad.
 
Originally Posted By: Tdbo


Everyone wants to make at least $30 an hour and buy a "Made in USA" socket set for $10 or $15. The economics of that scenario do not jibe.


Pretty much says it all regarding much of our retail merchandise. Of course the other option is for everyone to make $50 an hour to afford all U.S. made products. As if that will work.
 
Originally Posted By: 65convertible
I have been following this Sear debacle for quite some time. I have now come to the conclusion that it may be best to just let them go. Their problems run much deeper than Craftsman. Their demise among other things can be attributed to poor management. They have become an outdated retailer. Their problems are too numerous for me to list. I say relieve the pain and go under. If you like Craftsman tools I thing someone else would pick them up and sell them.


There is some truth to that, however I would like to see Sears survive. What I find ironic (in both this and other forums I frequent) is that people get down on them for adopting the "WalMart" model after getting their rears kicked year after year in the marketplace, however many of those same people go to Walmart and buy their wares because they are so much cheaper.

What Sears needs to do IMO is dump their softgood and electronic lines and focus on hardgoods. They need to get rid of the properties they own, reduce the size of their stores, and reinvent themselves.

Sears has two things working for them and they are both names: Craftsman and Kenmore. Sears doesn't make anything, they created a persona of value through products that they contracted and affixed those names to. IMO, they are tried to accomplish a down grade line with the "evolv" line and establish Craftsman as a "Made in USA" line. Problem is that they did not clearly communicate this delineation to customers, and now they are so far down the toilet that they are now merely trying to survive (that's how come you see more and more non USA craftsman products.)

If Sears is still in business in 18 months, I will be surprised. It will be sad to see them go.
 
Originally Posted By: Tdbo
What I find ironic (in both this and other forums I frequent) is that people get down on them for adopting the "WalMart" model after getting their rears kicked year after year in the marketplace, however many of those same people go to Walmart and buy their wares because they are so much cheaper.


I shop at Walmart to buy can cans of soup for a $1.50 each, but then I go to my
local industrial supply store to buy Proto tools. Not your typical Sears customer.
grin2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: jcwit
Originally Posted By: Tdbo


Everyone wants to make at least $30 an hour and buy a "Made in USA" socket set for $10 or $15. The economics of that scenario do not jibe.


Pretty much says it all regarding much of our retail merchandise. Of course the other option is for everyone to make $50 an hour to afford all U.S. made products. As if that will work.


I think you missed his point. I know plenty of mechanics that don't make $30/hour yet manage to have 10K worth of Snap-On tools because their tools are their livelihood and they would be foolish to rely on junk. And these people get by OK, driving newer vehicles, living in decent homes.... They certainly aren't starving by any stretch of the imagination.

People want everything for nothing and are unwilling to step up and spend the extra few bucks on American products. They want to make a fortune doing nothing, whilst being able to buy "American" tools for a cost that wouldn't sustain the wages necessary to facilitate it.

You can buy Armstrong for less than half of what a Snap-On ratchet costs, but it is still more money than the Chinese junk from Ace, Home Despot or Hazard Freight, and since everybody seems to shop with the ultimate decider being price, they will buy the Chinese ratchet and then wine about the loss of American jobs and why they can't buy American products.... it is a self-fulfilling prophecy that nobody wants to admit they are a part of.
 
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: jcwit
Originally Posted By: Tdbo


Everyone wants to make at least $30 an hour and buy a "Made in USA" socket set for $10 or $15. The economics of that scenario do not jibe.


Pretty much says it all regarding much of our retail merchandise. Of course the other option is for everyone to make $50 an hour to afford all U.S. made products. As if that will work.


I think you missed his point. I know plenty of mechanics that don't make $30/hour yet manage to have 10K worth of Snap-On tools because their tools are their livelihood and they would be foolish to rely on junk. And these people get by OK, driving newer vehicles, living in decent homes.... They certainly aren't starving by any stretch of the imagination.

People want everything for nothing and are unwilling to step up and spend the extra few bucks on American products. They want to make a fortune doing nothing, whilst being able to buy "American" tools for a cost that wouldn't sustain the wages necessary to facilitate it.

You can buy Armstrong for less than half of what a Snap-On ratchet costs, but it is still more money than the Chinese junk from Ace, Home Despot or Hazard Freight, and since everybody seems to shop with the ultimate decider being price, they will buy the Chinese ratchet and then wine about the loss of American jobs and why they can't buy American products.... it is a self-fulfilling prophecy that nobody wants to admit they are a part of.


Well he states "everyone" not "every mechanic" wants to make $30 an hour.

The mechanic I go to makes more than $30 an hour.
 
Originally Posted By: jcwit
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: jcwit
Originally Posted By: Tdbo


Everyone wants to make at least $30 an hour and buy a "Made in USA" socket set for $10 or $15. The economics of that scenario do not jibe.


Pretty much says it all regarding much of our retail merchandise. Of course the other option is for everyone to make $50 an hour to afford all U.S. made products. As if that will work.


I think you missed his point. I know plenty of mechanics that don't make $30/hour yet manage to have 10K worth of Snap-On tools because their tools are their livelihood and they would be foolish to rely on junk. And these people get by OK, driving newer vehicles, living in decent homes.... They certainly aren't starving by any stretch of the imagination.

People want everything for nothing and are unwilling to step up and spend the extra few bucks on American products. They want to make a fortune doing nothing, whilst being able to buy "American" tools for a cost that wouldn't sustain the wages necessary to facilitate it.

You can buy Armstrong for less than half of what a Snap-On ratchet costs, but it is still more money than the Chinese junk from Ace, Home Despot or Hazard Freight, and since everybody seems to shop with the ultimate decider being price, they will buy the Chinese ratchet and then wine about the loss of American jobs and why they can't buy American products.... it is a self-fulfilling prophecy that nobody wants to admit they are a part of.


Well he states "everyone" not "every mechanic" wants to make $30 an hour.

The mechanic I go to makes more than $30 an hour.


Are you intentionally being obtuse?

I think I made my point pretty clear. Everybody wants a well paying job, whilst paying next to nothing for "quality" goods "made in the USA". The economies of scale of that proposition simply do not work.
 
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