Originally Posted By: PhilsSmallEngine
When Craftsman still sourced and sold USA made tools, they gave you the best value of price versus performance. Now, they charge the same as they would for USA tools and give us Chinese [censored] (the Taiwanese stuff is serviceable). Why would I pay 35% more for Craftsman tools when my local Harbor Freight has the same castings that Craftsman uses for dirt cheap?
I had in my store 3 different thin profile Craftsman 3/8" ratchets carrying the same model number. 1 made in USA, 1 made in Taiwan, 1 made in China. The USA one doesn't bind, grind, changes direction smoothly and was packed with grease right out of the box. The Taiwan model doesn't bind, grinds a bit after direction changes, changes directions smoothly most times and is packed with a very thin grease. The China model barely works, grinds heavily, doesn't change directions smoothly and was coated in used motor oil. I had to take that one apart, remove the metal shavings from production, clean the motor oil out and pack it with grease. It still doesn't work as well as the higher end Harbor Freight ones that cost $20 max. This model sells for $38 from Sears.
The fall from grace has been painful to watch. The higher ups still don't understand why they're flagging so badly. As for Kenmore products, they've always been rebrands of other makes. You can't blame Kenmore when it was actually made by Whirlpool. Now as far as the service goes, that is on Sears.
Yeah that's what I don't understand is they make them in china now and yet they still sell them for the same price, actually many things they increased in price.