End of the KOBALT Brand

[Ritothebull]

With all this corporate consolidation and global outsourcing I've given up trying to keep track of who's making what where, fortunately I was able to accumulate most of the tools I will probably ever need while we were still making them here in America.

 

[EddieWalker]

Not happy about this, but most of my issues with Craftsman where from dealing with Sears, and finally just refusing to shop there anymore. Maybe Lowes will handle things better. I've never had a Kobalt tool fail on me, but all my Craftsman ratchets did and they refused to replace them because I didn't have my receipt. I only wasted my time trying to get it replaced once, so maybe it was just that, but after that, I just threw them away when they stopped working and bought other brands, including Kobalt.

 

[hawkeye08]

When I break Craftsman tools, I send my wife in to get replacement. She has much better luck than I do. I bought alot of Craftsman when I worked at Sears in late 70s/early 80s. I could not afford the Snap On that some of the folks had in the shop. I'm not impressed with the Kobalt locking pliers I got for Christmas..

 

[Gary Fowler]

I recently bought a Kobalt compressor. It is super quiet. You can work right by it with absolutely no discomfort which is my reason for buying it. I sure hope they don't do away with the Kobalt brand, I have had no problems with their tools other than a pair of semi-self adjusting vice grip type pliers that don't do very well at gripping. Maybe I just don't know how to work them properly.

 

[/pine]

I know many folks like lowes but it hardly ever fails that I end up going to HD after not being able to get everything I usually need at lowes...
The only kobalt tool I have is a pair of slip joint pliers I bought in a pinch NPI (they did not have Channellock brand)...worst piece of crap in my tool box...never bought another kobalt tool again...

 

[Thomas]

Wonder if this has something to do why #48 Jimmie Johnson lost his sponsorship w/Lowes.

 

[MossRoad]

Sears has never asked me for a receipt for a broken Craftsman tool. I've broken a few ratchets and some sockets. The sockets were just replaced outright with no questions asked. The first couple ratchets were also replaced. The last one was replaced with another Craftsman ratchet, but of a different design, but still with the same warranty.

 

[TractorNH]

Wonder if we'll be able to walk into Lowes with a broken or unsatisfactory Craftsman tool and walk out with a new one. It was never a "if it breaks" warranty like other brands, it was a "Guaranteed Forever Satisfaction" guarantee.

From the Craftsman website: "If this Craftsman (or Craftsman Industrial) hand tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction, it will be repaired or replaced free of charge."

I remember one time trying to exchange a ratchet and they tried to sell me a repair kit for $0.99. I said no, I want a new one. I won't be satisfied with one I need to repair myself. They gave me the new one.

 

[treefarmerguy]

Sears has never asked me for a receipt for a broken Craftsman tool. I've broken a few ratchets and some sockets. The sockets were just replaced outright with no questions asked. The first couple ratchets were also replaced. The last one was replaced with another Craftsman ratchet, but of a different design, but still with the same warranty.

I had to return a Sears tape measure I bought about 50 years ago as it would not lock in the open position. The sales person said that Sears does not guarantee them any more. I replied that when I bought it, it was guaranteed for life! The manager came over and said that particular model was not made any more but agreed to give me a the closest B+D in length. I went away with a longer tape and a smile that I beat them!

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I used to buy Kobolt tools when they were made in the USA, I didn’t see much difference in quality over craftsman at the time and they were much cheaper.

I noticed kobolt started stamping Twain on their tools so I moved to Husky which was now made in USA when they were Chinese made.

Now if the new craftsman tools aren’t made in the USA, I will have no interest and continue to buy Husky tools.

Lifetime warranty is a lifetime warranty, I just buy ones that are made in the USA, even if they are lower quality and break, who cares I just exchange it for a new one.

If they are stamped USA and competitive on price I’ll buy Craftsman tools again.