So I dropped into my local Lowes tonight to look for some close out or sale priced laminate flooring. I need about 200 SF for the shop remodel. .. All that went fine but on my way out I couldn't help but notice the store has basically thrown in the towel on the Kobalt brand hand tools. The store was piled high with Craftsman brand boxes, hand tools and other craftsman accessories. I know there is another thread about this here somewhere as well. But here in my area..I think Kobalt will be gone once the current stock is sold off.
Stopped into Lowes tonight
- Thread starter Tomtint
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shovelmike
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A friend of mine works at Lowe's, he called me one evening, " They're discontinuing Task Force tools, you can buy the drill, sabre saw, and sander for $20 in a nice canvas bag, do you want me to save one for you?" YES INDEED, I headed right up there to the store...the bag alone would cost that!
Industrial Toys
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When I volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, (Restore) it was an eye opener as to how little this consumer stuff is actually worth (landed cost), having got much of their stuff from Home Depot, returns, and discontinued stuff.
teejk
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Sears sold the Craftsman trademark to Stanley. Craftsman has much greater brand recognition than Kobalt.
3Ts
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When I built our cabin, I shopped at Restore but found that their prices are the same as the big box stores and their inventory varies so it wasn't worth the one hour trip each way to see if they had what I needed.
cdaigle430
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cdaigle430
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I dont like the new Craftsmen brand name-but then again they are all going to the dogs. i am a Milwaukee person for the most part but even that brand name isnt like it used to be. its all about marketing now-some are just gimmicks. The Milwaukee M18 actually does hold up to its name but some of the tools are flaky like my Milwaukee M18 Hammer drill-have had it in the shop three times cause the trigger works intermittently. I am a moderate user but now I must pay out of pocket because its 6 years old.
I wonder if its better to just buy a new kit every 6 to 7 years instead of paying the 170 dollar repair charge each time?
I wonder if its better to just buy a new kit every 6 to 7 years instead of paying the 170 dollar repair charge each time?
5030
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Problem is, the 'Cracksman' stuff is most all Chinese. If I want Chinese, I go to HF, it's less expensive. In fact, HF is directly across the road from out local Lowes.
5030
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I noticed that as well. Looks like Menards isn't selling a lot if their tool boxes any more. I'd say HF and their US general boxes are eating into everyone else's business.
If it says 'Kracksman' on it, I don't want it.
I started collecting a good number of tools as a teenager, most but not all were Craftsman. .. A few years back they were all stolen and I began the process of replacing a 35 year collection. .. It was more expensive than I remember it being.. The Craftsman tools I had served me well and I had no real complaints other than a few broken sockets and ratchets now and then.. All which were replaced at the local Sears itch no hassle. ...but at the time I needed to rebuild my tool supply..Sears was closing stores daily and mine was early in the lock down. I ended up buying a lot of Kobalt brand and some Husky pieces that were not available at Lowes. .. Now it appears that should a Kobalt tool fail, I may have a hard time replacing it with the same.
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Compared to my Pittsburgh and Stanley wrenches and ratchets, my standard Craftsman mechanics tools seem clunky to me.
Lowes has what I call a premium line of Craftsman wrenches that 'look' as comfortable to hold as the Stanley and Pittsburgh. I have never owned one.
Lowes has what I call a premium line of Craftsman wrenches that 'look' as comfortable to hold as the Stanley and Pittsburgh. I have never owned one.
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EddieWalker
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I haven't bought anything Craftsman in a very long time. I go through a couple of steel tapes a year and I like to have three of four of them in my truck, so when one breaks on my, I like to buy another one right away. Milwaukee seems to be about the best that I've found right now, but I was at Lowes and was going to get whatever seemed like the best one that they had. Everything was junk except the Craftsman tapes seemed decent, so I bought a two pack. One stays out until you push the button, the other one you have to move the locking thing to keep it out. The one that stays out until you push the button works some of the time, but not always, and it's proven to be so unreliable that I rarely use it after just a few months because there is no way to keep it out while using it. I do like the black and while labeling on the tape, but hate how poorly it works. I doubt that I'll waste my money on anything else Craftsman.
5030
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I seem to find them (tapes) at garage sales really cheap. Don't mind paying 50 cents for a used one.
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
Craftsman ie stanley tools, is opening a new factory in Texas. Soon the tools will be usa made again. I bought a great craftsman set for next to nothing when local sears closed. Personally I have not had any issues with them going on nearly 3 years, and I use them a lot.
5030
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Sure it's not just a distribution center? I find it hard to believe, even with the Trump tariff on Chinese imports, that they can be made domestically and compete. Kracksman from what I see, is 100% offshore made. I have older Craftsman / Seats tools that are excellent. All the new stuff I've seen is junk. Even HF junk is better and the good HF stuff is light years better.
^^^^^
I’ve heard the same thing, and according to this WSJ article they plan to increase their USA production.Stanley to Make More Craftsman Tools in U.S. - WSJ
I’ve heard the same thing, and according to this WSJ article they plan to increase their USA production.Stanley to Make More Craftsman Tools in U.S. - WSJ
Oaktree
Super Member
I'm sure that was the reasoning behind "bringing back" the brand, and I agree that many of us old timers associate it with being a quality brand but how does that translate to younger generations? Does it have a good image in their eyes? After all, it's not 70 year old guys who are buying a lot of tools anymore.
Oaktree
Super Member
I was at our local Lowe's today and I didn't see any evidence they were discontinuing any of their previous brand tools. No clearance table or anything. Craftsman and Kobalt seemed to have roughly equal display space.
Was sort of hoping to get a deal similar to what you got, but maybe they were all gone.
