I’ve had Craftsman’s 2008 Holiday Tool Preview catalog on my desk for a few months now, but have not quite found the right time to talk about it. Actually, I don’t think that there will ever be a good time to talk about it – it’s not exactly a simple or straightforward issue.
The thing that’s been nagging at me is a small blurb repeated on pages 19, 20, and 23: All Craftsman sockets and wrenches are proudly made in the USA.
Well, that’s no longer true. Currently, Craftsman’s DogBone wrenches, universal spline wrenches, and new ratcheting wrenches are NOT made in the USA. It does not look like the production of existing made-in-the-USA products will be shifted away from USA suppliers any time soon, but will this always be true? The possibility of this happening is what is really bothering me.
We’re currently reviewing some of the new Craftsman Professional (made in PRC) ratcheting wrench offerings. It’s too soon to talk about them in detail, but I can already tell that the reviews will be accompanied by a very lengthy editorial.
I am definitely looking forward to ToolGuyds review of the new Craftsman wrenches made over seas. As innovative as they are, I can’t bring myself to buy any of them. There is just something warm and fuzzy about seeing “Made In USA” on my tools.
I am interested in the outcome also, whatever happened?
I’ve always been a fan of Craftsman tools. I always check the package for the country of origin. I will only buy a Craftsman hand tool that is made in the USA. I hope they get back on track.
I think that more and more of the wrenches, sockets, and other hand tools are going to be made in China, not in the USA. It seems like a core piece of the Craftsman strategy going forward: 1. build the brand with a strong focus on the Innovations angle, 2. use Chinese and other offshore manufacturing to hit price points for non-pro customers (Harbor Freight and Lowes are Craftsmans real competitors, not truck tools), and 3. get the tools into non Sears locations like Amazon and Ace since foot traffic to Sears just isn’t what it used to be.
My family has been buying Craftsman hand tools exclusively for three generations.
I will buy NOTHING of theirs that is made in China.
People shop with their wallets. You can say that you will never buy a tool made in China but the realitiy is the price of American goods keeps going up, but endusers don’t want to pay for the “extras” that raise the price. Maybe a small few on tool blogs say they do, but the realality is most people don’t. Especially when alot of tools coming out of China have the same quality as the tools made in the States.
Also when one competitor lowers the price of their tool becuase the shipped it out of the states it forces alot of the other guys to lower the price and eventually they will have to ship it out to keep competititive and not get kicked out of the retailer.
I can images the Sears/Craftsman is starting to feel the pinch from everyone else and it’s business so they have keep up.
Someone screwed up big time by leaving this in the catalog. Didn’t they already get in big trouble for this? I guess I’m thinking about Stanley.
Either way, what a blatant thing to overlook. Come on Sears…
At the time, this was true…
I don’t care what you “economic experts” have to say. I’ll never buy a Craftsman tool made in China. It’s an insult.
I will never by a Craftsman or any other tool made in RED COMMUNIST China. I will buy Kobalt as long as they are made in the USA or buy used tools —USA made—from e-bay.
John, many Kobalt tools are also made in China or Taiwan.
Believe you me fellas, i am right there with you when it comes to made in usa tools. Though, not that I will purchase anymore of the new production line of craftsman, bastards… The new universal type wrenches and sockets are excellent. They work well, have better grip, you can torque, push and pull betta, and lets just admit it, its a badass design! I really wish these were made in usa or i’d replace all of my existing craftsman with these tools. Well so much for good ol usa, ebay here i come for vintage craftsman. ps, i am going to keep these new tools, put em to the test. i have had these new tools for about three months. i work on at least 30 cars a day, and i beat the living hell outta my tools. theyre pretty good so far, dumped and left overnight in gas, dirty oil, tranny fluid, gear oil, dirt, water, used on rusted, rounded tools. piggy backed em, dropped, thrown, and have pounded the hell out of this new set, outstanding, except, theyre not usa made, and they cant fit in tight places like our good ol usa’s!
The line has to be drawn, sure some/most people are jerks and will buy anything cheap without any thought into where it’s made…but those of us that do care, KNOW, that made in America means American jobs. If you really support American workers, BUY AMERICAN!!!!!!!! No matter what the cost, do without, save your money, do whatever you have to do but BUY AMERICAN!!! Educating yourself in what’s going on politically in America would be a plus also, people that do what’s best for the global economy instead of what’s good for America should be voted out of office… If Sears sells out you can bet your life I will never buy one of their RED COMMUNIST CHINA tools !!!!
Personally I buy used Snap-On tools on ebay for this very reason, to avoid sending my money to a RED COMMUNIST government. You can research the seller, you know Snap-on is American, etc… I have drawn the line in my life, the days of throwing my money around not knowing where it’s going are over…I will not support a RED COMMUNIST government’s efforts to build their military and destroy our way of life for anything!!!!!! I’m done, it’s over, it’s time to put AMERICA and AMERICANS FIRST!!!!!!!!
When it comes to quality in tools crafstman has always been there. Their warranty is by far the best and it is easy to get replacement tools (for now). The other tool manufactures that are used by the professional tradesman are going the way of not standing behind their tools, eg. Klien, Stanley. When Americans realize how good we have it with everything available including the best tools made in America, we won’t have it anymore because we wanted to save a buck and buy a Chinese made look alike! Stay the course and buy American made so that your kids will have a strong country to be as proud of as we have!!
ENOUGH with the nonsense of BUY AMERICAN tools or nothing at all.
How many of you clowns have a foreign made car and a houseful of Chinese crap? ALL of you do. Even your damn underwear is foreign made.
Your posturing is idiotic. You already sold out but are too chicken to face the fact
Dear Zed,
It is morons with the attitude like yours that are selling this country to china. It is true we all have foreign products in our lives. Honestly it cant be avoided. But some of us have pride and strive to buy American whenever we can. So if you dont really care then keep thinking the way you do.
I will NEVER buy Chinese Craftsman tools. My wife and I wont buy ANYTHING made in China, which means there are quite a few things we have to just do without unfortunately. On the good side – we are saving a lot of money and using it to buy GOLD.
I traveled across the border from Canada to the US to buy a Craftsman wrench, as all Sears sells in Canada are craftsman tools made in China. The wrench I bought in the states has stamped on it FORGED IN THE USA could someone tell me if this is some sort of word play, because I would like to know if it was made there as that was important to me.
Hi Floyd,
If the tool says “forged in USA,” then there is no doubt that it’s made in the USA.
Thank you Stuart
If craftsman is making tools in China then why buy them? I can get the same cheap crap at Harbor Freight for alot less and I am sure that is is made by the same foaks.
Product manufacturing will continue to move offshore as long as labor is dirt cheap and you can dump your waste in the drinking water outside the back door.
This is the new American way and the way of the world. Get rich quick over the bodies of others when the bodies get low just get some more.
Very sad but true.