(Sears) Craftsman has come out with several new tool storage products, including new “SHD” tool chests. A few seconds with Google turned up that the same products are being sold under International branding at significantly lower pricing.
The SHD (super heavy duty?) chests caught my attention. Actually, several things caught my attention.
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First, there’s a unique-looking top lid handle, and I don’t recall seeing anything like it before. Second, there is an “integrated latch system” that looks like Craftsman’s GripLatch drawer retention system.
Third, one of the product images shows a “made in Canada” sticker.
Features include 120 lb drawer slides, reinforced corners, and heavy duty gas struts for the lid. This 35″ 5-drawer top chest is currently priced at $1600, plus a $140 oversized shipping charge.
Buy Now(via Sears)
Made in Canada? A quick search turns up that International is selling this under their own branding as well, for $883-$920 at Home Depot. The black is least expensive, and blue the most.
There are also matching bottom cabinets for $1086-$1154.
Buy Now(Top Chest via Home Depot)
Buy Now(Cabinet via Home Depot)
Maybe Sears’ price will come down at some point? If not, are they basically slapping a Craftsman label on the boxes and increasing the price by 60%? Why buy the Craftsman version for $600-$700 MORE?
I am not inclined to buy anything from Sears anymore, due to recent poor experiences with their customer service. Maybe you’ll have better luck? The SHD chests caught my attention, but they’re available at other retailers under the OEM’s own branding for a LOT less money.
Why mention Sears at all? Mostly because I wouldn’t have learned of the International SHD series if not for the new Craftsman listings.
But also, I wonder if the new chests’ integrated latch system infringes on the Waterloo-made GripLatch design featured by many past and current Craftsman tool storage chests and cabinets. Or has Waterloo or Craftsman’s protections (wasn’t it patented?) expired? Was it licensed to International? I don’t recall seeing other brands with any similar latching system.
I find it curious that Craftsman is selling tool chests with similar/adapted/licensed? technologies. Does this say anything about their Waterloo relationship? Or am I thinking too much of things? Sears has had a number of issues with some tool suppliers in recent months, and so it’s not unexpected for me to think about these things.
See Also:
Craftsman Pro Series Tool Storage with Smartphone Locks REVIEW
(Do you see the similarities between GripLatch and “integrated latch system” functionality?)
Jim Felt says
Love the idea that they’re likely Made in Canada. Nice find.
Stuart, does it appear to you that the drawers themselves have at least 2+ inches remaining uncovered at full extension?
This kind of thing has always bugged me.
Grrrr.
Stuart says
They’re said to be full-extension drawer slides. If they appear otherwise, I’d probably chalk it up to how the product was set up for photography.
Tom says
Sears has been selling Craftsman boxes made by International for years. You could always tell them from the Waterloo one based on the handle design.
I would say that you should expect the Sears models to be discounted by around 50% at least once or twice a year.
Here’s an example of another International-made box:
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-42inch-11-drawer-diy-ball-bearing-slides/p-00928239000P?plpSellerId=Sears&prdNo=33&blockNo=33&blockType=G33
Stuart says
Yes. But like these?
I believe Dewalt’s higher end boxes, workbench, and cart are also made by International. https://toolguyd.com/dewalt-ball-bearing-tool-storage-2016/
Toolfreak says
Maybe not these exact boxes, but yeah, the International boxes with Craftsman logos stuck on there have been on the site for quite awhile now.
They do tend to go on “sale” now and then, but the pricing still seems kinda out there for what you get, especially since, as you pointed out, you can just get the manufacturer branded stuff.
Seems like a lot of the boxes aren’t so great quality-wise for the price, which is probably why it’s not a big seller and more hasn’t been made of it.
Tom says
Yes, I’ve never seen any real great discounts on the International-based boxes on Sears.com. I did see one box in a store once. It must have been ordered online and returned to the store. It actually seemed like a pretty good product.
I wonder whether these were really meant for Canadian distribution. The International-based boxes always seemed to overlap with the regular Craftsman stuff.
To answer Stuart’s question though, the boxes in your post appear to be new.
Chris says
Why are Tools chests so pricey? Even the small harbor freight ones are a couple hundred dollars. I know about manufacturing,( stamping the sheet metal, installing slide bearings, painting, etc) but it’s still basically a box with drawers. And an costly box with drawers.
pencil neck says
Shipping cost? They are bulky and heavy, so that jacks the cost up real fast.
Toolfreak says
The biggest expense is usually the slides, quality ones are usually stainless with stainless bearings in them, so you’re talking $20-25 per slide, two slides per drawer, that adds up fast if you want a chest with plenty of storage.
The better constructed boxes also have a lot of bends in the metal for strength and rigidity, meaning a more complex manufacturing process, and more metal used to make the box. Even better if it’s heavier gauge sheet metal.
Overall you get what you pay for when it comes to boxes if you shop around. The cheap boxes are cheaply constructed and the boxes will flex and warp, the drawers and slides will sag and break, and you’ll be left with an unusable pile of scrap. Spend a little more and you can get something that will last more than a lifetime.
RC WARD says
This is the only place I go that talks about Sears so much, wonder why? It’s a dinosaur that is failing fast.
pencil neck says
Patented Posi-Latch® latching system by Waterloo Industries. I’ve purchased the PCA-461224RD for $700 shipped back in 2001 when I worked at a dealership.
http://www.waterlooindustries.com/product/PCA-461224RD
Looks like the same type of latching system. I like it… never broke like all of my co worker’s Snap-On plastic latch system. Still using the box today.
Alex says
I believe this latch mechanism has been used by International for some time. As a Canadian, I’ve been looking into getting an International box, and the SHD series has been around for a little while at least. I believe Canadian Tire also sells foreign made toolboxes in Canada with similar latches, I never thought they were exclusive to any one brand.
The yeti says
So being a Canadian I had to check out the international boxes . Wow some of the boxes look really nice . Good find Stuart
PhilnTX says
The top handle reminds me of the oven handle of a Kenmore range.
Stuart says
Now that you mention it, I see it too! Or a grill!
Lynyrd says
SPG International has been listed on Sears.com for a few years now. International also made Craftsman’s former Premium Boxes. What is new, is the Craftsman nameplate being placed on International’s SHD line.
International makes boxes for many retailers (Lowes and Home Depot) and supposive manufacturers.
Griplatch is licensed by Waterloo, SPG International, among others.
shatch says
I had a griplatch chest from years ago, and prefer it over some boxes with heavy detents on the drawers (any way to adjust that out?) so I keep an eye out for it. Lowes had identical boxes to Craftsman Premium for all of a week. Snapped a photo and they disappeared from the stores and website. Appeared eerily identical but even cheaper in construction, perhaps International?
Hang Fire says
Other manufacturers don’t put a top handle on like that, because it’s too tempting to use it to try to move the box, and then pull it over.
Brian says
It was a Darwin design award winner.
Kevin says
Just for comparison, the 54 inch pro model from International looks just like the 54 inch SHD model from Sears, but the SHD Sears model has a listed weight that is double the weight of the International version. They may not be identical after all. If the Craftsman version is using heavier gauge steel and heavier duty slides then the higher cost makes sense.