Craftsman Tools "proudly made in china"

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toolmanmike said:
I am as disgusted as you all are. Mac has a lot of American made products still. Moat of our hard line tools are made here. Our forging plant is in Dallas and our tool boxes are made in Georgetown, Ohio. We do have many tools made in China, some made in Taiwan, and a few made in Japan. Most of the imports are soft line items (non forged) and might include things like stamped steel tools, specialty tools, plastic tools and the like and many of those are from some other company and not a Mac or Stanley owned company. Our patent laws don't stop companies from copying a American made product and importing it here. Besides, it is all a numbers game to them, profits for the stockholders and upper management. If you own a old Mac, Snap On, Craftsman or made in USA tool treat it with respect and don't abuse or misuse it because if you brake it the replacement might just be made somewhere else.
tmm
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I bought a set of Snapon 3/8 drive impact wiggles about 3 years
Ago. Stamped made in USA. Forman looked at them and laughed
Shows me the old style that's smaller and rebuild able.
So now they replace instead of fix.
After about 6 months they wore and drop off the gun or extension.
I am told if they wear out no replacement. Only if broken.
What a joke
 
TheOnlypyeman said:
I bought a set of Snapon 3/8 drive impact wiggles about 3 years
Ago. Stamped made in USA. Forman looked at them and laughed
Shows me the old style that's smaller and rebuild able.
So now they replace instead of fix.
After about 6 months they wore and drop off the gun or extension.
I am told if they wear out no replacement. Only if broken.
What a joke
Click to expand...

I would be working on breaking them as soon as possible.
 
The list of MIA is much shorter than what's made in China and gets worse everyday. I worked at Lowes when the original line of Kobalt tools were being clearanced out. These were made by JH Williams in the USA (Snap On Division). The foreign line they have now has a good warranty but not as good the previous tools...

I try to buy American but it is almost impossible anymore. I do search the Craigslist for older tools. Craigslist can be full of treasures...
 
the craftsman ratchets are really the only tool from sears i have had problems with and when someone who is almost 4' 10" and right at 100lbs can break a ratchet i think they have problems because i only have a fraction of the strength most of you guys have. The 1/4 inch ratchets are really a joke and the 3/8 last a little but eventually start skipping...the only 1/2 ratchet i broke is because i was using a cheater bar and jumped on it, so that was my fault for being an idiot......

other than that i cant say i have ever had any major problems with anything else from sears and you guys that know me, know that i use my tools a lot....like everyday
 
TheOnlypyeman said:
I bought a set of Snapon 3/8 drive impact wiggles about 3 years
Ago. Stamped made in USA. Forman looked at them and laughed
Shows me the old style that's smaller and rebuild able.
So now they replace instead of fix.
After about 6 months they wore and drop off the gun or extension.
I am told if they wear out no replacement. Only if broken.
What a joke
Click to expand...

We have switched to that style too. I don't think they are as strong as the old rebuildable ones but they have to be a bunch cheaper to build and they are a lot less hassle for me on the truck. The old ones could be a pain to rebuild. Most of the universal sockets are misused and that's why they break. I'm suprised they are warranteed at all. That's why they cost so much. LOL
 
We own China just as much as they own us. Without us buying all their cheap crap they wouldn't have anyone to sell to. North America is their main purchaser. So my advice to everyone is, try as much as possible to boycott buying chinese stuff. If you look around their is a lot of stuff made in USA/ Canada. It costs more yes, but just try to think of the good you will be doing us all.
 
Mopar367 said:
We own China just as much as they own us. Without us buying all their cheap crap they wouldn't have anyone to sell to. North America is their main purchaser. So my advice to everyone is, try as much as possible to boycott buying chinese stuff. If you look around their is a lot of stuff made in USA/ Canada. It costs more yes, but just try to think of the good you will be doing us all.
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We buy from them because they buy grain from us. We borrow money from them and promise grain in return. It's all politics. lol
 
TheOnlypyeman said:
I have a snap-on screw gun. Made in China. 3 years
Old in professional use and going strong.
Not like my made in USimpact wiggles.
Worn out so not broken. Got warranty after 3 months
By bitching but now. Nothing.
Quality is going downhill.
Got a new rep and he swore no Snapon made in China.
Won't talk to me anymore.lol. Or look at the china stamp.
"Been selling Snapon for 20 yeArs and nothing is made in China"
What a tool(man)..

But I love my screwgun.
Also found out no warrenty on Snapon
Drill bits. But Mac does ?
Click to expand...
snap on used to warranty bits 10 years ago they stopped me and too guy got in fight over it paid over 400 for a set but he would exchange no questions:argue: first it was all bits warrantied then 1/4 up then none. I paid 400 for drill bit because of the warranty Irwin bits are just as good but snap on offed lifetime warranty now no warranty :finga:
 
I used to work at a company that made chicken cages
about 10 years ago they had a facility in Kentucky that used American made wire on coils and welded them up into mesh
then those mesh panels would be cut or notched and formed to make the sections that later became the chicken cage
(keep in mine we are talking battery style cages here)

at some point someone crunched the numbers and decided it was cheaper ship the machines to Malaysia, ship in wire from Germany and make the product in Malaysia and then ship it to the customer in the US rather then keep the production in Kentucky
something tells me they were not making 14 bucks an hour in Malaysia
 
Yea. When ever possible:

Buy Used.

Support your local or semi-local American folks directly by buying stuff they want to sell that you need.

F those foreign sources of cheaply made anything. F cheaply made anything, where ever it came from.

I buy plenty of used gear when ever possible. New shi# is over priced, overrated and is less valuable than its predecessor version.

I say lets all stop buying anything new period. F it.

It's mostly junk that becomes obsolete or breaks in less than 3 years anyway.

Plenty of modern cars, electronics and other new stuff ive seen lately has a multitude of failures, bugs and glitches and then simply dies a year after the warranty expires. J.U.N.K.

We have been trained to accept that all modern stuff has bugs, failures, warranty re=dos and is junk in 5 years. We are deluded into accepting junk plastic shi# and paying premium dollar all day long.

I have seen a 3000 dollar refrigerator totally fn fail in all imaginable directions after 1 year of operation and the thing is so heavy that sending it back to the factory would cost more than simply blowing it up with dynamite.

I have an electrolux vacuum cleaner and power wand and a monster food processor from 68 that still works out-fn-standing. Wonder why that is..

"We better get used to made in China now. Before long were gonna have to speak Chinese as they own is..."

I'll speak ratatatat prior to that option and i dont mean the music version.
 
I wouldn't wait for China to "implode" any time soon.

They are going through what US and western Europe went through in the 1880's to 1950's but with MUCH better technology, and communication, plus the benefit of those who have gone before, and those in the western world who are all to eager to help them for a fee.

Before they implode, they get to create a relatively wealthy middle class, and feed their own ever increasing demand for material goods. Then they get to try to find a less developed country to outsource their own manufacturing to.

Prices may go up when we start competing with their domestic market, for their locally made goods.


Made in Turkmenistan???

Remember when you could find that good "made in China" stuff???
 
Buy used USA tools at flea markets,yard sales and auctions. They may not look as fancy but work just as well. So my socket strings are not pretty . But I work less for more profit. Not just to pay for my tools. The less we buy from other countries the less the politicians get in kick backs.

Our governments are being controlled by foreign countries. The sooner you all realize that the faster we can change the control of where we live. You all complain about foreign tools but what do most of your family members drive.

My families main transportation are Omni's. 7 total on the road between sisters and kin. And I have a small fleet for parts. Just trying to do my part. 38 miles to the gallon.
 
Rice Nuker said:
Yea. When ever possible:

Buy Used.

Support your local or semi-local American folks directly by buying stuff they want to sell that you need.

F those foreign sources of cheaply made anything. F cheaply made anything, where ever it came from.

I buy plenty of used gear when ever possible. New shi# is over priced, overrated and is less valuable than its predecessor version.

I say lets all stop buying anything new period. F it.

It's mostly junk that becomes obsolete or breaks in less than 3 years anyway.

Plenty of modern cars, electronics and other new stuff ive seen lately has a multitude of failures, bugs and glitches and then simply dies a year after the warranty expires. J.U.N.K.

We have been trained to accept that all modern stuff has bugs, failures, warranty re=dos and is junk in 5 years. We are deluded into accepting junk plastic shi# and paying premium dollar all day long.

I have seen a 3000 dollar refrigerator totally fn fail in all imaginable directions after 1 year of operation and the thing is so heavy that sending it back to the factory would cost more than simply blowing it up with dynamite.

I have an Electrolux vacuum cleaner and power wand and a monster food processor from 68 that still works out-fn-standing. Wonder why that is..

"We better get used to made in China now. Before long were gonna have to speak Chinese as they own is..."

I'll speak ratatatat prior to that option and i don't mean the music version.
Click to expand...

It's all about planned obsolescence. If a company produces a product that lasts forever you will never have a need to buy another one.
 
YY1 said:
I wouldn't wait for China to "implode" any time soon.

They are going through what US and western Europe went through in the 1880's to 1950's but with MUCH better technology, and communication, plus the benefit of those who have gone before, and those in the western world who are all to eager to help them for a fee.

Before they implode, they get to create a relatively wealthy middle class, and feed their own ever increasing demand for material goods. Then they get to try to find a less developed country to outsource their own manufacturing to.

Prices may go up when we start competing with their domestic market, for their locally made goods.


Made in Turkmenistan???

Remember when you could find that good "made in China" stuff???
Click to expand...

You're forgetting that their prosperity is primarily based on providing the world with cheap labor. If that ends due to some kind of revolution/uprising/major cultural change, then IMO they won't get a chance to "create a relatively wealthy middle class"...my guess is they would either fracture into several different countries or fight a very long and bloody civil war.
 
I actually did address that.
 
YY1 said:
I actually did address that.
Click to expand...

Not to my satisfaction, hence my reply.

YY1 said:
They are going through what US and western Europe went through in the 1880's to 1950's but with MUCH better technology, and communication, plus the benefit of those who have gone before, and those in the western world who are all to eager to help them for a fee.
Click to expand...

The technology and communication won't change the situation if there's an uprising.

And I don't think any western country will want step into the middle of a Chinese civil war.


Getting ready to go to work, don't have time for a long reply at this time...but basically: Human nature doesn't change...pissed off people will eventually rebel.
 
Folks, for many years after World War II "made in Japan" meant JUNK. Not so now. Then the same was true of "made in Taiwan" - not so now. These days "made in China" is widely thought to mean JUNK and a lot of it IS!!

China is big in manufacturing right now, India is big in Information Technology. India has millions of well educated people, China has millions of UNeducated people who can do simple manufacturing tasks. However, as far as I know, the world doesn't have any more large populations of uneducated folks to pass on the low tech parts of manufacturing to.

Another factor in China's favor is their socialist government that is largely controlled by their military. At least that's how I see it. What to do about it? Shop carefully and don't always buy the cheapest stuff. Hang on to your old tools and don't hesitate to return broken stuff to the "Everything made in China store". That's all I have to offer.

BC
 
This is why I say "F-it" if I have to buy something made in china, I will go to Harbor Freight and buy there - they are waaay cheaper than china craftsman tools.
Example - there is a welding cart that Summit sells for around $90, HF has the EXACT same cart (both made in china) for $35.
 
Channellock tools are still made in USA. I have a mechanics tool set made by them and it is good quality. I also have Craftsman hand tools from the 70's that I like better but I will support Channellock by buying as much as I can. I have bought several pliers from them that are excellent quality.
 
i got a set of german steel kitchen knives.

sure 'nuff in little tiny letters on the flip side:
made
in
china
 
I was at a Sears furiture store years ago looking at a coffee table. The salesman came over and said it is a top quality table made in the USA. As I inspect it a bit more to see how it is put toghther I look underneth and in big black letters it said Product of Indonesia.
I point it out to the sales guy and his answer was...."as long as it is assembled in the U.S they can say it was made there".
So all they do it put the legs on....really...thanks...I will pass...anything built in North America for sale here!!!!
Ended up building my own..at least I knew where the wood came from...LOL
AL
 
Buy used. Half the price. Same warranty. I got a set of protos and s-k at auction that are 30 years old but brand new.
 
I worked at Sears in the 90's back then Sears was starting to have some of their tool made in China.
 
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