Craftsman at Lowes?

[cody6268]

Though I'd never see the day when I found Craftsman stuff at Lowe's.  I guess their stuff will be everywhere now that Black and Decker owns the brand. But I'm sure little of it will be Proto made, let alone even made in the USA. And probably not even what was US made when my Sears was still around.

Four years after the Sears left, and two after the Kmart, I noticed Lowe's was making a big deal about them now selling Craftsman tools when I went there this morning to buy a water filter.  Looked at a socket set and a set of wrenches, both Chinese made (but looked identical to the USA ones). Some tool chests were USA, but seemed awfully thin metal compared to Granddad's.  Granddad's Craftsman tools are almost exclusively USA, and have lasted for four decades with abuse. A mine supply place closer than the Lowe's has Klein and Proto, as well as Urrea (some European brand).   However, a lot of it they'll have to special order.   I'll just be sure to look for USA Craftsman stuff on my flea market trips.

[EVILDR235]

Urrea in a brand from Mexico. Use to be called Protomex. Mr.Urrea bought Protomex from Proto and used his name for the new name of the company. I have some Urrea tools and they are well made. Some are the same design as Proto. I have several Urrea pear head ratchets and the parts interchange with Proto. Urrea has a online catalog. Some of their tools are made overseas.


EvilDr235

[Bill Houghton]

Ace Hardware has carried Craftsman for some years.  My local Ace still honors the old Craftsman warranty - bring in a broken hand tool, get it replaced - which the local Sears store will not.  Sears wants to see the receipt, and will honor it only at the store you bought it from.  Good thing my Ace hardware store is closer than the Sears - no need to drive ten miles to get a replacement Craftsman tool...

[p_toad]

All of our local sears stores have closed - most simply disappearing without a note.   Last time I was in a sears hardware store i walked around the store picking up any kind of tool i could readily lay my hands on.   Anything with the sears or craftsman name was made overseas; nothing, not one thing had made in the USA on it.   I found one jigsaw blade made in the US.   

[mvwcnews]

Not enough are willing to pay for quality so cheap wins.

You should go back & read the late 19th / early 20th Century hardware trade journals & see the  complaints from hardware store merchants  about unfair competition from mail order ( cheap parcel post was a major bug-a-boo for many of them ) etc. 

My employer's hardware "house brand" is Hyper Tough & I suspect its mostly hype.