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Recent trip to Sears was depressing

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wkilleffer

wkilleffer

Jedi Knight
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A couple of weeks ago, the GF was here for a visit, and after dinner asked if we could go to find her a velux-type blanket for her bed since cold weather was predicted for the following week. She suggested JCPenney, so off we went. That company has spent quite a bit of money freshening their stores, though it seems they gave the CEO responsible for that the boot cause his "no coupon" policy backfired. She didn't find quite what she was looking for, but I couldn't help but look around at how well stocked and staffed the store seemed. Was pretty busy, too.

I suggested Sears next, so we went there. She found an acceptable blanket and we went to the closest cash register. The store seemed half-dead, but the man behind the counter was working with a customer and suggested that we might want to go to a different register. I took us upstairs to the clothing department, and passed through tools on the way to the escalator. Couldn't help but look at all the Craftsman mechanic's sets with a bit of nostalgia with memories of my own first set of Craftsman wrenches 25 years ago. Nostalgia was shattered though when I noticed that every single set of Craftsman wrenches was stamped "Made In China." So, we were heading up the escalator while my mood was going down...

Arrival at a cash register upstairs didn't help, as they were quite occupied with a foreign family who appeared to be on the telephone with the main credit office. They also advised us to find another register. I suggested the jewelry area, since it stood to reason that they wouldn't leave it unattended. Well, I was wrong. No sign of anyone anywhere near. If I were less honest, the temptation to help myself to a Bulova Precisionist would have been too much to bear regardless of the risk that someone might have been watching through a security camera. By now, the GF's patience was at an end. She wrote down the sales number on the blanket and stated that she would just order it online, and we left.

Sears has been in some trouble for awhile, and after that experience, it's easy to question whether or not they're doing anything about it. Back in the day, Sears was one of the best. I got stereo equipment there over the years, my parents bought their Kenmore washers and dryers there, and many Christmas mornings saw presents from Sears under the tree. it almost seemed like a one-stop shop. They still had what looked like decent merchandise. But the Craftsman tools... That was a tough pill to swallow. In light of everything else, guess that shouldn't be a surprise.

Just as an aside, are Snap-On/MAC the only US-made tools of their type anymore?
 
In the late 70's Kelly's uncle sold all of his Sears stock and bought Walmart instead....:greedy_dollars:
 
A personal experience with Sears has soured me as well. After three generations have spent untold amounts of hard-earned money with them, they cancelled my charge account. We paid the balance and will never knowingly allow one more dime of our money go to them or their other companies. We actually overpaid the account and they sent us a check for the overage amount. I will frame it along with the cancellation letter. They have so-far not responded to a letter we sent them explaining why the check has gone un-cashed, where it will end up and our intent to avoid Sears purchases in future.
 
I have two 5 foot high large roll around tool boxes and about 80% of the tools are Craftsman. Bought in the early 70s, their all American made. Now if I need another tool, I go to Lowes and buy their Kobalt brand. Nice comfortable handles and seem to be well made. No, I haven't ruled out Harbor Freight, I buy very large wrenches, 1 1/2" up for the farm equipment there, if they get broke or lost, so be it! I don't buy Craftsmen anymore, haven't in a long time. PJ
 
It is unfortunate. Craftsman tools used to represent the middle ground of quality, perfect for the home mechanic. Maybe not up the Mac/Snap-On level the professionals used (can't speak to that, never used them) but still good, solid quality for home use. Maybe the general public's quest for ever lower prices finally drove that mid-range price point to where the company couldn't make it work anymore. If the public won't buy it, the company can't sell it.

A true shame, though. Most of my hand tools are Craftsman and are at least 20 years old -- and still up to the job a hand.

End of an era, I'm afraid.
 
wkilleffer said:
Just as an aside, are Snap-On/MAC the only US-made tools of their type anymore?
Click to expand...

Some of the hand tools that Home Depot sells are actually USA made. You can find others as well, just have to hunt a bit.
 
Most of my hand tools were bought in the late 70's and early 80's. Most of want I see made over the last few years form all of the tool makers are to bulky for any tight areas that I ave needed to get a wrench or socket in to.

Sears has been going this was since the mid 80's and Penny's for me is the same here. Both use to be were I went first.
Don
 
drooartz said:
. Maybe the general public's quest for ever lower prices finally drove that mid-range price point to where the company couldn't make it work anymore. If the public won't buy it, the company can't sell it.

A true shame, though. Most of my hand tools are Craftsman and are at least 20 years old -- and still up to the job a hand.

End of an era, I'm afraid.
Click to expand...

I saw the handwriting on the wall with HF in the 90's and started gathering up all the good tools I needed before everyone else shut down.
 
We tend to buy Snap On tools at work, but we also have a Loews account.
Many of the Klein tools at Loews are US made (and they are decent).

On a related note: I just had our engineering lab renovated. It was badly needed; the college hasn't spend much money in our area in over 20 years.
During the decision-making process, I realized there are very few machine tools made in the USA anymore. My lab has 5 Logan lathes, a Lodge & Shipley lathe, 2 Cincinnati mills and 3 Bridgeport mills. Rather than buy new, imported machine tools, I had all my old ones totally rebuilt. Everything had to rigged out to a rebuilder (they can't do this type of stuff on-site). All ways and slides ground, all new ball screws, etc. It was a pain, but I think it sends a better message to do this and I am sure this stuff will give us good service for many more years. It also supported our NJ economy (the best tool rebuilders are in NJ).

We also bought 2 new HAAS CNC lathes and 5 Tormach (US made) single tool CNC mills (we already had a US made Milltronics CNC mill)

We've bought some smaller, imported machine tools such as drill dresses. J-U-N-K.

By the way, I ordered one new Bridgeport knee mill(Yes....I know it's twice the price of an Asian mill. That's because it's twice as good).
Anyway, our new Bridgeport is made in England (I wonder if it will leak oil and have dodgy electrics?) :jester:

One of my favourite tools is the Estwing 22 oz. roofing hammer I've owned for over 45 years.
 
wkilleffer said:
....Just as an aside, are Snap-On/MAC the only US-made tools of their type anymore?
Click to expand...
BustedKnuckles said:
Hand tools still made in America...
Click to expand...

The trick is to look outside the average homeowners' box(store).

The places where John Q. Public usually buys tools, big box retailers and chain hardware stores, thrive on volume rather than quality/performance. If you read packaging carefully you can find some US made products in them.

Industrial and professional tool users who rely on performance generally shop elsewhere.

"The trucks" are the only professional sources that many people know about and are still an excellent resource for US made tools. But there are many brick-and-mortar and online sources that cater to the market. So do some independent hardware store. It just takes a little searching. Google is a wonderful thing.

Lately, I've been buying Armstrong, Williams or Proto. (note: "Blackhawk by Proto" are imported.)


pc
 
drooartz said:
Maybe the general public's quest for ever lower prices finally drove that mid-range price point to where the company couldn't make it work anymore. If the public won't buy it, the company can't sell it.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking blaming the consumer for crappy stuff is a big scam. I search out the lowest price like everyone else. But I don't remember ever asking for any tool that breaks the first time I use it or for any POS consumer good for that matter. I want good quality stuff at the lowest price, as I bet most of you do. I don't remember signing up for a bunch of crap made elsewhere by people working at slave wages so the company owners or stockholders can live like fat cats. Without getting too political, we get told that we get junk at WallyWorld because we're looking for bargains. I bet we could get a lot better quality at WallyWorld if the owners gave up a few billion a year.
 
I agree Rick. And I don't see this as political in any way.

I have no problem with a group of adventurous people taking a risk and striking it rich. But I object to a system that allows these people to then start writing the rules for the rest of us proletariat. Of course, this is nothing new. :rolleye:

The other part of this is that many of us are guilty of supporting such a system. Because we have an unhealthy zeal for quarterly returns above almost anything else. The quarterly returns that many of us follow in our investments tends to drive short term gain over long terms benefits.

Fortunately all of this has still not affected one of my favourite quality products. Yuengling. :friendly_wink:
 
aeronca65t said:
Fortunately all of this has still not affected one of my favourite quality products. Yuengling. :friendly_wink:
Click to expand...

The oldest brewery in America.... One of my favorites Nial.
Note to doc.... try it you'll like it :thirsty:
 
Elliot, Gibbons isn't your fav.
It is a local too
 
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