Posted on 01/05/2017 8:00:47 AM PST by Leaning Right
Sears Holdings will sell its Craftsman tool brand to Stanley Black & Decker for about $900 million, the companies announced Thursday.
The deal will provide another cash infusion for Sears, but it comes at a cost broadening distribution of the well-known brand gives consumers one less reason to choose to shop at the struggling Hoffman Estates-based retailer.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
The name will be changed to Crap-man.
I still have some Black and Decker tools from the early sixties, maybe late fifties. They were headquartered in Baltimore and made a lot of their tools in Hampstead, Md.
Really well built. I’ve had a couple of the motors reconned, but everything still works.
We have an older Dewalt radial arm saw that still cuts straight as can be.
Shame the way quality in and of itself has become a lost value for much of what we see in consumer goods.
Ha, ha!
IIRC, the private firm is Danforth. I believe they make Kobalt tools now.
42 Sears stores, 108 K-Marts are on the chopping block.
I get more than enough semi-immortal tools from buying old houses in PA, they’re a gold mine for stuff that will never wear out or fail on you. But if I hadn’t any other option I’d buy old tools on ebay. Or with enough leisure time, haunt the estate sales and auctions.
“Husky or Kobalt are far superior now to Craftsman tools. Back in the 70s Craftsman was THE tool brand to own. Now its just Chinese die cast junk.”
Totally agree. I stopped buying Craps-man a few years ago. Junk. Just over-priced junk.
Actually, the brands of power tools most professionals trust are Milwaukee and De Walt. I’ve seen Milwaukee brand powered drills and those things are built like tanks. I’ve seen a lot of Milwaukee tools sold at Home Depot and Lowe’s.
Sears and Monkey Wards were also Union. Retail clerks, washing machine repairmen, credit department workers were all Union which also impeded change.
I wondered how long it would take...
They’re selling off the real estate.
Now the best brands.
Young people don't buy hand tools - they don't DO that nasty menial stuff. They are too busy downloading some stupid app which allows them to play some stupid computer game. Of course there are many exceptions but a lot of 'young people' can't change out a flat tire!!!!!!!
>That ends Sears. Not kidding. That and Kenmore are their two primary brands. One gone, the other struggling.
I had a Kenmore fridge for 15 years. Great fridge.
Thanks for the info, I’ll check it out.
“All made in China now anyways. At this point, might as well buy the Husky or Kobalt store-brand tools you find yourself needing at Home Depot or Lowe’s instead of driving out of the way to Sears.”
You just as well buy Harbor-Freight hand tools. They are lifetime guarantee, just like craftsmen used to be.
Peeling off assets before they close the doors.
I think Kenmore is manufactured by Whirlpool.
Harbor Freight hand tools are lifetime guaranteed, just like craftsmen.
“I think Kenmore is manufactured by Whirlpool.”
Some of it. Kenmore contracts out to anyone. My Kenmore fridge is LG.
“and all were stamped “Made in USA”. “
If it is “finished” in the USA it can have that label. The Made in USA label has little regs or enforcement behind it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.