Craftsman hand tools were once a quality brand, with a lifetime guarantee.
Somewhere along the way Sears started calling EVERYTHING "Craftsman", like cheap lawn equipment that came with NO guarantee, in contrast to Craftsman hand tools that came with a lifetime warranty.
Also in the last few years they've been selling "OTC" (Other Than Craftsman) hand tools, which are junk. I bought a set of Sears non-Craftsman ratchet wrenches about a year ago and two of them didn't live thru the first use, they literally just fell apart. I didn't even bother to go ax for my money back, I just threw them in the trash and said I'd never go back to Sears.
Also manufacturing got moved out of the US. I've seen posts here where someone who seemed to know said that the company that HAD been making Craftsman tools for Sears is now making another brand of tools for another well-known outlet. I forget the particulars.
Anyway, yes, it's the end of Sears. They may as well sell off the Kenmore brand too now and just shut 'er down. At this point they'd be missed about like... like... what was the name of that book store... started with a B...
So who wants to own a really cool skyscraper in downtown Chicago?
IIRC, the private firm is Danforth. I believe they make Kobalt tools now.
Sears sold the tower in ‘94