Likes/Dislikes

[ultrarunner]

I think Atlas made some lathes for Sears... not certain.

 

[DT86]

Wondering what other TBN members buy from Sears?

Not a thing, ever.

Sears is a "has been", they aren't relevant anymore.

 

[davesl708]

Not a thing, ever.

Sears is a "has been", they aren't relevant anymore.

Sear's seems to go through cycles on quality. Over the last 60 years seems during economic downturns the quality goes down. As in the 70's and then late 90's and now. It is like they build up a reputation for good tools at reasonable prices then switch to junk at the same price.

I even stopped buying tires from them after they shorted me on the rotate/balance service.
The store here in my area seems to be liquidating it's inventory.

 

[k0ua]

Yeah, I think Sears is about done. I haven't been in one of their stores in years. We used to buy a whole lot of their stuff.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Yeah, I think Sears is about done. I haven't been in one of their stores in years. We used to buy a whole lot of their stuff.

Same here, stocked the whole house with Kenmore appliances 6 years ago. Sears parking lot is nearly bare except during Black Friday sales. I don't know how they are staying in business. I read recently that Penney's is going to start selling appliances in an effort to take more of Sears business. I cant say that I have been in either store enough to find my way around.

 

[treefarmerguy]

I have used Craftsman tools for around 50 years and still occasionally buy something there. I agree that the quality isn't the same. I found a discarded 20 gallon Craftsman vac. at the dump when I use to pick there. Brought it home and reassembled everything and am still using it. I worked at a new Sears when in college and enjoyed a 10% discount on everything which is why I have many of their tools. My dad built our house in the 50s and still has the table saw he bought back then. Weighs a ton but still works well.

I few weeks ago my Craftsman 10 ft tape measure bought around 30 years ago refused to lock when extended. Whet to Sears and asked for a new one. They said they don't guarantee them for life any more. I responded that when purchased it was guaranteed for life! I was finally given a new one of a different brand that is guaranteed for a year!

To bad to see companies slowly putting themselves out of business for lack of foresight and the almighty bottom line.

 

[ultrarunner]

Does it still say "Satisfaction Guaranteed" above the doors coming in?

 

[KevinP65]

I still use some Craftsman wrenches from the 70's and some other tools that still work but stopped going there when the quality seemed to change and the return/replacement policy, too. One thing to consider is that Sears puts their 'brand name', Kenmore for example, on goods made by mfgs to their specifications. Sears is responsible for the quality of the product they have made and retail. I worked in a Norge tool room in the late 70's and I think they used to do a Kenmore run but could be mistaken--Norge long gone. Last time I had to buy Craftsman parts they sure seemed high cost, but I could get them. When I bought a new lawn tractor this winter, I looked at Craftsman and the newer model seemed to get good reviews in the area of features, performance and cost, but not by users that had problems and tried to get them resolved in enough cases (yeah, I know the Internet, but not everyone is a liar) that I bought a different brand. I think that this perception has hurt Sears more than they realize. In this short thread previous customers and relatively long time ones seem to be saying this sort of thing often enough to be noticeable

 

[dragoneggs]

I have many Craftsman hand tools that date mostly 25 years or older. Very happy with them. I have my dad's Radial Arm Saw from 1963 and can't bring myself to part with it even though I haven't use it in at least 8 years. I sold my 10in cast iron table saw after 25years that built my first house only because I upgraded to 220 3hp Delta. It was a solid tool. Last tool purchased, I think, was a shop vac on a great sale at least 5 years ago. It is sad walking through Sears tool/garden department and seeing lots of tools but not getting excited about them any more.

 

[mapper]

Craftsman and Kenmore have been split off from Sears and are now an independent company. Friend of mines daughter works for them, says they are trying to get back to the quality everyone remembers. That's also why you are starting to see craftsmen tools in stores other than Sears now.