End of the KOBALT Brand

[goeduck]

I was in the local Sears store and it sure seemed like there were a lot of gimmicky tools on the shelf. Maybe those things attract buyers but it sure seems like they would take up a lot of aisle space and development time.

 

[dragoneggs]

That would fall under Stanley-Black and Decker now. Unless retail can dictate quality.

Retail can dictate quality. Whether they make an effort to press the manufacturer or not is the question and this will depend on sales/returns. Don't expect a noticeable difference though. Increased quality typical comes with at a cost/price and large chain stores are volume/price point driven.

 

[sixdogs]

Retail can dictate quality. Whether they make an effort to press the manufacturer or not is the question and this will depend on sales/returns. Don't expect a noticeable difference though. Increased quality typical comes with at a cost/price and large chain stores are volume/price point driven.

That is true but there seems to be some shifting of customer demand. Big box stores here sell $750 Honda push mowers along side of cheapie mowers and wouldn't do it unless someone was buying them. Maybe Lowe's is thinking of having the Kobalt hand tool, which is already pretty good, and then the "days of yore" premium branded Craftsman tools and Craftsman warranty? I mean, why would they buy the good quality Craftsman to sell alongside the good quality Kobalt?

Craftsman used to be a shop staple and way more common than the big tool truck brands. Craftsman got wobbly and the tool trucks moved in. Maybe time for a reversal of fortune and there's a huge market out there for premium tools. Lowe's could win big on this is my opinion.

 

[downsizingnow48]

The closest Ace hardware store has moved a lot of Craftsman stuff in recently. Tool boxes, hand tools, some power tools. The only Made in USA Craftsman item I saw was a set of 5 chisels for air hammers. Everything else China. In some cases the Chinese Craftsman tool is hanging alongside a Made in USA equivalent. For instance, a Craftsman hex key set for $22 next to an Eklind set for $26.

 

[Otto Syracuse]

I have picked up craftsman, husky and was given a snap on tool found on the road and exchanged them for new. Used to buy broke craftsman and snap on at pawn shop and exchange.

I believe this is why LL Bean stopped their Lifetime Gaurantee policy. Too many people buying an old LL Bean item at garage sales or thrift shops and exchanging for new off the shelf items. It痴 an abuse of a well intentioned and useful policy that is now gone.

 

[goeduck]

I believe this is why LL Bean stopped their Lifetime Gaurantee policy. Too many people buying an old LL Bean item at garage sales or thrift shops and exchanging for new off the shelf items. Itç—´ an abuse of a well intentioned and useful policy that is now gone.

Agree. I saw an old TBN post where someone found a set of Craftsman tools on the highway, all dinged up from falling off of a truck and took them into Sears and demanded a new set. Sears gave them new tools. Disgusting behavior on part of the person who turned the tools in and, in my opinion, that is not what the warranty was intended for. Time to stop those blanket warranties, they are bad for business if this is what is going on. Also with people abusing tools just because they can go get a new one if they break the tool.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Remember being in a HD 21 yrs ago, watching someone get irate because they couldn't return a beat up drill that looked like it had fallen off the truck and ran over multiple times.. HD looked up model number and said they had never sold that model. Of course the person had no receipt.

 

[4570Man]

I went in Lowe’s today and they only had a tiny craftsman display with almost no efforts to clearance kobalt.

 

[goeduck]

I went in Lowe’s today and they only had a tiny craftsman display with almost no efforts to clearance kobalt.View attachment 560928

Our local Lowe’s last advertisement had only Craftsman toolboxes and about twice as much print space dedicated to Kobalt.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Was at Lowes today and noted that it seems they are broadening their selection of Stanely. Maybe the Craftsman connection is responsible for that. More stuff from one source can bring the wholesale cost down for such a volume buyer.

Ron