Craftsman is Killing Off Kobalt!
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- Craftsman is Killing Off Kobalt! The official word from Lowes/Kobalt is that "No, we are here to stay!" But actions speak louder than words. Lowes is losing their identity and they slowly becoming the Craftsman Store!
Join the Forum at: www.Denoftools.com
How to Support The Channel:
#1 Sharing a video is the BEST way to support the channel.
#2 Buy "Den of Tools" stickers and more here: bit.ly/2GHwdL6
#3 Get your copy of The Home Distiller's Workbook: amzn.to/2DxnuZZ
#4 Check out my Amazon Shop for Recommended Gear: amzn.to/2SoOKgI
Are you linked up on our other social media sites?
Twitter: / redbeardstudios
Facebook: / denoftools
Website: www.Red-Beard.com
Email: DoT@red-beard.com
Mailing Address: 2251 N Rampart BLVD, #177, Las Vegas, NV 89128
Check out our other RUclips channels:
Weightloss Journey: bit.ly/2QV2S4z
How we make money: bit.ly/2BM4p2q
Centrist Politics: bit.ly/2BM4p2q
The Cubs Channel: bit.ly/2EUTAOD
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a small commission is paid by Amazon to the DoT
Craftsman? Good or Bad for Lowes?
It's great! Keeps the employees busy! An owned brand competing with another owned brand? Not so great!
I've got a good bit of craftsman tools I'm just hopeful that Stanley black and Decker will start having craftsman tools made in America and not China. If they stay with China production I'll stick with better options from us or tiwanese companies.
Bad! They have become a Stanley Black and Decker outlet. Home Depot kills them with tool selection IMO.
Well Craftsman couldn't keep Sears afloat
@@mikej8832 Craftsman WAS Sears for decades . Sears started having some trouble so they began low ending Craftsman tools seeking more profit.
Man the last time I saw that much Craftsman it was called Sears.
This is not your Grandad's craftsman tools....that quality is long gone...
The Lowes Craftsman tools are made in USA. Kobalt is not...
@@SOLDOZER Don't care where they are made, I have a set that I purchased in 1972...those tools are heavier, the wrenches feel thicker, and better balanced. the rathcets move more smoothly and the sockets are right on perfect. the grips on the screwdrivers are more comfortable...it may be that I am used to them, but the new Craftsman tools in my local Lowes, just do not feel the same
@@SOLDOZER My Craftsman 22oz Framing Hammer is made in Taiwan. Taiwanese steel is pretty damn good. Last couple of Estwings I bought have been all over the place in terms of QC.
Tony Cordell if you go on eBay you might be able to find some good vintage craftsman
Damage, Inc. only certain ones are as of right now. All of the sockets, wrenches and hand tools and stuff are all made in China or Taiwan right now they are working on the factory
Hopefully Kobalt stays around. They are one of very few tool companies that charges a reasonable price for batteries.
I think Lowes overestimated the brand recognition/loyalty of Craftsman as Sears burned a lot of people who used to buy Craftsman when it was made in America. After the production went to China, the quality suffered, and the prices were still the same. Why over pay for the Craftsman name when I can get other stuff made in China for cheaper? I wish Stanley B&D would bring back the Craftsman Professional line, only if they have it made in America though.
A decent bit of the SB&D Craftsman are made in the US...V20 lines of power tools, tool chests, tool boxes, versatrack products, and many more. Just gotta look for the label.
You would complain the price is too high and not buy it anyways.
@@SOLDOZER hahaha yeah you got me figured out lol
Talk about a brand that went from expensive and reliable to cheap and horrible
You got it wrong it most big brands have become more expensive for less quality.
@@SillyOmega Compare a craftsman to a Kobalt. Kobalt is fare superior. They have weight look thicker. Toolbox wise, Kobalt it thicker metal and it doesnt flex when you push down on it. Sadly, due to it, ill be going to Hobo frieght. I loved Kobalts blue, Black, and Stainless. Now, forget it. Sea of red and cheap.
This video was a year and a half ago. Kobalt is not going anywhere. They are actually coming out with some new brushless tools. Theres also a new 24v 4.0 battery with the new 21700 cells replacing the older but still good 18650 cells.
When I found out Lowe's doesn't honor the Craftsman warranty for tools from Sears, that brand lost it's whole appeal. The whole point is a hassle free in store exchange. I'm done with Craftsman.
Its not true. It all depends on the Lowe's store you go. Some are douchebags and some are not douchebags.
My fathers older craftsman is quality and the older power tools are built to last.
The key word there is old. The majority of stuff coming out the last decade is junk that you could get Black & Decker, Kobalt, HFT, or other house brands of equal or better quality for less. The only reason to keep buying Craftsman was the warranty but Sears kept cutting back on it.
Garou Wolfs Haven agree 100% that's why if I am going to buy China made tools I 'll just go harbor freight. At least the price is the lowest.
Captain Ron I still have power tools that work great from my grandfather. He died in 1999! Today’s crap lasts maybe 5 years if you’re lucky
Not now
So true. I found a sears drill in my grandmas garage when we were cleaning it out. I looked it up and it had to be from the 70s. That thing still goes pretty hard today
I love Craftsman. Been using the same tools my dad used and some newer. I love Lowes. Always felt more taken care of there as a customer than at Home Depot. I'm so happy these two are together.
absolutely, Craftsman everywhere. If they want to liquidate the Kobalt and give me a liquidation price, I'll take it
I tried to warranty a kobalt ratchet at three lowes. They could not warranty it at any store. There was only 3 kobalt ratchets at all the stores I went to. Called kobalt they said had to go to stores for warranty. All the stores could not help me it's wrong when you can't even warranty your house brand.
@Woodgrain Owings Mills But if they don't carry the specific item in store they can't help you anymore. I searched online for the closest store that still had my ratchet. It was 5 hours away and only had two. Most of the common kobalt tools are being phased out.
Did you ask to have them warranty it out for a Craftsman version?
@@Satman82 I warrantied a screwdriver & bit set at a Home Depot and it was a model that was discontinued almost 10 years ago. Of course there were no replacements. In the end they gave me store credit worth more than I paid for the set. I would have expected Lowes doing the same, though I'm guessing it depends on the store?
At least my store allowed me to do so.
Agreed, I tried to warranty a hammer but since they no longer make it they wouldn't cover their lifetime warranty.
Lowes employee here - yes they are dropping a lot of irwin, kobalt, troy bilt completely, and a few others to make room for crapsman on the shelfs..it's not the same quality of tools my father left me..they're pushing crapsman pretty hard going to see craftsman toilet paper soon
I'd buy the Irwin and Kobalt, but not Craftsman. I'm not as impressed with their tools. Kobalt is much better, in my opinion. Oh well. Guess I'll find another brand.
Maybe a rollaway with a built in toilet. A real "Crapsman" product.
O really. Are they dropping irwin? I always get my irwin vise grips there a
Nothing personal. Not going back. I Liked Kobalt. The wrenches where very good. I will not going to Lowe’s much anymore. When I break a kobalt socket. Just throwing it out. I am not taking craftsman for Lowe’s.
Sears/ Craftsman: too expensive, and low quality. I'm glad Harbor Freight is stepping up its game.
Eric Tompkins I’d rather buy harbor Freight Tools then China craftsman.
there pure junk i got one 4plus yrs ago black Friday the tools are good the tool box is not held up at all hardly if they had the quality of the tools back then minus the tool boxes theyd be good
Sears/Craftsman is pretty much dead and irrelevant to Lowe's. Many of the new Craftsman are US made and really nice, IMO as I have the V20 line of US made tools. It's a good move by Stanley Black & Decker to promote the brand as long as their roadmap to building more tools in the US comes to fruition. Power Tools was a great start; looking forward to more now.
@@troymeredith521 no they are China made with global components. You didn't think that big shiney USA sticker on the front of those boxes were legit did you? Look closer. Global materials. Its marketing 101. They do not make their tools in the US any longer. They are made by Stanley black and decker the same company that turned Dewalt into a zombie brand.
@@MadMetalShop Wow, very ignorant when considering you can go to Craftsman's website and actually see inside the factories where these are made. The South Carolina factory makes the tool boxes and toolchests and has the same sticker. Please do a little research before replying. (Feds have cracked down what qualifies "Made in USA" per federal law, so these stickers are far more legit than they used to be).
Yuppers. Kobalt sliding more to the left and Craftsman moving in, but I'm in agreement. Craftsman has gone down hill over the years. Hope they fix themselves. Cheers! Great Walk Around.
Walkway displays are typically called kiosks. Since Stanley took over the Craftsman namesake, they've been putting Craftsman anywhere Stanley is sold. Interesting recent history about the Stanley purchase. Not to mention, Stanley is building a US based factory to the tune of (if memory serves) 55 million dollars to bring manufacturing back to the US and they intend on employing 750-800 Americans. Just food for thought on a future discussion there Da Bear. Cheers! Zip~
I'd love to see it happen. Till then I buy HF for my cheap stuff and SK for the things that need that extra touch.
Craftsman? Craftsman is only as good as their warranty, and Lowes is not doing a very good job with it. I carried a broken Craftsman screwdriver into Lowes the other day to exchange it and was told that they didn't have the exact replacement so I could pretty much just go and pound sand. They gave me a 1 800 number to call and shooed me out the door. This is NOT the way Sears handled the tool warranty. If you took back a broken tool to Sears and they didn't have the exact replacement in stock, they would give you the choice of exchanging your broken tool for the closest match they had in stock, or you could wait for them to order in the exact tool you needed. There was no "sorry, we don't stock that particular item so I guess you're out of luck." They made sure you were satisfied and that your tool was replaced to your satisfaction. That's what "lifetime warranty" is supposed to mean. If Lowes is going to make a go of taking over the Craftsman brand, then they're going to have to step up their game on honoring the warranty. That's the entire reason I purchased Craftsman tools, so that I could get an immediate replacement. If I can't get that, then the "warranty," not to mention the tools, are just worthless junk.
I'd honestly rather go to Harbor Freight than Lowe's at this point.
How long till Lowe's starts selling "Red" buckets and getting rid of the "Blue" ones ??
It's already happening.
I seem to recall some reviews of newer Craftsman tool cabinets/boxes and they are made pretty cheaply in comparison to US General. The problem is Craftsman actually once was a top brand. Now it's not, but they are still trading on that reputation.
I recently bought the craftsman 26" x 37" high cart (the $229 one in the video) and the 5 drawer match chest (the $159 chest in the video); They are ok for my purposes, but the quality is _mostly_ there. I had to drill some holes in both items in order to bolt them together. (they *are* supposed to be bolted together, yes?) And while the soft-close is nice on the drawers, occasionally they don't quite close all the way, even after pulling them to maximum extension, and pushing them closed a few times. The gauge of sheet metal is a little thinner compared to the US general, and the drawers are about the same. Oh, and I had to buy drawer liner material for the chest and cart- the only liner that came with the chest was for the top area.
@@bonivuselderheart2716 It sounds like they are good enough at least for home use if you like the configuration better. I mean it's not like they are doing anything but holding the tools. The hatchback style top cover on some of them is kind of nice. No need to lift a set of sockets or wrenches on holders up, just slide them straight out.
If Craftsmen doesn’t make their hand tools in the U.S.A. I will just go to Harbor Freight.
Stanley which bought Craftsman from Sears for $900 million has started moving production of Craftsman back to the US and has been in R&D of new products for Craftsman. They did not invest $900 million just to sell crappy tools.
Lisa Ault when the USA stuff comes to market I will give it a look.
@@northidahoguy5549 Go to Craftsman web page and you will see right on home page they show products made in USA and that they are bringing jobs and new plants opening here. There are already things made here such at the tool boxes are again all made here and they look better as well as the prices are lower even. The 42 inch bottom and top were lowered $100 each and it was not listed as a sale but new lower price.
I work at Lowe's in the majority of the hand tools that Craftsman has on the Shelf are made in the USA
www.yahoo.com/finance/news/stanley-black-decker-opens-state-130000167.html
I worked for Lowe's 30 years ago and their managers weren't too bright. They though pouring acid in a lawn tractor battery was charging it. Wouldn't listen to me, swapped out and took back a lot of mowers because of a dead battery. Back then they had the double secret warrenty, if customer had a receipt, no matter how long...birch enough get their money back. Still had price tags on everything then and raised prices and run a sale. Pretty scumbag practices. Everything had multiple layers of price stickers. Lastly, it was funny because when a locksmith showed up to re-key ALL the doors, you knew someone in management was fired. And that happened quite frequently.
I’ve been waiting for Lowe’s to come out and say they’re discontinuing the kobalt stuff for about a year now. Of course I’ve been waiting for snap On to come out and say they make their tools with chinese steel since about 2012...
I think it's a bad direction for Lowes. The quality and feel of every Craftsman product I've put hands on in the store is, in my opinion, far inferior to Kobalt. Couldn't agree with you more about the tool chests, way too thin material and just plain poor quality.
That doesn't really tell me anything because imo kolbalt was already a cheap low quality tool. Can't imagine a tool getting any worse than what has already been coming out of China.
@@MadMetalShop Should tell you a lot. Go down to your local store and see for yourself. I agree with what you said, but I think you'll be able to see what I mean.
@@ronberry2998 I've seen them both and not surprised by either but im more inclined to buy the craftsman name over kobalt given they are pretty much the same China junk.
Glad I bought my craftsman tools 40 years ago. Still using them. My drill press and planer are late 50 early 60’s and I love them.
I was checking out the Craftsman boxes at Lowe's earlier in the week, and today I went to HF and looked at their boxes. Gotta agree with you. The US General boxes from HF appear to be much better quality. Not even close.
I’ve never been impressed by HF tool boxes.
@@lawnmowerdude I agree, I think the USA made ceaftsman boxes are much better than HF ceap. HF is like dime store tools
Ive seen multiple hf boxes hold up in professional settings including mine. Those new craftsman boxes wouldnt last. I feel like if i sit anything slightly heavy on the new red and black boxes they would fold 😂😂
I wish California would turn from blue to red. 😉
Me too. All up the coast. Doubt we'll ever see that though.
I gave up wishing and moved to Vegas. Now they are trying to turn this blue as well.
It seems to be going the other way and turning other states blue😕.
Grew up in So California it was very conservative then. The Fn liberals has screwed up that state bad. I have not been back in 30 yrs and never will.
@@denoftools Spreads like a virus and does the same amount of damage. Who knows though. Sometimes things have to get really bad before they get better. It's getting closer to that all the time. We'll see. 🇺🇸
Not messing with a product line that doesn't seem like it will be around longterm. No warranty availability on hand tools, no battery replacement, no thank you.
I just sent Lowe's a message a few days ago complaining about the shrinking Kobalt section and my hatred of the sea of red! I won't buy Craftsman! I love my Kobalt tools. I told them if I had wanted Craftsman I would have gone to Sears and they would still be in business.
I just went to my local lowes and the entire tool section was all out of order, shelves moved all over the place stuff not in it's normal spot, and in a huge section in the center , a big banner sign that says. " please excuse our mess while we make room for craftsman "
I was happy at first to see another brand at Lowe's, thinking bit of Craftsman will surely help competition. I always viewed Kobalt tools as a step above Craftsman and almost like the store brand and even as a more quality product than Craftsman. Sad to see Craftsman swallowing up Kobalt. I guess I'll just wait for a liquidation sale of Kobalt and buy what I need because looks like it will be completely gone.
That's aggravating because I like kobalt tools from lowes
Agree completely
Do not buy their cock gun it will leak all over like you know what! Paid way too much for a $3 caulk gun!
Not to worry. You can still get them, they'll just say Craftsman on them now.
@@calvinhandley2373 I wont be buying Stanley craftsman
Now in 2021
Lowes is FLOODED with KOBALT power tools and handtools ..and VERY LITTLE CRAFTSMAN
Kobalt XTR is killing the game right now that’s why. Look at the power those tools have. Highest RPM, SPM, etc.
Seems like it wasn't that long ago that Sears and Craftsman were synonymous.
And we all know what happened to Sears. Even when Craftsman was top notch stuff, it was not enough to save the company.
@@Mike-lh4wn - "We" may know what happened to Sears but why is another matter.
My 20 year old craftsman ball bearing box is a lot better quality then those new ones. The drawers suck.
pjm8047 It's a Waterloo box. Craftsman had their boxes made by Waterloo. So did MAC, Matco, Cornwell, and most others were all made by Waterloo.
Yep. Thats why I bought an HF box. Much higher quality and better space optimization.
Vince at VCG claims that they are cutting back the Kobalt hand tools but doubling down on the power tools.
I head that as well and I'm sure that is what he is hearing from Lowes... I'm just not seeing it.
But I watched the rest of the video and your point is well made.
True bear, I went in to Lowes to buy a regular ol' toolbox for my kids and now all they carry are overpriced craftsman. Went to HD and got a homer box for $8.
Vcg said kobalt was going to focus on making bigger cordless tools. They said something about a bench grinder also.
A Lowes near me has a couple of pallets of Kobalt hand tools on clearance way in the back near the culled lumber.
Hey man, I'd be grateful if you can give me contact for that store.....
@@jason3000tt just call nearest one
Home Depot or Harbor Freight. Screw Craftsman, I have a couple k worth of old craftsmen, when they break I go Harbor Freight.
When they break just warrenty them at lowes lol
Would rather have kolbalt. Had to choose between kolbalt and craftsman socket sets (new ones) kolbalt is a far better tool maker..
Jacob King neither one is a "tool maker" Even in their glory days, "Craftsman" never made a tool. Craftsman tools were made for Sears by companies like Utica, SK, etc.. Same is true of Kobalt, somebody else makes them for Lowe's. Probably the same somebody that makes them for Craftsman.
I was checking out Lowes recently and a ton of the Craftsman stuff appears cheesy to me. I won't be buying any.
So you will be buying Horrible Freight.
I was told by three employees at my Lowe's that they are phasing out Kobalt and going with Craftsman
As a professional HVAC mechanic with 25 years in the trade you are taking a chance with any tool you buy now regardless of who makes it top brand names tools now are made in China with cheap Chinese steel for the companies to cut cost and max their profits when you buy a tool now its about you hope it don't bust your hand open if you put any stress on it good luck
It should be called Crapsman. An automotive teacher said he bought a brand new craftsman air impact gun and it would not take off a lug nut. He got out his 30 year old craftsman impact gun and it took it off with no problem
Craftsman toolbox or COMPANION???? Yeah I am old enough to remember the lower priced stuff. I even still own some of them. Like from 1972!!
Bruce Welty Wow 1972 you beat me by 10 years, I started buying Craftsman tools right out of high school. Love to see some of those early 1970’s tools. Have a great day.
Not really a fan of the new SBD Craftsman stuff... it’s so goddamn cheap. I grew up using craftsman stuff, and the quality was good, not amazing but pretty decent and it worked. Just let down that craftsman is totally going down the shitter
These are red Stanley tools. I didn’t buy Stanley tools when they were yellow. Will miss the Kobalt tools. How long will it take for folks to realize these are not their fathers Craftsman and stop buying them.
Considering the move to make more and more tools in the US to restore the Craftsman brand, I think it's a good move. Check out SB&D's country-wide roadmap to more factories that will start building more tool lines in the US. Being hopeful they'll proceed with that.
The Lawn side of Craftsman has took over Troy-Bilt. Craftsman mowers and trimmers are rebranded Troy-Bilt
They aren't. Home Depot now deals TroyBilt while Lowe's handles Craftsman.
Rogga FiGa yeah I know it I was saying they are taking over the Troy-Bilt spot at Lowe's
I just loaded up on some Kobalt plier sets for Christmas....I may go back for sockets.
Best time to buy is now.
I bought Kobalt 24v chainsaw awhile back ....it kicks bass.
I have only one Kobalt. A multibit ratcheting screw driver. The ratchet in the first one took a dump but they replaced it with no problems. I still have the second one after about a decade.
I like a lot of Kobalts hand tools. Pretty decent stuff.
My last Craftsman purchase was a riding mower about ten years ago. Yeah it's really MTD painted red but at least it has a Briggs and Stratton so I can get parts easily. Craftsman tools used to be the go to but that changed when Harbor Freight came to town.
I love Kobalt but if Lowes is going to do this I will gow with Ridgid.
So you like Made in China better than Made in USA?
@@SOLDOZER I will go with what I know works.
my lowes has turned red as well, made me sick. i used to buy and be proud of my craftsman tools, but since they stopped honouring their guarantees i stop buying. a short while ago my tools were stolen, since then i been replacing with mainly harbour freight stuff and been doing ok. i will noy be buying any of that red junk.
I would love to see Craftsman stuff made in the USA. Keep Kobalt as an overseas line and make Craftsman an American made line?
New ownership was too stupid to figure out why we bailed to begin with. A new USA rollout with the right advertising may have brought us all back, with the right $ however.
I was thinking about the 3/8 cordless impact Kobalt. It dropped to $69 but still shying away from it. Batteries 2-3 years or even longer might be hard to find. The other red tool keeps looking better after this. I did score a large Kobalt hand tool haul yesterday for pennies on the dollar though. I'm loading up on those to fill my empty socket holders for now.
I think Craftsman use the marketing strategy using red,when you go through the isles red seems to catch your eye.Milwaulkee too,and I think red is a more expensive color to use,but it draws. you to it more than blue,orange and yellow,even Ryobi and that goofy green.
On the bright side, it makes it easier to avoid, lol.
May you do a brief history of Orchard Supply Hardware?
I agree!
The strangest thing is I got a survey through Facebook last week to help name the new Kobalt branded power tools.
Was it for bench tools? Kobalt is still doing pretty well as far as stationary tools.
I was at lowes the other day and seen a good deal on buying a battery starter kit and getting a free tool and the worker told me they are clearing the shelves to replace a lot of stuff with Craftsman
At my local Lowe's Ranier in Seattle, cobalt still has a decent presence. Mixed with craftsman, metabo(got) dewalt and a little dash of, wait for it, Bosch and porter cable.
I thought Lowe's had Craftsman locked in I went to Menards tonight an I see Craftsman popping up in the store.
I'm a dedicated kobalt user, I didn't suspect that the brand would be running away any time soon when I brought my set of 24v tools. It will definitely feel like a slap in the face when I need to put that warranty to use. Cheap and very powerful impact/hammer drill set with cheap quality batteries is what started my love affair with them. I at the very least expect the craftsman brand to provide the same quality and value if they're replacing kobalt.
FYI, the niche for the smaller Miter Saws are Finish Trim Carpenters like my self. I trimmed out countless homes ranging from your run of the mill remodeled 1970's post war era row home to very nice HOA homes and all were done with a 7 1/4" compound Miter Saw. Blades are much cheaper, you're not cutting through super wide pieces to trim out a door frame or window casement and they're ever so much more portable. I do have a compound sliding miter saw, but it doesn't get used nearly as often as the compact unit when I'm trimming homes. Of course, this was all before I retired a few years ago, but any Finish Trim Carpenter will tell you....their favorite tool beyond their compound protractor squares and measuring tools is their small miter saw and worm drive circular saw (which share the same blades). Cheers Da Bear! Zip~
I'm not worried Kobalt is definitely better than craftsman and ain't going anywhere anytime soon
I would like to see a fire rating for those upper boxes with the AC power strips, charging Li batteries.
The new Menard tools boxes are 25 inches deep.
So I have one Kobalt item I really like, maybe others but only one comes to mind. But I will admit they were a decent store brand and had some good products. I think now there is a Craftsman equivalent to that Kobalt item. Obviously Craftsman is replacing Kobalt but some of the replacing is very obvious to where there are some very similar equivalent products.
I noticed when Craftsman was taking over some of the rebrands compared to other SBD products (not just Stanley) were very obvious but others took inspiration from other SBD brands which isn't horrible but there could and should be more effort in these products if you want to make it your "store" brand. What next? Stanley replacing Husky at Home Depot?
Kobalt has always been okay home owner and DIY folks, but as a journeyman in a skilled trade I’d never have Kobalt on a job. It looks a unprofessional as does Husky. I would however use Craftsman tools.
sorry to burst your bubble Husky make some of the best cheap screwdrivers in the world HVAC mechanic here I've banged them with hammers on a daily basis and they hold up until I loose one or it is stolen by ESA
I'd trust Kobalt over Craftsman any day any place. If your a journeyman saying Craftsman is better you need to go back down to helper because you have no idea what you are talking about
I saw the Craftsman 55" (or similar) tool boxes and decided I wanted them but needed to do some measuring before I bought them. Sadly for Lowes, I had to go to Harbor Freight to get some other stuff immediately after looking at the Craftsman boxes. The difference in quality was staggering. The Craftsman felt cheap, flexi, and weak. I ended up buying the 44" HF tool chest and couldn't be happier. Was cheaper too!
I think Lowes is shooting themselves in the foot having to bank on Craftsman to keep their tool dept afloat. Perhaps they're counting on German Matabo cordless tools to pick up the slack but I doubt it. Craftsman in the day, before 1980 made pretty good quality hand tools and I own a few sets. No longer. I'd say stick a fork in Lowes if they stay the Craftsman route, they're toast.
Metabo cordless is just rebranded Hitachi.
@@marcusjohnson1705 Yes and no. There are now Metabo HPT (Hitachi Power Tools, made in China) and Metabo cordless that are made in Germany. Weird, I know.
I miss the Kobalt tool boxes they had a very good build quality that was superior to everything else
Just in Lowe's they have a dedicated kobalt cordless shelf that looks to have some of the newer items and the sea of red has blown up with dedicated cordless shelf and other tools
My lowes also
I'm surprised Stanley isn't selling more tools through Wal-Mart. Been a while since I been in a Wal-Mart but it was half an aisle on 1 side of tools was all anymore. In Wal-Mart's flagship store. Back 20 years ago or more I thought Wal-Mart had more for tools. Maybe Harbor freight beat Wal-Mart out of the cheap tool market. The 2 harbor freight here are always busy.
I am looking into getting a DYI/semi professional tool box. I am torn between the 41inch 12 drawer Kobalt and the 41inch 16 drawer Husky. I went to my local Lowe’s because I wanted to see the box before I buy it and they didn’t have a single Kobalt box! NONE AT ALL! They had a dozen different Craftsman ones but they are a little more than what I would like to spend. Home Depot had the Husky and I think I am going to end up buying.
Still never been hassled about taking a craftsman tool back to get it replaced if for some reason it did. They scanned the tool and gave me the updated replacement version of it.
Beeeer, thxz for the trip down Craftsman memory lane. Plus, I ain't been in a Lowes store forever. Eaglegards...
I haven't been to impressed with the Craftsman hand tools I've looked at while visiting Lowe's. The combination wrench, China-made, sets don't look anything of the quality of the older USA-made sets I've had for years. A friend of mine is a fulltime mechanic and has used a good bit of Kobalt tools everyday at his job with no major issues, including having to warranty any of them. The Kobalt section of mechanics tools at my local Lowe's is a third of the size it used to be. I think it's a mistake to for Lowe's to lose Kobalt.
I have herd in the past that Stanley Black and Decker us to mack some of Craftsman Tools for Sears.
Kobalt and Craftsmen are likely made by the same company. There are a handful of tool companies and they have 100s of brands. NAPA, Husky, etc.
It’s like when Polaris bought Indian, they said Victory would stay but realized the best way to be competitive with Harley was to ditch Victory and put all their effort into Indian. I don’t blame Lowe’s I just hope the get the Quality back up. I agree with you about the boxes, I went right before Christmas got excited about them because that’s what I grew up with and just wasn’t impressed.
I liked Kobalt when it first started out more USA 🇺🇸 made. Most if not all Kobalt is Taiwan or China. While the new Craftsman is is pretty much the same Taiwan or China they at least have somethings with made in USA with global materials. Things just haven’t been the same since 2012/2013 with the formation of Apex Tool Group.
Years ago I returned a professional 1/2 dr ratchet to Sears for warranty and the one I got back was a standard model that looked like it was covered in rust when they re dipped it in chrome. I told the guy I would never buy another craftsman product. Years later they went out of business and to this day even at lows I will never buy a craftsman product. Lows was stupid for buying that brand no matter how cheap it was.
Agree. BUT you won't hear me complaining. Yesterday, 3/23/19, was in Lowes to price tool cabinets and garagen storage systems because I knew Lowes carries the Gladiator brand system. Pleasantly surprised to find a complete line of Craftsman brand tool cabinets and a garage storage system ALL WITH MADE IN USA stickers on them. Not going to dicker over a few bucks more, and some were less than Gladiator (Made in China). Call me whatever you want (Hell no I'm not a mAGA fan) but I know American manufacturing needs all our support. My mind was mad up right then and there. Craftsman!
The center islands are known as grids or by the technical industry term, PDQ (Pod Display Cube). However, being lamens and not really caring for technicalities, I just refer to them as center islands. Which is really what they are in all honesty.
I just bought a nice kobalt drill bit kit for 15 bucks, its like half the price of the similar dewalt kit. found it hanging off the end of an aisle at lowes like they wanted to get rid of it. makes sense now
Just picked up the corded 7-1/4" miter saw new for $70 and that's about all I'd pay for it. Anything more than cutting some smaller profile baseboard, casing, and moulding that's about all it's good for. At least it doesn't weigh as much as my DeWalt 12"
I Personally think its not a terrible thing. I look at craftsman it's basically like a more of a Consm-fessional dewalt with a cheaper price point. With Dewalt being like high level professional and most portacable stuff I see as like a great entry-level tool being Stanley black and deckers tool offerings it makes a lot of sense to me to step down my own power tools manufacturing as well as hand tools.
The Old 18V tools I had when I got into plumbing have held up for the past 5 years but as the battery packs aren't holding charges like they use to I had to face the music and buy something new; the 24 volt Kobalt is pricey when compared to craftsman but i`ll honestly say they are comfortable and not to bad of tools.
Looks like I will be going to the homedepot now
I drove to 2 Lowes stores looking for a Craftsman 1/2" drive impact socket. None in Stock. Should have gone to Sears.
Brushless craftman drills are assembled in USA.
Kobalt > Husky > Craftsmen
Craftsman = Kobalt. It's the same company selling the tools. The tools are supposed to switch from china back to USA made from what I'm told. The kobalt tool boxes are still available but online mainly.
The display pods are called side stacks.
Nope, totally different company.
I never cared for the quality of Craftsman tool boxes.
Well the new ones Are made By Waterloo.
@@scottfoster2487 And they just make cheap versions for Craftsman. My 20+ old Craftsman roller bearing box is complete garbage with ball bearings falling out daily. New versions are same junk. U.S. General is the top brand, then may Milwaukee.
My new one is awesome.
I hope they make more USA made craftsman tools at Lowe’s. I would also like to see Lowe’s give the option to replace broken Kobalt tools with craftsman if need be.
Justin NYC They’re actually doing the opposite. If you have broken craftsman that they don’t have, they’ll give you a comparable Kobalt.
@@tomm8188 not here you get Craftsman and Lowes is stopping Kobalt hand tools so that will not be going on where you live very long
@@LisaMB2forU I actually work PT at Lowes, I know the ins and outs of what's going on all too well.
@@tomm8188 if you know ins and outs then you know Lowes is doing away with Kobalt hand tools so there will not be any of those to do exchanges with. Your Lowes is supposed to be doing Craftsman for Craftsman exchanges and if not customers can go to Craftsman website and tell them what is happening and they will put a stop to it. Craftsman(Stanely) is serious to get back the rep that had and Stanley did not invest $900 million buying them to just piss it away
@@LisaMB2forU you are correct, but until the switch is 100% complete that is up to the individual stores to handle.
I like Kobalt. Just started switching everything about a year ago. Figures they would stop using it. It's Law to take anything that brings me joy and ease away.
Craftsman is all over the store? Red, your pajamas are Craftsman too!
Lowes has a deal now where you buy a 89 dollar impact kit and you get a select bare tool free. So basically you get impact..2 batteries..charger..and either a angle grinder..circular saw..recip saw..jigsaw..or tire inflator all for 89 bucks.
And thats on craftsman btw
I work at a Lowe's and I get more and more disappointed every time I go in. I don't like Craftsman tools, some of their other products are good or good enough, but I always preferred Kobalt when it came to tools. Now our inventory is Craftsman and Dewalt with a small section of Kobalt to pick from. And little by little, more and more things are getting phased out.
Lowes is becoming the new and improve reincarnation of Sears Hardware
On one of the Isles was all red, and then some De Walt. We might has changed brand names, but not really. De walt and craftsman and Black & Decker, are ALL owned by the same company. And Craftsman stuff WAS good quality, for most of my life. Until they sold to Black & Decker.