Gaaawd - I love the smell of a good Craftsman string in the morning!!!
Oh hell - Ill Jump In. I just replaced the brushes in a 35 year old Craftsman circular saw. I believe this was the first set. On the shelf next to it is a 32 year old Craftsman Scroll Saw and similar vintage belt sander. All good tools that seem to last forever, if you install enough replacement cords and plugs. I have a set of Craftsman hand tools that were given to me by in-laws nearly 38 years ago and a 1956 vintage Craftsman 4" Jointer that is built like a fire plug and works fine. I used to go to Sears anytime I needed a tool. That was 25-35 years ago.
Would I buy a Craftsman tool today - Probably not. Sometime during the past
25 years or so, they turned their backs on their loyal following.
Yes their hand tools are still good, but why pay 2 to 3 times the price of a Master Mechanic socket set with exactly the same warranty - lifetime!
About 20 to 25 years ago they started selling gaseous features like 1 HP motors with 2HP starting power - excuse me, but I cut after the saw blade comes up to speed. Also digital readouts for table saws that didn't even work on the store floor. In my opinion this kind of marketing was a direct insult to intelligent customers like us.
Has anyone looked at their new line of lathes or their so-called cabinet saw? They seem to cost as much as the competition. Are serious woodworkers buying these stylized plastic laden tools?
I think Sears positioned themselve so serve the consumer who wanted a tool NOW, didn't have cash available but did have a Sears charge account. That Worked for a while.
It is particularly telling that Sears is now selling Jet machinery. Wonder why?
Enough