quote:

Originally posted by Joe123:
The brand has been around over a hundred years and even though sears collapsed, Lowes took over the brand, and if Lowes were to kick it to the curb, someone else will.

Actually, Lowes didn't take over the brand.

Craftsman wasn't owned by Sears, but Craftsman was sold at Sears.

Craftsman was also sold in military exchanges, Kmart, Ace Hardware, and Costco.

Stanley Black and Decker bought Craftsman in 2017.

quote:

Originally posted by sns3guppy:

quote:

Originally posted by Joe123:
The brand has been around over a hundred years and even though sears collapsed, Lowes took over the brand, and if Lowes were to kick it to the curb, someone else will.

Actually, Lowes didn't take over the brand.

Craftsman wasn't owned by Sears, but Craftsman was sold at Sears.

Craftsman was also sold in military exchanges, Kmart, Ace Hardware, and Costco.

Stanley Black and Decker bought Craftsman in 2017.

Craftsman was owned by Sears. Sears sold it to Stanley/Black and Decker in an effort to ward off bankruptcy. Just like they sold off Kenmore. The selling of Craftsman in off-Sear sites, like Ace, was by license with Sears.

In the years leading up to the bankruptcy. Sears ruined Craftsman by taking production out of the hands of Western Forge and taking production to cheap Chinese manufacturers. Stanley Black and Decker is building a factory in Texas to start producing hand tools in the US again.

With respect to Kobalt hand tools, years ago, many of those were produced by Western Forge, like Craftsman (and Home Depot's Husky brand) were. Kobalt took production to China and India years ago. Go into a Lowes today and look at box-end wrenches and you will likely see "Made in India" on the package.