Craftsman 2000W generator

WTP-GC wrote:

Ron3rd wrote:

As to the hand tools, the Craftsman tools I have are over 30 years old and where all stamped Made in USA and have held up well.

Few months ago I was looking for an inexpensive torque wrench on Amazon and checked out the offerings under the Craftsman brand; a common review was, "CHEAP CHINA JUNK, BROKE THE FIRST TIME I USED IT".

I ended up with a brand out of Taiwan that had over 1,000 reviews which were very positive. Turns out to be a great little wrench for about $40. The quality and finish seem to be outstanding.

I used to think Craftsman hand tools were the standard, but the last time I went in there to exchange a broken tool (ratchet in this case), they instead had changed their policy and the store clerk had to "fix it". That was it for me.

On the point about the taiwan torque wrench with all the great reviews, there's a few websites I started using so that I wouldn't be suckered by fake reviews. Do a google search for "amazon review analysis" and use some of those websites to evaluate whether or not the reviews are legitimate. I've found several products that look amazing and have superb reviews, but a careful analysis of those reviews shows that most of them are fake, inorganic, etc.

Repairing a ratchet at Sears is nothing new. I remember going to Sears with my neighbor in the 90's. He had a ratchet with worn out gears, the clerk replaced the gear set and we were on our way.
The handle does not really wear out, unless you bend or break it with a cheater bar!

Bring a Snap on ratchet to a tool truck, they will do the same thing.

Ron3rd wrote:

As to the hand tools, the Craftsman tools I have are over 30 years old and where all stamped Made in USA and have held up well.

Few months ago I was looking for an inexpensive torque wrench on Amazon and checked out the offerings under the Craftsman brand; a common review was, "CHEAP CHINA JUNK, BROKE THE FIRST TIME I USED IT".

I ended up with a brand out of Taiwan that had over 1,000 reviews which were very positive. Turns out to be a great little wrench for about $40. The quality and finish seem to be outstanding.

I used to think Craftsman hand tools were the standard, but the last time I went in there to exchange a broken tool (ratchet in this case), they instead had changed their policy and the store clerk had to "fix it". That was it for me.

On the point about the taiwan torque wrench with all the great reviews, there's a few websites I started using so that I wouldn't be suckered by fake reviews. Do a google search for "amazon review analysis" and use some of those websites to evaluate whether or not the reviews are legitimate. I've found several products that look amazing and have superb reviews, but a careful analysis of those reviews shows that most of them are fake, inorganic, etc.

theoldwizard1 wrote:

keymastr wrote:
I thought Craftsman was bought by Ace Hardware? Were they sold again? Have to admit I don't trust them much anymore.

The "Craftsman" brand name was bought by Stanley-Black & Decker (SBD) last year. They have recently "relaunched" the brand. They are sold at Sears, Ace and Lowes.

Sears/Craftsman NEVER owned any manufacturing facilities. All most all of the Craftsman tools were built to Sears specification. SOme were just re-branded. For the past 15-20 (?) most of the tools were made off shore. Quality varied depending on who the manufacturer was (that year !).

Many of the "new" Craftsman tools, are other SBD brands with different colors and labels (SBD owns several tool companies including DeWalt). SBD has said that they will bring much of the manufacturing back to the US over the next few years.


If you are shopping for hand tools, don't overlook Harbor Freight. The hand tools are better than they used to be. The "jury is still out" on power tools, but I have not heard of any major complaints about the newer Predator generators. I think I would buy one of theirs (with an extended warranty) before I would buy some of the "other" brands.

...this info is true. "Sears" is basically done and of no value itself. The only thing they had of value were the Craftsman, Kenmore, and Die Hard trademarks and their respective product lines. I don't know what they sold for but an article I read a few years ago said they could be worth over a Billion dollars.

As to the hand tools, the Craftsman tools I have are over 30 years old and where all stamped Made in USA and have held up well.

Few months ago I was looking for an inexpensive torque wrench on Amazon and checked out the offerings under the Craftsman brand; a common review was, "CHEAP CHINA JUNK, BROKE THE FIRST TIME I USED IT".

I ended up with a brand out of Taiwan that had over 1,000 reviews which were very positive. Turns out to be a great little wrench for about $40. The quality and finish seem to be outstanding.

theoldwizard1 wrote:

colliehauler wrote:
thought Sears would be gone by now. Warren Buffett stepped in with some cash so there has to be some value.

Not exactly !

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has agreed to loan $2 billion to Seritage Growth Properties – a real estate investment firm created by struggling retailer Sears.

So this real estate holding company is where the REAL remain value of Sears Holding is ! Of course, in my area, there are 3 or 4 very large Sears store sitting empty in decline malls. They have anounce that more will be closed.

Thanks for the clarification.

colliehauler wrote:
thought Sears would be gone by now. Warren Buffett stepped in with some cash so there has to be some value.

Not exactly !

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has agreed to loan $2 billion to Seritage Growth Properties – a real estate investment firm created by struggling retailer Sears.

So this real estate holding company is where the REAL remain value of Sears Holding is ! Of course, in my area, there are 3 or 4 very large Sears store sitting empty in decline malls. They have anounce that more will be closed.

keymastr wrote:
I thought Craftsman was bought by Ace Hardware? Were they sold again? Have to admit I don't trust them much anymore.

The "Craftsman" brand name was bought by Stanley-Black & Decker (SBD) last year. They have recently "relaunched" the brand. They are sold at Sears, Ace and Lowes.

Sears/Craftsman NEVER owned any manufacturing facilities. All most all of the Craftsman tools were built to Sears specification. SOme were just re-branded. For the past 15-20 (?) most of the tools were made off shore. Quality varied depending on who the manufacturer was (that year !).

Many of the "new" Craftsman tools, are other SBD brands with different colors and labels (SBD owns several tool companies including DeWalt). SBD has said that they will bring much of the manufacturing back to the US over the next few years.


If you are shopping for hand tools, don't overlook Harbor Freight. The hand tools are better than they used to be. The "jury is still out" on power tools, but I have not heard of any major complaints about the newer Predator generators. I think I would buy one of theirs (with an extended warranty) before I would buy some of the "other" brands.

Dave H M wrote:
i am curious also. how can a 10% discount across the board be a "come on".

I would have to agree! If you use your military credentials to establish a MyLowes account, that military discount is tied to your account and you never have to show your credentials again, just your MyLowes card AND it can be used when ordering online through your MyLowes account AND, unlike HD, can be used on anything, even if it is already on sale. The "come on" has worked for me. I never shop at HD anymore unless I have to.

For $649 I’d buy a used Honda 2000.

gbopp wrote:

Dave H M wrote:
i am curious also. how can a 10% discount across the board be a "come on".

I agree. It's a discount to a certain group. But, I guess any incentive can be considered a 'come on.'

Like the Free stuff (junk) offered by Harbor Freight. That is a true come on.
However, if I'm there to buy something I can use, I accept the free stuff.
I'm not sure why. I have about six of the free multimeters and even my GS doesn't want another one. :B

Haven't bought batteries in a long time, we use the HF free ones. Far as the multi meters, you need more than one because the failure rate is high....lol

I like HF for disposaba-tools. One use and off to the landfill, for the most part. They have quality stuff like Icon and Bauer and the blue stuff but they hardly ever discount those.

I've used the Pred motors for years. dependable and cheap and cheap enough that if one pukes, you toss that too. Haven't had to 'toss' any yet however.

The Craftsman reputation for quality will die quickly if they aren’t very careful. Or is it already dead?

If Warren and Charlie got involved they see something. Real estate?