Sears is getting ready for the end. They are marketing Craftsman tools through Ace Hardware now.
Our largest and most profitable Sears closed a couple of years ago and is now a Nordstrom. The Sears Tower in Chicago is no longer the Sears Tower. Sears will have to completely re-invent itself to survive in the 21st century.
The last Craftsman-branded tools I bought were a set of screwdrivers at a local (not Sears) store’s tool sale. They were robust looking, cheap, and had nice big grippy rubber handles. Then I used one to pry on something and the shank snapped right at the handle while exerting only about 10 lbs of pressure on it. It was almost comical. Clearly there was a manufacturing defect as Balsa wood would have been stronger. I also had a Craftsman 4-way lug wrench break in half at the middle while the cheap Chinese one I picked up to finish the job didn’t. I have some very nice quality Craftsman tools that were my grandfather’s and that have lasted for more than 50 years, but I think I’m done buying any new Craftsman stuff these days.
Our largest and most profitable Sears closed a couple of years ago and is now a Nordstrom.
Perhaps Nordstrom should take over tool sales from Sears. Nordstrom is known for high quality products and a generous return/exchange policy. And it might be nice to shop for tools while a guy wearing a tuxedo plays piano in the middle of the store.
@ok4450 I have to disagree with you about the screwdrivers
I’ve found the exact opposite to be true
The now defunct craftsman professional line . . . soft grip red and black . . . were a good deal, and had a very nice grip. However, the tips were too soft and wore out pretty quickly. Not a big deal in the past, when you could just head over to sears for a free replacement. The ones don’t even have a good grip in my opinion
I even preferred the old snap on black plastic handle screwdrivers over craftsman plastic grip
I don’t recall any real problems with the tips on the snap on screwdrivers, over the years
@jtsanders I’ve even seen craftsman tools at Costco recently . . . !
I Live In A Rural Area. My Nearest Complete Sears Store Has Always Been 2-1/2 Hours Away. Our Nearest Town, A Half Hour From Me Is A “Harder Side Of Sears” Store That Sells Only Appliances, Lawn And Garden, And Craftsman Tools. Many Of These Stores, As This One Is, Are Independently Owned.
These stores rely of tools sales and these folks weren’t vey happy when Sears started selling their tools a K-Mart and other outlets. Our town has a K-Mart that sells Craftsman. The independent dealers felt stabbed in the back.
CSA
About 80% of the Snap-On screwdrivers I have are non-functional due to rounded tips, corners snapped off and in the case of the SO Phillips drivers a No. 2 screwdriver has a better chance of rounding a No. 2 screw head out instead of removing it.
It’s funny, but I was on the road once and needed a No. 2 Phillips screwdriver which for some reason I did not have with me. I went into a local K-Mart and bought a store brand Phillips with a triangular handle. Twenty years later that screwdriver is still one of my favorites, has never let me down, and will remove a screw that others including my SOs won’t budge
That one is still in the small box I carry in the car with me at all times.
My assortment of SO screwdrivers is pretty large and range from small stubby hand helds to ones that are as long as my arm along with a heavy duty one that is now retired due to the tip breaking off about 2 months ago.
Preference is a subjective choice and to each their own but when I need a srewdriver now I just grab something else and let the SOs gather dust.
I’d sell them on eBay but 10 cents on the dollar isn’t much of a return and besides, I don’t like selling my tools anyway… 
A 3/8" ratchet and a piece of pipe might result in an injury.
Sure, and any tool MIGHT result in injury. It’s a risk we are apparently willing to take 
Not everyone can afford every tool. And there are instances where the smaller tool actually fits the situation better but there’s not much room for a hand too.
Like anything, if you fail to use your brain, you’re more likely to be injured.
A length of pipe, PROPERLY placed over the handle and of the appropriate length should actually be safer than NOT USING the pipe. It allows for far less force being applied by the operator to achieve the same result. Less force equals less injury potential. Unless you’re a careless fool…