Oh man! The last time you went to sears where they selling guns and had the live vacuum demo !I busted a 1/2 to 3/8 adapter that i've had for a long time, I go into Sears and the first thing I noticed is a set of regular combination wrenches that just look different, the open end was forged differently than the ones I have, I turn it around and WTF! "Made in China"
I haven't needed to buy any hand tools for a long time, and this was a shock. Some of the stuff was made in USA but most seemed to be from either China or Taiwan, in fact I couldn't find a new American made adapter, I had to settle for Taiwan made.
I also hear they give you "ratchet rebuild kits" now instead of handing you a new ratchet. Is there any truth to that? I also noticed many tools had "limited" warranties now. If i wanted Chinese junk i'd just go to Harbor Freight.
When and why did Sears decide to do this? I would gladly pay a little more if they kept the same quality as their old tools and kept all the manufacturing in this country.
Sears tools been off shore a long time as have a lot of brands. Its hard to find USA made tools. Meaning parts made and assembled here. Mayhew tools Pro line is made in USA here in MA. Look carefully with any tools you buy.
Snap on has taken a nose dive also.
Warranty on tools is becoming a royal pita for any tool now days. If your not spending HUgE money try keeping a tool truck coming around.
Been wrenching 30plus years. last 5 years or so everything seems to suck now. Maybe im getting old. I have snap on and sunex sockets 30 years p!us. Most started failing in the past few years. so far the replacement 15mm deep impact snappy has split 2 times. The new sunex 18mm deep impact swivel went 3 years.
i have been using a lot of gear wrench stuff. My pay has fallen well short of the cost increases of life so my tool money is not what it used to be.