Sears Closing

[AgronAlum]

Menards must be bad, because I consider the stuff I get from HD or Lowes to be my cheap stuff no matter the brand. Bought some dewalt tools at bomgaars because i needed a cheaper option for a couple jobs.

Yes, Menards is bad for tools. Especially their Tool Shop stuff. What brands do you consider good? IMO, Kobalt has some of the more innovative and sturdy hand tools out there.

Most of the stuff at my house is Craftsman because I got it when Craftsman was still good. The stuff I've had to replace or buy new is all over the board. Tool manufacturing has come a long way as far as having a decent variety to choose from. I tend to lean towards Harbor Freight even for those tools that won't see a lot of use.

 

[jdoggivjc]

This video is pretty informative:



You really can't talk Sears without talking Kmart anymore - because they're one company anyway.

 

[ruxCYtable]

The downfall of Sears has been dumbfounding. Toward the end, they weren't even competitive. We just got new kitchen appliances. The whole set -- fridge, oven, microwave, dishwasher -- from a small, local retailer, was only $500 more than JUST THE FRIDGE was going to be from Sears.

 

[IcSyU]

Yes, Menards is bad for tools. Especially their Tool Shop stuff. What brands do you consider good? IMO, Kobalt has some of the more innovative and sturdy hand tools out there.

Most of the stuff at my house is Craftsman because I got it when Craftsman was still good. The stuff I've had to replace or buy new is all over the board. Tool manufacturing has come a long way as far as having a decent variety to choose from. I tend to lean towards Harbor Freight even for those tools that won't see a lot of use.

Harbor Freight is great for my "replacements" tools. I don't want to be hanging on my Snap On or Craftsman wrenches and bend them. The one from Harbor Freight? I'll bend it and replace it without thinking twice.

I'd consider Milwaukee and DeWalt better than anything at Menards. Menards is great for buying materials but I basically refuse to buy tools in there.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Been a Sears tool/tool accessory guy for a long time. Recently bought a Diehard battery for the Porsche, had my size in stock and all. Been using their batteries it seems like forever. Got lots of old Sears tools stuff, wrenches, battery charger, sanders, router, mitre saw stand, floor jack etc. Even one cheap 1/2 hammer drill, not like I needed an expensive Milwaukee for the few times I really need to drill into concrete. My appliances all came from them in 2001, a little before they lost their mojo for them. Also have a 30 year old washer and dryer set from them that's still going strong.

Did walk through a Sears over Christmas and looked at the annual holiday tool gift stuff. Guess I am getting old since I didn't see anything I needed. Might mean I have enough tool toys. anything like drills etc I get at Home Depot these days anyway. Kinda go between HD and Menards. If it is a one time use need (say an odd size star drive screwdriver) I might get it at Menards. If it something I'll use again I get it at Home Depot. Even HD and Lowes screw drivers and common tools stuff ain't that great. Looked through a series of screwdrivers at Lowes and the flat head ones looked like they were machined/forged in some backyard chicken coop in China. Hell, the flat heads were like not even perfectly perpendicular. So much stuff is just crap.

 

[BCClone]

Yes, Menards is bad for tools. Especially their Tool Shop stuff. What brands do you consider good? IMO, Kobalt has some of the more innovative and sturdy hand tools out there.

Most of the stuff at my house is Craftsman because I got it when Craftsman was still good. The stuff I've had to replace or buy new is all over the board. Tool manufacturing has come a long way as far as having a decent variety to choose from. I tend to lean towards Harbor Freight even for those tools that won't see a lot of use.

Power tools I buy hitachi commercial grade. Stuff is indestructible, had stuff fall off bins that I'm working on and not even phase them. Hand tools, I go two directions, I buy cheap stuff for in equipment with high probability of infield repairs. Too much of that stuff gets planted. If in the shop, I have some Thorson tools that I have had for 30 some years that my dad bought. Outside that I have quite a bit of John Deere since they never question anything I bring back even if it's just a scratch that bothers me. Probably spend too much there for that type of service.

 

[BCClone]

Harbor Freight is great for my "replacements" tools. I don't want to be hanging on my Snap On or Craftsman wrenches and bend them. The one from Harbor Freight? I'll bend it and replace it without thinking twice.

I'd consider Milwaukee and DeWalt better than anything at Menards. Menards is great for buying materials but I basically refuse to buy tools in there.

Why wouldn't you hang on the lifetime replacement stuff? If you bend it, it should get replaced. Never been a snap on guy but Im assuming they have lifetime warranties.

 

[IcSyU]

Why wouldn't you hang on the lifetime replacement stuff? If you bend it, it should get replaced. Never been a snap on guy but Im assuming they have lifetime warranties.

Because it's a PITA to get stuff replaced.

 

[BCClone]

Because it's a PITA to get stuff replaced.

That's one big reason that I started going with John Deere stuff (I know they just slap their name on it but it is very durable stuff) because I'm there often enough and they will deliver and pick up if I can wait a day.

 

[AgronAlum]

That's one big reason that I started going with John Deere stuff (I know they just slap their name on it but it is very durable stuff) because I'm there often enough and they will deliver and pick up if I can wait a day.

I'm guessing you use this stuff for a living based on who you're buying through and needing replacements same day through delivery. I can see needs being a little different if that's the case. I personally, find it easier to buy the junk for stuff I know I'll break and not pay the premium of having a tool guy, but I also don't need them to make my living. It really is a PITA returning stuff.