Craftsman (tools)
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Craftsman is a line of tools and lawn and garden equipment, owned by KCD IP, LLC (Kenmore Craftsman DieHard Intellectual Property, Limited Liability Company). Although items sold carry a Craftsman brand name, they are made by various contractors. The tools are sold in Sears, Kmart, and Orchard Supply Hardware stores (all three owned by Sears Holdings Corporation), and also at Fastenal, and US military Army and Air Force Exchange Service stores. Consumers have ranked the Craftsman brand second (surpassed only by Waterford crystal) in terms of quality. (Source: Nov. 2002 EquiTrend(SM) survey by Harris Interactive). Since 1927, Craftsman has sold more hammers and other striking tools than any other brand. Craftsman is also the official tool of NASCAR.
Sears has sold its hand tools under the "Craftsman" name since 1927. Into the 1970s, their secondary line of hand tools were called simply "Sears," and according to many consumers they were of above average quality. Sears' bargain line of tools was named "Companion". While the "Sears" line was discontinued around 1980, the "Companion" line remains. In recent years, a subset of the Craftsman line, known as "Craftsman Professional" has been introduced as a highest quality line under the Craftsman logo, and they are billed as Only The Best as a part of the Sears/Craftsman advertising campaign.
Craftsman hand tools have an unlimited lifetime warranty. The unlimited lifetime warranty is voided if the tool is used in an industrial or commercial environment. For these situations, there is a special unlimited warranty program. A common misconception among consumers still exists that the lifetime warranty includes Craftsman power tools and precision hand tools. Craftsman portable power tools, bench power tools, air compressors, lawn & garden products and other powered items carry various warranties. Sears offers Replacement Agreements and Master Protection Agreements on most of their tools.
In 2003 Sears removed the lifetime warranty from Craftsman flashlights. Another limitation to the warranty introduced in 2003 Craftsman tape measures carry a lifetime warranty on all parts except the blade itself. Almost any tool may be brought to a Sears store and exchanged for a replacement item. Some items are considered specialty tools, and thus not covered under the unlimited warranty.
After the merger, Kmart began selling Craftsman products; Kmart stores will also honor the lifetime warranties on any hand tools. The unlimited lifetime warranty is voided if the tool is used in an industrial or commercial environment. For these situations, there is a special unlimited warranty program.
Craftsman tools came under fire in 2004 in a lawsuit accusing Sears, Roebuck and Company of false advertising and consumer fraud for questionable use of the "Made in USA" slogan.[1]
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| People: | Floyd Hall · Alan J. Lacy · Sebastian S. Kresge · Alvah C. Roebuck · Richard Sears |
| Retailers: | Kmart · Big Kmart · Super Kmart · Lands' End · Sears · Sears Grand · Sears Hardware · Sears Appliance Dealer · Sears Outlet · Sears Parts & Repair · The Great Indoors · Orchard Supply Hardware · Sears Canada · Sears Mexico |
| Brands: | Craftsman · DieHard · Kenmore · Joe Boxer · Martha Stewart Everyday |
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