I don't think I could've stated this any better. When I was younger, I started with Craftsman; they had a good rep, and it was easy to get warranty replacement (the only time I've ever had to exercise the warranty was for the 1/4" ratchet - and they gave me a new one instead of the 'rebuild kits' they hand out now).
Later, as time went on, I'd recognize how much play / slop was in the ratchets, the loose tolerances between the sockets / extensions / ratchets, etc. - especially if I was working with someone who had better quality tools. But for the prices paid, and easy availability to Sears, I stuck with them.
Then HF started making inroads here in Chicago Metro - and I bought a new home that was close to one of their stores. I remember my first visit - I was in tool heaven - all kinds of stuff, and probably 1/2 the price of Sears. Yes, it was all made in China, likely by people who were paid a pittance - but so was the 3/4 ton floor jack that I purchased at Sears that broke the second time I used it - and I couldn't return it. That's when I swore off anything Craftsman except the hand tools that carried the lifetime warranty.
As an aside, I purchased a heavier duty jack from HF; have had it for the better part of 10 years now, and it still works well.
Because of HF, I now have air tools & compressor. I would never have paid Sears' prices for the same equipment.
Now you have lines from Home Depot and Lowe's (Kobalt) that are guaranteed for life, and they're all over the place like Sears used to be.
Agree w/ you on the Snap-On stuff - great tools, but when a 3/8" ratchet costs > $100, and a code scanner is $800 - it's not priced for the home mechanic. I feel sorry for professional mechs who are in hock to Snap-On for $1000's because they can't keep away from the tool truck when it makes its monthly stop where they work. Granted, the better quality tools help them earn their living easier. But the old timers have learned not to step on board the tool truck too often.
Sears does sell a higher quality line of ratchets, but they're almost in Snap-On price territory. Meanwhile, I can get the new HF higher quality line for $18-$30 or so, and choose from the following:
- Composites, with 1/2 the weight of steel
- Telescoping, which increases leverage w/o having to change out to a breaker bar
- Swivel head, for odd angle work
- Combo 3/8 and 1/2 head (one on each side), saving time in swapping out ratchets.
And every one of them carries a no-questions asked lifetime warranty.
Finally, re: ratcheting wrenches - the two things I don't like about them, Sears' especially...
a) The ratcheting head tends to be too thick to maneuver in tighter places, and I wind up getting another tool to use (usually a socket) or swinging around to the open end.
b) They only come in 12-point, and I try not to use 12-point wrenches - while the wrench fits in a smaller degree of arc, you're more likely to round off a stuck fastener with a 12-point.
Sears does sell 6-point wrench sets in SAE & Metric. I think each is an 18pc set, drop-forged, and made in USA. THOSE are the ones to get when the clearance sales start, IMO. I love mine, and they're my go-to wrenches.