In late 2024, bargain hunters at Lowe’s found professional-grade Craftsman V-Series hand tools selling at staggering discounts—sometimes 75–80% off. Within months, these same tools vanished from shelves nationwide.
Behind the short retail window lay years of missteps at Stanley Black & Decker (SBD), from a failed U.S. factory project to costly acquisition strategies that left Craftsman’s top-tier line stranded. “The line was cleared without signaling its demise to buyers,” analysts say. Here’s what happened next…
Retail Rollout That Looked Like a Launch
Craftsman’s V-Series line quietly debuted online in November 2021, targeting professional mechanics and serious home users who sought quality without premium prices. For three years, the line remained largely digital, letting SBD manage inventory and track demand closely.
In October 2024, the tools appeared in over 1,700 Lowe’s locations with deep holiday discounts. ToolGuyd reports custom displays and stock levels averaging two to four dozen of each SKU. The scale and merchandising suggested a major expansion. By May 2025, however, reorders stopped and shelves emptied, signaling a planned liquidation disguised as a promotion, leaving buyers misled about the line’s longevity.
A Heritage Brand Faces Pressure
SBD acquired Craftsman from Sears in January 2017 for $900 million, gaining a 90-year-old name with strong recognition but weakened infrastructure. Years of underinvestment and Sears’ 2018 bankruptcy had already eroded confidence in Craftsman’s durability. Public promises included hundreds of millions in investments and a plan to restore the brand alongside DEWALT and Stanley.
Execution proved uneven: product discontinuities, shifting assortments, and mounting warranty complaints created consumer frustration. By 2024, SBD aimed to achieve $1.5 billion in pre-tax cost reductions. High-performance, lower-margin products like V-Series faced scrutiny, despite positive reviews, including AutoWeek’s January 2022 confirmation that the tools held up under professional use.
Fort Worth Factory Collapse
V-Series’ turning point began in Fort Worth, Texas, with a 2019 $90 million plant designed to bring Craftsman tools back to U.S. production. Promising advanced manufacturing and 500 jobs, it was to support a premium domestic line.
The facility closed by March 2023, leaving 175 Texas and 182 South Carolina workers without jobs. SBD cited “technology that did not meet our expectations” and pandemic-era supply chain challenges. Legal filings revealed mechanical failures that prevented compliance with production specifications. With the plant gone, the bridge to a domestic premium line vanished, leaving V-Series without the future it had been meant to lead.
Imported Premium Tools at Clearance Prices
Despite the Craftsman badge, V-Series tools were manufactured overseas, primarily in Taiwan and France—the same factories that produced Facom and USAG tools. The line offered high-quality performance at mid-range prices, undercutting SBD’s European premium brand.
During the 2024 holiday season, a 12-piece V-Series wrench set sold for $30, compared with roughly $150 for comparable Facom sets. AutoWeek’s January 2022 testing confirmed professional-grade performance, making V-Series a rare bargain. With Fort Worth’s collapse, the middle-tier line became strategically awkward, squeezing margins and competing with other SBD brands. Eliminating the V-Series simplified logistics and reduced internal overlap, while also eliminating the opportunity for buyers seeking European-quality tools at a lower cost.
Warranty Promises and Market Shifts
Craftsman marketed the V-Series with a lifetime warranty. In September 2025, the company stated that it would “honor the V-series warranty with the next equal value Craftsman product,” according to ToolGuyd. In practice, replacements proved difficult, as no equivalent Craftsman line was available.
Customer reports describe long hold times and multi-week processing times for claims. With the U.S. DIY market projected to grow from $940 billion in 2024 to over $970 billion in 2025, consumers shifted to alternatives like Harbor Freight’s Icon brand, which offered more accessible warranties. The discontinuation of V-Series created a vacuum for professional-quality tools at reachable prices.
Outlook for Craftsman and Tool Buyers
V-Series’ removal closes a chapter in which Craftsman competed on quality at attainable prices. Mechanics, tradespeople, and hobbyists now face a steep jump from $30 for professional-grade wrenches to $150 for similar performance or must settle for lower-quality options.
SBD continues to prioritize cost reduction and portfolio simplification, with no clear successor to the V-Series. The disappearance of Craftsman’s most acclaimed modern hand tools highlights how ambitious manufacturing plans, acquisition strategies, and financial pressures can collide—shaping both product lines and where everyday users turn for quality tools.
Sources:
“Craftsman Discontinued their Best Hand Tools.” ToolGuyd, September 30, 2025.
“Tested: These Craftsman V-Series Tools Are Ideal for New Professionals.” AutoWeek, January 24, 2022.
“Sears, the store that changed America, declares bankruptcy.” CNN, October 15, 2018.
“Stanley Black & Decker to buy Craftsman brand from Sears for about $900 million.” Bloomberg, January 5, 2017.
“Stanley Black & Decker closing Fort Worth plant.” Community Impact, March 29, 2023.
“United States DIY (Do It Yourself) Tools Market Size, Growth Report, 2024-2033.” Business Research Insights, November 23, 2025.