lifetime tool guarantees were the best thing they had going for them IMO. Their lawn mowers however are a different story. Over the years I heard story after story about how bad the quality on them was.
My craftsman lawn mower lasted 26 years
When I purchased a new one about 4 or 5 years ago, it cost the same.....$200
I had a Sears lawnmower for 19 years and would still be using it if it didn’t get drowned in Harvey last year. I have a new one but I don’t know if it will last as long. I hope it does...
That wasn't really the company's fault - their mower engine supplier (Tecumseh) began having problems when it was forced to change designs to comply with EPA regs. Tecumseh eventually moved entirely out of North America in search of cheaper labor, and I believe it finally shut down a year or two later. Their older engines were actually very good, though - Toro used them as well.
Sears finally switched most of the mower line to Briggs & Stratton engines around ten years ago. Maybe a few top-end models with Honda engines.
I heard the same; yet I owned a Craftsman garden tractor and never had a problem with it for 18 years. I sold it when I sold my home and it was still running strong.