People don't understand paying for quality.

[e3pres]

I picked up my first Knipex tools tonight at Lowe's. I bought a pair of dikes, a pair of needlenose, and a pair of lineman's pliers. Those three items, along with a couple of other small things came to just over $100. I didn't think I was going to get out of the store without a lecture from everyone there about how foolish I was for spending so much money. First, the cashier gave me the business and then the guy behind me in line started up. I explained that they were high quality items and demanded a higher price than the Chinese junk that dominates their tool section, and they both looked at me like I had another head growing out of my neck.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but there was a time when quality was valued. I'm so sick of our throw-away lifestyle! You want to be green? You want to save the environment? Find out what you need, find out who makes the best one, save your pennies, pay the price, take care of it, keep it forever!

Whew... I feel better.

 

[arkangel06]

AMEN to that right there!

I get the looks ect... all the time.

 

[kornjulio]

Thank the cashier for not following any career/financial advice they're offering...

 

[Moose-LandTran]

In cases like that i tell them to mind their own f**king business.

Seems to work. Gawd, i hate people.

 

[oldtools]

Easy to say for those who have the mean to do so. For others, that $100 feed a family of 4 for a month.

 

[wafrederick]

I agree with you.All that cheap junk is good for modifying to make a special tool.I have box of cheap junk for that reason,to modify instead of screwing up a high quality tool voiding the warranty.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Easy to say for those who have the mean to do so. For others, that $100 feed a family of 4 for a month.

You can feed a family of 4 for a month on $100? Holy ****. I spend more that that a month feeding myself alone..

 

[bushhawg73]

ITS your money, YOU spend it how you want and tell the other poeple to mind their own business. If I want something I could care less what anyone else thinks, MY MONEY my choice.

 

[Bolster]

WAIT a second. Your Lowe's sells Knipex???

How were their prices compared to online vendors?

I'm pretty sure mine doesn't...what section? Tool or electrical or...?

 

[e3pres]

Easy to say for those who have the mean to do so. For others, that $100 feed a family of 4 for a month.

There is a difference in not having the means to buy something and not understanding why something of higher quality is more expensive.

If people really looked at the cost of things, they would understand that it is cheaper to buy a more expensive regularly used item once than buy a cheap version and replace it several times. This mindset goes far beyond tools.

 

[e3pres]

WAIT a second. Your Lowe's sells Knipex???

How were their prices compared to online vendors?

I'm pretty sure mine doesn't...what section? Tool or electrical or...?

Electrical tools. It is a pretty limited selection, but I was able to see them in person before pulling the trigger. Prices were a little higher than online, but not terrible and I didn't have to wait.

 

[zer0cell]

Some people don't know how to mind their business. If another customer in the store makes a comment, just ignore it. If that customer however persists and starts trying to mock you and starts asking questions, simply tell him to mind his own business. IF however someone who actually works in the store starts making negative comments about your purchase or trying to belittle you, I'd call the manager over and tell him/her straight up that one of their employees is making derogatory/inflammatory remarks because you decided to buy some expensive tools... if you raise a big enough fuss you might get the employee fired or put up for review. Then they can go home and be hungry... why on earth would you insult someone who is helping to secure your job. Stupid.

 

[southpier]

plus, it's not really anyone else's beeswax how you spend your money. if you're happy, that's what matters.

 

[zer0cell]

WAIT a second. Your Lowe's sells Knipex???

How were their prices compared to online vendors?

I'm pretty sure mine doesn't...what section? Tool or electrical or...?

My lowes sells them too but as was mentioned the selection is limited, they pretty much have what is advertised on their website at my local store:

http://www.lowes.com/SearchCatalogD...d=10051&N=0&newSearch=true&Ntt=knipex&x=0&y=0


I wouldn't doubt however that if the brand sells well at Lowes they will start carrying other models too...

 

[filtered]

Personally I would have told them "I guess you don't want my money", and left empty handed. If you really wanted to be green, you'd buy quality used tools. Most of what I own was used. It allows me to buy higher quality tools and more of them. As long as they are in good condition what's the difference? After the first time they are used anyway.

Back on topic, Lowes around here *****. I didn't see much worth while in the tool department last time I was there.

 

[e3pres]

Personally I would have told them "I guess you don't want my money", and left empty handed. If you really wanted to be green, you'd buy quality used tools. Most of what I own was used. It allows me to buy higher quality tools and more of them. As long as they are in good condition what's the difference? After the first time they are used anyway.

Back on topic, Lowes around here *****. I didn't see much worth while in the tool department last time I was there.

I have my fair share of used tools. Mostly inherited C-man, Williams, and Klein, but I'm filling in the gaps and our pawn shops around here rarely if ever have any used stuff worth having.

 

[sawatch]

I live in the boonies and don't have a quality tool outlet within a couple hundred miles. Have been shoppin' here and have a nice box full of near new/used tools for half the price of new from members that have been great sellers and honest GJ members. Don't need no stinkin' outlet!

 

[matthew]

You have to use the tool to understand what it is that makes a quality tool... and lots of people don't, or don't have the better tool to compare to. And for a lot of people the extra $10-20 isn't worth it, because the tool is seldom used, and they can get by with the cheaper one. Generally there's a middle ground between buying too expensive and buying too cheap, but others shouldn't be giving you a tough time for choosing that point for yourself where you get the best value.

 

[toolmiser]

Tell them there are Chevettes, and Cadilacs, and I appreciate quality! I didn't know that they screened customers for what they should and shouldn't buy. Sounds like the cashier and other rubber necker didn't know quality if they seen it.

 

[X1 Mike]

If people really looked at the cost of things, they would understand that it is cheaper to buy a more expensive regularly used item once than buy a cheap version and replace it several times. This mindset goes far beyond tools.

I saw this today, someone had a junk cigarette lighter that they couldn't get to light. They then bitched about how many of those things they went through. I thought to myself "One $20 Zippo would cure that forever".

IF however someone who actually works in the store starts making negative comments about your purchase or trying to belittle you, I'd call the manager over and tell him/her straight up that one of their employees is making derogatory/inflammatory remarks because you decided to buy some expensive tools... if you raise a big enough fuss you might get the employee fired or put up for review. Then they can go home and be hungry... why on earth would you insult someone who is helping to secure your job. Stupid.

Because everyone loves a snitch.

 

[blue dog]

WAIT a second. Your Lowe's sells Knipex???

How were their prices compared to online vendors?

I'm pretty sure mine doesn't...what section? Tool or electrical or...?

I do not know what part of L.A you are in, but the hawthorne LOEWS sells knipex in the electrical section.

I bought the same as the OP plus the 8" bolt cutters, could not be happier with them, they blow all my kleins away.

 

[Danglerb]

You can feed a family of 4 for a month on $100? Holy ****. I spend more that that a month feeding myself alone..

40 lbs each of rice and pinto beans. Bulk foods, no meat, $100 no problem.

I don't care for shows of wealth. It used to be common for the rich to do various things as a show wealth, wasting food etc., and that bothers me.

You want a pricey pair of pliers, don't worry I'm not offended by your callous disregard for the starving poor of the world.

 

[I can fix anything]

If it aint the best at what your useing it for its a waste of money.

 

[e3pres]

You want a pricey pair of pliers, don't worry I'm not offended by your callous disregard for the starving poor of the world.

Thanks. Anyone who knows me will tell you that my callous disregard for the starving poor of the world has very little to do with my tool purchasing habits.

 

[Abbott]

I just looked at the Knipex at Lowe's two nights ago. I didn't care for the handles or the price. I went back to the tool section and purchased Channellock brand Iron Workers pliers. At $22.00 a pair they are pricey enough for me and I always get good service out of Channelock tools.

 

[Skin]

never even heard nor had the experience of a clerk trying to talk someone out of a higher priced tool purchase. Unless you were wearing rags for clothes and visibly starving, or you asked for their advice, i dont even get how that comes up.


/scans tool and observes price

"Well gee sir you dont want this product we sell, you want the cheaper one in the dollar rack!"


i dont think i've ever in my life had someone remark about my purchase without me asking for their advice, let alone a cashier just saying something out of the blue. That whole scenerio just sounds so bizarre, i'd probably have a "wtf" expresion on my face on my way out the door.

 

[supertooljunkie]

I love a quality tool, and don't mind paying the price for it. I like US made Channel Lock pliers, but have been phasing them out for Knipex. I haven't used the Knipex yet, and will have the Channel Locks for backup, when I do.
Money spent for a GOOD tool once, is much better spent, than a crappy tool multiple times.

It's your money, tell these yayhoos to blow it out their a$$.

 

[zer0cell]

@X1 Mike...

Ha, I'm actually doing him/her a favor... I'll let the manager straighten the cashier out before I show him/her what other 'uses' my quality new tool is capable of

 

[e3pres]

I just looked at the Knipex at Lowe's two nights ago. I didn't care for the handles or the price. I went back to the tool section and purchased Channellock brand Iron Workers pliers. At $22.00 a pair they are pricey enough for me and I always get good service out of Channelock tools.

I was a little worried about the handles too, but after asking on here about clean up, I decided to go with the Knipex. I have some very old Channellock pliers that still work great, and I seriously looked at their products. They make great stuff and alot of it is still made in PA.

 

[fordbroncodave]

there is a reason why i pay a premium on used snap on tools and that is the reason why i don't even bother with the chinese stuff

 

[fordbroncodave]

my tools will outlive me and i am thankful of that

 

[X1 Mike]

@X1 Mike...

Ha, I'm actually doing him/her a favor... I'll let the manager straighten the cashier out before I show him/her what other 'uses' my quality new tool is capable of

So you are a snitch and a tough guy. That changes everything, you didn't tell me you were a double threat.

 

[zer0cell]

I was just joking buddy... unprofessionalism in the workplace however does disturb me though...

 

[zer0cell]

Oh yeah, this post reminds me of something my dad told me when I showed him a new hand tool I bought which was rather expensive. He said he liked it and it was good but it went something like this:

"...I'm too old to be buying things like that. For what I do now on my spare time I just buy a piece of junk at harbor freight or a used tool at a thrift shop and when it breaks I throw it away. As long as I have what I need for these last few projects I want to finish on my house before I die then I'm good. You are young my son, and you do a lot of remodeling work. For you it makes sense to buy the best tools you can use for many years. I used to do that when I was younger too until most of them were stolen and I got older. Now I just want to be in peace before I die..."

Haha, he's been talking about dying the past 15 years and he's still okay, surviving several heart attacks and cancer... Hopefully he will be around to talk about death the next 15 years too!

My view is, when I need something I know I will barely use I don't mind going cheap. When I need some tools I will be using hundreds or thousands of times... I want the good stuff.

 

[Thumper]

Thanks. Anyone who knows me will tell you that my callous disregard for the starving poor of the world has very little to do with my tool purchasing habits.

???? WTF ??? Did I miss something? What the hell has the price of a pair of pliers got to do with world hunger?

 

[bgott]

Money talks and ******** walks. The cashier and the other customer were thinking about al the beer, cigarettes and lottery tickets they could buy with the cash difference between the price of the cheap junk and the good tools.

 

[kythri]

So you are a snitch and a tough guy. That changes everything, you didn't tell me you were a double threat.

So, you're a snitch for reporting poor customer service and an employee who seems intent on sabotaging the company he works for?

That kind of attitude completely explains why morons like the cashier actually have a job in the first place.

 

[kythri]

40 lbs each of rice and pinto beans. Bulk foods, no meat, $100 no problem.

I don't care for shows of wealth. It used to be common for the rich to do various things as a show wealth, wasting food etc., and that bothers me.

You want a pricey pair of pliers, don't worry I'm not offended by your callous disregard for the starving poor of the world.

The starving poor of the world should get a job building pricey pairs of pliers.

 

[impulse922]

should've asked what kinda cars they drive, then say "oh then you wouldnt know much about quality"

 

[american lockpicker]

Nobody ever gives me problems although once I was chatting with an employee in the tool section of Lowes and he didn't believe Bosch jigsaws were made in Switzerland till I showed him a COO label.