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Country of Origin for New Wiha Plier Models

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dede2897234

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Feb 1, 2008
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Northern, Ohio
I had an online discussion last night with a ChadsToolbox customer service representative.

Here it is:

<<
Me: [I am interested in purchasing the following tools:]
WIHA 32625 Vinyl Grip Bent Long Nose Pliers With Cutter 8 Inch,
WIHA 30222 SoftFinish Heavy-Duty Slot 6.0 X 100mm Round Blade,
05007675001 WERA 334 SK SLOTTED S/D 1.2 X 7 X 125MM,
05008753001 WERA 350 SK PH PHIL S/D HEX SHANK PH3 X 150MM

Me: Do you have all 4 items in stock?

ChadsToolbox Sales: WERA yes, wiha no, I would recommend German made Knipex 26 21 200 instead of the Vietnamese WIHA pliers.

ChadsToolbox Sales: I can find a WERA alternate for the other WIHA item as well.

Me: Is the Knipex 26 21 200 in stock? Are all the new Wiha pliers made in Vietnam?

ChadsToolbox Sales: yes and yes, one of the many factors influencing the "backburner" treatment of WIHA for us.

ChadsToolbox Sales: It was to be completely dropped from the store, but a drop ship agreement was negotiated.

Me: Does Wera make a 6mm slotted screwdriver?

ChadsToolbox Sales: 031416

ChadsToolbox Sales: 031421

ChadsToolbox Sales: looks to be few, they hit 5.5 and 6.5 in most of them

ChadsToolbox Sales: 008061

ChadsToolbox Sales: 032005

Me: Are the 4 Wera 6mm slotted screwdrivers all in stock?

ChadsToolbox Sales: most likely, the warehouse is not open right now for me to check. WERA stock is usually all pretty heavy.

ChadsToolbox Sales: if not it would be replenished within 1-2 weeks, they [Wera] have the best turnaround time of any of our Euro suppliers
>>

I hope that Wiha does not manufacture in the near future their screwdrivers in Vietnam as well!


Dave
 
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Monte

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I talked to a Wiha sales rep on a fair and he said it`s not financeable to set up a complete new plier production unit in germany.

The pliers are quite nice though. It always also depends on WHO makes a tool not solely WHERE. See Wera tools made in czech republic for example. Or Panasonic tools made in China.


vcf4.jpg
 
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werktools

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Feb 25, 2009
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Sounds like sour grapes from Chads Tool Box, as we know country of origin means less and less these days. If Wiha can make good Pliers in Vietnam then whats the problem? Even Snap-On is sourcing out of China, I see their stuff at Costco all the time and every bit of it is China made. Chads just needs to move into the real world and sell based on quality not on the best margin they can squeeze out of their suppliers! There is no point in bad mouthing a company that has proven over and over that they provide superior quality and consistent performance.
 
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tonydanzah

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werktools said:
Sounds like sour grapes from Chads Tool Box, as we know country of origin means less and less these days. If Wiha can make good Pliers in Vietnam then whats the problem? Even Snap-On is sourcing out of China, I see their stuff at Costco all the time and every bit of it is China made. Chads just needs to move into the real world and sell based on quality not on the best margin they can squeeze out of their suppliers! There is no point in bad mouthing a company that has proven over and over that they provide superior quality and consistent performance.
Click to expand...

hahahahahaha, so much wrong with this statement, COO means everything. And the snap on at costco is not snap on, its snap on whoring out there name.
 
I

imom

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While a COO is important to me, the top 3 are my favorite, Germany, US, and Japan, but I've seen good stuff from Taiwan.

I've recently bought SK, Wiha, and Wera screwdrivers. Wera and SK expert is really awesome... Wiha...I believe they said made in Germany and it was cheap **** to me. I bought a torx screwdriver set from Wiha...I kinda wish I returned it and bought felo or someone else. BTW, SK screwdriver is made by BOST... really awesome screwdrivers.

So until stuff from Vietnam is considered ****..not sure if folks are jumping the gun on crapping on them. Yeah I'm disappointed too that they are not made in Germany, but I've seen sewing machines from Germany to Czech republic from Pfaff and it's crappy quality since then. Just because it's in Germany or Europe will it mean great stuff...and just because it's in Asia doesn't mean it's all **** either.

I rather wait for user feedback to find out...what I don't like to see they charge Germany/US/Japan pricing for stuff not made there.
 
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tonydanzah

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While I have no problem with made in tawain tools, I have a probelm when a tool leaves its origional country of origin and is being made somewhere because its cheaper witout a reduction in price
 
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tradesmanschoice

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Oct 27, 2010
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Cambridge, UK
Monte said:
what is with these swiss Wiha pliers ?

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/WIHA-Insulated-PliersCutter-Set-5HYN1
Click to expand...

As far as I was aware, these pliers were previously made in Germany.

But now you say the new pliers are Swiss made?

None of this seems to be making any sense. Why would they shift production from Germany to Switzerland? Surely the Swiss costs would be even higher than Germany?

Or perhaps they are not really made in Switzerland, but just some final stages of manufacture are done there so they can stamp "Swiss-Made" on them?

Does anyone actually know?

Cheers,
Mark.
 
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american lockpicker

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tradesmanschoice said:
As far as I was aware, these pliers were previously made in Germany.

But now you say the new pliers are Swiss made?

None of this seems to be making any sense. Why would they shift production from Germany to Switzerland? Surely the Swiss costs would be even higher than Germany?

Or perhaps they are not really made in Switzerland, but just some final stages of manufacture are done there so they can stamp "Swiss-Made" on them?

Does anyone actually know?

Cheers,
Mark.
Click to expand...

Maybe its a marketing thing. Swiss sells better than German.
 
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lbgradwell

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american lockpicker said:
Wow those are pricy :shocking: looks like I need to start saving up my pennies.
Click to expand...

That's just an artificial Grainger price; a quick search will knock a lot off that...

tradesmanschoice said:
As far as I was aware, these pliers were previously made in Germany.

But now you say the new pliers are Swiss made?

None of this seems to be making any sense. Why would they shift production from Germany to Switzerland? Surely the Swiss costs would be even higher than Germany?

Or perhaps they are not really made in Switzerland, but just some final stages of manufacture are done there so they can stamp "Swiss-Made" on them?

Does anyone actually know?
Click to expand...

american lockpicker said:
Maybe its a marketing thing. Swiss sells better than German.
Click to expand...

I don't know for certain, but I imagine it's as simple as Grainger having screwed up the COO; it probably is Germany (or Vietnam)...

I can't actually read any COO on those...
 
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tradesmanschoice

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lbgradwell said:
That's just an artificial Grainger price; a quick search will knock a lot off that...





I don't know for certain, but I imagine it's as simple as Grainger having screwed up the COO; it probably is Germany (or Vietnam)...

I can't actually read any COO on those...
Click to expand...


I thought that too, but then I saw a photo on a thread here that showed "SWISS-MADE" stamped on the pliers.

Actually I've inspected the boxes and cards that come with the latest batch of insulated pliers from Wiha and it doesn't actually say where they are made...
 
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lbgradwell

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Well, how about that?!

Now I have to agree with Mark; how can Swiss production be cheaper than German? Switzerland must be one of the very few countries that is likely to be more expensive!
 
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treasureseeker

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Chads motif is EU tools. They have some non-EU but that isn’t their focus. If I am going to pay for German quality tools I and not going to be happy with a Vietnam made tool for the same price. If I want to resell the item someday somehow I think the Wiha tool made in Germany is going to be worth more and be more desirable.
 
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american lockpicker

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Monte said:
why ?? :)

ps:

wihaswissmade.jpg
Click to expand...

Well here "Made in Switzerland" is considered the absolute best(probably due to the Swiss watch industry.)

lbgradwell said:
Well, how about that?!

Now I have to agree with Mark; how can Swiss production be cheaper than German? Switzerland must be one of the very few countries that is likely to be more expensive!
Click to expand...

Swiss production(and everything in or from there) is expensive from what I learned on englishforum.ch
 
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Monte

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lbgradwell said:
Well, how about that?!

Now I have to agree with Mark; how can Swiss production be cheaper than German? Switzerland must be one of the very few countries that is likely to be more expensive!
Click to expand...

There are thousands and thousands of german and italian employees who cross the borders to switzerland daily to work there, but can´t afford living there. So i don´t know about wages there but not everyone who works there is rich. Companies also pay low taxes there since the counties/provinces underbid each other with lower taxes.
 
D

dialar

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Mar 13, 2018
Messages
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werktools said:
Sounds like sour grapes from Chads Tool Box, as we know country of origin means less and less these days. If Wiha can make good Pliers in Vietnam then whats the problem? Even Snap-On is sourcing out of China, I see their stuff at Costco all the time and every bit of it is China made. Chads just needs to move into the real world and sell based on quality not on the best margin they can squeeze out of their suppliers! There is no point in bad mouthing a company that has proven over and over that they provide superior quality and consistent performance.
Click to expand...


Yes, it does mean less and less these days, as you say.
But it still matters with certain types of items.
Manufacturing processes still differ, raw materials can range in quality,
"mentor" craftspeople are less present (if at all) in some locations,
government regs differ, even cultural factors come into play - sometimes very strongly. Some cultures strive more strongly only for the bottom line and returns to shareholders. Others place more actual value (not just lip service)
on customer satisfaction.
This last point is often the key factor determining how much emphasis I'll
place on where an item (such as a hand tool) is manufactured), but the others are important as well.

IMO & IME.:)
 
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davethorik

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Cracks me up people with 1 post quote someone in an 8 year old thread when dredging it up, like the topic will still be fresh in their mind...if they are even still active...lol
 
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maico

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Funnily enough nothing has changed in 8 years. VBW (owned by Stahlwille), NWS, Knipex and Hazet all make pliers in Germany and Gedore in Austria. Monte's post count is now over 11,000 !
 
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