Counterfeit ESCO 10498 Jack Stands?

[saponico]

In the last 2 months, I purchased 2 pairs of the ESCO 10489 jack stand from 2 different only retailers. When I lined them all up on the shelf, I noticed that I have two different looking jack stands. There are 4 differences: (1) two peg holes on the top of the stand are spaced differently, (2) the finish color and texture is slightly different, (3) the stickers are slightly different and orientation is different, (4) the weld quality is different. I reached out directly to ESCO and received no response so posting on GJ since it seems many people own the ESCO 10498. Here are some pictures illustrating the above. Thoughts?

 

[Burgerkong]

Counterfeits of counterfeits? Sorry, can't help haha, but the irony. Then again, I do lust for a set of the counterfeits.

 

[gdocktor3]

Maybe new old stock from a few years back and the design has since changed? They both look like they're well made.

 

[Stinger]

They probably just changed manufacturers (or moved them offshore if they weren't already) which is why they didn't respond/care about the info you provided them; they are well aware.

 

[Qualitytools]

I will have to check mine out and compare old ones to new ones and share some photos.

 

[Sonorous]

They probably just changed manufacturers

+1

Or changed suppliers. Or the same manufacturer changed some things. These days the same pair of Levi's from two different stores don't even look or fit the same!

Just be happy you didn't try to save on your ceramic tile or hardwood purchase by going to several retailers with stock from different batches. And don't ask me how I know . My prediction is that with some good use and patina your jack stands will be slightly more noticeably different than the hardwood but less than the tile

 

[saponico]

Thanks for the replies! That only issue is that if I use the lower peg holes for all 4 jack stands, 2 stands are 1/2" higher (or lower depending on how you look at it). So that's probably the most annoying part ... just have to make sure to use the 2 similar stands together.

 

[gorawr]

http://imgur.com/a/zuulK

got mine for coastal tool a few days ago. welds look pretty bad, but they were super cheap at coastal.

 

[M6erfan]

http://imgur.com/a/zuulK

got mine for coastal tool a few days ago. welds look pretty bad, but they were super cheap at coastal.

Wow, and I thought I was bad at welding...

I know pics can be deceiving but the penetration on some of those welds look suspect. Be careful!

 

[thesilverone]

probably lack of fixturing to align the steel pieces before being welded along with the stickers

 

[MikeF2316]

Thanks for the replies! That only issue is that if I use the lower peg holes for all 4 jack stands, 2 stands are 1/2" higher (or lower depending on how you look at it). So that's probably the most annoying part ... just have to make sure to use the 2 similar stands together.

Now that would be annoying. Match the pairs with coloured tape, that's what I'd do. Then it will be easy to grab a matching pair.

But as others have said, it's probably just a different factory, etc.

 

[T45]

At least check the pairs are consistent....

its so common these days for outsourced manufacturing to vary a product by vintage

so its sort of hard to single out this company...the problem is systemic accross the industry

hardly any SKU is replaced with the same tech specs after 2-3 years