USA vs. foreign tools: Are we not facing facts?

[ca90ss]

Quality, value, coo in that order. I'm not going to buy an inferior product just because an American made it, if they can't do a good job they don't deserve their job in the first place.

 

[jonesg]

I buy American and I've never had a crooked or bent handle or shaft,, maybe you just got a bad set. Besides, I don't believe in supporting communist China and their filthy rich cats abusing children,, they'd skimp quality to save a penny on 10,000 units

Politics and tools don't mix well.

 

[tym]

Quality, value, coo in that order. I'm not going to buy an inferior product just because an American made it, if they can't do a good job they don't deserve their job in the first place.

Yep. There is *plenty* of American-made **** out there.

Cars made by the Big Three consistently rank as inferior in quality and workmanship to their European counterparts.

 

[derosa]

I didn't think channelock made anything other then pliers in the US, I see their stuff at the do it best stores and it always seems foreign made. Might want to double check the packaging.
Now I've also never spent really good money on a combo square but every single one I've ever handled regardless of origin required getting out the files and fine tuning it. I rely in them in my woodworking and spend a lot of time getting each perfect.
The US does make a decent tool but so can China and tiawan, when doing an apples to apples comparison the US product will usually be a touch more but I'll side with it as the more that stays here the better off the country is.

 

[jonesg]

the experiences I've had are making me wonder if the expectation of "Made in USA" being better is just a prejudice.

I grew up in europe, we never heard of American tools, modern American machinery was laughable, quality wise.
Old American iron ( lathes etc) was known to be very good.
Its obviously a prejudice and every country has their own.
But what America IS known for, and none disagree, is ingenuity.

THe Chinese are masters of duplication but they haven't had an original idea for the past 3000 yrs. I also find it instructive that even though the Chinese are copying American ideas they never seem able to take an idea and run with it, strange how no new innovation grows out of their copycat mentality.

I doubt American ingenuity cares where the tool came from.

 

[mudflap]

Seems some dont realize that an item does not have to be made here to provide lots, and lots of American jobs. Union dock workers make a killing unloading all the china **** from the cargo ships..American truck drivers are moving it from the port to the warehouse, then to the point of sale. Then the retailer hires stock people, cashiers, etc..to line the shelves, and ring the stuff up.

 

[Finky198]

I'll pay the money for quality tools when and if I get the money. And being that I don't waste money on beer and cigarettes, I have more money for things that count like SNAP-ON.

This but I take it 2-3 steps further. I'm single with no kids don't really drink, smoke, or eat out for that matter. So it's all tool and toy money.

It took me years but I recently quit coffee as well so there a few more bucks...


Life is all relative