Loyalty to a brand for a dumb reason

[Vice]

Hey, everyone, I was thinking about some tool brands recently and why we use them. Some for reasons cause they are the less expensive brand some for, the higher quality.

Then I thought. "what are some of the dumb reasons for loyalty to one brand more than others?"

I for one prefer Dewalt over most. For the most part its nostalgia, I have been using Dewalt drills and grinders since I was a little kid when I would help my father with projects, so they have a higher rank in my book. That and prefer the yellow and black color scheme above the other brands. I am also a bit OCD so having more tools in the same color scheme just makes the shop feel more in unison if that makes sense.

 

[protegeV]

I know someone who is a die hard steelers fan and thus loyal to dewalt for one reason and one reason only....

 

[Brownsfan]

I know someone who is a die hard steelers fan and thus loyal to dewalt for one reason and one reason only....

I won't use Dewalt for the same reason. See username. Just kidding actually. I would buy Dewalt . In fac I am looking for a new cordless tool platform as we speak.

 

[jdlong]

Craftsman because the tools give me the warm fuzzies reminding me of the tools I used as a teenager.

 

[Ign]

Ever since the DRM drama drill where DeWalt's attorneys told eBay that a user (DRM) couldn't sell a Harbor Freight corded drill on eBay because it violated their copyrighted color pattern, I've made every effort to avoid DeWalt.

DeWalt was allegedly just vigorously defending their registered rights, and if they don't you risk losing them. Furthermore at the end even DRM felt the problem was eBay's now defunct Verio program.

Despite all that I just can't understand effectively telling the consumer they can't legally resell a product widely produced and sold by Harbor Freight.

By the same logic they could come to your neighborhood garage sale and tell you you can't sell a Harbor Freight drill.

Not that DeWalt cares in the least but they've lost a LOT of sales from me since ~2004. My Milwaukee collection is bested only by 2 or 3 other members here I'd say.

Don't bother defending DeWalt, note the THREAD TITLE. I know it's arguably a dumb reason but I spend MY money as I choose. The smallest slice of common sense from DeWalt or their legal team (who was laughing all the way to the bank) could have avoided this.

NOW, wasn't Milwaukee also suing several manufactures just a couple years ago saying they had effectively invented the li-ion battery? I wonder if anyone has avoided Milwaukee for this reason?

 

[Magnum440d100]

I’m loyal to DeWalt as well. Mainly because I’ve abused the hell out of my 4 1/2” grinder over the past decade and a half, and she hasn’t given me any signs of quitting yet. Which reminds me. Where can I find the nut/adapter and stuff for the DeWalt? I’ve used mainly discs that have the threads, and the hardware has walked away.

I’m also loyal to craftsman. My first box and tools my grandparents bought me were craftsman.

I’m also loyal to dodge. My late brother, late grandfather and I restored a 1972 D100 back in the 90’s. It stuck with me. I still have the truck too!

There are others, but those are the main 3....

 

[SteveCh]

I have a friend who buys his tools from one brand because he wants all his tools to be the same color, or if just metal tools, those have to all look the same.

He will replace a tool if it doesn't match, even if that tool is high-quality in perfect shape.

Just one example, it bugs him if he pulls open a drawer full of, say, screwdrivers, and one driver has a different-colored handle than the others.

Whatever, I love him to death but he's a *****. [He makes fun of himself, too, but still does it.]

 

[freudianfloyd]

I was until recently loyal to Porter Cable only for the fact that my dad was always a Dewalt/Milwaukee guy and I wanted something different. When I was a kid, I remember seeing a Tiger Saw at the hardware store and wanted him to get it soooo bad. He wound up with a Milwaukee Sawzall.

In completely unrelated coincidence, I have a son named Porter. So I stuck with being loyal to the brand just so everything had his name on them. But after the last couple of Porter Cable tools I have owned, I'm not as impressed and have switched loyalties.

I also have a son named Maddox, and Harbor Freight came out with a Maddox line of tools. I have thought about giving them a try because "my boy is awesome, Maddox tools must be too" but that is a really stupid reason.

I'm also loyal to the .45-70 rifle cartridge. I know there are bigger, better, flatter shooting rounds, but when I was little, I was at a gun show and saw a sign that said "have you ever seen a bigger bullet?" and it was sitting under a stack of .45-70 rounds. At the time, it looked like the biggest bullet ever made. Again, a stupid reason.

I'm sure I have others but can't think of them right now.

 

[Strouty]

I am a sucker for the snap on green, luckily my driver will warranty any red tool for a green one when they release it in green.

I have been a loyal milwaukee fan since the V28 tools, if I had bought into the V18 tools, I probably would be a dewalt fan right now.

 

[DFB]

Ever since the DRM drama drill where DeWalt's attorneys told eBay that a user (DRM) couldn't sell a Harbor Freight corded drill on eBay because it violated their copyrighted color pattern, I've made every effort to avoid DeWalt.

DeWalt was allegedly just vigorously defending their registered rights, and if they don't you risk losing them. Furthermore at the end even DRM felt the problem was eBay's now defunct Verio program.

Despite all that I just can't understand effectively telling the consumer they can't legally resell a product widely produced and sold by Harbor Freight.

By the same logic they could come to your neighborhood garage sale and tell you you can't sell a Harbor Freight drill.

Not that DeWalt cares in the least but they've lost a LOT of sales from me since ~2004. My Milwaukee collection is bested only by 2 or 3 other members here I'd say.

Wow I did not know about that lawsuit that's cool to know that. I can share a story where I was was flipping the same YELLOW HF drill at the Flea mkt some big dumb lug thought it was DEWAT at first then got mad and tried to break it by tightening the chuck as tight as he could with the too hams he had for hands.

Didn't break but I did have to use to sets of grove jaw pliers to get it open again

 

[DFB]

So to the OP question I have had a "few" brands of tools over the years and I sure took massive grief for owning and bringing both cordless and corded Makita tools to the job by Dewalt flag wavers in the late 80's early 90's.

I chose my tools for the quality I felt they provided not just because that just what the union guys said

So was that dumb


I am most all Milwaukee in the cordless offerings these days. I have no problems with it's quality or general performance and it just such a wide platform of stuff to choose from. And so easily obtainable from multiple sources such as commercial tool and parts supply houses to common places like Home Depot.

Unlike something like Kobalt Ridgid or Craftsman tools generally sold by a single entity.

Is that dumb?

Also with my all my different work I'm not limited to just things like drills drivers and recip's which is generally just what most people get.

I really like my 7 1/4 cordless circ and I utilize a lot of the other platform accessories from the simple stuff like lights, fans, and radios to the air inflator, impact wrenches, ratchets plus the water pump, nail gun, cut off and rotary tools.

But not a big OPE fan in general at this time for yard work though I DO want the newly released cordless pesticide sprayer

I still have the old blue corded RYOBI chop saw, I also had a lot of the corded Craftsman power tool from when I was real young table saw radial arm trim saw, belt sander, router along with several halogen work lights

and probably 500 ft of extension cords of all sizes and lengths.

Now THAT may be dumb

 

[zendriver]

I buy Harbor Freight products, because I'm a cheapskate and since I'm a cheapskate, I have a lot of projects and repairs to complete.

Vicious circle.

 

[protegeV]

I buy Harbor Freight products, because I'm a cheapskate and since I'm a cheapskate, I have a lot of projects and repairs to complete.

Vicious circle.

I can agree with that

 

[65k10]

I'm not too brand loyal, but I do have a slight preference to Proto that started for a somewhat silly reason. Back before I knew much about tools I bought a Proto 5649 ratchet. When my dad saw it he drug out an old Plomb 5649 that had the drive anvil sheared off. At the time I didn't know Plomb became Proto so at first it didn't dawn on me they were the same ratchet. Once I realized it and noticed the mechanism looked similar I went online seeing if it could be rebuilt. I also wasn't really aware ratchets could be rebuilt and was surprised I could buy a rebuild kit for it. Now I know more about tool brands and their history, along with the fact that rebuilding ratchets is common place. However, at the time it really impressed me that Proto still made repair parts for this old ratchet. When I started assembling my own tool set, I made it a point to start looking for Proto tools based on that one experience. I usually still look towards Proto since it's been good quality and discount codes at Zoro makes them decently priced.

 

[b-boy]

Dewalt. I used to be a Craftsman guy, but I bought a cordless Dewalt Drill/driver set and haven't looked back. I am a Steelers fan too. That could be the reason I like Dewalt so much. It never occurred to me until today.

I just lost my Craftsman corded drill from 1981. it was the first power tool I ever bought. It stopped working after almost 40 years. It was a beast. It weighed about 5 lbs. I've been using it to grind grain for brewing. I tried to mix up some thinset, and it was too much for the poor thing. It let out a puff of smoke, I smelled burning plastic, and it was no more. RIP.

 

[protegeV]

I just lost my Craftsman corded drill from 1981. it was the first power tool I ever bought. It stopped working after almost 40 years. It was a beast. It weighed about 5 lbs. I've been using it to grind grain for brewing. I tried to mix up some thinset, and it was too much for the poor thing. It let out a puff of smoke, I smelled burning plastic, and it was no more. RIP.

You just need to buy a smoke refill and you'll be good for another 40 years

 

[woody 73]

Years ago (many years ago) I had brand loyalty to Stanley hand tools, but over time the quality just went over the cliff and I had to throw in the towel. I still find myself looking at them in the stores but there is no way I would buy their tools anymore.( With the exception of proto tools and maybe a few Mac tools).


On the other hand...show me a vintage Stanley hand tool and that mama is coming home with me!

 

[lakeroadster]

I worked at Sears as a teenager in the 1970's, selling Craftsman tools. It was a great place to work and I got a 10% discount.

It wasn't a dumb reason then.

About everything I own is Craftsman... to me it seems "dumb" to replace anything that does breaks with anything that other than Craftsman.

Is that dumb

Opinions Vary.

 

[AndrewV]

I'm loyal to Stanley for one specific reason. Father used them in Vietnam, repairing jets. And dewalt has lasted me forever, still using all my xr cordless stuff, from when it came out, daily as a tech.
But have/use every brand.
Warranty, and quality are more important to me.

 

[Professional Tool User]

I'm not particularly loyal to any given brand. Regardless of price and quality, each and every brand has to work hard to earn my loyalty if they want me to continue to buy their stuff. Though granted, there are a few brands that I have a soft spot ranging from Proto and Snappn all the way down to Harbfor Freight.

 

[shanny19]

My Grandpa was a school bus mechanic from WW2 to 1976. I proudly carry on his love for Proto. I have been unable to proudly carry on his distaste for Snap On.

 

[BFBOB]

Penncraft
1: They're good tools, ratchets, sockets, wrenches made by New Britain.
2: They were the first I owned, bought new to work on my first car, a '56 Chevy. I still have the first little set, plus MANY added through the years.

Porter-Cable biscuit joiner, because at the time it was the only one that would make a picture-frame miter witout cobbling up a jig. Never had another since because it is extremely well made, sturdy, keeps on working.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I often buy tools that appear to be good quality from brands that I don't have prior experience with.
I'm more likely to avoid a brand ( and other brands under the same parent company) after a bad experience. Lots of people worked hard to earn a reputation for quality associated with certain brands. The name gets bought and the quality is gone.

 

[Flybye]

I am lost.

I have had Craftsman since the early 90s when I was a teen, but they betrayed us in the early 2010s. So lately I have been buying a little of everything to see if I can build another following. I bought a Proto ratcheting wrench, Ingersoll Rand impact socket set and 1/2 impact driver, a bit of SK stuff (1/2" torque wrench, impact extensions, bolt/nut remover set, etc).


I like what 65k10 mentioned with how Proto continues to support their products after so many years. That is a huge selling point for me, and Proto has been around for 100+ years. As Leaflessshadetree mentioned, many brands get bought out and go down the drain. So it makes it hard to stay devoted.

I have read of SK's warranty service being one of the easiest to deal with. If I discover Proto is the same then I may end up sticking with Proto.

 

[Oldsmobile]

S-K because it was the first quality ratchet I used. I had cheap stuff, because I was poor. Dad withheld the 42470 1/2" ratchet for a while, but eventually let me have a crack at it. It was a HUGE step forward. Eventually, Dad let me have that S-K Wayne 42470 that he bought circa 1962.

So, yeah, S-K because of envy and nostalgia. That they make a fine product doesn't hurt.

 

[Kev442]

When I was young Craftsman was a step up from the bargain basement stuff I started out with. For a good 10 years I went to Sears and bought whatever I needed without even comparing to other brands.
Then the power tools started failing. I wised up in a hurry and now own a hodge podge of about half the power tool brands out there. Whatever I decide I like, I buy. I am now totally color blind and brand indifferent when it comes to tools the last 20+ years.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Partial to Bosch and Klein as I’ve just never had any problems.
As for vehicles I am partial to Pontiacs. As for trucks it’s either a Chevy or. GMC.
Next vehicle for the wife will either be an Acadia or Buick SUV. Again the GM moniker has treated me well. So really no dumb reason except longevity and serviceability.
However I will look at a potential hybrid SUV such as a Mitsubishi maybe GM will step up their product line.

 

[jives]

Partial to Milwaukee because they were the only tools in my dad's cabinet shop, except for a few Porter Cables. But Porter Cable is not the same anymore.

Partial to Makita because they are now my cordless system and they are an independent manufacturer. The cordless CC, now used just once, cuts oak like butter. Wow.

Not partial to deWalt because they are so all over the place . . . too many batteries, gadgets, etc. Revered the deWalt radial arm saw in shop class. . .but not the current gadgets.

Partial to Bosch because it was my first cordless tool and took more abuse than any tool should. But terrible ergonomics.

Finally, won't buy a Chevy because only had Fords and Dodges growing up, my high school shop teacher railed on funky GM stuff, my dad's business had a Chevy PU and the clutch wore out even the hardiest fitness enthusiast, and the old CEO Smith said some of the most ridiculous things when asked in the 1980s why GM could not produce a quality inexpensive small economy car. Did not help that GM and Chrysler went to congress for money.

Not partial to Stanley as they've just cheapened everything they touch. Same with Irwin, Craftsman, and a few others. As another poster said, we've been betrayed.

I have an appreciation for Ryobi -- my first sander -- that after 25 years finally died.

 

[MBfreak]

Used to be partial to Bosch corded tools. 28 yeaars ago I bought a 115 mm angle grinder for a restoration project. Lots of rust in a 1963 230 SL! Need a good machine!!!
Name plate said made in West Geramany so it was acouple of years in stock before I bought it.
After a couple of hours it got horribly hot and slowed down, noisily.
The angle gearbox up front was smoking.
Disassembly showed that the output shaft bearing, one RS seal, was installed the wrong way so that the bearing had filled upp with metal and rust particles.
Bearing was no name made in Indonesia.
Returned the machine, got a new one.
Stripped it, replaced the two motor bearings and the two output bearings.
Still kicking, regreased it a few times only and replaced brushes.
But never again will I buy a Bosch electric tool.
Ola

 

[Jlbc212]

My tool boxes are a tribute to non-discrimination with all different brands of tools. However, I get irritated with a brand when I have an issue with a particular tool. I had a Milwaukee rotary hammer for years. I got pissed off when Milwaukee stopped supplying some of the drills I needed for the rotary hammer. After trying to find a replacement switch for it, I gave it away to my nephew. I bought a Makita rotary hammer to replace it and in hindsight I should have trashed the Milwaukee years sooner. That was several years ago. I finally ignored my disdain for Milwaukee and bought a 12v ratchet this year but only because I needed to install some Simpson lag bolts in a tight spot and the Milwaukee was the only brand available to get the job done the next day. I must say I'm not overly impressed by the Milwaukee ratchet with it's weak battery and the very slow battery charger. I tossed my Dewalt cordless drill when I saw i could buy a Makita cordless for about the same price as the Dewalt replacement battery. I did later buy a Dewalt portable table saw, but only because I couldn't find the Makita I really wanted. I don't think I could ever buy SK ratchets or sockets again. My Dad had given me a 3/8" SK SAE set years ago. I still have some of the set in the original green case but I've had to replace many of the sockets and got tired of the ratchets skipping teeth and having to find and buy repair parts. I totally detest Apple! but that's too long a story for this thread.

 

[Joweebananas]

I have no loyalty to any tool brand. Snap on is great, but if my box is full of just snap on, i cant do my job. There are alot of specialty tools only made by a few manufacturers. VIM, LISLE, SUNEX, ASTRO PNEUMATIC, TOOL-AID as just a few examples makes tools that snap on dont. I buy the tools that get the job done, not by the brand name.

 

[JJ99SS]

Makita Blue for power tools usually. (I've been eyeing a Bosch miter saw) Thanks Dad. I have his corded drill and circular saw from the 80's. Now I have an angle grinder, cordless drill and driver, orbital sander.

I have Craftsman because of Dad. But lately I had gone through an old tool kit he threw together for his car. There were Bonney wrenches, SK wrenches in there. He knew about tools for sure. I watched him buy some as a kid and he spent some dough on good stuff. I never would have known SK or Bonney as a kid though. I thought Craftsman was the best because he had a **** ton of it.

Now I have tools from CDI, Tekton, Knipex, Wera, Klein, Sunnex, ABC Hammers, Eastwing to name a few. I don't think I'll ever return to Craftsman again. I have purchased about 10 different ratchets from Tekton to replace my basic 1/2" 3/8" and 1/4" drive Craftsman ratchets. I now have stubbies, long ratchets, rotoheads, low profile, flex heads...

My Craftsman sockets and extensions have all been perfect for 20+ years...

 

[Y00PER]

I'm loyal to U.S. made tools that I can get cheap at a garage sale or the consignment store. I don't use them for a living, and would prefer to never have to use them, but, stuff breaks and needs to be fixed and I would rather fix it myself if I can

 

[CR888]

I've been seriously impressed with a 72t comfort grip 1/4" ratchet I got from Zhengzhou province in China. It was 2.99 delivered on the slow boat (6-1/2weeks), they claim lifetime warranty too which is good but as it has no brand name & I didn't buy it direct from manufacturer, I'm not sure how that would work. Chrome is perfect, it was factory lubed & after some pawl spring adjustments its by far the lowest back drag ratchet I have & I own maybe 15 name brand 1/4" rats. Now in the description it said 'Strong Vanadium' instead of Cr-V which I thought was good it must be a new recipe for metal composition. Some say messing with spring pre-load on ratchets may decrease strength so I wanted to put this new tech S-V (strong vanadium) wrench to the ultimate test, lug nuts & a cheater bar 90ft lbs! I got my torque wrench and tightened my truck lugs too 90ftlb's & with some adapters set up the 1/4" SV strong wrench for the test. Well it passed, it undid ALL the lugs with no damage to the teeth or mechanism. It got me thinking about high end tools and how we justify those expensive purchases to ourselves. I've paid 20x that for similar tools.

 

[MushCreek]

I buy HF tools just for the aroma.

 

[99LeCouch]

Nope. Whatever gets the job done at a reasonable cost. Being a hobbyist and homeowner means picking and choosing tools.

I have been impressed with my little Ridgid 12v li-ion drill and impact driver. They are no M12 Fuel, but for my intermittent and generally light needs they are more than enough.

 

[vavet]

I was a big fan of Ridgid for a while, but lost faith in them after a couple bad experiences with the supposed LSA. There’s not a portable power tool vendor I currently have as a favorite.
My Honda walk behind mower has been amazing for 12 years, so I’m loyal to them. I’ve also been quite quite happy with my Echo weedeater that you VW had for about as long. I have an Echo chainsaw. It’s been great so far, but only a few years with limited use.

As for vehicles...my wife’s old Nissan was awesome for 200k miles. I just hate they started using CVTs in all their cars. My last Ranger with the 3.0 was less than impressive so I’m a bit disenchanted with Ford. Growing up, my dad was a GM/Pontiac man in the 70s/80s. Some bad experiences there and we as a family migrated to toyota, but I’ve never owned one of my own. My miata was great and my current mazda5 is reliable and probably about as exciting as a microvan can be. It’s ford DNA doesn’t shine through.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If I buy one brand and it works, I try to stick to that brand. I bought a PC framing nailer and when I needed a roofing nailer, I bought another Porter Cable. However when I wanted brad nailer, there wasn't any PC models in stock so I bought a Bostitch. I have a few PC corded power tools and they work fine.


Cordless power tools, I've stuck with Dewalt 18V as they've worked great for me and only want one type of battery.

 

[Gmonkee]

Years ago (many years ago) I had brand loyalty to Stanley hand tools, but over time the quality just went over the cliff and I had to throw in the towel. I still find myself looking at them in the stores but there is no way I would buy their tools anymore.( With the exception of proto tools and maybe a few Mac tools).


On the other hand...show me a vintage Stanley hand tool and that mama is coming home with me!

As a homeowner type guy I do use Stanley both new and old. Always just enough tool to get me through any regular job.

My reason started way back in teen years with the Ace always a few blocks away. I

 

[poppakap]

I have a friend who buys his tools from one brand because he wants all his tools to be the same color, or if just metal tools, those have to all look the same.

He will replace a tool if it doesn't match, even if that tool is high-quality in perfect shape.

Just one example, it bugs him if he pulls open a drawer full of, say, screwdrivers, and one driver has a different-colored handle than the others.

Whatever, I love him to death but he's a *****. [He makes fun of himself, too, but still does it.]

I have to do it-at least with things that look like a set (screwdrivers) or my ocd flares up