techieman33
Well-known member
Looks like Icon is going to have some more competition in their price range.
https://www.tekton.com/tool-storage/tool-cabinets
https://www.tekton.com/tool-storage/tool-cabinets
Tekton has entered the toolbox game.
- Thread starter techieman33
- Start date
lbpd716
Well-known member
By their specifications, they are more than giving the big boys a run for their money, but likely they will lose out to brand loyalty in the pro market. They have a chance if they can get them into a retail channel (independent trucks if they want to carry a sample, some type of chain)
Specs look good on paper. Prices include delivery.
Free shipping instructions:
https://www.tekton.com/docs/Tekton-Tool-Cabinet-Shipping-Instructions.pdf
Return instructions:
https://www.tekton.com/docs/Tekton-Our-Guarantee-and-Returns.pdf
Free shipping instructions:
https://www.tekton.com/docs/Tekton-Tool-Cabinet-Shipping-Instructions.pdf
Return instructions:
https://www.tekton.com/docs/Tekton-Our-Guarantee-and-Returns.pdf
lbpd716
Well-known member
Tool boxes tend to end up much like the vehicle market.
There are people who aspire to own a Snap On or Kennedy or Lista etc, even if there is something newer or better built. When they have the kind of money they can pay those prices, it's what they will get. If you want a 69 Chevelle, eventually that is the only thing that will scratch the itch. Took my father over 50 years to get his red Snap On set . Are there other alternatives? Sure - but that is what he wanted.
Great for them to be trying to enter a new area of the tool market - Boxes are probably the most difficult areas these days to make a profit. Seems like everyone is making boxes these days, hoping to capture the Snap-On price point.
There are people who aspire to own a Snap On or Kennedy or Lista etc, even if there is something newer or better built. When they have the kind of money they can pay those prices, it's what they will get. If you want a 69 Chevelle, eventually that is the only thing that will scratch the itch. Took my father over 50 years to get his red Snap On set . Are there other alternatives? Sure - but that is what he wanted.
Great for them to be trying to enter a new area of the tool market - Boxes are probably the most difficult areas these days to make a profit. Seems like everyone is making boxes these days, hoping to capture the Snap-On price point.
lbpd716
Well-known member
And not that it would actually happen, but the casters by their own specifications seem a little light duty compared to what weight you can cram into the drawers.
I'm sure someone will school me on why I'm getting this information incorrect.
I'm sure someone will school me on why I'm getting this information incorrect.
They’ve been out for a while, maybe 6 months. A decent option for someone who wants a first world made box for reasonable money. I just wish they had the same drawer layout on the 30” deep as the 24” but every drawer has the same slide system and weight limit. I really like full width drawers. One thing to note is only one drawer can be open at a time.
$3k buys you more box from China (72x30 with 3 full width drawers).https://www.strictlytoolboxes.com/tool-vault-elite-72-17-drawer-tool-cabinet-open-box.html
Hopefully these sell enough that they add some more options. For me personally, it’s close but no cigar.
Give me 68x30 with at least two full width drawers and don’t overdo it on deep drawers on the bottom and I’d pay $4k for that from Canada.
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You are correct. The implicit assumption is you won’t put 400# in every single drawer on the 30” deep. You could do that on the 24” deep and be under the total limit. In fact the 60x24 is the one I’d buy if I were forced to choose.
That’s part of my complaint above. There are just a few too many compromises on the 30”. But I’m being extremely picky. I outgrew my 44” and the next box I buy is going to be my last so it’s going to be perfect and overkill big.
JP Chestnut
Well-known member
It's nice to see them offering North American made stuff. I noticed that they offer the exact same system as the Ernst Socket Boss - also made in the USA. Interestingly, they sell the trays individually, which I can't see on Ernst's site.
Rabid Badger
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2018
- Messages
- 1,338
The 30" wide model looks like it's designed to give the owner back problems.
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I agree. I think these are super nice boxes, but I really want 2 full length drawers and 30" depth.
Yep, very nice boxes. Truly a "professional grade" box.
Ha. I thought the same thing. Needs a top box for sure!
seber
Well-known member
Those prices are very close to what you would actually pay for Snap-on. At that rate I'll stick to the brand that holds value and is made in the USA.
There was an Epiq 68" near me, in excellent condition, for $4500 recently. Very attractive at that price
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not bad, be more appealing if do some add ons side cabinets and lockers and maybe have a side cabinet with power drawer type layout .
Hitch always helps too.
would like see 30" option on the smaller width cabinets .
Big plus is it not usual chinese sourcing .
Also 10% cashback points is useful chunk of credit .
Hitch always helps too.
would like see 30" option on the smaller width cabinets .
Big plus is it not usual chinese sourcing .
Also 10% cashback points is useful chunk of credit .
Handyandy23
Well-known member
I mean you could buy a used Mercedes for close to what you could buy a new Corolla for, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's a better deal or everyone wants the used one.
I also never seem to see anything close to these deals close to me. Anything SO or Mac people are asking 4 figures for some 30 year old friction slide box that's tiny.
I'm a bit biased being from Canada, but if I were in the market for a new box these would be near the top of my wishlist. I currently have a 57" SPG made in Canada before they folded. The specs on these Tekton boxes are very professional, and I like supporting a company like Tekton that's continually moving to more and more North American production, while still maintaining a price point that doesn't make me hurt when I sit down.
I also never seem to see anything close to these deals close to me. Anything SO or Mac people are asking 4 figures for some 30 year old friction slide box that's tiny.
I'm a bit biased being from Canada, but if I were in the market for a new box these would be near the top of my wishlist. I currently have a 57" SPG made in Canada before they folded. The specs on these Tekton boxes are very professional, and I like supporting a company like Tekton that's continually moving to more and more North American production, while still maintaining a price point that doesn't make me hurt when I sit down.
OP
techieman33
Well-known member
After looking at them some more it the recent new of Harbor Freight dropping the prices of their Icon boxes make a lot more sense. https://toolguyd.com/harbor-freight-icon-tool-boxes-price-drop-coupon-052020/
lbpd716
Well-known member
Agreed! - Still not a box for me, but agreed.
My guess is they are dipping their toe into the market and will do exactly that if sales volume is enough to justify it. I do like that you can take the casters off and put 12,000# on top of it. Somebody will be able to build something interesting with that.
They need to beef up the casters though if they are going to sell hutches or top boxes or side cabinets. As it stands they barely hold up the max capacity of the box itself.
In any case it's a good first effort and hopefully they don't give up on it. Like everything Tekton they need to figure out how to get wider name recognition.
Real_PhillBert
Well-known member
I'm just glad to see more people getting into the 30" deep box market.
Handyandy23
Well-known member
The specs and actual mass of the box are on par with, or better than, an Epic with a list price like 3-4x the Tekton.
Without some hands on experience with the Tekton to say the are the reasons why it's subpar, what flaws are you seeing that make it overpriced? Is the name tag really worth that much?
Seems like with both Icon and now Tekton there are a lot of people quick to decide they're "overpriced" simply because they wouldn't pay that for a box with those names on the front. But I doubt most have even touched either one to decide.
JP Chestnut
Well-known member
The two big things that separate Tekton and Icon, for me, are COO and included shipping costs.
Being able to buy something NOT made in China and have it show up at my door for the listed price is something that HF can't touch at any price.
Being able to buy something NOT made in China and have it show up at my door for the listed price is something that HF can't touch at any price.
Handyandy23
Well-known member
I agree. Just by specs, both the Icon and Tekton seem fairly competitive with the truck brand boxes. But being made in North America vs China is a big deal for many.
Unless the boxes feel dumpy in person, they've got competitive specs and COO covered. Really the only issues going against it are perceived brand value, and I guess not being able to order them in as many shiny colors?
I know resale value is a concern for some too, but for lots of DIYers I doubt the plan includes reselling the box any time in the near future. At least it wouldn't for me.
JP Chestnut
Well-known member
That’s a pretty good deal.
I checked the site the Canadian company that makes the boxes. It was amazingly impressive. You could customize everything. It’s the first place I’ve found that let me spec a gray cabinet with white drawers in any configuration. I didn’t see top boxes though, and 22 inches deep is plenty enough for this diy home guy so no use for a 30 inch box.
I checked the site the Canadian company that makes the boxes. It was amazingly impressive. You could customize everything. It’s the first place I’ve found that let me spec a gray cabinet with white drawers in any configuration. I didn’t see top boxes though, and 22 inches deep is plenty enough for this diy home guy so no use for a 30 inch box.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I would like to set a work surface like stainless or butcher block for each size box. I'm saving my pennies. 
they will never put a dent in the market against the hf boxes. why? becuase hf willl have their boxes in store, in colors and on display in all sizes. you will be lucky if you see one or two in stock anywehere. other brands maybe, hf no.
ChevyEFI
Well-known member
I'm tempted to spec. a quote from Rousseau on a 60 x 27 after reading all this.
IRQVET
Well-known member
Why people spend that much is beyond me. . . .
What should we buy?
WittHay
Well-known member
Not sure why Tekton choose to market industrial boxes but I think their new boxes are comparable to Lista and Vidmar. Rousseau is very common for those custom built in tool box setups at car dealerships in Canada
Another Canadian company that has been around for a while is Metalia with the Swiss made drawer sliding system. Proto also has a 400 lb. drawer capacity box called the 560 series
Mac recently introduced the Macsimizer HD made in the same Massachusetts plant as Lista/Vidmar. Has Austrian made drawer slides and made in Canada casters.
Another Canadian company that has been around for a while is Metalia with the Swiss made drawer sliding system. Proto also has a 400 lb. drawer capacity box called the 560 series
Mac recently introduced the Macsimizer HD made in the same Massachusetts plant as Lista/Vidmar. Has Austrian made drawer slides and made in Canada casters.
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Possibly because the industrial sector is a fairly big slice of tekton customer base .
Think it would of been smart had addons to make it more marketable to auto/truck repair rignt from the start and do a double rebate for couple months to gain interest and sales .
Ideally need pair up with a retail chain or at least get to every trade events/shows to get it seen .
Still in a price point where competition includes used truck brands top range offerings .
Possibly because the industrial sector is a fairly big slice of tekton customer base .
Think it would of been smart had addons to make it more marketable to auto/truck repair rignt from the start and do a double rebate for couple months to gain interest and sales .
Ideally need pair up with a retail chain or at least get to every trade events/shows to get it seen .
Still in a price point where competition includes used truck brands top range offerings .
Handyandy23
Well-known member
Those prices seem pretty darn reasonable. I'm also assuming those are in Canadian dollars? It doesn't really specify anywhere, but it is a Canadian company.
That was my impression. Excellent deal for you guys north of the border.