I think so too, especially now that Armstrong is history.
SK Tools up for sale?
- Thread starter Mavsman
- Start date
I think so too, especially now that Armstrong is history.
GrantCee
Well-known member
Think about this...
I grew up with SK tools. My Dad was a mechanic back in the '60s, and in his toolbox were SK, P&C (which were local to us), and some Proto. Very little Snap-On (one old 1/2" ratchet is all I can remember. He wasn't fond of Snap-On.) His favorite ratchets were SK; that's all I'd ever used until I got a Craftsman tool set of "my own" when I was 22.
What's more, I'm a tool enthusiast. I know far more about tools than the average tool customer; only folks here on GJ are as enthusiastic about tools as I am.
Finally, I like to buy American when it makes sense to do so, and always at least look at the US options before making a buying decision.
My point is this: because of my experience and knowledge, along with a favorable opinion of the brand and some nostalgia, I'm FAR more likely to be an SK customer than probably 99% of the people out there. I'll bet a lot of you can say the same.
And yet, despite all that, whenever I'm thinking about a tool purchase I never remember to check SK. In fact, I hardly remember they're still in business. (Example: recently I was shopping for a long 3/8 breaker, and thought I'd looked everywhere — until someone reminded me that SK had one. Had he not, I wouldn't have thought to check on my own.)
Now if SK can't carve out mindshare in my receptive head, how are they going to get the attention of someone who's less involved with, or knowledgable about, tools than I am?
I grew up with SK tools. My Dad was a mechanic back in the '60s, and in his toolbox were SK, P&C (which were local to us), and some Proto. Very little Snap-On (one old 1/2" ratchet is all I can remember. He wasn't fond of Snap-On.) His favorite ratchets were SK; that's all I'd ever used until I got a Craftsman tool set of "my own" when I was 22.
What's more, I'm a tool enthusiast. I know far more about tools than the average tool customer; only folks here on GJ are as enthusiastic about tools as I am.
Finally, I like to buy American when it makes sense to do so, and always at least look at the US options before making a buying decision.
My point is this: because of my experience and knowledge, along with a favorable opinion of the brand and some nostalgia, I'm FAR more likely to be an SK customer than probably 99% of the people out there. I'll bet a lot of you can say the same.
And yet, despite all that, whenever I'm thinking about a tool purchase I never remember to check SK. In fact, I hardly remember they're still in business. (Example: recently I was shopping for a long 3/8 breaker, and thought I'd looked everywhere — until someone reminded me that SK had one. Had he not, I wouldn't have thought to check on my own.)
Now if SK can't carve out mindshare in my receptive head, how are they going to get the attention of someone who's less involved with, or knowledgable about, tools than I am?
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I just can't get my head around how tool companies, that aren't China/Taiwan, can make truly excellent tools at a reasonable price (Ko-ken, KTC for example) but SK struggles. I mean, is it that much more difficult to make decent chrome in the U.S.? Snap-on does it.
They're not. Mainly because SK's not in Home Depot, Lowes, Menard's, ACE, Walmart, etc. . .
Kurt4440
Well-known member
So who is in for a group buy?
No, not more tools, the company.
No, not more tools, the company.
To be fair a minimum of half if not more of the threads about that were and still are about that anti-corrosion paint on the inside. Actually I'd say 80% seem like they're about that.
Maybe. But then I ask, how come seemingly no other companies have this recurring issue?
BTW, years ago I gave SK a shot. Bought one of their 1/4" socket sets (91844). I got skewered on here because I pointed out that a bunch of the sockets had shallow or non-existent detents, off center broaching, and bad chrome on the outside. I mean, paint on the inside is one thing, but C'mon.
Look, I own some SK tools and am happy with them, and I truly want them to succeed, but their QC over the years has been pretty dismal. The recurring posts just here on GJ are testament to that.
GrantCee
Well-known member
Bingo. Everyone is talking about how SK needs to "innovate" in their tools, but that's just a distraction. Where they need innovation is in how they market and sell the tools they already produce.
(Of course, they'd need to fix their reported QC issues first.)
If you can say maybe to my saying 80% of the complaints are about paint, then I don't see how the remaining complaints represent much.
They are CERTAINLY not the only US brand with chrome issues. I don't have much of their stuff and want them to succeed, but I'm no superfan.
I can't imagine any scenario, ever, where they would be on shelves at Walmart or Home Depot. Those places are run by bean counters and beyond that they are stocked in sections by their suppliers.
It's all relative. Compared to the amount of complaints of other brand's sockets, ratchets, etc., the amount SK has is pretty staggering. Especially for a "premium" U.S. tool manufacturer.
GrantCee
Well-known member
Agreed, I was more pointing out the mindset of the avg. American consumer.
Wanna win U.S.A. hearts and minds? Be the major sponsor of a NASCAR
Because the ONLY places to sell tools in this country are Walmart and Home Depot.
I was responding to your post that quoted M6, which listed all the **** big box stores. Not my words.
Maybe we can get Harry Epstein's to go public. One in every town.
99% of the complaint history here is in regards to the anti-corrosion paint they apply to the interior of some sockets. It has nothing to do with the actual plating.
Agreed, I was more pointing out the mindset of the avg. American consumer.
Wanna win U.S.A. hearts and minds? Be the major sponsor of a NASCAR
Speaking of Nascar, remember when they had that line of SK pit boxes a couple years ago?
Didn't see them last time I was on their site but maybe I missed them.
Right. So how does virtually every other socket factory in the world manage to avoid this?
GrantCee
Well-known member
Gotcha.
Most dont use an anti-corrosion coating, for starters. The ones that do or did that I have experience with (Armstrong/Craftsman) were occasionally just as sloppy. Doesnt really change the fact that you said SK has bad chrome when its not the case. They have their issues (small size socket broaching) but chrome plating isnt one.
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I guess I missed all the rusted out socket interiors from other manufacturers over the years
I never said SK has bad chrome. Yes, the socket set I bought had bad chrome on the outside of several individual sockets. And other complaints here with regard to chrome on the outside of sockets and their wrenches (I know, tool polishers. AmIright?). Do most of their tools have chrome issues? No idea. The chrome on my three sets of SK wrenches, two ratchets, and breaker bar seems just fine. The finish on my SK impact sockets seems fine too. They wont hold onto an anvil, but you know, whatever. . .
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We all just need one of these stores in our towns [emoji16]
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Dang!
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
SK to me seems like they need to remember the basics of what made the tools a sought after brand. I have SK tools from when I started around the early seventies to today. The QC issues need to be fixed for sure the drop in 3/8 80DT's that were wrong, the LP90 deals. I bought a 3/8 12 inch impact extension that the spring was wrong and the ball would not depress and it took five times and many phone calls and shipping charges to get a good one. I sent two X Frame sets to Eric O at South Main Auto and he said out of the box he had trouble with three wrenches brand new it was a little embarrassing for me and SK for sure. Eric spoke highly of SK before that I don't know if he got them fixed or scrapped them but it looked terrible on YouTube with all the views he gets . Do the basics of QC and it will fix a lot of complaints. I don't think with out another of investment of sales personnel to go the tool wholesalers that they lost before and see what they can do things will improve. Then they do things like cut off Circle C Supply which I really liked and bought SK stuff from and they move merchandise at Circle C and wonder what is the plan or is there one getting rid of a customer when you need more I don't get. I guess time will tell I hope them the best and hope things get fixed and moving in the direction they need to be going and grow and expand with QC a top priority. P?S I wonder if SK Eric is still here and I have not seen him in a while.
Same here... however, for me, part of the issue is that I used to buy SK off of the rack at the auto parts store. That ended when they went bankrupt, and I’ve been thinking they were out of business for the past 10 years.
I still cant seem to get rebuild kits for my Tuff-1 ratchets...
We all just need one of these stores in our towns [emoji16]
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What store is this?
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I’ve got a tuff1 rebuild kit coming from sk right now, free of charge.
Email their customer service with your ratchet part #. Try and make SURE they don’t screw ip the p/n because at first they sent me a standard roundhead kit.. and then I emailed back and it was another week or two before they replied back. I think It was yesterday they finally emailed back and said I’d have my kit in two days
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Junkdrawer Dog
Well-known member
We all just need one of these stores in our towns [emoji16]
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That's quite an impressive retail display. It's been years since I've been able to walk into a brick and mortar and actually examine any SK tools. Last two cities I've lived in, Grainger was the only sales outlet for SK and they're not exactly browsing friendly. Sometimes it's the hands on browsing/shopping experience that triggers a purchase.
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The time is now for SK to jump on the buy American train.
as to QC, maybe they don't have much capital to invest?
for QC you either invest in low reject manf'ing or you pull a lot of **** off the line - the latter requires $$ to pay for inspection and you are tossing manf'd tools back into the smelter
as to QC, maybe they don't have much capital to invest?
for QC you either invest in low reject manf'ing or you pull a lot of **** off the line - the latter requires $$ to pay for inspection and you are tossing manf'd tools back into the smelter
It’s funny because I nearly freaked out when I walked in and saw that sk display... but yet I walked out with zero tools! I couldn’t find anything on that wall that I NEEDED... my socket and wrench situation is way better than it even needs to be to get my job done at work...
I have been thinking I need some 1/2” metric swivel impacts but that was right after Christmas and my old lady would be a little pissed if I dropped 300 bucks on sockets [emoji23]
(She already thinks I have far too many)
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nynexit
Well-known member
SK is in kind of a no man's land as far as availability and customer knowledge of their existence. Yeah, we all know them here, but the other 99% don't. And 98% wouldn't spend the $ even if they knew.
When we buy tools at work we generally go thru McMaster and get Proto or Wright without knowing what's coming; never received SK. And they are generally non-existent at retailers. 30+ years ago they were in auto parts stores. And granted, that wouldn't work today, 95% of retailers wouldn't waste the space because 99% of customers would buy the $20 Taiwan ratchet vs the $100 SK. And I understand that. So they need to cater to the people that are willing to spend the $ vs the equivalent Taiwan tool. But if they can't make a LP-90 ratchet that functions out of the bag, and Tekton can, dunno. I took both ratchets apart, and the mechanisms are 95% identical inside. The only difference I could see was that Tekton uses one extra spring on the selector. I don't know if this is why my 4 Tekton's work great and the one LP-90 I bought was terrible, but maybe SK could have figured this out in the last 3+ years. Because I'd rather buy ratchets from SK.
SK stuff that I have, that stands out is their locking extensions and some of the long pliers. But they need to get their pricing back to reality because if German Wiha drivers are much cheaper than SK, and Germany is one of the most expensive countries to mfg in....
When we buy tools at work we generally go thru McMaster and get Proto or Wright without knowing what's coming; never received SK. And they are generally non-existent at retailers. 30+ years ago they were in auto parts stores. And granted, that wouldn't work today, 95% of retailers wouldn't waste the space because 99% of customers would buy the $20 Taiwan ratchet vs the $100 SK. And I understand that. So they need to cater to the people that are willing to spend the $ vs the equivalent Taiwan tool. But if they can't make a LP-90 ratchet that functions out of the bag, and Tekton can, dunno. I took both ratchets apart, and the mechanisms are 95% identical inside. The only difference I could see was that Tekton uses one extra spring on the selector. I don't know if this is why my 4 Tekton's work great and the one LP-90 I bought was terrible, but maybe SK could have figured this out in the last 3+ years. Because I'd rather buy ratchets from SK.
SK stuff that I have, that stands out is their locking extensions and some of the long pliers. But they need to get their pricing back to reality because if German Wiha drivers are much cheaper than SK, and Germany is one of the most expensive countries to mfg in....
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The Fall
Well-known member
Unlike some folks on here, I've got no criticism of SK. They made excellent long-pattern wrenches at a good price and their sockets were 10/10.
This is deeply unfortunate. I must have spent about $1,000 on SK tools in the last 3 years. I wanted them to succeed.
This is deeply unfortunate. I must have spent about $1,000 on SK tools in the last 3 years. I wanted them to succeed.
It’s not “Unfortunate”… They are only for sale to the right buyer, they aren’t in trouble. They just want and owner that works better for their needs, by the sounds of it
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The Fall
Well-known member
Yeah, cuz the real economy is roaring right now. I'm sure it's just a coincidence.
My dad sold the cabinet shop when he saw the writing on the wall. He was glad to get out. It seems like that's the case most of the time.
My dad sold the cabinet shop when he saw the writing on the wall. He was glad to get out. It seems like that's the case most of the time.
The Fall
Well-known member
Anyway, I hope for the best. SK was one of my major go-tos with tools. Love that COO.
mrjaw14
Well-known member
I made an order back in late January and I'm still waiting for it. I was told it'd ship "today" several days ago. I was really really trying to be supportive but I'm getting a little frustrated
That actually makes me feel better about my situation, because I sent a box of broken stuff in over a week ago and still haven’t seen anything back… I was wondering if I was lost and something happened in the mail, but hopefully they’re just working like sloths over there
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