Who is making Husky ratchets now?

jacked_72 · Mar 31, 2016

I know it was New Britain for years, then Stanley then Apex, but who makes them now?

The reason I ask is that I had to warranty a long handled flex head ratchet (mine was Stanley) and going through the 888 number I got routed to a rude woman at Apex who not so politely told me that they no longer have anything to do with Husky hand tools and that despite the fact that I had just called her on 1-888-hd-husky, she couldn't help. In years past when Stanley was the manufacturer, the phone people were just great.

I'll figure out the warranty issue with my local store I suppose, but it started me wondering who makes the ratchets now if it isn't Apex. I suppose its some no-name off shore producer, but I'm still curious if any one knows who it may be.

AA/FC · Mar 31, 2016

China

Jeremy77 · Mar 31, 2016

My understanding is that it's still Apex. If within driving distance, I'd simply swing by Home Depot and warranty out in store. Speaking of Apex customer service.... A year or so back, I called about getting a replacement set of keys for a two drawer Armstrong hand box that I have. The woman on the phone at that time was very rude as well. Ended up just replacing the whole lock with one from a set I bought at Sears.

John in OH · Mar 31, 2016

I have no idea of the Husky ratchet manufacturer, but the response you got from the customer service woman is inexcusable. Did you get her name?? If I were you, I would essentially cut-and-paste the second paragraph of your above posting and send it to Apex at their website email contact location:

http://www.apextoolgroup.com/email-us

Ignore the career/distributor/noteholder stuff and use the Contact Form in the middle of the page. At the very least, you will get some satisfaction from knowing you didn't just let some jerk treat you shabbily without consequence.

AceofSpad3s · Mar 31, 2016

Still apex as of right now. The store should take care of you, never had too much of an issue but some stores are asshats.

jacked_72 · Mar 31, 2016

This is a 18.5 inch 1/2" flexhead ratchet. To make it worse, its USA too. Husky doesn't "make" anything like this these days. I'm sure the store will try to make it right, but their hands must be somewhat tied and I'm expecting a little push back. Home Depot has cut the Husky line so far back, there isn't much left. Thanks for the info on Apex. Too bad they've decided they don't care.

Parabellum · Mar 31, 2016

Since its a Stanley product, try [email protected]

If your lucky they will warranty with a USA made Proto or Blackhawk ratchet.

gdocktor3 · Mar 31, 2016

Parabellum said:
Since its a Stanley product, try [email protected]

If your lucky they will warranty with a USA made Proto or Blackhawk ratchet.

I agree. I would really push hard to get them to replace it.

What exactly broke on it?

anndel · Mar 31, 2016

Here's a quote from Wikipedia regarding Husky Tools which are owned by the Home Depot:

"Its hand tools are manufactured for Home Depot by Stanley Black & Decker, Western Forge, Apex Tool Group, and Iron Bridge Tools."

I checked 2 Home depots in our area and haven't found any made in USA Husky tools. All were made in china.

Parabellum · Mar 31, 2016

As a side note Older Husky wrenches from 90s are similar in finish to USA made Stanley and Blackhawk wrenches.

jd_1138 · Mar 31, 2016

anndel said:
I checked 2 Home depots in our area and haven't found any made in USA Husky tools. All were made in china.

****** shame that an average bloke can not find a standard line of USA made tools at the common stores like Home Depot/Lowe's. I mean some of the specialty stuff is USA/German/Canadian made, but the full line basics like sockets, screwdrivers, wrenches are Chinese.

I'd avoid the Husky/Kobalt junk/**** and get some good quality stuff like Armstrong, SK, etc.. You pay more but it's worth it. It's just kind of a shame that a big box store can't find a way to put out a Made in the USA line.

mikebaker1129 · Mar 31, 2016

What is the issue with your ratchet stripped head or broken pin ?
Other ratchet repair kits will fit if it is a round head .

Parabellum · Mar 31, 2016

Whats next? DuraCrap Tools from China?
Nobody cares where its made as long as it has a lifetime warranty and cheap.

Al Borland · Mar 31, 2016

If it was USA made, it's pre-Ape-x. Ape-x is a conglomeration of Stanley, Danaher, and whatever Mitt could get his mitts on. At least SK managed to escape!
Just because it says "Made in USA" doesn't mean it was REALLY made here. Stanley/Proto got spanked a while ago by the Feds for falsely labelling tools.

metaldad · Mar 31, 2016

jd_1138 said:
****** shame that an average bloke can not find a standard line of USA made tools at the common stores like Home Depot/Lowe's. I mean some of the specialty stuff is USA/German/Canadian made, but the full line basics like sockets, screwdrivers, wrenches are Chinese.

I'd avoid the Husky/Kobalt junk/**** and get some good quality stuff like Armstrong, SK, etc.. You pay more but it's worth it. It's just kind of a shame that a big box store can't find a way to put out a Made in the USA line.

menards has masterforce. (apex and pratt reed). drivers/chrome sockets/ impact sockets/ratchets/wrenches are USA. (pliers are chinese)

woody 73 · Mar 31, 2016

I don't get smart out of the rude phone call from their company service person, but I guess today things are different from many years ago and that makes me very sad. :sad:

Some time back the device that changes the tv channel stopped working and I called to ask for some help in the matter. Always being 100% nice on the phone the service provider was yelling at me to drive and pick up a new one. So another day another call (which is sad in itself), because we pay 100% coverage they mailed out a new one.

Long story short version that new part would not work (I thought maybe I must be putting in the wrong codes???); So I thought wait till a major break and they send someone (also very sad this day and age). 6 months later the black box goes bad and the service guy comes outand he does not want to hear any story so I shut my mouth and let him get on with his business of fixing it. Turns out the thing they sent me was defective go figure.

Either they pay them ****??? The public turns nasty on the phone??? or something else, but back when I was a young man things were different must be something in the water???

jd_1138 · Mar 31, 2016

metaldad said:
menards has masterforce. (apex and pratt reed). drivers/chrome sockets/ impact sockets/ratchets/wrenches are USA. (pliers are chinese)

Good to know. Yeah Menards is pretty cool. I will go there for tools before HD/Lowes. We just got a Menards here where I live in Ohio.

OP doesn't have his location listed. I wonder if there's a Menards where he is at.

jd_1138 · Mar 31, 2016

woody 73 said:
Either they pay them ****??? The public turns nasty on the phone??? or something else, but back when I was a young man things were different must be something in the water???

I think people are just more aggressive and pissed off these days. Corporations are impersonal and train people with flowcharts on how to answer the phone.

In the "good old days" you'd buy your tools from a local hardware store or a dealer, and if there was a problem you'd take the broken tools straight there for a replacement. Now you're calling 1-800 numbers and dealing with people who are thousands of miles away, don't care about tools/you, etc..

barrybeefburger · Mar 31, 2016

Not sure about you guys in the states, but here in Canada the bare ratchets are Taiwan made but the socket and ratchet sets are China made?.
There are two problems with this,
(a) The china set is $6 more than the bare ratchet!
(b) The china set had better fit and finish than the Taiwan made ratchet

bobemmerich · Mar 31, 2016

I only wish I had a Menards near me..

Parabellum · Mar 31, 2016

jd_1138 said:
I think people are just more aggressive and pissed off these days. Corporations are impersonal and train people with flowcharts on how to answer the phone.

In the "good old days" you'd buy your tools from a local hardware store or a dealer, and if there was a problem you'd take the broken tools straight there for a replacement. Now you're calling 1-800 numbers and dealing with people who are thousands of miles away, don't care about tools/you, etc..

Being hearing impaired I hate "Dial 1 for this, Dial 2 for this, Dial 3 for this blah blah blah. Its so fast I don't understand it. I feel like its discrimination.

anndel · Mar 31, 2016

jd_1138 said:
****** shame that an average bloke can not find a standard line of USA made tools at the common stores like Home Depot/Lowe's. I mean some of the specialty stuff is USA/German/Canadian made, but the full line basics like sockets, screwdrivers, wrenches are Chinese.

I'd avoid the Husky/Kobalt junk/**** and get some good quality stuff like Armstrong, SK, etc.. You pay more but it's worth it. It's just kind of a shame that a big box store can't find a way to put out a Made in the USA line.

I was looking out of curiosity. I normally buy Snap On, Armstrong, Wright, Williams but also have a bunch of Sunex and Tektons.

1950mercury · Mar 31, 2016

Post a pic of the ratchet. More than likely its a rebrand. Maybe there is a rebuild kit you can get and keep the USA ratchet

mailpup · Apr 1, 2016

bobemmerich said:
I only wish I had a Menards near me..

If you want, you can order hand tools online from Menards. I've done that. I live in Los Angeles and the nearest Menards to me is in Wyoming. I finally got to visit one in person not too long ago when I was in Indianapolis for a race.

mikebaker1129 · Apr 1, 2016

mailpup said:
If you want, you can order hand tools online from Menards. I've done that. I live in Los Angeles and the nearest Menards to me is in Wyoming. I finally got to visit one in person not too long ago when I was in Indianapolis for a race.

No Menards in Texas either . My 1st Menards was in Indy also,I was amazed at all the made in the USA tools I bought some and mailed them back to my house.
I had to do a project for my grandma and needed a few tools.

gdocktor3 · Apr 1, 2016

bobemmerich said:
I only wish I had a Menards near me..

I'm from southern CT and was just thinking the same thing...
I'm thinking its like an Ace Hardware or Tractor Supply? Neither of which are near me either. (can I use neither and either in the same sentence?)

GSMotorrad · Apr 1, 2016

gdocktor3 said:
Neither of which are near me either. (can I use neither and either in the same sentence?)

Yes, and you did a great job with those two words. Thank you for caring about grammar.

metaldad · Apr 1, 2016

gdocktor3 said:
I'm from southern CT and was just thinking the same thing...
I'm thinking its like an Ace Hardware or Tractor Supply? Neither of which are near me either. (can I use neither and either in the same sentence?)

direct competitor to home crappo and blowes.
some stores are HUGE!
some are 2 story with elevators and loooooooooooooooong full size escalators

Who is making Husky ratchets now?

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