Smokin' Beta tool offer is for real?

MarcSeattle · Mar 25, 2010

Hello, I'm a newbie but I've lurked on the board for a while. I saw what might be a smokin' deal on Beta tools and it prompted me to make my first post.

A friend sent me an Italian flyer he saw for a promotional deal on Beta socket sets:

http://www.raverautensili.com/download/RU85_319_21305_1.pdf

The prices seem almost too good to be true, even for promotional prices. The 1/2" set is priced at 49 Euros. The 10-32 sockets (Beta Part 920) alone list for $204. Does anyone know about these? Are these the same tools as the regular Beta?

I think I'll contact the dealer (Ravera Franco) about the sale. Maybe they would be willing to ship to the U.S.?

Thanks,
Marc

MarcSeattle · Mar 25, 2010

BTW, I should add that I have nothing to do with Beta tools or the tool industry. Other than as a customer. Sometimes too often.

I wouldn't want anyone to think my first post here was to tout my company or sumptin'.

lbgradwell · Mar 25, 2010

Marc,

I'm sure the PDF is legit, but the prices are notes that are probably made by a prospective retailer; that is, the prices he could obtain for bulk orders.

Also, the notes are 5 months old and mention "while supplies last", so I wouldn't hold my breath if I was you!

y20dth · Mar 25, 2010

They don't look like the Beta tool we can buy over here. The tools look completely different, aswel as the packaging.

I have the new european promo flyer(pdf), but it's to big (42mb) to upload here. If you have a suggestion how to do it...

Monte · Mar 25, 2010

"Beta Easy - Practical line" ? Interesting !! internet retail prices for the 1/2 socket set are around 45 to 57 € click and click

So i guess a new import line from Beta at low prices.

MarcSeattle · Mar 25, 2010

I looked up all the individual part numbers to see if they match the Beta catalog. They do, except I can't find the ratchets and the number for the whole set isn't in the catalog. Here is the 1/2" section of the U.S. catalog:

http://www.procarestores.com/produc...nced_search_result.php?keywords=920&x=10&y=10

Then I checked the Italian catalog and it has the same part numbers as well.

http://www.beta-tools.com/beta/index.html

If these are still available they are the real deal. I'll contact them and see if they have them.

Any comments or experiences with Beta quality? I don't have any but I've lusted after them, and this deal is far too good to pass up.

Monte · Mar 25, 2010

Beta @ youtube click

y20dth · Mar 25, 2010

The beta I have worked with, is very good. In line with Hazet, Facom, Gedore etc... Very nice high gloss chrome finish. But again, these look totally different. I suspect they are rebranded cheap tools? :headscrat

MarcSeattle · Mar 25, 2010

Look different from what?

Monte · Mar 25, 2010

The ratchets don`t look like Beta

this is the classic Beta design

also the prices are too cheap 29.-€ retail for a complete 1/4" set is too cheap, Facom charges around 100.- Hazet even more. So i believe the "Beta Easy" tools are from Taiwan.

maxipouce · Mar 25, 2010

Those "beta easy" tools surely come from the Taiwanese manufacturer of Norauto tools (same case, same bend in the ratchet handle, the T-bar made from an extension ....), you 'd better check if they have the same warranty.
Vat is not included too.

arkangel06 · Mar 25, 2010

Where are the other beta tools made maxipouce?

MarcSeattle · Mar 25, 2010

Great info. I couldn't find the ratchet in the Beta catalog.

Except for the ratchet, all the part numbers appear to match the regular Beta inventory. Maybe Beta paired a Norauto ratchet with their regular stock? Or is there a trick in the part numbers? I see they have a C prefix. The catalog lists the 1/2" sockets as item 920A here:

http://www.procarestores.com/product/general_catalog/product_info.php?products_id=009200008

But the promotional pack lists the part number as C920A. Same for the other items. How would I find out for sure whether they are the same? Any ideas?

maxipouce · Mar 25, 2010

Some "beta easy" sets are available on ebay.it, the references of these tools are all different from the beta ones, they claim to have three production sites in Italia near Roma, but I do not know what they make and where.

maxipouce · Mar 25, 2010

THAT is a beta price;
http://www.subito.it/chiavi-beta-livorno-11326840.htm

y20dth · Mar 25, 2010

MarcSeattle said:
Look different from what?

Look different from the Beta ratchets I've seen before.

y20dth · Mar 25, 2010

Ok.... I've managed to transform the 2010 Beta Promo pdf into separate jpg's, and put them in a photobucket folder. Here goes:

http://s1047.photobucket.com/albums/b471/y20dth/Beta%20promo%202010/

MarcSeattle · Mar 25, 2010

Nice job on the jpgs.

I sent an email to a couple of retailers who have these to determine availability and shipping costs to the U.S.

I didn't ask about whether these are the "real" first-quality Beta because I didn't want to start off by implying that their integrity was anything less than angelic. That's not the way to initiate a relationship with an Italian businessman.

If they respond I can gently ask why the promotional prices are so excellent, and are they the same as the regular Beta, etc. I'll see if I can learn more with my limited Italian.

y20dth · Mar 26, 2010

If anybody is interested, I've opened a folder in photobucket where I will upload the new tool promo's (not only Beta) as they come out (and I have had time to transfer them to jpg):

http://s1047.photobucket.com/albums/b471/y20dth/Tool%20Promos/

:beer:

Monte · Mar 26, 2010

@y20dth:
thank you for uploading the new 2010 Gedore promo with prices !!!

y20dth · Mar 26, 2010

Monte said:
@y20dth:
thank you for uploading the new 2010 Gedore promo with prices !!!

Just added Toolspecial and Gedore Promo. :bounce:

http://s1047.photobucket.com/albums/b471/y20dth/Tool%20Promos/

MarcSeattle · Apr 2, 2010

Just to close the loop on this thread, I can't find anyone who knows the differences, but I'm pretty sure the "Beta Easy" line is not the regular stuff. My guess is that the item was a special promo that's over and now the dealers are selling them off.

Great deal for a spare set for the car, boat, etc. The sets are regularly sold on Italian eBay.

Monte · Aug 16, 2010

stuartleach said:
Confess i work for Beta--coming to work in the USA for the Beta distributor in Jan/Feb 2011.The Beta Easy socket sets are not the std Beta which is made in Italy.They are made in China where Beta has a manufacturing facility-hence the price difference-but the quality is good and my information is that they are a permanent addition to the range.Available from Pro-care stores in CA-check on the price-obviously will be more expensive than in Europe due to carriage costs--but still good value
Stuart

Hi Stuart,
where are the Beta mechanics pliers made ? I heard "overseas" .... What else of the Beta lineup is imported (like the "Beta" Ko-Ken ratchets "900M/55" e.g. etc. ?) the ratcheting wrenches , plastic pipe cutters like the "341A" etc., the torque wrenches from england, the adaptors 925R/S3 from the USA, locking pliers from Spain + france, pullers from germany, wire strippers from sweden, screwdriver w/ striking cap "1243/D7" from Taiwan ?

superautobacs · Aug 16, 2010

Another series that's imported (USA) are their locking extensions: 900/24 ; 910/24 ; 920/24
I'm not sure if it's the whole assembly or just the locking mechanism though. Probably the latter.

Monte · Aug 16, 2010

it seems "stuartleach" is gone ...

superautobacs · Aug 16, 2010

Wow, that was fast. I guess he was advertising a bit too hastily.

Too bad he couldn't answer your questions.

lestat · Aug 17, 2010

'Beta Easy' is the budget range. Bought one of those 1/2 socket sets about a year ago, looked pretty solid although only used them a few times. The chromed sockets have some kind of matte silver 'special' coating on the inside on top of the chrome. I've seen that on other manufacturers as well and don't really understand why they do it (probably to provide extra rust protection?), but this 'coating' was flaking like crazy! I sent them back for a refund.

MarcSeattle · Aug 17, 2010

I have a set of the regular (high-priced) Beta 1/2 sockets. They're bright chrome on the outside and matte on the inside. Never a problem on the chrome.

rice rocket · Jun 26, 2011

Bumping this back from the dead...

Any clarification on whether or not the socket sourced in the "Easy" line is equivalent to the regular line? The part numbers they use for the sockets are the same as the ones in their normal sockets, but that just means they etched the same number onto the sockets. The cheapie ratchets and 1/4" drivers don't appear in their catalog at all.

Smokin' Beta tool offer is for real?

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