Armstrong moving?

[bones741]

Was trying to order and armstrong 11-994 ratchet today,started with epsteins , everything went through fine. And a little later they call me and saybthey are not sure when the ratchet willbe back in stock. So i try it from unique truck equipment, and same thing, payment goes through and a little later i get a call from their customer service saying they dont have it. But this time the girl informs me that armstrong has shut down production ofthis ratchet series temperarily due to them moving the manufacturing facility. She said they expect to start recieving the ratchets again around july... so looks like im SOL, and going to hand over 130.00 for an flf80...

 

[LB-1911]

Old News

I guess you didn't get the memo......

Plant closures and consolidation of manufacturing facilities.

The company's Sumter facility produces hand tools under the Crescent®, Wiss®, HK Porter® and Xcelite®brand names, and will be adding production of Armstrong® and Allen® hand tools as well as private label brands.

http://sccommerce.com/news/press-releases/apex-tool-group-expand-sumter-county-employment


"APEX Tool Group has made the difficult decision to close our manufacturing facilities in Dallas, Texas and Springdale, Ark., by the end of 2015, and to consolidate production of our Made in the USA brands to an existing facility we own in Sumter, S.C.,” the APEX Tool Group noted in a statement. “We plan to add 150 to 200 jobs in Sumter to handle this additional capacity, and our associates in Dallas and Springdale whose jobs are impacted will have the first opportunity to apply for these positions.

All three of these facilities are operating substantially below capacity so we need to consolidate these manufacturing operations in order to be competitive and serve our customers efficiently.”

http://talkbusiness.net/2014/08/apex-moving-springdale-operations-to-south-carolina-250-jobs-lost/

 

[bones741]

Well thanks for the info, thats a bummer

 

[anndel]

....and that's before the BIG move to china

 

[Notorious BRT]

....and that's before the BIG move to china

Yep. Just as soon as the analysts say that a move to Asia will bump profits enough to offset any customer loss it will cause, they will be gone.

 

[mjoekingz28]

Must be tough always knipping at the heels.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I hate to see another company go over seas.

 

[drink]

First I heard tool orders would be shipping in February 2016, or as late as March 2016. Then I heard they moved the factory and the warehouse in South Carolina was flooded. Now after reading this thread the OP said tool orders will be shipping in July 2016. Adding insult to injury they cheat Americans out of their jobs and go offshore with production elsewhere.

 

[bonneyman]

Having some buckets full of old Craftsman, Bonney, and Indestro ratchets is looking better and better.

 

[MrT6002]

Fwiw I finally received my 10-994 from cyber Monday. Date on the packaging says 2/25/16. HJE told me they received 20 1/4" ratchets last week, but have no idea when they'll get more. Maybe they're only producing 1/4" right now?

 

[shockwave]

Unfortantaly consolidating leads to unwanted thoughts of closing but general sales of gearwrench vs Armstrong are overwhelmed and lead to a lot moving over seas

And corporate looks at sales and profits over all and us based company's are not as stable as they once were

Even though we are tool users that appreciate the quality of products when big corporations take over its usually not the best thing for the end user the best example is look at Bonney in mid 90 when I believe cooper bought them they quickly dissolved the company and sold right to snap on I believe

Sorry for rambling but seeing as so much switching over like pinless swivel and how close the gearwrench 84 and 88 ratchets are and dissolve of the kd brand altogether for gearwrench makes me worry about down the road for Armstrong under apex

 

[reader2580]

There are a lot of tools that customers only buy specifically because they are made in the USA. A lot of former customers won't buy Craftsman anymore after they went to China and didn't lower prices.

Harry Epstein website does show the Armstrong 1/2" ratchet as in stock, but not the 3/8" ratchet.

 

[bones741]

Fwiw I finally received my 10-994 from cyber Monday. Date on the packaging says 2/25/16. HJE told me they received 20 1/4" ratchets last week, but have no idea when they'll get more. Maybe they're only producing 1/4" right now?

Yea i actually ordered both the 3/8 and 1/4", wheb they called me i told them to send the 1/4 and email me when the 3/8 comes in

 

[lightning02]

this is why i didnt buy them when i wanted to nor recommend them anymore. sad bc i really wanted a set of them.

 

[Automag88]

I think you guys are going overboard with the whole consolidating facilities bit. They are moving to South Carolina. Last time I checked that was still in the United States of America. I hate seeing companies head overseas just as much as the next guy but they aren't moving overseas. If they were going to do that they would have done it already and not wasted a bunch of money setting up in SC. Remember that Armstrong is an industrial tool brand and a lot of factories and manufacturing facilities use their products. It's not just you and I. I think they'll be here for the long haul

 

[jrobb316]

Armstrong is toast IMO. Go with the snapon, better ratchet with better service should you ever need it. Ratchets are the one thing I do care about warranty on in case I strip some teeth and snapon will ship you head kits no questions asked.

 

[Ming-Tzu]

Went ahead and ordered the 1/3, 3/8 and 1/2 from Epstein's even though the 3/8 and 1/2 look out of stock. Maybe they'll find a box somewhere hiding, who knows lol

Willing to wait though

 

[drink]

It sounds like if they would have left all USA production the way it was no of it would have happened to begin with. Tool customers would be buying made in USA tools also because they would not have any brands being made elsewhere that undercut the USA prices. A lot of Americans would still have their jobs also. Who knows how many are actually able to sell their homes for what they have invested in them and go to SC.

Anyway, it looks like finding stocking dealers is the thing to do. So far it looks like NHBragg.com has some Armstrong 3/8" drive ratchets in stock. You can also try ENCO and ask them how many they have in stock.

 

[finn]

It sounds like if they would have left all USA production the way it was no of it would have happened to begin with. Tool customers would be buying made in USA tools also because they would not have any brands being made elsewhere that undercut the USA prices. A lot of Americans would still have their jobs also. Who knows how many are actually able to sell their homes for what they have invested in them and go to SC.

Anyway, it looks like finding stocking dealers is the thing to do. So far it looks like NHBragg.com has some Armstrong 3/8" drive ratchets in stock. You can also try ENCO and ask them how many they have in stock.

The guy in customer service told me that the machine tools they planned to move to SC from the closed Texas factory ended up being total junk, and most had to be completely rebuilt or replaced with new before production can be resumed.

 

[drink]

The guy in customer service told me that the machine tools they planned to move to SC from the closed Texas factory ended up being total junk, and most had to be completely rebuilt or replaced with new before production can be resumed.

Yep, I have heard about them having problems with machining also. So far the excuses are moving to SC, problems with machining, and flooding of the warehouse. Now, how to figure out a way to actually get new Armstrong tools shipped.

 

[yamaha0343]

I'd hold off awhile until they actually get things right, just in case there's a quality drop off at first.

 

[Parabellum]

That Dallas, Texas plant once made Wright's Cougar line ratchets and sockets plus craftsman sockets, maybe rachets but made allen sockets and ratchets.

 

[Sugarfryz]

I figured this out bc our Matco guy has like two ratchets on his truck. He told me about this story, really *****. Making our guys pissed. Some have been waiting a month for a ratchet rebuild.

 

[winlinmac]

And...what's the job loss like in Dallas?
#Reallylookingforwardtojanuary2017

This pretty much makes me to only opt for SK Tools now.

 

[LB-1911]

I figured this out bc our Matco guy has like two ratchets on his truck. He told me about this story, really *****. Making our guys pissed. Some have been waiting a month for a ratchet rebuild.

A month......

Just got told March 31 for ship date on 3/8 ratchets

Matco got the ratchet 8-24-2015 so just over 7 months for warranty service if this "guess" is correct

So Matco is backordered on all ratchets
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5565698#post5565698

 

[nyrapscalion]

Apex is a greedy slime company only interested in profits.
Made in cheapochina on everything anymore.
Disgusting. Plain and simple.
The crescent wrenches don't even look right anymore.

 

[Sugarfryz]

Yeah a whole month already. The guys won't go on his truck until he gets them fixed. Poor guy only had the truck for 1.5 months. I think some of it is he needs to get his **** together, but I don't fault him for it. We didn't have a Matco guy for 5 years. And we have 4 dealerships in a row where I work. He had to warranty an insane amount of stuff. He gets cleared still when he stops by. I like him tho, he's always done right by me. Even will say hello to me even when I don't owe him money

 

[espyking83]

Outsourcing American jobs is the only thing Apex is consistent at. They do it well. Hard decision my ***, let them burn with Craftsman.