Beta Tools COO & Emerging Chinese Tool Market

[superautobacs]

Every now and then, the question about Beta tools and its COO comes up. Most hand tools that you purchase from them today have no COO stamped on the tool, nor does it come with a sticker on the packaging. Attempts in trying to get feedback from the manufacturer regarding COO has resulted with little to no luck.

There's something that I learned about Beta recently that relates to this topic.

Historically, Beta tools have been very hard to attain outside of its mother country in Italy. However, in recent years, they started an attempt to break into markets outside of Italy and the European continent. In order to do so, they looked into reducing their cost in production by outsourcing and looking into offshore production. As long as the quality was acceptable they placed no importance on their tool's COO.

By saving costs in production they were able to place greater efforts into promoting and building their brand image. This is where China fits into the picture.

China's tool market is apparently still in an infant stage when compared to other industrialized nations. With its population and growth, tool companies see it as a huge opportunity. At a recent hardware show in China (for the domestic market), there were overseas brands like Snap-on; however, it was only under the BluePoint brand. The star of the show though was Beta.

Beta has an extremely strong brand image in the Chinese market not only from their orange and black colour scheme, but together with their clothing and footwear line. In general, Chinese people are quite materialistic and really value their brand names. With the Beta's Italian heritage, they are getting a name brand that has a long Italian history, yet with an attractive price range not commonly associated with the "Made-in-Italy" tag.

Beta has apparently been really successful in breaking into the Chinese market so far with their branding power and has developed a quite a following. All other tool brands are following behind in staking a spot in the market share.

Some pics:

Store Showroom:

Beta Clothing:

 

[tonydanzah]

creepy

 

[Monte]

nice pics superautobacs !

first i thought the pics are somewhere from Korea because the inscription in the first pic looks like that

 

[superautobacs]

creepy

did you see someone creepy

nice pics superautobacs !

first i thought the pics are somewhere from Korea because the inscription in the first pic looks like that

The Chinese characters are just stylized , that's all.

 

[jjjrmx5]

As stated before, outside of the USA (and possibly Canada) COO on retail products are not required and thus usually not offered or inscribed in the ROW (rest of world).

If you look on Beta's website, their core market is Europe, and , as you show above, obviously Asia.

That said, Beta does seem to have a small operatation based out of Hunington Beach, CA called Beta ProCare with a showroom. I've seen ad's placed in AutoWeek and various other Auto mags looking for dealers or franchisee's, but I do not know if that is still ongoing.

My suggestion is to call or e-mail the Cali facility and see if what they sell has the COO stamped on the tools themselves or on the packaging if indeed Beta tools are being sold here in the states. It's the law, so if they are selling, it's gotta be somewhere.

http://www.procarestores.com/contact/index.php

Beat ProCare USA
17112 Palmdale Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
(P) 877.622.7350
(F) 714.242.6725
[email protected]

 

[slipjointed]

That's where Beta screwed up in the USA... they tried to break into the market here but didn't account for the fact that the US tool buying public typically is not interested in paying boutique prices for Taiwan or China made tools.

That Pro Care store shown above does not answer the phone, and I recently saw a huge amount of Beta goods come up on Craigslist here in So-Cal, multiple handboxes, socket sets, shoes, etc. My guess is that the owner(s) called it quits and are selling the rest of their Beta inventory on Craigslist since they can't seem to sell it in their retail storefront.

Search for "Beta" in the Inland Empire section of Craiglist under "Tools" and see how much stuff comes up... I'm in a hurry or else I'd post some links myself.

 

[earlthegoat2]

So the Chinese love the Beta tools associated with Italy but not with the Made in Italy price tag. Beta may or may not be made in China though right? Got it.

For some reason I am less than enthusiastic about Craftsman tools, which are associated with the USA but are now not Made in USA but rather China and are still selling for Made in USA prices.

Intresting dynamic.

 

[pipsters]

So the Chinese love the Beta tools associated with Italy but not with the Made in Italy price tag. Beta may or may not be made in China though right? Got it.

For some reason I am less than enthusiastic about Craftsman tools, which are associated with the USA but are now not Made in USA but rather China and are still selling for Made in USA prices.

Intresting dynamic.

That would make sense except you're wrong, still a lot of Craftsman branded tools produced here in the US.

China is going to be a powerhouse, basically what the US experienced back in the 50's-80's as far as domestic middle class but times 1000. They all purchase products that are produced there, making for a large middle class.

 

[jjjrmx5]

China is going to be a powerhouse, basically what the US experienced back in the 50's-80's as far as domestic middle class but times 1000. They all purchase products that are produced there, making for a large middle class.

Going to be?

Hahahahahaha.

Is.

It's just that the slinky dog of an economy is still catching up on Mainland China.

Much like how lobster fisherman seldom eat lobster daily or foie gras duck producers seldom eat their own product daily, it pays more to sell it off and seldom can the employees afford it.

It's rapidly changing, but Euro and American brands like Snap-On (hence the Blue Point push) are seen as boutique items and thus worthy of a higher price point.

Tool Irony x 2. LOL.

 

[Fedwrench]

It doesn't matter where the Beta tool is made, it just matters that the Beta name is on it as that is the true standard of quality.
Where have we heard that before?

 

[american lockpicker]

If its not made and Italy and marked as such I won't buy it.

 

[mofo62]

.



Beta - China



break my heart...



break my heart

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

Going to be?

Hahahahahaha.

Is.

It's just that the slinky dog of an economy is still catching up on Mainland China.

Much like how lobster fisherman seldom eat lobster daily or foie gras duck producers seldom eat their own product daily, it pays more to sell it off and seldom can the employees afford it.

It's rapidly changing, but Euro and American brands like Snap-On (hence the Blue Point push) are seen as boutique items and thus worthy of a higher price point.

Tool Irony x 2. LOL.

Is, for now. When the China bubble pops, it's going to be an ugly thing. Dictatorial communism works well enough when all the subjects are poor and ignorant, but it doesn't work so well when they start making more money and want freedom of information access. There's going to be a quite messy economic and political change in China that will change world politics.

Gotta wonder what's going to happen when the average Chinese citizen realises the "brand-name" **** he's buying is on the same quality level as the **** China sells to the rest of the world?

 

[american lockpicker]

Gotta wonder what's going to happen when the average Chinese citizen realises the "brand-name" **** he's buying is on the same quality level as the **** China sells to the rest of the world?

Then they will want American, European and possibly Japanese(didn't Mao ban their products by passing a law?) stuff.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Is, for now. When the China bubble pops, it's going to be an ugly thing. Dictatorial communism works well enough when all the subjects are poor and ignorant, but it doesn't work so well when they start making more money and want freedom of information access. There's going to be a quite messy economic and political change in China that will change world politics.

Gotta wonder what's going to happen when the average Chinese citizen realises the "brand-name" **** he's buying is on the same quality level as the **** China sells to the rest of the world?

I agree 100%.

I think the back-lash has some ways to go and the corruption and corporate espionage and patent stealing is still a long way from being corraled, but it will be good entertainment when the fertilizer hits the ventilator.

 

[Skin]

Gotta wonder what's going to happen when the average Chinese citizen realises the "brand-name" **** he's buying is on the same quality level as the **** China sells to the rest of the world?

I doubt they're ignorant to their own involvment and at the same time i doubt the average citizen cares. They just associate the brand with quality. This is no differant from your average US citizen shopping for a german car made in south carolina or someone shopping for clothing made in east asia but sold at premium by brand power houses. Look at what Nike means to this country and the prices they can demand and im pretty sure they make most everything in China and Vietnam.

Essentially its ironic talking about china in such a way with what the average [superior?] american purchases day to day. Fact is, they dont care as long as the brand image is there.

 

[richfinn]

I would quite happily buy Snap-On/Beta/Hazet/Stahlwille no matter where they were made to be honest, if they make them using the original design with decent raw materials in a factory they control.

As a kid I remember everyone harping on about "made in Britain" and adults laughing at anything that was imported from Japan. I would now personally seek out the stuff made in Japan over the British made stuff

In 20 years time own brand Chinese stuff will be good quality and we will be showing off our Chinese treasure (look at the Nepros thread to see how far Japan have come), and we will all be moaning about cheap African ****

 

[lowbucktruck]

Those Beta tool boxes/rollaways are kinda cool. They would look right at home in a modern-style garage.

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

I doubt they're ignorant to their own involvment and at the same time i doubt the average citizen cares. They just associate the brand with quality. This is no differant from your average US citizen shopping for a german car made in south carolina or someone shopping for clothing made in east asia but sold at premium by brand power houses. Look at what Nike means to this country and the prices they can demand and im pretty sure they make most everything in China and Vietnam.

Essentially its ironic talking about china in such a way with what the average [superior?] american purchases day to day. Fact is, they dont care as long as the brand image is there.

That could very well be true; I don't know enough about Chinese culture to know if their addiction to Western brand-names also extends to wanting Western quality with those names. That correlation doesn't exist here in the States, and given the until-recently lack of purchasing power that the Chinese lower-middle class had, I can't see it exists there.

Brand-name **** is brand-name **** no matter what country you're in, I guess.

 

[Wrenches of Death]

That could very well be true; I don't know enough about Chinese culture to know if their addiction to Western brand-names also extends to wanting Western quality with those names.

GM sells more Buicks in Communist China than they do here in the US.

WoD

 

[superautobacs]

I doubt they're ignorant to their own involvment and at the same time i doubt the average citizen cares. They just associate the brand with quality. This is no differant from your average US citizen shopping for a german car made in south carolina or someone shopping for clothing made in east asia but sold at premium by brand power houses. Look at what Nike means to this country and the prices they can demand and im pretty sure they make most everything in China and Vietnam.

Essentially its ironic talking about china in such a way with what the average [superior?] american purchases day to day. Fact is, they dont care as long as the brand image is there.

To the average Chinese, brand image is a HUUUUGE factor in their buying decision. If a brand is getting attention, people will take notice and will fall for its name. In the tool/DIY arena, Beta is one such brand that's earned its spot in a small percentage of Chinese people's hearts....and there's still millions of other people in that country.

Those Beta tool boxes/rollaways are kinda cool. They would look right at home in a modern-style garage.

I totally agree. How about in the living room, too?

 

[suss427]

Wow, great trade show display! I want the giant screwdriver!

 

[SquareBear]

Great... Beta making tools in China. Another brand on my boycott communism list. Will it ever end!?

 

[Krokodil]

I really like the few Beta tools I own.

 

[superautobacs]

Of course, not everything sold under the Beta brand is made in China/Taiwan!

Here's Beta's production plants and distributors list:
http://www.beta-tools.com/beta/gruppo_beta/subsidiaries_en.html

 

[Wrenches of Death]

Great... Beta making tools in China. Another brand on my boycott communism list. Will it ever end!?

Yes. Yes it will. Next December, Earth will be vaporized by a large fast moving object.

I just hope that it's visible in the sky for a few weeks before it hits. Looming ever larger. Inescapable. An ominous presence that's impossible to ignore. Looming ever closer.....ever closer...

WoD

 

[american lockpicker]

China isn't communist anymore they are capitalist...

 

[Wrenches of Death]

China isn't communist anymore they are capitalist...

Yeah, you told me that in March of this year. Walk down a street in Beijing with a Bible in your hand, or simply waving a Taiwan flag and let's see what happens. Unless something has changed recently, possession of a Bible will get you prison time.

I guess that you didn't either didn't read my reply at the time or maybe didn't fully understand it, so here is my reply again. I just verified, the link to the Official Communist Chinese Government website is still valid:

>>>snip!<<<

Semantics, huh?

Here's one of my favorite quotes from Herr Doktor:

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”

In our case today, it's primarily big business and the news media shielding us from the "consequences".

Oh, here's a link to an official organ of the Communist Chinese govt, the official Chinese Govt website:

http://english.gov.cn/2007-10/22/content_923081.htm

I place great weight on the the first sentence of that page posted and maintained by the current Govt of Mainland China:

"The Communist Party of China (CPC) is the party in power in the country."

And since they've been the sole party in power for the last 62 years, I'll stick with my original description of China as Communist China.

WoD

 

[american lockpicker]

Communist in name only. If you look up the definition of communism and compare it to what China is now you will see I am correct. I'm sure if they were really communist they wouldn't let businesses exploit their people and enviroment in order to gain great profits(I'm just saying...)

 

[Duarte]

The PR of China has a capitalist economy, but is still a totalitarian, repressive regime. Communism as economic engine is a complete failure. The PRC has morphed into a strange beast, that is for sure.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Communist and capitalist are economic systems.

Has correllary relationship to personal freedoms but being communist does not necissarily mean lack of freedom and being capitalist does not necissarily mean more freedom. All depends on the type of government not the economic system.

 

[Marlin]

Yeah, you told me that in March of this year. Walk down a street in Beijing with a Bible in your hand, or simply waving a Taiwan flag and let's see what happens. Unless something has changed recently, possession of a Bible will get you prison time.

Google Catholic Church in Beijing, you'll see quite a list come up. Pretty sure they all have bibles in them and I don't think they are busting down the doors and throwing the priests in prison. As for Taiwan, you can now get direct flights from mainland China to Taiwan, something you could not do a few years ago.

 

[pipsters]

Google Catholic Church in Beijing, you'll see quite a list come up. Pretty sure they all have bibles in them and I don't think they are busting down the doors and throwing the priests in prison. As for Taiwan, you can now get direct flights from mainland China to Taiwan, something you could not do a few years ago.

The Christian religion in China is almost entirely underground.

 

[Vinko]

For some reason I am less than enthusiastic about Craftsman tools, which are associated with the USA but are now not Made in USA but rather China and are still selling for Made in USA prices.

Man, I step away from this board for a while, and Crafty is no longer US made? Even the hardline of tools?

 

[William Payne]

I have talked to a few business people who have dealt with chinese companies and one common thing I hear is that while the chinese make alot of stuff for everyone else they don't use what they make, they buy the best of the best of everyone else.

 

[superautobacs]

I have talked to a few business people who have dealt with chinese companies and one common thing I hear is that while the chinese make alot of stuff for everyone else they don't use what they make, they buy the best of the best of everyone else.

That's very common. Vancouver, where I live, has a very large population of migrant Chinese, both from PRC and PROC. They both refrain from buying anything made in China, whenever possible.
They have no faith/confidence over anything their nation produces.

 

[Monte]

The chinese buy plenty of chinese made Volkswagens and Audis

 

[Marlin]

The Christian religion in China is almost entirely underground.

You can Google "Catholic church in Shanghai" and get 4 pages of results, how underground can it be?

 

[american lockpicker]

The chinese buy plenty of chinese made Volkswagens and Audis

And Mercedes Benz and Buick...

 

[BerninicaCO3]

also keep in mind that I think, not long ago, I read the average wage in certain industrial cities for a factory worker had risen to an impressive $300/mo (USD)!

Chinese workers couldn't AFFORD snapon. Hell, many of us can't.
Cut them a break!

And made-in-china doesn't necessarily mean **** quality. Just $5 ratchets made in china. It might be that Beta makes a good tool in china, with good steel, and good processes. I mean, steelworking was a hallowed secret in ancient japan, but the engineering know-how is pretty much open source these days. Just a question of whether you want to pay for it; and chinese tools in walmart aren't exactly being sold to professionals willing to pay a premium.