Carlyle wrenches-quick pics

[shoturtle]

Retail price is $213.57 according to amazons web site.

Now the question I have is if one breaks, where do you return it? If sears or auto zone sells it, then yea, otherwise you're dealing with phone returns. I personally couldn't bring myself to return a mail order item to a retail store for warranty purposes.

Not pickin at you, just saying

simple send it back to GW

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I think most of the posts in this thread have been on point. Many people seem to think the tools are freakishly expensive for what they are.

That's not to say they aren't interesting or won't perform well. But it seems many members can't stomach the price tag.

Well at least some posts have been

Looking at both the gearwrench set I have and the carlyle, the carlyle is more beefy. Not saying that explains the cost differences entirely but does factor into it.

Time to break out the micrometer

 

[shoturtle]

The price is not in line with GearWrench.

$72 shipped for a comparable GearWrench set on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000K1OH94/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Amazon has huge buying power like the big box. And they have always had great deals and have always put the middle finger up to msrp.

 

[shoturtle]

The big sites do, the smaller tools sites are in the 100 dollar range.

 

[shoturtle]

I would like to know if the 14pc sets that sears closed out for GW, where they the flank dive or the older non flank drive.

 

[Hiball]

^You just pointed out what i didn't understand with all this... This forum likes to compare MSRP prices to sale/clearance/discount prices in order to "prove" their point.

Yep.. Happens all the Time, Especially with Industrial tool brands Williams, Wright etc..Where they Never bring anywhere near Retail. I have noticed that the SK deals that could be had 6mos ago are slowly drying up, I think the Influx of New Supply and More importantly the cost of that Supply has probably climbed a bit.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Just some quick measurments

Gearwrench 3/4 wrench and carlyle 3/4 wrench
Measurements are in inches..I don't think in the metric system

Gearwrench

width of beam .6335
Thickness of beam .2410
width of box end 1.0955

Carlye

width of beam .7355
thickness of beam .2485
width of box head 1.190

 

[TwoInch]

i stopped in my local napa, and they had 1 set each of metric wrenches, flat screwdrivers, and 3/8 metric sockets, which they had been sent accidentally.

talked to the guy runnin the place, he said they are sending them back, and that they will not be stocking any of the carlyle stuff. only available for order. they claimed that the stuff is just too expensive, and they feel it will not sell, at all.

the wrenches were nice, seemed to be of exceptional quality. i would say they are much nicer than any gearwrench stuff i have ever seen. that said, i wouldnt/didnt buy them. i havent used them, so i cant comment on how they fit fasteners and the like, but i will say that they didnt jump out and scream buy me. at $80-$90 i might have considered it. not at $130

only my opinion, nothing else.

 

[TwoInch]

Just some quick measurments

Gearwrench 3/4 wrench and carlyle 3/4 wrench
Measurements are in inches..I don't think in the metric system

Gearwrench

width of beam .6335
Thickness of beam .2410
width of box end 1.0955

Carlye

width of beam .7355
thickness of beam .2485
width of box head 1.190

how about some contact measurements?

 

[OEXL16B]

talked to the guy runnin the place, he said they are sending them back, and that they will not be stocking any of the carlyle stuff. only available for order. they claimed that the stuff is just too expensive, and they feel it will not sell, at all.

Go to your nearest NAPA distribution center; forget about those franchise stores.

 

[TwoInch]

Go to your nearest NAPA distribution center; forget about those franchise stores.

at this point, im not worried about it really. after having them in my hands, they are too rich for my blood. they are nice, and im sure they are great tools, but unless they are seriously on sale or the price is adjusted at some point in the future, i wont be buying much of it.

i dont have a budget for brand new tools at that price range. im not a pro, just someone who enjoys working with tools. the top notch tools i own are mostly all second hand, and the brand new stuff i have bought was mostly GW and USA craftsman and similar.

 

[concealer404]

The price is not in line with GearWrench.

$72 shipped for a comparable GearWrench set on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000K1OH94/?tag=atomicindus08-20

MSRP vs. big box discount pricing is not a valid comparison.

MSRP vs. MSRP is a valid comparison.

Sale prices are a different animal and we've already seen that tools from both companies can be had at less than MSRP.

 

[concealer404]

I think actual street price vs actual street price is a better comparison.

No one buys GearWrench tools at the MSRP. Since Carlyle tools are only sold at NAPA, unless they're on sale, they'll likely be much closer to MSRP in price than the average GearWrench tool.


Even if you compared the price the OP paid ($112) vs the Amazon price ($72), the Carlyle wrenches are $40 more.

Plus, does the OP have an account offering a discount the average person can't get? I know the best discount I can get at NAPA is 10% off for buying online and picking up in store, unless the item is on sale, of course. So the best I could probably do is just over $140 for the wrench set the OP purchased.

.... He said they were already listed on the shelf @ $124.99. They're at mine for $129.99.

Then 10% off of that.

Sure, Gearwrench is still cheaper. (though "normal" street price everywhere besides amazon is more in the $100-$120 range) I'm saying it's a cheaper (and not just in price) tool. We're attempting to compare two different "classes" of tools, and i'm not sure why.

We don't talk down Mac, SnapOn, and Matco because Gearwrench is cheaper.

For what it's worth (i'm guessing not much.), the Carlyle part numbers that more closely correspond to the Gearwrench set in question would be:

CW1211 (11 piece set w/ caddy): $119.99

or

CW1218 (18 piece set w/ pouch): $249.99 (1/4" to 1-1/4")


EDIT:

Strange.... the 19 piece combo metric set is $199.99. CW1219M

 

[thejudges69]

I'm not posting in this thread anymore.

I think the tools are interesting, but they're more expensive than other comparable imported brands. You can even get some USA made tools like Wright in the same price range. I don't dislike Taiwanese tools, so that doesn't really matter to me that much.

If they offer some big discounts on sale, they may be appealing, but they're prices are just too high for what they are, IMO.

People are free to spend their money however they want. If you want to buy these tools, go ahead and do it. But unless they offer some big sales, these appear to be a poor value to me.

I agree with you, I just can't believe there are 8 pages of more or less bickering about the cost. Bottom line if you don't like the cost don't buy them. If you don't like the coo then don't buy them. It'S almost like everyone tries to convince themselves of why its better to buy one versus the other.

 

[bpankratz]

I agree with the above post, if you dont like the price dont buy them. Also I see a lot of USA vs anywhere else discussion on here. Honest, I'm from Canada, I couldn't care less whether my tools were made in China, Tiwan, USA or anywhere else in the world as long as it is a good quality tool.

As far as the Carlyle tools go, do the open ends "flex" around fasteners at all that you have noticed? I can swallow the price, but if they flex around fasteners like my current wrenches, I'm no better off than I am now.
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[napatoolguy6908]

i've got a set of the long's and i have snappy and macto and mac and to me the carlyle's are way better in feel and quality is beeter than my mac knuck savers and just as good as my snappy and matco and for the price they are no different then buying the big names

 

[theamcaddict]

http://www.tooltopia.com/sk-hand-tool-86016.aspx

http://www.tooltopia.com/sk-hand-tool-86017.aspx

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-11pc...p-00936342000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

The SK in the comparison is not a long pattern.

 

[gregoryD857]

I have a friend that works for NAPA and he told me that they spent nearly a year interviewing the people in the wrench turning community across the country and across multiple industries to find the features they liked the most and integrated them in to the new line. He also said they are spec'd out to compte with the truck brands in quality. I have a 3/8ths flex head and so far its been fantastic. I'm a weekend DIY guy so my experiences may not be as credible as full time wrenchers but I do have an extensive background in manufacturing and I know that the product specs along with strong process controlls mean everything when it comes to quality. I think when people start using these they're going to find out how good they really are and how compettive the price really is.

 

[napatoolguy6908]

gregory im with you on that

 

[bpankratz]

You would actually compare these to Snap-On? Hmmm that sounds good enough for me to buy a set, now if I can figure out how to get them in Canada....

 

[franzdom]

These were last month's tool of the month.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Wow, the thread from hell has resurfaced

 

[NissanTechWill]

I stopped by Napa on the way home from work to pick up some parts for a current project. After reading about the new tools thread submitted by fedwrench I wanted to take a look.

I liked what I saw so I bought a set. Retail is around 160 dollars and picked this set up for $112 and change. Looks the price is on par with s and k, crafty pro and wright.

Although the camera I used ***** one can see the groves on the open end which is similar to flank drive wright grip etc etc.

I used a 3/4 in wrench and compared it to some others of the same size in my toolbox. The Carlyle is about 1/4 in longer than the s&k and gearwrench.

The chrome looks good and the wrench is pretty beefy. Looks like it's built to do some work.

All in all I think this is a good wrench set. I use them some over the next few days to get a better in depth opinion, but so far I like them.

NCFordGuy - where in NC are you located? Did you picks these up from a Walker/Napa store?

-Will

 

[NC-Fordguy]

NCFordGuy - where in NC are you located? Did you picks these up from a Walker/Napa store?

-Will

Between Greenville and Tarboro

I got my carlyle tools from the Napa in Tarboro. They are part of Barnes Motor and Parts. I guess around 15 stores in eastern NC.

Wilson, Rocky Mount, Tarboro, Greenville, Kinston are the locations that come to mind