Defending Red, White and Channellock

[Jtels85]

I'm sorry if this has been posted already but I couldn't find it on here...

This story from Channellock came across my Facebook last night, thought it was interesting and really cool!

Defending Red, White, and CHANNELLOCK BLUE®

"We’re proud of our pliers and the American workers who make them. That’s why we chose to deliver a cease and desist on the floor of this year’s National Hardware Show to a company copying our trademarked CHANNELLOCK BLUE® handles with an imported product. Yeah, some might think “it’s just a handle,” but there’s more to the story. Those CHANNELLOCK BLUE® handles represent our company, our pride, our American-made tools and the job security of more than 300 Meadville, PA employees". WORK HARD. SWEAT BLUE®

 

[gdocktor3]

I like it.

 

[armycw2]

Hooah!

 

[6PTsocket]

I'm sorry if this has been posted already but I couldn't find it on here...

This story from Channellock came across my Facebook last night, thought it was interesting and really cool!

Defending Red, White, and CHANNELLOCK BLUE®

"We’re proud of our pliers and the American workers who make them. That’s why we chose to deliver a cease and desist on the floor of this year’s National Hardware Show to a company copying our trademarked CHANNELLOCK BLUE® handles with an imported product. Yeah, some might think “it’s just a handle,” but there’s more to the story. Those CHANNELLOCK BLUE® handles represent our company, our pride, our American-made tools and the job security of more than 300 Meadville, PA employees". WORK HARD. SWEAT BLUE®

In 2015 a jury awarded 54 million to DeWalt,that had sued a company called Positec for copying their yellow color scheme. Hit them where it hurts. Send out the cease and desist letter and if they don't stop, sue them. I have always associated those light blue grips with Channelock.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[racinfarmer]

In 2015 a jury awarded 54 million to DeWalt,that had sued a company called Positec for copying their yellow color scheme. Hit them where it hurts. Send out the cease and desist letter and if they don't stop, sue them. I have always associated those light blue grips with Channelock.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Right on man, right on!

 

[Shop Dad]

I just bought my son a pair of Channellock slip pliers for his 14th birthday. Supporting US toolmakers is so important right now with everything at the BORG changing to made-in-Asia. Good for them to stop the fakers.

 

[crane operator]

I guess I'd be more impressed with channellock if they weren't slapping their name on so much imported stuff themselves.

Don't get me wrong- I love their made here pliers, just don't act as if you aren't importing some junk yourselves.

I've got the same issues with irwin. They love to advertise with nascar and a ad campaign of "supporting the american worker", but what they did with the peterson vise grip line, has made me never buy irwin again. How about supporting the american worker by making your stuff here?

Great for channellock to defend themselves, but I don't see them stopping anything, Chinese companies are terribly hard to sue (and win anything), and lawyers are very expensive.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

My nice Channellocks have steel handles, I wonder if they are fake?

 

[toolenthusiast]

I have always associated those light blue grips with Channelock.

Well... we learned from the Snap-On/HF floor jack thread that lawyers will introduce GJ threads as evidence, so don't be surprised if they PM you a subpoena!

 

[1982fxr]

I guess I'd be more impressed with channellock if they weren't slapping their name on so much imported stuff themselves.

Don't get me wrong- I love their made here pliers, just don't act as if you aren't importing some junk yourselves.

I've got the same issues with irwin. They love to advertise with nascar and a ad campaign of "supporting the american worker", but what they did with the peterson vise grip line, has made me never buy irwin again. How about supporting the american worker by making your stuff here?

Great for channellock to defend themselves, but I don't see them stopping anything, Chinese companies are terribly hard to sue (and win anything), and lawyers are very expensive.

Blame Rubbermaid and wal mart for the Chinese vise grips. Channellock should not really be compared to Irwin but I understand what you mean.

 

[6PTsocket]

Well... we learned from the Snap-On/HF floor jack thread that lawyers will introduce GJ threads as evidence, so don't be surprised if they PM you a subpoena!

Actually Knipex makes a better pair of pliers. I would think a suit would go after whatever assets a foreign company has in the US. I remember a seeing a knock off of my Makita die grinder at a swap meet. They copied the Makita blue exactly and you would swear the case came out of the same mold. Nothing new here. Complaining at a trade show just seemed like a futile jesture.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I'm all for American companies defending their IP and stuff... but suing because of colors? That's a bit rich for me.

And I have a bunch of American-made Channelock stuff, and consider it good quality at a reasonable price.

 

[nieuport17]

Well, the blue fools no one if people pay attention to the COO.
If not, it doesn't matter if its silver, red, or grey.(I just using the color of cars that i see while sitting in the parking lot)

 

[66354dream]

Personally, I don't buy anything channellock anymore. In a large part because of BS like this.

How's this BS?

 

[American Locomotive]

Unfortunately, do to the way trademark and copyright laws work, a company often has to actively defend their trademark in order to prevent it from being genericized or removed.

 

[bob15]

Personally, I don't buy anything channellock anymore. In a large part because of BS like this.

Care to elaborate a little more..........Because Channellock is trying to protect themselves, you won't support them?

 

[Stuey]

I'm all for American companies defending their IP and stuff... but suing because of colors? That's a bit rich for me.

And I have a bunch of American-made Channelock stuff, and consider it good quality at a reasonable price.

Copied trade dress can affect reputation.

I saw new pliers recently in Channellock-blue, and I had to do a double take. I then wondered why Channellock would make pliers for a competitor.

Copied colors can lead to confusion and hurt reputations.

I don't blame them one bit.

With certain IP, if you don't defend certain things, it could open the door to losing protections.

 

[1982fxr]

Copied trade dress can affect reputation.

I saw new pliers recently in Channellock-blue, and I had to do a double take. I then wondered why Channellock would make pliers for a competitor.

Copied colors can lead to confusion and hurt reputations.

I don't blame them one bit.

With certain IP, if you don't defend certain things, it could open the door to losing protections.

This ^^^^^^ 1,000%.

Manufacture a farm tractor and paint it John Deere green and see what happens.

 

[bob15]

Defending trademarks is a regular business activity. They turned it into some rah rah marketing campaign, rather than spending their marketing energy promoting the actual virtues of their product.

What's next? Paying invoices on a video live stream?

This is a way to tell people that there are imitation blue handled pliers out there and to be careful about them and the aren't US made Channellocks. This is a bad thing?

And really, how much time and energy was really spent writing that piece? Not much and it is also an ad for those that might not realize they are American made.

And your BS excuse for not buying their product also a very poor reason. i would have had more respect if you said their product failed you, but to not like them for protecting their name and trademark is a joke.

 

[metaldad]

I guess I'd be more impressed with channellock if they weren't slapping their name on so much imported stuff themselves.
Don't get me wrong- I love their made here pliers,

granted, channey has a huge line of tools, out sourced to that 3rd world country across big pond, and its little brother. however, they have returned to the USA, production of handled drivers, and the red/blue grips of the 'code blue' line
and, hoo raw! that channey is protecting their signature

 

[48548]

I think I should send them a link to this post....

 

[GasNSteering]

Companies should vigorously persue knock offs and trade dress violations. I hate cheaters that steal like that.

 

[Socket Pounder]

Good on Channellock.

 

[Jtels85]

I'd love to see this this American company be the top plier manufacturer, and do all of it in the USA, but their value proposition is pretty thin right now. They're getting stiff competition from above (knipex and friends) and below (same pattern, 1/5 the price) yet they seem to be sticking to the old designs that have been copied heavily for decades and the Asian variety is getting better all the time.

Patent some new designs that address the shortcomings of the pre-wwii designs and keep the $0.25/hr crowd away or the "Made in USA" train will eventually run out of steam.

I'm not sure if they make mini precision pliers, but I'd be a buyer for a complete set in strong plastic tray (Just like MAC and Matco). Even some long pliers, hose pliers, etc...

 

[kctyphoon]

I'd love to see this this American company be the top plier manufacturer, and do all of it in the USA, but their value proposition is pretty thin right now. They're getting stiff competition from above (knipex and friends) and below (same pattern, 1/5 the price) yet they seem to be sticking to the old designs that have been copied heavily for decades and the Asian variety is getting better all the time.

Patent some new designs that address the shortcomings of the pre-wwii designs and keep the $0.25/hr crowd away or the "Made in USA" train will eventually run out of steam.

I think channellock makes decent stuff. But as you said, some have been the same for decades. If they were smart, they would start to make a heavy duty line with some harder material, and newer style joints with less slop in them. That would help to reinvigorate their brand name. People are willing to spend money - you just need to give them something worth spending it on. The fact you can walk into HF and buy essentially the same pump pliers isn't helping them.

 

[Kayakranger76]

I love channelock always boasting there American made......then you pick up some of there tools....made in China......totally bs advertising.....only some of there tools are made here....I have an 18-1 screwdriver made in China that's a pos

 

[NoahG]

Channellock came out with the E series of pliers a year or two ago, and seem to be constantly updating the pivot points on the Linesman pliers.

I do agree that a company with as much hoo-rah USA pride as they do should be ashamed to import any products.

 

[Schurkey]

I guess I'd be more impressed with channellock if they weren't slapping their name on so much imported stuff themselves.

Don't get me wrong- I love their made here pliers, just don't act as if you aren't importing some junk yourselves.

I've got the same issues with irwin. They love to advertise with nascar and a ad campaign of "supporting the american worker", but what they did with the peterson vise grip line, has made me never buy irwin again. How about supporting the american worker by making your stuff here?

Great for channellock to defend themselves, but I don't see them stopping anything, Chinese companies are terribly hard to sue (and win anything), and lawyers are very expensive.

You saved me a lot of typing.

I approve of the USA-made pliers, I approve of the lawsuit, and I'm glad they won, and won big. In the end, they're two-faced bastards who need to bring the rest of the Channellock brand back here.

 

[Norcal]

The pink color of Owens Corning fiberglass insulation is a trademark. Channelock used to make their adjustable w r e n c h e s in the US, the last time I looked they were made in Spain with a lousy fit & finish IMHO.


Spaced the letters out to thwart the links.

 

[cashishift]

I own about 15 diff pair of Channellocks.

I like that they are made here in the USA and are durable.

Great products.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Channelock used to make their adjustable w r e n c h e s in the US, the last time I looked they were made in Spain with a lousy fit & finish IMHO.

I don't think they ever forged their own adjustables. They were rebranded, just as they are now. The Irega made ones are better than the previous version.

 

[maintguy]

I was looking at their website, man it is impressive what they do for the workers. atleast the way they recognize them on line. By listing promotions, anniversaries etc

 

[DaveIRL]

thats why i dont buy much us tool, europe or british ye or even japanses

 

[1982fxr]

I've always liked their pliers. I don't buy the imported stuff.
In the end I appreciate that US manufacturers have it harder than anywhere else. To say the odds are stacked against USA manufacturers is an under statement.

 

[48548]

I don't think they ever forged their own adjustables. They were rebranded, just as they are now. The Irega made ones are better than the previous version.

I agree... I like the new ones.

 

[HanShotFirst]

Companies should vigorously persue knock offs and trade dress violations. I hate cheaters that steal like that.

THIS!!!!

There are some good tools made in the Pacific Rim. If it's truly a good tool then market it yourself and beat the competition legitimately. There are a gazillion shades of blue, and Channellock's blue is a very distinctive shade of blue. No one formulates a Blue of that shade by happenstance. It's a blatant infringement of CL's trade mark handle color.

 

[scooby074]

Try making a yellow meter and see what that gets you... The wrath of Fluke's lawyers.

Color matters. At least if its the same type of product. Blue (that specific shade) is associated with CL.

Much like a blue welder would get miller on your *** or a red one lincoln.

 

[SuperCat]

Channellock has to defend their trademarks or lose them. I like Channellock pliers and have used them without problems for a long time. I also have the tri-lobe screwdrivers (the ones with the steel end cap) and they are pretty good, too. I'll be buying more Channellock products, specifically the different types of pliers, in the future. Gotta Git'R done, and the right tool makes life a lot easier.

 

[Roberts210]

Love it! Go gettum Channellock!

 

[Roberts210]

By the way, I had some tools stolen out of my truck-bed toolbox in January. Thief took all the Channellocks and some other U.S. tools but left plenty behind too, but he didn't leave a single Channellock behind.