Duralast quality fade

[Ign]

Maybe a year ago I picked up a Duralast 80-601 3/8" drive extendable ratchet. It's really pretty nice for what it is (photo on OSB)

I'm working on building up a little tool kit right now and thought I might get a second one while in-store today. The replacement on the hook was much different and even the plastic hanging card looked cheap, almost like a knock-off

The good 80-601 has now apparently transitioned to the (seemingly ******) 51-105. The head is huge, the sliding collar to telescope feels like *** and this one in the store wouldn't even engage the detents, it just fell to full length when I hung it back up after having determined fiddling with it was not helping it to work as it should.

I didn't even feel the action of the head, it didn't matter to me at that point.

Googling "Duralast 80-601" nets a #1 result of an AutoZone link to the new, dis-improved (sure, it's a word) 51-105

Again, the font and even gloss of the tag was noticeably different than the bulk of the Duralast stuff. I failed to note COO but I wonder if we'll see this quality fade in other Duralast tools and if the knock-off-looking tag might be a giveaway on the selected victims?

edit: the price has remained the same at $22.99. Crappier product, same price!

 

[CJM8515]

looks like apex in the 2nd pic, its similar to husky style ratchet imho.

 

[Ign]

Check this, old tags left, new tags right

Part #'s starting in 75 now 50. And no color ring on the newer stuff (probably saves a few pennies)

 

[noahwins]

I call it the quality treadmill. The low end brands break into the US market by selling tons of cheap products to the auto parts chains and Wal-Mart. As their sales increase, they put some of the profits back into improving their manufacturing and design. Eventually they become decent brand names and are too expensive to sell to casual DIYers who will use them once or twice on simple jobs and are replaced by the next low end brand. Powerbuilt is being phased out of the chains because it became mid-market.

Japanese tools used to be cheapies they sold at K-Mart. Now the same thing is happening with Taiwanese tools. Replaced with PRC and, soon, Indian and Pakistani tools.

 

[Yarpo]

Check this, old tags left, new tags right

Part #'s starting in 75 now 50. And no color ring on the newer stuff (probably saves a few pennies)

The "new" one is knurled. Wheres that stack in terms of pennies? More or less than a colored ring? I really actually like the color, but I bet the knurled socket would be most peoples choice.

 

[marineman]

The "new" one is knurled. Wheres that stack in terms of pennies? More or less than a colored ring? I really actually like the color, but I bet the knurled socket would be most peoples choice.

I honestly doubt your average autozone tool buyer would notice a difference.

 

[PR1Gneon]

Then you are judging a tool by the hanging plastic card.

Sent from my SM-J337A using Tapatalk

 

[bushmechanic]

I needed a couple of sockets that only Autozone had the other day, and picked up a set of eleven SAE wrenches for seven bucks on clearance. Looks like they were the old ones that were better.

You might want to have a look at nearby stores if you're passing anyway, just in case. I almost bought some LED equipped extensions for next to nothing. Bit of a gimmick, but there are times I would have appreciated them in the past.

If they still have them tomorrow, I might buy the set.

 

[Yarpo]

I honestly doubt your average autozone tool buyer would notice a difference.

Nope, probably not. But I'm on a forum of tool aficionados in a thread discussing quality fade, not at autozone. If cutting the color out is quality fade penny pinching...I'm curious how many pennies it cost them to make a tool with knurling. More pennies than eliminating the colored ring(s) I'd imagine? Just playing devils advocate and presenting a counterpoint, that's all.

 

[yrly]

Autozone and the like are, to me, not places you buy whole scores of tools but something you might not have for a job you’re doing so I wouldn’t really expect paramount quality

 

[eschoendorff]

For reference, Husky Pro 65507. Extendable locking flex head with quick release.

 

[JulianMorrow]

If you're looking for budget tools, Autozone also sells Titan ratchets. I'd recommend Titan over Duralast. I picked up a Titan 3/8 drive 18" flexhead ratchet off Amazon for $35 a few months ago. I've been really pleased with it.

If you have a local NAPA, the Carlyle ratchets are quite popular on this board, although the price range varies. I think Advance Auto still carries GearWrench, but someone here mentioned that Advanced is slowly phasing out their GearWrench stock.

 

[earthmover1980]

I bought a batch of hand tools from a neighbor that was "done working on cars". Included in these were some duralast long combination wrenches with the blue dots.
I was impressed with the quality. Was hoping to aquire the rest to complete this set. Went to local AutoZone, that style was discontinued. The style they have now look like cheap Chinese quality stuff. Disappointing. I think this is where our country is headed. Every major brand I get used to, build quality always goes down. kinda tired of having to make a huge effort just to buy quality tools.

 

[Ign]

I bought a batch of hand tools from a neighbor that was "done working on cars". Included in these were some duralast long combination wrenches with the blue dots.
I was impressed with the quality. Was hoping to aquire the rest to complete this set. Went to local AutoZone, that style was discontinued. The style they have now look like cheap Chinese quality stuff. Disappointing. I think this is where our country is headed. Every major brand I get used to, build quality always goes down. kinda tired of having to make a huge effort just to buy quality tools.

Yep, Duralast used to have a small cult following on this board 'cause it was surprisingly nice stuff and readily available.

Here's another thread from later '17 where Brownsfan pretty much points out what I repeated with this thread:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=375036

 

[Fedwrench]

Much of the brand "OEM Tools" hardline resembles the first generation Duralast stuff like their 36 tooth ratchets, sockets, and wrenches (minus the color coding). I believe OEM made the first generation Duralast tools

 

[Al Borland]

Older Duralast sockets were made in Taiwan and were decent 6-point sockets.
If they had 1/2" drive in full sets instead of loose singles, I would have bought them. As it stands, I got the loose ones for specific jobs.

 

[Tallpilot]

I understand the disappointment but I’m not sure why anyone is finding this surprising. It’s called value engineering. Duralast (insert any other house brand) have not increased much in price for quite a while. How does that happen and they maintain margins? Transportation and raw materials costs are up. They either pass those costs on (like Snap-on) cut out the middle man (like Tekton) or value engineer the quality down (Apex).

Good, cheap, fast. Pick any two. In a rush? Stanley singles at Wal-mart or a better selection at Northern Tool. Want good stuff? Plan ahead and get it before you need it.

Want to be loyal to a brand? If they aren’t raising prices they are cutting something, probably quality.

 

[Ign]

I understand the disappointment but I’m not sure why anyone is finding this surprising. It’s called value engineering. Duralast (insert any other house brand) have not increased much in price for quite a while. How does that happen and they maintain margins? Transportation and raw materials costs are up. They either pass those costs on (like Snap-on) cut out the middle man (like Tekton) or value engineer the quality down (Apex).

Good, cheap, fast. Pick any two. In a rush? Stanley singles at Wal-mart or a better selection at Northern Tool. Want good stuff? Plan ahead and get it before you need it.

Want to be loyal to a brand? If they aren’t raising prices they are cutting something, probably quality.

Why is it Snap-On or Tekton?

Can I have the "just right" option of the Three Bears to raise prices commensurate with cost increases?

I'd pay 15 or 20% more to still be able to buy the old product. Maybe more.

 

[Tallpilot]

Why is it Snap-On or Tekton?

Can I have the "just right" option of the Three Bears to raise prices commensurate with cost increases?

I'd pay 15 or 20% more to still be able to buy the old product. Maybe more.

I hear you. That doesn’t seem to be the way of the world. I wish they still sold bacon by the pound, instead you get 12 oz for a little more than a pound used to cost. Are they really fooling people?

Companies seem hard wired to hide inflation from their customers in every duplicitous way they can imagine. At least in commoditized markets.

 

[dnschmidt]

Ign, I was selling top quality tools TOPTUL for give away prices and I still couldn't move the stuff. The bottom line is that most people simply don't give a ****. Soon HF Quinn and ICON brands will be considered top of the line. It's a non-stop race to the bottom. That's life, so adapt or die. Or, in this case, be willing to pay a hell of a lot more than you should have to for something made decently well.

 

[Cfendrick]

I guess it depends upon who you are as the Duralast 80-601 has the selector switch in the opposite direction to my liking and is more of a HF/Tekton style and guts. The Duralast 51-105 has the selector switch in the direction I prefer and has guts similar to a Husky and the GearWrench 84t. I believe that the 51-105 is older stock and was the transaction stuff between the good First Gen 36t and Cromoly sockets and what they have today.

My store has been putting a lot of the old stock stuff out which makes me think that there are only a few reasons why you find and put out older stuff.....

 

[egdede]

Mr Holeshot liked em good as Snap-on:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=77205