The replacements at Advance were simply rebranded GearWrench, as reported here,so I don’t know how you could come up with that conclusion.
GearWrench has thousands or retail outlets carrying their products.
99.5% of Americans have likely never set foot in an Advance Auto Parts store, and likely never will.
The link to the video above pretty clearly shows the TEQ's are rebranded Creasant which along with Gearwrench are made by Apex Tool.
99.5%? Not sure where that came from but it is still a lot of people. What percent of people in North America will ever buy a ratcheting box wrench, which is there flagship product. 99.9%? Just guessing.
Like where...? The only other places around me that carry GW are Grainger, Fastenall, Motion Ind. Walk in any of those places without a Commercial acct and you will be robbed.. Plus they are not open evenings or weekends so nobody that works can go there anyway..And TEQ is rebranded Channellock.
If you look on the GW website it will list where you can buy them.
In addition to the industrial supply houses you listed it includes Home Depot, Sears, NAPA. Plus just about any place that Sells tools has them available on their website. Including Lowes, Tractor Supply etc,. Some tool trucks carry Gear Wrench. The counter guy at Advance Auto told me that the Performance truck has them.
I will say from personal observation that stores like Napa and Home Depot have a limited selection of GW products. Usually limited to ratcheting box wrench kits. Where Advance has a pretty large selection of sockets, box wrenches, ratchets, screw drivers, bit sockets etc.
http://www.gearwrench.com/where-to-buy
It is unclear why the abrupt switch.
It is entirely possible Apex saw a drop in sales and that may have motivated it but we just don't know. That may also explain the recent poor warranty service as is the subject of this thread. My sense is that it is a win-win deal for both parties. I am sure it will come out over time.
