How much is cost a factor in your hand tool purchasing decision?

[Wamsutta]

I buy hand tools based on the way they feel in my hand. I think they call that ergonomics. Every tool brand has a completely different feel.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

I get it, I'd rather buy Taiwan made than China, but China is 110% capable of making as good of almost any product as anyone, especially something stupid easy like hand tools. If you can make a cordless tool, and they make millions a year, you can make a high-quality 20th century product like a vise, wrench, socket.... if the purchaser will pay for it. I understand not wanting to support China for political reasons, but they can make quality. Their automotive factories are the most automated in the world; yes, more advanced than Japan, Germany, the US.

Majority of people on here think Chinas manufacturing is like 1935 still. They are literally unaware they have an entire space program, intel satellites and everything. You would think a country that has the ability to make spacecrafts might have a factory that can produce a torx bit.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

I am a mechanic so I need decent tools but I dont care about having the best. I need more tools to do more jobs so bang for my buck. All the SO tools I own I have found working on cars. You would really be surprised how many tools are lost in cars.

 

[American Locomotive]

I do research and buy a tool that works well, even if it is a bit pricey. Brand doesn't particularly matter to me, but I do tend to prefer CoOs where workers tend to be treated well (i.e, US, Europe, Japan)

 

[finn]

I’ll start taking the COO argument seriously when and if every time someone posts how important COO is to them, the sentence ends in “and that’s why I don’t own any Milwaukee tools”

I’m not going to hold my breath until that happens, though.

 

[Fatboyslim]

Majority of people on here think Chinas manufacturing is like 1935 still. They are literally unaware they have an entire space program, intel satellites and everything. You would think a country that has the ability to make spacecrafts might have a factory that can produce a torx bit.

You would think so but i have never seen a high quality torx bit that was made in China. Torx bit manufacturing specs would be more difficult to make a high quality product than a standard socket or similar

 

[L.Cheapo]

I’ll start taking the COO argument seriously when and if every time someone posts how important COO is to them, the sentence ends in “and that’s why I don’t own any Milwaukee tools”

I’m not going to hold my breath until that happens, though.

I don't own a single Milwaukee anything.

Not for the reason you stated, but the fact remains. Possibly the only major tool brand I own nothing from.

 

[pfbz]

I have plenty of inexpensive tools that are fantastic
...and plenty of expensive tools that are ****.

Same goes for brands.
Some top end brands sell an occasional crappy tool
...and some bottom-end brands offer an occasional excellent tool.

If you don't have the inclination or ego to buy a Pittsburgh tool that is superb while skipping a Snap-On tool that is crappy, then I suppose you can hedge your bet by assuming every Tool-Truck tool is awesome and every HF tool is ****, but my decision process is a bit more involved then that.

 

[jblnut]

For me it really depends on how many items I’ve lost the high bid on to the guy next to me. I’ll pay $56 for a single broken wooden handles flat tip screwdriver at an auction if it means I get the upper hand just once. Well maybe not quite that bad lol

If I perceive quality and it’s something I know I will use I’ll spend what it takes to not have to think “well I’ll buy the nicer one when I break this here cheap one”.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

You would think so but i have never seen a high quality torx bit that was made in China.

Seems this is down to could they vs. do they actually vs. do they commonly.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

I’ll start taking the COO argument seriously when and if every time someone posts how important COO is to them, the sentence ends in “and that’s why I don’t own any Milwaukee tools”

While many of us care, it's more difficult for various reasons in some tool categories than others to let it dominate decisions.

It's easy when it's a pair of pliers, the brand is vocal about COO, it's actually sold in your country, and it's only going to cost you an extra $20.

 

[Notgrownup]

Cost is first, need then takes over and finally the “Aw f*#k it” takes over. Hit buy it now.

 

[pbon]

Seems this is down to could they vs. do they actually vs. do they commonly.

Often it depends on the quality level the American company selling the tools has specified. Factories anywhere in the world can be paid to make decent quality or paid to make junk. China is very high tech and has incredible quality, but also cheap junk. The USA does not make much of anything anymore so it is hard to compare quality.

As a generalization, I would take Germany first and Japan or Taiwan second. But I have lots of made in China stuff and usually no complaints given the price paid.

I am not really that into the COO big deal thing. The USA is hardly an example for the rest of the world. Walmart is one of the biggest employers and a surprising number of its employees receive some kind of welfare assistance to get by. Up to 25% of US Military families are food insecure in a given year and some are on food stamps. The USA has one of the highest rates of incarceration in the world. It has 8 to 10 mass shootings (4 or more people shot) per week. Are there worse places, sure.

 

[dr_clyde]

Cost is a factor, but is not the main factor.

For me, the list goes:

Availability proportionate to need - if I need it NOW, getting it is the most important thing.
Quality of the tool - I really, really hate using poor quality tools. The thing needs to do what I need it to do. Period.
Service - Is the company a good company to deal with? Is my distributor reliable and easy to deal with for orders/warranty/delivery?
COO - Different countries have different standards and manufacturing ethics. I'll support the home team first, but not before quality.
Ergonomics/appearance/design - I like my tools and machines to be designed well, ergonomic and aesthetically pleasing.
Frequency of use/expected lifespan - Tools I will use once, I am fine with sacrificing a lot of the above. If I plan to use it a LOT, I care more.
Cost- Finally we arrive at cost. If a tool fits the above hierarchy, I'll pay what needs to be paid to get it. One of my teachers once told me "your customers pay for your tools". Tools are the cost of doing business, and I build their cost into the job budgets. As long as the job can justify a tool, it gets purchased. Sometimes the job can only justify a HF tool. Sometimes, I need to go all out and get the top of the line.

If you shop strictly based on price, you're usually missing a lot of things.

 

[Jazz1]

Price is critical…I bought some Knipex pliers water pump pliers…took me a year to pull the trigger
Of course i like them,,i have a specific purpose however weeks after buying similar knockoffs, same design showed up at Tooltown…for $6 to $10 a pair..

 

[Chipm]

This is the same economic decision as most items we buy. For increased utility price goes up. Utility includes things like cost, function, durability, aesthetics, pride of ownership, and utility is somewhat subjective and different for every person. Price generally goes up exponentially rather than linearly, such that a tool that is twice as good is not twice as expensive, but may be five or ten times more expensive.

 

[kody1234]

True. Unless something has recently changed, dude has lived in the same very modest small house for like 70 years; it looks like the rental house I had during college. He'd buy the Pittsburg and invest the $ saved.

I have been using Pittsburgh impact sockets for years never broke one

 

[Davefr]

How much of a priority do you put on cost when making a hand tool purchasing decision?
If you have multiple tools that are capable of doing the job, would you purchase a more expensive model based on certain intangibles such as country of origin, brand loyalty, perceived quality, peer pressure or reputation?

If it's a tool that performs the task well, will be used frequently, and one that will have a long useful life, then cost is irrelevant.

If it's a tool that will be used infrequently then cost becomes a factor.

 

[545_days]

With regard to tool truck quality vs. higher end consumer grade: I am not a professional, no tool trucks stop at my house. I would rather own mid priced wrenches and sockets plus an induction heater than super duper wrenches and tools that are a few percent stronger.

As far as country of origin goes, I will admit that I let my political views influence where I spend my money. No comment as to what those views might be.

 

[rslaback]

I'm going to buy the cheapest tool that does the job. If it breaks I'll buy a better quality one. It's rare that they break.

 

[Nutria]

I usually try to check three boxes: need, price, space. If it's a nice-to-have, not a gotta-have, I'll go for all three, and wait to find it cheap. If it's a gotta-have-right-now, then it's a gotta-have-right-now, and I'll pay what I need to pay.

 

[Bert_]

I just got a few things from harbor freight so...

 

[Burt Shaver]

Not sure exactly what your referencing when you say hand tool but if it’s a tool I may only use once in my lifetime like a pin connector tool I will buy the cheapest one I can find, same with tools where precision isn’t needed like press plates, cheap from amazon. If it’s a tool that I need to work as it should and price actually makes a difference in how it will perform like my mitre and table saw then I buy quality, Dewalt only as the fence is straight and rolls smooth unlike the cheaper ones. Basically I buy what works for my needs, as for mechanic hand tools, as a DIY mechanic rebuilding a few 2 stroke engines I use all cheap tools except for my calipers, Mitytoyo Calipers and then I cheaper out a bit on a Fowler dial bore gauge since it doesn’t actually give measurements ( just put it in the caliper and zero or back out and read the caliper. I’m no tool snob, that’s for sure