Howdy from DRPD!
- Thread starter billspreston
- Start date
gjusername
Well-known member
I ordered on Friday, from both DRPD and from KokenUSA. I received my order from DRPD on Monday. I still haven't even received a shipping notice from KokenUSA. Frankly I think Palmac and KokenUSA (as distributors, completely separate from Koken manufacturing) **** big time, imo. although I guess I should credit them for turning me on to Koken in the first place, since they must be responsible for the youtube marketing through Mr Subaru which is what first made me aware of Koken
TY DRPD for stocking and shipping these items locally. I'm SO glad I was able to order most of my stuff from you instead.
TY DRPD for stocking and shipping these items locally. I'm SO glad I was able to order most of my stuff from you instead.
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Madjik Man
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Ordered on Weds, ETA of delivery is tomorrow.
THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS!!
Just kidding. Can’t wait for my bday present to myself.
THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS!!
Just kidding. Can’t wait for my bday present to myself.
I received my DRPD order today. Among other things, I ordered a number of individual sockets, extensions, and u-joints. DRPD wrapped them all in brown paper and taped them before putting them in the box with some larger items. DRPD added additional brown paper to take up extra space in the box so contents couldn't shift around too much. Overall, a very nice packing job and it arrived very quickly. This was my 4th order from DRPD and they've all been great.
For comparison, the previous tool shipment I got was from amazon.jp. The package arrived after 3 weeks; all the tools were rattling around in a big paper envelope which had a huge hole in it. Everything was still there, but one of the Vessel screwdrivers was suspiciously wet. I'd bet it fell out in the snow in my driveway, and the UPS driver put it back in before handing over the package.
Anyway - full marks to DRPD!
For comparison, the previous tool shipment I got was from amazon.jp. The package arrived after 3 weeks; all the tools were rattling around in a big paper envelope which had a huge hole in it. Everything was still there, but one of the Vessel screwdrivers was suspiciously wet. I'd bet it fell out in the snow in my driveway, and the UPS driver put it back in before handing over the package.
Anyway - full marks to DRPD!
KnurledNut
Well-known member
demarpaint
Well-known member
DRPD CS is awesome. I gave Mike a call to discuss a second order I was placing and had a few questions regarding the order. Lets just say he is great to deal with, and sincerely appreciates the business. I find in these times many businesses don't care much about their customers nor do they appreciate their business. Anyone who might be on the fence about doing business with DRPD, give them a shot, you'll be glad you did!
Madjik Man
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Received my order from DRPD yesterday. Well packaged and received no issues.
And to confirm I did get a Koken and DRPD sticker
And to confirm I did get a Koken and DRPD sticker
Bmxkelowna
Well-known member
i should have ordered my two items from drpd instead of koken usa. i placed my order nov 15th and i still havent gotten anything
Madjik Man
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Must not be in stock.
When I ordered from Koken USA (once) I received the order in a week or so.
Received my Black Friday order on Tuesday. Koken 3/8" drive nut grip socket set, Nepros 3/8" drive spinner, heavy duty PB Swiss #2 Phillips screwdriver. Packaging was 100X better than Amazon.
(the round Koken sticker is from KokenUSA)
(the round Koken sticker is from KokenUSA)
Lt CHEG
Well-known member
What’s the warranty process like for Koken and Nepros? I got a set of the Koken 1/2“ wobble plus extensions and one of their 72 tooth ratchets after the SEMA discount, before I knew about DRPD. Now I’m interested in some of the Nepros stuff too. Thing is I’m not too worried about breaking the Koken ratchet that I bought, worst case I’d eat a rebuild kit if need be, but I’m interested in a few spark plug sockets and some of the specialty sockets and those are something I could break. For something that spendy, I’d like at least a somewhat reasonable warranty policy. Doesn’t have to be SnapOn, or Tekton easy, but would want to know that there is some support. Can anyone shed some light on warranty ease for Nepros and Koken? Thanks
OP
billspreston
Well-known member
Hey guys! Sorry for the radio silence, just coming up for a bit of air after a busy sale period. We are grateful for all of your support and equally pleased to hear about the positive experiences you are having. We do go a little overboard on the packaging, but that's just because we love & respect these tools just as must as our customers do
And about the stickers... don't let anyone ever tell you stickers aren't a big deal!
Now with this said, nepros does officially offer a lifetime warranty, but do be aware the terms are somewhat stringent. Essentially any type of obvious material or manufacturing defect will be covered, but wear & tear type stuff will likely be met with some resistance.
The same type of deal with Ko-ken, but given that Ko-ken is generally selling sockets, these are typically considered to be a consumable wear & tear type of item.
At DRPD we fully understand that it's important for our customers to have confidence in a tool brand if they are going to invest in those tools for work. So we will always do our best to advocate on your behalf directly with the manufacturer for any warranty related issues right here in the USA.
And about the stickers... don't let anyone ever tell you stickers aren't a big deal!
IME, and I apologize if I'm overly generalizing here, the concept of a no-questions asked style of lifetime warranty is a rather unfamiliar concept to Japanese tool makers. A short anecdote – when our KTC/nepros rep visited, we took him to HF for ***ts & giggles and he somewhat hilariously grilled the cashier for an extended period of time about the warranties. He really couldn't believe an $8 set of 4 screwdrivers came with a lifetime warranty.
Now with this said, nepros does officially offer a lifetime warranty, but do be aware the terms are somewhat stringent. Essentially any type of obvious material or manufacturing defect will be covered, but wear & tear type stuff will likely be met with some resistance.
The same type of deal with Ko-ken, but given that Ko-ken is generally selling sockets, these are typically considered to be a consumable wear & tear type of item.
At DRPD we fully understand that it's important for our customers to have confidence in a tool brand if they are going to invest in those tools for work. So we will always do our best to advocate on your behalf directly with the manufacturer for any warranty related issues right here in the USA.
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Lt CHEG
Well-known member
Would it be fair to say that after making a purchase, if I were to have any issues with say a Nepros ratchet or a Koken spark plug socket that I should contact you first and allow you to reach out to the manufacturer on my behalf? Thanks, and please be sure to post any more sales that you’re having lol. Thanks again!
OP
billspreston
Well-known member
Yes, absolutely – if you've placed the order with DRPD, please contact us and we will sort the details.
Madjik Man
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Expanding upon DRPD's posts above:
I bought my first ever Koken tool (3/8 ratchet in 1/4 body flex head) from Palmac. They were the only distributor I knew of at the time. The head of the ratchet was offset by a few millimeters. I emailed Palmac, sent a photo, and they warrantied it out for me.
And given Mike/DRPD's incredible customer service with respect to the KTC ratchet I didn't even purchase through them, I have no doubt that they will do whatever possible to warranty out a tool that is actually purchased from them.
OP
billspreston
Well-known member
I'm afraid no concrete word on new 72T delivery as of yet. Ko-ken takes a lot of pride in their work so I know they just want to have everything perfectly dialed before the release. There are a ton of new ratchets coming that we are super excited about and I'm confident they will be worth the wait!!DRPD — any word on the 72T Koken stuff in 1/4 and 1/2 drive?
I’m ready
OP
billspreston
Well-known member
I'm not sure what you have seen so far (SEMA for instance?), but essentially all of the 1/4" and 1/2" Z-Series ratchets are being updated to 72T and some quick release 72T Z-Series options are being introduced. I'm not aware of a locking flex!
We currently have Ko-ken 3131A-1 and 3131A-2 adjustable tap holders en-route, looking like early next week
We currently have Ko-ken 3131A-1 and 3131A-2 adjustable tap holders en-route, looking like early next week
Most koken stuff I want to get is out of stock. Like 3/8 zeal extensions, long 3/8 breaker bars (380 and 400m), single 3/8 regular and wobble extensions, etc. Are you replenishing stock soon?I'm not sure what you have seen so far (SEMA for instance?), but essentially all of the 1/4" and 1/2" Z-Series ratchets are being updated to 72T and some quick release 72T Z-Series options are being introduced. I'm not aware of a locking flex!
We currently have Ko-ken 3131A-1 and 3131A-2 adjustable tap holders en-route, looking like early next week
ChevyEFI
Well-known member
I placed an order recently for a few Xmas gift items. Easy-to-use site, reasonable shipping cost and product pricing.
OP
billspreston
Well-known member
Yep, we have a large Ko-ken shipment arriving early next week
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Do you have an ETA for the short KTC 3/8 drive roto head ratchet? Thanks,Yep, we have a large Ko-ken shipment arriving early next week
OP
billspreston
Well-known member
^ We expect to have a small amount of BRSW3S arriving here before the end of the year with a larger shipment arriving Jan/Feb.
Will the 1/4" bit ratchet also be upgraded to 72 teeth?I'm not sure what you have seen so far (SEMA for instance?), but essentially all of the 1/4" and 1/2" Z-Series ratchets are being updated to 72T and some quick release 72T Z-Series options are being introduced. I'm not aware of a locking flex!....
Ko-ken 1/4" Bit Ratchet (2749P-1/4HF)
Shop the world's finest tools from elite brands like PB Swiss, nepros, KTC, KNIPEX, Ko-ken and more..
drpd.cc
Breaker49r
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First off, glad I found this forum and DRPD. Was about to put a not-so-small order in over at KokenUSA but decided to do some digging and wound up here. Love dealing with companies that interact with their customers in the public square.
With that, I had some Questions/Comments/Suggestions for ya @billspreston:
1) are there any active Promo codes atm?
2) Is it possible to "pre-pay" (charge my card when it ships) for out-of-stock items and just have em shipped when ready?
3) Can't wait for the Wish-list feature
4) More Filter options (ie. Z-Series, Metric/SAE, etc.) would be great
5) IMHO, you should register "drpd.tools".
6) Would be nice to see an "Out-of-Stock" message or icon on the item before clicking into the product page
With that, I had some Questions/Comments/Suggestions for ya @billspreston:
1) are there any active Promo codes atm?
2) Is it possible to "pre-pay" (charge my card when it ships) for out-of-stock items and just have em shipped when ready?
3) Can't wait for the Wish-list feature
4) More Filter options (ie. Z-Series, Metric/SAE, etc.) would be great
5) IMHO, you should register "drpd.tools".
6) Would be nice to see an "Out-of-Stock" message or icon on the item before clicking into the product page
OP
billspreston
Well-known member
I believe there are long term plans to upgrade the bit ratchets but I don't think those plans are immediate. And the mechanism will be in the 40-50T range, not 72T (lack of room).
Thanks for the suggestions!!
- No active promo codes at the moment, sorry!
- We avoid backordering as it simply makes things cleaner. We are working hard to improve our inventory management as we continue to struggle through longer than usual lead times and a failure on our part to accurately anticipate demand as we grow. Our preferred solution to this problem is having items in stock!
- This continues to be a limitation of our store software, hopefully there will be a solution to this soon.
- Good idea, will look into executing this...
- Good idea, was unaware .tools existed!
- Good idea, will look into executing this...
Not So Legendary
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That's a good problem to have, congrats on the success! I know I have spent a fair amount of money with you guys.
OP
billspreston
Well-known member
Pushed a few technical updates to the store this morning:
- Added more filters (Fastener Type, Standard, Series, Socket Type, Set, etc.)
- Out of stock indication added before entering product page
Breaker49r
Member
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- Jan 4, 2023
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Awesome! That was quick.Pushed a few technical updates to the store this morning:
Thanks for the nudge @Breaker49r
- Added more filters (Fastener Type, Standard, Series, Socket Type, Set, etc.)
- Out of stock indication added before entering product page
Unrelated; any plans to stock the Koken Deep sockets as individual SKUs? I don't need the rail which seems to add ~$30 to the cost.
OP
billspreston
Well-known member
No current plans on the al a carte deep sockets, but I'll get them added to list of items to consider for a new addition.
Yes, that's an easier one to add – we will bring it in with an upcoming shipment.
Thanks guys!
Madjik Man
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And this is why I'll always order from DRPD rather than Koken USA, Palmac or Amazon.
(on top of them warrantying out a KTC ratchet of mine that I did not purchase through them)
(on top of them warrantying out a KTC ratchet of mine that I did not purchase through them)
Retroman
Well-known member
DRPD = Best tool company I have dealt with.
Just curious, how did the business name "DRPD" come to be? Are they the combined initials of the business owners, or something else?
Not So Legendary
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@billspreston , the link in your signature sends me to a page with a 404 error.
OP
billspreston
Well-known member
Shucks, thanks for the kind words guys
So the name DRPD is a play on the cycling term getting/being 'dropped', which means a rider has been left behind by a larger group of riders because they can no longer keep up with the pace. A bit of playful self deprecating humor. The .cc stands for Central Coast, which is a general name for the greater region our business is located within. We are located in San Luis Obispo, California.
We started importing & selling tools in 2020 – brands like PB Swiss and nepros were somewhat well-known in the cycling word with professional race mechanics having lots of exposure to overseas brands during the race season. We felt there was an opportunity to serve these mechanics as well as other bicycle shops who likely had knowledge of these tools brands.
Fast forward to 2023 and we are now selling tools to a wide variety of trades beyond bikes. With this, we have shifted a heavier focus and investment into the tool side of the business so we can properly serve this wider variety of customers.
I imagine that we will always have our roots in cycling as building custom bikes is a great way for us to test & vet the tools we sell so we're able to provide advice to our customers from a place of experience. But the future of DRPD and its main focus is undoubtedly tools!
The business actually started as a custom (pedal) bike supplier. We built, and still do build, very high-end bikes that are custom made from steel and titanium.
So the name DRPD is a play on the cycling term getting/being 'dropped', which means a rider has been left behind by a larger group of riders because they can no longer keep up with the pace. A bit of playful self deprecating humor. The .cc stands for Central Coast, which is a general name for the greater region our business is located within. We are located in San Luis Obispo, California.
We started importing & selling tools in 2020 – brands like PB Swiss and nepros were somewhat well-known in the cycling word with professional race mechanics having lots of exposure to overseas brands during the race season. We felt there was an opportunity to serve these mechanics as well as other bicycle shops who likely had knowledge of these tools brands.
Fast forward to 2023 and we are now selling tools to a wide variety of trades beyond bikes. With this, we have shifted a heavier focus and investment into the tool side of the business so we can properly serve this wider variety of customers.
I imagine that we will always have our roots in cycling as building custom bikes is a great way for us to test & vet the tools we sell so we're able to provide advice to our customers from a place of experience. But the future of DRPD and its main focus is undoubtedly tools!
Thanks, fixed! It takes a village
It's good to know what DRPD stands for - I'd been wondering. As a former roadie, I've been dropped plenty of times, so I totally get it.
But as a business, you guys are definitely OTF (off the front). Keep up the good work!