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I don't get it

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ARFLY

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I was at our town's new ACE store yesterday and saw this on the rack.View media item 83054
Right near it on the same rack was this.
View media item 83053
The Crescent pliers are made in China. The Channellock pliers are made in USA. Why would anyone pay $2.40 more for basically the same pliers made in China especially when the USA pliers look better made? I don't get it.
 
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tube_guy

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The red, white, and blue packaging on the Chinese Crescent draws in the patriotic customers?

ACE makes more money selling the Chinese Crescent so their in-store promotions and more attractive product placement on the shelves reels the customers right in?
 
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ARFLY

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tube_guy said:
The red, white, and blue packaging on the Chinese Crescent draws in the patriotic customers?

ACE makes more money selling the Chinese Crescent so their in-store promotions and more attractive product placement on the shelves reels the customers right in?
Click to expand...

There may be something to that. I saw the Crescent pliers before I saw the Channellock pliers. At first, I actually thought the Crescents were Channellocks with new packaging and no grips and then I realized what the are.
 
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rossomania

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Brand identity, and the strong consumer loyalty that goes along with it, is powerful stuff.

Many non-professional tool consumers today seem to be somewhere between ignorant and apathetic about COO of their purchases. And that's despite all of the lip service we see paid to the idea on the news and social media. Once the beer and posturing is gone, it's back to buying as usual.

Also, I imagine lots of sellers see little advantage to discussing a non-USA COO unless they see a marketing advantage.
 
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unslow1

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It's the same reason at the local pawn shops Craftsman is priced higher than any other brands except Snapon.
 
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Bockscar

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ARFLY said:
I was at our town's new ACE store yesterday and saw this on the rack.View media item 83054
Right near it on the same rack was this.
View media item 83053
The Crescent pliers are made in China. The Channellock pliers are made in USA. Why would anyone pay $2.40 more for basically the same pliers made in China especially when the USA pliers look better made? I don't get it.
Click to expand...
Where is th USA flag on the pair of the channel locks on the left.....I see it on the pair on the right

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
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1982fxr

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I’ve always thought ace had some weird tool pricing.

And yes I’m sure they make way more on the crescent than the channellock
 
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Jimmer411

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I dont even understand why slip joint pliers even exist anymore with things like Knipex Cobras and equivalent style pliers.
 
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dogdog

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Na, That is about right, Channel Lock is ****, wait till you go get their warranty.. POS.
 
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Tonyuk

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They probably sell more of the Cresent so just priced them a bit higher to get the profits up.
 
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GTO

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Bockscar said:
Where is th USA flag on the pair of the channel locks on the left.....I see it on the pair on the right

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

It looks to be on the right side of the package.
 
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WWheeler

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Bockscar said:
Where is th USA flag on the pair of the channel locks on the left.....I see it on the pair on the right
Click to expand...

All Channellocks are 'made in USA' still.

https://www.channellock.com

Hardworking Pliers Made By Harder Working Americans

Channellock, Inc. started making our high quality hand tools back in 1886. 131 years later, we have over 300 dedicated associates who manufacture more than 120 different sizes and types of pliers in Meadville, PA, USA. We pay attention to every detail so we can provide tools that don’t just finish the job, but defeat the job - plain and simple. Is it the easiest way? Probably not. But to us, American manufacturing is the right way.
Click to expand...
 
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xtremek

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dogdog said:
Na, That is about right, Channel Lock is ****, wait till you go get their warranty.. POS.
Click to expand...

I'm not trying to be an a55, but what issues have you had that they had to be warrantied? All of my pliers are Channel lock, and I've never had any issues. Heck, almost all of them are over 20 years old, some of them are over 30 years old, all misused and abused without any problems.
 
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stonesfan68

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I mailed in a 20+ year old set of diagonal cutters that I broke and they sent me a new set with zero issues. What problems did you have?
 
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dogdog

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xtremek said:
I'm not trying to be an a55, but what issues have you had that they had to be warrantied? All of my pliers are Channel lock, and I've never had any issues. Heck, almost all of them are over 20 years old, some of them are over 30 years old, all misused and abused without any problems.
Click to expand...


I have a ranting thread about it... trying to get them to send me just the selector lever for their ratchet POS broke on first use literally ... lets say, F U George from their warranty department..Other companies have improve quality that they are equal or better. It's not really the tool, it's the warranty services that they made you jump through hoops... I am not even asking for a whole ratchet, just the freaking selector. SO final word F Channel Lock.

and BTW No A55 about it, if you are not a Channel Lock Fan... I am Not.
 
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crewchief888

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xtremek said:
I'm not trying to be an a55, but what issues have you had that they had to be warrantied? All of my pliers are Channel lock, and I've never had any issues. Heck, almost all of them are over 20 years old, some of them are over 30 years old, all misused and abused without any problems.
Click to expand...

my only "problem" with channellock is they've lasted so long most of them are just plain wore out. ive replaced a couple pair of dykes over the years just because they've gotten so dull they refused to cut anymore...


:beer:
 
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Tonyuk

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dogdog said:
I have a ranting thread about it... trying to get them to send me just the selector lever for their ratchet POS broke on first use literally ... lets say, F U George from their warranty department..Other companies have improve quality that they are equal or better. It's not really the tool, it's the warranty services that they made you jump through hoops... I am not even asking for a whole ratchet, just the freaking selector. SO final word F Channel Lock.

and BTW No A55 about it, if you are not a Channel Lock Fan... I am Not.
Click to expand...

Probably more likely they would just send out a whole new ratchet, have you tried just telling them that the ratchet is defective and that you would like a new one?
 
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Fedwrench

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Jimmer411 said:
I dont even understand why slip joint pliers even exist anymore with things like Knipex Cobras and equivalent style pliers.
Click to expand...

Because sometimes you don't want to grip something from the side
dogdog said:
I have a ranting thread about it... trying to get them to send me just the selector lever for their ratchet POS broke on first use literally ... SO final word F Channel Lock.
Click to expand...
I think the major problem you're facing with the ratchet is that the ratchet, like most of channellock tools other than pliers & screwdrivers are imported. I don't think they even stock ratchet repair kits or parts for them. Have you taken it back to where you bought it?

What i don't get is paying $10-$12 for a small pair of slip joint pliers. :wtf:
Better beat feet over to Harbor Freight and get some Quinns for like $4. :lol: :beer:
 
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6PTsocket

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ARFLY said:
I was at our town's new ACE store yesterday and saw this on the rack.View media item 83054
Right near it on the same rack was this.
View media item 83053
The Crescent pliers are made in China. The Channellock pliers are made in USA. Why would anyone pay $2.40 more for basically the same pliers made in China especially when the USA pliers look better made? I don't get it.
Click to expand...
Why is some guy selling a used thingy on ebay for more than somebody else is selling a new one? Why does the half pound bag of stuff in the supermarket sometimes have lower unit pricing than the one pound bag? Why does the tool in the SO truck cost three times more than the same tool sold under a different brand name? MARKETING. In your case you have two brand lines carried by Ace, priced by the store owner or Ace corporate or who knows. The store probabably paid more for the Chinese one.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
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kythri

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Parrothead said:
Not really...

Channellock pliers are made in the USA

There's other stuff (see their combination wrenches) that are definitely NOT made in the USA. Sockets, ratchets, etc...
Click to expand...

Semantics, maybe, but all that Asian-manufactured stuff with the Channellock branding on it is contracted out by Do it Best as part of Channellock's licensing agreement with them.

Apparently, Channellock felt that the brand reputation dilution was worth whatever they're making as part of the licensing deal.

Compare the two websites:

www.channellock.com <-- "Real" Channellock, all of it made in the USA.

www.channellockproducts.com <-- All of the Asian-produced stuff, mixed in with the real stuff from above.

Like I said, semantics, but technically, Channellock themselves aren't contracting all of that stuff for production.
 
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6PTsocket

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kythri said:
Semantics, maybe, but all that Asian-manufactured stuff with the Channellock branding on it is contracted out by Do it Best as part of Channellock's licensing agreement with them.

Apparently, Channellock felt that the brand reputation dilution was worth whatever they're making as part of the licensing deal.

Compare the two websites:

www.channellock.com <-- "Real" Channellock, all of it made in the USA.

www.channellockproducts.com <-- All of the Asian-produced stuff, mixed in with the real stuff from above.

Like I said, semantics, but technically, Channellock themselves aren't contracting all of that stuff for production.
Click to expand...
Is that the situation with the Snap On stuff at Costco or are those items regular Snap On sourced products? Now that I think about it, there is a lot of that. You see GE wireless phone batteries, KitchenAid bbq grills, all made by licencsed companies.No better than licensed designer names on clothing accessories.

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kythri

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The Snap-on at Costco is the same situation - Snap-on licensed out their brand to Alltrade for things like the LED lights, entry-level air compressors, etc. Anything you saw at Costco was Alltrade (save for that toolbox debacle a few years ago).

I couldn't tell you if the partnership is still there. Doubtful - the wailing and gnashing of teeth from people who felt their "investments" were being devalued probably gave Snap-on pause to reconsider said licensing agreement.

It does appear Alltrade currently has a partnership with:

CAT
Vaughan
Wagner
Kawasaki

Chances are, any of those brands that you see at Costco are going to be Alltrade-produced stuff.
 
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skunkape1

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kythri said:
Semantics, maybe, but all that Asian-manufactured stuff with the Channellock branding on it is contracted out by Do it Best as part of Channellock's licensing agreement with them.

Apparently, Channellock felt that the brand reputation dilution was worth whatever they're making as part of the licensing deal.

Compare the two websites:

www.channellock.com <-- "Real" Channellock, all of it made in the USA.

www.channellockproducts.com <-- All of the Asian-produced stuff, mixed in with the real stuff from above.

Like I said, semantics, but technically, Channellock themselves aren't contracting all of that stuff for production.
Click to expand...

I see plenty of tools on channellock.com that are not made in the usa.
 
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