I don't understand why they don't stamp "USA"

[Yankee]

Just received some Apex bits. Even though I believe they are Made in USA, they aren't stamped.

I had a Wright hex socket set that wasn't stamped either....

It just surprises me why some US companies don't label their products. The competition with cheap imports I would think is hard enough, I would think they would want to make sure they try to keep themselves apart. (and either justify the higher cost, or give the consumer the option to think he's buying higher quality for the same cost)

I know it's petty, I want USA tools whenever possible, and even though I know it's USA, it's always me wonder "Is it really?".....

 

[Infinia]

I know it's peddy, I want USA tools whenever possible..

Make America great again is more than a slogan.
they'll be working on that read here peddy cake, peddy cake, bake me a cake.

 

[reader2580]

USA tools already cost more to make. The USA stamping would add even more cost.

The packaging usually has Made in the USA on it. Ever notice how Made in the USA is all over a package with an American flag at times, but they never put a Chinese flag on a package? The made in China is often hard to find in small type.

 

[thecody59]

It must be to cut down on cost. I bought some Gearwrench pinless impact swivel sockets that are the exact same as the Matco ones. They even have the exact same blue socket rail that the matco branded sockets dome on. The only place it says made in the USA is a sticker on the bottom of the rail. These are made by Apex like your bits are.

 

[jakemac]

Apex doesn't want to confuse the consumer with COO labels when they mix in items from their Chinese manufacturers. They're looking out for the little guy. Its for your own good.

 

[rsanter]

It sounds stupid, but it's because they don't have to.
Domestic products don't have to be labeled for origin of manufacture.
To do so may add a step or add some tooling or other cost, so they don't.
And it seems that most companies don't think it's needed or has value.
I used to work for a company that make most of its products here. I tried to get them to start putting made inthe USA on the products, boy did that not go over well. They totally felt it had no value and why would we want to do that...bla bla bla

Bob

 

[visionguru]

I'm not convinced that made in USA is necessarily better. The only 2 bits I ever broke were Craftsman (made in USA) and I had to use the cheapo bits which I got for free from Menards (likely made in China) to finish the job.

I also have some tweezers, screw drivers that were made in Germany. The workmanship is horrible. Every time I use them, I had to remind my self, well the metal must be better with absolutely no proof of that.

 

[Wamsutta]

As long as they stamp the part number, I'm happy. There's not a whole lot of room to be stamping a screwdriver bit anyway ...

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Also, every manufacturing operation carries a risk of creating scrap. There's a chance that they're are going to be scrapping what would be perfectly good bits just because they got mistamped.

Unless they're like Craftsman who sometimes passed some really awful stuff. But I suppose Craftsman wasn't interested in highlighting their high USA quality with their occasional drunken stampings.

 

[zendriver]

Maybe they figure, some people just buy products and use them.

If they get a deal on some imported pieces, they can mix them in with no problem.

Some might see it as a liability, worrying that they may have cut corners to maintain profitability.

No doubt they had considered it.


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[Jacobson]

How many people are holding an Apex bit in their hand, at a store, and see the USA, and then decide, ok I'll buy it.

 

[Musicinabottle]

How many people are holding an Apex bit in their hand, at a store, and see the USA, and then decide, ok I'll buy it.

ME!


If it's China, it goes right back on the store shelf, I walk out and turn to EBAY. No lie! I almost absolutely refuse to buy and give my money to an American firm that will sell to us Americans, but won't employ us Americans. Like these corporate assholes, I'd like to retire one day and live well myself.

 

[VintageOkieDriver]

Music in a bottle
+1

 

[Hammer1963]

I'm not why this is a problem. If the tools come packaged as made in USA, then why isn't that good enough. I have countless tools that are like this from various sources. Manufacturing cost money and every bit of labor cost that you can save is good.It's very possible that the same tool may be made in other areas of the world and share the same tooling from the actual tool and die producers. Cost savings. That's why

 

[DaveIRL]

see to ,any unions so that would require more workers

 

[mike93lx]

most people just don't care

 

[APEowner]

It's simple. There just aren't enough people who care to justify the additional manufacturing operation and associated consumable tooling.

 

[SRBOND]

How many people are holding an Apex bit in their hand, at a store, and see the USA, and then decide, ok I'll buy it.

I would!

 

[bushmechanic]

Because for all the people who claim to want US-made products, only a select few will actually put their money where their mouth is; and that means the manufacturer must save pennies where it doesn't really matter.

 

[Wamsutta]

I think the Zephyr bits say USA on them, but I'd have to check to make sure. Anybody else have Zephyr bits?

 

[jonesg]

Stupid mfgers haven't recognized the consumer WANTS USA made tools.

 

[Musicinabottle]

Because for all the people who claim to want US-made products, only a select few will actually put their money where their mouth is; and that means the manufacturer must save pennies where it doesn't really matter.

I'd just be curious what the price difference would be. I bought an American made 11/32nds Milwaukee bit from the rack that had both Chinese made and American made, though mostly Chinese. It was the same price. My John Deere tractor is American made and it was $23,000. The next shipment that came in of my machine had Chinese made loaders on them and they had gone up in price by $1,300. So Chinese made doesn't always mean cheaper.

 

[Musicinabottle]

Stupid mfgers haven't recognized the consumer WANTS USA made tools.

Problem is that the consumer wants to save pennies, but don't think far enough ahead to weigh the costs to jobs lost, and most likely don't care, until they loose their job to over seas manufacturing, or when people can only afford Chinese made products because they had to take a lesser paying job. We ship all our steel and copper over their for them, then we buy their plastic. We're pretty ignorant as consumers. Folks should be forced to pass a test!

 

[bushmechanic]

I'd just be curious what the price difference would be. I bought an American made 11/32nds Milwaukee bit from the rack that had both Chinese made and American made, though mostly Chinese. It was the same price. My John Deere tractor is American made and it was $23,000. The next shipment that came in of my machine had Chinese made loaders on them and they had gone up in price by $1,300. So Chinese made doesn't always mean cheaper.

There's a big difference between marking something up at a John Deere dealership and stamping USA on the side of a screwdriver bit...

 

[bushmechanic]

Stupid mfgers haven't recognized the consumer WANTS USA made tools.

As soon as they are all but absolutely certain enough consumers will open their wallets, the manufacturers will listen. It's what they do. Just so happens most people screaming USA at this time are only doing it because they want to either be different or fit in to a group.

They don't actually care, and they don't go out of their way to find the USA stuff regardless of how loudly they trumpet their frustration.

Everything I'm wearing right now was made in the USA. What about you?

 

[zendriver]

Problem is that the consumer wants to save pennies, but don't think far enough ahead to weigh the costs to jobs lost, and most likely don't care, until they loose their job to over seas manufacturing, or when people can only afford Chinese made products because they had to take a lesser paying job. We ship all our steel and copper over their for them, then we buy their plastic. We're pretty ignorant as consumers. Folks should be forced to pass a test!

Indeed

Yes, it's the consumer's fault they lost their jobs, because they did not "buy American"

They shop at Walmart, because they have to pay their electic bills and car insurance.

It's good you can afford a nice tractor. Many can't

 

[Oggy]

ME!


If it's China, it goes right back on the store shelf, I walk out and turn to EBAY. No lie! I almost absolutely refuse to buy and give my money to an American firm that will sell to us Americans, but won't employ us Americans. Like these corporate assholes, I'd like to retire one day and live well myself.

Well, I import from Italy, Sweden, India, China, and a few others, I also work for an American manufacturer, we employ thousands BECAUSE of our imports. This includes the men and women building our products which can compete with Chinese assembled because we offshore some components (we do have US suppliers, but the cost can be more than 5x in some cases), customs brokers, longshoremen, truck drivers, plus the associated management.

We live in a global economy, I respect your right to choose who you purchase from, but making a blanket statement such as this is pretty short sighted. Look into Maglite and their issues with "Made in USA," and maybe you'll understand their reluctance to put it on their product.

Some items simply cannot be sourced from a US manufacturer, and production in the US simply is not cost effective.

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[reader2580]

Stupid mfgers haven't recognized the consumer WANTS USA made tools.

Do you understand that this thread is about tools that ARE made in the USA, but the tools themselves are not marked USA?

I try to buy stuff made in the USA, but I don't care if the item actually has USA on it once it is out of the package.

 

[Wamsutta]

Do you understand that this thread is about tools that ARE made in the USA, but the tools themselves are not marked USA?

I try to buy stuff made in the USA, but I don't care if the item actually has USA on it once it is out of the package.

Exactly. We all know that Apex bits are made in USA. We don't need for them to actually be stamped USA. There's not much room on a screwdriver bit to stamp stuff anyway.

 

[Yankee]

I think the Zephyr bits say USA on them, but I'd have to check to make sure. Anybody else have Zephyr bits?

Exactly. We all know that Apex bits are made in USA. We don't need for them to actually be stamped USA. There's not much room on a screwdriver bit to stamp stuff anyway.

The Snapon bit and Bosh bit I have are both stamped.... The main reason I want to see the markings is the on going issue of manufactures moving production overseas. You can't assume anymore that a past USA manufacture still makes their products here. The Bosh bit is a good example... they are now Chinese made...

 

[Musicinabottle]

There's a big difference between marking something up at a John Deere dealership and stamping USA on the side of a screwdriver bit...

No there's not. Everything is marked up. and whether it's a John Deere dealer or walmart, it's all about maximizing profits at any expense. You pointed out about putting your money where your mouth is. I do. You mention your clothes are American made. Good for you. You've taken the first step!

 

[Musicinabottle]

Well, I import from Italy, Sweden, India, China, and a few others, I also work for an American manufacturer, we employ thousands BECAUSE of our imports. This includes the men and women building our products which can compete with Chinese assembled because we offshore some components (we do have US suppliers, but the cost can be more than 5x in some cases), customs brokers, longshoremen, truck drivers, plus the associated management.

We live in a global economy, I respect your right to choose who you purchase from, but making a blanket statement such as this is pretty short sighted. Look into Maglite and their issues with "Made in USA," and maybe you'll understand their reluctance to put it on their product.

Some items simply cannot be sourced from a US manufacturer, and production in the US simply is not cost effective.

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I think you have me wrong. I have more of an issue with companies headquartered here in this country, that will build their products in a country that pays their people **** wages, no benefits etc, waste resources such as fuel for ships that transport products across the ocean, and won't pay taxes, but will sell their **** to us here. I pay taxes and support the system. I build a product that is made in this country, and I pay my employees a living wage.

I know everyone targets me in a quote. If you want to buy Chinese products and support American companies that won't pay their fair share, won't employ us but wants to sell to us, then as manufactures, they better be sure that there are people here with money because you keep driving down wages, like they are doing in Missouri for example, and eliminating jobs, then where is the income going to come from to buy their things? Someone once said that the best customer of American industry is a well paid worker. Most of your walmart type employees have to live on public assistance. If that doesn't bother you then keep buying from these guys. I admit that it's hard and sometimes you can't avoid buying Chinese. In fact yesterday, I bought a Chinese made mouse. You'd have been so proud. On the other hand, I have a set of NAPA 3/8 sockets, one of which is missing. I was at home depot to buy another which turned out to be mothertrucking Chinese made. I wound up driving across town to buy an American made SK socket that was $2.00 more than the Chinese. YES! I'm principled, and yes, I put my money where my mouth is!!!

 

[Fretters]

Most people simply don't give a toss where things are made, and cheap sells well because that's what most people want, unless it's an (image|keeping up with others) thing, when they'll likely spend silly amounts of money on tat just for the appearance/bragging rights.

Quality is quality wherever it's made, and the same goes for tat. Your country like ours has probably helped kill its own industry through unions, high wage expectations, excessive health & safety etc. Places like China etc. don't currently have the same problems, hence why they can produce more cheaply, and that's what the whole "consumerism", (ironically, I believe that was a concept created across your side of the pond?), thing is aimed at. Market dictates demand, I believe is one of the relevant sayings.

Before the whole human rights arguments pop up too, it's no use saying their human rights are dismal/dire etc. It's less than 200 years since our countries were very similar. Workers were nothing more than that, given no regard as to their welfare, (except by a very few, which is how some of our towns came into existence, for example), no matter what their age.

 

[reader2580]

The Snapon bit and Bosh bit I have are both stamped.... The main reason I want to see the markings is the on going issue of manufactures moving production overseas. You can't assume anymore that a past USA manufacture still makes their products here. The Bosh bit is a good example... they are now Chinese made...

Vermont American / Bosch was making bits here in the USA for a long time, but they moved to China about five years ago or so. I quit buying them once they moved production to China. It is very hard to find screwdriver bits made in the USA without ordering them. Menards still has some bits made in the USA which I bought back in May.

I don't understand why it matters if the tool itself is marked USA. I look at the package for the COO before purchasing. Most made in the USA stuff will advertise that fact very prominently, but not always. I was looking at something in a store earlier this week and trying to find the COO. I finally discovered it was made in the USA, but they seemed to be trying to hide the COO.

 

[kenfain]

To all those who think that there's not much room on a screwdriver bit...that's just ridiculous. If it doesn't say USA then it might as well be made in Mexico. I still won't buy it. That's why I buy a lot of used stuff. Back in the day there was plenty of room on a screwdriver bit for three capital letters.

The fact that they've decided to save a couple of pennies, just proves that they've learned nothing! What made this country great, was people who put values ahead of obscene profits. Now it's all about the Benjamin's.

 

[reader2580]

To all those who think that there's not much room on a screwdriver bit...that's just ridiculous. If it doesn't say USA then it might as well be made in Mexico. I still won't buy it. That's why I buy a lot of used stuff. Back in the day there was plenty of room on a screwdriver bit for three capital letters.

The fact that they've decided to save a couple of pennies, just proves that they've learned nothing! What made this country great, was people who put values ahead of obscene profits. Now it's all about the Benjamin's.

I don't understand this attitude. You're most likely paying more for a USA made item, but you want to pay even more to have the manufacturer stamp USA on the item or you won't buy it? I trust the packaging if it says made in USA on it and don't need the item to say it too. A factory in any country could stamp USA on a bit and send it over.

Most USA manufacturers are fighting for their lives to compete with the Chinese. Let's just say a Chinese factory sells bits for 25 cents delivered to a US port and the USA factory sells the same bit for 35 cents. The USA factory already has a 10 cent hurdle to overcome and you want them to spend an extra cent to stamp USA on the bits? That extra 10 cents becomes an extra 20 to 30 cents at retail.

Corporate buyers will switch suppliers over a penny or two in savings. My boss buys a lot of stuff for work and he buys from the cheapest supplier no matter COO. He has no allegiance to anyone if someone else is cheaper.

 

[Yankee]

Vermont American / Bosch was making bits here in the USA for a long time, but they moved to China about five years ago or so. I quit buying them once they moved production to China. It is very hard to find screwdriver bits made in the USA without ordering them. Menards still has some bits made in the USA which I bought back in May.

I don't understand why it matters if the tool itself is marked USA. I look at the package for the COO before purchasing. Most made in the USA stuff will advertise that fact very prominently, but not always. I was looking at something in a store earlier this week and trying to find the COO. I finally discovered it was made in the USA, but they seemed to be trying to hide the COO.

The bits just came in little plastic zip lock bags. No COO on anything.

 

[kenfain]

I don't understand this attitude. You're most likely paying more for a USA made item, but you want to pay even more to have the manufacturer stamp USA on the item or you won't buy it? I trust the packaging if it says made in USA on it and don't need the item to say it too. A factory in any country could stamp USA on a bit and send it over.

Most USA manufacturers are fighting for their lives to compete with the Chinese. Let's just say a Chinese factory sells bits for 25 cents delivered to a US port and the USA factory sells the same bit for 35 cents. The USA factory already has a 10 cent hurdle to overcome and you want them to spend an extra cent to stamp USA on the bits? That extra 10 cents becomes an extra 20 to 30 cents at retail.

Corporate buyers will switch suppliers over a penny or two in savings. My boss buys a lot of stuff for work and he buys from the cheapest supplier no matter COO. He has no allegiance to anyone if someone else is cheaper.

Yes that's the problem with people who put money over values. Your boss has no sense of value, he's sold out to the dollar. The shame of it is, there's never enough money for people like that. If they make you believe that they're just barely keeping the doors open, because profits are too low. Then you've bought into the big lie that they're selling. Truth is that corporations now make higher percentages than they ever have. Add to this, the politicians allow illegal immigration to flourish. All in the name of cheap labor. Used to a man earned a pension, but corporate America, has finesesed us out of that to help them make record profits. While we finance our own retirement. We see the results. I think they could afford to stamp three little letters without destroying their profits.

 

[Brian80]

When I was stationed in Korea, I found sports jerseys that had "Made in USA" I got them for $25/pcs. but the USA tag was priced at $325.00

 

[Yankee]

I don't understand this attitude. You're most likely paying more for a USA made item, but you want to pay even more to have the manufacturer stamp USA on the item or you won't buy it? I trust the packaging if it says made in USA on it and don't need the item to say it too. A factory in any country could stamp USA on a bit and send it over.

Most USA manufacturers are fighting for their lives to compete with the Chinese. Let's just say a Chinese factory sells bits for 25 cents delivered to a US port and the USA factory sells the same bit for 35 cents. The USA factory already has a 10 cent hurdle to overcome and you want them to spend an extra cent to stamp USA on the bits? That extra 10 cents becomes an extra 20 to 30 cents at retail.

Corporate buyers will switch suppliers over a penny or two in savings. My boss buys a lot of stuff for work and he buys from the cheapest supplier no matter COO. He has no allegiance to anyone if someone else is cheaper.

My original point was that for 1 penny it's a no brainer as a selling feature to stamp it USA. Imagine what would happen if Snapon no longer stamped USA on their tools. I would think the loss in sales would be much more that the cost of the stamp.

If I were in a store and saw two sets of tools, one was stamped (or labeled) USA and the other didn't. I would buy the one labeled USA because I would know 100% that's it's made here....so they are saving a penny to lose a sale.