Japanese Packaging

[Cato]

What's the deal with Japanese packaging?

I just got a Mitutoyo caliper and while the tool is first rate, the box and case look like they came out of my local Dollar Tree store. The cardboard sleeve isn't a big deal but I noticed that the hinges on the case are the kind that break after so many openings. They aren't the kind with pins - not that I see myself opening and closing the case so many times it would wear out.

 

[hautpot]

Funny I just said this in the recent pet peeve thread.

Yeah that is the thing with Mitutoyo... and I am devout fanboi because I am an inspector. Even my nearly $1800 height gauge came straight in cardboard. The only thing they do well is cases for gauge blocks.

 

[PoorOwner]

Its an exercise for the new owner of the caliper to measure and fabricate new hinges.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Is it a fake?....

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/counterfeit-mitutoyo-calipers-epay-277726/

 

[dutchgray]

I'm usually pleased with Japanese packaging, most seems decent if a little weird.
Their packaging for postage is usually exceptional, well done, very neat.

 

[ssdave]

The flex hinges on the grayish plastic caliper boxes look like they would break after a few uses. However, mine are still intact after about 18 years of service on my workbench. And, that isn't just occasional use, it comes in and out of that box dozens or maybe hundreds of times a week. The only thing you have to remember is use it fairly often so it stays flexible, and don't use it when it's real cold. That's when they break.

I think their thought on the exterior box is why put $2 more into a package that is just going to be thrown away, it's only function is to protect it during shipment and sale.

Unless you're a collector that keeps the exterior box to preserve collector value, just throw it in the mixed waste paper recycle and put the caliper on your bench and use it.

 

[Cato]

Is it a fake?....

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/counterfeit-mitutoyo-calipers-epay-277726/

Those fakes only popped up on Ebay, I got mine from Amazon. I hope that is guarantee enough.

I'm going to give it the once over to make sure though.

 

[Off-Street Parking]

Those fakes only popped up on Ebay, I got mine from Amazon. I hope that is guarantee enough.

It's not.

If it was fulfilled by Amazon, you have better chances... But even then, the fakes slip into the supply lines on occasion. What seems to be the most common is for Amazon or a third party Amazon seller to have a good quality product that sells very well... Then once a large enough volume of good reviews are present, the fakes are substituted.

 

[firebox40dash5]

It's not.

If it was fulfilled by Amazon, you have better chances... But even then, the fakes slip into the supply lines on occasion. What seems to be the most common is for Amazon or a third party Amazon seller to have a good quality product that sells very well... Then once a large enough volume of good reviews are present, the fakes are substituted.

Hell, they hardly have to wait to sell fakes. Enough people who leave negatives on the product (which should be left as seller feedback for 3rd parties) don't even bother to mention what vendor they got it from. If someone's selling knockoffs I got no issues leaving a poor product rating (not fair to the product, but maximizes exposure) but can ya include which of the vendors did it to you, so I'm not guessing?


And so long as it's genuine, I DGAF if the packaging looks plain. I'd rather pay for an engineer or assembly worker than a graphic designer.

 

[oldtools]

I have the same complain about Snap On case.

 

[firworks]

I have a Mitutoyo in one of those crappy plastic hard cases and I've opened it like a hundred times and dropped it not to mention however much use it got from it's original owner and those dinky hinges are holding fast. Maybe they just look like crappy hinges but are a highest engineered #1 Japanese "****-look" professional hinges. Perhaps they were going for an aesthetic.

 

[davethorik]

The older rectangular plastic boxes with foam in them seemed to quickly bow and distort in a shop environment not want to close right etc. The box for my 12" set got knocked off a surface plate and ran over by a towmotor, luckily no calipers in them at the time. I ended up getting an older Mitutoyo wood box from a coworker who had smashed his set in a machine.

 

[davethorik]

What bugs me about Mitutoyo is that their almost $300 12" dial depth gage comes in a freaking plastic sleeve. For $100 less you get a nicer plastic hardcase with 12" dial calipers. Makes no sense.

 

[77Mini]

I have found that Mitutoyo cases tend to stand up fairly well.

 

[justanengineer]

FWIW Mitutoyo is making a ton of tools in China today as is Starrett, lack of or really cheap cases and packaging are usually the giveaway. I've got tons of their tools in plastic cases, but they've held up pretty well, can't say I'd ever buy expensive anything off amazon - way too many fakes on that site as on eBay.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[davethorik]

FWIW Mitutoyo is making a ton of tools in China today as is Starrett, lack of or really cheap cases and packaging are usually the giveaway. I've got tons of their tools in plastic cases, but they've held up pretty well, can't say I'd ever buy expensive anything off amazon - way too many fakes on that site as on eBay.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What is Mitutoyo making in China? Not saying you're wrong but haven't seen a product they actually make there except the fake copies. Seems like most of their stuff is Japan, I know their calipers smaller than 12" are Brazil, I've seen Brazil mics and precision levels too. Their combination squares are made in Mexico. Their radius gages are made in. USA.

Starrett I don't trust any more. They don't want to tell you COO and to make it confusing a lot of stuff they make in China, they also still sell the US made equivalent for 4x the price.

 

[Skin]

Starrett I don't trust any more. They don't want to tell you COO.

Hasn't been true for quite awhile. USA made and Assembled items are marked as such right on their website.

 

[ttpete]

Federal law requires that the COO of an item be marked on the customer's packaging for all imports. A friend who's in the mail order business imports items in bulk and packages them for sale, and he is federally licensed to apply COO markings to his goods. If there's no COO marking on the packaging or item, it's either American made or the seller is breaking the law.

 

[hautpot]

What is Mitutoyo making in China?

Most Indicator stands are made in Mexico and China. Another Product off the top of my head is the magnetic bases.

 

[2oolhound]

My 1st mitutoyo vernier just came in a plastic sleeve and I had to very carful just where in my tool box I kept it. Now I have enough fine measuring tools to have a dedicated drawer for them. I remove the fitted foam from the plastic cases and just lay the foam in the drawer and the tool on top. Just open the drawer and grab it, one hand. I keep the hard plastic cases stored though. I have enough verniers that if I want to take one out in the field I grab one in a case. My best ones though just sit on foam in a drawer.

 

[DekeT]

Would the OP ask what is wrong with Hawkeye packaging if it were shipped from Podunk, Iowa?

 

[aczr2k]

The fairly new Mitutoyo 8" caliper on my desk says made in Japan.