Kobalt

[Al Borland]

So, about a week or so ago I was commenting on another thread about how I had a 1/4" Harbor Freight socket set that was holding up and working great and had remained un-lost for about 12 years. Appears I jinxed myself. Set went on vacation without me.
So, I went to Lowes to get a set. I got the last Taiwanese Kobalt 1/4" set they had.
All the newer sets are Chi-Com Kobalt. I know (believe) the others are newer due to packaging being clean, with no dust build-up.
Most of the loose stock ratchets and sockets-only-sets are Taiwanese (dusty) and a few are Chi-Com (clean-ish).
Apparently, the sales are slow, and the Taiwanese are off-off-shoring to China.
Or, there has always been a mix in the origins of the sets and the Chinese factories are MUCH cleaner than the Taiwanese factories.

 

[gdocktor3]

I don't know where you live, but the Lowe's I go to in CT is also filled with dust covered tools. Like you said all the socket sets and stuff in boxes are dusty as hell. I was actually shocked to see them put them on the floor like that. I actually asked why and they said it was just from them sitting on the top shelves in the store. Its not like they have a gigantic warehouse filled with them somewhere. At least I don't think so...

 

[BMack37]

It's relatively new. Previously only the 3-in-1 ratchet and blister packed sockets were made in China. Last year they introduced the made in China blow molded socket sets. The singles still seem to have a fairly large stock of made in Taiwan. They also have additional made in China ratchets, they stick out like sore thumb compared to the nicer Toptul ratchets.

Edit: Also the hard plastic sets were made in China, like the palm ratchet sets.

 

[Al Borland]

Well, I grabbed the 1/4" set and a 3/8" metric set as well because I have a 3/8" SAE set and liked the ratchet and sockets (Taiwan made). I hope the chi-com ones are better than the Stanley ones Lowes also sells. Kinda strange when the store brand tools are better and more expensive than the "Name Brand" tools sold in the same aisle.
Edit: Even the Chi-Com ratchets look better than my old USA Kobalt ratchets. (They work good, just ugly and coarse looking)

 

[mg283680]

Tiny Asian tools may be fine since the torque is low.
The feel in the hand of a top US/German/Japanese tool is different. You'll know when you touch one. You'll be happier to hold the better tool.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I don't know where you live, but the Lowe's I go to in CT is also filled with dust covered tools. Like you said all the socket sets and stuff in boxes are dusty as hell. I was actually shocked to see them put them on the floor like that. I actually asked why and they said it was just from them sitting on the top shelves in the store. Its not like they have a gigantic warehouse filled with them somewhere. At least I don't think so...

We deliver quite often to Lowe's warehouses. These places are massive, on an equally massive campus.

There are always a large number of freight containers in the parking lot. Since nobody knows what's in the container, they just MIGHT have a huge warehouse full of them, or of anything else.

 

[Al Borland]

Tiny Asian tools may be fine since the torque is low.
The feel in the hand of a top US/German/Japanese tool is different. You'll know when you touch one. You'll be happier to hold the better tool.

Thing is, I DO have some of the "good" American tools. Problem is, I like them and want to keep them. Work is hell on tools, and these do the job while letting my SK (pre-Wayne, SK Wayne), proto sockets, a wright tootsie roll ratchet, craftsman v era tools, etc. live in the safety and comfort of my toolbox at home.
Yeah, I realize they may not be as durable as some of the other tools, time will tell, and I usually keep spares in the truck anyway due to things getting lost/disappearing/ or just plain broken
As far as "feel" goes, these are smoother and nicer than my craftsman ratchets, or my SKs, (Wright ball bearing retainer fell out, so it's on injured reserve) but that may be due to the age and wear difference.
They are definitely better than the Husky ratchet I bought a couple weeks ago.