Look out Knipex, here comes ICON!

[javyLSU]

^That’s the same price both of those pliers have been since introduction.

 

[lilscorpion]

At this point I do not think the question is are these Icon plyers as good as or better than Knipex. Rather, are they good enough and a decent value for the price. Only time will tell if they hold up to heavy use, occasional abuse or will rust easily.

The casual questions most people ask themselves when they buy something (most anything) are:

"Is it good enough for how I plan to use it?"

The second question is:

"Is the price fair for my expectations?"

Everyone sees these answers differently depending on their circumstances and ideology. This is where HF has done well with the general American public. Enough people are saying yes to both of those questions. I think if the answers were alot more No's they would not have opened so many retail stores over the past 10 years. Meanwhile most chains are closing them.

Seeing that this is the GJ, there may be a lot of No's from this population.

IDK! I do not have a crystal ball, but time will tell.

I am very curious to see what those who dive in and buy this tool think in a few months. I am sure someone will make a Youtube video.

I think you nailed it. The answer to the question is personal and totally depends on the points of consideration by each as they work through their data. With other competition on the market now, there's now choices where previously there wasn't. That in and of itself is kinda a big deal and I think everyone can agree on that point.

 

[tez929rr]

So, I bought a set. $15 less expensive than the 6" Knipex set I bought from Amazon. Time will tell.

 

[mrvm]

If the local HF has the ICON Plierswrench copy in stock this coupon will make it a better price

 

[Odd-job]

If the local HF has the ICON Plierswrench copy in stock this coupon will make it a better price

Would this apply to a wrench set? The pictures have socket sets, but the exclusions says it applies to single items.

 

[Odd-job]

Shoot just bought the Knipex raptor pliers off of Zoro with a 20% coupon for $28. Guess I could have saved $8 potentially for the Icon parrot nose pliers.

 

[mrvm]

Shoot just bought the Knipex raptor pliers off of Zoro with a 20% coupon for $28. Guess I could have saved $8 potentially for the Icon parrot nose pliers.

Seen the Icon parrot nose pliers. What’s your planned use of this parrot plier that will help me justify getting another plier besides the GJ way

 

[Odd-job]

Seen the Icon parrot nose pliers. What’s your planned use of this parrot plier that will help me justify getting another plier besides the GJ way

Haha. I don't have a planned use yet. I'm buying it because everyone else on GJ is buying it

The more I look at these they are probably a compliment to pliers wrenches with less swing room and for smaller nuts.

Knipex definitely has better packaging than Icon by my standards. I was able to get the pliers out in under 10 secs without accidentally cutting myself.

 

[nbpt100]

You never know when a specific tool will may make your day. Sometimes I buy a tool with out an imediate need if the price is very good. When you buy with an imediate need you almost always pay top price. Go use that coupon and get something you dont have and may have a future potential need.

 

[Vpick001]

I picked up a pair for $30.00 using the 25% promotion they have right now for pliers, sockets, and ratchets. The Knipex pair I have cost me a little over $60 (I don’t live near Menards). If it wasn’t for the grip material being different, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference while using it.

I love Knipex quality, and support the brand with my dollar, but I am glad I have a cheaper alternative to keep in my truck, where I won’t be nearly as upset if they go missing.

I do have to say, though, I really dislike the claim on the packaging of “Designed by Icon in the USA”. I don’t mind one brand copying another, but don’t act like you invented something when it’s basically a 1 to 1 copy of another tool.

 

[yamaha0343]

"Designed by Icon Tools" - Shameless grifters.

 

[nbpt100]

"Designed by Icon Tools" - Shameless grifters.

Yes, but you also left out the distraction of "IN THE USA. " This distracts from the fact that it is being manufactured in Asia. Not even assembled or packaged in the USA which would create some manufacturing jobs. Copied and done. What's next?

 

[kenc184]

I can't believe this thread is still going! Let those who appreciate quality buy Knipex and those who appreciate junk at cheap prices buy Harbor Fright.

 

[webscrounger]

Who's really to blame? When you dis Asian products, are you forgetting that it's the American business owners who make the decision to have products made offshore and not here.

 

[yamaha0343]

Who's really to blame?

Harbor Freight

 

[qqzj]

Who's really to blame?

Knipex, if it prices its pliers $10/pair, we won't see this thread?

 

[PelicanPines]

After reading every other page in this thread... I bought the knipex.

 

[nbpt100]

Harbor Freight

to be half fair you need to also throw in about 1,000 other business and do not for get the financiers who have pushed it.

 

[M635_Guy]

As I said, after he puts them to the test, I'll let you know what he thinks.

Any feedback from your buddy?

It's funny - I used both my Icon and Knipex pairs yesterday. The Icon got all my hoses connected to the outside spigots and new quick-release connectors. The Knipex pair did a couple things in my old BMW and (with the soft jaws) made some progress breaking in the very-balky locking switch on the new Matco ratchet (the soft jaws are pretty great)

 

[four.cycle]

^ nothing of any significance so far. I gave him several items. have not heard back about any of them yet. sometimes it takes a while.

 

[webscrounger]

Part of that higher cost of Knipex and other Euro brands may be labor, export taxes/tariffs and shipping costs, not necessarily higher profit margins. Aside from cheaper labor and material costs, Asian mfrs may not have the same embedded business costs. Can anyone break down these parts of the business and what the differences might be?

 

[nbpt100]

Part of that higher cost of Knipex and other Euro brands may be labor, export taxes/tariffs and shipping costs, not necessarily higher profit margins. Aside from cheaper labor and material costs, Asian mfrs may not have the same embedded business costs. Can anyone break down these parts of the business and what the differences might be?

Your question is a good one. Keep in mind when Knipex had active patents they could get a premium price and profit. They are supporting R&D which I doubt HF has such a department. They may have an office that reverse engineers existing products and farms out packaging designs. If you want to call that R&D.

 

[PugetDude]

We really need another pliers thread-
Knipex Noodle Nose vs Icon

 

[Steve_P]

Part of that higher cost of Knipex and other Euro brands may be labor, export taxes/tariffs and shipping costs, not necessarily higher profit margins. Aside from cheaper labor and material costs, Asian mfrs may not have the same embedded business costs. Can anyone break down these parts of the business and what the differences might be?

About a year ago, both labor and steel in China was ~30% of what it was in the US. Mfg labor in China has actually gotten expensive (relatively- at ~$5/hr last I checked) and is about the same as Mexico. This is why manufacturing low margin items is moving away from China and going to India and Vietnam.

 

[M635_Guy]

Your question is a good one. Keep in mind when Knipex had active patents they could get a premium price and profit. They are supporting R&D which I doubt HF has such a department. They may have an office that reverse engineers existing products and farms out packaging designs. If you want to call that R&D.

The IP/Patent laws are specifically set up to have things work this way. The inventor(s) have incentive to innovate and get many years of a premium before the invention enters public domain where other companies (most often) then make it more-broadly available (usually that means less expensive). The inventors keep inventing and the other companies keep spreading making things available to more people.

A more-restrictive system would have companies squatting on their old success and be less-likely to invest in new development, and products that could be far less expensive and more available don't happen. Everybody is worse-off in that universe.

 

[four.cycle]

real life feedback on the ICON 58200 pliers wrench after a couple months of use

 

[Tools4Me]

Your question is a good one. Keep in mind when Knipex had active patents they could get a premium price and profit. They are supporting R&D which I doubt HF has such a department. They may have an office that reverse engineers existing products and farms out packaging designs. If you want to call that R&D.

HF has a "Reconnaissance and Duplication" department.