Magazines and tools observation

[dink]

Not really a rant per say

Publications today I feel are way to "home center" bias when it comes to tools today (EXCLUDING publications put out by home centers)

There are so many great tools and brands out today I feel are really getting the short end of the stick

Yes yes I and everyone knows that a very very vaste majority dont really care or arent educated enough to know whats out there
There are great brands that are price cautious for the home owner that doesnt have ANY notariaty(SP?) and there are great brands that are more towards commercial or mechanic grades that doesnt have any attention.

I really feel that if there was someone or some publication out that would put the effort into something and research and not constantly fall back on home center brands and the every day norm the public would know whats out today and there could be a renaissance back to mom and pop hardware stores and tool stores because these tended to have those great brands that no one knows about

And make these publications stop there killings of these great marquees that are dieing out everyday...its a conspiracy theory unfortunatly....and alot websites that do tool reviews are just as bad as magazine or book publications....because they are all to lazy to show the general public whats really out there today.

 

[wilbilt]

Proto comes to mind. Made by Stanley and certified for NASA.

Of course, if it hit the home centers it would be Chinesified within six months.

Gotta meet that price point, you know...

I like to browse Harry Epstein:

http://www.harryepstein.com/

Lots of good stuff there...while it lasts.

 

[boiler7904]

My new house is within a 3 minute drive of Lowes, Home Depot, and Menards. With a new house, I'm constantly in one of them picking up this or that but I avoid buying tools at warehouse stores unless I absolutely have to. I usually buy at Berlands Tools locally or at one of the dedicated online tool dealers whenever possible. My tool budget (as meager as it is) goes for whatever item will give me the best long term value. I'm not afraid to spend a few extra bucks up front to avoid the hassle of something breaking on me at an in oppertune time.

Sure I could go around the corner and buy something cheaper that will get the job done but why.

Chinesified

I need to use that one sometime.

 

[eschoendorff]

Proto comes to mind. Made by Stanley and certified for NASA.

Of course, if it hit the home centers it would be Chinesified within six months.

Gotta meet that price point, you know...

I like to browse Harry Epstein:

http://www.harryepstein.com/

Lots of good stuff there...while it lasts.

Roger that. Home centers have their place... although I will buy USA- made tools like Channellock anywhere they are sold.

 

[wilbilt]

I really feel that if there was someone or some publication out that would put the effort into something and research and not constantly fall back on home center brands and the every day norm the public would know whats out today and there could be a renaissance back to mom and pop hardware stores and tool stores because these tended to have those great brands that no one knows about

I think the only "publication" that fits that description these days is the internet and forums such as this. Those seeking information will find it here, but the vast majority won't...because it requires more effort than switching on the TV.

And make these publications stop there killings of these great marquees that are dieing out everyday...its a conspiracy theory unfortunatly....and alot websites that do tool reviews are just as bad as magazine or book publications....because they are all to lazy to show the general public whats really out there today.

It's more than a theory...it's a marketing conspiracy. Take a well-known respected brand (RIDGID, for example) and move production to Asia. Use some of the money you saved on Union payroll and buy tons of advertising, NASCAR sponsorships, whatever. Then sit back and watch all the couch potatoes throw their money at you. That seems to be the plan of choice.

Another plan is to take a dying brand (Black and Decker) that had lost respect among the contractor community, who had all switched to Porter Cable and Milwaukee. Give those sales a boost by giving those exact same tools a new color and a respected name you own...i.e DeWalt...and watch them all fall in love with the "new" tools. It would be truly funny if it wasn't so pathetically sad.


As far as online or printed reviews, they don't want to bite the hand that feeds them. They give good reviews on products their advertisers sell, and ignore everything else. Consider it the "advernet", and the ones that come in the mail are "adverzines". The Honda Ridgeline is "Pickup Truck of the Year"?? It's not even a truck, but guess who Motor Trend's biggest advertiser is?

I was in Home Depot the other day and was surprised to see they carry a selection of Klein tools. Klein has long been popular with the electrical trades and utilities such as the phone company. Although they were well-hidden in the electrical section, I have to give them credit for that. I'll bet you won't see those tools featured in any of their full-page color ads, though.

 

[Rickster]

Written publications are dead, replaced by the internet, just a matter of time. Home centers sell their cheapo **** because of the profit margin and weekend warriers **** it up because of the high cost of materials for their project. Companies like Mac, Matco & SnapOn deal with the pro's and are too expensive for most non-pro's to justify their non-daily use. That leaves guys who still want the quality tools to forrage through the websites & forums for tool info. Oh, and the Mom & Pop stores are all still alive, just moved their location to eBay, less overhead.

 

[dboat]

Written publications are dead, replaced by the internet, just a matter of time. Home centers sell their cheapo **** because of the profit margin and weekend warriers **** it up because of the high cost of materials for their project. Companies like Mac, Matco & SnapOn deal with the pro's and are too expensive for most non-pro's to justify their non-daily use. That leaves guys who still want the quality tools to forrage through the websites & forums for tool info. Oh, and the Mom & Pop stores are all still alive, just moved their location to eBay, less overhead.

+1, very well put...

 

[chevy302dz]

If you do any real work for any amount of time you can usually figure out the best stuff to buy price vs quality and you will buy it over junk. The thing is though most people shop for convenience more than anything else and this is why they go to the home centers. It's really the same idea as Walmart get as much as yo can in one place and sell it fairly cheap. A magazine or other publication will not change that fact.