reader2580
Well-known member
If the Eagle Grip really ends up costing $20 to $30 retail how many tool buyers outside of Garage Journal are really going to buy a pair. The Chinese locking pliers are half the cost or less.
Malco Eagle Grip pliers
- Thread starter Kscardsfan
- Start date
^^
the pretty decent taiwan grips like bremen are 7 to 10 bucks which likely 3rd the price.
How good a buy the malco are comes down to how good the jaws are I guess .
If they notably better bite then they worth some extra.
Is nice have some manufacture back in the USA so that worth something ...
the pretty decent taiwan grips like bremen are 7 to 10 bucks which likely 3rd the price.
How good a buy the malco are comes down to how good the jaws are I guess .
If they notably better bite then they worth some extra.
Is nice have some manufacture back in the USA so that worth something ...
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I can’t wait for them to release. I need a good set of USA made vise grips. The Chinese Irwin ones **** using them professionally all the little teeth on the jaws get destroyed easily. The Bremen aren’t too bad.
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal
reader2580
Well-known member
Which I doubt is many. If you go to the places most average people buy tools the majority is made in China. Menards has Channellock and Knipex, but they feature the Masterforce products very prominently and I bet they sell more Masterforce than anything.
Menards had USA made sockets, but they lost their supplier when Armstrong closed. I understand that they probably couldn't find an American supplier at a similar price to Armstrong, but they went cheap Chinese instead of another country known for good quality.
Companies like Snap-On, Cornwell, Wright, SK etc. have the chance to sell Malco pliers, so customers of these companies would buy them....
measuredtwice
Well-known member
I don't think people pushing China pliers in a topic about revival of American manufacturing are the target group.
Probably most of the buyers will be "outside". Online groups are just a small minority. And imports get shilled heavily online.Malco isn't even selling them yet. Give them a chance to get them on the shelves.
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I bet its more than you think.... or John Menard wouldn't keep them on his valuable shelf space.
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reader2580
Well-known member
How many outside of this forum and professionals mechanics buy from those companies?
Someone like my brothers who only occasionally use tools would be unlikely to pay $20 to $30 for locking pliers. I will buy a pair for sure at $20, but at $30 it will be a harder sell. I am not your typical tool buyer. I just spent a bunch of money with HJE to buy USA Crescent adjustable wrenches because I wanted USA products.
American Locomotive
Well-known member
I agree. Knipex has forged a reputation for making an outstanding product, and people are willing to pay the price.
If these Malco pliers are really great, and forge a reputation for being great - they will sell.
One of the biggest complaints I constantly see is how terrible new vise grips are.
You guys aren't going to believe this.... (or, maybe you will. lol)
So I ordered the 10" Snap-on version of the new Eagle Grips this past Friday night. I even wrote a post about it right after I placed the order with the Snap-on website. It's post number 67 in this thread. It was originally scheduled to be delivered (according to the UPS tracking info) on Tuesday the 2nd (yesterday) but at some point the scheduled delivery date mysteriously changed to the 3rd (today) which I also mentioned in post number 77 of this thread. Well, at 5pm central time today the UPS truck dropped off a two flat piece of cardboard at my front door. (see pictures below) It was two pieces of cardboard taped together with clear packing tape, with a shipping label that had been clearly cut off another box, then taped onto this flat piece of cardboard. The only thing sandwiched between the two flat pieces of cardboard was the packing list. WTF
And of course the Snap-on customer service office closes at EXACTLY 5pm. I tried calling at 5:01 and the recording picked up and said I reached their office after hours. This is how I know the UPS truck dropped off the cardboard at my front door at EXACTLY 5pm.... because one minute later I was trying to call SO and they were closed. lol.
At that point I had no choice but to send Snap-on an email explaining everything I just said here and I also included a few pictures. We'll see if they reply and what their going to do about it, if anything. I sure hope they take care of it. I'd hate for this to be the last Snap-on tool I ever buy. (or tried to buy)
I will keep you guys posted about this situation. We'll see just how good SO customer service really is.
So, where did the new tool go? I suspect it was a thief working inside UPS and saw the Snap-on return address label and knew something good was inside.
I realize that Snap-on probably sent out the tool on Monday morning and everything was perfectly normal at that point. Technically, UPS is the one that should probably take car of me because the tool went missing under their custody. However, if I sell an item on eBay, and the buyer doesn't receive what they ordered, the first thing that happens is the seller gets questioned about the item and is expected to track that item for the buyer. Ultimately, if the buyer never gets their item, the seller gets the short end of the stick, not the buyer. In my opinion, Snap-on should satisfy me, (replacement tool) then turn around and get UPS to satisfy them in return. (pay for missing tool) Snap-on is probably a fairly large customer for UPS..... if they want to keep SO as a customer they will (should) do everything they can to keep them happy...... UPS doesn't give two shlts about me. lol.
The flat cardboard is 12" X 11" to give you an idea of it's size.
Notice how "thick" the shipping label is? It's been cut off another piece of cardboard and taped onto this cardboard.
.
So I ordered the 10" Snap-on version of the new Eagle Grips this past Friday night. I even wrote a post about it right after I placed the order with the Snap-on website. It's post number 67 in this thread. It was originally scheduled to be delivered (according to the UPS tracking info) on Tuesday the 2nd (yesterday) but at some point the scheduled delivery date mysteriously changed to the 3rd (today) which I also mentioned in post number 77 of this thread. Well, at 5pm central time today the UPS truck dropped off a two flat piece of cardboard at my front door. (see pictures below) It was two pieces of cardboard taped together with clear packing tape, with a shipping label that had been clearly cut off another box, then taped onto this flat piece of cardboard. The only thing sandwiched between the two flat pieces of cardboard was the packing list. WTF
And of course the Snap-on customer service office closes at EXACTLY 5pm. I tried calling at 5:01 and the recording picked up and said I reached their office after hours. This is how I know the UPS truck dropped off the cardboard at my front door at EXACTLY 5pm.... because one minute later I was trying to call SO and they were closed. lol.
At that point I had no choice but to send Snap-on an email explaining everything I just said here and I also included a few pictures. We'll see if they reply and what their going to do about it, if anything. I sure hope they take care of it. I'd hate for this to be the last Snap-on tool I ever buy. (or tried to buy)
I will keep you guys posted about this situation. We'll see just how good SO customer service really is.
So, where did the new tool go? I suspect it was a thief working inside UPS and saw the Snap-on return address label and knew something good was inside.
I realize that Snap-on probably sent out the tool on Monday morning and everything was perfectly normal at that point. Technically, UPS is the one that should probably take car of me because the tool went missing under their custody. However, if I sell an item on eBay, and the buyer doesn't receive what they ordered, the first thing that happens is the seller gets questioned about the item and is expected to track that item for the buyer. Ultimately, if the buyer never gets their item, the seller gets the short end of the stick, not the buyer. In my opinion, Snap-on should satisfy me, (replacement tool) then turn around and get UPS to satisfy them in return. (pay for missing tool) Snap-on is probably a fairly large customer for UPS..... if they want to keep SO as a customer they will (should) do everything they can to keep them happy...... UPS doesn't give two shlts about me. lol.
The flat cardboard is 12" X 11" to give you an idea of it's size.
Notice how "thick" the shipping label is? It's been cut off another piece of cardboard and taped onto this cardboard.
.
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measuredtwice
Well-known member
Never seen something like that. All of my Snap-on web purchases have been shipped in boxes that are much larger than necessary.
To me, the Knipex quality makes it worth the $ premium vs Channellock, etc. Common pliers are something that it doesn't seem that they've figured out in Taiwan yet. But they will. If they have already I've missed it. Same with Wiha and screwdrivers; at the price, they're well worth it for the quality for something you use so frequently. Like typical pliers. But it seems that there are now multiple sources for quality vise grips so we'll see how these are in comparison.
The 7" and the 10" I ordered were shipped together in a much too big flat cardboard box with no packing material at all. The cardboard was broken and split in several places from being handled. I was very surprised to find both items inside as one of the split open places was large enough for them to fall out of. I made to comment that it looked like someone had taken them out and inspected them and surprisingly put them back. 
No, someone did not use their x-ray vision and risk firing and federal imprisonment to steal your overpriced vise-grips.
Its called poor packaging. Happens all the time. Breath deep and relax. Snap-on will send you another.
They're new enough that it wouldnt surprise me if they werent shipped from Malco directly which probably isnt setup properly for single orders.
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I disagree..... how do you explain the shipping label being cut from another box and taped to this piece of cardboard? The two pieces of cardboard I received never contained my tool. It wouldn't fit inside without wrinkling the cardboard.
It doesn't take xray vision.... the people who load and/or unload the local pickup and delivery trucks at the UPS distribution center in Hodgkins, Illinois know damn well what they're handling just by looking at the return address on the shipping labels. All it would take is a package handler who is a hobby mechanic on the side..... that knows he's unloading a truck full of snap on tools fresh from SO's warehouse to snag a package, keep the tool for himself, tape the label onto another piece of cardboard and put it back into the system for normal delivery. And ironically, the amount of time that would take, is probably long enough for the package to miss the "outgoing" truck for that day, which would also explain why my shipment was mysteriously delayed for a day.
You wouldn't risk a felony, and neither would I...... but if you think nobody inside UPS is capable of steeling then I have some swamp land to sell you. Lol.
It was shipped from Snap on's warehouse in Crystal Lake, Illinois.... not direct from Malco.
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Co-worker is retired. Works because he wants to. He's well off, lives on a golf course, were talking $$$$.
Neighbor saw an Amazon indy driver come back and steal the box she just dropped off at his house. Chased her down, got her on dash cam, etc, cops. A neighborhood of multi million dollar homes.
It was a case of energy drinks.
Neighbor saw an Amazon indy driver come back and steal the box she just dropped off at his house. Chased her down, got her on dash cam, etc, cops. A neighborhood of multi million dollar homes.
It was a case of energy drinks.
How many? Tens of thousands. The government. The military. And on and on.
Tinner
Well-known member
I'm guessing Eagle Grips will be in the $30-35 price range. I'll try a couple pair when available.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Is there a legit, even vauge, ETA on these? Not from SO, but the Malco ones?
All these Malco thread have me ready to do a vise grip inventory and purge. I need a clue on the price point before buying SO. Or I'll just buy knipex, if I can't get good info on Malco when I get around to going through and pitching/replacing my vise grips.
All these Malco thread have me ready to do a vise grip inventory and purge. I need a clue on the price point before buying SO. Or I'll just buy knipex, if I can't get good info on Malco when I get around to going through and pitching/replacing my vise grips.
Got my snapon version yesterday.
Apparently the snap on guy had them held for me... I never really even asked him for a set, but I was chatting with him about them and the malco story, and he assumed I wanted a pair. At 70.00 a pair, it seems CRAZY, but at least I can get a new pair under warranty whenever I beat up the teeth on them.
Apparently the snap on guy had them held for me... I never really even asked him for a set, but I was chatting with him about them and the malco story, and he assumed I wanted a pair. At 70.00 a pair, it seems CRAZY, but at least I can get a new pair under warranty whenever I beat up the teeth on them.
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teeth look good, if hold up well and jaw alignment good and rigid along with reasonable retail price for Malco branded they should sell well .
Irwin ViseGrips has shown the world garbage grips & highlighted need for a bit of quality even at more average consumer level .
Irwin ViseGrips has shown the world garbage grips & highlighted need for a bit of quality even at more average consumer level .
nicks78camaro
Well-known member
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
I like the teeth at the tip. Maybe I'll just bite the bullet for SO, and expect to just warranty them for the next 30years. Like I said earlier, even if Malco is 20/pair, once I trash 4 pair I'm in the black,
All depends how good snapon warranty is over next 30 years and if malco keep going ...
I got enough enough locking pliers see me through without worrying about warranty, I'll wait for malco hit retail shelves and buy a couple for novelty and see if they any better than my old USA or taiwan better offerings .
I got enough enough locking pliers see me through without worrying about warranty, I'll wait for malco hit retail shelves and buy a couple for novelty and see if they any better than my old USA or taiwan better offerings .
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Yeah.... there's a lot of that for me as well. I bought some carlyle stuff, tekton, etc. for similar reasons. You can find some real gems that way, and some mediocre stuff too. It's just more fun to try different brands sometimes.
IDK, I can probably ruin a pair of vise grips a year. Malco HAS to be able to limp along for 4 years, right?
You sound like you've already convinced yourself but the logic is flawed. Bremen and Milwaukee both have a lifetime warranty also at roughly 10-15% the cost Snap-on wants.
I'd also wait for a cheaper iteration to test as well. There isnt any indication they'll be any better than any other brands other than the 'Murica chest thumping. I'd feel like an idiot paying $70 if the jaws clamped and wore at the same rate as an $8 pair from HF.
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measuredtwice
Well-known member
If you buy junk with a warranty, you're just going to get junk as a warranty replacement. If bottom feeders didn't like the taste of poop then they wouldn't feed off the bottom. But for others, it's a loss.
I know there's a lot of Anti-American sentiment online. Doesn't make sense to me that an American would think he could dump all over America and he won't step in it. They'll step in it and wonder where it came from. I'm looking forward to trying the pliers and I hope they are successful.
I know there's a lot of Anti-American sentiment online. Doesn't make sense to me that an American would think he could dump all over America and he won't step in it. They'll step in it and wonder where it came from. I'm looking forward to trying the pliers and I hope they are successful.
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2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Is it a legit lifetime warranty? Or the typical BS where wear and whatnot aren't covered? Manufacturers defects warranties are no good to me. I've been thinking about trying Milwaukee in the meantime for a data point. Or just get knipex for 20 bucks.
The Knipex are just rebranded Bollman and not particularly great.
Gedore makes locking pliers at their facility in Austria. They seem to be ok, but they are pricey at $30 to $40 each. Hard to make a value argument there since the Milwaukee and some other other Taiwan made pliers are pretty decent.
technically snapon does not cover abuse or wear & tear, you need a good account and friendly tool man endlessly swap out abused tools .
My snapon guys pretty grumpy on wear & tear while my old mac guy pretty friendly .
HF is pretty easy on returns and is surprising considering base purchase cost and fact Bremen locking pliers are pretty well made product .
It's a real warranty but like a Snap-on dealer you always risk getting that one stickler so I'm not going to say anything with a certainty. That said I could absolutely take my Milwaukee pair into home depot and get it swapped without much fuss.
There is still the Blue-Point ones for around $20 too. Same warranty.
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2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
IDK, define wear and tear though.
Like a chrome socket, never used on an impact - it cracks. Is that technically covered? I'll load of a 3/8 drive 14mm on an 18inch ratchet, and jerk and slam that thing over and over while I'm heating the backside of something cherry red. I regularly whack impact sockets onto bolts, knocking the rust off the head. When fasteners are stuck in a socket, I knock on the side of the socket with a hammer, while holding on the ground. Much easier on the hand than the punch method, but all my sockets have dings and nicks on the sides. Abuse? IDK - not saying I really have an answer for that question.
I mean, how do you abuse vise grips?
For $70/pair, I expect to strap them to a chunk of C4, and bring back the shrapnel for a new pair. That's always been my thing with SO. For the price I pay, it better be covered. If not, I'm happy to do business elsewhere. My understanding, and what has generally been my experience, is that anything aside from blatant modification or destruction is covered.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
The home store people can be a pain, I loathe playing that dance.
For all the positive things I've read about milwaukees pliers, I should grab a pair. $14/pair I think I can afford to gamble.
OP
Kscardsfan
Well-known member
Their locking pliers I really like, based on one pair that I have. But the pump pliers haven’t impressed me one way or the other.
Yes snapon been pretty lenient in past but my experience from myself and others using the truck is lot of newer dealers are not when tool obviously beat and worn to point it no longer much use rather than cracked or broken or obvious defect .
Your understanding is based on this but unfortunately the warranty T&C not as lenient and they tightening up slowly.
I use to get screwdrivers warranty exchanged easy, not any more, now I use williams sets off amazon and toptul hammer through as cheap enough and good enough self warranty when needed .
OP
Kscardsfan
Well-known member
Not to change the subject, but do you think that could be some fallout from the loss of Brick and Mortar Sears stores and the Craftsman warranty that was known for being painless and no questions asked? I know when I worked there we didn’t/weren’t allowed to question the customer about how obviously abused the tools being returned were.
I think some of it with truck is newer truck dealers contract terms and warranty handling terms tougher on truck dealer and the new dealers the ones likely loosing out when snapon not crediting them .
Only truck I got cool on returns is my old MAC guy and he winding down for retirement unfortunately ...
Only truck I got cool on returns is my old MAC guy and he winding down for retirement unfortunately ...
General Geoff
Well-known member
Bumping an old thread because I just picked up a pair of these and took some pics of them compared to the Grip-Ons that are also rebranded and sold as Proto and previously sold by Snap-On as well.
I am impressed with the quality, granted Malco's tooling is only a year old at this point so everything's still new and sharp.
Will report how well they hold up after they get some heavy use.
I am impressed with the quality, granted Malco's tooling is only a year old at this point so everything's still new and sharp.
Will report how well they hold up after they get some heavy use.