I don’t know about that in this case because other Wright tools say they can be ordered.
New Low for SK
- Thread starter BrandonV
- Start date
In that case my comment may not apply. I've just been running into issues lately with companies whose webpages say they have something in stock for $**, but when I order it's suddenly 120 days lead time and 3 times the price.
reader2580
Well-known member
I ordered an SK socket from Zoro yesterday along with some other stuff. Zoro's page still show USA as COO, but they also have a disclaimer that things change. If it arrives and is made in China it is being returned to Zoro on principle.
reader2580
Well-known member
It doesn't help Finn if ACME Tools doesn't have a location in his area. That said, I bet any reasonably sized metro area has at least one retailer selling Wright tools. Coremark Metals here in Minneapolis also has a hardware store in their building. The hardware store sells Wright tools and has most of one side of an aisle dedicated to Wright tools. I am pretty sure prices are full retail. Most of the customers are businesses so I bet any business who buys a lot and has an account gets a discount.
I would have never known that Coremark Metals sells Wright until I went there to buy some metal and wandered through the hardware store section.
reader2580
Well-known member
I wouldn't want to be a framer even if they paid me double that $20 per hour. How many carpenters and framers in their 50s, 60s, and 70s are practically disabled from their work? If you work as a framer on new houses you might be laid off over the winter when it is too cold to build houses although a lot more houses are built during the winter than in the past. I personally wouldn't want to work in the rain, heat, and cold. Now, I worked summers in high school and college at a fairgrounds for seven summers. It was hot work for just over minimum wage. The first summer I had to clean buildings including using a steam cleaner. The remaining six summers I cut grass 40 hours a week.
My former family doctor is now 73 years old (and retired). He told me some years back that when he started dealing with patients a huge amount of the issues were related to overuse injuries from factory work and other physical work. The later years he saw mostly injuries from lack of movement from sitting at a desk all day.
pvanderlugt
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2010
- Messages
- 333
Always wonder why these threats derail into”nobody wants to work”, “ people get payed to much” ,”we can not compete because of high salaries/EPA/government regulation/etc”, but never into ”poor management decisions“‘ ,profits redirected into increase “Shareholders value”, “we don’t have any money to reinvest in new/better/faster/more efficient equipment” because of said share buyback, or my favorite, buy a perfectly profitable company that does well, settle them with huge loans that are a serious drag on cash,, company strains, workers get blamed for costing to much, whole thing moved to Mexico/China/etc. Only winner is the corporate raider/hedgefund/investor…, but hey lets blame the workers for wanting a livable wage…..
I am a huge fan of Capitalism, it sure beats the alternatives…but I am not blind to its faults....but seems like anytime profits are reinvested into the community /workers/workers it works just fine, but Wall street demands are contrary to long term stability/profitability and the common workers.. the only thing that matters is next Quarter’s numbers….….the little money most of us make by playing in said stock market/401k/IRA is nothing compared to what the big boys make…
I am a huge fan of Capitalism, it sure beats the alternatives…but I am not blind to its faults....but seems like anytime profits are reinvested into the community /workers/workers it works just fine, but Wall street demands are contrary to long term stability/profitability and the common workers.. the only thing that matters is next Quarter’s numbers….….the little money most of us make by playing in said stock market/401k/IRA is nothing compared to what the big boys make…
When did they change their name to Coremark Metals? Last time I bought a load of steel from them (it's been several years) they were still called Discount Steel. I've been through the sheet steel and tubing warehouse many times but I've never walked all the way through the main building. In fact I don't think I've ever made it past the pay window just inside that back door. lol. I will check it out next time I'm in the area....
reader2580
Well-known member
It has been at least five years since the name change. They had a standalone hardware store across the street called Discount Hardware, but they ended up moving Discount Hardware into the main building.
You probably haven't been there since Coremark Metals remodeled the area near the offices into a retail store. They carry the most common sizes of metal in eight or ten foot lengths. They have a new cashier area that usually has two to four cashiers working. The hardware store was moved into this new retail store. If you need the 20 foot long lengths, or bigger metal you still have to go out into the yard for that.
Yeah, it's probably been at least 5 years since I've been there. I will check it out. Thanks
Other countries work for peanuts and live on them.
I like peanuts, but only for a snack. I like a nice paycheck to live on.
Don’t you?
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Other countries work for peanuts and live on them.
I like peanuts, but only for a snack. I like a nice paycheck to live on.
Don’t you?
Peanut wages are for "other" people. All of us at GJ deserve the big $$$.
VolvoRyan
Well-known member
Well, all of us at GJ need to have a garage.
-Ryan
Or two
In all fairness “those people” have a higher standard of living than they did before
I wonder why America cant compete when it comes to wages? Im sure it has nothing to do with an inflated standard of living. Probably
Of course, but our definition on what it takes to live on, is substantially different than most of the world. Needs vs wants. Thats the reason we will eventually lose american manufacturing. Cost of living is extremely high because of the standard of living.Other countries work for peanuts and live on them.
I like peanuts, but only for a snack. I like a nice paycheck to live on.
Don’t you?
I wonder why America cant compete when it comes to wages? Im sure it has nothing to do with an inflated standard of living. Probably
Of course, but our definition on what it takes to live on, is substantially different than most of the world. Needs vs wants. Thats the reason we will eventually lose american manufacturing. Cost of living is extremely high because of the standard of living.Other countries work for peanuts and live on them.
I like peanuts, but only for a snack. I like a nice paycheck to live on.
Don’t you?
Valid point. So at what point would it be excess? At what point would it be reasonable to say, "we have plenty and dont need more"? Are we even capable? Or does it have to be shoved on us like it was after the "roaring 20's"?
Medical care is expensive (almost too much), because Doctors, Nurses, Hospitals, pills etc. costs a lot of money.
Should everyone involved with that industry (which is many), work cheap, drive a Focus and live in a trailer?
Not sure what the definition of "excess" even means. Who would?
FWIW the 20's were a hundred years ago and the reasons the depression occurred were pretty complex, more so than people living too good of a life.
Besides, the US (and global) economy has flourished and tanked periodically since for a variety of complex reasons as well.
Labor costs money, so the search for cheaper labor is nothing new at all. New US immigrants were always the perfect target. Then it was poorer southern states, then Canada/Mexico and beyond as Asian sources improved.
I always enjoy these conversations.
I do agree medical care is important, although i think we can all agree there are a tremendous amount of reasons those cost are sky high, and it isnt all just mercedes and massive houses. But it does make you wonder how other countries are able to manage.
And yes the crash was complex, but I would say the lavish life styles that a lot of people are constantly chasing are a symptom of decline not better lives. The never ending chase for more. And I would hardly call it "too good of a life". The amount of Americans on psychiatric medications alone is proof of that, not including those who "self medicate" which clarifies that even further.
neophyte
Well-known member
It has to do with major expenses.
Housing costs are astronomical in major cities, were most people live, and even in medium cities.
Healthcare costs are also astronomical, as are education costs.
When I was in grade school, there was the lesson about how people in “poor” countries had to live on $1 a day.
The teacher then had students try to eat for a couple days for just $1 each day.
Nice lesson, but the lesson ignored the difference in food costs between poor countries and rich countries.
During the past several years, there has been an issue in Egypt over the rising cost of “bread”, which is the staple food product for a large number of Egyptians.
The Egyptian bread seems to basically be a whole wheat pita type bread.
Each loaf seems to be a bit larger than what is usually sold as pita bread in the USA.
When I finally found a price, the unsubsidized Egyptian bread was around a tenth of what similar bread would cost in the USA, or even your average kaiser or hoagie roll, which has around the same number of calories.
The subsidized bread was even cheaper.
Certain foods like beef or other meats might be cheaper in the US.
Basically though, you can blame “lavish” lifestyles, but there are cost differences.
Other cost differences are government mandated.
You can technically live in a shack without running water or electricity, and some Americans do, but in most areas of the country, it’s probably illegal to reside that way for any longer length of time, and the government might come in and seize you property, or condemn it, especially if local politics wants to raise the value of surrounding properties.
If you don't think life in the US is good that's your choice.
I can't see that whatever mental issues we have here, are necessarily directly related to economics. Some might be. I wonder on how many folks that think people should work in US factories for cheap, have ever worked in one themselves?
They're really not all that.
All very true, but what I was getting at is what drives the prices so high overall. Government 100% plays a big role in costs being high as well. Elected thieves. As far as the general population im referring to us having a "need" for things that are a lot more unnecessary. Expensive phones, expensive housing and vehicles, expensive clothes etc. How many people snub their nose at second hand clothes for example. Or there are the people who go broke making sure they always have the newest Iphone, then are furious if they dont get a raise and blame cost of living being high, not their own choices. Then on a larger scale are unions collectively doing the same thing. When wages go up, who ultimately pays for the increase? We all know it surely wont be shareholders in a major company, they will just raise prices to cover costs. But at what point can we say, I have enough, or I dont need all this extra such as cable, super fast internet, or a 1400 dollar cell phone. What Im presenting is that we flew right past happiness and dove head first in to servitude chasing a high we will never be able to maintain and it continues to drive the cost of living sky high, but not a "true" standard of living. Hence the American manufacturing sector having trouble with wages.
So there is no middle ground then correct? A factory worker needs 45 an hour to put screws in, so they can afford a big house that is way more than they need, a car wat more extravagant than they need, expenses that could be more easily managed if they werent chasing a "lifestyle". This is further proven by the fact that most families now have to have 2 incomes to survive. Most people at one point in America could survive comfortably on 1 income. My Grandparents raised a family of 7 on a plumbers income. And he wasnt making a fortune. I have been raising a family of 4 on 1 income and im not making one either. We are just careful about what we buy. If wages arent a huge driving factor in cost of living being so high, how did it get here? Of course we know housing is expensive, buy why? Its easy to point out the easy explanation, but most people dont want to look further at the issue. I agree we have it good here. Im only saying we could easily slow the rise in costs as well and make itbeasier on ourselves if we all didnt "need to live like kings".
What's a "true standard of living"?
Ill rephrase a little. People who genuinely are struggling and have already cut out the bs. I truly feel for them. But when people complain about wages and live in a half million dollar house driving a 80k truck. Its disgusting. That in and of itself is a huge reason costs are so high.
Necessities with a little wiggle room for the unexpected. A few creature comforts as well. Of course its different in everyones eyes, but is huge vehicles, huge houses, 200 a month for cable, 500 a month for the family cell phone bills, all necessary and should we drive the overall cost of living higher so we can afford a bunch of **** we dont need that genuinely doesnt make us happy anyways? With that mindset, lets just drive ourselves back into another depression and we can all reminisce about what we had. And what the next generations will never getWhat's a "true standard of living"?
When people have to fund their own retirement, pay a huge part of their own medical bills, pay to school their children and all of the other high costs of living, $45 an hour is not necessarily "living like kings", IMO.
Obviously we don't want to pay factory workers that much, is why products are made overseas, where they make little in wages.
I do agree with you there, again though why is it all so much. Why are school taxes high, and medical expenses? And what would you say is a good standard of living?
$45 an hour would be life changing money for a lot of folks in a lot of the country. I have been where I am for 20 years, and live pretty comfortably. I am nearing the end of this chapter of my career, and will be moving on to the next very soon.....and I don't make $45 an hour on overtime.
And i do honestly enjoy these conversations with you zen. It does seem like mostly its a good back and forth of ideas so thank you.
That was just a number I tossed out because i saw some factory workers striking in the news a while back over 45 an hour wages. Just a reference point. As far as the living like kings though, compared to most of the rest of the world, its not that innacurate.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
Whenever these questions come up you need to ask yourself: "HOW THE HELL DO THE GERMANS DO IT." Their standard of living is every bit as high as ours and yet their tool industry thrives. Stahlwille is paying their employees a hell of a lot more than US $20/hour and let's not even get into fringe benefits which are like 5X those given in America.
Good point, id have to look into that as I honestly dont know but thanks for the info.
Same here.
Just my opinions, I think I’m right on things - maybe not.
I enjoy interaction that challenges ones mind.
Germany hasn't had to fund an effective deployable military for the last 75 years. They are a 'security consumer', much like most of Europe has been, on the U.S.'s dime. Lots and lots of dimes.
Many forget, or simply do not take into account, how much the U.S. spends on securing maritime shipping routes and foreign borders. That sure frees up a lot of resources for countries that benefit from this.
One has to remember that we (humans) are self interested beings. We take as much as we can get when we can get it. It has been this way for millennia. People can try to deny this, but it's the major reason why communism and other marxist (economic, not political) ideas simply don't work, in the real world. That utopia sure looks good on paper though and it's obvious why the idea, in theory, is an attractive one.
Point is, 'good' or 'high' standard of living is subjective, and a moving target.
How do they "do it"?
By charging high prices.
Stahlwille torque wrenches are $600 bucks. Right up there with US Snap On.
Otherwise, German manufacturers have not outsourced to cheaper EU countries and even as far as Asia? Also, had to say it but their Government has even a larger "hands on" approach to business that the US - including 4 weeks paid time Off
dnschmidt
Well-known member
Not $600 when bought in Germany. Perhaps Monte can chime in. In the U. S. don't forget the importer is charging his pound of flesh on top of what he's paying for the product plus customs and shipping'How do they "do it"?
By charging high prices.
Stahlwille torque wrenches are $600 bucks. Right up there with US Snap On.
Otherwise, German manufacturers have not outsourced to cheaper EU countries and even as far as Asia? Also, had to say it but their Government has even a larger "hands on" approach to business that the US - including 4 weeks paid time Off