Princess Auto New Tools

[scooby074]

Hey guys, I dont think we have a thread dedicated to new tools being launched at Princess or even CT. I know we have the Canada Deals thread, but these arent really deals, just new stuff.

Princess just dropped a bunch of new stuff via their YT channel. Heres a couple of the cool stuff I saw. Feel free to post anything new from PA or CT.

Smoke Machine! PN 9189655 If this thing is priced decent it could be something worth having. Of this newest batch of new tools, this might be the big winner. Nothing listed on the website yet so no idea on price.

Theyre carying Bosch now. Hopefully they settle on the brand and dont drop it in a year, like they did with Makita. Theyre going to have to make a display section too like HD, or its going to bomb IMHO. Makita was buried up a side isle at my store. Nobody would know it was there.

Kinetic splitter 9204520 This ones up on the site now. $3500 is a LOT imho. https://www.princessauto.com/en/40-ton-kinetic-log-splitter/product/PA0009204520

 

[scooby074]

I really want to see them launch premium hand tools and toolboxes. Similar to what Icon has done. This rebrand stuff isnt really doing it.

 

[LWB]

I really want to see them launch premium hand tools and toolboxes. Similar to what Icon has done. This rebrand stuff isnt really doing it.

Do you really think that is likely? Their hand tools seems to get worse and worse.

It's nice to see the Lisle section getting larger.

 

[scooby074]

Do you really think that is likely? Their hand tools seems to get worse and worse.

It's nice to see the Lisle section getting larger.

I dont know TBH. Some days I think they are then other days it seems they arent. Lisle, at my store seems to have stayed constant IRT SKUs. Nothing wrong if they double down with Lisle IMHO. I wish they added more things.

Remember Propoint a couple years back. Came on bigtime. Tools made by some of the big names like Astro. I remember some overmolded screwdrivers that looked decent. Airtools and the like. My store had a nice, pegboard of Propoint impact socket sets, accessories, and individual sockets covering a huge range, but it got pushed off into a corner and never seems to get restocked. Now it seems like Propoint is on its way out or maybe lost their way a bit. Propoint could have been their HF Icon.

Theyre so scattered with brands and quality too. Titan, Grip, Ingersoll Rand, Mr. Blacksmith. Performance Tool, and of course Powerfister.


Now with these latest offerings, it looks like they are just reselling whatever they could get from Alibaba. Woodsplitters and cordless tillers are among the new releases. Are they core to the PA brand? I dont know.

All over the place. And nothing unique or really exclusive to PA. Say what you will about HF, but they stay the course and are really driving the brand upmarket.

 

[ItsNemo]

I really want to see them launch premium hand tools and toolboxes. Similar to what Icon has done. This rebrand stuff isnt really doing it.

I'd love to see some affordable decent toolboxes again in Canada...with SPG International gone, there's nothing in that mid range between the cheap husky/mastercraft level stuff and the rousseau/matco/snapon level stuff.

 

[scooby074]

I'd love to see some affordable decent toolboxes again in Canada...with SPG International gone, there's nothing in that mid range between the cheap husky/mastercraft level stuff and the rousseau/matco/snapon level stuff.

They did have the ToolCrown MiC sets for a while but they were kinda expensive for their size. IIRC they were $500ish(??) per section. Big problem with them was they were shallow and narrow. So youd have to stack 4 to make something decent, putting them in the $2000 + area when you can get Mastercraft top and bottom for half that. The open front on the TC was neat though, you could really jam a lot into it so its a good design in that sense. Sort of like the Montezuma boxes

And they missed the boat by not offering colours. If they offered them in the basic "automotive mechanic" colourways, like Black, red, Cat yellow, JD or "Extreme" green , they probably would have sold a lot more, even at the "higher" price per cuft of storage. And as typical, PA did them no favours by not advertising or discounting them until they were wanting to clear them out. There was one or two set in my store and they were jammed into a corner and never left until it on clearance. The optional accessories that went along with that setup, like a wooden worktop and a drop in divider set for small parts were still covered in dust well after PA dropped the Toolcrowns. FYI they still do "Special Buys" with the Toolcrown OEM on occasion. A few weeks back they had a bunch of aerosol can holders that were made by Toolcrown (AKA infocus) , so its not like their is bad blood between TC and PA, its just PA doesnt know how to sell things like premium toolboxes!!!



Painted up, and stacked up, they looked awesome.

Edit: It looks like Toolcrown listened and theyve added wider boxes and Colours!!!!!. Too bad its too late for them at PA. https://toolcrown.ca/

 

[matthew]

Some of the specialty tools (like brake tools) that switched from Powerfist to Performance Tool looked similar - I had wondered if it was pandemic related, just easier for a factory to do fewer private labels.

Portions of the Powerfist line has gotten better. I’m thinking like sockets or wrenches. But I actually would like to see them continue to offer a tough and gritty line, because to me one of their core competencies is the cheap singles for modifying.

Market the better stuff as ProPoint. I’d say the discontinued flex ratchets should have been ProPoint not Powerfist.

I don’t entirely want them to emulate HF. I’d argue HF has also gotten expensive and has rebranded a time or two too many. Pittsburgh Pro was their good line, then repositioned with Icon, and how does Doyle and whatever the other plier line fit in…

If it was me, and I don’t know if this would work, but I’d:

1. Powerfist = cheap, tough, rough, branded if possible but generic if necessary. Maybe more singles than sets.

2. ProPoint = maybe rebrand Toptul, or even just sell Toptul or Tone. Sockets and wrenches do need an upper line. ProPoint impact socket offering was good. Maybe get the Osca hammers rebranded as ProPoint. Don’t bother offering the brand on items where there is a good brand name option in the store like Bondhus or Channellock.

3. Specialty tools. It doesn’t matter if they are private labelled or not, just a good affordable offering.

4. Less special buys. It’s fine if it’s a complete bargain, but if it’s just a way to rotate sales - forget it. I don’t need a choice of Powerfist, Grip, Titan, Tekz, etc for the same price. I need a choice of quality.

5. Consumables items like punches and chisels get space and selection.

7. Stuff like hex keys - no need for 6 brands, just Powerfist and Bondhus.

8. I don’t think the screwdriver offering has ever been good. Simplify, and offer Powerfist and an upper line.

9. Toolboxes are difficult to stock, lots of competition, and Costco and Home Depot sometimes have rather good special buys. Doing a special buy at Christmas, and otherwise having display models and offer order to pick up would make sense to me. And maybe focus on better carts, and welding carts with storage. And, actually - do like the old Beach boxes - offer a basic box that you can install infill drawers of different sizes into.

 

[scooby074]

Theyre is also Stryke boxes made in Alberta. Supposed to be "half" the cost of SO. That still puts them WAY out of PAs market though. Although how much are the big Icon boxes? Pretty expensive too Id imagine.

If I had a independent tool truck, Id STRONGLY consider carrying these guys as my premium automotive box, if they are as good as they look in pictures and half the cost of Snapon. 72" chests are $5200cad starting + options. SO 72" KRLs are $22000 (before discount)

 

[scooby074]

That reminds me, Remember when they had Vessel as their premium screwdriver line for like 6 months I still have that set. Yet another brand they brought in then dropped within the year.

And Osca hammers. I have a couple. Theyre excellent. But, again, it seems theyre not stocking them at least to the levels they used to. They dropped the soft face hammer (I have one), the aluminum hammer, and the brass hammer. They also dropped the lighter fiberglass handle engineers hammers and now only have the 36oz in fg and 11oz in wood handle and its OOS. Seems like they are setting up to drop the line?? And replace it with Grip or something.

 

[JradM]

Propoint is an interesting brand. There's some good stuff under that name and some that is a bit mediocre. It could've been Icon - but I think PA knows their shoppers weren't ready to spend that much.

I sort of see it like the Maximum brand at Canadian Tire - though I think there are some Propoint tools that surpass it.

 

[JradM]

That reminds me, Remember when they had Vessel as their premium screwdriver line for like 6 months I still have that set. Yet another brand they brought in then dropped within the year.

And Osca hammers. I have a couple. Theyre excellent. But, again, it seems theyre not stocking them at least to the levels they used to. They dropped the soft face hammer (I have one), the aluminum hammer, and the brass hammer. They also dropped the lighter fiberglass handle engineers hammers and now only have the 36oz in fg and 11oz in wood handle and its OOS. Seems like they are setting up to drop the line?? And replace it with Grip or something.

Osca has been around for awhile. I'm a fan - those are good hammers. I'd be sad if they disappeared from PA's shelves.

 

[ObnoxiousFumes]

They did have the ToolCrown MiC sets for a while but they were kinda expensive for their size. IIRC they were $500ish(??) per section. Big problem with them was they were shallow and narrow. So youd have to stack 4 to make something decent, putting them in the $2000 + area when you can get Mastercraft top and bottom for half that. The open front on the TC was neat though, you could really jam a lot into it so its a good design in that sense. Sort of like the Montezuma boxes

And they missed the boat by not offering colours. If they offered them in the basic "automotive mechanic" colourways, like Black, red, Cat yellow, JD or "Extreme" green , they probably would have sold a lot more, even at the "higher" price per cuft of storage. And as typical, PA did them no favours by not advertising or discounting them until they were wanting to clear them out. There was one or two set in my store and they were jammed into a corner and never left until it on clearance. The optional accessories that went along with that setup, like a wooden worktop and a drop in divider set for small parts were still covered in dust well after PA dropped the Toolcrowns. FYI they still do "Special Buys" with the Toolcrown OEM on occasion. A few weeks back they had a bunch of aerosol can holders that were made by Toolcrown (AKA infocus) , so its not like their is bad blood between TC and PA, its just PA doesnt know how to sell things like premium toolboxes!!!



Painted up, and stacked up, they looked awesome.

Edit: It looks like Toolcrown listened and theyve added wider boxes and Colours!!!!!. Too bad its too late for them at PA. https://toolcrown.ca/

Say, those open front boxes are kinda neat, I might even like that idea. Hard to say without using one for a bit first I guess.

 

[matthew]

They have sold Osca for quite a while. And they are awesome. I have at least 6 of them. The 500g machinist hammer is maybe my favourite, but it’s been discontinued. They also discontinued the 500g Kanca machinist hammer (Kanca doesn’t look as well made). I suspect most people buy ballpein, but the machinist pattern is better. If I was paring things back, it’s the club hammers I’d quit stocking, not crosspeins.

The copper hammer was expensive, so no surprise if it didn’t sell. The plastic face hammer with composite handle is also pricey. One year they had a wood handle version of that at Christmas as a special, and really it is the one they should have kept in stock.

I only saw Vessel in store once, and didn’t really know about it at the time. If you look at the interchangeable blade balldrivers on amazon.co.jp, they are crazy cheap - if PA could import them at a good price I’d say adding that to their line would be a win.

 

[scooby074]

Say, those open front boxes are kinda neat, I might even like that idea. Hard to say without using one for a bit first I guess.

The montezuma boxes are very similar and have good reviews. The Montes are rebranded by several companies including Deere iirc.

I think its a good concept. The "pegs" are metal so much more durable over plastic like Hansen trays. Only issue is youre tied to the number of pegs. You cant add or remove pegs short of drilling rivets so that limits layout flexibility a bit.

If I was still a road mechanic, Id strongly consider the Toolcrown as a road box, I think it would be great for that, especially at the price even the higher price

 

[The Cobbler]

more & more I find less single items like sockets, taps, dies etc . all the nuts & bolts are now packaged ( and for a few years)
and the performance line is similar to Powerfist , also tack life is prevalent now too.
oh well, I still enjoy the place, and like shopping the surplus aisles
They seem to be big into Bosch now too, wonder how long that will last .

 

[ObnoxiousFumes]

The montezuma boxes are very similar and have good reviews. The Montes are rebranded by several companies including Deere iirc.

I think its a good concept. The "pegs" are metal so much more durable over plastic like Hansen trays. Only issue is youre tied to the number of pegs. You cant add or remove pegs short of drilling rivets so that limits layout flexibility a bit.

If I was still a road mechanic, Id strongly consider the Toolcrown as a road box, I think it would be great for that, especially at the price even the higher price

Oh yes I’m pretty sure I like the Montezuma boxes, for a truck, just not sure how I’d like something of that style as a main box in the shop. Would be one heck of a road box though like you say.

 

[scooby074]

The Oscas werent expensive when they were on promo though. The soft face FG handle I have was like $30 IIRC. Even the brass copper hammer wasnt that bad reg price, I think it was $70-80ish, but it was a solid 2lb(?) chunk of copper lol.

I really hate that I had a hard drive crash and lost everything on my storage drive. I had Princess Auto catalogs and every monthly flyer PDF going back 10 yrs. It would really show the PA transition over the years.

 

[CS454]

Anyone Beat on the 1/4" propoint impact kit? Possibly transitioning back to road service, would rather not spend more than I gotta. Fortunately no 2" wrenches in the truck this time...

 

[scooby074]

Anyone Beat on the 1/4" propoint impact kit? Possibly transitioning back to road service, would rather not spend more than I gotta. Fortunately no 2" wrenches in the truck this time...

Not the quarter, but the 3/8 and 1/2 sockets and theyre fine. Super easy warranty if you had any problems anyways.

 

[matthew]

The Oscas werent expensive when they were on promo though. The soft face FG handle I have was like $30 IIRC. Even the brass copper hammer wasnt that bad reg price, I think it was $70-80ish, but it was a solid 2lb(?) chunk of copper lol.

Copper hammers were a good deal for what they were, but not a lot of people shelling out $80 on a hammer.

Inflation has recalibrated prices, but even if you correct for that, the promo prices were good. For the soft face I like the wood handle version, and I think they were around $20. And you could get ones with different hardness faces.

The 300g machinist hammer was like $7 when I bought it. Ballpeins have been on a good promo in the last month or two, but the 1000g machinist hammer has been a long long time. Still well worth $40, but deal psychology is a thing…

 

[LWB]

I dont know TBH. Some days I think they are then other days it seems they arent. Lisle, at my store seems to have stayed constant IRT SKUs. Nothing wrong if they double down with Lisle IMHO. I wish they added more things.

Remember Propoint a couple years back. Came on bigtime. Tools made by some of the big names like Astro. I remember some overmolded screwdrivers that looked decent. Airtools and the like. My store had a nice, pegboard of Propoint impact socket sets, accessories, and individual sockets covering a huge range, but it got pushed off into a corner and never seems to get restocked. Now it seems like Propoint is on its way out or maybe lost their way a bit. Propoint could have been their HF Icon.

Theyre so scattered with brands and quality too. Titan, Grip, Ingersoll Rand, Mr. Blacksmith. Performance Tool, and of course Powerfister.


Now with these latest offerings, it looks like they are just reselling whatever they could get from Alibaba. Woodsplitters and cordless tillers are among the new releases. Are they core to the PA brand? I dont know.

All over the place. And nothing unique or really exclusive to PA. Say what you will about HF, but they stay the course and are really driving the brand upmarket.

I agree with a lot of what you're saying.

They're starting to feel more like a liquidation centre...I too wish they would bring in some more name brand products and STICK with them. A lot of what they bring in is here today and gone tomorrow.

If i want hard good tools i go with Maximum and I do for work. It's consistent and you can count on it. That said, if I need a 1 5/8" socket I know PA will have it and i didn't that just a couple of weeks ago. That is huge and no one else does it that I know of.

There's a lot I love about PA but they have the potential to be so much more. If they had a two tier selection or three, the competition would be non existent.

If HF came to Canada some stores would be in real trouble.

 

[The Cobbler]

From what I understand, the grandchildren of the originator of PA now own the store, and they are under 30 yrs old, so they are relying on hired help to run the main show .

 

[crashmtb]

From what I understand, the grandchildren of the originator of PA now own the store, and they are under 30 yrs old, so they are relying on hired help to run the main show .

grandkids seem to be “co CEOs” with the older generation.

they sure do have a lot of fancy cars.

 

[matthew]

Not tools, but -

Brake parts. It kind of makes sense that a lot of farmers are their core market, and it doesn’t take that many parts to stock to suit trucks. But I would have thought oil filters would be a more logical item to offer. It is hard to compete with CTC volumes to get the pricing on oil and filter, but there are so many oil filter brands you’d think just offering something other than Fram would have potential to differentiate.

I wouldn’t mind seeing that, but I do feel that as far as parts go, hydraulic and small engine are far more core. I’d also argue that bolts by the pound, not packaged, is what it takes to serve their demographic. I understand how bulk was a mess before, the current state isn’t a solution either.

 

[scooby074]

"Liquidation Centre" and "wasted potential". Exactly. Couldnt have said it better.

In that same vein, the Surplus centre in my store is about 1/6ish of the total floorspace in the brand new building. Thats more than hydraulic and power transmission,small eng, bearing section. Surplus is selling 95% junk for $0.96/ea. Hydraulic / PT is selling high value product. I get that PA has a long tradition with selling Surplus (used to be their name) but their is so much junk. Its not like its high quality military products or equiv, its $0.99 "Worlds best golfer" nicknacks. Most of Surplus is pure junk that never moves and its taking up valuable realestate that could be used for higher value products like quality handtools or powertools, or toolboxes etc.

I agree about bringing back bolts by the pound. Yes its work, but their packaged selection they have now ***** ***.

Id leave the automotive stuff to CT, but I would like them to carry more lubricants. They got hyd oils and some motor oil, but Id like to see more Rotella and other HD stuff in pails.

Their stores and product line need a complete reset IMHO.

I agree that if HF came here, with the selection and quality "Premium tool" they offer with Icon, PA will be in BIG trouble.

 

[mikedodge]

I'm happy with princess autos offerings but their normal cheap tools are starting to get up there in price. For quite a few things I've bought lately there have been better prices on amazon or something better quality for similar price when it's on sale at Canadian Tire.
The biggest thing I would worry about if they really dived into a better line is that they might start either not putting the regular stuff on sale as much to try to get people to buy the better stuff or they might start cutting back on the cheaper offerings.
I usually get the oddball type tools or items at PA which don't get used too regularly. I always find when I go there quite often i cant find what I need but leave with something else.

 

[matthew]

I’m not as down on PA as that, but I do think they need some adjustments.

I travel to the US often enough to get anything I want at HF, but haven’t found it that compelling. The US losing Sears left a big gap. But Mastercraft Maximum seems pretty comparable when I’ve gone and looked, often at better prices. Storage is probably the biggest exception, IMO.

I think a relevant question is what items would we go to PAL first for? I don’t think the answer for that has changed too much. 3/4” or 1” drive and large wrenches. Specialty tools. Hydraulics. Small engines. Log splitters. ATV trailers. Trailering. Pumps. Shop presses. Chain and sprockets. Shop chemicals. Tools might be a bigger seller than a lot of those, but they’re also not in a spot to match CanTire’s purchasing power. So how do they build off that?

 

[The Cobbler]

I do like PA, but, they do not have a complete line on anything they carry.

 

[scooby074]

Nothing wrong with CT Maximum Sockets and wrenches . I made money professionally with CT "Professional" tools right along side the Snapon and Mac I had. I think that Maximum is basically the old pro line rebranded and expanded. But its not unique really. Its a lot of Gearwrench rebranded now I think

Id say that HF Icon, is another level above Maximum. They have basically copied all the SO and Knipex pliers now, even the new style SO needle nose. Their toolboxes are top notch, nice colours, various sizes. Their jacks, again also get great ratings.

Maximum did copy the Plierswrench but is a pretty crappy copy IMHO. Icon is basically a 100% clone by comparison.

 

[matthew]

I believe Maximum pliers wrench is a Wiha rebrand. I don’t think they’re as good as Knipex, but they are also $40.

At US$40 the Icon would be C$55. I doubt they’d sell them that cheaply if they came to town, but even if they did, real Knipex is $75 at KMS right now, and it’s not even that aggressive of a sale price. Not that $20 isn’t a significant pricing difference, but I suspect most people would either go with the real McCoy, or the $40 option.

I would agree that some of the pliers are a spot there’s a little more spread between CT and HF.

 

[JradM]

I believe Maximum pliers wrench is a Wiha rebrand. I don’t think they’re as good as Knipex, but they are also $40.

At US$40 the Icon would be C$55. I doubt they’d sell them that cheaply if they came to town, but even if they did, real Knipex is $75 at KMS right now, and it’s not even that aggressive of a sale price. Not that $20 isn’t a significant pricing difference, but I suspect most people would either go with the real McCoy, or the $40 option.

I would agree that some of the pliers are a spot there’s a little more spread between CT and HF.

Beat me to it.

I personally wonder if it isn't a bit of "the grass is greener". Sure HF has some stuff PA doesn't - and I'd like to buy it too. Princess Auto though, has plenty Harbor Freight doesn't - including a "until you're satisfied" warranty.

I'd be happy if we had Harbor Freight too, but I wouldn't trade Princess Auto to get one. Princess Auto stocks Lisle, Channellock, Osca and Bosch alongside the Powerfist and Grip tools that often are indistinguishable from Harbor Freight items - and you can occasionally spot some Proto hiding in the surplus junk.

 

[The Cobbler]

I don't think PA is going down anytime soon. they are actually doing quite well ,
I miss the old days when they had Removed from equipment surplus etc , but I still like shopping there.
the reason they got out of bulk items like nuts & bolts was theft , and a total mess when people mixed everything up. it was very labour intensive
they do have an amazing warranty , and no receipt required if you provide them with your phone # @ checkout

 

[LWB]

I don't think they're going down either and think it's a good store. I still feel that they have missed opportunities in the marketplace.

The tool boxes are junk, for instance. I looked at them yesterday. Maybe they don't see that as a missed opportunity. You can go to CT, HD and Rona...They sell plenty that the others don't touch.

 

[scooby074]

I dont think theyre going anywhere either.. But as said, missed opportunity.

HF is a bit of grass greener for sure, but you cant deny their success in bringing the brand upmarket and responding to what people want. Theyre absolutely stealing food out of the SnapOn guys mouth More than just being low cost, theyre offering what people are wanting when it comes to selection, particularly in pliers, jacks and toolboxes. They are a legitimate competitor, not just a cheap competitor .

PA has some quality, Osca, Lisle, Bosch etc, but for how long? Thats a big issue to me, they cant commit.

Yup looks like it was a Wiha ! Still a crappy copy of the OG Knipex regardless.

 

[matthew]

I like Princess, and at least at my store the people are very good, they seem to have a good environment, and I’ve definitely heard that from others. People do buy service sometimes as much as product.

I think this thread is partly about wishing there was more stuff for me to buy there… it is kind of the preferred place for a certain type of retail adventure. My father just craves an excuse to go buy something whenever a flyer comes out. I’d like to say I don’t do it, but then why are there 3 different 3/16” slotted screwdrivers out of surplus in the top tray of my toolbox…

 

[ObnoxiousFumes]

I made money professionally with CT "Professional" tools right along side the Snapon and Mac I had.

Yeah from what I’ve seen of the old MC Professional series they were actually pretty good.