Pro America (Kal) makes pliers/cutters only?

[gdocktor3]

I was cruising around Pro America's website and noticed they only have pliers, cutters and crimpers. No sockets, ratchets, etc. I know they did make round head ratchets and sockets not too long ago. Anyone have any idea why they stopped making them?
http://proamericatools.com/Home_c1.htm?page=7

 

[Fedwrench]

If my memory is worth a ****, the ratchets and sockets were never listed on the proamerica site. They were listed on an eBay sellers store.

 

[gdocktor3]

I wonder why that would be. I still see them on eBay though..

 

[four.cycle]

Proamerica (formerly KAL) does still manufacture ratchets and sockets, but you won't find them on the Proamerica website.
As Fedwrench stated, they are available only through Bowers Tool on Ebay (if you want new), and there are a couple other Ebay sellers who always seem to have an abundance of KAL/Proamerica stuff: keystone enterprises, markandmandee, a couple others.

I only have 1/4" drive stuff right now. All good-looking stuff. Nice fit and finish.

I believe Bowers still has this little kit available for right about $40 bucks:



He recently added the 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drive ratchets and breakers to his Proamerica offerings; my take is that he's happy with the performance and sales on the pliers he's been carrying for quite a while and decided to expand the line. (As a tool buyer, you don't expand a product line and add inventory if it turns out to be a turkey .)

(For clarification, KAL is still in business, but they sell only to military/GSA contracts.)

 

[gdocktor3]

But why would they only sell them on eBay and not the website? That doesn't make sense.

 

[southalabama]

I bought a ratchet and sockets made by pro America in the mid to late 80's. They came in blue metal socket boxes.

 

[four.cycle]

But why would they only sell them on eBay and not the website? That doesn't make sense.

hmmmm... a couple wild guesses:

- they have virtually NO retail or wholesale distribution anywhere in the US. (you won't find Proamerica at HomeDepot, Lowes, Walmart, or any other big box retailer.)

- the market has changed radically and online tool sales seem to be "the thing" now as opposed to the "old days" when you went down to your local hardware or auto parts store and they had open stock tool boards behind the counter.

- it's possible they may have limited production capacity. those ring-nose pliers they stamped out for Bowers ( see HERE: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/...51&highlight=proamerica+ring+nose#post5683551 ) were pretty much a custom order deal as a result of that thread here on GJ.
the ratchets and breakers were a "made to order" deal for Bowers.

- most of their product is made for other tool companies, i.e., Armstrong, Proto, and a few others (including, as near as I have been able to ferret out) a couple "truck brands". there's a really good possibility they don't want to step on any toes with their private-label contracts - that's lucrative long-term stuff that only a fool would piss away by competing directly with their own customers.

- as noted above, KAL is still actively manufacturing product and supplying military/GSA contracts, so it's possible they may simply not have the production capacity to go full tilt and crank out a full line of product in both brands and attempt to fiddle around with retail distribution.

 

[gdocktor3]

hmmmm... a couple wild guesses

- the market has changed radically and online tool sales seem to be "the thing" now as opposed to the "old days" when you went down to your local hardware or auto parts store and they had open stock tool boards behind the counter.

- it's possible they may have limited production capacity. those ring-nose pliers they stamped out for Bowers ( see HERE: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/...51&highlight=proamerica+ring+nose#post5683551 ) were pretty much a custom order deal as a result of that thread here on GJ.
the ratchets and breakers were a "made to order" deal for Bowers.
.

I'm not arguing with you, I just like to play devils advocate. Selling tools online is far cheaper and easier than selling in stores. One person can control the inventory and shipping aspect from their office vs paying employees, bills, etc in a store.

Sure it's possible they have limited capacity, but they made them for Bowers, and they make them for the military, you'd think they could make a few extra to put aside for online sales.

It is what it is though. I'm sure they have their reasons. I was just curious.

 

[four.cycle]

I didn't think we were arguing.
My comments above are for the most part wild speculation based on what I do actually know from communicating with Mr. Bowers and a couple people at Proamerica, as well as poring through the comments here (and a couple other sites) regarding both Proamerica and KAL.
Kind of hard to put all the pieces together, but those are my best guesses.

I find it a bit puzzling myself, but considering what's happening currently at the retail level - HomeDepot, Lowes, Walmart - it does (to me, anyway) make sense that they would choose to stay out of that fray.

Just between you and me and the wall, I have some concerns about Proto being retailed by WalMart - I think there's a good possibility there exists therein that proverbial "slippery slope" where the product line might well get whored up to remain competitive in the mass-merchandiser world. I submit: Snapper lawnmowers.

 

[Brownsfan]

Wal Mart on line only ? I have never seen Proto at Walmart. Stanley definitely but not Proto. Although it would be nice to have a place to try and by. Their price alone doesn't make them a wal mart brand.

 

[four.cycle]

^ yeah... apparently the Proto line is available only as an online item through WalMart.

read: Stanley/Proto made the concession that WalMart didn't have to make any investment in inventory to sell the product line, which begs the question: where is the inventory?
Is Stanley/Proto drop-shipping directly to the retail (online) end consumer?
What will WalMart's buyers demand next?

Off-topic, but points worth considering.

 

[gdocktor3]

^ yeah... apparently the Proto line is available only as an online item through WalMart.

read: Stanley/Proto made the concession that WalMart didn't have to make any investment in inventory to sell the product line, which begs the question: where is the inventory?
Is Stanley/Proto drop-shipping directly to the retail (online) end consumer?
What will WalMart's buyers demand next?

Off-topic, but points worth considering.

You think thats crazy?? Sears.com sells Proto. Plus many other brands of tools. What kind of ***** came up with that idea? That's one way to help decrease tool sales. Here's a quick example http://www.sears.com/proto-cushion-...-SPM7657830802?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

 

[four.cycle]

for some weird reason I cannot get Sears pages to open. maybe because I have cookies blocked?
in the case of Sears, I view that as kind of a "shoot yourself in the foot" move, because they're competing against their own house brand that they've promoted for decades. but.... Sears: go figure. already enough "bash Sears" threads on this site, no need for another one.

back to the subject at hand:
My best guess is "wait and see" on the Proamerica. I really have no clue what their long-term objectives are. Maybe the deals with Bowers was a "dab your toes in the water" move to see what sort of reception the product would get in the open marketplace (of online retailing.) Brand identity is a big hurdle to overcome, and that may well be a factor.