S/K tools in production yet?

[72Wagon]

Have they started prodution? Anyone know if dealer network will be wide spread?
I have been waiting patiently, my collection is predominately SK and want to increase the collection if the quality does not suffer with the new manufacturer.

 

[astrodoggie3000]

SK tools will never last if they don't start selling them in atleast a few well known stores. As far as i know... you can't buy SK tools anywhere in the state of Utah! I'm gettting tired of ordering tools online, hoping the finish will be good. I would like to see the tools i'm buying. Please sell SK tools in stores.

 

[jsackin]

We've heard the date "June 1st" thrown around, but I wouldn't hold them to it.

Jori
http://store.harryepstein.com

 

[big g]

I mailed in broken stuff last march 2010 was told they will ship out april first (april fools day) 2011

 

[Theloniousmonk]

SK needs to get some e-reps or whatnot to help answer questions.

 

[wafrederick]

It is a mess at SK what I have been told by a hardware store owner yesterday.SK never paid their dealers including at auto parts stores for the warranty work.

 

[SMKS]

It is a mess at SK what I have been told by a hardware store owner yesterday.SK never paid their dealers including at auto parts stores for the warranty work.

That's the old SK that went under. There have been a few updates posted on the new SK.

 

[W650Mike]

I was in an industrial supply store in Calera Alabama last week that had an extensive display of SK tools behind the counter. I don’t know if they are new or old stock. They looked top notch from across the counter.

 

[jsackin]

Just heard from SK. Looks like they are starting to accept orders next week and plan to ship them out in April.

Jori

http://store.harryepstein.com

 

[adm84]

SKs new parent company is ideal industries, a company that manufactures and imports its tools from the far east, i hope they dont move SKs production over there that would be criminal! if production stays stateside ill definatley be buying some more

 

[SMKS]

SKs new parent company is ideal industries, a company that manufactures and imports its tools from the far east, i hope they dont move SKs production over there that would be criminal! if production stays stateside ill definatley be buying some more

Ideal has said they have made a commitment to keeping SK products made in the USA. So far, it looks like the hard line tools will stay USA made.

 

[jsackin]

Ideal has built SK an entire new factory in Illinois, so that's a pretty good sign production will stay here.

 

[Theloniousmonk]

Just heard from SK. Looks like they are starting to accept orders next week and plan to ship them out in April.

Jori

http://store.harryepstein.com

cool... are you guys planning to offer the line?

 

[mrholeshot]

They bought the USA punch from Snap-On, lol

 

[adm84]

that is reasuring to hear, i hope ideal get the SK website up and running soon, when they bought western forge they changed the web page to a set of directions and its remained the since.

 

[jsackin]

cool... are you guys planning to offer the line?

It's still up in the air for us. We're not sure.

 

[cf2004]

They bought the USA punch from Snap-On, lol

but the thing is the punch is imported

 

[72Wagon]

If anyone gets info on any online distributors carrying the new line of SK tools please post so we can all take a look.

 

[BiltFordTuff]

my neighbor tells me they are going to start taking stuff back in March, and no telling when we'll get our stuff back because of so many people sending stuff in. I already have a breaker bar and a few sockets being sent off.

 

[SCscoutguy]

my neighbor tells me they are going to start taking stuff back in March, and no telling when we'll get our stuff back because of so many people sending stuff in. I already have a breaker bar and a few sockets being sent off.

When they start to take stuff back are we going to have to pay $5 per item or can we send back a box with multiple items to be replaced and just send $5 for the entire lot?

 

[SMKS]

When they start to take stuff back are we going to have to pay $5 per item or can we send back a box with multiple items to be replaced and just send $5 for the entire lot?

That isn't clear to me, either. Here's what the website says:

Warranty Claims can be handled through your local SK distributor at no charge or sent directly to SK and processed for a $5 processing fee. For direct warranty claims, please send payment and the defective product to:
SK Hand Tool LLC
320 Dietz Rd.
Dekalb, IL 60115

The website has the phone number listed. If you want to know, give them a call. 800-752-7263

 

[Hammer1963]

The idea of having a new tool company in the USA is great, but I will believe it when see it. Just buy something else, I never thought they were all that anyway. The warranty took forever to get taken care of and trying to find them was just as bad. When you use tools everyday, waiting on tools can cost you a lot of money.

 

[oldgoat]

We have a tool store here that has SK tools among others and I saw that they had a sign posted that SK had stopped warranty on tools in about June of2010. Looked at their prices and they still looked kind of steep considering that they basically didn't have a warranty on them. I can't say what the SK tools were like lately but I do know that I have 2 sets of SK Wayne wrenches from 67 and broke one (with a little help) and took it to the parts store and they didn't say a word just handed me a new one and sign the receipt. Back then the guy would come by the shop like snapon and mac do now. However as much change as they have gone through it will take a lot for them to get their reputation and following back.

 

[72Wagon]

Anyone have an update on the S/K tools?

 

[swami2806]

We have a tool store here that has SK tools among others and I saw that they had a sign posted that SK had stopped warranty on tools in about June of2010. Looked at their prices and they still looked kind of steep considering that they basically didn't have a warranty on them. I can't say what the SK tools were like lately but I do know that I have 2 sets of SK Wayne wrenches from 67 and broke one (with a little help) and took it to the parts store and they didn't say a word just handed me a new one and sign the receipt. Back then the guy would come by the shop like snapon and mac do now. However as much change as they have gone through it will take a lot for them to get their reputation and following back.

Are you sure the sign didn't mean old tools? I can't imagine they'd sell the new wrenches at a premium with no warranty, but these days it wouldn't come as too much of a surprise. I could see how they would stop accepting old tools--their entire inventory could be wiped out before they open their doors by people scrounging up old broken stuff to send in. And just opening, it's not like they have the huge volume Sears does to absorb the warranty replacements going out. That's when investors start asking the corporate officers if they're running a business or a charity. Then they're in trouble.

I hope this works out. Would love to have another USA company making quality tools.

 

[scott37300]

Anyone have an update on the S/K tools?

I can tell you that they are reading this forum! And that so far I have experienced GREAT customer service from them. Here is my other post about getting a ratchet rebuild kit from them. To summerize I needed a rebuild kit for my tough1 ratchet, which they aren't going to make anymore. They sent the wrong one since they don't make the ratchet anymore. Before I emailed them about it I updated my post about getting the wrong kit. A couple hours later I received an email threw garagejournal from SK saying sorry for the mix up and that they are going to try and track down a kit for me! I've never had a company email me about warranty work before!

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95321

 

[scott37300]

I got an email from SK at 6 tonight saying they have a kit for my ratchet.

Then he stated "You can expect great things from SK as we move forward. We've been pretty quiet as we get manufacturing up and running. As a general policy, Ideal companies don't participate in forums, but I saw your issue and wanted to try to correct our customer service mistake. Keep your eye out for us. We'll be shipping to distributors in April with better than ever, Made in USA quality."

I hope he doesn't mind me sharing this info, I just am really pleased with the service I am getting and wanted to share my experience with everyone else!

So looks like SK tools will be out very soon! Will be interesting to see who their distributors are.

 

[bentwrench54]

didn't know that sk went under.... one of our tool guys at work is an independent, and his main line is sk.

:shrug: news to me