Socket Tray Comparison (Hansen vs Kobalt)

[cburnscrx]

I am glad I bought the hansen trays I put a lot of effort filling them with sockets made in the USA. Wouldnt seem right if the trays were made in China. Also i agree the pegs are hard to break i dont know what you guys are doing with them.

Um, it wouldn't seem right to me to pay $127.94 for something made of plastic I can buy for $19.92. I understand there's a price difference because of manufacturing costs between USA and China...but in all seriousness that's just a bend over and take it price discrepancy.

 

[Skin]

Um, it wouldn't seem right to me to pay $127.94 for something made of plastic I can buy for $19.92. I understand there's a price difference because of manufacturing costs between USA and China...but in all seriousness that's just a bend over and take it price discrepancy.

Not sure where you're getting your prices from. 6Pc Hansen set is just under $60 any day of the week and has been for years. The Kobalt trays were priced $50 for the 6 during their introduction in 2011, went to $20 for the 6 in 2012, and now this is the most recent price cut at a mere $10 for six. This has nothing to do with Hansens being overpriced, because they're the same price they've always been, but rather Lowes has been price slashing this item very aggressively.

You also might want to educate yourself about a sales tactic called Predatory Pricing. In short its the act of pricing at or below cost, undercutting your competition so much, that they cant come close to competing and are driven out of business. Then you can price your products at whatever you want. The Chinese and American big box stores are well known for it. Im not saying this is going on here but its just a warning to think twice if you think an American company is trying to make you "bend over and take it" just because they cant compete with an imported products pricing.

 

[CWP1616L]

These are the sizes I WISH Hansen had:

1/4'' Drive Metric
Matches Set 111TMMDY

5mm
5.5mm
6mm
7mm
8mm
9mm
10mm
11mm
12mm
13mm
14mm
15mm

1/4'' Drive Standard
Matches Set 110TMDY

3/16
7/32
1/4
9/32
5/16
11/32
3/8
7/16
1/2
9/16

3/8'' Drive Metric
Matches Set 310SWMYA

8mm
9mm
10mm
11mm
12mm
13mm
14mm
15mm
16mm
17mm
18mm
19mm

3/8'' Drive Standard
Matches Set 211SY

1/4
5/16
11/32
3/8
7/16
1/2
9/16
5/8
11/16
3/4
13/16
7/8

1/2'' Drive Metric
Matches Set 313SWMYA

12mm
13mm
14mm
15mm
16mm
17mm
18mm
19mm
20mm
21mm
22mm
23mm
24mm

1/2'' Drive Standard
Matches Set 313SWYA

3/8
7/16
1/2
9/16
5/8
11/16
3/4
13/16
7/8
15/16
1
1 1/16
1 1/8

The above sizes I have listed are for both shallow and deep.

 

[cburnscrx]

Not sure where you're getting your prices from. 6Pc Hansen set is just under $60 any day of the week and has been for years. The Kobalt trays were priced $50 for the 6 during their introduction in 2011, went to $20 for the 6 in 2012, and now this is the most recent price cut at a mere $10 for six. This has nothing to do with Hansens being overpriced, because they're the same price they've always been, but rather Lowes has been price slashing this item very aggressively.

I guess I should have clarified...I was comparing what I purchased from Lowes, to what the comparable set was for the Hansen trays online at Walmart. My prices make more sense when I actually explain their origin. Apples to apples...

You also might want to educate yourself about a sales tactic called Predatory Pricing. In short its the act of pricing at or below cost, undercutting your competition so much, that they cant come close to competing and are driven out of business. Then you can price your products at whatever you want. The Chinese and American big box stores are well known for it. Im not saying this is going on here but its just a warning to think twice if you think an American company is trying to make you "bend over and take it" just because they cant compete with an imported products pricing.

I'll play along here for the sake of argument, and for the record I am more than aware of "loss leaders". I've been a retail manager working for more than one Fortune 500 company in the past, so I am well schooled on the term and the concept. However, they're used for many different purposes, such as getting customers in the store (or online) where the opportunity exists to have them purchase additional items at a higher margin. If driving your competition out of business happens in the process, so be it. That being said, I think that's about the least likely intention of Lowes.

But from a different angle, what do you really think it costs to manufacture that Hansen tray...$1? $2 at best? I even think $2 is a pretty big reach.That's about a 2400% increase. Somebody saw an opportunity to cut into a competitors business and jumped at it. If not for the extremely cheap price, I wouldn't have purchased socket trays at all, I would have continued with my $0.99 socket rails from Harbor Freight.

 

[Skin]

Loss leaders and predatory pricing are not one in the same. The latter has a very specific goal which is putting targeted competition out of business in a very underhanded way. The fact that you'd brag about your impressive retail background and then confuse the terms is...a bit odd. Likewise for saying an American company is "bending you over" because they cant compete with an Asian products pricing... You of all people should know the vast differences in manufacturing costs between the USA and a relatively unregulated China. Maybe you were sick these days in your fortune 500 company training.

As far as the costs to manufacture, I have no idea and would only be guessing. What I do know is handy inventions, even though they're made from about a nickels worth in raw material, are far from cheap to create, package, and ship from thin air. If Hansen could compete with these recent cheap import trays that have popped up over the last 3-4 years, I believe they'd be trying. At it stands their pricing has remained essentially unchanged (if not a few dollars cheaper). Likewise if you compare the pricing to similar USA manufacturers like Ernst, who manufacturers many simply socket and wrench organizing solutions, you'll find them in the ballpark.

 

[ATC]

I disagree completely with #2. I have 6pt & 12pt in 1/4" & 3/8" drives. With the Hansen trays, how would I know which is which? What is the advantage of the drive side up?

In my ideal world the socket size would be both on the peg tip and the base.

True...you don't know which are 6pt and 12pt. I have mine layed out with one 1/4" drive tray, two 3/8" drive trays, and one 1/2" drive tray for each Metric and SAE. One 3/8 tray for 6pt, and one tray for 12pt. All of my 1/4" drives on the trays are 6pt. My shallow 1/2" drive sockets are 12pt, while my deep 1/2" drives are 6pt. I have boatloads of sockets...so I have more of each scattered through 3 tool boxes and 2 trucks if I ever need something not on my trays...

Works for me!

 

[ATC]

Um, it wouldn't seem right to me to pay $127.94 for something made of plastic I can buy for $19.92. I understand there's a price difference because of manufacturing costs between USA and China...but in all seriousness that's just a bend over and take it price discrepancy.

$127.94?

They are $10-$12/ea on the shelf at Sears, Northern Tool, and just about anywhere else that sells them.

$11
x6
$66




With as much crying as the majority of this board does over COO...you'd think everyone would be praising the Hansen's. Hell, people are jumping at the $102 pair of jackstands in the Hot Deals thread...just because they are HW that are made in USA. Nevermind a pair of Torin's or HF's are about $30-$40.

Don't get me started on ratchets or wrenches....

But yet these very same people are knocking the Hansens and praise the Chinese trays

I don't get it...

 

[cburnscrx]

$127.94?

They are $10-$12/ea on the shelf at Sears, Northern Tool, and just about anywhere else that sells them.

$11
x6
$66

OR...

$11
x12
=$132
(and i am using your pricing, i found them cheaper at Walmart.com)
for the Hansens.

and for the same exact number of trays in the Kobalt brand...
$19.92

Why is that confusing?

 

[cburnscrx]

Loss leaders and predatory pricing are not one in the same. The latter has a very specific goal which is putting targeted competition out of business in a very underhanded way. The fact that you'd brag about your impressive retail background and then confuse the terms is...a bit odd.

Wow, just wow. No confusion on my end. I used the loss leader term only because that's the shoe that I think fits. Do you really think that's the intent of Lowes...to put Hansen out of business? Really? IF you think that, then you are 100% correct, I used the wrong term. That's not what I believe at all, so I went with the much more likely scenario of being a loss leader (i don't even think they're taking a loss, but I digress).

Likewise for saying an American company is "bending you over" because they cant compete with an Asian products pricing... You of all people should know the vast differences in manufacturing costs between the USA and a relatively unregulated China. Maybe you were sick these days in your fortune 500 company training.

Highly doubt I was sick those days, though it did make me a bit sick to watch our manufacturing plant close to go overseas when indeed they were competitive in price. I was just a peon in the grand scheme of things, but we were told labor was the reason. Not the cost but the actual employees themselves and the headache they caused for the company. But back to your point...of course there is a difference in costs, and it definitely factors into pricing. I have a really hard time believing there's THAT much difference in manufacturing costs, that's all.

As far as the costs to manufacture, I have no idea and would only be guessing. What I do know is handy inventions, even though they're made from about a nickels worth in raw material, are far from cheap to create, package, and ship from thin air. If Hansen could compete with these recent cheap import trays that have popped up over the last 3-4 years, I believe they'd be trying. At it stands their pricing has remained essentially unchanged (if not a few dollars cheaper). Likewise if you compare the pricing to similar USA manufacturers like Ernst, who manufacturers many simply socket and wrench organizing solutions, you'll find them in the ballpark.

We'd both be guessing, because there are too many factors we don't know about. That's all it could be is a guess as I don't work for the people who make the Hansen trays, and judging from your comments neither do you. It just seems odd to me that there would be that large of a price discrepancy. Maybe I am wrong, who knows.

Anyway, I know I've talked WAY to long on this topic, and we'll just agree to disagree. No hard feelings and let's go actually USE our tools!

 

[Chadwilliam1]

$127.94?

They are $10-$12/ea on the shelf at Sears, Northern Tool, and just about anywhere else that sells them.

$11
x6
$66




With as much crying as the majority of this board does over COO...you'd think everyone would be praising the Hansen's. Hell, people are jumping at the $102 pair of jackstands in the Hot Deals thread...just because they are HW that are made in USA. Nevermind a pair of Torin's or HF's are about $30-$40.

Don't get me started on ratchets or wrenches....

But yet these very same people are knocking the Hansens and praise the Chinese trays

I don't get it...

I couldn't agree more. Hansen has been making a great product for years and now people are buying a Chinese knock off. I don't even go in to Lowes tool isle any more unless something pops up in hot deals worth looking at.

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

x2 on the posters about westling's socket trays.



I have all three... hansen, kobalt and westling. The westlings save so much space compared to the other two. I have my universals, bits and some adapters on them. For the price you can't beat it.

I've found the cobalt trays to be decent, but seem bulky to me. The hansen trays were the first ones I had, I broke some of the smaller pegs way too easily, and they **** to clean. But they all have their place. Kobalts in the basement with oddball sockets for the house and hansens for overflow.

 

[CWP1616L]

With the Westling Machine 1/4 drive metric rack I'd have 4 empty posts and with their 1/4 drive standard rack I'd have 6 empty posts. The empty posts would make it very confusing and worrying when doing the inventory check after each job.

 

[jmm]

I get, and probably 75% of the time ascribe to, the USA or die mentality. I actually work in manufacturing in this country (textiles). It's my own hide that I consider when making votes with my wallet. The reason my industry has been able to stick around in this country is because of innovation, which we're in no short supply of.

I bought the Hansens when they were the only decent rails on the market, but they inevitably break. Last few years, better alternatives have popped up, some of which are American. But some are from the far east. When I replaced cracked Hansen trays with Kobalt, I hope the message is clear. This is a simple product, but Hansen's gotta figure out a way to compete if they want my money again. I won't buy the same old plastic strips for $10 plus if they're going to break every other year. Kobalt's got them beat at their old game (plastic socket rails). It's adapt and overcome the competition, or die for this American manufacturer. It is possible.

 

[MechMyk]

I just bought the both Pittsburgh and kobalt trays. They both do the job the kobalts look great but in the end I just don't put much stock in my trays, being a mobile field tech I'm going to go to all blow molded socket sets. Its a pain having to grab your whole tray and transport it deep into a warehouse. But that said I really like the Kobalt trays...

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I have the Westling trays I use the 3/8's and 1/2 for my impacts. I have not decided whet to do with my 1/4 yet. The Westlings take up more space and would not fit very well in my tool box where I keep my chrome sockets.

 

[ATC]

OR...

$11
x12
=$132
(and i am using your pricing, i found them cheaper at Walmart.com)
for the Hansens.

and for the same exact number of trays in the Kobalt brand...
$19.92

Why is that confusing?

Ok, you win.

 

[thebeekeeper1]

If anyone cares, I was in Lowe's Friday and they had the three pack of them for $4.98, and listed as regular price. This is odd, as the opened box, and some broken ones, were more than that.

 

[CWP1616L]

Someone should be able to buy a set of sockets from Snap-on and buy a Hansen tray with the matching sizes. See my post above.

 

[Harrison2]

does anyone know the dimensions height wise. I have the older kobalt hansen style tray but its to tall to fit my current box so was wondering if the newer style were any lower?

thanks

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

The empty posts would make it very confusing and worrying when doing the inventory check after each job.

you can simply cover with rubber plug or something.

I am very happy with westling's socket trays as well.

 

[CWP1616L]

you can simply cover with rubber plug or something.

I am very happy with westling's socket trays as well.

I'm thinking one of these might take care of the issue.

 

[djwyman]

I have not tried the hansons but i did not really like the upside down idea not did I care for the price much. My girl friend bought me the kobalt sets since they were $5 a piece for the 3 pice sets. I like them a lot however seeing those socket boss sets i may end up going with those one of these days as I like that you can customize it and it has stickers for sizes which is the reason I never liked "rails" before is there was no size labels...that and I don't the metal clips that hold the sockets on.

 

[JasonCAT]

I've got some of the $5 3-packs from Lowe's. Zero complaints. Seriously, none at all. They're fantastic.

 

[MikeF2316]

I've switched completely to the Lowes ones, since the Hansen clones I bought from Princess Auto were too tall for the 4" drawer in my new tool box, even though they fit the 4" drawers in my old one!

Sometimes, 4" is not 4"

 

[Tsquare]

Kobalt trays best deal going 3 trays for $5.00 can't beat it with a stick

 

[nicksnothereman]

Kobalt trays best deal going 3 trays for $5.00 can't beat it with a stick

Doesn't seem like they're re-stocking those. One and done. Got the last metric set today at my local store (my second set). They probably made too many of them and had to clear out stock. They're good though, they definitely hold sockets.

Lifetime warranty on a socket tray? Really? Okay!?!

 

[Tsquare]

Doesn't seem like they're re-stocking those. One and done. Got the last metric set today at my local store (my second set). They probably made too many of them and had to clear out stock. They're good though, they definitely hold sockets.

Lifetime warranty on a socket tray? Really? Okay!?!

I best get over to Lowes tomorrow I need 1 more set

 

[nicksnothereman]

I best get over to Lowes tomorrow I need 1 more set

Just based on what I saw. They've had these/this price for a while (at least 2 months) and they weren't selling so swift even though they weren't "clearance". I assume it's not getting re-stocked despite the fact that it isn't clearance; I might be wrong though. If that's the case these will be pretty popular for christmas because of the price so they'll move em real quick.

 

[djwyman]

What is crazy though is the fact that the single racks are $9 at lowes

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[Tsquare]

What is crazy though is the fact that the single racks are $9 at lowes

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

It is funny, the single racks at $9.00 and the set of 3 for $5.00 - the first time I was in Lowes and saw this pricing, I looked at the clerk and said "really"

 

[nicksnothereman]

What is crazy though is the fact that the single racks are $9 at lowes

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

I believe the sets were originally something like 15 bucks. So it makes sense in that context.

 

[Skin]

When they first came out they were actually more like $25.00 for a 3pc set. They price dropped to $15 last year and then again to $5 this year.

 

[Adam.C]

Isn't it true that some snap on sockets are actually stamped such that they are readable business end down? I know my beloved craftsman 1/2" AIR impacts are stamped to be read drive side down. They don't fit in my hansen rack that way. Snap on impacts are stamped the other way around.

 

[diggerrick]

I replaced my HF trays with the Kobalts when I saw the $5 price. No complaints about the HF trays, but I like the Kobalt red & blue colors better than the HF all black trays. The only other major difference is they are opposite hand - either way doesn't make a difference to me.

 

[motofool33]

I noticed lowes trays are now dual marked, metric one side spin it around its sae. Back to 20$ for 3. I'm kinda upset all my williams 3/8 impacts and 1/2 won't fit either tray. Had to put em on rails. When you guys are talking about right side up or down I always assumed you put sockets square hold down on these trays am I wrong?

 

[ihateminimumwage]

I noticed lowes trays are now dual marked, metric one side spin it around its sae. Back to 20$ for 3. I'm kinda upset all my williams 3/8 impacts and 1/2 won't fit either tray. Had to put em on rails. When you guys are talking about right side up or down I always assumed you put sockets square hold down on these trays am I wrong?

Another thread back from the dead.

Haven't seen the double marked sets yet. I bought spare sets of the old style Kobalts as the price dropped, but have the same problem with my impacts not fitting when getting to the smaller sizes (Mix of IR, Armstrong and Williams sockets). Most of mine are on metal rails riveted to pieces of steel, except the 1/2" drive Metric impacts which are on a Harbor Freight tray with the "tombstones" snapped off. I want to get my 3/8" impacts to an Ernst socket boss setup so I can grab and go easier.

When you guys are talking about right side up or down I always assumed you put sockets square hold down on these trays am I wrong?

Square down on the Kobalts, square up on the Hansens. I prefer square down so it's quick to spot the socket size.

 

[Grover C]

I just got a set of Westling's they are really nice. they hold your sockets' when moving box around. Well made and USA.

 

[454cid]

I was looking at the Hansen trays at Menard's the other day. I can't see spending that kind of money per single piece of molded plastic.

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

I have the Harbor Freight ones and I like hem for the price about $7.00 for the box which contain 3 trays with 25% off coupon. At Lowes they want $19.99 for the same box which contain the same 3 trays. Hansen wants about $10.00 per a tray at Sears. Great comparison Thanks

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I am a Toolaholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the Toolman wont give me no credit