Toptul order arrived (pics)
- Thread starter posaune
- Start date
GT89mustang
Well-known member
looks to me like hes looking out for the company...
Or himself? I think the company could easily search toptul on ebay if its that big of a deal to them.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I don't see what the big deal is about selling Toptul on Ebay is. Almost everything is sold there, and I don't think there is a negative stigma from selling on Ebay. In fact, I think alot of ebay sales are moving towards the buy it now type sale and away from the traditional auction listing. Look at all of the stores available on Ebay. I don't think some item listings are that different from vendors that list with Amazon. Just my opinion which isn't worth much.
This thread has probably gotten somewhat off topic, but I'll go ahead and throw in anyway. It doesn't seem that Toptul is really concerned with selling in the US market in the first place. If they were, they would sign a deal with an established nationwide presense(s) to stock, promote and market the product, i.e. Gearwrench, and make their tools readily available to the masses.
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Merkava_4
Banned
I respectfully disagree. A one man distributor and word of mouth advertising is the best way to start out in my opinion.
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OK fair enough, what have they done to show they are interested in penetrating the US market in a reasonable amount of time? How else would you do it?
Mike Wren may prove this theory to be valid, but the previous attempts at this model by Toptul seem to have left a lot to be desired.
Merkava_4
Banned
Re: Toptul order arrived (pics)T
They're starting out slow to keep their costs down; and instead of spending a bunch of money on fancy marketing schemes, they're investing their money in quality by purchasing the latest in advanced machinery.
The only thing I would suggest for Mike to do is to get one of those Toptul mini-vans that are seen on the main website and maybe hit up a couple of shops here and there; that's in addition to his website orders and GJ chat.
They're starting out slow to keep their costs down; and instead of spending a bunch of money on fancy marketing schemes, they're investing their money in quality by purchasing the latest in advanced machinery.
The only thing I would suggest for Mike to do is to get one of those Toptul mini-vans that are seen on the main website and maybe hit up a couple of shops here and there; that's in addition to his website orders and GJ chat.
myslow2002gt
Well-known member
The Toptul stuff I've seen posted recently looks to be pretty good quality, enough so that I might purchase a few things to try out (gives me an excuse to get some wobble extensions).
My only "complaint" is that the wrenches look extremely goofy to me
My only "complaint" is that the wrenches look extremely goofy to me
Shocker
Well-known member
It makes me wonder what the Toptul presence is outside the US. They appear to be a pretty big concern and it makes me wonder how they are going to proceed in the future. Mike is definitely doing a lot of good for the brand.
I suspect that you will see a good sized push into the market in the future.
I suspect that you will see a good sized push into the market in the future.
Merkava_4
Banned
My only "complaint" is that the wrenches look extremely goofy to me
Well yeah.... compared to those Cornwell bad boys you got....
myslow2002gt
Well-known member
Well yeah.... compared to those Cornwell bad boys you got....
Well true, but they even make SK's look normal.
Other than that, I'm liking what I see. Just might buy myself some wobbles from Mike this week
The Muffin Man
Well-known member
Just might buy myself some wobbles from Mike this week
Look at the CAAH series! They are absolutely beautiful
.beelsr
Well-known member
wrenhandtools
Well-known member
just to clarify.....the CAAH series production was stopped while they go from the rougher satin finish to the much smoother and more shiny 'water-satin' finish...(their words) The finish on these CAAH extensions was more rough than most of their other satin items. And when I have been filling some holes in sizes of some rail sets, I've noticed that the 18 & 20mm sockets that I have been adding to sets weren't as shiny as the others. I really got on them last week about the consistency and they told me that they are switching all satin to this newer and nicer water satin finish so when something runs out, they re-start production in this better finish. So if anyone is un happy with any finish of some of these sockets I will send another new one with the better finish for free when I have them in stock. Also, Toptul said they would make a note to make sure every item that I order in satin finish will be the new water satin if possible and if not they will let me know before they ship.
You know, there will always be issues like this when dealing with a manufacturing facility, and they don't do everything perfect..no company does....so if for any reason any of you have a question on an item make sure you ask it. I have no ego in regards to the quality of the tools so if you're a customer, in my eyes you will always be right and it is my job to serve you. If you aren't happy my business has no chance so the customer's satisfaction is THE single most important thing to me.
Back to these CAAH extensions.....I will be bringing them in the next shipment. And yes I'll order a lot.
Sincerely,
You know, there will always be issues like this when dealing with a manufacturing facility, and they don't do everything perfect..no company does....so if for any reason any of you have a question on an item make sure you ask it. I have no ego in regards to the quality of the tools so if you're a customer, in my eyes you will always be right and it is my job to serve you. If you aren't happy my business has no chance so the customer's satisfaction is THE single most important thing to me.
Back to these CAAH extensions.....I will be bringing them in the next shipment. And yes I'll order a lot.
Sincerely,
Merkava_4
Banned
wrenhandtools
Well-known member
I LOVE Hazet tool boxes.........
beelsr
Well-known member
superautobacs
Well-known member
The Muffin Man
Well-known member
Mike, is this new "watery" satin finish similar to the satin finish on current Toptul ratchets?
One of the CAAH 1/4in extensions I recieved in my last order is not like the satin chrome of the other CAAH extensions (more like a mix between mirror and satin.) Is this perhaps the newer finish.
The engraving is also not as deep if that helps for identification.
One of the CAAH 1/4in extensions I recieved in my last order is not like the satin chrome of the other CAAH extensions (more like a mix between mirror and satin.) Is this perhaps the newer finish.
The engraving is also not as deep if that helps for identification.
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
nice , upbeat first post - trash people much ?
Merkava_4
Banned
I was beginning to wonder if anyone would respond to that post.
The Muffin Man
Well-known member
Posaune, I must have missed or overlooked that photo
, but yes that is the same finish as the one I was referring too.Although I do prefer the look of the older satin chrome finish, the newer satin chrome seems to resist scratching and marring better.
wrenhandtools
Well-known member
THe CAAH series were all a bit "less shiny" than what I'm talking about....except for one or two of the 1/4 ones...they had a pretty good finish.
It is most apparent on the sockets, and a few wrenches...like the midget double ring wrenches.
The best way to describe would be that the rougher satin finish is pretty much identical to the HAZET finish....looks nice...but kinda dull...definitely not something I would call shiny.
The water satin finish is MUCH nicer and is what you would see on the combo wrenches for instance. The handles of the ratchets with the non-metal green and black handle on the end would also be a good example.
They way I have used it in my garage is to have all my SAE tools in chrome and the metric in satin. This works well for when my 3year old daughter "helps" me and when I go to clean up up all thr wrenches she has spread ALL over the garage.....at least at a glance I can tell which tool box they go in.
Also, I am still unsure if Toptul is going to stick to their plans in regards to phazing out the chrome. If they do, my plan is to grow the business large enough to be able to request them to make chrome in the future for me. I think I only need to order 10-15 thousand pieces of any item to be able to have it custom made for us. So, when I'm larger, I will be able to put in a custom order for any tool as long as I order this many.
One item I would really like to push for are those semi-deep sockets that Snap-On makes. I have found those to be incredibly handy at time...especially the universal semi deep set that I have. Yes, I have Snap On stuff in my garage. And Craftsman, and.....
It is most apparent on the sockets, and a few wrenches...like the midget double ring wrenches.
The best way to describe would be that the rougher satin finish is pretty much identical to the HAZET finish....looks nice...but kinda dull...definitely not something I would call shiny.
The water satin finish is MUCH nicer and is what you would see on the combo wrenches for instance. The handles of the ratchets with the non-metal green and black handle on the end would also be a good example.
They way I have used it in my garage is to have all my SAE tools in chrome and the metric in satin. This works well for when my 3year old daughter "helps" me and when I go to clean up up all thr wrenches she has spread ALL over the garage.....at least at a glance I can tell which tool box they go in.
Also, I am still unsure if Toptul is going to stick to their plans in regards to phazing out the chrome. If they do, my plan is to grow the business large enough to be able to request them to make chrome in the future for me. I think I only need to order 10-15 thousand pieces of any item to be able to have it custom made for us. So, when I'm larger, I will be able to put in a custom order for any tool as long as I order this many.
One item I would really like to push for are those semi-deep sockets that Snap-On makes. I have found those to be incredibly handy at time...especially the universal semi deep set that I have. Yes, I have Snap On stuff in my garage. And Craftsman, and.....
I was beginning to wonder if anyone would respond to that post.
Me too.
Posaune, I must have missed or overlooked that photo
It's understandable. This thread has taken a few strange turns since the first couple posts.
I'm not sure I have an opinion either way on the two finishes. They both look pretty good. I haven't used the stuff enough to know how they'll hold up though.
Merkava_4
Banned
Could you custom order the ratchets without holes in the handles? That's a serious question by the way.
Whats wrong with the holes? Another serious question.
superautobacs
Well-known member
I presume it's an issue of aesthetics; not the functionality of the tool.
Merkava_4
Banned
Ever since I turned in my Cornwell screwdrivers and the guy handed me Cornwell branded Witte's in return, I've had a phobia against handles with holes. When I'm spinning a screwdriver handle, I hate the feeling of a hole colliding with my fingers; it gives me the heebie jeebies and the hava javaz.
YES.
I've had 1/4" and 3/8" sets of Snap-On metric semi-deeps for, oh, 16-17 years and they cover 99% of situations. My $$$ Snap-On deeps have sat almost unused all that time, but they look nice and shiny in the tool box.
Ever since I turned in my Cornwell screwdrivers and the guy handed me Cornwell branded Witte's in return, I've had a phobia against handles with holes. When I'm spinning a screwdriver handle, I hate the feeling of a hole colliding with my fingers; it gives me the heebie jeebies and the hava javaz.
Ok, gotcha. They dont really matter to me either way. I'm still trying to figure out whether I like the rubber grip or regular chrome handle better. I have the gearless ratchets with the rubber handle, they are my first rubber handle, but the metal handles look pretty comfy too.