Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
I've yet to break a German tool so i haven't had to try. Plenty of distributors over here in Europe.
Usa or bust!!
- Thread starter mrholeshot
- Start date
I've yet to break a German tool so i haven't had to try. Plenty of distributors over here in Europe.
sberry
Banned
I have some old screwdrivers, just import junk that still floats around and has survived. Some I know I paid a dollar for from the junk bin, still work well and earned their keep many times, sometimes with a single use. I have 10$ ones too but pretty much use whatever I can find most handily. There is "better" junk, when I find one that works I tend to score a couple more if needed. Combo wrenches fall in to same category, 1.50 a piece off the shelf and I could care less about warranty, can probably count a dozen over the years that really failed and it was usually due to extreme use, just toss or make something else out of it, worst case scenario out 20$ for the whole bunch, about the cost of one premium wrench.
There was probably a time when I would have been a bit more pretentious about it (and I do have a lot of premium too) but these days with competitive manufacturing the gap has closed a lot. The potential for loss in my case is a concern and am not heart broken if someone loses a wrench, easier to replace than look for it.
chadster1
Well-known member
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Oh noes..
cj610
Well-known member
I haven't found that at all......
o snap
There will always be some arrogant pricks thinking they know what you are about and judging you on anything about you that is other than what they consider to be correct... no matter what city, state or country you visit. A lot of it is just chance on who you end up running across on a trip and of course some places are generally more welcoming than others. Just know not everyone hates you...
(unless of course you are this guy: http://www.documentingreality.com/forum/f10/how-brazilian-baby-******-dealt-32710/ - CAUTION: VERY GRAPHIC! Ran across it on google earlier.)
Anyway, back to tools... if you look hard enough you will find something undesirable about just about every company out there... It could be the head management, COO, environmental issues, social issues, licencing, etc. There probably is no such thing as a 'perfect' company. I suggest buying the best quality you can comfortably afford and from brands which have a good reputation for consistently making quality products and backing them up with good customer support/warranty service and leave the politics out of it for the most part...
OP
mrholeshot
MEMBER EMERITUS
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2010
- Messages
- 8,043
Now you are talking out of your ***, I don't have an account anymore so how can I shill bid? I got caught in the 90's so I wasn't risking that anymore. I have however helped people get the bidding started on their items when I had my account. Between the seller fees, final value fees and paypal fees I'd had enough of selling on ebay. Then when they took the side of some crook with no feedback over over a 11 year veteran of ebay with 100% feedback in a dispute I said goodbye to selling there. I was selling cars and Vintage guitars and a few other things but when you can keep 100% feedback on those two items youre doing pretty good. Now that sellers can't leave Neg feedback it's a scam and you don't have any idea what to expect from the buyer.
So quit guessing and talk about what you know as fact. If I did it I'd confess to it. I've never claimed to be a moral superstar like some people here portray to be. I've even been known to hit a ratchet with a hammer on occasion
Last edited:
farmmech86
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2010
- Messages
- 33
I'm sure I'm gonna get flamed...but its my OPINION that COO has absolutely nothing to do with quality. Think about it - from cars to kitchen knives (my GFs Japanese made Toyota, my set of German made Wustof kitchen knives), lots of great products come from overseas. People in other countries can forge metal, run machine equipment and assemble products just as good as folks here. And, I reckon that folks in other countries need jobs too.
The difference is all in the standards set by the company at the factory. I am sure that if you opened a factory in China and told them to manufacture the highest quality wrench, they could do it. The Chinese have built nuclear bombs, warships, space satellites, and the biggest dam in the world - The Three Gorges Dam (Which is like 5x the size of the Hoover Dam). I'm sure that they can make screwdrivers.
Bottom line - It is my OPINIONthat people anywhere, in any country, can make high quality products IF they or the company they work for wants to make high quality products. I personally don't hold anything against folks in China - if they can make the wrench I need and sell it to me at a good price, I will buy it and put it to work. Its money in my pocket to spend on more important things, like my family.
The difference is all in the standards set by the company at the factory. I am sure that if you opened a factory in China and told them to manufacture the highest quality wrench, they could do it. The Chinese have built nuclear bombs, warships, space satellites, and the biggest dam in the world - The Three Gorges Dam (Which is like 5x the size of the Hoover Dam). I'm sure that they can make screwdrivers.
Bottom line - It is my OPINIONthat people anywhere, in any country, can make high quality products IF they or the company they work for wants to make high quality products. I personally don't hold anything against folks in China - if they can make the wrench I need and sell it to me at a good price, I will buy it and put it to work. Its money in my pocket to spend on more important things, like my family.
OP
mrholeshot
MEMBER EMERITUS
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2010
- Messages
- 8,043
I agree. I think there are some really great tools coming out of asia. I don't have an issue with that. In some cases the tools are better. The problem is when it comes to warranty, the lenght of time that tool at it's present quality will be around and how long will the tool be in production. They seem to come and go so quickly and degrade in quality. If the tools were available for warranty where you simply sent it in (even if you have to pay one way) and it gets replaced by equal or greater quality that would be acceptable. Dealers that handle that brand should have a minimum stock and be able to oder and do exchanges in 5 business days and in order to sell that brand they should be required to handle the warranty hassle free.
Its stupid for dealers NOT to handle the warranty claims... the manufacturer said it will NOT be at the dealer's expense and by processing warranties, wouldn't they probably also get some additional sales? I can tell from whenever I go to lowes that seemingly 90% of the people who walk in there with a product return end up walking past the exchange desk when they are done and start shopping... most do not just turn around and walk out! However, I wonder how well that would blow over if the guy at the service desk keeps saying "Hahaha yeah right...no receipt? NO product replacement for YOU!"
(we are of course talking about products which are supposed to have a lifetime warranty)
(we are of course talking about products which are supposed to have a lifetime warranty)
ajchien
Well-known member
i must have missed a thread and cant find it on search. What happened to the Duralast ratchets recently???
american lockpicker
Banned
Compare anything made in Europe with something similar from China. The difference is night and day.
chadster1
Well-known member
This is your post from a topic located here that you made yesterday. (Bold added by me)
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91412
The bolded statement would lead someone to believe that you still have an eBay account. Now you are saying that you dont have an eBay account. I am just confused by the contradiction and am not sure which of your posts to believe.
archirelic
Well-known member
I'm with you on this one...?
Kirbot
Well-known member
The Duralast ratchets that are sold in kits (with sockets, extension, ect) are just re-branded Greatneck.
Apparently more and more of the socket sets are cheapening as well.
And finally, the comfort grip ratchets are now only available as special order.
You might say, they just aren't doing much to inspire confidence.
You really can't believe anything you read on places like this, I haven't been around here very long but I know BS when I see it and this place is full of BS.
archirelic
Well-known member
Ah...ok. I was already aware of the fact that their ratchets in the sets available online were usually of lesser quality than the individually sold ones. I usually keep a list of serial numbers for the legitimate ratchets on me so whenever I do happen to walk into an Autozone I can grab one if they have it available.
Pro-Painter
Well-known member
That is the issue it's self. The cheaper, great neck "looking" ratchets have the same part number as the good, single ratchets.
I'm not ready to give up on Duralast quite yet. I hope they are just doing a craftsman/Evolv type of thing.
In fact, I'm taking advantage of the switch over. The stores still sell the good sockets in singles and the cheep-o sets. So I'm going to buy the cheap-o sets and warranty them one at a time for the good singles.
mrholeshot: Want to sell your duralast? (non ebay remark )
Kirbot
Well-known member
In fact, I'm taking advantage of the switch over. The stores still sell the good sockets in singles and the cheep-o sets. So I'm going to buy the cheap-o sets and warranty them one at a time for the good singles.
Lol, the same thing occurred to me as I mentioned in another topic.
I really don't need anymore sockets or ratchets, but if I did, I would be doing the same exact thing.
In fact, I'm taking advantage of the switch over. The stores still sell the good sockets in singles and the cheep-o sets. So I'm going to buy the cheap-o sets and warranty them one at a time for the good singles.
Your cheapness sir, makes yard sale zealots who haggle over the cost of a 25 cent sweater look like high rollers in comparison... no offense
EDIT: You too Kirbot
chadster1
Well-known member
Kirbot
Well-known member
Your cheapness sir, makes yard sale zealots who haggle over the cost of a 25 cent sweater look like high rollers in comparison... no offense
EDIT: You too Kirbot
Lol, I'll consider that a complement
-Mike, tool bottom feeder
MrMark
Well-known member
More tall tales or typical Southern exaggeration . . . I would simply divide everything stated by 10 and call it good.
I don't get the Duralast thing, though. Did Duralast change that gem of a ratchet?
fordbroncodave
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2009
- Messages
- 4,555
i have been saying that for years. you and i share like minds when it comes to tools. i haven't stepped foot in a HF yet and i don't plan to either
Pro-Painter
Well-known member
bait and switch me and ill bite you on the *** on the way out !
lol
The way I see it, I will be doing a good thing. If everyone bought the **** Duralast and replaced it with the good, then at the end of the month when Autozone realizes all the **** duralast is coming back in droves and being replaced with the more expensive stuff, then maybe they will evaluate their decision to "bait and switch"
Exploit their weakness and make them loose money on their plan to save money. Best way to motivate a company IMO. Sure beats an angry email that will only be read by someone in India.
lol
The way I see it, I will be doing a good thing. If everyone bought the **** Duralast and replaced it with the good, then at the end of the month when Autozone realizes all the **** duralast is coming back in droves and being replaced with the more expensive stuff, then maybe they will evaluate their decision to "bait and switch"
Exploit their weakness and make them loose money on their plan to save money. Best way to motivate a company IMO. Sure beats an angry email that will only be read by someone in India.
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
I'm bored of this subject.
fordbroncodave
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2009
- Messages
- 4,555
perhaps it has been on the subject table a few too many times
I find your stance on the issue to be amusing. I have to admit, I'd feel far less 'guilt' if you will, trying to exploit a company's warranty who's priority is maximizing short term profit regardless of the consequences, as opposed to a family owned company struggling to survive in tough economic times while still doing their utmost to maintain quality and support. I guess one could see the whole duralast plan of yours to be giving them a taste of their own medicine if you will. Funny.
Last edited:
OP
mrholeshot
MEMBER EMERITUS
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2010
- Messages
- 8,043
Up until I closed out my ebay account I would help get bidding started on some peoples auctons. I never bid to push the price up for the final value. For example a friend had a car he ws selling at a reserve price at 6800 dollars. I would make an initial bid of 4000 dollars to get intrest in it started. I never get involved once it nears reserve. I don't bid up other auctions (like start at .99) unless it is something of intrest to me and I'll buy it. In most cases I already know what it's going to sell for but I'll kick off the bidding. Nobody gets hurt. I keep my wifes account for times where there are items that I really want and it's priced where I want it. Like my KRL1001 I bought for 1K. I've never used her account to shill bid anything. Please feel free to check the bidding history. Beleive whichever you want or neither. Most people do it but most won't confess to it. Nobody has a clean slate, NOBODY
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
I do. It's so clean you could eat off it.
OP
mrholeshot
MEMBER EMERITUS
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2010
- Messages
- 8,043
Yeah, right. Some people do a better job of avoiding wrong than others but everybody does something wrong occasionally. It's human nature
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Your sarcasm detector's broken.
OP
mrholeshot
MEMBER EMERITUS
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2010
- Messages
- 8,043
Along with the other 3/4 of my brain,lol
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
The Chinese food in China is ****.
Yeah cause it probably tastes like toxic waste from all their pollution. In the USA, Chinese restaurants and Chinese buffets in particular are notorious for wanting to save a buck. If that means they chop up stray dogs and cats to serve you (as chicken mao pao or whatever), or reusing the same food they put out on Monday throughout the whole week until its gone while adding some "fresh" stuff in, or skimping on the cleanliness its whatever goes.
I'm not trying to offend anyone but that seems to be the mentality of Chinese restaurant culture in the USA and probably else ware. It's anything to save a buck and not just the tools we've been obsessing over. I can't tell you how many cases I've heard about local Chinese restaurants doing what I mentioned above right here in the USA and right near where I live. Several of them got busted and shut down for those reasons... scary stuff.
Last edited:
OP
mrholeshot
MEMBER EMERITUS
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2010
- Messages
- 8,043
Yeah but I love the meow-main and rover ragoons down at out local China buffet
Obviously my post was meant to be funny, but I am not $hitting you, they really do that in some of them. One of them near the high school at my girlfriend's place got caught doing that. Also, her sister who was a server for a VERY short time at another one down the street quit after she went to serve some customers their dishes and cockroaches literally scattered across their dining table.. Obviously they just walked out immediately... That must have been so embarrassing for her...You know when rodents and vile little insects actually dare to enter a crowded area and come out from hiding you know they are well established and feeling like the man. 