Waterloo tool boxes

[GBNZ]

I herd they are now made in china can anyone confirm this?

 

[benjamming]

Mexico as of fall 2009.

 

[Mickey O]

I don't really know, I did have a Craftsman branded Waterloo that was from Mexico, I returned it. However, recently I saw tool boxes from China at the local Menards that had a "ball bearing" logo that looked very much like the Waterloo "ball bearing" logo, so they might be importing Chinese boxes, that or their logo was ripped off, either one wouldn't surprise me.

 

[superautobacs]

I'm only speaking of the newer stuff out there that I've played around with, but I think the build quality is crappier than some of the other similar boxes coming out of China. Not to mention, they are cheaper than the Waterloos.

 

[MotecM]

I don't know about there current manufacturing location(s) but have always wondered if their high-end Magnum boxes were really better than the other quality levels offered under the Waterloo name.

 

[Mickey O]

I don't know about there current manufacturing location(s) but have always wondered if their high-end Magnum boxes were really better than the other quality levels offered under the Waterloo name.

I don't know if they make the Craftsman Professional boxes, but if they do those are a lot nicer that their regular line.

 

[RoarkIndustrialSolutions]

My system states China, Mexico, and the United States for Country of Origin depending upon the model number.

 

[nolatoolguy]

I dont own any but i do know a buddy that bought one a few months back ago and it was made in mexico.

Theres a time we have to decided between budget and providing american jobs

ide be willing to pay a few bucks extra for it to be made in america

but ime an american so ime sure if you lived in candada you would like it made in canada

 

[MotecM]

ide be willing to pay a few bucks extra for it to be made in america

I second that! It's getting to the point that next to nothing is made here.

 

[TRTOOLSUPPLY]

This box I bought a few months ago was made in Mexico.

 

[Projeff]

I'm glad nolatoolguy raised this.

Toolboxes are a little bit of a sore point for me because Stanley recently closed the Smith Falls Ontario Beech toolbox plant in order to move production offshore.

As a Canadian, quality being equal my no 1 choice is Canadian. For me, if I can't get it made in Canada for the quality I am looking for, then my second choice is Made in USA. Why? Because our economies are somewhat integrated, we are one another's largest trading partners (have been for years, although that may soon change given China's and Mexico's influence -- many Americans do not realise this fact) and despite some significant differences, we generally have the same values and consider one another best friends (unless of course we are talking about hockey).

If I can't find a quality Canadian or American product, then I go for European or Japanese, for the same quality and values reasons.

Like most here, I despair at the amount of stuff out there that is from China that we happily import at the cost of our jobs and way of life because it is cheap. I also despair at the loss of good Canadian jobs to places like Mexico and China. In the area where I live a couple of plants recently closed and production was moved to Mexico. In one case, they had to keep the Canadian plant running longer than anticipated so that they could fix the **** that came out of the Mexican plant. In another case, the company sent some of the Canadian workers that they were going to eventually terminate to Mexico to train the Mexicans how to do their jobs. How's that for a slap in the face? Both plants had excellent quality ratings.

Environmentally, it makes more sense to buy something that is made in a country where there are some real environmental standards instead of something made in a country that has no standards and then ships the item ten thousand miles to get to market.

Anyway, increasingly, when it comes to purchasing decisions, issues of quality being equal, we have to start demanding domestically made stuff.

My two cents (presently worth about 1.88 cents US lol).

 

[tyndall]

I wouldn't pay extra for the same thing just because it was made in my country. But give me a reason, such as better warranty, customer service, fit and finish or availability and I would.

Not to be beating a dead horse with SK, I really like SK, but $5 per tool via mail vs. HF style walk-in exchange is bull*. Don't just wrap your **** in a flag, give me at least some other reason to buy it.

 

[Shocker]

I bought couple of Waterloo boxes from HD last year. Small ones for my son to put his Lego's in. Cost me $30 each. They are rolling boxes with about 8 drawers and 4 feet tall.

Made in the USA.

 

[mkdive]

@projeff....I agree, and could not have said it any better. Here is a cold one for my brother up north!

 

[Projeff]

Right back at ya!

 

[american lockpicker]

I'm glad nolatoolguy raised this.

Toolboxes are a little bit of a sore point for me because Stanley recently closed the Smith Falls Ontario Beech toolbox plant in order to move production offshore.

As a Canadian, quality being equal my no 1 choice is Canadian. For me, if I can't get it made in Canada for the quality I am looking for, then my second choice is Made in USA. Why? Because our economies are somewhat integrated, we are one another's largest trading partners (have been for years, although that may soon change given China's and Mexico's influence -- many Americans do not realise this fact) and despite some significant differences, we generally have the same values and consider one another best friends (unless of course we are talking about hockey).

If I can't find a quality Canadian or American product, then I go for European or Japanese, for the same quality and values reasons.

Like most here, I despair at the amount of stuff out there that is from China that we happily import at the cost of our jobs and way of life because it is cheap. I also despair at the loss of good Canadian jobs to places like Mexico and China. In the area where I live a couple of plants recently closed and production was moved to Mexico. In one case, they had to keep the Canadian plant running longer than anticipated so that they could fix the **** that came out of the Mexican plant. In another case, the company sent some of the Canadian workers that they were going to eventually terminate to Mexico to train the Mexicans how to do their jobs. How's that for a slap in the face? Both plants had excellent quality ratings.

Environmentally, it makes more sense to buy something that is made in a country where there are some real environmental standards instead of something made in a country that has no standards and then ships the item ten thousand miles to get to market.

Anyway, increasingly, when it comes to purchasing decisions, issues of quality being equal, we have to start demanding domestically made stuff.

My two cents (presently worth about 1.88 cents US lol).

Speaking of Canada is there any tools other than the occasion screwdriver thats still being made there?

 

[superautobacs]

Speaking of Canada is there any tools other than the occasion screwdriver thats still being made there?

Here's a thread that may somewhat satisfy your curiosity: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31515&highlight=all+canadian

 

[mooman]

I bought couple of Waterloo boxes from HD last year. Small ones for my son to put his Lego's in. Cost me $30 each. They are rolling boxes with about 8 drawers and 4 feet tall.

Made in the USA.

That must be alot of LEGOS

 

[global72]

Mexico and Canada. If you call Waterloo they will tell you they have an assembly plant the US but currently produce no boxes that can be branded "Made in the USA"