Well, another American Tool Facility bites the dust.

[BigV]

I had wondered why it was getting difficult to find Armstong and Apex Brands that were Made in the USA.

http://archive.emsend.com/csb/Public/show/hkreh--ctv3e-6c62xqc5


I bought a 15 piece Craftsman allen head socket set online, was assured they were USA made, assured they were metric and USA and they turned out to be Chinese and the fit of the Harbor Freight ones is better and had SAE and Metric, this just has metric- no recourse, Ebag rip and run.

I shrug my shoulders.

In the near distant future:
When President Joe Smith(Democrat/Republican/Libertarian/Independent) gets in a war with China/North Korea/Southeast Asia- and someone is working on a personnel carrier engine and the torque adapter breaks what are we going to do- ask the country we're at war with to please let us buy some tools as that is Marquis of Queensberry rules ?

This is not a political party issue- we have got to get rid of this team mentality that my team is X and we hate those whining Y's and my team is Y and we hate those fascist X's. All over some issue that isn't a federal or state issue at all.

This is an issue of economics. Short version: Boy we're:
https://img1.etsystatic.com/011/0/7497222/il_570xN.413631909_bwqq.jpg

 

[cvairwerks]

First thing we need to do is get rid of the Harvard Business School mindset of maximising short term gains and profits. Couple that with taking a much longer term theory of business operations...steady growth and profitability is better than short term large growth then dump the business. Some of the most successful companies out there work on growth plans that cover as much as decades, where the current HBS philosophy covers growth over months and rarely looks beyound a year or more out in the future.

 

[BillK]

First thing we need to do is get rid of the Harvard Business School mindset of maximizing short term gains and profits.

That's not the problem. The problem is the American consumer who wants everything as inexpensive as possible. You will never change that.

 

[Chicken]

That's not the problem. The problem is the American consumer who wants everything as inexpensive as possible. You will never change that.

I want it cheap, and I want it NOW.

Why would I fix it when I could just buy a new one

etc..

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

That's not the problem. The problem is the American consumer who wants everything as inexpensive as possible. You will never change that.

At least a few of us American consumers don't want everything as "inexpensive" as possible, at least not the way business people think of it.

I often choose to use more expensive or extra materials (for strength, durability, appearance). I'll even allow a contractor to set their own schedule and allow them some extra time. If you comment on poor quality workmanship the excuse is always the same: "everybody wants cheap and quick".

We (all consumers, world wide) want the best value for us as an individual. The best value for a professional is often overkill for an occasional (or one time) user. The best value for a one time user is usually not good enough for a professional.

 

[matt_i]

Looks like the Armstrong and Allen brands are being closed down/abandoned, not sent to another country. My experience with the Apex brand is in industrial - production line sockets and I think those are made in Ohio (?) I think Apex is the parent company and has many related fastener-securing businesses...up to and including DC torque controllers.

http://www.thestate.com/news/business/article126068444.html

 

[BillK]

At least a few of us American consumers don't want everything as "inexpensive" as possible, at least not the way business people think of it.

I am the same way but unfortunately we are way in the minority. The thing that bothers me is that you cant find quality items even if you are willing to pay the price Unfortunately as a business owner I understand the supply and demand process and if there is very little demand for a high quality item and a lot of demand for a low priced one which do you think they are going to make ? Sad but true.

Same goes with service and craftsmanship. I see some of the work that friends and relatives have done around their houses or on their cars and it looks like **** to me but they are perfectly happy with it. They got what they paid for

Thats the way the country seems to be headed.

 

[cherrybomb]

I go way out of my way to buy quality,if it is U.S.A that is my first choice.Often times I think of the pride I have in using quality tools,People that buy Proto,SK or Wright know there is cheap junk out there to buy.I commend people that have professional attitudes in there work and the tools they use.Price is not the only factor in tool ownership.

 

[sberry]

There aint no shortage of **** to buy in this country.

 

[calif phil]

It's sad to see another American manufacturer close. I will always try to buy US made products and gladly pay for quality. Just look at a HF tool box thread on here and see how most everyone wants cheap stuff.

 

[kbs2244]

It is not the country of origin that counts.
It is the QC you are will to pay for.

When MB sent assembly of PS pumps, alternators, etc. to Viet Nam the head of production was asked
"What about German craftsmanship?"
He replied
"We will be sending German QC inspectors."

China has a fighter that scares the USAF.
It has a Moon rover moving around right now that NASA is jealous of.

http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2016/01281656-fun-with-a-new-data-set-change.html

And and a far side of the Moon rover in active planning stages.

http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2016/06220913-plans-for-change4.html

They build as well as they are paid to.

 

[dmdc411]

I went into HF yesterday. It's almost all ****. I will admit to owning a couple deep well 1/4" socket sets from them. Only stuff you wouldn't over torque too often. Otherwise I have, Sears, Snap-on, little Matco. If we ever have a tiff with China, I agree, we're screwed!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

[brownbagg]

if a company built everything with an unlimited lifespan, it would go out of business because of no repeat business. for business to keep an income, stuff has to be replace.

 

[Musicinabottle]

It is not the country of origin that counts.
It is the QC you are will to pay for.

When MB sent assembly of PS pumps, alternators, etc. to Viet Nam the head of production was asked
"What about German craftsmanship?"
He replied
"We will be sending German QC inspectors."

China has a fighter that scares the USAF.
It has a Moon rover moving around right now that NASA is jealous of.

http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2016/01281656-fun-with-a-new-data-set-change.html

And and a far side of the Moon rover in active planning stages.

http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2016/06220913-plans-for-change4.html

They build as well as they are paid to.

Absolutely true. It's the American corporations that ship our jobs over there, avoid paying taxes that are committing economic terrorism in a sense. The American consumer should have to pass a test, but sadly most people as is evident on this forum just don't give a **** about protecting jobs here and as the jobs go away, there's less and less money to buy the better products. The Chinese are fine, but frankly **** the American corporations that screw the American worker such as Hostess.

 

[6768rogues]

People want cheap, that is what they get. Like the airlines, people wanted cheap seats and now they get cheap seats. They are crammed in like sardines and they treat you like ****, but the seats are cheap. That is why I drive.