What is going on at APEX Tool Group?

[drink]

Does anyone know what is going on at APEX Tool Group? During the past few months I have noticed how a lot of hand tool products are not in stock or a considerable delay is occuring on hand tool orders. Since Sears has been closing stores and has sent a large portion of the Craftsman line to China are they causing APEX USA to downsize because of less stateside demand? The Armstrong inventory has a lot of out of stock notices also. What is going on?

 

[LB-1911]

I guess you didn't get the memo......

Plant closures and consolidation of manufacturing facilities.

The company's Sumter facility produces hand tools under the Crescent®, Wiss®, HK Porter® and Xcelite®brand names, and will be adding production of Armstrong® and Allen® hand tools as well as private label brands.

http://sccommerce.com/news/press-releases/apex-tool-group-expand-sumter-county-employment


"APEX Tool Group has made the difficult decision to close our manufacturing facilities in Dallas, Texas and Springdale, Ark., by the end of 2015, and to consolidate production of our Made in the USA brands to an existing facility we own in Sumter, S.C.,” the APEX Tool Group noted in a statement. “We plan to add 150 to 200 jobs in Sumter to handle this additional capacity, and our associates in Dallas and Springdale whose jobs are impacted will have the first opportunity to apply for these positions.

All three of these facilities are operating substantially below capacity so we need to consolidate these manufacturing operations in order to be competitive and serve our customers efficiently.”

http://talkbusiness.net/2014/08/apex-moving-springdale-operations-to-south-carolina-250-jobs-lost/[/QUOTE]

 

[bonneyman]

When a company puts out a public notice and says they're "consolidating" (i.e. downsizing), it's almost never a good thing.

 

[Fedwrench]

Drink, don't you read your own threads

When you close two separate factories and consolidate the lines made there with other lines at a single factory, which was hit by bad weather, it's not good for inventory or the line's future.

 

[lightning02]

This is why I didn't buy any Armstrong ratchets last year when I was in the market to buy them and found this out.

 

[FMC1959]

Drink, don't you read your own threads:

I sometimes wonder if Winlimac and Drink are the same person using different screen names.

 

[jrobb316]

Very soon all Apex will be is cheap $hit. They have basically nothing for me anymore, gearwrench has been reduced to just cheap **** as an example. I was in the market for ratcheting wrenches, I decided to go with the Wera jokers and proto splines. Very unimpressed with China gearwrench, however they used to be top notch. Armstrong will probably be dust very soon, I don't see any market demand for them. Everyone wants their cheap ****, and they'll get it. Armstrong and apex as a whole could go under, it would be good for HF. At least there you know you're buying junk.

 

[drink]

Drink, don't you read your own threads

When you close two separate factories and consolidate the lines made there with other lines at a single factory, which was hit by bad weather, it's not good for inventory or the line's future.

I was hoping you would reply to my thread. In one of my previous threads you did say something like you would give them about 5 years because of downsizing and the future of them was predicted to be in question. Do you think all the Sears and K-Mart store closings and offshore sourcing have had a lot to do with less demand? Who can pick up a USA tool line and make it sell at competitive pricing and service?

 

[drink]

I sometimes wonder if Winlimac and Drink are the same person using different screen names.

I am "drink" and I think there is another member named "Drink" with a capital D. Don't worry, I am just a plain ordinary member with only one handle in here and I don't try pulling any nonsense on people.

 

[drink]

Walmart is closing stores from what I understand. Others are saying the malls with Sears and JC Penney as anchor stores are going to close also but it sounds like rumors. If Sears were to completely close then it would be a heck of a lot of demand being gone from tool factories. Do you think Walmart would pick up where the others left off or just continue selling cheap offshore tools? I don't know who can quickly pick up a USA line from APEX and survive the current market.

 

[CobraChevelle]

Uh...ever heard of SK?

Williams usa or proto usa before that over priced ****

 

[toolaholic]

I got a 88 tooth Armstrong 12-994 1/2 drive back on April from advance auto only paid about $82. Used coupon codes. Then **** they disappeared. I did manage to score a NOS Armstrong 12-994 1/2 drive 60 tooth for $76 through jet.com for my friend for Christmas. Armstrong is getting hard to find.

 

[jrobb316]

I don't think SK is overpriced, but now that I don't have a tool truck I've been buying mainly proto USA. And used snap on when I find it and it's what I need. What is overpriced to me is Armstrong. You can find a lot of close out deals at cripedistributing, which I will buy, but they're regular stuff is overrated and way overpriced. And largely unimpressive.

 

[Fedwrench]

Do you think all the Sears and K-Mart store closings and offshore sourcing have had a lot to do with less demand? Who can pick up a USA tool line and make it sell at competitive pricing and service?

As I have said before, my crystal ball is broke and I can't tell the future of any tool company.

However, my short answer is yes and no. Yes, I feel Craftsman moving their sourcing of mechanics hand tools to China/Taiwan affected the lifespan of Armstrong tool factories. But it wasn't just Craftsman. The death of KD, Allen, US made NAPA, and other private labels like Kobalt and Masterforce also contributed to it. I also think the Sears pennies on the piece set pricing was also harmful to US made tools but, that's another thread.
For the second part of your question, I would say NO one can take over a US made tool line and make it competitive. Of course, you have to define the competition. Could a US made tool line compete against Harbor Freight? probably not price wise which is what most people tend to look at first. Your K Mart, Wal Mart shopper isn't going to save a US made tool line. Now competing between tool truck and non tool truck brands, possibly there's enough market share to carve out a niche.
In the end, there are still many US made tool options available. PROTO, Williams, SK, Blackhawk, Wright, all offer many US made tools. There are also more tools than you will ever use in the secondary market like Ebay too.
I wouldn't worry about which tool brand will be left standing years from now because no one knows. Just surround yourself with quality tools and you won't have any issues.

 

[toolaholic]

Williams usa or proto usa before that over priced ****

I have sk and proto wrenches. Also proto and sk ratchets. The proto wrenches are way nicer. Ratchets are a tie.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Do you think Walmart would pick up where the others left off or just continue selling cheap offshore tools? I don't know who can quickly pick up a USA line from APEX and survive the current market.

Walmart is leading the race to the bottom and is dedicated to selling the cheapest of **** under the Stanley brand. Don't hold your breath for them to pick up a USA brand from any manufacturer, ever. If they were to, better be ready for it to go to China near instantly.

Whatever Apex is doing in the long run, it's not going to end well with "consolidating" their American manufacturing to one facility. Just means more outsourcing, and Armstrong will be in danger if the Govt contracts ever expire.

Also pretty lousy the way they've been handling the Gearwrench brand. From primarily Taiwan, to mixing in a lot of mediocre Chinese variants (using the same part numbers), to adding some really nice USA made Armstrong rebrands and trying to enter the truck market, then outsourcing even more tools to China. Our Independent truck dealer just quit. It didn't help that GW ran a promo for him to sell sets of the 3 drives of USA made torque wrenches, but when the orders came in they were the new Chinese made ones. That's a surefire way to burn people on a brand name fast.

 

[drink]

.... As is evidenced by this ridiculous, nonsensical thread.

Okay.....you are a funny guy! LOL! Hey, I am serious about being who I am in here and really do not want a reputation as a troublemaker. I really like discussing tools and all of you guys are fun to discuss them with. When a tool order that was placed over a month ago ends up taking about a quarter of a year and e-mail messages are not returned it is time to begin asking people what is going on with a tool company. I think you guys are good people to ask.

 

[Greg85mcss]

I'd rather support a company that made their name with offshore tools like tekton or hf than support someone who sneaks production out of the us & hopes nobody notices. I try to get the best product possible but it's hard to criticize a brand that comes into the market, is cheap & doesn't make excuses about it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[drink]

Walmart is leading the race to the bottom and is dedicated to selling the cheapest of **** under the Stanley brand. Don't hold your breath for them to pick up a USA brand from any manufacturer, ever. If they were to, better be ready for it to go to China near instantly.

Whatever Apex is doing in the long run, it's not going to end well with "consolidating" their American manufacturing to one facility. Just means more outsourcing, and Armstrong will be in danger if the Govt contracts ever expire.

Also pretty lousy the way they've been handling the Gearwrench brand. From primarily Taiwan, to mixing in a lot of mediocre Chinese variants (using the same part numbers), to adding some really nice USA made Armstrong rebrands and trying to enter the truck market, then outsourcing even more tools to China. Our Independent truck dealer just quit. It didn't help that GW ran a promo for him to sell sets of the 3 drives of USA made torque wrenches, but when the orders came in they were the new Chinese made ones. That's a surefire way to burn people on a brand name fast.

From what I understand Lowe's is a retailer for Apex tools and they can special order what you want if you are willing to pay the price. The chances of them redoing their tool department with a "Kobalt" stamped brand name of a full line of USA APEX tools is in question. Who knows?

Now, Home Depot has a lot of Armstrong hand tools listed in the online special order database. Sometimes they have them listed on sale but the full retail price tags more than likely send potential customers shopping to find better deals on them. If they lowered the prices to be more competitive then they might sell a lot more Armstrong tools. What do you think?

http://www.homedepot.com/b/Tools---...strong?NCNI-5&selectedCatgry=Tools+& Hardware

 

[drink]

As I have said before, my crystal ball is broke and I can't tell the future of any tool company.

However, my short answer is yes and no. Yes, I feel Craftsman moving their sourcing of mechanics hand tools to China/Taiwan affected the lifespan of Armstrong tool factories. But it wasn't just Craftsman. The death of KD, Allen, US made NAPA, and other private labels like Kobalt and Masterforce also contributed to it. I also think the Sears pennies on the piece set pricing was also harmful to US made tools but, that's another thread.
For the second part of your question, I would say NO one can take over a US made tool line and make it competitive. Of course, you have to define the competition. Could a US made tool line compete against Harbor Freight? probably not price wise which is what most people tend to look at first. Your K Mart, Wal Mart shopper isn't going to save a US made tool line. Now competing between tool truck and non tool truck brands, possibly there's enough market share to carve out a niche.
In the end, there are still many US made tool options available. PROTO, Williams, SK, Blackhawk, Wright, all offer many US made tools. There are also more tools than you will ever use in the secondary market like Ebay too.
I wouldn't worry about which tool brand will be left standing years from now because no one knows. Just surround yourself with quality tools and you won't have any issues.

Do you think Home Depot would do good selling a full line of Armstrong at everyday lower prices rather than offer them at full blown retail that very few if any people would buy?

http://www.homedepot.com/b/Tools---...strong?NCNI-5&selectedCatgry=Tools+& Hardware

 

[drink]

I got a 88 tooth Armstrong 12-994 1/2 drive back on April from advance auto only paid about $82. Used coupon codes. Then **** they disappeared. I did manage to score a NOS Armstrong 12-994 1/2 drive 60 tooth for $76 through jet.com for my friend for Christmas. Armstrong is getting hard to find.

Thanks for the tip on them being sold at Advanced Auto Parts. Orders over $75 ship free and you can use coupons to discount them. They are currently unavailable but they should be back soon I hope.

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/c2...=&selectedPartNumber=&qty=1&ship2HomeClicked=

 

[ibedayank]

As I have said before, my crystal ball is broke and I can't tell the future of any tool company.

However, my short answer is yes and no. Yes, I feel Craftsman moving their sourcing of mechanics hand tools to China/Taiwan affected the lifespan of Armstrong tool factories. But it wasn't just Craftsman. The death of KD, Allen, US made NAPA, and other private labels like Kobalt and Masterforce also contributed to it. I also think the Sears pennies on the piece set pricing was also harmful to US made tools but, that's another thread.
For the second part of your question, I would say NO one can take over a US made tool line and make it competitive. Of course, you have to define the competition. Could a US made tool line compete against Harbor Freight? probably not price wise which is what most people tend to look at first. Your K Mart, Wal Mart shopper isn't going to save a US made tool line. Now competing between tool truck and non tool truck brands, possibly there's enough market share to carve out a niche.
In the end, there are still many US made tool options available. PROTO, Williams, SK, Blackhawk, Wright, all offer many US made tools. There are also more tools than you will ever use in the secondary market like Ebay too.
I wouldn't worry about which tool brand will be left standing years from now because no one knows. Just surround yourself with quality tools and you won't have any issues.

craftsman did not really choose anything they have a contract with APEX and APEX did the outsourcing

 

[drink]

craftsman did not really choose anything they have a contract with APEX and APEX did the outsourcing

As far as I know, Craftsman is one of many "Sears Brands" and I have not ever been given the chance to read a contract between Sears and APEX. In the past I have heard some people say Sears is powerless in some situations with manufacturers because they are buying from them. Whatever they make is what they sell is more of what they sounded like and they have no say so or control over things. If they offer a new ratchet, sell 1000 of them, drop it from production, and send them the new replacement then it is what they have to do regardless of what people think. It can be quite upsetting at times.

 

[kythri]

craftsman did not really choose anything they have a contract with APEX and APEX did the outsourcing

Apex would not have outsourced the manufacture of Craftsman-branded products without the express approval of Sears.

You don't get to blame that on Apex.

 

[kythri]

In the past I have heard some people say Sears is powerless in some situations with manufacturers because they are buying from them. Whatever they make is what they sell is more of what they sounded like and they have no say so or control over things. If they offer a new ratchet, sell 1000 of them, drop it from production, and send them the new replacement then it is what they have to do regardless of what people think. It can be quite upsetting at times.

Those people are wrong.

 

[AutoTeck84]

Yeah gearwrench is losing its professional fanbase by their lack of quality late!y and Chinese coo. You would think that this would be bad for them but the name over quality guys more than make up the slack.Just like craftsman. Was going to buy there big set of long pattern combos then found out they are made in China. I can't pay 150+ dollars for Pittsburgh quality tools. I think I'll go with Teckton for half the price. When little known companies starts getting name recognition these start planning the move to **** phase. I'm sure as more people find out about tekton their price will start rising. Next thing youknow there producing **** product to go along with craftsmanesque type of pricing.

 

[jrobb316]

Yeah gearwrench is losing its professional fanbase by their lack of quality late!y and Chinese coo. You would think that this would be bad for them but the name over quality guys more than make up the slack.Just like craftsman. Was going to buy there big set of long pattern combos then found out they are made in China. I can't pay 150+ dollars for Pittsburgh quality tools. I think I'll go with Teckton for half the price. When little known companies starts getting name recognition these start planning the move to **** phase. I'm sure as more people find out about tekton their price will start rising. Next thing youknow there producing **** product to go along with craftsmanesque type of pricing.

That's exactly why I won't buy it. Quality decline which also happened to be when they went Chinese. They're ratcheting wrenches are now garbage.

 

[SMKS]

But it wasn't just Craftsman. The death of KD, Allen, US made NAPA, and other private labels like Kobalt and Masterforce also contributed to it.

Masterforce didn't die. It still exists and it's still made in the USA by Apex, the wrenches/sockets, at least. The screwdrivers have always been Pratt-Read rebrands and the pliers have always been imported.

 

[espyking83]

Apex is not something I'd invest in.

 

[RedneckWelder]

The chances of them redoing their tool department with a "Kobalt" stamped brand name of a full line of USA APEX tools is in question. Who knows?

Here's your answer- less than zero.

Your average DIYer hasn't got a clue about tools and to them Kobalt or Craftsman are the "expensive, quality" tools that are at the upper limit of what they are willing to pay. They ain't gonna pay more to have Armstrong or other US made tools except for a select few consumers.

 

[AutoTeck84]

Williams usa or proto usa before that over priced ****

SK trips me out a little. Aside from some QC problems here and there they make good tools but their pricing is all over the place. 44 piece 1\4" ratchet/socket set 130$= good value for nice tools. 100 odd dollars for a few hex sockets=WTF. 140$ for 8-19mm long pattern wrench set= not bad. 90$ for a 7piece reducer socket set= again WTF.

 

[espyking83]

SK trips me out a little. Aside from some QC problems here and there they make good tools but their pricing is all over the place. 44 piece 1\4" ratchet/socket set 130$= good value for nice tools. 100 odd dollars for a few hex sockets=WTF. 140$ for 8-19mm long pattern wrench set= not bad. 90$ for a 7piece reducer socket set= again WTF.

Yeah man, Im a 3rd generation SK socket nut ******* but their inconsistencies with pricing have me looking elsewhere more often than not. This is a massive problem for SK and maybe one day they will notice it. That fact alone is why my entire socket drawer is not exclusively SK.

 

[geologist]

Who can pick up a USA tool line and make it sell at competitive pricing and service?

SK is making some great moves these days. Let me rephrase that... The NEW SK. Consistency has been consistently amazing on my tool purchases as of late. I have a feeling there were some old SK tools in the pipeline that were going out from supply houses and such.

 

[four.cycle]

In the end, there are still many US made tool options available. PROTO, Williams, SK, Blackhawk, Wright, all offer many US made tools. There are also more tools than you will ever use in the secondary market like Ebay too.

(emphasis added)

drink: respectfully, I have to wonder what the point is of obsessing over the dearth of US tool manufacturers?
Tool manufacturers owned by huge corporate interests are going to do what's in the best interests of their stockholders and corporate executives, and no amount of hand-wringing (or arguing) on internet discussion forums is going to change that.

In the meantime, unless you are absolutely set on purchasing only new tools, as mentioned by fedwrench above, there are more tool available in the "secondary market" he mentions than one could ever use: every day there are dozens (if not hundreds) of used and NOS items listed on Ebay.
Those who want US-made quality can find it if they look. I have had no problem at all finding stuff online.

 

[SVTDice]

Apex is not something I'd invest in.

If you don't mind me asking why? Sounds like you wouldn't touch Matco than either.

 

[drink]

Man I did not know there were so many of you that hate APEX tools. I like the made in USA tools they make. When they started slipping in offshore tools in the Craftsman Industrial socket sets like spinners, and extensions I did not like it. The 2013 catalog said made n the USA and the 2014-2015 catalog did not. What a shame and who made the decision to do it?

Some of you speak highly of SK and they sure seem like a made in the USA company.

 

[ganymede]

......
...

 

[t100]

Man, I'm old:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59722

 

[Wamsutta]

Man I did not know there were so many of you that hate APEX tools.

I still think of APEX as screwdriver bits when they were owned by Cooper Tools. Anything else that says "APEX Tool Group" on the back of the package is not a real APEX tool in my opinion.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Man I did not know there were so many of you that hate APEX tools. I like the made in USA tools they make. When they started slipping in offshore tools .

Apex had cheapened their USA Craftsman line so badly; I regret buying those tools.. They were built to Sears-Craftsman specifications for a cheapo price.

Apex sent a bunch of their branded production to chiwian for a cheaper cost.

Does Armstrong use the goofy double detents that piss me off??? Don't want any more of those...

I don't like cheap chiwain ,tools, and I don't like tools that piss me off... Apex simply fits in this slot... The Apex Tool Group, including Armstrong, HAVE produced some tools that I own and praise,,,, but it is 2016, and no tool company will get any blind fanfare from Me today... Yesterday was yesterday...