Whats going on with sk tools.?

[RickyPetite]

I own a ton of SK but have resigned myself to leaving them behind. Too much work worrying about which SKU's are made here vs ROC. I refuse to support China so I'm done with SK. It's now Wright tools for me...

 

[Professional Tool User]

Let's argue about this....... Is Stanley an American USA company or an opportunist ?

Stanley has a reputation of messing up it's acquisitions and loves to cut costs. They are hardly any better than Apex tool group as a company. You should start a new thread or go search for old ones where people make fun of Stanley.

 

[1320it]

I can't believe people are arguing about this. The company that owns SK now also owns Lista. I purchased $30k in cabinets last year and they are all perfectly fine and the same quality as my older Lista cabinets.

I am sure they know what they are doing.

 

[tarbellb]

I can't believe people are arguing about this. The company that owns SK now also owns Lista. I purchased $30k in cabinets last year and they are all perfectly fine and the same quality as my older Lista cabinets.

I am sure they know what they are doing.

But where are your Lista cabinets made?



It is yet to be determined where final mfg of SK hardline will be correct?

 

[sparky 1971]

But where are your Lista cabinets made?



It is yet to be determined where final mfg of SK hardline will be correct?

As of now, mfg will be in PA. Supposedly, 40,000 square feet of the building Shop-Vac is in will be used for SK production. Whether or not it stays that way is to be determined.
I would love to be able to post the article I read or video I watched, but I don't even remember which it was, when or where, but it's been recently.

 

[sparky 1971]

I can't believe people are arguing about this. The company that owns SK now also owns Lista. I purchased $30k in cabinets last year and they are all perfectly fine and the same quality as my older Lista cabinets.

I am sure they know what they are doing.

And let's not forget that the people bitching the most or loudest are Milwaukee fan boys. I'm pretty sure Milwaukee tools are made in China.

 

[Bockscar]

But where are your Lista cabinets made?



It is yet to be determined where final mfg of SK hardline will be correct?

I am pretty certain that they stated that they would continue to manufacture tools in the USA......All manufacturing is having supply and manpower issues even for established facilities.....so moving the facility at the time they did is I am sure making things hard......as to why the entire inventory is out of stock ....maybe the inventory was low to begin with or was not included in the purchase but I have no clue....but I do know the supply issue is real....see it all the time now

 

[VolvoRyan]

Anyways now you can have imported SK tools to work on your Volvo, you win !

Ever try the edit button?

-Ryan

 

[LB-1911]

As of now, mfg will be in PA. Supposedly, 40,000 square feet of the building Shop-Vac is in will be used for SK production. Whether or not it stays that way is to be determined.
I would love to be able to post the article I read or video I watched, but I don't even remember which it was, when or where, but it's been recently.

This one?
Dedicated to maintaining US-based manufacturing, GreatStar will transition a large portion of SK Professional Tools product line to its manufacturing center in Williamsport, PA, in 2022. The facility currently produces heavy-duty wet/dry vacuums for category leader Shop-Vac

GreatStar Tools USA Acquires High-Performance Professional Hand Tools Brand, SK Professional Tools

SADDLE BROOK, N.J., October 28, 2021--GreatStar Tools USA, a leading manufacturer of hand tools serving DIY, professional and industrial markets worldwide, announced today its acquisition of SK Professional Tools, a leading provider of high-quality hand tools for professionals across a variety...

www.yahoo.com

 

[bob15]

Mack Volvo Budweiser huge companies swallowed up by Chinese conglomerates, and your comparing Falcom to these ? WOW

Trucks, read Mack> Volvo> Chinese Conglomerates your referring to falcom one company ?

Volvo makes cars.....

apples to oranges understand now?

Anyways now you can have imported SK tools to work on your Volvo, you win !

don't think anyone said Chinese had a role in the demise of SK . They just have it now......

What are you tying to say?

You feel like SK is done because they are owned by the Chinese, and I asked if you felt that way about SK when they were owned by Facom. Now you are bringing up Mack, Volvo and Budweiser....why?

 

[lardy1]

My guess would be the Budweiser.

 

[M6erfan]

SK has been in a death spiral for years. It's sad.

 

[Dieselclunker]

My guess would be the Budweiser.

a lot of substance here.......

 

[Dieselclunker]

How did a thread about SK tools current status end up as a discussion of Facom, Volvo, Stanley, Ford and Mack and who owns who, etc. ? Just ... wow.

maybe read backwards.............

 

[VolvoRyan]

SK has been in a death spiral for years. It's sad.

This is true. Tools were still good until the sale, though.

A mystery package showed up from SK over the weekend. I didn't have time to open it. I'm wondering if it's a warranty item or part of an open order from last summer. Will report back.

-Ryan

 

[1320it]

But where are your Lista cabinets made?



It is yet to be determined where final mfg of SK hardline will be correct?

Switzerland & Germany

 

[finn]

It's not just about investment. SK has a lot of other problems. Ideal couldn't even come up with a logical marketing strategy. SK list prices are almost as high as Snap on. Snap on easily wins in the overall customer experience department. Taking forever to roll out new products is another one. A lot of people will get tired of waiting and go buy something else. The list goes on.

Why wouldn’t SK list prices be similar to SnapOn?

They both use steel, which is a commodity, so they probabl pay about the same.

Their machining and heat treating costs would be similar.

Labor rates are probably similar.

If anything, SnapOn should be cheaper because of economy of scale.

 

[m6z]

Why wouldn’t SK list prices be similar to SnapOn?

They both use steel, which is a commodity, so they probabl pay about the same.

Their machining and heat treating costs would be similar.

Labor rates are probably similar.

If anything, SnapOn should be cheaper because of economy of scale.

Exactly. SK's market share has been dwindling for decades. If it wasn't for this forum I probably would have never purchased anything from them and even then it was only stuff I found in their steals and deals.

There's probably only room for SnapOn in the USA made wrench game. Let's be honest, you're not buying this unless you're making a living with them every day and even then a similar import set would be what, a 1/10th the cost.

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

 

[Professional Tool User]

Why wouldn’t SK list prices be similar to SnapOn?

They both use steel, which is a commodity, so they probabl pay about the same.

Their machining and heat treating costs would be similar.

Labor rates are probably similar.

If anything, SnapOn should be cheaper because of economy of scale.

As I said before, marketing is very important. It's Snap on's brand prestige that allow it to charge those ridiculous prices. SK doesn't even come close when it comes to brand recognition. Even if you hate Snap on, you've got to admit their marketing department does an amazing job with their flyers. SK is a joke when it comes to its distribution network. Their long lead times demonstrates that they don't know how to manage their manufacturing properly. The Snap on truck rolls by the shop on a regular basis and worst case a back order takes a week or two. And then there's other US made brands where it's easier to get a discount like Wright tools. Even my local Williams dealer has fairly reasonable prices for their USA made line of tools.

 

[gatewaysysop]

maybe read backwards.............

If it don't make sense going forward, it won't going backwards. And last I checked, comparing an apple to an orange doesn't make any more sense if you compare the orange to the apple instead.

 

[dstblj52]

I can't believe people are arguing about this. The company that owns SK now also owns Lista. I purchased $30k in cabinets last year and they are all perfectly fine and the same quality as my older Lista cabinets.

I am sure they know what they are doing.

they make lista europe lista sold in the us is a sbd brand

 

[Dieselclunker]

If it don't make sense going forward, it won't going backwards. And last I checked, comparing an apple to an orange doesn't make any more sense if you compare the orange to the apple instead.

Let me help you out. He compared Falcom a French company owning SK , great who cares, to large Chinese conglomerates .

 

[Dieselclunker]

Hey maybe a picture will help, we still have the technology ! And great they'll make SK in PA . point being who owns America ???

 

[Bockscar]

There's probably only room for SnapOn in the USA made wrench game. Let's be honest, you're not buying this unless you're making a living with them every day and even then a similar import set would be what, a 1/10th the cost.

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

[/QUOTE]
Wright wrenches are equally as good and better priced

 

[finn]

There's probably only room for SnapOn in the USA made wrench game. Let's be honest, you're not buying this unless you're making a living with them every day and even then a similar import set would be what, a 1/10th the cost.

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

Wright wrenches are equally as good and better priced
[/QUOTE]
I can’t ever recall seeing a Wright wrench for sale in a retail store in the past twenty years.

they’re not exactly a recognized name.

 

[VolvoRyan]

This thread is the best "SK thread" yet.

Wikipedia saith:

"....Falcom Corporation is a Japanese video game developer of role-playing video games...."

-Ryan

 

[Dieselclunker]

Williams SuperCombo still USA made nice and affordable, another great alternative !

 

[VolvoRyan]

I am pretty certain that they stated that they would continue to manufacture tools in the USA......All manufacturing is having supply and manpower issues even for established facilities.....so moving the facility at the time they did is I am sure making things hard......as to why the entire inventory is out of stock ....maybe the inventory was low to begin with or was not included in the purchase but I have no clue....but I do know the supply issue is real....see it all the time now

You're probably spot on.

Just hiring people is hard to do right now, twice as hard if you expect them show up to work.

One thing is for sure, when there's been a big shake up..... and your brand name is all you have.... it's better to have "out of stock" on your website than to take orders you can't fill. Doesn't matter the reason. It's clear that things are taking far longer than expected. In December, I was actually surprised that they thought they'd be open for business at the beginning of the year. No way that was enough time.

-Ryan

 

[American Locomotive]

As of now, mfg will be in PA. Supposedly, 40,000 square feet of the building Shop-Vac is in will be used for SK production. Whether or not it stays that way is to be determined.
I would love to be able to post the article I read or video I watched, but I don't even remember which it was, when or where, but it's been recently.

40,000 square feet is nothing for tool manufacturing. You really can't make anything much in a space that small, besides maybe some small production run tools. You definitely aren't running any kind of real forging operation.

Malco uses 150,000 square feet of a 300,000 sq.ft. building just to make their Eagle Grip pliers, and there are only 6 different Eagle Grip SKUs.

40,000 sq ft will just be warehousing.

 

[Bockscar]

Wright wrenches are equally as good and better priced

I can’t ever recall seeing a Wright wrench for sale in a retail store in the past twenty years.

they’re not exactly a recognized name.
[/QUOTE]
Pretty certain that I have never seen Snap On in a retail store as well.....Wright mainly sells to industry and the Government.....keeps them going.....but look for them andntry them....very nice tools

 

[Wrench97]

40,000 square feet is nothing for tool manufacturing. You really can't make anything much in a space that small, besides maybe some small production run tools. You definitely aren't running any kind of real forging operation.

Malco uses 150,000 square feet of a 300,000 sq.ft. building just to make their Eagle Grip pliers, and there are only 6 different Eagle Grip SKUs.

40,000 sq ft will just be warehousing.

See that's why it's taking so long, they have to make 1 size socket at a time and they are still working on the 10mm.....................................

 

[bob15]

Let me help you out. He compared Falcom a French company owning SK , great who cares, to large Chinese conglomerates .

And who was whining about the Chinese owning SK and saying Bye, Bye to them? Hint: you.......

So I asked if you felt the same way as you do now as why Facom owned them. And then you went off the rails completely, bringing up Mack, Bud, fruit, etc....

 

[Tinner]

Threads like this are why I take the dope.

 

[Steve_P]

SK prices have really increased in the last 5 years. But 5-10 years ago they were about half of Snap On.

 

[Professional Tool User]

There's probably only room for SnapOn in the USA made wrench game. Let's be honest, you're not buying this unless you're making a living with them every day and even then a similar import set would be what, a 1/10th the cost.

The only reason Snap on is well known as a tool option is because of the advertising and distribution efforts it has made over the years. This reputation has spilled over to non target market consumers to some extent. Other USA made brands like Wright, Proto, and Williams target the industrial tools market, don't advertise as much, and aren't that well known. Sometimes the price gap between a quality new import and used USA made tools isn't that big.

 

[3baygarage]

I have to wonder what manufacturing knowledge and skilled, experienced employees may have been lost with each closure and changeover.
Luckily, the HISTORY of S-K is fairly well known and represented, especially by GJ.
As for promoting and putting tools in the hands of retailers, consumers, and DIYers, I think they already won their award for that, many, many moons ago. Just look around at any estate sale or flea market and all over the internet at all the green boxes and round head ratchets, sockets, wrenches.
While I don’t care for the idea of overseas ownership of anything, especially a long time brand like this, I think they have the opportunity to do well, quite well. Probably much better than in recent times. It’s well known that in recent times R&D was slow moving, very slow in putting things out.
I don’t think trimming the product line is the way to go, especially the huge number we have heard. What does that leave? It must be necessary to keep going though, and focus on certain products.
We’ll see how this goes from here.

 

[finn]

SK prices have really increased in the last 5 years. But 5-10 years ago they were about half of Snap On.

But five years ago, SK was a failing business model. Mid grade tools about cost the same to make as high end tools.

 

[finn]

I have to wonder what manufacturing knowledge and skilled, experienced employees may have been lost with each closure and changeover.
Luckily, the HISTORY of S-K is fairly well known and represented, especially by GJ.
As for promoting and putting tools in the hands of retailers, consumers, and DIYers, I think they already won their award for that, many, many moons ago. Just look around at any estate sale or flea market and all over the internet at all the green boxes and round head ratchets, sockets, wrenches.
While I don’t care for the idea of overseas ownership of anything, especially a long time brand like this, I think they have the opportunity to do well, quite well. Probably much better than in recent times. It’s well known that in recent times R&D was slow moving, very slow in putting things out.
I don’t think trimming the product line is the way to go, especially the huge number we have heard. What does that leave? It must be necessary to keep going though, and focus on certain products.
We’ll see how this goes from here.

The difference is that those old SK tools were on the shelves of every auto parts store, and Coast to Coast and Gambles hardware store, all across the country.

Those outlets are either gone, or they cary Chinese or Taiwan tools, because that’s what sells at the price point consumers are willing to pay.

Most of the old line competitors to SK, ie Craftsman, Thorsen, New Britain, aplomb, etc have either disappeared entirely, gone to offshore production, or have been swallowed up in mergers and acquisitions.

The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that SK is doomed to become another offshore tool brand.

The American consumer doesn’t give a rat’s *** about COO.

They already voted with their pocketbooks.

 

[vssjim]

I have to wonder what manufacturing knowledge and skilled, experienced employees may have been lost with each closure and changeover.
Luckily, the HISTORY of S-K is fairly well known and represented, especially by GJ.
As for promoting and putting tools in the hands of retailers, consumers, and DIYers, I think they already won their award for that, many, many moons ago. Just look around at any estate sale or flea market and all over the internet at all the green boxes and round head ratchets, sockets, wrenches.
While I don’t care for the idea of overseas ownership of anything, especially a long time brand like this, I think they have the opportunity to do well, quite well. Probably much better than in recent times. It’s well known that in recent times R&D was slow moving, very slow in putting things out.
I don’t think trimming the product line is the way to go, especially the huge number we have heard. What does that leave? It must be necessary to keep going though, and focus on certain products.
We’ll see how this goes from here.

I don't think when Ideal bought SK there was anybody left to be experienced as the union went on strike in Chicago and that is what closed the company for good. Before that when FACOM bought them they closed the warehouse they had in Georgia and moved to SK headquarter in Illinois so everything was seamless at least at the start.

 

[ecotec]

Do you guys consider SK to be on the same level as Proto, Wright, and Armstrong (before it was shuttered)?

I have a ****-ton of SK. I buy it lightly used for pennies or old NOS for a fraction of what SK would charge. I would never pay retail for SK. I guess what I am saying is that I think SK is below truck and industrial brands.

What do you guys think?