I would bet there is alot of "secondary market" things going on. You won't get many to admit it, but a certain item sold at walmart is made inferior to that same item distributed through regular channels. Same goes with appliances and many other things. Its best to stay away from super discount centers, walmart, depot, lowes, amazon, ebay, etc. If you are concerned about quality.
Why are people Knuts for Knipex?
- Thread starter Blacknwhitepit
- Start date
all the seconds and stuff that doesn't pass quality control, that should be scrapped is often sold to discount centers. I've returned stuff to walmart back when I used to shop there more, and the returns people always said electronics are the worst, people will bring back tons of the same item, never worked out of the box. I quit buying from big boxes and found products last longer.
american lockpicker
Banned
What should I do about this also the handle has a bit of blue plastic embeded in it. The bits seem fine but not marked with country of origin.
I'd say same thing for Dewalt, or milwaukee or any of them that are pretty low on my list of tools, but if I were to buy one, I would bet$$$ if you spent more and bought one from your local specialty hardware store it will last longer than one sold through a big box. There can be flukes in either case, but there are differences in how they handle distribution through normal channels and when they fill shipping containers destined for big box distribution.
I'd send it back and find another one or an alternative from a more reliable seller.
american lockpicker
Banned
Ok I'll do that, thanks.
The best price is not always the best value, you get what you pay for. Ditto on the US made thread, manufacturers will supply what the public buy, if they can sell zillions more at lower prices if they slack off quality a little, many will sacrifice their future reputation in the name of dollars in their pockets today.
american lockpicker
Banned
I don't see why they have to be so greedy and do that.
Doesn't hurt to send an email and ask about a products origin to the store, if it takes them forever to respond or they won't, its time to move on. I normally promote ChadsToolbox, (still will, no gripes yet) but they need to find some new tools, all of their "anchor" products seem to be falling in quality. Normally get fast informative responses to my questions, last I asked they still had many made in Germany WERA items left in stock.
Knipex offers more than 1000 products but you can`t always make everything on your own. To round off their product portfolio they also buy a couple of products from other manufacturers. I dont say which ones not to cause a sensation but some from german companies and some from a french company. So if you just buy their drop forged pliers then you`ll be happy (and don`t buy the part no. 9415215 and 9435215 
click)
But thats no trade secret that companies not only offer their own products...
click)But thats no trade secret that companies not only offer their own products...
Mickey O
Well-known member
Knipex offers more than 1000 products but you can`t always make everything on your own. To round off their product portfolio they also buy a couple of products from other manufacturers. I dont say which ones not to cause a sensation but some from german companies and some from a french company. So if you just buy their drop forged pliers then you`ll be happy (and don`t buy the part no. 9415215 and 9435215
But thats no trade secret that companies not only offer their own products...
I must know!
Haha, this list is getting pretty long I think, none of their mainstream(cobra, plier wrench, cobolt) stuff is outsourced though(yet) Most of it so far has come from trying to broaden their product line without adding to manufacturing facilities. Like i said though, be not surprised to hear of more of it coming from Czech, Turkey(europes china) and Taiwan after the gates are open to the big boxes.
american lockpicker
Banned
Knipex offers more than 1000 products but you can`t always make everything on your own. To round off their product portfolio they also buy a couple of products from other manufacturers. I dont say which ones not to cause a sensation but some from german companies and some from a french company. So if you just buy their drop forged pliers then you`ll be happy (and don`t buy the part no. 9415215 and 9435215
But thats no trade secret that companies not only offer their own products...
If its made in Germany or France I have no problems with it as long as the quality is good.
Actually Turkeys wages are higher than china and it`s almost a normal democratic country, a country which is more "western" than some neighbors. There are a couple of manufacturers there like Altas (Gedore), Izeltas and Kanca (forged parts (rods etc.) for VW and vises etc.) who obviously can make good products. But you won`t find czech or turkish tools in most lineups since most manufacturers themself buy german if its possible since they know that all of them sit in the same boat (except wera etc...) and dont like outsourcing.
Next to the already mentioned suppliers like "Hit" and "Original Löwe" you could look at "fujiya-kk" (japan) and "Edma" (france) ....maybe you find something in their lineup what you also see from Knipex ...happy searching !
So in total that are maybe 0,8 % of their lineup of more than 1000 sizes/styles of pliers which are bought elsewhere. Oh and you also have to add the crimpers which are made by Knipex subsidiary "Rennsteig".
ps: the reference list of Kanca/Turkey: click
Next to the already mentioned suppliers like "Hit" and "Original Löwe" you could look at "fujiya-kk" (japan) and "Edma" (france) ....maybe you find something in their lineup what you also see from Knipex ...happy searching !
So in total that are maybe 0,8 % of their lineup of more than 1000 sizes/styles of pliers which are bought elsewhere. Oh and you also have to add the crimpers which are made by Knipex subsidiary "Rennsteig".
ps: the reference list of Kanca/Turkey: click
Vinko
Well-known member
Monte: what's your general opinion of Czech manufacturing? I've noticed some car parts for German cars are now made in Czech Republic. I know those borders have shifted over the past 100 years, and that there's been a history of trade and exchange between those two countries (as in Germans going to Czech medical schools -- where medicine was very good 100 years ago, etc). I'm finding some stuff to be pretty good out of there. Maybe the Germans have moved the infrastructure (machinery) etc, over there.
@Vinko:
There once was not really a difference between the european countries a long time ago , but the countries "affiliated" with the soviet union were going downhill then. Now after the fall of the USSR the countries recover. Machine tools, mechanical engineering industry , car industry and iron/steel industry are the main products of czech republic. The educational level there and also in Poland, Hungary and Slovakia is the same than here and the product quality seems to be good the proof is that VW/Audi/Skoda produces there, Mazda, Suzuki/GM, Toyota, Opel/GM, Fiat, Daewoo/GM (now renamed to Chevrolet) and Peugeot/Citroen (PSA) too.
Oh and the original Budweiser beer is from czech republic too.
Car production in eastern Europe:
There once was not really a difference between the european countries a long time ago , but the countries "affiliated" with the soviet union were going downhill then. Now after the fall of the USSR the countries recover. Machine tools, mechanical engineering industry , car industry and iron/steel industry are the main products of czech republic. The educational level there and also in Poland, Hungary and Slovakia is the same than here and the product quality seems to be good the proof is that VW/Audi/Skoda produces there, Mazda, Suzuki/GM, Toyota, Opel/GM, Fiat, Daewoo/GM (now renamed to Chevrolet) and Peugeot/Citroen (PSA) too.
Oh and the original Budweiser beer is from czech republic too.
Car production in eastern Europe: