Ever notice how most Chinese tools don’t have the country of manufacture stamped on them? It’s like the manufacturers are trying to get over on the consumer, or perhaps they don’t have the same pride that the USA tool makers have? Looked at my husky ratchets and wrenches, my Kobalt ratcheting wrenches, nada...my crescent ratcheting wrench set is all stamped Taiwan...
Why no coo?
- Thread starter Fialaja
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2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Representing COO is used as a sales technique. Why include "CHINA" when china typically has a negative or a best neutral connotation with most consumers?
It's like bragging about a vacation to Cleveland.
It's like bragging about a vacation to Cleveland.
Roundhouse
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If it doesn’t say where it’s made
I just assume it’s full of chinesium and it’s Probabaly overpriced garbage
I just assume it’s full of chinesium and it’s Probabaly overpriced garbage
Wamsutta
Well-known member
There was some kind of law change a few years back. Manufacturers don't have to stamp the COO directly on the product anymore. All they have to do is put it on the box or the package it came in.
WittHay
Well-known member
Huge double standard regarding China. Everybody likes their HF US General tool boxes but no way they would want to have a proudly made in China sticker and flag any where on their box.
I see no reason not to have the COO on every tool and and piece of shop equipment and should be required by law before something is allowed to be sold in North America
I see no reason not to have the COO on every tool and and piece of shop equipment and should be required by law before something is allowed to be sold in North America
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retDAC
Well-known member
When manufacturers/branders were permitted to (realized they could?) merely put COO on packaging, I think many did this as a cost saving measure. It's at least one less step and perhaps fewer rejects.
Yep, a real mystery, since "made in USA" is a current marketing strategy and there is much hatred of The country of China.
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
^^^^^
probably this...
All you have to do is just stop buying the tools if your brand is not stamping COO and voice your strong opinions to the El. Presidente of that company.... I would think if it is not mark it is probably not made in the USA.. All you know it could've been made in canada.
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nieuport17
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You guys must realize that 99% of people out there don’t flip over boxes and items looking for coo.
Only here on garage journal.
Only here on garage journal.
Handyandy23
Well-known member
This. COO is required on the packaging, but not on the tool itself. So why put it on there if it has such an obviously negative connotation? Even if they have pride in what they make, it's not smart marketing to brand something with it if people already have a preconceived notion about it.
And that's the problem, if you made a quality tool and stamped MADE IN CHINA across it, people wouldn't pick it up and say "wow, this is a great tool, the Chinese are getting better at this and my perceptions are changed!" They would immediately toss it down without giving it a chance.
It's the same reason every tool that even any sort of processing or assembly done in the US says in the hugest letters possible "PROUDLY MADE/ASSEMBLED/PACKAGED/HANDLED IN THE USA!" The same group that has a negative connotation towards China-made eats that stuff up. It's all marketing.
BarryWells
Well-known member
I thought it quite funny when Walmsrt( Everones buddy Sam) finally got nailed for their Chinese goodies with US inc stamps all over the place they quickly hand to replace with things like NASCAR to keep the crowd base coming.
Harbot freight really did it right with Fancy Names like Pittsbutg and Chicago which are soled as " quality USA tools" because the South Americans don't real labels.
OTOH a Jay Leno Walk-Questionnaire with the question ' where are Milwaukee and chicago Electric tools etc made" would be fun..
Reminds me of the good ol days when a ***** would buy a Pinto, Vega or a Pacer over
" Jap ****".......little did they know. My cousin still has my 75 Celica I bought new.Now it's had a couple paint jobs, interiors, trannny, engine rebuild but it's still a sharp lil car that corners like a GP car and gives a chirp when banging second......at 25 plus MPG
Now the South Koreans are eating everyone alive with all sorts of quality offerings.
Harbot freight really did it right with Fancy Names like Pittsbutg and Chicago which are soled as " quality USA tools" because the South Americans don't real labels.
OTOH a Jay Leno Walk-Questionnaire with the question ' where are Milwaukee and chicago Electric tools etc made" would be fun..
Reminds me of the good ol days when a ***** would buy a Pinto, Vega or a Pacer over
" Jap ****".......little did they know. My cousin still has my 75 Celica I bought new.Now it's had a couple paint jobs, interiors, trannny, engine rebuild but it's still a sharp lil car that corners like a GP car and gives a chirp when banging second......at 25 plus MPG
Now the South Koreans are eating everyone alive with all sorts of quality offerings.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Asian made tools are marked, just look for the CR-V marking. Ever see CR-V stamped on a US made tool? 
Parrothead
Well-known member
^ This ^
I’ve never met anyone that I personally know who cares about COO. Well, not in the last 20 years. They go to Home Depot/Menards/Lowes/Harbor Freight, buy whatever suits their needs and go home.
When I put on my Facebook page that anyone interested in good cheap USA made tool should go grab them from Sears now while they could (back when)...crickets. Nobody cared. At all.
Nineeightyone
Well-known member
I'm not all that well off, and the tool that gets the job done is the right tool for the job, in my opinion.
With that said, if it's a tool I'm expecting to lean on again and again (ratchets, sockets, and wrenches in particular), I'll look for CoO that has a history of quality, with a good warranty, from a manufacturer with a history of quality. Most of my ratchets and sockets are Taiwan, Kobalt (from when they were readily replacable, not so much anymore) and Pittsburgh Pro (well reviewed ratchets, and super easy warranty) are big for me.
My wrenches typically come out where I'm concerned about breaking a socket/ratchet, so I ordered Tekton and haven't looked back since. They're amazing for the price, have dealt with plenty of heavy use, and carry awesome customer service and a hell of a good warranty. If they were available in brick & mortar stores, I'd have a ton more Tekton, right now it's just wrenches and a ratchet.
I passed over the Kobalt metric wrench set at $20, because CoO was India and I'm not expecting the warranty to be around too much longer. For ~$40, Tekton wins my dollar.
Parrothead
Well-known member
I’ve got way to many wrench sets from Craftsman Professional/Industrial USA full polish, to the Craftsman raised panel 6pt, to (and you guessed it) the Tekton wrenches. I’ve used the Tekton’s plenty and they’ve been great. I’ve beat them with my 3lb mini sledge doing brake and suspension work. No issues. I’m happy to own them and will be buying more stuff in the future.
PartsGuy
Well-known member
Doesn't Canada already track COO on incoming shipments? I've had to declare COO on parts orders I have UPS'd to Canadian dealers. Is it across the board, or just certain things?
Motorman55
Well-known member
Makes me laugh when some guys here tout Made in Taiwan over Made in China.
Its all Chinese.
Its all Chinese.
It's comparing USA with Canada... it's All American or is it?
I think most folks feel Taiwan has better guilty control, environmental standards and labor laws.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Agreed, and a different economic system. The US government may maintain the "one China" policy; I fundamentally disagree with that. Taiwan and China are two different countries, in the same way France and Germany are two different countries. Yes, the people look generally the same. Doesn't mean they're the same country.
Most who maintain the one-china policy, do so as to be polite and to prevent disruption of chinese relations. I have a hard time believing anyone truly believes Taiwan is China. No more than France is Germany, or China is Japan, or the US is Canada.
Motorman55
Well-known member
Tell that to China who has always claimed Taiwan as a province and not a separate state.
WittHay
Well-known member
Everything imported into Canada has to have the COO declared at customs. Mainly for dutys and banned products.
Far as i know the COO doesn't have to be on the tool packaging at retail level. Most of our imported industrial tool brands like Jet, Westward and Ultrapro have no COO on the packaging. The tools come in boxed in containers from either Taiwan or China at wholesale level
WittHay
Well-known member
Taiwan is still a free country for now, different than China just like Hong Kong is seperate from China
I am sure it makes a difference to a Asian tool company like Milwaukee whos headquarters are in Hong Kong.
I am sure it makes a difference to a Asian tool company like Milwaukee whos headquarters are in Hong Kong.
Motorman55
Well-known member
I think Hong Kong was given back to China some years ago by the Brits.
It was, in 1997. I was there just before that happened.
HK is a Chinese territory but operates is govt and economy separate from mainland China. Basically HK is the capitalist financial tentacle of China. One of the largest banking centers in the world.
Motorman55
Well-known member
The idea of allowing the removal of COO labels or stampings on products from various countries is BS.
Might as well just stamp everything 'MADE ON EARTH'
Might as well just stamp everything 'MADE ON EARTH'
Motorman55
Well-known member
Yes, just like Taiwan, the Chinese govt allows this to their benefit.
PS. I was in Hong Kong and Taiwan back in the mid 1970's. Nice places to visit.
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rice rocket
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It's so you can diversify your supply chain.
How many people do you think bought tri wing ratchets from craftsman believing they were made in USA? Or the quick clean ratchets with the easy pop out guts? When a company changes coo it should have to be stamped on the tool. Like Kobalt and Husky
Motorman55
Well-known member
That's fine, but if your trying to support American manufacturing, one would like confirmation as to where the part was made. Especially if your paying a premium price.
Same goes for food. I like to know where its coming from.
rice rocket
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That wasn't the original question.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Spoken by someone who's never been to Taiwan, I assume.
finn
Well-known member
It’s on the package, so what’s the beef?
You’re not supporting anyone if you are buying used tools, except possibly the crackhead that stole them.
You’re not supporting anyone if you are buying used tools, except possibly the crackhead that stole them.
Handyandy23
Well-known member
If the tool is Made in the USA, you can bet the slogans will be obvious and everywhere on the packaging and tool itself. If you have to search for the COO on the packaging, then you can bet you'll eventually find something like China in the fine print. I've never seen a US-made tool in a store that wasn't trumpeting it's COO as loudly as possible in your face, and I've never seen a tool made in China that has COO in an easy-to-find area.
Also as Finn says, COO is on every package, maybe not on the tool. If you're buying used tools and think you're supporting American workers by buying only US-made used tools, then you're fooling yourself.
^ I see a lot of older tools stamped 'Made in China' at second hand markets here in the UK. Not so much with new tools so maybe laws were different a few years ago or 'China' didn't have the same stigma it has now.
not my pics
not my pics