was over at lowes today and i always check out there kolbalt tools. they were refilling the racks so i asked the clerk about the kolbalt tools as i thougth they were getting rid of them, she said they were replacing the ones with new ones from a different manufacturer. the new one is from taiwan .. so no more kolbalts for me..
no more kolbalt tools
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Hate to say it - as a guy that owns lots of made in America stuff...but Taiwanese tools, including machine tools, are often made to a very high quality standard. There have been huge strides in quality control and many, though not all, are as good as made in America....
As an example - Boeing buys entire airplane sub assemblies from Taiwan...that's a high standard. Taiwan does not = junk...not always...
This, from 1992: http://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/08/business/company-news-boeing-and-taiwan-in-pact.html
As an example - Boeing buys entire airplane sub assemblies from Taiwan...that's a high standard. Taiwan does not = junk...not always...
This, from 1992: http://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/08/business/company-news-boeing-and-taiwan-in-pact.html
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Originally Posted By: Astro14
Hate to say it - as a guy that owns lots of made in America stuff...but Taiwanese tools, including machine tools, are often made to a very high quality standard. There have been huge strides in quality control and many, though not all, are as good as made in America....
As an example - Boeing buys entire airplane sub assemblies from Taiwan...that's a high standard. Taiwan does not = junk...not always...
This, from 1992: http://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/08/business/company-news-boeing-and-taiwan-in-pact.html
True. Taiwan was junk when I was a baby, but now they are considered a quality producer like Japan in many ways. The only one still junk in most areas today is China...but even that is changing.
Hate to say it - as a guy that owns lots of made in America stuff...but Taiwanese tools, including machine tools, are often made to a very high quality standard. There have been huge strides in quality control and many, though not all, are as good as made in America....
As an example - Boeing buys entire airplane sub assemblies from Taiwan...that's a high standard. Taiwan does not = junk...not always...
This, from 1992: http://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/08/business/company-news-boeing-and-taiwan-in-pact.html
True. Taiwan was junk when I was a baby, but now they are considered a quality producer like Japan in many ways. The only one still junk in most areas today is China...but even that is changing.
When I was a kid (yes, I'm old) back in the late 40's, early 50's, the words "Made in Japan" was another name for JUNK.
I noticed that, too. I've been picking up a few things at half price on their clearance of the USA stuff. Some of the current Taiwan tools are on sale as well.
Look at some of the new Craftsman "Made in USA" standard ratchets, it doesn't get much worse as far as quality and finish goes. Even the $10 HF Taiwan units feel better and are much smoother with a much better fit and finish.
Just sayin.
Just sayin.
JHZR2
Staff member
Originally Posted By: Trav
Look at some of the new Craftsman "Made in USA" standard ratchets, it doesn't get much worse as far as quality and finish goes. Even the $10 HF Taiwan units feel better and are much smoother with a much better fit and finish.
Just sayin.
Of course. Because to pay someone 50c/hr wage leaves a lot more room for finishing compared to if someone is getting paid $9/hr. However, the person getting paid $9/hr will be a liability upon us and so in reality we will be paying the same for the Chinese made stuff long-term regardless.
Look at some of the new Craftsman "Made in USA" standard ratchets, it doesn't get much worse as far as quality and finish goes. Even the $10 HF Taiwan units feel better and are much smoother with a much better fit and finish.
Just sayin.
Of course. Because to pay someone 50c/hr wage leaves a lot more room for finishing compared to if someone is getting paid $9/hr. However, the person getting paid $9/hr will be a liability upon us and so in reality we will be paying the same for the Chinese made stuff long-term regardless.
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Trav
Look at some of the new Craftsman "Made in USA" standard ratchets, it doesn't get much worse as far as quality and finish goes. Even the $10 HF Taiwan units feel better and are much smoother with a much better fit and finish.
Just sayin.
Of course. Because to pay someone 50c/hr wage leaves a lot more room for finishing compared to if someone is getting paid $9/hr. However, the person getting paid $9/hr will be a liability upon us and so in reality we will be paying the same for the Chinese made stuff long-term regardless.
Assuming the $9/hr toolmaker has no other marketable skill and would starve to death if not for the social safety net.
Originally Posted By: Trav
Look at some of the new Craftsman "Made in USA" standard ratchets, it doesn't get much worse as far as quality and finish goes. Even the $10 HF Taiwan units feel better and are much smoother with a much better fit and finish.
Just sayin.
Of course. Because to pay someone 50c/hr wage leaves a lot more room for finishing compared to if someone is getting paid $9/hr. However, the person getting paid $9/hr will be a liability upon us and so in reality we will be paying the same for the Chinese made stuff long-term regardless.
Assuming the $9/hr toolmaker has no other marketable skill and would starve to death if not for the social safety net.
Tool quality really does vary. I've seen total jokes from Taiwan, and some very nice stuff. Try and judge the tool itself before looking at country of origin.
Originally Posted By: AlienBug
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Trav
Look at some of the new Craftsman "Made in USA" standard ratchets, it doesn't get much worse as far as quality and finish goes. Even the $10 HF Taiwan units feel better and are much smoother with a much better fit and finish.
Just sayin.
Of course. Because to pay someone 50c/hr wage leaves a lot more room for finishing compared to if someone is getting paid $9/hr. However, the person getting paid $9/hr will be a liability upon us and so in reality we will be paying the same for the Chinese made stuff long-term regardless.
Assuming the $9/hr toolmaker has no other marketable skill and would starve to death if not for the social safety net.
Just like our politicians
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Trav
Look at some of the new Craftsman "Made in USA" standard ratchets, it doesn't get much worse as far as quality and finish goes. Even the $10 HF Taiwan units feel better and are much smoother with a much better fit and finish.
Just sayin.
Of course. Because to pay someone 50c/hr wage leaves a lot more room for finishing compared to if someone is getting paid $9/hr. However, the person getting paid $9/hr will be a liability upon us and so in reality we will be paying the same for the Chinese made stuff long-term regardless.
Assuming the $9/hr toolmaker has no other marketable skill and would starve to death if not for the social safety net.
Just like our politicians
I, for one, will still try to buy America. I realize that sometimes it just doesn't work out. But there is so much employment in my area and the country in general that I feel it doesn't hurt to try help people get jobs.
As for government safety nets. Yes most of them, I think, are worthless but some are worthwhile. If trying to buy American is creates a safety net then I am willing to help with that safety net!
As for government safety nets. Yes most of them, I think, are worthless but some are worthwhile. If trying to buy American is creates a safety net then I am willing to help with that safety net!
These are the 2004 income stats for Taiwan, a bit more .50c an hour and many times greater than mainland China.
http://www.worldsalaries.org/taiwan.shtml
But okay its all relative, IMHO this is more profit margin driven than anything. Craftsman is charging $16 for their standard teardrop ratchet, that's over 50% more than the Taiwan counterpart and the Taiwan product has to be shipped and customs paid.
Granted both are bottom end tools and this is just a single example but one would think that with a 50%+ price premium they would be able to produce and market a product of at least equal quality.
I have no problem buying the American tool for 50% or even 100% more if the quality is there.
http://www.worldsalaries.org/taiwan.shtml
But okay its all relative, IMHO this is more profit margin driven than anything. Craftsman is charging $16 for their standard teardrop ratchet, that's over 50% more than the Taiwan counterpart and the Taiwan product has to be shipped and customs paid.
Granted both are bottom end tools and this is just a single example but one would think that with a 50%+ price premium they would be able to produce and market a product of at least equal quality.
I have no problem buying the American tool for 50% or even 100% more if the quality is there.
Originally Posted By: 65convertible
I, for one, will still try to buy America. I realize that sometimes it just doesn't work out. But there is so much employment in my area and the country in general that I feel it doesn't hurt to try help people get jobs.
As for government safety nets. Yes most of them, I think, are worthless but some are worthwhile. If trying to buy American is creates a safety net then I am willing to help with that safety net!
I, for one, will still try to buy America. I realize that sometimes it just doesn't work out. But there is so much employment in my area and the country in general that I feel it doesn't hurt to try help people get jobs.
As for government safety nets. Yes most of them, I think, are worthless but some are worthwhile. If trying to buy American is creates a safety net then I am willing to help with that safety net!
Still prefer Craftsman, just gotta make sure that it is USA made craftsman tools now-a-days. They've started outsourcing certain tools and almost all car jacks/stands. Kobalt aren't bad tools at all, actually quite nice, I just had really bad experiences with Warranty related swaps, in which I had to pay more money to get the same tool again because they felt the pawl inside the ratchet breaking was my fault...
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