I agree. The other day while in TSC every product I wanted to purchase, from air compressor accessories to logging chains, was made in China. I ended up leaving, very frustrated, without purchasing anything.
China products VS USA made.
- Thread starter rw6298
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I agree. The other day while in TSC every product I wanted to purchase, from air compressor accessories to logging chains, was made in China. I ended up leaving, very frustrated, without purchasing anything.
Jeepnford
Gold Member
I'm to the point I'll do without something if it's made in China, unless it's something I absolutely have to have,which is rare. Vice Grips are going over there which really ticks me off,so I'd like to find something similar made here for welding clamps and such,if there is anything.
Ryan03
Platinum Member
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Craftsman makes a nice lineup of locking pliers. Craftsman used to be made in the USA, since KMart bought sears a couple years ago, I don`t know if this is true anymore. Snap On also makes some nice stuff, but it is hard for some to justify the cost. As far as buying American, I try to when I can afford to and it is practical, but anymore, that is getting harder and harder to do. I have a Korean Tractor, it is a Farmtrac. Same story as previously mentioned, all the parts are manafactured over seas, and they were assembled by Americans in NC. I could not afford a new Deer, so I bought what I could afford. It is a decent Tractor, but I would be a fool to expect Deer quality and attention to detail for 14k new, when comparable green machines were close to 20k. On the other hand, being a mechanic for a living, I buy Snap On tools for my work set, and craftsman for home, both are good, one is great, and you pay for it. I would say 100 dollars and under, I will pay 40%, $100 to 2k 25% and beyond that most of the time 10 to 15%, although there are exceptions where I will spend way more if I think thats what it will take to give me complete satisfaction with my purchase.
Alan L.
Elite Member
The only products I buy that are Chinese are inexpensive items where you don't lose much if its crap. There isn't a discount big enough to where I would buy a Chinese tractor.
horse7
Gold Member
It depends on what I want it for. Some tools you don't care too much about, failure is an option and the use is light and occasional (or the tool is likely to be 'borrowed'...).
Other tools, if they fail the job stops. Or the tool is used a lot, and extra cost for better longevity and quality is justified. In this case North American or European is the way to go usually, some Japanese and Taiwanese tools are quite good too. If one can check the tool before buying, a minority of the Chinese tools are quite good, lacking fit and finish maybe but durable.
Frequently if I am not sure I would buy the cheap Chinese stuff (never Indian, the quality is so bad they need to pay me to take it. Once India drops the 'iron curry bowl' in manufacturing that may change although larger machinery they are making inroads.), and if the tool wears out in use then obviously I should buy something better. The same idea applies to the market target too-- I bought a consumer hammer drill (Sears) eventually shattered the shaft (fixed that), stepped up and bought the Sears Industrial (back when they had those) and wore that out, then Milwaukee (now Chinese, but not then, tool still in use for smaller holes) and finally went all the way to the biggest portable Hitachi spline hammer I could lay my hands on. The Hitachi, now that is a hammer drill.... out competes the American drills in that range. Euro drills are precision, but not so durable under American abuse.
The biggest problem with pricing is that most people can't tell what the extra cost goes for. This is one of the advantages of sites like Amazon, where one can read reviews and get an idea of the quality of the item.
Other tools, if they fail the job stops. Or the tool is used a lot, and extra cost for better longevity and quality is justified. In this case North American or European is the way to go usually, some Japanese and Taiwanese tools are quite good too. If one can check the tool before buying, a minority of the Chinese tools are quite good, lacking fit and finish maybe but durable.
Frequently if I am not sure I would buy the cheap Chinese stuff (never Indian, the quality is so bad they need to pay me to take it. Once India drops the 'iron curry bowl' in manufacturing that may change although larger machinery they are making inroads.), and if the tool wears out in use then obviously I should buy something better. The same idea applies to the market target too-- I bought a consumer hammer drill (Sears) eventually shattered the shaft (fixed that), stepped up and bought the Sears Industrial (back when they had those) and wore that out, then Milwaukee (now Chinese, but not then, tool still in use for smaller holes) and finally went all the way to the biggest portable Hitachi spline hammer I could lay my hands on. The Hitachi, now that is a hammer drill.... out competes the American drills in that range. Euro drills are precision, but not so durable under American abuse.
The biggest problem with pricing is that most people can't tell what the extra cost goes for. This is one of the advantages of sites like Amazon, where one can read reviews and get an idea of the quality of the item.
art
Super Member
The Chinese and India can build excellent quality just like the rest of the world! We just go there looking for the cheap stuff! I don't think any of us would generally buy their good stuff over american made.
Price is not a replacement for quality! It will come back to haunt you! My father-in-law told me many times he was not a mechanic or ever would be! He told me of his troubles, looking at his tool selections quality told it all!!!!
Price is not a replacement for quality! It will come back to haunt you! My father-in-law told me many times he was not a mechanic or ever would be! He told me of his troubles, looking at his tool selections quality told it all!!!!
jwstewar
Elite Member
I needed some extra air hose this past weekend. Went to Lowes. Only thing they had was Chinese made. I bought a PVC one (2 of my other hoses are Coleman PVC - Made in the USA from Sam's Club and that is what I typically use with no problems). Took it home, put the ends on it. Hooked it up and used the Craftsman impact wrench to tighten one bolt on the deck I was working on. Laid the wrench down. BOOM!!! Thought someone shot at me for a second. The new hose busted. I looked at the hose, the whole thing was swollen. It'll be going back. I called Monica (who was still in town) to go pick me up the rubber hose they had at Lowes. It is also Chinese made, it is so thin and just keeps kinking. Guess what I'm going to do? Return it too. I'm going to go to Harbor Freight and pick up 2 of their 50' Rubber Hoses made by Goodyear in the USA - at least that is what it says on the hose.
yankeerider
Platinum Member
It's more dependent on things other than price. Expected frequency of use, collateral damage if it fails during use, etc. In general, I (knowingly) buy Chinese only for infrequently used, low cost tools. That said, I was disappointed (but not particularly surprised) to find the electro-hydraulic plow lift for our new gator was made in China. I do think there's a difference between Chinese (or other 3rd-world) produced goods which are simply retailed in the USA and those which have been specified by and furnished by established companies based in the U.S. of A or other "developed nations."
Perhaps also related- I bought my DR chipper over the Jinma largely because it was built in the USA. I think I would have got more for my money with the Jinma, but the DR suits my needs very well, and thre's a factory store in the next town. Price was about the same.
Perhaps also related- I bought my DR chipper over the Jinma largely because it was built in the USA. I think I would have got more for my money with the Jinma, but the DR suits my needs very well, and thre's a factory store in the next town. Price was about the same.
RichM96067
Member
As a last resort I would purchased the chinese goods.
flusher
Super Member
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That's what I do--buy name brand for stuff I want to use for years-- buy Harbor Freight, etc stuff for throwaway use.
Although---
I'm still using an $89 pancake compressor from HF with my $99 HF 6-in-1 nailgun. Both going strong after three years and over 10 thousand nails driven so far.
And I just replaced my Northern Tool $149 compound miter saw I bought about 5 years ago. The Chinese motor still ran great (has excellent bearings). What caused me to get a new saw is the structural failure of the plastic safety sheld on the saw (I refuse to operate without one of those). So now I have a $199 Ryobi compound miter saw that also works great.