COUNTERFEIT TOOLS (PSA) - NOTHING IS SACRED NOW DAYS!

[chief38]

Threr are some products we consumers use that can not be purchased at all unless they are bought from China. I get that. While I cringe and snarl, if I want that particular product I need to just buy it and accept it.

When I have a choice, I buy anything but Chinisium goods! If I own any Chinese tools I am unaware of it. When I replaced all my battery operated power tools 14 or 15 years ago it literally took me months! That is because I sought out new old stock tools made in the USA, The Czech Republic, Poland, Germany etc. Most of them were new old stock Milwaukee made here and a few were actually older models I purchased lightly used. I paid more than brand new Chinesium ones from Home Depot, but I felt great about that and since I use my tools weekly, I wanted what I wanted. To do that today is much more difficult, however I have seen some of the tool company's starting to bring manufacturing back here. I am not saying that just because something is marked "made in "USA" quality is perfect - not the case as we have experience with some gun company's..... That said, most times USA made products are way better in my personal experience! Because of the cost, manufacturers KNOW they had better be!

 

[Tom S.]

My Buddy Tom’s Family owned a Shop -Gas Station Equipment Company in Memphis.
Even back in the day, they would approached by ‘Travelers’ selling counterfeit air compressors, etc.
Always out of state vehicles, asking for cash, lower price than they could buy legit.

It's far more likely those were stolen items rather than counterfeit.

As to the Chinese counterfeits, that's why I cut way back on buying anything off of ebay - they are rife with sellers of counterfeit goods. Many of them even reside in this country though one tip off is many of the sellers being on the west coast.

 

[LVSteve]

At least they use the proceeds to buy food and shoes for their kids...

I'm sure their crack and meth dealers got a good laugh out of that comment.

 

[Ματθιας]

Chinese autoglass. Waves, clams(chips), and distortions are free.

When you get your replacement glass, insist on OEM - Insurance might not cover it and you'll have to pay for it, though. I'd rather pay than have deal with the problems later - like a stress crack.

When PPG sold out and renamed itself PGW under an investment umbrella, almost all the glass went from US manufacturing to Made in China and the quality went to poo.

 

[Greyman50]

I gave my son and grandson most of my snap- on, MAC and old Craftsman tools years ago. Then I realized I needed quite a few of them but no way I was buying snap-on or MAC tools today. Craftsman is made in china so no go. I started going to several pawn shops buying a few older craftsman made wrenches when found. Something to consider.

 

[Kanewpadle]

One more reason why we need to turn our country around.

 

[GaryS]

This is a fairly long article, but touches on the widespread Chinese espionage and how they steal industrial information to build their tools, automobiles, and everything else

Information Warfare: Chinese Student Spies

The other night I was talking to my daughter about engine and cabin air filters. She changes her own since she doesn't need to pay the shop to do it. I suggested that for the engine air filters, buy from the dealer as a ****** filter can get very expensive. For the cabin air filter, it's not as critical so it's okay to use one from Auto Zone or whoever.

What I won't do is buy them from Amazon. A lot of what Amazon sells appears to be Chinese made knock offs. Amazon doesn't seem to do a lot of checking of sources.

 

[67tempest]

My nieces husband works at a large Home Depot warehouse. He told me it is common for a manufacturer to update a product and discontinue the original model. The manufacturer will ship them the newer model and instruct them to return the old model's for destruction. He told me how they returned 400 brand new Toro snow blowers destined to be scrapped. He told me the old models are packed into semi trailers and the trailers are sealed then picked up by scrappers designated by the manufacturer. I can only assume that some of that stuff must escape destruction and make it's way back into the retail market. He told me this happens with ceiling fans, light fixtures and just about anything else you can think of. I wonder if that might be where all those Milwaukee, Dewalt and Ryobi tool's come from, if they are real and not counterfeit.

 

[biku324]

I gave my son and grandson most of my snap- on, MAC and old Craftsman tools years ago. Then I realized I needed quite a few of them but no way I was buying snap-on or MAC tools today. Craftsman is made in china so no go. I started going to several pawn shops buying a few older craftsman made wrenches when found. Something to consider.

My grandson has my 55 year-old Power Kraft tools, guaranteed for life. By Montgomery Wards.

 

[charlie sherrill]

Or my clients
Allegedly

Caje, check your PM.

 

[Greyman50]

My grandson has my 55 year-old Power Kraft tools, guaranteed for life. By Montgomery Wards.

Gee, forgot had some old “ Monkey Wards” US mfg tools from the early 70’s, they got them too…

 

[oink]

I know a pawn shop owner. I asked him about the new in box tools. He says they're stolen. When a guy comes in and pawns the stuff he gets their ID, etc and calls the law. The law comes by and gets the information and and Home Depot or Lowes gets notified. Neither Lowes or Home Depot prosecutes or makes any effort to recover the goods. After the stuff sits in storage long enough the law releases the items. The pawn shop then sells it. Unfortunately the big box stores have no interest in prosecuting the thieves or recovering what you and I have already paid for with higher prices. The days when the big box retailers were interested in prosecuting thieves is long gone. They have no interest. It seems that if a store gets continually hit hard enough with theft they just close the location.

 

[oink]

I was in Home Depot with my wife over the weekend. I asked her, more rhetorically, if she thought we could find something made in America rather than China. Heading back toward the front door I said lets check these, as we were passing aluminum ladders. Well lo and behold they weren't made in China. They were made in Mexico!

 

[vt_shooter]

I have to believe China's government could stop it if it wanted to. And I have to believe our government could make China's government want to stop it, if ours wanted to. The huge trade deficits should give us enormous leverage.

 

[GaryS]

This is the policy of China's government and they won't stop it until they have to.

It's not just counterfeit tools, they are all in on espionage and stealing technical information.

I have to believe China's government could stop it if it wanted to. And I have to believe our government could make China's government want to stop it, if ours wanted to. The huge trade deficits should give us enormous leverage.

 

[Beemerguy53]

When buying online, if something seems to good to be true, too good of a bargain and takes 2-4 weeks to be delivered (a sign it's being shipped from China - see where it's shipped from) - take a pass!

Some years ago, I bought a "Leupold" scope from an online retailer for an absurdly low "clearance" price. When I got the emailed order indicating it would be shipped from "PRC", I realized it was a Chinese knock-off. I tried to cancel it, but was told I had to take delivery of it and then return it if I wanted to. Ultimately, going through my credit card company, I was able to get my money back...lesson learned.