Tough call

[Ultradog MN]

I left my good needle nose pliers on the bumper of the pickup a month ago. Had them for 25 years.
Today I needed a pair so I went to Home Depot. In the electrical dept they sell good quality wiring tools - Klein and CE (commercial electric).
CE ones were $16. Made in China.
Klein is made in the US. $34
I started reaching for the CE ones but just couldn't do it and grabbed the Kleins instead.
It's hard to justify.
There is a Harbor Fright about a mile from me. Might have been able to buy 10 pairs of needle nose pliers for $34 there.
You don't have to be like me though I know there are many here who are.
I am proud to own this tool and will try to do the best work that I can with it - every time I use it.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

I'm with you on this one. I see no need to send some Chinese guy's kids to college. gm

 

[circus]

There's no justification for that much cost difference. I use to run into the same problem with paint. Wholesale blue would be $30 and red $90. By the time I got it blue cost $90 and red $270. I figured red should be only $150, arguing that the profit per gal should be the same. Argument never worked so I kept shopping around. It's a problem in marketing.

 

[old]

I bet if I have one pair I have 5-10 pairs of needle nose. I keep a couple pairs in the shop and couple in the house and a couple in my mobile tool box

 

[rustyfarmall]

The cheap needle nose pliers have a tendency to get sprung when slightly abused.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I've yet to wear out hand tools. So will I pay $34 For something I'll most likely lose before I wear it out? Doubtful. However it's your money. I won't buy real cheap junk either.

 

[Rex Simpkins]

Had a Klein adjustable wrench--it broke and I took it to Fastenal to get a new one under lifetime guarantee, they sent it back "Sorry no dice" I said OK where is my wrench--they were not going to pay to send it back. Lesson learned I will pay more for Snap-On, Mac, or Matco no question asked replacement

 

[da.bees]

(quoted from post at 14:56:29 08/09/19)
The cheap needle nose pliers have a tendency to get sprung when slightly abused.

Before years and arthritis changed things,I bent tips of cheap needle nose pliers. I owned a pair made in Sweden with large handles and tiny sharp tips that never bent. They disappeared and I've never found any similar. Same for screwdrivers. If I really laid into it,point on cheap drivers bent or broke. Why you might ask was I using cheap tools? I'm forgetful and failed to bring everything I needed so I bought cheap to get through one job then gave tool to deserving individuals.

 

[rrlund]

Two words. Flea market. Usually a lot of older,quality tools for a little bit of nothing.

 

[timcasbolt]

(quoted from post at 20:56:29 08/09/19)
The cheap needle nose pliers have a tendency to get sprung when removed from the package.

Fixed it for ya!

 

[Stephen Newell]

I did that one time with a pair of diagonal cutters. Drove 40 miles and got to missing them and found them still on the bumper.

 

[Tony in SD]

I?m with you. I?d pay the extra not only for thevUSAmade but it?s hard to beat Klein Tools. They work better and last longer. Klein is all I have in my electrical tool box.

 

[glennster]

i have a tool bag just for. electrical work,. has klein tools sta-kon crimpers, 2 sets super duper calibrated crimpers from when i worked at a nuke plant in the mid 70s , fluke meters, wiggy , all top shelf stuff. would not go any other way. theres some greenlee tools in there too.

 

[rossow (mn)]

I do love Klein tools. My father-in-law was an electrical contractor and my long-time gun-show buddy was a utility company lineman, and they both swore by Klein tools. I watch for them at yard sales and swap meets. I found a Klein needle nose for 50 cents at a garage sale a while back; the seller had no idea it was anything special, just an old tool to get rid of. And earlier this week I was in a thrift shop that sells lots of "guy stuff." In a bin full of well-used pliers -- your choice for $1 --was a Klein lineman's pliers. It was hard to make out the Klein & Sons name, but it was otherwise in great shape. I love bargains. Interesting sidebar -- my father-in-law way back in the '70s won an all-expense-paid trip for two to Hawaii by having the oldest Klein pliers in a nationwide contest sponsored by Klein.

 

[Bob]

(quoted from post at 13:08:26 08/09/19) I left my good needle nose pliers on the bumper of the pickup a month ago. Had them for 25 years.
Today I needed a pair so I went to Home Depot. In the electrical dept they sell good quality wiring tools - Klein and CE (commercial electric).
CE ones were $16. Made in China.
Klein is made in the US. $34
I started reaching for the CE ones but just couldn't do it and grabbed the Kleins instead.
It's hard to justify.
There is a Harbor Fright about a mile from me. Might have been able to buy 10 pairs of needle nose pliers for $34 there.
You don't have to be like me though I know there are many here who are.
I am proud to own this tool and will try to do the best work that I can with it - every time I use it.

<img src="https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto32704.jpg">

When I've lost or damaged treasured older tools I've usually been able to find an exact replacement in like-new condition on ebay very reasonably, sometimes it takes a while for one to come up, but well worth it.

 

[SVcummins]

The 34$ pair has no higher germination rate than the 4$ pair

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I'm finding out that lifetime warranties don't really mean my lifetime like it used to at Auto Zone.

Honest Abe roofing advertises lifetime roofing, the last roof you'll ever need. The metal may last a lifetime, how about the fasteners, are the covered too? What happens when he goes out of business, who is going to cover the warranty?

 

[Janicholson]

When metal failure happens in pliers (made from a Buick right front door, including the pot metal handle as an alloy) blood blisters form. Jim

 

[Copperhead don't play]

(quoted from post at 19:46:53 08/09/19) Had a Klein adjustable wrench--it broke and I took it to Fastenal to get a new one under lifetime guarantee, they sent it back "Sorry no dice"

Twenty seven years ago I bought a pair of Klein diagonal cutters. The next day they broke in the hinge from a defect. Stopped by the electrical supply house that I had bought them from for the lifetime guarantee. I was told they would send them off and I would have to wait for its replacement. I pointed to the sign behind the counter advertising the "Lifetime Guarantee". They still would not replace them at that time. Now for 27 years I still supply the employees in the electrical maintenance department their hand tools with one condition; It will not be a Klein tool.

 

[dr sportster]

There really is no great warranty with Klein . They do nothing for worn out screwdrivers because it's wear not a defect .You could have bags of shot Klein screwdrivers, Whenever I had a Klein warranty the counterman would whine about don't bust his chops over Klein warranty. And do nothing. But they are the best linemans plier. I use an Ironworker model with a different heat treat than electric.

 

[Pops1532]

(quoted from post at 18:08:26 08/09/19)
I am proud to own this tool and will try to do the best work that I can with it - every time I use it.

<img src="https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto32704.jpg">

That's the quote of the day!