A few weeks ago I posted about how people were finding that Klein Tools was outsourcing production of tools that were previously made in the USA.
I stopped my local Lowe’s this week and found another example of this.
Shown here are 2 Klein Classic Klaw pump pliers sets, model D5052KIT, that were both found on the same peg at Lowe’s where you could buy them at the same $30 price.
Advertisement
If you look carefully, the packaging card is different, with one sporting a “made in USA” badge that’s absent from the other.
Here’s a look at the back of the packing.
Here’s a closeup.
Older Pliers Set: Product of USA, finished by Klein Tools Mexico, Rev 2/23 A
Newer Pliers Set: Made in China, Rev 9/24 A
The barcode is the same.
Advertisement
Thus, it seems that between 2023 and late 2024, Klein stopped making these pliers in the USA and finishing them in Mexico, and started manufacturing them in China.
The vast majority of hand tools that Klein previously made in the USA, mainly pliers and specific wire strippers, look to still be made in the USA. This is good.
Maybe they needed the factory capacity for their Limited Edition tools collections, but certainly not for all of the new plumbing tools they recently launched.
It looks like they’ve made sourcing changes that only affect a very small number of SKUs.
Klein has been introducing a lot of imported tools and tool boxes. Their limited edition colorways for core tools are a very visual reminder that they’re still making hand tools in the USA.
Sears did something similar back when they owned the Craftsman brand – they introduced new products that were made in China, and then they started replacing a couple of USA-made offerings. At some point they replaced nearly everything.
Crescent introduced new adjustable wrenches that were made in China and said they were still making USA tools for industrial users. How many Crescent, HK Porter, and other Apex Tool Group products are still made in the USA today?
Maybe Klein Tools will be the exception to the pattern we’ve seen repeated over the years. I’d like to think so.
Mark S.
As someone else said these are better known as deKlein tools. Quality is absolutely nosediving as compared to 2 years ago.
Stuart
I have been hearing that a lot.
mark
Klein tools are the only screwdriver bits I’ve ever snapped off in a fastener. Snapped a torx off in a small electronics screw tightening it. Wasn’t high torque app or anything. Also only brand I’ve had ballistol take the black coating off of (a pair of lineman’s pliers).
JoelLikestools
I bought a pair of the USA edition flush cutters at Lowes. I put them side by side with an old pair. The old pair had a sharper end and smoother spring mechanism, same part number on the pliers. That was a little disappointing.
Travis
I recently had a very similar experience. Klein used to be an easy buying choice for me. That is no longer the case. The move to Lowes has not been a good one.
Andrew W
I just won’t be buying Klein pliers if they aren’t US made. It makes me so mad that companies are pricing non-USA tools at the same price as the USA version.
When companies outsource they are diluting the value of the tool. The brand name may carry them for a while, but in the end it always catches up with them.
S
But wouldn’t you be just as mad if the same $60 made in america tool got a $20 price hike?
Tom
If it has the original Klein quality and lasts for a lifetime. No, I would not be mad
Angel
The American forged edition linesmen pliers I bought are stiffer then then a tree trunk, I thought it was the one pair so I went back and exchanged it for another of the same pair and nope still stiff . I had to throw some WD-40 in the crevices to loosen them up a bit.
Bruce
My ex wife used to say why pay 120 dollars for a drill when you can buy this one for 45. Be on the middle of a job and have your 45 dollar drill break and you will know why. That was like 30 years ago so prices may seem low. I still have some of those more expensive tools.
CMF
” It makes me so mad that companies are pricing non-USA tools at the same price as the USA version”, I agree 100%
Make it in the US and charge a premium for a quality made tool. Or price it like other Asian imports if that is where you make it
David
Well, I’m sure it goes without saying that the biggest reason for the switch to “non-USA” manufacturing is precisely so they CAN charge the same price and still increase profit. Most people won’t notice and the clever CEO gets a nice bonus.
Been this way for a long time now.
A W
This makes me sad.
Klein tools are quality made in the USA products.
Typo: made in Chia.
Stuart
Thanks, *fixed*.
Julius Rosen
Happens everywhere with everything, if you can’t find it made in USA notation or a USA flag and you shouldn’t be buying it.
Trouble is that price always sells things, I can buy five cut off pliers made in China for the price of one made in the US. Since I lose them that’s what I do
LR Brannon
Klein is the problem, they chose profit instead of customers. Made in America doesn’t mean every part of that tool was American parts. Klein is making sure they still profit big even with the all the tariffs. Every part of any product can come from all over the world and then assembled here and can say Made in America. Klein had quality assemblers who used quality parts from around the world. It’s interesting to see where the USA imports and what it imports. Quality can and does come from China and elsewhere. It’s no different here or there when it comes to greedy corporations. That’s why Klein is going to continue to knowingly put out the inferior product for the same price. China didn’t make an inferior Klein tool. Klein made a inferior toolt and your blaming the wrong people.
Chris
“Every part of any product can come from all over the world and then assembled here and can say Made in America.”
That’s completely inaccurate. The FTC outlines “Made in USA” standards. This is directly from their guidelines:
For a product to be called Made in USA, or claimed to be of domestic origin without qualifications or limits on the claim, the product must be “all or virtually all” made in the U.S. “All or virtually all” means that the final assembly or processing of the product occurs in the United States, all significant processing that goes into the product occurs in the United States, and all or virtually all ingredients or components of the product are made and sourced in the United States. That is, the product should contain no — or negligible — foreign content.
I think the best case scenario for what you describe would be “Assembled in USA.”
DH
KNIPEX
Sparky
Also not made in USA?
Clint
No, they’re made in Germany, where quality still exists… somewhat
David
The issue here is not necessarily the desire for quality; the issue is the desire for more profit.
Tool brands could spec their Asian-made tools to be comparable to high quality tools like Knipex — the Asian plants can make high quality — but that would undermine the reason for buying from Asian manufacturers, which is getting products made cheaply that can be priced like the stuff made domestically.
Again, quality is not the driving force for most brands. Knipex makes quality but also makes you pay for it. The majority of buyers won’t pay their prices and the mainstream brands know this, so they give people what they will buy. We get lower prices and they deliver the lowest quality they can get away with.
Ricky A Groves
Knipex are simply the best right there, snap-on tools and I think MATCO tool trucks sale them, from my personal experience being on those 2 tool trucks is that they both want the very best of whatever you want or need, cause they don’t want those type of problems of return crap, LOL..
David
Northern Tool sells Knipex too, just a smaller selection than the others you named.
MMrFixit
Knipex is also sold at menard with a good assortment.
I have one pliers that is over 18 years old and still have like new jaws. They are my go to pliers because they work and have not worn out.
Ibew 401
Best on the market. Hands down.
Chris B
When you buy knipex, you pay for quality. All their stuff is expensive but you get what you pay for. I’ve been using their waterpump pliers and pliers wrench and insulated screwdrivers for many years as an industrial maintenance tech
Nathan
Lowe’s said I need the profit margin to be …… But the price on the shelf stays the same.
Or something like that
Hon Cho
This is correct. Lowe’s customers may buy Klein products but Lowe’s is the most important customer to Klein!
Dustin
I worked at a massive box store in college and there’s a lot of truth to that. The retailers put specific demands on margin and production volume. Companies cheap out to meet it or risk losing the sales. I watched an unfinished oak cabinet company try to keep up without checking out and if literally put them out of business. Lowes here shares as much of the blame as Klein.
David
I believe it was Walmart that pioneered this idea of using their buying power to dictate quality. “We’ll buy a gazillion widgets if you can make them cheaper than anyone else”.
So, they make them cheaper.
The scale of the partnership means the manufacturers essentially become a dedicated subsidiary of the retailer. The retailer makes more profit, we get lower prices, and overall quality keeps getting worse.
It would not surprise me in the least if Klein is watering down quality to hit pricing requirements dictated by Lowes.
David
Definitely. I would also believe that the same Klein tools sold from other vendors could be higher quality than those sold by Lowes.
Jared
This is just one more signal of Klein’s intentions unfortunately – perhaps the clearest one to date. It was one thing to start making MORE Klien product and have that outsourced, it’s another thing entirely to outsource existing Klein tools.
Seems like the best we tool-enthusiasts can hope for is some USA-production of certain premium or limited-edition items. You’ll have to start checking COO and no longer make any assumptions.
Stuart
It is, but I would caution that we also need to look at what they’re *not* doing. This is not a pattern *yet*.
Troy
higher cost or having to buy two cheap ones. either way the consumer gets the shaft
Bill S
I would venture to say within the next 3 to 5 years almost all of the Klein stuff will manufactured outside of north America. Unfortunately, it’s the way of the world now. Corporate greed reigns supreme. I remember growing up (I’m 52) my dad worked on everything. His tool boxes proudly held craftsman/sk/proto/wright/Armstrong/crescent tools. Could not pathom the thought of a Japanese tool. It’s such a shame that almost everything now is made in outside of the USA.
Timothy
I can relate completely. I’m 50 and my dad, his brothers and my grandfather all swore by craftsman and they would never have even accepted a Chinese made tool even as a gift. Looks like pairing with Lowe’s will be Klein’s decline.
Adam
I so resonate with your comments. That’s exactly how my granddad raised me. All those tool brands are in my tool box from my grandad or my own collection. I thought most men have forgotten this. I’m 55 and come from that era where you worked on you own cars and fixed your stuff. All those mentioned, craftsman/sk/proto/wright/Armstrong/crescent tools, and others we well.
I remember just about 8 years ago or so I think that Lowe’s Kobalt were some of the last hand tools made in the USA.
If you want to get them old USA steel, go to Estate sales and grab up all the old guys tools. I loved reading these comments.
Chris
Consider this: tariffs force companies to make factories here in the U.S. In reciprocal, Klein maybe creating a factory to sell in China without tariffs charging both ways? Then you can move tools back and forth without an expense…
Stuart
No tool company has announced any new intent to build any new factories or production lines in the USA in response to the tariffs.
Tariffs “forcing companies to make factories in the US” is a hypothetical possibility that is unlikely to come true.
Tom
True.
President may be in office only four or, at best, eight years.
Production factories are decades, generations, long investments.
No CEO & BOD is going to hop on a dime with “flex space” manufacturing.
😂
DUH
If you’re talking about the present president, he has already served four years. So he only has four left.
Stuart
I took their comment to be generalized, to say that companies won’t make long-term investments and changes to appease any particular president or administration, and not necessarily the current president and administration.
John e bgood
Sucks man usa all the way but if your gonna get stuck buying cheap crap might as well go to China freight you know harbor freight some of thier new icon pliers aren’t to bad life time hassle free warranty
CMF
“Tariffs “forcing companies to make factories in the US” is a hypothetical possibility that is unlikely to come true.”, probably true, but yet, remains to be seen.
Milwaukee started making hand tools in the US, before tariffs came to the forefront. They did it simply to offer a tool made in the US, premium quality, giving consumers/pros the opportunity to buy US made and priced tools.
If it works long enough for them, anyone else wanting to avoid the tariffs might follow Milwaukee’s lead.
Like you say, not likely, but I would say there is a possibility. (of course, in 12 months from now we will have a better understanding of how effective tariffs are)
Stuart
No. They also aren’t setting up new factories in response to the tariffs.
Joe
Tariffs would make the materials to build the factory impractically expensive, funny how that works.
Trevor
Is Klein still family owned, or is it owned by a private equity group ?
ITCD
Still family owned.
Big john
Such strong feelings but is anyone telling Klein or others, including Lowe’s, they better be USA made or else? Posting to an article isn’t the same as filling a voicemail or email inbox or getting ahold of a district rep. Money talks, comments on the Internet walk. Call out the b.s. where is going to be heard.
No offense to the Stuart.
FeRDNYC
Voting with your wallet is probably the most effective strategy. Comments on Klein’s or Lowes’ voicemail are as meaningless as Internet comments, ultimately. It’ll only be taken seriously if they see a corresponding drop in sales.
Blake
I left a poor review on kleins website over the folding hex key set that use to be USA made and is now poor quality from Vietnam, I got an email response stating that my review violated their guidelines and unfortunately could not be posted…o said nothing vulgar just made a bad review due to quality, apparently you are not allowed to leave a bad review on their site. I’m in the hvac trade and have used Klein hand tools for 20 years and quality has definitely take hit, they are too busy counting their Lowe’s dollars to care.
Adam Gillen
These pliers were initially “outsourced” (in a good way) before they made them in the USA. My pair of 10” one’s were made by NWS and the metal still had their stamp on it.
NoahG
That’s what I was going to say. I didn’t ever realize there was a USA version, I thought they were still made in Germany.
Crow
That’s what I was confused about. The new Klein “Klaw” pliers were originally rebranded NWS and made in Germany when I saw them a couple years ago. They were a huge upgrade from Klein’s old Channel-lock knock-off design which was an especially bad version of the design.
John
Retailers continue to squeeze manufacturers for lower product costs, more marketing money, more warranty reimbursement, etc.. They also impose hefty fines for shipping errors and other non-compliance issues. When we dealt with the box stores, we’d always have two separate negotiation sessions; one for the products in the plan-o-gram and the other for the “back end” program. God forbid if your category was put up for a line review. Retailers would continually demand more and more, while threatening your hard-earned shelf space and forcing you to look under every stone for cost savings. This is a big part of the reason why products don’t last anymore. In order to find cost saving, manufactures turned to thinner metal, cheaper components, plastic parts instead of metal and so on. Your grandmother’s refrigerator probably lived 40 years with nary a repair, while today’s model will be scrap in 5-10 years. Built-in in ice maker or linear compressor failures, anyone?? It’s no wonder manufacturers have had to move off-shore just to eek out a profit.
Oarman
You sort of asked this in the FatMax thread. I’d prefer Made In The USA and will pay a reasonable premium. For simple stuff I don’t mind made in Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan etc. If it says Made In China it’s going right back on the shelf.
I’m curious how this supply chain stuff is playing out at Grainger / Fastenal type suppliers with these Klein SKUs and similar brands.
JP
Our company switched to 100% American made back in February, regardless of cost, unless there literally no American made version of the tool/part/material.
MtnRanch
This underscores one of the benefits of buying at a brick-and-mortar store – you can check the product origin. Buy online and you have no idea what you are getting.
Sellers ought to be required to disclose the country of origin. Under the current administration a law like this should be easy to pass (unless the lobbyists get there first).
Joe
Amazon actually lists country of origin for many or most products. I’m not a fan of Scamazon but they do list where most of their stuff com4es from.
Vards Uzvards
Now they do it less and less often. Maybe not any more :-/
ITCD
Amazon relies on the seller to fill that out, and they do a terrible job at updating information (or even the pics) as things change. Sometimes things were listed erroneously from the start, I’ve seen USA-made stuff listed as China, I’ve seen stuff listed as Japan because the company is in Japan but the product itself comes from elsewhere.
It’s always best to research independently of Amazon if COO is important to you.
Stuart
Yup. They absolutely don’t enforce that, and I have also seen mistakes.
I bought a new Snow Brush in February. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X1CQHGN/?tag=toolguyd-20 Where’s it made?
It was a hassle to find out from True Temper, and I eventually got someone from Ames to tell me.
Amazon also seems to have started omitting “first available” dates.
ITCD
I noticed that too about the first available thing! I don’t know why it was removed, maybe it was considered extraneous info, but it was handy at times for researching stuff.
Stuart
I think it’s for the same reason Home Depot doesn’t list COO.
Makes money? Good.
Might not? Goodbye.
LE
I made a comment about the 12″ version of these pliers on your last post about klein doing this. But they had orange handles like the other newer Made in China Klein tools. Lowe’s, and Kleins website was still showing the older yellow handles and the “Made in USA” badging prominently displayed when I ordered them. Atleast with the orange handles it was easy to spot the difference in store, but now they aren’t even changing that I guess! Why is Klein taking such a huge page out of the Crescent/Apex playbook?
JAW
GREED !
Anytime you ask the question ‘why’ in regards to the company’s making bad decisions you can most usually always sum it up to greed.
MM
People like to blame greed, but I think Klein is facing hard competition and is having to make tough decisions to keep their market share.
Klein built their name with quality USA-made electricians tools. And for a long time they were the best game in town. But for a while others, like Knipex, have been making better tools. They were constantly innovating while Klein rested on their laurels. There are also many tool brands who may not compete on quality but have better value for money. They’re even facing competition in the “made-in-USA” space with Milwaukee stepping into the game.
I’m not happy that Klein is offshoring more and more of their production, but it doesn’t surprise me. They have to do *something* to defend their market position, or risk losing it.
JAW
I’m no longer loyal to Klein Tools.
They discontinued that good little hammer with Blue fiberglass handle and black rubber grip.
If I suspected they would do that I would have bought one or two and put them away until I needed them.
Does anyone know about or remember Carhartt discontinuing the jeans B-17 with the square leather patch on the back pocket ? That was their basic 5 pocket regular, roomy and extra roomy in the seat that I started buying when I stopped buying Levi’s. Now I don’t buy Carhartt either that replaced the discontinued style.
I’m just not Brand Loyal any longer since manufacturers cannot remain loyal to customers.
I won’t even talk about the alternative choices I make now because manufacturers will exploit the customer if they think they can offer better return on stocks.
I say “To Hell with the greedy Bastards like Klein Tools, Carhartt, Levi’s etc.
I look for bargains and pocket the savings!
Good luck, everyone that works in trades.
You have to grow up not knowing the difference in the previous tools and clothing so it doesn’t drive ya crazy, eh !
Kevin B
I agree about the Carrhart jeans. The B17 was the only one I’d ever buy. I don’t even look at the brand anymore. I was also a very loyal Buick owner most of my life. Every model is now made in China so youll never see another one in my garage, unless it’s an old classic.
Chouwalker
Some, not all, Buicks are made in China. For example, the Buick Enclave is assembled in the USA.
Matt
Product of USA doesn’t mean made in the USA. There are no rules to these terms. Product of USA could just mean they are designed and commissioned by a USA company but the parts are forged somewhere else and then assembled in Mexico.
Tdot77
Yeah that wording suggests it wasn’t ‘Made in USA’ to begin with. Perhaps that only means handles were applied and packaged here but definitely not manufactured here.
Also
Stuart – small typo
“Sears did *_the_ something similar….”
Stuart
Thanks! *fixed*
ITCD
There are in fact rules to these terms, and on the back it says Product of USA but the obverse directly uses Klein’s Made In USA logo.
The rules are that if anyone would reasonably surmise they’re making an unqualified claim of being made here, that they’re actually made here. That can be Made in USA. That can just be USA. It can “manufactured by Americans.” Product means something was produced. To produce means to make in this context.
Look up the info on thr FTC website regarding MIUSA claims which even gives examples that don’t fall strictly within saying the exact words “made in USA.”
FeRDNYC
*nod* What it rules out is things like “assembled in the US from Chinese-made parts”. That’s not MIUSA.
ITCD
Of course, and if something was assembled in USA they’re allowed to say it was assembled here but can’t say Made here. They can mention it does have domestic parts if it does as well. That’s called a qualified statement if they make specific mentions like that and the FTC warns that qualified statements (like assembled in USA with 30% domestic content) must be accurate, so 30% of that content better be domestic.
We have one of the highest standards regarding COO statements in the world.
Rick Schlabowske
The retailers are constantly pressuring their suppliers to decrease costs so they can compete with Horrible Freight and Amazon, Fleabay, etc.
The only way they can do that is to offshore production. You should be complaining to Lowes not us schmucks online!
US manufacturing will comeback in many sections of the economy but it will take time.
Stuart
Lowe’s is the customer. If Lowe’s doesn’t care if you stomp your feet and say “do this or else I’m spending my money elsewhere,” brands shouldn’t care when retailers threaten similar.
It’s okay to “leave money on the table.”
Jim
Keeping the same SKU but changing the product is misleading. Klein destroyed any trust in their brand. I won’t buy another Klein tool. If I wanted junk Chinese tools I can buy them my h cheaper than Klein prices.
Eric griffin
Let me tell of my crazy experience with Klein tools.ive always heard they were one of the best tool brands.the price they sell them for is high and maybe that makes people believe they are better.but a couple years back I bought a high dollar set of Klein chanel locks.i had them in one of my trucks toolboxes .the first time I go to use them ,about 15 months later,the top gripping head of the plyers just snapped off with very little force.they looked like die cast cheap steal inside and the break wasn’t from a crack ,just cheap metal.so the other day I went to Lowe’s and buy another pair thinking it was a fluke.the first time I used them the same thing happened..but what’s crazy is I was at the job site and as I walked near a pile of trash,I see the same pair of kleins ,brand new,laying there with same broken jaw..I find it hard to believe that spread over yrs,not 1 bad batch.that they would continue to make this tool with no changes to their steel formula and stop making plyer that they know will fail.made me think of lots of inferior steel from China that fails.i think they are made in china.the money they save in cheap steel ,they figure it’s worth destroying their brand over.dontbbuy klein.a long while back they were better.but that’s long gone.ive got expensive multimeter that are broken from cheap materials used.just buy the cheap harbor freight.you can buy 3 to 5 for the price of 1 klein.and most cases they last as long.
Ginger
Maybe why some are changing to the Milwaukee line at Home Depot.
Joe
I still buy Klein…but the majority is used off Ebay, American made and in great condition. Won’t by China unless it’s an absolute emergency and there is no alternative. Kinda like some of the new black Klein tool bags and might grab one, just hoping they’re not from China.
SASines
My dad used to say “I’m too poor to buy cheap tools.” He was right and now it’s tough to find anything but cheap made in China tools.
David
No one mentioned Channel Lock. Sounds like a forgotten company.
Do they still manufacturer in the US?
Stuart
The post is about Klein Tools at Lowe’s. Where does Channellock fit into that?
Channellock manufactures in the USA and also contracts with overseas factories for specific product lines. To my knowledge, they never replaced USA tools with imported, but they have replaced imported tools with USA-made.
Jack D
Channel- Lock was mentioned above, maybe it got a bug in his ear…
ITCD
Channellock directly manufactures nearly their entire pliers line. Exceptions are the snap ring pliers which are Lang, and the locking pliers which are Grip-on.
They source their screwdrivers and hooks/picks through Mayhew. They source their pry bars from Wilde. These are all domestic.
The socketry is from Asia. They just released a spirit level for some reason, and it’s from China.
Stuart
Adjustable pliers are Irega (Spain).
They also have new imported levels and a square. Channellock tends to make an earnest effort at USA production. They had imported screwdrivers and nut drivers but eventually found a USA manufacturer.
I wonder if they found the same supplier as Tekton.
When it comes to levels, I think the only USA manufacturer now is Empire (owned by Milwaukee Tool), and so I don’t blame them from going with an overseas supplier.
ITCD
Ah yeah I forgot the adjustables. The new screwdrivers are very much Mayhew, I would suspect the prior version with acetate handles were Western Forge since they started drying up around the time WF closed shop.
Strangely when it comes to levels, we have a few options for domestic wooden ones. Mayes, Crick, Sands (also does cast aluminum), and one you don’t hear much is Smith. A couple go all out with letting you pick options and customize but they’re pricey.
Kyle Howard
The Kline tools you said one had a made in the USA badge on it the other didn’t in the one side by side you said you could see it I zoomed in and neither one was “ made in the USA one was product of USA I’m sorry produced in Mexico and the other made in China. Your article is misleading and not true it was made in Mexico using U.S. parts.
Stuart
“Forged in USA, finished in Mexico” vs made in China.
Jt
Let’s talk about made in USA, finished in Mexico. Designed in USA, built in Mexico. No company starts building a product here and then ships pieces to Mexico to be assembled. Let’s get this right. Built in USA is the only way to go.
ITCD
Forged means the forgings were made in USA. Made means made. Yes, companies ship stuff around between their various locations for various reasons, lack of labor at site A or no room to expand, site B has a particular piece of expensive equipment they don’t want to also buy for A, etc. We have no context beyond “finished,” if that’s purely assembly or if that’s also everything beyond the drop hammer and trim press or what, because there’s still jaw broaching, coating, branding, dipping, etc that all need done.
Stanley Black and Decker was making the gears for the DeWalt line in Maryland, sending them down to Mexico for assembly into the final transmission units, then sending them back to South Carolina and Texas to go in a power tool. Cornwell does forgings in Pennsylvania, then sends them to Ohio for the rest of the operations. Shoot, my workplace sends stuff between up to 3 different plants to get everything done to them that needs done to customer order, and some products our little ring of 3 plants doesn’t even make (in some cases could, like certain color options, but don’t) so instead they’re made by another facility of ours and then sent to us, and we do the same for them, we run a shuttle truck several states away and back daily.
It doesn’t seem economical and in the long run it very well may not be (though more economical than assumed, after all this isn’t shipping them one by one to the next plant in individual FedEx boxes at $20 a pop, it’s entire truckloads with thousands and thousands at a time) but there’s reasons for it and it does happen.
Robert
Klein pliers are trash anyway. Sorry, not sorry.
The Germans do it better.
Randy Person
Snap-On tools used to be the best hands down followed by Mac tools. Many Snap-On tools are made in China now. And they still have the same ole off the chart price. They say china has to reproduce the same quality steel as there old USA tools had, but we know that’s never gonna happen. I have about $100k in snap on tools and inherited 3 times that. It really disappoints me snap-on went to china.
Bentley Hammer
A number of years ago I gave up to the most part,buying any newer american made hand tools. I hit the swap meets and garage sales and buy the older stuff.That’s still of good quality. You can find old Craftsman proto. SK, snap on, matco, mac. Even a lot of lesser-known brands that were good.American made tools. Brands like diamond and new britain, Armstrong etc. And generally the price is more than reasonable for good quality tools used.
Mason M
Can’t help but notice that adjacent to the “Klaw” pliers is another, possibly more egregious, example of their outsourcing: their pliers-wrench. At the time you’d made your post about them they’d already been out for a few months, but they still only released the 10″ version like two years ago, and they just released the 7″ and 12″ versions late last year. The 7″ and 12″ pliers-wrenches, like the 10″ with the yellow handle, are the only pliers-wrenches I’m aware of that are actually Made in USA.
However, at the same time they started putting out all these outsourced plumbing tools, they also released three pliers-wrenches with orange handles in the same sizes, but now made in China. At least near me, the new yellow-handled sizes are nowhere to be found. They introduced two new Made in USA products and just sorta stopped in favor of a Chinese product within the span of a year. That is, in my humble opinion, ridiculous.
Al Barrera
I will only use Klein tools for electrical work. So far I’ve not detected any real difference in the old standards, such as lineman’s pliers, screwdrivers, etc.
The minute I see a “D” Klein in the quality…….I’m gone.
Rick McLatchy
We are letting China eat our lunch!
Let’s get Mfg back to USA!
Stuart
That’s really up to consumers.
ElectroAtletico
Klein wire strippers are great. Everything else…..average to mediocre. Anyone who says that their Linesman are the best needs to get their head examined (and go to Harbor Freight and get the Doyle 9in – which you can use as a great beater for $15 less than the Klein).
Dustin
My biggest issue is the pricing. If Klein wants to become a budget tool maker, so be it, but don’t price your products equal to the made in the USA ones. There’s a need for cheap tools. I sometimes by garbage cheap stuff when they’re specialty tools that I may use once in 5 years, or for jobs where I know they’re going to have to get abused and I treat them as disposable. But for essential tools, I want the quality option. Seems Klein and Lowes are picking the worst of both…moving to cheap junk with premium (for what it is) pricing.
Mike (the other one)
Klein tools, especially their pliers, seem to not be as good as they used to be. A lot of them are “forged” in USA but “finished” in Mexico. But they seem to be messy, sloppy and not as precise as ones that I bought just a few years ago. They often have a lot of slag-like material in the jaws, which has to be wire-brushed out.
Their screwdrivers seem to still be OK, but even those are not as good as ones they sold 20 years ago. Back when they had softer PVC handles and tips that lasted far longer.
It infuriates me they they plaster US flags all over the few things they still make here, while quietly shifting production to China. No doubt, this is being exacerbated by Lowe’s demanding certain price points, but to me it is underhanded and dishonest.
And they wonder why they are losing sales to Harbor Freight.
Cody
I noticed the same with the 7-inch Klein water pump pliers at Lowe’s just last week. My store had replaced them with the Chinese-made versions. Glad I got the 7″s when they were still US made.
I really think this is an opportunity for Walmart to play ball. Klein moving tons of stuff to China? Maybe you should be selling more than the (mediocre) Great Neck screwdrivers and (awesome) Wilde prybars under the Hyper Tough name. How about some Wilde Flush Fastener pliers under the Hyper Tough banner?