Cheap Tools and Fake Power Brands
For many of us, the price of just about anything is a very big factor in our purchasing decisions. In some cases, it could even be the only factor. This is clearly seen when you go out shopping for tools. Unless you’re a tool aficionado or you did some serious reading prior to going out to the hardware store, there’s a very good chance that you’ll just get the generic brand, the dollar store variety, because it’s cheap tools, period. But, as everyone’s been finding out recently, just because the tools are cheap doesn’t mean they’re good. When it comes to tools and other things which you expect to use frequently (particularly in emergencies) over a long period of time, it might just be worth it to spend a few extra bucks.
The Consequences of Cheap Tools
I hope you’ve heard of the saying “You get what you pay for,” because your tools will almost certainly give you performance that’s commensurate to what you paid for them. The cheap tools that you see being sold for just a few dollars on store shelves are very often made of cheap materials that aren’t very durable. That means plastics, cheap metals and low-quality wood were used in manufacturing such products. That also means that you can’t expect such items to last very long. Although they might get the job done, you’re likelier to treat them as disposable rather than indispensable in the long run. Looking at things from a long-term perspective, you might even end up spending more buying cheap tools because you’ll have to repurchase the same tool more frequently.
Another problem with substandard and cheap tools is the risk of using them. There are innumerable tasks and situations where the tools being used are critical. The failure of a hammer, screwdriver, clamp, wrench or even ladder at the wrong time could cause damage and serious injury. With substandard and cheap tools, you know they’re going to fail you sooner or later. You just don’t know when. Until they do fail, you’re at risk of their malfunctioning at the wrong moment.
Faux Brands, Real Cheap
Just because the tool you’re considering has a brand doesn’t mean it’s a good tool either. It’s very probable that the makers of the substandard and cheap tools already learned a few tricks by now and have placed a name and a brand on their low-quality products. A name though doesn’t do anything to improve the quality of a tool. All it does is lure you into a false sense of confidence in the quality of the tool you’re buying. If you don’t know the brand and it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Fake branded items are on the rise, too. They actually became a news item several years ago because things began getting out of hand. Fake tools look very similar to the expensive, branded professional tools that you see in tool displays in hardware shops. Their quality though is very different, and that’s what allows the wholesaler or the retailer to really lower the prices. When you’re buying tools, especially professional-grade ones, always buy from a trusted retailer (a couple of big names should be in your town) and keep in mind that, every once in a while, it’s really necessary for you to pay a little extra for quality.
Posted in Tools