Planning ahead can save you a lot of money when it comes to buying tools. Because you can now buy directly from China, which lets face it, is where most of these tools are being made after all. Now I don’t recommend this for all of your tools, because you won’t be able to buy well known brands. Save this tip for the tools you’ll not be using every day or where the slightly poorer materials won’t matter too much, or of course, if you’re on a tight budget.
Buy the same budget quality tools direct from China, for much less money than your local store.
For example; a few weeks ago I decided I wanted to sort out my unruly drill bit collection and needed a basic digital vernier caliper to make identifying all those drill bit sizes easy. Whilst I was in my local tool store I had a look and they had one at £20 ($30). Once home I dialed up my current favorite website for cheap tools, sourcingmap.com, an eCommerce platform for carefully vetted factories in China.
Not only did I find a digital vernier caliper there, but the exact same one! Sure it had a conspicuous blank space where the label should be (the one in the store had put their ‘home brand’ on it) but the tool was easily recognisable as coming from the same factory. The only difference being this time the cost was just £7 ($11)!
In percentage terms that’s a whopping 65% discount AND that included FREE delivery to my door, I didn’t even need to leave my chair. A bargain and convenient. Now comes the rub. Remember I said about planning ahead at the beginning of this post? That’s because on average it takes three weeks to get here, but to be fair, China is a long way away.
So, if you are not in a hurry, it’s worth having a look online at China for some of your tool purchases. Just bear in mind you do get what you pay for. I know that my new vernier caliper might not be quite as accurate as one costing four times as much from one of the big tool boys; but it is more than accurate enough for what I need it for. Plus I know all the home branded tools in my local store are the same budget quality Chinese tools that get re-labeled by a hundred such stores.
Stay well
Ian
Comments 2
I have bought many things from China and most of it went in the bin. There also a tv programme on recently on the BBC called Fake Britain and most of the fake stuff on the shows was also from China. They are the producers of the biggest amount of rubbish and fakes in the world so i suggest you do lots of research before you do buy from China. Saying that i have just bought a router bit from China and i’m hoping this is not a piece of S__t but if it is this will be the last time i do buy from China.
Author
Well dave,
Sure, there are a lot of tools and stuff made in China aimed at the lower end of the market and their durability might be limited. BUT, I must also say that China makes some of the best stuff in the world too. Let’s be honest, many major manufacturers make stuff in China and that’s a fact.
Personally, I have had no trouble with the things I’ve bought from China recently. For example I’ve bought from aliexpress some smaller things like printer ink, an end fitting oil filter wrench, staples, iron-on patches, climbing rope, loupes, plasters, resistance bands, camera mounts (go pro), yoga stuff, cup hooks, endoscopes, pet nail scissors, small cells, USB chargers, power banks, digital tyre pressure gauge, sunglasses and climbing carabiners to name a few. All have been delivered in perfect packaging, on time and perfect quality.
That said, for critical stuff like router blades and pro power tools I’d want to use every day for decades, I would still stick to the more recognisable brands. A typical router bit rotates at over 20,000rpm and that means the construction needs to be perfect. I’m not saying the bit you bought will not perform, but think of this; it’s not that the part is from China that is the worry, it’s the fact that the part might be from a little-known supplier, i.e. one with little experience. The best guys are the best for a reason, their stuff performs well and is proven. And for those reasons paying a premium price is worth the extra.
Good luck with your purchase and thanks for letting me know your thoughts!
Cheers
Ian