Malco’s USA-Made Eagle Grip locking pliers are still available, but it’s uncertain how long this will still be true.
Malco announced 10 months ago that the product line was not sustainable and would be discontinued.
They have not yet sold through all remaining inventory. I checked recently, and they were still in stock at Amazon. Lowe’s picked up a couple of SKUs too, albeit at inflated pricing.
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A reader wrote in today, after seeing them at a retailer known for closeouts on USA-made hand tools.
Closeout inventory, often found at liquidators and discount retailers, is similar to a retailer putting something on clearance at a store, but at a larger scale.
Tom (thank you!) wrote:
Epstein’s has all of the Eagle Grip pliers on sale. Might make for a good post.
Malco is not making these tools anymore. This could be your last chance to buy them, or there could be ten thousand pliers still on a warehouse shelf.
In my opinion, that Harry Epstein Co picked up Eagle Grip locking pliers, and are selling them at a discount, could be an indicator that supplies are starting to running out.
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If you plan to buy just one or two, Amazon’s pricing and free shipping might work better. If you’re buying a bunch or want to support a small “mom & pop” retailer, go with Harry Epstein.
Here are the sizes and styles that are available:
- Curved Jaw w/ wire cutter: 7″, 10″
- Straight Jaw: 7″, 10″
- C-Clamp: 8″, 11″
- C-Clamp with Pads: 8″, 11″
As far as I am aware, Harry Epstein Co is the only retailer with the 8″ locking c-clamps, with and without pads.
Garrett
Just ordered several pairs from H J Epstein. Even with free shipping via Prime, Epstein’s price is far better for me (snail mail to TX). Great buy. Thanks!
Tim
The fact that these are still available proves there’s no demand.
AllenN
Yes couldn’t agree more. There have been multiple articles and news feeds about these being discontinued months ago and yet they are still available. Great tools nonetheless.
Travis
Nicest pair of locking pliers I have ever used. Better than the originals.
Scott
Possibly because very few people even know they exist. Not a single person I mentioned them to even knew they existed. Hard to buy something you don’t know is available. I think having them on store shelves would have helped
Jerry
Not only that, they were all but impossible to find at a retailer. Several retailers I know sell Malco tools but I couldn’t find them in the stores.
Franco Calcagni
All brick & mortar retailers have a limited amount of shelf space. They want things that sell, things that move. These, probably sold for $40 or more, and worth every penny. But sitting beside cheaper brands at half the price or less, 1 of these sold for 50 of the others.
The retailers are no different than any other business, they need sales to stay open. These Malco’s; sorry we don’t have room for your products.
Franco Calcagni
At HJE for $30 a pair, they should have sold out in 48 hours, just through word of mouth.
mark
Owning a set myself they are beautifully made and highest construction and finish I have seen from multiple vintage vice grips, new ones, knipex,etc. but I admit I didn’t buy until I heard of issues w/ the plant. Project farm vid tested them as highest grip and stuff too and introduced me to the brand
Rik
At $45 each, they’ll be available for a long time..
Franco Calcagni
At Epstein’s, they are $29.99. For what these pliers are, you will never get this quality at this price again.
Franco Calcagni
@Rik, you sound like top quality are not worth paying for, yet you probably rant about made in China products.
Stuart
Rik is entitled to their opinion.
razl
Thanks for posting this! When I first saw they were ending they didn’t have all the models in stock, I thought that was because they were already sold out. I got a couple but gave up on ever getting the other ones I wanted. Now I just got the ones I missed and am so happy – thank you!
Neighbor Joe
I have four pairs. Excellent quality. All via Amazon. Malco’s enthusiasm could not overcome lack of retail outlets. No Homedepot or Lowes with Malco vise grips next to Husky or Kobalt product. Amazon is huge but folks still prefer brick and mortar tools stores. Too bad. Great product. The Malco Eaglegrips and versions they made for Snapon will be around for a lifetime while the Irwin Chinese versions will see the scrap pile sooner rather than later.
Robert
Interested in buying from Harry E. But what are the advantages between straight jaws and curved jaws?
MM
The round jaws are better for gripping round objects like pipes or cylindrical parts, or rounded off fasteners. However they are not as good as straight jaws for flat or square parts. The round jaws tend to cause more damage to hex fasteners than the straight jaws.
Robert
Thanks MM for the info. I have a fair number of wrenches with flat jaws, but none that are round jaws. I mercifully don’t have to mess with pipes very often. But when I do it’s a swear festival, even with the Knipex cobras,,which I thought would work well by all I read. To be fair, probably operator error.
Jerry
Round jaws also have a wire cutter. They claimed it could cut a 1/4″ bolt and I believe it. Goes through a chain link fence no problem and no damage to cutter. The round jaws are better for odd shaped things compared to the straight jaw. I much prefer them for things like the aforementioned chain link fence.
Franco Calcagni
It is almost a “dumb” thing that too many do not appreciate. Cutting a chain link fence or nail with 99% of the pliers and dykes out there, would leave an indent on the cutters.
The cutter is a small part of these pliers and not why people by them. But it shows the quality of the tool when the cutters are that high quality of a steel.
TonyT
What about size? Is bigger better? Or is the 7″ good enough most of the time?
Rachel
As a tinner, the curved jaws are good for the flanges on tdc duct since they don’t crush the ridges. The 10 ” of course has better leverage so they close easier but the 7″ is a good back pocket size so unless I’m really going at the tdc duct I usually have the 7″ on hand.
Stuart
In addition to what has been said, I should point out that most curved jaw locking pliers have a short fine-toothed straight segment in front.
If you’re not sure which to choose, my vote would be to start with curved jaw locking pliers.
Eric
Epsteins started selling them over 2 years ago, at least that’s how old the video they posted on youtube saying they were starting to sell them is. And while they do sell a lot of closeouts they are also big on selling any USA made tools, and carry a lot of them that are regular new products. Though with most of the USA hand tool production going overseas they have been starting to stock more German and Japanese tool brands like Knipex, Wera, and Koken.
Stuart
That could be, but not at the current prices. Harry Epstein says “New Deal on Eagle Grip.”
Tim
Thanks for the heads up, ordered from Epsteins.
JML
Don’t hesitate to buy these before they’re gone. The quality, materials, finish, and strength are all outstanding, and far beyond any other locking plier available. I had bought the 7″ versions, and was so impressed I also got the 10″ versions.
mark
I did the same lol. Bought the 7″, then said “wow” and bought the 10″ asap 🤣
mikedt
Even Project Farm liked the Malco. I may just have to buy a set.
Travis
You won’t regret it. They are really, really nice pliers. I have 4 of them and use them all the time. A total pleasure.
mark
The finish is so great on them compared to vintage vice grips from same factory and knipex needle nose locking pliers I have. Worth the $ imo if your into “lifetime” type tools. Especially w/ the storied history of the factory itself & being discontinued I think future value should be good – like made in USA craftsman.
Brutus
I bought a pair of curved-jaw 10″ Eagle Grips from Amazon a few months ago. Amazing quality! They’re the equal of my ’70s-vintage Vice Grips in precision and overall build quality, and the finish is flawless. Plus they feel great in the hand. None of the modern Chinese-made Irwin junk comes close. I’m buying a 7″ curved jaw and an 11″ C-Clamp while they’re still available at these prices.
Franco Calcagni
It is not the Chinese that made “this” junk, it is Irwin. The Chinese make them to whatever the boss (Irwin) says.
The Chinese can make quality metals as good as the US or any other country in the world, (ask knife gurus about Chinese metals) but the person in charge(Irwin) has to want to pay for the quality.
Jeff Reynolds
Agreed, they’ll make whatever quality that you want at a commensurate price but you also have to test the product on the back end to ensure you’re getting what you pay for as they’ll try to short change you too.
Stuart
This can happen with any production partner.
e.g. https://www.nbcdfw.com/local/dfw-morningnews-fort-worth-defense-contractor-charged-with-felony-for-using-cheap-substandard-parts-for-u-s-tanks-other-weapons/209315/
There was a similar case recently, but I couldn’t find it.
Franco Calcagni
About short changing you, as Stuart pointed out, it can happen anywhere.
But really, shouldn’t it be up to the company, example…Irwin, to QC everything, so we don’t have to?
Any kind of decent sized operation, you need to have a couple of your company representatives “boots on the ground” keeping an eye that all goes as planned.
To sit in your US HQ office and expecting to orchestrate everything from long distance would be bad business.
Jeff Reynolds
My comment was from the viewpoint of that first line buyer from the Chinese such as Irwin. My background is in gloves, not tools but I’m fairly sure that it is the same. You have to do that incoming QC to make sure what you received is what you bought and the same as those cherry picked samples that you were provided earlier. It happens everywhere but my experience is that the Chinese vendors are more likely than average to try to beat you somehow.
fred
Nothing really new here. Irwin has changed ownership over the years (now part of SBD – sold to them from Newell-Rubbermaid) – but started out as a company making auger bits to undercut Russell Jennings price. Both were made in the USA – when the bit brace (like a North Bros. one) was the premier cordless tool for boring holes in wood. The Irwin (patented) pattern had a center spur and apparently was easier to make and perhaps stronger than the Russel Jennings. All of these companies (and many others too) got bought up – and now sort of fall under the Stanley umbrella. The last Irwin auger bits that I bought (11, 15, 17 and 26mm – x 191 mm long hex shank) were made in Brazil – and seem quite serviceable. Stanley/Irwin – now probably take their cues about quality and price more from their big retailers like Home Depot than they do from us lowly end customers. So. if HD thinks (or learns) that a high-quality tool will not command its selling price – then they likely push their suppliers to “cheapen things up.”
Franco Calcagni
Yup, if it sells, everyone’s happy…the retailer, they give more shelf space, the MFR, their shareholders if they are publicly traded, or their owners.
Everyone, except possibly us, the consumers that care about quality. (in most cases, sometimes we get lucky and a quality item sells well!)
ParamountPaint
They’re really nice. I bought the 10″ curved jaw when they came out, and the fit and finish is beautiful. They look like they could be heirloom tools
Fatboy
I ordered the sets from HJE when they first came out and they sent hats out with the pliers. When it was announced that the Eagle Grips would be discontinued, I ordered extras for the future generation thinking that over time, they would get more expensive like the original USA Vise Grips did. I guess I pulled the trigger too quick as I paid more a few months ago. I also think we are most likely in the sweet spot right now. They are still available and at less than retail at HJE!
Brad
How do these compare to Grip-On? I’ve always considered those the best locking pliers.
Jerry
I’d say a small step above. One thing about the Eagle Grips is the finish/polish they put on them. Practically flawless. I got a pair and am almost afraid to use them and mar the finish. Was thinking at the time if they had a finish like the originals and sold for $5 less they might do better. I actually am acquainted with a couple of the people that made both the original Vise-Grips and the Eagle Grips and it is sad that good folks like them no longer make them. I know they had some tooling or machine problems which didn’t help anything either. If only Malco would have bought them out before they sent the tooling to China they might not have had those issues. Conversely, Irwin could have kept the factory open if they wanted to, they were operating in the black. Instead, they took an iconic brand and made it into a cheaper version of itself, made in China. The Eagle Grips and original Vise-Grips were top of the line. Now they aren’t any better than the Bremens you can get at Harbor Freight for less money.
Brad
Thanks! I picked up one of all the pliers and some clamps, plus some Wilde tools that were on closeout. Love HJE.
Franco Calcagni
It’s sad that another great USA made tool will be no longer. A lot of “if only’s” but in the end, those that appreciate top quality, a tool that can last a lifetime, but pay a bit more for the quality and craftsmanship, are a very small minority.
David
I’ve never heard of Harry Epstein before. What a great selection of quality tools. Could you do a post about small business tool stores?
Stuart
Harry Epstein Co is great. Good selection, great people. I’ve never had an issue with an order. Their offer of free “box art” can be fun to take advantage of.
I have a post here discussing my usual go-to retailers: https://toolguyd.com/tool-guide-where-to-buy-tools/ .
There aren’t many smaller shops I’d recommend. There’s Harry Epstein, KC Tool, and Ohio Power Tool, and that’s about it. Lee Valley is fantastic too, but I’m not sure they count as a small business anymore. There are some shops I’d recommend for multi-tools, folding knives, and other EDC gear, but many tend to be specialized.
I’ll give it some thought to see if there are any other small stores not only references on my “where to buy” post. Or, maybe that post is due for an update.
fred
I added few possibilities when you first posted this – but would also thin that there are a few woodworking specialty stores like these:
https://toolsforworkingwood.com/
https://www.highlandwoodworking.com/
and ones that are even more specialized like: BallewSaw, RouterbitWorld, ToolsToday, and Timberline Tools,
Brad
Try chadstoolbox. Usually the best prices on euro tools. I’ve bought from them and they’re always fast and excellent.
Franco Calcagni
Chad’s, just beware, it has been 8-9 years, so things can definitely change.
Back then they were usually among the best prices, but many complained. The problems was when an order did not go according to plan. Meaning, if you order and get your parcel, great, everyone’s happy. But instances where you got something defective, broken, the wrong item or never got the product at all. The complaints were that no one at Chad’ would respond, or would respond but not follow-up according to what they said they would do…basically, no customer service.
As I said in the first line, it has been many years and maybe they are top notch now, just be aware.
fred
I also found Chad’s to be spotty. My issues were that items listed were often not in stock and shipment estimates were inaccurate. They have remained in business for a long times – so that may have changed.
Other sources to try are:
https://hausoftools.com/pages/brands
https://palmac.net/
MM
@fred
Items listed in stock but actually not? Inaccurate shipping estimates? Sounds like Optics Planet!
I’ve never dealt with Chad’s but I have bought from HJE a few times and had zero trouble.
Robert
Stuart, for recommended small stores, I would say Taylor Tools. I don’t see them in your list here. Maybe you had them in the more extensive lists.
https://taytools.com/
I’ve always had a good experience with them.
Franco Calcagni
I made 1 purchase from HJE, maybe 6-7 years ago, nothing to say, it was one purchase and went well…like many other purchases do.
If you are a regular reader on Garage Journal, the tool discussion section, over time you will see literally hundreds of satisfied HJE customers. I can’t recall and negative comments, just satisfied customers; kind of rare these days.
A bit bigger (I think) and also a pretty good retailer is one ACME. Good pricing, quality products, and fix problems. I believe they are one of Stuart’s advertisers (again, I think)
Harry
You guys finally wore me down. I bought the 7 & 10 inch curved jaw versions from Epstein’s . HJE is probably the last of the old time tool closeout places. Where else can you still buy World War II surplus tools? We also celebrate Epstein’s Day annually around July 4th (American made tools, fireworks, seared flesh, apple pie, small business, etc.) but, I digress. I’ve always viewed locking pliers as consumables. I beat on them, they get scarred up fast. they might get slag on them from welding, and they’re exposed to all automotive fluids, chemicals, and sealants. The lovely polished finish of the Eagle Grips never really attracted me, especially at Snap on prices. However, you wore me down and I was unable to resist temptation any further. I hope they’re everything you peeps make them out to be. Thanks for sharing.
Clay
Ordered a 7″ Curved and 7″ Straight from Epstein. I was tempted by the 10s but not sure I need those.
I mostly use my grandfather’s old Vise-Grips and a pair of my own 30-year old Craftsmans.
Wish Malco had made long-nose. I have 2 modern Vise-Grip long-nose and they are disappointing.
Thanks for the heads-up, Stu!
Ryan Guldbrandsen
I REALLY wish they would have came out with some 7″ needle nose. 😮💨😣
With that being said. I’ve about 15 of these. 9 we’re 100%. For and finish, great, jaws lined up, when shaken no play, etc… the other 6-7 were not. Jaws didn’t line up, play, not fully polished.
I kept the great ones and have away the not so great to family. They were happy. So, QC on these definitely isn’t 100%. But the great ones are very very nice.
The swivel C clamps are very very nice.
MM
I’m pretty well set on USA made vise-grips I purchased years ago but I’d absolutely buy a few more pair of needle nose if those were available The only ones I have are quite small. Likewise for the “chain clamp”. That is a very underappreciated tool in my opinion.
Ryan Guldbrandsen
I actually 100% prefer the opening method of the European grips.
With that being said. The first pair I bought was a really good pair. The fit and finish, the build quality. Definitely on par or above the euro ones I have. The teeth definitely aren’t as hard as my gedore grips. But, none of the others are either. So I kept buying the eagle grips.
The swivel C clamps have no equal in the full $55-60 price range. Let alone for $30. They are faaaar more heavy duty. I’ve broken my share of c clamps and these are holding up well. If the heat treatment on the steel of the C clamps is… good. They will definitely last me the rest of my life. Time will tell of coarse.
I use them for wood working stuff. As they are cheaper vs higher end wood working clamps and apply just as much force.😅 Obviously for smaller projects.
I wonder if they made a chain clamp. I keep finding new models of these dang clamps. Like the 7″ swivel C clamps. Those weren’t a thing before they shut down. 🤷🏼♂️ I just found them sold out on the linked site. I would have bought 8 pairs of them for 30 bucks a pop.
So maybe there are needle nose ones.
Harry J. Epstein
Jori here from Harry J. Epstein Co. Just wanted to say thanks for all the orders! It was….a lot. We have a stack waiting to be pulled piling up that looks like a drawing from a Shel Silverstein poem. Wanted to let you know that we’re looking at three shipments arriving from Malco in the next week. Normally we like to ship out the orders the same day they come in, but there will be a week or so delay on this one. Any questions about your particular order please feel free to contact me, but I’m confident we’re going to get the bulk of them shipped out by the end of next week.
Ryan Guldbrandsen
Are you getting more of the 8″ swivel C clamps in?? I had never come across those before.
Harry J. Epstein
We have more coming. Should be here by the end of next week. I’d never seen them either. Don’t believe they ever advertised them.
Alex
Thank you for the outstanding job y’all doing.
Robert
How do “Petersen” made in the USA vise grips compare? Spelled with an ending “sen” not “son.” I inherited a straight jaw one. It’s in the bottom of a drawer, so I had forgotten about it.
Franco Calcagni
I just bought 2 Malco’s after reading this article and just received them 2 days ago, so I can’t really do a fair comparison.
What I can tell you is that I have 4 of the original Petersen (maybe 40 yrs old), they are close to indestructible. I have seen some for sale at garage sales or flea markets, dirty, corrosion spots, and probably beat to heck, but they always work. The cutters blades never fail. The teeth hold up great.
Basically Malco’s and any other vise grip out there, always compare themselves to the gold standard, the original Petersen.
The one notable visual difference is that Malco’s have a smooth polished finish, similar to wrenches & ratchets, the Petersen have a rough finish.
Franco Calcagni
I would add to anyone that has considered top notch vise grips to get a pair of these Malco’s before they sell out.
I haven’t used these Malco’s I just received, but from many forums I have read, these are as close or equal to Petersen’s you can get. If you check out Project Farm’s test, the one that has Malco’s in the test, they do great. Meanwhile, 2 renowned brands, Knipex and Grip On don’t do so well; both were far behind the Malco’s. Actually if I remember correctly, after the Malco’s, the best value were the Irwin (bought out Petersen and then moved MFRing to China).
So if you want something top notch, get a pair of Malco’s.
Robert
Franco, thanks for the info. My Petersen’s do have a rough finish. But I wasn’t sure if it was just an off batch, so perhaps they were marked down and my Dad got a value. Or, by what you say, if that was a standard rough finish. The finish is so rough I can’t clearly make out where it is apparently made: “Dewett” or “Dewitt” or maybe even “Dewalt”; and NEBR. I think that’s Corn Husker state. It’s not rust making it hard to read, the lettering has the same roughness.
As you say, quality seems good. Everything moves and works smoothly, and it wasn’t stored oiled. It’s probably been in the family 30 years. I only used it a couple of times.
Franco Calcagni
Yes it is Nebraska, and Dewitt.
Someone can clarify, but I am pretty sure that Malco operates out of the MFRing plant that belonged to Petersen.
The finish is neither here nor there. Some prefer the smooth shiny finish like Malco, easier to clean, but more slippery in you hand if you get anything on them. The Petersen is the opposite, not as easy to clean but give you a tiny bit more grip if they are slight oily or greasy.
What counts is that they both work great and last a lifetime.
Ct451
These are real nice and even though I think they are overpriced l got a pair because I appreciate good craftsmanship. I have about 20 I abuse and 5 I rarely use. These feel great to hold and are too good to modify or to use when welding.
Does anyone use this type?: https://www.facom.com/blobs/medias/s/34d6116e5f8099de/header-500A.png
or one of its clones?:
https://media.takealot.com/covers_tsins/57526732/57526732-1-zoom.jpeg
Brad
For anyone still considering, here is an email I received from HJE the other day:
“We quickly ran out of stock of the Malco eagle grip pliers but have plenty more on their way. Malco’s told us the latest they will send our order is the 19th so we should get all the orders shipped that week. Let me know if you have any other questions.”
Franco Calcagni
This is kind of a sad state of affairs. A top quality tool that only sells when it is on liquidation.
I checked Malco’s website and they have a variety of specialized tools for specific jobs…pretty much, that is all they have, specialized tools.
These locking pliers would have been one of their more mainstream type products. But with tons of competing, lesser quality products, at half the price or less, they couldn’t sell enough to justify making them.
People don’t want to pay for quality, when [much] cheaper is available, except for the very few that want to really pay once, cry once. And when I say the very few, “few” is really a small percentage. I see this often but really realized it when Stuart had the Channellock bags a couple of days ago.
Everyone keeps crying…I wish they were made in the US, or I don’t want made in China crap, or make it in the US and I will buy it, or I would rather put food on my neighbors plate buying made in the US. These are comments I read here and so often on other forums.
Yet, the overall majority just complained about how much the Channellock bags cost. Yes, there are a few (maybe less entitled people that know what reality is) that mentioned what top hiking bags, what top tool bags like Veto(not made in the US) and other top quality stuff costs. But the vast majority just spew out the same old malaise of I WANT MADE IN THE US, just forget to mention they want it at made in China prices…or 10% more. These are the same people that cry at Irwin and any other company that shipped MFRing overseas.
You would prefer to put food on your neighbors plate…of course you expect your neighbor to work for $3 an hour.
Like I said at the outset, it is sad state of affairs.
Stuart
This is nothing like Channellock’s USA-made tool bags; the contexts and circumstances are completely different.
Some people rant about imported products, and others rant about the high pricing of USA-made products. Some rant about people ranting about country of origin.
Save your breath and find more productive ways to support brands and products you believe are under-appreciated.
Franco Calcagni
Me, I rant about everything.
“This is nothing like Channellock’s USA-made tool bags; the contexts and circumstances are completely different”….completely different? Really?
They are not the same in that one is being introduced, while the other is coming to an end.
But, they are both made in the USA products, that everyone is always asking for. In both cases, people complained about the price.
And while these 2 products are at different stages of their life, I hope I am wrong, but I do not thinks the CLK bags will last, meaning the product lifecycle, not the quality of the product.
The initial comments from people on this forum were very much in the I won’t buy, very few who would possibly buy. And your forum is made up of “tool” people; generally a group that will pay more for quality. So if the tool people won’t buy these, it will be a tough time staying afloat. The average consumer that possibly does not even know of CLK, and with tons of cheaper choices, will never buy these.
I have 2 Veto bags, love them. I got them about 10 years ago, thought they were made in the US, but apparently made in China. Regardless, great bags. I have no need for these, at least not right now.
I know that people like to laugh at government spending, like $1000 toilet seats, but regardless, these bags pass military spec. So funny spending aside, the military never buys crap.
If CLK would get a military contract, that would certainly save these bags. But probably they OEM that makes them for CLK would probably get, or already has the contract.
I hope the best for CLK and these bags. If they had their expectation of who would buy these properly gauged and know the market is small, they will be around for a while. If their pre-production demographic studies for possible client was too ambitious, then I am sorry to say, they will not last.
Stuart
I have been noticing. I don’t mind pushback against others’ occasionally repetitive rantings, but in this case you’re ranting about past comments in unrelated topics.
From what I can tell, all Channellock had to do with most of their soft storage products was approve the colorway and brand styling. That’s not a bad thing, but it’s very different from what Malco did.
Malco pushed a boulder up a mountain to get the factory up and running, and a lot of energy went into design improvements.
Channellock is a renown brand name. Eagle Grip was brand new.
So no, the circumstances are not the same.
You seem to be blaming users for the demise of the Eagle Grip product line, but it’s not their fault.
Not every brand or product has a happy ending. Malco did a lot of things right, and a lot of things wrong. I’m sure there were external factors as well.
Eagle Grip could have been successful, but how much time and money would it have taken? It seems that Malco determined the answer was “too much,” but they gave it an admirable effort.
Franco Calcagni
You choose to argue whatever point you consider to be right, like you often do.(when anyone mildly points out your wrong, you get your knickers in a twist)
I have no knowledge of Malco’s business plan. Your article was “Buy USA-Made Eagle Grip Locking Pliers While You Still Can”. In the comments, many complained about the price.
This is what I argued….”But, they are both made in the USA products, that everyone is always asking for. In both cases, people complained about the price.”….that’s it.
Your response above is good information, and probably correct, but has nothing to do with your article above, nor the CLK article. Looks like the whole response was to make a point where you feel you can be right about. Good for you. It is all interesting information, but again, has nothing to do with either article, or more precisely, nothing about what I was “ranting” about.
I just find it ironic when your answers go off on a tangent, yet I am off topic.
I will repeat my point; both articles, IN THE COMMENTS, people always wanting made in the USA, then complained about them being to expensive when they get it. I did also say that not everyone complained, some do understand the reality of made in the USA comes at a premium.
Malco’s uphill battle, and CLK’s deal for the bags; you argued that, not me.
Stuart
You: “Yet, the overall majority just complained about how much the Channellock bags cost.”
Me: “This is nothing like Channellock’s USA-made tool bags; the contexts and circumstances are completely different.”
You: “….completely different? Really?”
Me: “Here’s why…”
You: “You choose to argue whatever point you consider to be right, like you often do.”
You: “Your response above is good information, and probably correct, but has nothing to do with your article above, nor the CLK article.”
Also You: “I checked Malco’s website and they have a variety of specialized tools for specific jobs…pretty much, that is all they have, specialized tools.”
To speak candidly, your rants about people ranting about COO and USA-made prices, in the context of Malco Eagle Grip, are inappropriate in my opinion.
I am familiar with Malco’s lineup, very familiar with the hand too industry, and spoke extensively with Malco insiders before the line even launched.
To put it bluntly, I respect how confident your are in your ranting, but this is the worst possible example for you to choose. I understand you wish to rant about people ranting about the price of USA-made products. But in my opinion, these locking pliers were priced so much higher than functional equivalents.
At the start, my opinion was that these could be suited for some users’ one-and-only locking pliers, but likely wouldn’t appeal to heavy users, such as welders. And among users that buy individual styles, competition was heavy.
You’re pointing the fingers at people who say “USA tools are too expensive,” but objectively speaking, these were too expensive to be marketable.
Sales were too soft to sustain the effort.
Malco could have done everything right and the outcome would have been the same. They did most things right, but needed more aggressive marketing – or the help of a retail or brand partner – to drive adoption over a long enough period.
You say things like “This is kind of a sad state of affairs. A top quality tool that only sells when it is on liquidation.”
You seem to be blaming the product line’s failure on people who say they want USA-made tools but only want to pay import prices.
“Looks like the whole response was to make a point where you feel you can be right about.”
I tried to gently show you why you’re wrong, as it’s kinder than simply saying you’re off base and don’t seem to know what you’re talking about.
This has nothing to do with people wanting USA-made tools but only wanting to pay import prices. There could be internal issues that Malco hasn’t talked about, but from what I can tell, Eagle Grip locking pliers are priced disproportionally higher than consumers are willing to pay.
“Malco’s uphill battle, and CLK’s deal for the bags; you argued that, not me.”
Because you’re drawing parallels inappropriately. Eagle Grip and Channellock soft storage are nothing alike aside from being premium-priced USA-made products.
You’re attacking critics of the pricing unfairly, and without relevance since no one here has been ranting about COO or import tools.
Above, another commentor said “At $45 each, they’ll be available for a long time..” and you criticized them with “you sound like top quality are not worth paying for, yet you probably rant about made in China products.” That was uncalled for, as is the bulk of your rantings here.