Corporate Counterfeiting: A Race to the Bottom of Quality (ft. SK Adjustable Wrenches) 

Gone are the days when companies were proud to put their name on a good product and stand behind it.

This is precisely why I now, when searching for tools I need or don't have, look only for vintage tools made pre-1980's by any of the old made in USA or West Germany brands.

Licensing a brand is like changing wives who each have the same first name, and expecting the kids to not notice.

SK tools was acquired by a Chinese company over a year ago. It is now what I call a zombie brand. The tools available on the website are what's left of their US stock. (Source : I'm a mechanic who has used SK for about 20 years.)

SK was sold to a large Chinese company and they are being manufactured without the “made in USA“. my guess is that the Chinese company is producing those SK wrenches with bottom of the line shit quality control and planning to ride the SK name all the way into the ground by deliberately shortcutting the bottom line costs, but enjoying the SK reputation

Thx for the vid. This has a long history, with many different branches on the core concept. But yes, absolutely, firms have for a long time realized that they could bring in higher margins by slapping their name on lower cost to manufacture stuff and selling for significant profits based on brand recognition (or goodwill). There is a risk, of course, of destruction of reputation, and that's why in the last 40 years these types of actions have mainly been seen after an acquisition by a more, short-term profit, focused groups or funds. Sometimes even it will be a hostile acquisition. Essentially, the acquirer believes the name brand firm is available for sale for a lower price than their goodwill with consumers. So, the acquirer leverages that public goodwill, floods the market with relatively low cost, but high-margin and lower quality, products and draws down on the public goodwill. Eventually, people wise up and start viewing the brand as "junk these days," but by then the new owners will have made back their purchase price and much more. They often dump the hull of the famous firm, sometimes the next buyers are "turn-around" funds. This strategy affects all kinds of famous brands, in many industries, from fashion (ie, Ferragamo) to industrial tools (ie, the great vid above).

IREGA is a tool company in spain that only makes adjustable end wrenches. You will find made in Spain markings on a lot of rebrands produced by IREGA...Great wrenches.

Nothing you purchase today can be taken at face value. This goes far beyond tools. Brand names are bought and sold every day so even a name you trusted last month can't be depended on to be the same this month.

Bought by Chinese lots of companies have gone that way then the Chinese make them cheap basically demolishing the American tool industry and people will say meh harbor freight is the same which it isn’t

I collect vintage tools. I can buy an old American crescent wrench at a flea market for a few dollars. 5 minutes on a wire wheel, some clean up and oil, and you've got something better than that new crap. I must have around 50 of them. Can't pass them up when the price is right.

The practice you describe here is called 'shitting the nest'. So many once respected brands have taken this route. Is bummer.

My best adjustable wrenches are by Channelock, made in Spain!

It's All smoking mirrors! Run Forest! Runn

I have all USA SK. But you have to understand. The company that made that original wrench is out of business. And they never even chromed it. Unlike what is the cheaper one. That’s funny actually. But if SK didn’t use overseas manufacturing it to would be out of business like Western Forge and many others. Take notice the tool trucks are getting less and less. As people fill their snap on box with Icon and Tekton. Let’s hope greatstar can bring it.

Man i dont even use anymore adjustable wrench unless its over 2ft long. I just use the knipex plier wrenches now.

Another example is Craftsman...their screwdrivers from the 1970's and earlier were forged and the slotted ones (their Phillips were never any good) were indestructible, I would use them as chisels and I still have quite a few.

The Western Forge are nice got a few vintage Craftsman WF that are just bulletproof

I like that term. That S-K would employ this scam is shocking. S-K used to be a professional quality brand. Putting the name on a consumer product devalues it. S-K is dead as a professional brand, except for vintage tools. They can't be trusted. I'm glad I bought a couple of Diamond adjustable wrenches when I did.

Gone are the days when a quality tool was in calloused hands. This world is so soft. Western Forge days are gone.

I 'collect' proto, mac and craftsman tools from Western Forge. Its very unfortunate that them dropping their contract with Sears lead to them both going out of business essentially. I mean Sears was headed that way anyways (there's still one open near me but its strangely empty, I can't believe its still open.) Specifically their adjustable wrenches are my favorites, though the satin chrome does chip relatively easy.

That counterfeit is/was in Lowes for 3 for 19.00 better quality than the one you have but very much the same but not the same quality of the past

Vintage SK was nice stuff, I’ve been buying Wright Tools for a few years best value for the money, Wrights adjustable are quality made in Spain by Irega afaik

Very informative. Thank you. It's a shame SK is another sellout to China. I started buying USA made SK tools in the 1970s which I still have today. But I will not buy an SK tool made in China. I'd rather go to Harbor Freight and buy Taiwan made tools with a warranty at a fraction of the price.

They call it “pro-Sumer” All the Taiwan tools that they are going to put in retail stores

Apex tools the best. And yes proto williams. And i like cornwell.

I've never been a big SK fan. I have some of the older SK-Wayne wrenches that i've gotten at flea markets that make for good beater wrenches, but their new stuff has always seemed way over priced for the quality you're getting. Its depressing seeing such an Iconic American brand go down the crapper

Import is literally half the price. What were you expecting?

Have you been to WAL-MART Lately? All Kinds Of Corporate Counterfeiting. Selling Lesser Quality Name Brands Like LEE Jeans, REEBOK Athletic Wear Etc.. Name Brand Buy Out Selling To The Uninformed Public......What A Shame!!!