Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] SK breaker bar Saga (the final update)

From: old dirtbeard <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2024 16:27:14 -0800

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I am very sorry to hear this, Moose. I too have been a loyal SK customer
for over 50 years. I have a very larage collection of tools from them.

I know that they were purchased in 2021 by Hangzhou GreatStar Industrial, a
Chinese conglomerate.  I believe that some/most of the manufacturing is
still done here, but it is no longer an American company.

For new purchases I believe Proto and Wright still are US-made and owned,
but things changs.

I bought a Backyard Buddy 4-post automotive lift in 2019 that was
wonderful. It was made by Steel Valley Lifts. I ordered another one last
month, but now it is owned by Advantage Lifts which sells imported lifts as
well.

Although the core Backyard Buddy lift is still made in the US of US steel,
many of the ancillary components now are imported and it only says
"assembled in USA" instead of "made in USA." The substituted imported parts
are not up to the quality of the Backyard sold by Steel City.

I truly hate to see this degradation of quality happen to really good
American tool companies. I guess I am just glad that I have most of the
tools now that I will ever need.

best,

doug

On Thu, Jan 4, 2024 at 2:16=E2=80=AFPM <[email-masked]> wrote:

> Well, in Oct, my SK breaker bar broke.
> I couldn't find any phone numbers or anything, just a website to fill out
> some info.
>
> After putting in a claim for the "breaker bar repair kit", I waited almos=
t
> a month, nothing.  Then I posted here and others expressed their
> dissatisfaction with SK as well.
>
> I finally found an email and sent them one asking if they received my
> claim.  They stated that they did not have it.
>
> I resubmitted it, waited 2 days and emailed again.  Again, they said they
> didn't have it.
>
> Then about a day later, they sent me an email stated they DID have it, bu=
t
> they didn't see it because the email address (I have no idea what that
> meant.)
>
> But they also said that I would have to send them the broken tool in for =
a
> replacement, since the kit wasn't available.
>
> So I spend about $12 sending it in (with all the postal tracking and such=
.)
>
> About 2 weeks AFTER I confirmed they received it, I sent another email.
> Nothing.
>
> Then, I get an invoice for the shipping of the new tool to me for $8 abou=
t
> 4 days later.  I pay it within an hour of getting it.
>
> About a week later, I get a message saying they received my payment and
> will be shipping out the replacement.  Now, this was about mid Dec.  So I
> hoped they would get it in the mail sooner before the holidays.
>
> Nope, they waited until the new year to ship it.  Since the place is only
> about 4 hours away from me in PA, it only took 2 days to get it.  So I no=
w
> have my new SK breaker bar.
>
> Note, in all my emails to them I expressed how much I loved SK tools, and
> how I relied on my breaker bar and how I would have to buy a cheap one to
> use in the meantime if it was going to take a while to replace.
>
> In the end, I am not at all happy.  American tool companies used to be
> worth the extra price.  However, I know that if I had a cheap Home Depot
> Rigid one and walked into a store with it broken, I would walk out with a
> new one.
>
> The other thing is that I had to pay the shipping BOTH WAYS.  Really?  If
> they didn't like the photos I sent, they could have paid for the shipping
> one way at least!  I mean, $20 isn't going to break me, but it is a drop =
in
> the bucket for a company that charges a MAJOR premium for tools.  And to
> have me without a tool for over 3 months!  I mean if I was making my livi=
ng
> with their tools, I would have been starving.
>
> I will NO LONGER buy SK tools.    I hope they are happy.  If any of them
> break, I'm headed to a local Lowes and replacing them with their house
> brands (they used to do that in the past at least.)
>
> Anyway, just wanted to let all of you know what happened with the bar.
>
> Moose _______________________________________________
>
> [email-masked]
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Suggested annual donation  $12.96
> Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk
> http://autox.team.net/archive
>
> Unsubscribe/Manage:
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/[email-masked]
>
>

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-size:small">I a=
m very sorry to hear this, Moose. I too have been a loyal SK customer for o=
ver 50 years. I have a very larage collection of tools from them.</div><div=
 class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D""><br></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" =
style=3D"">I know that they were purchased in 2021 by<span style=3D"color:r=
gb(17,17,17);font-family:Roboto,Helvetica,sans-serif">=C2=A0</span><span st=
yle=3D"color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Roboto,Helvetica,sans-serif">Hangzho=
u GreatStar Industrial, a Chinese conglomerate.=C2=A0</span><span style=3D"=
font-size:small">=C2=A0I believe=C2=A0that some/most of the manufacturing i=
s still done here, but it is no longer an American company.</span></div><di=
v class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D""><span style=3D"font-size:small"><br></=
span></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D""><span style=3D"font-size=
:small">For new purchases=C2=A0I believe Proto and Wright still are US-made=
 and owned, but things changs.</span></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" sty=
le=3D""><span style=3D"font-size:small"><br></span></div><div class=3D"gmai=
l_default" style=3D""><span style=3D"font-size:small">I bought a Backyard B=
uddy 4-post automotive lift in 2019 that was wonderful. It was made by Stee=
l Valley Lifts. I ordered another one last month, but now it is owned by Ad=
vantage Lifts which sells imported lifts as well.=C2=A0</span></div><div cl=
ass=3D"gmail_default" style=3D""><span style=3D"font-size:small"><br></span=
></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D""><span style=3D"font-size:sma=
ll">Although the core Backyard Buddy lift is still made in the US of US ste=
el, many of the ancillary components now are imported and it only says &quo=
t;assembled in USA&quot; instead of &quot;made in USA.&quot; The substitute=
d imported parts are not up to the quality of the Backyard sold by Steel Ci=
ty.=C2=A0</span></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D""><span style=
=3D"font-size:small"><br></span></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D=
""><span style=3D"font-size:small">I truly hate to see this degradation of =
quality happen to really good American tool companies. I guess I am just gl=
ad that I have most of the tools now that I will ever need.</span></div><di=
v class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D""><span style=3D"font-size:small"><br></=
span></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D""><span style=3D"font-size=
:small">best,</span></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D""><span sty=
le=3D"font-size:small"><br></span></div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=
=3D""><span style=3D"font-size:small">doug</span></div></div><br><div class=
=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Thu, Jan 4, 2024 =
at 2:16=E2=80=AFPM &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]">[email-masked]=
om</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margi=
n:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex=
"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">Well, in Oct, my
SK breaker bar broke. =C2=A0</span>
<br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">I couldn&#39;t fi=
nd
any phone numbers or anything, just a website to fill out some info.</span>
<br>
<br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">After putting
in a claim for the &quot;breaker bar repair kit&quot;, I waited almost
a month, nothing.=C2=A0 Then I posted here and others expressed their dissa=
tisfaction
with SK as well.</span>
<br>
<br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">I finally found
an email and sent them one asking if they received my claim.=C2=A0 They
stated that they did not have it.</span>
<br>
<br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">I resubmitted
it, waited 2 days and emailed again.=C2=A0 Again, they said they didn&#39;t
have it.</span>
<br>
<br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">Then about a day
later, they sent me an email stated they DID have it, but they didn&#39;t s=
ee
it because the email address (I have no idea what that meant.)</span>
<br>
<br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">But they also
said that I would have to send them the broken tool in for a replacement,
since the kit wasn&#39;t available.</span>
<br>
<br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">So I spend about
$12 sending it in (with all the postal tracking and such.)</span>
<br>
<br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">About 2 weeks
AFTER I confirmed they received it, I sent another email.=C2=A0 Nothing.</s=
pan>
<br>
<br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">Then, I get an
invoice for the shipping of the new tool to me for $8 about 4 days later.
=C2=A0I pay it within an hour of getting it.</span>
<br>
<br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">About a week late=
r,
I get a message saying they received my payment and will be shipping out
the replacement.=C2=A0 Now, this was about mid Dec.=C2=A0 So I hoped they
would get it in the mail sooner before the holidays.</span>
<br>
<br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">Nope, they waited
until the new year to ship it.=C2=A0 Since the place is only about 4 hours
away from me in PA, it only took 2 days to get it.=C2=A0 So I now have
my new SK breaker bar.</span>
<br>
<br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">Note, in all my
emails to them I expressed how much I loved SK tools, and how I relied
on my breaker bar and how I would have to buy a cheap one to use in the
meantime if it was going to take a while to replace.</span>
<br>
<br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">In the end, I
am not at all happy.=C2=A0 American tool companies used to be worth the
extra price.=C2=A0 However, I know that if I had a cheap Home Depot Rigid
one and walked into a store with it broken, I would walk out with a new
one.</span>
<br>
<br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">The other thing
is that I had to pay the shipping BOTH WAYS.=C2=A0 Really?=C2=A0 If they
didn&#39;t like the photos I sent, they could have paid for the shipping on=
e
way at least!=C2=A0 I mean, $20 isn&#39;t going to break me, but it is a dr=
op
in the bucket for a company that charges a MAJOR premium for tools.=C2=A0 A=
nd
to have me without a tool for over 3 months!=C2=A0 I mean if I was making
my living with their tools, I would have been starving.</span>
<br>
<br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">I will NO LONGER
buy SK tools. =C2=A0 =C2=A0I hope they are happy.=C2=A0 If any of them
break, I&#39;m headed to a local Lowes and replacing them with their house
brands (they used to do that in the past at least.)</span>
<br>
<br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">Anyway, just want=
ed
to let all of you know what happened with the bar.</span>
<br>
<br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:sans-serif">Moose</span>
_______________________________________________<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">Shop-talk@aut=
ox.team.net</a><br>
et=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk" rel=3D"norefer=
rer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk</a> <a href=
=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">htt=
p://autox.team.net/archive</a><br>
<br>
alk/[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.=
team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/[email-masked]</a><br>
<br>
</blockquote></div>

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_______________________________________________

[email-masked]
Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk http://autox.team.net/archive

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From: <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 6 Jan 2024 09:20:08 -0800

This is a multipart message in MIME format.

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Yes, it IS sad to see well respected brands decline in quality!

=20

Re: =E2=80=9CAlthough the core Backyard Buddy lift is still made in the =
US of US steel, many of the ancillary components now are imported and it =
only says "assembled in USA" instead of "made in USA." The substituted =
imported parts are not up to the quality of the Backyard sold by Steel =
City. =E2=80=9C

=20

I have to assume the domestic companies ARE getting what they are =
ordering from the foreign suppliers, raising the question of why are =
they either [1] specifying lower quality, or [2] specifying higher =
quality but accepting lesser goods?

=20

-----------------------------------

All the best,

=20

Al Fuller

=20

From: Shop-talk <[email-masked]> On Behalf Of old =
dirtbeard
Sent: Thursday, January 4, 2024 4:27 PM
To: [email-masked]
Cc: [email-masked]
Subject: Re: [Shop-talk] SK breaker bar Saga (the final update)

=20

I am very sorry to hear this, Moose. I too have been a loyal SK customer =
for over 50 years. I have a very larage collection of tools from them.

=20

I know that they were purchased in 2021 by Hangzhou GreatStar =
Industrial, a Chinese conglomerate.  I believe that some/most of the =
manufacturing is still done here, but it is no longer an American =
company.

=20

For new purchases I believe Proto and Wright still are US-made and =
owned, but things changs.

=20

I bought a Backyard Buddy 4-post automotive lift in 2019 that was =
wonderful. It was made by Steel Valley Lifts. I ordered another one last =
month, but now it is owned by Advantage Lifts which sells imported lifts =
as well.=20

=20

Although the core Backyard Buddy lift is still made in the US of US =
steel, many of the ancillary components now are imported and it only =
says "assembled in USA" instead of "made in USA." The substituted =
imported parts are not up to the quality of the Backyard sold by Steel =
City.=20

=20

I truly hate to see this degradation of quality happen to really good =
American tool companies. I guess I am just glad that I have most of the =
tools now that I will ever need.

=20

best,

=20

doug

=20

On Thu, Jan 4, 2024 at 2:16=E2=80=AFPM <[email-masked] =

Well, in Oct, my SK breaker bar broke.  =20
I couldn't find any phone numbers or anything, just a website to fill =
out some info.=20

After putting in a claim for the "breaker bar repair kit", I waited =
almost a month, nothing.  Then I posted here and others expressed their =
dissatisfaction with SK as well.=20

I finally found an email and sent them one asking if they received my =
claim.  They stated that they did not have it.=20

I resubmitted it, waited 2 days and emailed again.  Again, they said =
they didn't have it.=20

Then about a day later, they sent me an email stated they DID have it, =
but they didn't see it because the email address (I have no idea what =
that meant.)=20

But they also said that I would have to send them the broken tool in for =
a replacement, since the kit wasn't available.=20

So I spend about $12 sending it in (with all the postal tracking and =
such.)=20

About 2 weeks AFTER I confirmed they received it, I sent another email.  =
Nothing.=20

Then, I get an invoice for the shipping of the new tool to me for $8 =
about 4 days later.  I pay it within an hour of getting it.=20

About a week later, I get a message saying they received my payment and =
will be shipping out the replacement.  Now, this was about mid Dec.  So =
I hoped they would get it in the mail sooner before the holidays.=20

Nope, they waited until the new year to ship it.  Since the place is =
only about 4 hours away from me in PA, it only took 2 days to get it.  =
So I now have my new SK breaker bar.=20

Note, in all my emails to them I expressed how much I loved SK tools, =
and how I relied on my breaker bar and how I would have to buy a cheap =
one to use in the meantime if it was going to take a while to replace.=20

In the end, I am not at all happy.  American tool companies used to be =
worth the extra price.  However, I know that if I had a cheap Home Depot =
Rigid one and walked into a store with it broken, I would walk out with =
a new one.=20

The other thing is that I had to pay the shipping BOTH WAYS.  Really?  =
If they didn't like the photos I sent, they could have paid for the =
shipping one way at least!  I mean, $20 isn't going to break me, but it =
is a drop in the bucket for a company that charges a MAJOR premium for =
tools.  And to have me without a tool for over 3 months!  I mean if I =
was making my living with their tools, I would have been starving.=20

I will NO LONGER buy SK tools.    I hope they are happy.  If any of them =
break, I'm headed to a local Lowes and replacing them with their house =
brands (they used to do that in the past at least.)=20

Anyway, just wanted to let all of you know what happened with the bar.=20

Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk =
http://autox.team.net/archive

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vlink=3Dpurple style=3D'word-wrap:break-word'><div =
class=3DWordSection1><p class=3DMsoNormal>Yes, it IS sad to see well =
respected brands decline in quality!<o:p></o:p></p><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal>Re: =
=E2=80=9C<span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Although the core Backyard =
Buddy lift is still made in the US of US steel, many of the ancillary =
components now are imported and it only says &quot;assembled in =
USA&quot; instead of &quot;made in USA.&quot; The substituted imported =
parts are not up to the quality of the Backyard sold by Steel =
City.&nbsp;=E2=80=9C<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>I have to assume the =
domestic companies ARE getting what they are ordering from the foreign =
suppliers, raising the question of why are they either [1] specifying =
lower quality, or [2] specifying higher quality but accepting lesser =
goods?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><p =
class=3DMsoNormal>-----------------------------------<o:p></o:p></p><p =
class=3DMsoNormal>All the best,<o:p></o:p></p><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal>Al =
Fuller<o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><div =
style=3D'border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in =
0in 0in'><p class=3DMsoNormal><b>From:</b> Shop-talk =
&lt;[email-masked]&gt; <b>On Behalf Of </b>old =
dirtbeard<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, January 4, 2024 4:27 =
PM<br><b>To:</b> [email-masked]<br><b>Cc:</b> =
[email-masked]<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Shop-talk] SK breaker =
bar Saga (the final update)<o:p></o:p></p></div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>I am very sorry to =
hear this, Moose. I too have been a loyal SK customer for over 50 years. =
I have a very larage collection of tools from =
them.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p></div><div><p class=3DMsoNormal>I =
know that they were purchased in 2021 by<span =
style=3D'font-family:Roboto;color:#111111'>&nbsp;Hangzhou GreatStar =
Industrial, a Chinese conglomerate.&nbsp;</span><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>&nbsp;I believe&nbsp;that some/most of the =
manufacturing is still done here, but it is no longer an American =
company.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>For new =
purchases&nbsp;I believe Proto and Wright still are US-made and owned, =
but things changs.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>I bought a Backyard =
Buddy 4-post automotive lift in 2019 that was wonderful. It was made by =
Steel Valley Lifts. I ordered another one last month, but now it is =
owned by Advantage Lifts which sells imported lifts as =
well.&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Although the core =
Backyard Buddy lift is still made in the US of US steel, many of the =
ancillary components now are imported and it only says &quot;assembled =
in USA&quot; instead of &quot;made in USA.&quot; The substituted =
imported parts are not up to the quality of the Backyard sold by Steel =
City.&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>I truly hate to see =
this degradation of quality happen to really good American tool =
companies. I guess I am just glad that I have most of the tools now that =
I will ever need.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>best,</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p></div><div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>doug</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><div><div><p class=3DMsoNormal>On =
Thu, Jan 4, 2024 at 2:16=E2=80=AFPM &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]">[email-masked]</a>&gt; =
wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote =
style=3D'border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in =
6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in'><p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Well, in Oct, =
my SK breaker bar broke. &nbsp;</span> <br><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>I couldn't =
find any phone numbers or anything, just a website to fill out some =
info.</span> <br><br><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>After putting =
in a claim for the &quot;breaker bar repair kit&quot;, I waited almost a =
month, nothing.&nbsp; Then I posted here and others expressed their =
dissatisfaction with SK as well.</span> <br><br><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>I finally =
found an email and sent them one asking if they received my claim.&nbsp; =
They stated that they did not have it.</span> <br><br><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>I resubmitted =
it, waited 2 days and emailed again.&nbsp; Again, they said they didn't =
have it.</span> <br><br><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Then about a =
day later, they sent me an email stated they DID have it, but they =
didn't see it because the email address (I have no idea what that =
meant.)</span> <br><br><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>But they also =
said that I would have to send them the broken tool in for a =
replacement, since the kit wasn't available.</span> <br><br><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>So I spend =
about $12 sending it in (with all the postal tracking and such.)</span> =
<br><br><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>About 2 weeks =
AFTER I confirmed they received it, I sent another email.&nbsp; =
Nothing.</span> <br><br><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Then, I get an =
invoice for the shipping of the new tool to me for $8 about 4 days =
later. &nbsp;I pay it within an hour of getting it.</span> <br><br><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>About a week =
later, I get a message saying they received my payment and will be =
shipping out the replacement.&nbsp; Now, this was about mid Dec.&nbsp; =
So I hoped they would get it in the mail sooner before the =
holidays.</span> <br><br><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Nope, they =
waited until the new year to ship it.&nbsp; Since the place is only =
about 4 hours away from me in PA, it only took 2 days to get it.&nbsp; =
So I now have my new SK breaker bar.</span> <br><br><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Note, in all =
my emails to them I expressed how much I loved SK tools, and how I =
relied on my breaker bar and how I would have to buy a cheap one to use =
in the meantime if it was going to take a while to replace.</span> =
<br><br><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>In the end, I =
am not at all happy.&nbsp; American tool companies used to be worth the =
extra price.&nbsp; However, I know that if I had a cheap Home Depot =
Rigid one and walked into a store with it broken, I would walk out with =
a new one.</span> <br><br><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The other =
thing is that I had to pay the shipping BOTH WAYS.&nbsp; Really?&nbsp; =
If they didn't like the photos I sent, they could have paid for the =
shipping one way at least!&nbsp; I mean, $20 isn't going to break me, =
but it is a drop in the bucket for a company that charges a MAJOR =
premium for tools.&nbsp; And to have me without a tool for over 3 =
months!&nbsp; I mean if I was making my living with their tools, I would =
have been starving.</span> <br><br><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>I will NO =
LONGER buy SK tools. &nbsp; &nbsp;I hope they are happy.&nbsp; If any of =
them break, I'm headed to a local Lowes and replacing them with their =
house brands (they used to do that in the past at least.)</span> =
<br><br><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Anyway, just =
wanted to let all of you know what happened with the bar.</span> =
<br><br><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Moose</span> =
_______________________________________________<br><br><a =
href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" =
target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</a><br>Donate: <a =
href=3D"http://www.team.net/donate.html" =
target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>Suggested =
annual donation&nbsp; $12.96<br>Archive: <a =
href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk" =
target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk</a> <a =
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target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br><br>Unsubscribe/Ma=
nage: <a =
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target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/dirtbea=
[email-masked]</a><o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div></div></body></html>
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---

From: old dirtbeard <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 6 Jan 2024 10:31:43 -0800

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My guess is that they look to fill the specs (e.g., caster wheel rated at X
lbs.) and procure based upon price. I wrote a lengthy, factual assessment
comparing the previous "made in USA lift" to the current "assembled in USA
lift" detailing where the newer one fell short.

I did like the ramp and wheel chock design on the newer one better, and I
told them that as well.

We will see if they respond.

On Sat, Jan 6, 2024 at 9:20=E2=80=AFAM <[email-masked]> wrote:

> Re: =E2=80=9CAlthough the core Backyard Buddy lift is still made in the U=
S of US
> steel, many of the ancillary components now are imported and it only says
> "assembled in USA" instead of "made in USA." The substituted imported par=
ts
> are not up to the quality of the Backyard sold by Steel City. =E2=80=9C
>
>
>
> I have to assume the domestic companies ARE getting what they are orderin=
g
> from the foreign suppliers, raising the question of why are they either [=
1]
> specifying lower quality, or [2] specifying higher quality but accepting
> lesser goods?
>
>
>
> *From:* Shop-talk <[email-masked]> *On Behalf Of *old
> dirtbeard
> *Sent:* Thursday, January 4, 2024 4:27 PM
> *To:* [email-masked]
> *Cc:* [email-masked]
> *Subject:* Re: [Shop-talk] SK breaker bar Saga (the final update)
>
>
>
> I know that they were purchased in 2021 by Hangzhou GreatStar Industrial,
> a Chinese conglomerate.  I believe that some/most of the manufacturing is
as
> well.
>
>
>
> Although the core Backyard Buddy lift is still made in the US of US steel=
,
> "assembled in USA" instead of "made in USA." The substituted imported par=
ts
t
t
a
.)
t
w
in
ng
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/[email-masked]

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-size:small">My =
guess is that they look to fill the specs (e.g., caster wheel rated at X lb=
s.) and procure based upon price. I wrote=C2=A0a lengthy, factual assessmen=
t comparing the previous &quot;made in USA lift&quot; to the current &quot;=
assembled=C2=A0in USA lift&quot; detailing where the newer one fell short.=
=C2=A0</div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-size:small"><br></di=
v><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-size:small">I did like the ram=
p and wheel chock design on the newer one better, and I told them that as w=
ell.</div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-size:small"><br></div>=
<div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-size:small">We will see if they =
respond.</div><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-size:small"><br></=
div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_at=
tr">On Sat, Jan 6, 2024 at 9:20=E2=80=AFAM &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:alfuller19=
[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></di=
v><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;borde=
r-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div lang=3D"EN-US=
"><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal">Yes, it IS sad to see well respected brands d=
ecline in quality!<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u>=
</u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">Re: =E2=80=9C<span style=3D"font-size:12pt">=
Although the core Backyard Buddy lift is still made in the US of US steel, =
many of the ancillary components now are imported and it only says &quot;as=
sembled in USA&quot; instead of &quot;made in USA.&quot; The substituted im=
ported parts are not up to the quality of the Backyard sold by Steel City.=
=C2=A0=E2=80=9C<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=
=3D"font-size:12pt"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></span></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><=
span style=3D"font-size:12pt">I have to assume the domestic companies ARE g=
etting what they are ordering from the foreign suppliers, raising the quest=
ion of why are they either [1] specifying lower quality, or [2] specifying =
higher quality but accepting lesser goods?</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class=
=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">-------------=
----------------------<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">All the best=
,<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><p class=
=3D"MsoNormal">Al Fuller<u></u><u></u></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=
=A0<u></u></p><div style=3D"border-right:none;border-bottom:none;border-lef=
t:none;border-top:1pt solid rgb(225,225,225);padding:3pt 0in 0in"><p class=
=3D"MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Shop-talk &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:shop-talk-bounc=
[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</a>&g=
t; <b>On Behalf Of </b>old dirtbeard<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, January 4, 2=
024 4:27 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_b=
lank">[email-masked]</a><br><b>Cc:</b> <a href=3D"mailto:Shop-talk@autox=
.team.net" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</a><br><b>Subject:</b=
> Re: [Shop-talk] SK breaker bar Saga (the final update)<u></u><u></u></p><=
/div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><div><div><p class=3D"M=
soNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:12pt">I am very sorry to hear this, Moos=
e. I too have been a loyal SK customer for over 50 years. I have a very lar=
age collection of tools from them.<u></u><u></u></span></p></div><div><p cl=
ass=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p></div><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"=
>I know that they were purchased in 2021 by<span style=3D"font-family:Robot=
o;color:rgb(17,17,17)">=C2=A0Hangzhou GreatStar Industrial, a Chinese congl=
omerate.=C2=A0</span><span style=3D"font-size:12pt">=C2=A0I believe=C2=A0th=
at some/most of the manufacturing is still done here, but it is no longer a=
n American company.</span><u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class=3D"MsoNorma=
l"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p></div><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D=
"font-size:12pt">For new purchases=C2=A0I believe Proto and Wright still ar=
e US-made and owned, but things changs.</span><u></u><u></u></p></div><div>=
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p></div><div><p class=3D"MsoNo=
rmal"><span style=3D"font-size:12pt">I bought a Backyard Buddy 4-post autom=
otive lift in 2019 that was wonderful. It was made by Steel Valley Lifts. I=
 ordered another one last month, but now it is owned by Advantage Lifts whi=
ch sells imported lifts as well.=C2=A0</span><u></u><u></u></p></div><div><=
p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p></div><div><p class=3D"MsoNor=
mal"><span style=3D"font-size:12pt">Although the core Backyard Buddy lift i=
s still made in the US of US steel, many of the ancillary components now ar=
e imported and it only says &quot;assembled in USA&quot; instead of &quot;m=
ade in USA.&quot; The substituted imported parts are not up to the quality =
of the Backyard sold by Steel City.=C2=A0</span><u></u><u></u></p></div><di=
v><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p></div><div><p class=3D"Mso=
Normal"><span style=3D"font-size:12pt">I truly hate to see this degradation=
 of quality happen to really good American tool companies. I guess I am jus=
t glad that I have most of the tools now that I will ever need.</span><u></=
u><u></u></p></div><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p></di=
v><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:12pt">best,</span><u=
></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></p><=
/div><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><span style=3D"font-size:12pt">doug</span>=
<u></u><u></u></p></div></div><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><u></u>=C2=A0<u></u></=
p><div><div><p class=3D"MsoNormal">On Thu, Jan 4, 2024 at 2:16=E2=80=AFPM &=
lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]=
</a>&gt; wrote:<u></u><u></u></p></div><blockquote style=3D"border-top:none=
;border-right:none;border-bottom:none;border-left:1pt solid rgb(204,204,204=
);padding:0in 0in 0in 6pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in"><p class=3D"M=
soNormal" style=3D"margin-bottom:12pt"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-f=
amily:Arial,sans-serif">Well, in Oct, my SK breaker bar broke. =C2=A0</span=
> <br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">I couldn&=
#39;t find any phone numbers or anything, just a website to fill out some i=
nfo.</span> <br><br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-se=
rif">After putting in a claim for the &quot;breaker bar repair kit&quot;, I=
 waited almost a month, nothing.=C2=A0 Then I posted here and others expres=
sed their dissatisfaction with SK as well.</span> <br><br><span style=3D"fo=
nt-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">I finally found an email and sen=
t them one asking if they received my claim.=C2=A0 They stated that they di=
d not have it.</span> <br><br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:Ari=
al,sans-serif">I resubmitted it, waited 2 days and emailed again.=C2=A0 Aga=
in, they said they didn&#39;t have it.</span> <br><br><span style=3D"font-s=
ize:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Then about a day later, they sent me=
 an email stated they DID have it, but they didn&#39;t see it because the e=
mail address (I have no idea what that meant.)</span> <br><br><span style=
=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">But they also said that I =
would have to send them the broken tool in for a replacement, since the kit=
 wasn&#39;t available.</span> <br><br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-fa=
mily:Arial,sans-serif">So I spend about $12 sending it in (with all the pos=
tal tracking and such.)</span> <br><br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-f=
amily:Arial,sans-serif">About 2 weeks AFTER I confirmed they received it, I=
 sent another email.=C2=A0 Nothing.</span> <br><br><span style=3D"font-size=
:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Then, I get an invoice for the shipping=
 of the new tool to me for $8 about 4 days later.=C2=A0 I pay it within an =
hour of getting it.</span> <br><br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-famil=
y:Arial,sans-serif">About a week later, I get a message saying they receive=
d my payment and will be shipping out the replacement.=C2=A0 Now, this was =
about mid Dec.=C2=A0 So I hoped they would get it in the mail sooner before=
 the holidays.</span> <br><br><span style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:Ari=
al,sans-serif">Nope, they waited until the new year to ship it.=C2=A0 Since=
 the place is only about 4 hours away from me in PA, it only took 2 days to=
 get it.=C2=A0 So I now have my new SK breaker bar.</span> <br><br><span st=
yle=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Note, in all my emails =
to them I expressed how much I loved SK tools, and how I relied on my break=
er bar and how I would have to buy a cheap one to use in the meantime if it=
 was going to take a while to replace.</span> <br><br><span style=3D"font-s=
ize:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">In the end, I am not at all happy.=
=C2=A0 American tool companies used to be worth the extra price.=C2=A0 Howe=
ver, I know that if I had a cheap Home Depot Rigid one and walked into a st=
ore with it broken, I would walk out with a new one.</span> <br><br><span s=
tyle=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">The other thing is tha=
t I had to pay the shipping BOTH WAYS.=C2=A0 Really?=C2=A0 If they didn&#39=
;t like the photos I sent, they could have paid for the shipping one way at=
 least!=C2=A0 I mean, $20 isn&#39;t going to break me, but it is a drop in =
the bucket for a company that charges a MAJOR premium for tools.=C2=A0 And =
to have me without a tool for over 3 months!=C2=A0 I mean if I was making m=
y living with their tools, I would have been starving.</span> <br><br><span=
 style=3D"font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">I will NO LONGER buy=
 SK tools. =C2=A0 =C2=A0I hope they are happy.=C2=A0 If any of them break, =
I&#39;m headed to a local Lowes and replacing them with their house brands =
(they used to do that in the past at least.)</span> <br><br><span style=3D"=
font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Anyway, just wanted to let all=
 of you know what happened with the bar.</span> <br><br><span style=3D"font=
-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Moose</span> _____________________=
__________________________<br><br><a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]=
t" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</a><br>Donate: <a href=3D"htt=
p://www.team.net/donate.html" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.=
html</a><br>Suggested annual donation=C2=A0 $12.96<br>Archive: <a href=3D"h=
ttp://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.n=
et/pipermail/shop-talk</a> <a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" target=
=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br><br>Unsubscribe/Manage: <a=
 href=3D"http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/[email-masked]=
m" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/dirtbe=
[email-masked]</a><u></u><u></u></p></blockquote></div></div></div></div></b=
lockquote></div>

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