Want to share a story about how Chinese crap tools at Menard'* cost me a lot of time and money (Tool Shop brand). I will later rip Home Depot in another thread.

I returned from Afghanistan in the winter of 2005. My driveway is about 1/4 mile long and I live on a highway. Went to start my 1991 Chevy K2500 with the plow, which had been sitting for months. It was about 10 below zero and the snow drifts were high on the driveway. All my tools were packed and put into storage while I was in Afghanistan by my retired best friend who thought they would be pilfered while I was away.

The truck would not turn over. at all. Went to Menard'* and purchased a set of their lowest gauge jumper cables, all they carried was Tool Shop brand. Spent three hours in the cold but could not get it to turn over. Went back to Menard'* bought a battery charger, another Tool Shop brand as that is all Menard'* had in stock. Charged the battery overnight, turned the key in the morning (now 15 below zero) and still no luck. Spent 1/2 a day in the cold looking for other causes. No luck. I somehow came to the conclusion that I might have bad tools. Went to Home Depot and bought a Husky jumper cable set. Hooked them up and it turned right over. I spent almost 8 hours in below zero weather because I purchased crap Chinese tools from Menard'*. I vowed never to shop at Menard'* again (but of course I have).

Unfortunately, we are having less choices at all the big box hardware stores as almost everything including so called name brands are now private labeled, which I will rant about in my Home Depot post. Better hold onto your old and worn tools, they may be better the shiny new tools.

You get what you pay for in tools. Pay more now, pay less later.

That'* why I dont shop at auto zone anymore. All they carry is auto zone brand (other than oil and plugs ect) all their hard parts are duralast I hate it and the quality has gone down hill. Blah viva la Advance and norwood

In my case I bought the "best" Menard'* was selling. At 10 below zero, I did not think I needed to make a shopping day to purchase a simple item like jumper cables... boy was I wrong.

We use to be able to compare prices and select brands based on prior experiences, brand reputation and selection. Now it is often down to private label and fake label. A good example is flooring. Pergo is the number one name in floating flooring. Home Depot and Lowes both carry Pergo, but what they sell is private label Pergo so you can't compare price. Even worse, the Pergo Home Depot sells is not made by Pergo, but is made by a company licensed via Home Depot to put Pergo on the box. Same is true at Home Depot for their DuPont flooring and many Whirlpool products.

Even the cheep stuff can be good. About 25 years ago a friend and I went to one of those tent tool sales. He bought a set of wrenches. and I bought a set of sockets. He used the wrenches the first time and they bent. I still have some of the sockets and still use them.

That'* why my tool box has about 80% name brands!

i got craftsman for primaries and a small lil pit pack i got at the truck stop when i had my semi

Things like wrenches, screwdrivers, stuff like that, high quality. Basic sockets, pliers, lower quality. Sockets get lost. Impact sockets, good quality. Air tools, mid range quality. Not used enough to justify the high price. No reason to buy a $40 hammer, when a $8 one does just as good. Match the quality to the work you are doing.

I try to stick with quality name brands for the tools that are going to take a beating and I intend to use for a long time. The single use tools, if I can't borrow them from a friend; I'll buy a lower quality.

I wish I had the money my step-dad has. All of his tools are either Snap-On or Craftsman.