Klein electrician scissors are still made by Heritage Cutlery here in the USA. I believe Klein now owns that brand. 👍

It’s a shame. I love the Klein tools that I have, but if this is the direction they are going I may look elsewhere for new ones. That said, some of my Kleins were my grandfather’s so they may still last another few lifetimes. Thanks for sharing!

This came from reps at Klein tools that all pliers and tools (everything from Klein) will be made in USA per Matt Klein the 4th and told to me by my local electrician supply house so you have no worries on that.

My Theory : When you cut production costs there is a "Grace period" where people continue buying your product based on it's reputation, and positive feelings they have for the brand. That gives you a short amount of time when you can charge the same price for things that now cost 1/2 as much to produce. Of course that Goodwill and positivity wears away quickly, and you no longer have a brand of any value. By that time the CEO who set the company on that course has already moved on to a different company.

Snap-on electronics made in China. Your phone? Camera? All the Olight stuff? Does it pain me that we've outsourced all the complicated high tech stuff? Absolutely. Do I have a Chinese drone? Do I buy millions of GBP of Chinese solar equipment each year? Yes. Do I like that? No. I think Milwaukee annoys me the most because it's literally the name.

2:55 "It's kind of an analogy to putting a frog in water, and then slowly raising the temperature... which you could measure with a Klien temperature probe" 🤣💀

they’re going to Lowe’s now and moving from Home Depot. I’ve been in the appliance business as a service tech and installer since 1994 and I’ve noticed something, with appliances any time they move into the box stores Their quality starts going downhill, Bosch for instance, you used to only be able to buy Bosch from a self servicing dealer. the minute they got into Lowe’s they came out with their cheapest model. It had stainless sides, top and back, and they glued a plastic bottom onto it and stripped down some of the features And customer service went down. Dacor and Thermador, which is owned by Bosch made the exact same move, so did Viking all of their quality went down and customer service went down.

I’ve stepped away from Klein over the past two years. If I’m buying foreign, I’m probably getting more German stuff

I agree. I'm 79 years old. Have some tools since my 30's. It's sad to see where our tool business going. Tks. Randy Roberson

I appreciate 'USA made' has special meaning to people from the USA, but from the rest of the worlds perspective 'USA made' is usually a sign of a decent standard but no more so than many other places (Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Britain etc). So when we look at something like this, I think the question isn't "are they making more and more stuff overseas?", the real question should be "is the quality going downhill?". I'm not a user of Klein so I can't say, but if the quality is slipping then it's a concern. If the quality is maintained but they're going abroad to be able to meet consumer pricing demand etc, then that's not really an issue. (of course folk from the USA will care about jobs etc, appreciate that, I'm talking from a global perspective) Edit: I should add, tools aside, I do think many countries (including USA) should be doing more to protect their home industry around electronics. I think it's a shame we're becoming increasingly dependant on the other side of the world for fundamental tech that dominates life today. The more we hand over the reigns on that, the more we'll pay down the line IMO (be that through shortages, price gouging, political tensions etc). It's handing over massive amounts of leverage. And being a USA company like Apple that just makes all of it's tech across the world doesn't really count IMO, the skills, manufacturing capability etc isn't in the USA so when push comes to shove China has the core capabilities and USA is left with a brand logo.

There is nothing wrong with Klein tools. They are still solid

When I worked in aviation, we called that twirling screwdriver a speed handle.

Boiling the frog just learned a new buzz. Love it.

Well said!

Klein going full overseas would brake my proverbial tool heart

Tekton is actively going in the other direction, and you see more usa made tools as they keep releasing stuff than otherwise, and even when it is non-usa, it's Taiwan, where they're pretty alright almost everytime

I couldn't warranty a pair of 9 in linesman that became wobbly because I didn't have the receipt. Ok, that's fine but don't say lifetime warranty, because I do have the damn pliers as proof of purchase.

I use an extech thermometer for water. Seems to be pretty accurate and I have beat the crap out of the one I use every day for a decade and it still works

Flashlights and multimeters are made overseas by nearly everyone, even fluke, snap on, etc has electronics made over seas. When I look at their hand tools the majority are made in the USA still, and they have come out with new designs that are still made in the USA.

They for sure are. Almost every large company is slowly seeing how much consumers will tolerate. You see it in every industry. Healthcare, automotive, tech. They will push what they can get away with while running a good name into the ground. All the while those at the top are increasing their profits, cutting back on quality, and cutting back on pay and benefits for their workers. They will eventually sell out and run away with their profits, laughing while others are left to deal with the consequences of their greed. Board members and administration would rather send all the jobs over seas leaving a massive dent in the economy if it means that they get to make a few million extra on top of their already bloated salaries.

I use klein stuff every day, but if it’s got a battery, there are better brands, and the only hand tools I’ll still buy from them are the ones made in USA. I don’t really have an issue with foreign-made tools, but all the made in china/made in taiwan stuff I’ve bought from klein specifically, just hasn’t held up well

Klein stuff is still good stuff. Overseas manufacturing doesn't have to be a death sentence. Made in USA isn't a guarantee of excellence. It has to be managed well. Time will tell if they can handle it well.

I picked up the pliers wrench and alligator style pump pliers on the Home Depot clearance, the pliers wrench package says "Made in USA with global components" and the pump pliers package says "Forged in USA with US steel". Neither are marked on the tool itself though, that would be nice to see. The pair of small flush cuts I also got are molded "Made in USA" on the handles though.

If they decide to remain in the US, they need to tighten up QC and improve on products. Knipex and Wiha are quickly becoming preferred.

Chein tools the future rebrand name 😅

Klein doesn't know they're heading down the craftsman road.

In general is no problem with electronics made in China, almost all the components, chips, batteries are manufactured in China and Taiwan. Actually TSMC want to open the plant in the US, but no qualified and skilled workers are available, and engineers from Taiwan are sent to the US to install the equipment. So in my opinion is no problem with the electronics made overseas. Pliers on the other hand, I prefer knipex ones. They control every stage of manufacturing and design, their tool are very durable. Recently I bought the veto pro pac tp xl, veto is another US company but their products are made in China, Myanmar. Maybe Leatherman is the next one if is not already manufacturing overseas. If we want cheap products, this is the way.

Take a Closer look at those scissors and you will see USA on them. It runs at a 90°angle on the right side of KLEIN TOOLS They've owned Heritage for a long time now, and all the solid forged scissors / shears...etc are made here in the USA.

The scissors are made in the USA. It is on them. Below the Klein Tools logo.

All their stuff is on clearance at home depot right now, I guess its moving to Lowes. Sucks all the USA made stuff is headed to chynaah, esp when they keep the USA price tag.

Hard to make anything electronic in USA these days at a reasonable price as you've said. But I try to avoid made in China stuff as much as possible regardless. Usually go for the Taiwan stuff, as for hand tools they seem to have a bit of a better quality. For Klein it seems like they haven't closed down any stateside factories and even opened a new one, so I do wonder what's going on.

"Forged in USA of USA Steel" is what they're now saying on packaging and websites "Product of USA Finished by Klein Tools Mexico." Been going on since 2021. Look at the Klein tools catalog #163 from 2020 and then the current one and you'll see the sneaky change lol These new pliers no longer say Made in USA on them and have been reported to be wobbly and of a lower quality finish.

De-Klein in quality?

Nothing personal just business

Muño jumbo

At 4:16 I see you are wearing a Rolex watch. Why didn’t you buy a Timex or a Bulova watch?

My favorite tool is 9inch linesman pliers from them it's a shame some things are being made elsewhere I used the term boiling the frog a few days ago on a different topic

Most Klein tools are still made and forged by American labor. Of course some items like electronics are made elsewhere, but show me an electronic not made somewhere else. As far as I am concerned, I will continue to buy Klein hand tools. They are consistently top quality and now that they are moving to Lowe’s are more available to me. Most people’s warranty swap issues are because people try swapping for non warranty problems. Like rust or notches from cutting hot wires……stepping off my soapbox!

I bought a pair of D202-6's cutters this week and the packaging said "made in USA, finished in Mexico." The letters "USA" do not appear in the laser etching nor in the casting. Agreed on the warranty issues. Who has the original receipt for a screwdriver that was bought years ago? I swear the Robertson screwdriver tips are made of fudge.

I found out that Klein is going to make everything in USA 🇺🇸 every little tool from stubby screwdrivers to big pliers per a representative from Klein and this info is from my electrical supply house

Milwaukee just started making a made in USA tool line. I'm not sure why the companies that were the bellwether made in the USA companies couldn't do the same.

It's rare for brands to not be exploiting borderline slave labour in the developing world for the sake of upping their profit margins.

Was there ever a resolution to iPhone bit that was incorrectly sized, or whatnot? Disappointing to here they don’t stand behind the products with their warranty. I’d just been on a buying spree at the HD for clearance items over the last couple weeks; some stuff up to 60% off. But, I now consider the tools temporary. I will not buy another tool from a retail seller until I’m able to verify warranty claim made here… really wanted that “super screwdriver”, but why? PB Swiss, Wera, Wiha, and snap on all do warranty work without huge hassle. I usually only warranty cheaper stuff if it breaks in the first year anyways..

I have numerous USA Klein tools and I am satisfied. I have those made in Mexico crimper needle nose and they're always rusting closed. Very disappointing

A lot of things are going downhill. Its a competence crisis, the causes could be ideological rather than practical education, the same in hiring practices etc. It's gonna have an impact.

You cannot think that anyone actually manufactures anything in the USA any more. Where did you last see any sort of factory? Especially any factory where the workers didn't feel crushed by "low wages"? Even Starrett farms out manufacturing to Asia now. Klein in particular... I stopped buying any of their tools a long time ago when I discovered that other brands were cheaper and lasted longer. The only reason people have for buying Klein tools is brand loyalty. In fact... I've never really liked any of their tools except their screwdrivers, which I started buying about forty years ago but they really weren't as good as other brands.

I have heard of the idea that a frog won't jump out of boiling water if you heat it slowly enough but unfortunately its not true, they will very much jump out (assuming you haven't put the lid on). That doesn't mean its not a great analogy though. 👍

I think you said like 20 videos ago something like “who cares where things are made as long as they are high quality”, didn’t you? I'm not sure I'm understanding your point here. Btw, those "Made in Mexico" tools are very high quality; I've been at the factory and the quality control, the technology of the machines and the people who work there are all great! They are sure proud of that logo!

All of my electrical bag tools are American made, hand tools that is. Mostly Klein now some Milwaukee USA made. Unfortunately my testing equipment and Milwaukee 2- speed fuel screwdriver is made overseas. I do my absolute best to buy American made whenever possible. It is very disappointing to hear Klein going overseas for their manufacturing. Unfortunately This is in part our own fault. If we are not willing to support American manufacturing and continue to shop at Harbor Fake and the like it pushs companies into a corner.

Are Ideal tools a Klein tools knock-off? I saw that brand for the first time at Lowe’s recently while looking for a Klein tool and that’s what they looked like to me. Don’t know anything about them but are they any good?

Bought their pliers wrench and water pump pliers at HD yesterday for 70% off. The pliers wrench is really nice butter than wiha and almost as good as knipex. The water pump however is the worst quality I have seen on a pair. Harbor freight is infinitely better.

Whirly bird

Well as republicans and democrats famously state ( corporations are people too) and people often cut corners like sending manufacturing to countries where they can pay terrible wages with no benefits all under the guise of we need to outsource labor maximize profits.. i mean pass the savings on to our customers.. GREED IS GOOD!

Fram Pakistan

I don't feel like it matters.. they're made to Kleins standards regardless... stamping USA on it and jacking the price ...In the USA workers are gonna need 4-5 times more to work and that price is passed on to you...Paying $120 for a $30 tool doesn't appeal to me...

Klein sounds German

Another tool company formally run by engineers, now run by accountants. An accountants goal is to make more profit than he did last year, and therefore, a bigger personal bonus. Reduce the quality, send it overseas. Profits go through the roof, his bonus is so big he knows he only has to do this three or four more times and he can retire a very wealthy man. He does. The company looses it's good name, thousands loose their jobs and eventually another great name is just another cheap Chinese product. Still never mind, he will be floating around paradise on a beautiful yacht.

What a strange take. Plenty of lights, sensors and other tools are made overseas by your sweetheart brand (SnapOn). I’m also not sure your obsession with the tools having a “Made in …” markings on them. Packaging states clearly 99% of the time so what’s the problem there?

What you dont remember is that the feogs were lobotomized...

Lowe's just bought out Klein. No more Klein at home depot.