Axminister - How is the quality?

[billw]

i want something to last and be better built than some of the cheaper stuff.

you mean you want the more expensive stuff

 

[AJB Temple]

We'll - I like the Axminster shop near me, as I can check tools out. But - I rarely go there now. Partly this is due to me being fairly fully equipped, but also because they have nowhere near the brand selection that they used to. They are stuffed with their Rider own brand - which I don't find very good, and the LN and Veritas offerings have declined. They no longer seem to stock the better quality Japanese hand tools, their own brand combination square (which I bought on-line) was rubbish (and refunded) and they have stopped doing Jet machinery. Jet was better than their own branded Chinese import stuff I felt. (The Jet cyclone extractor is very good for example).

Plus, their prices have shot up and so now if I want to have a look at say Festool I go to Axminster, then buy it from FFX or similar on-line operation at best available price (it's a commodity with Festool guarantee - why pay more?).

I do occasionally buy from them on-line - but now it is mainly small consumables that I can't get quickly elsewhere. The last one was a tile cutting blade that fits my Festool multi tool. They promised next day delivery and they were as good as their word.

I think they are sadly in a race to the bottom, with the likes of Rutland. In the past two years I find hardly anyone has many good words to say about them, and tradespeople have abandoned Axminster as no one has the time to risk the ridiculous failures in quality control that they are now increasingly known for.

This weekend I received a leaflet from them. It in was a Bridge City block plane that was about £500 and which they said would be an heirloom for future generations. This is such stupid marketing, especially in these times. If their target market is the gullible tool collector with a fat wallet, then good luck to them, but such customers will be as scarce as hens teeth.

It's a pity. I think the owners / management team need to wake up.

 

[craigs]

you mean you want the more expensive stuff

I want the middle of the road stuff, made by brands that have a good reputation.......but yeah more expensive than cheap-chinesium, but cheaper than my next car

 

[craigs]

We'll - I like the Axminster shop near me, as I can check tools out. But - I rarely go there now. Partly this is due to me being fairly fully equipped, but also because they have nowhere near the brand selection that they used to. They are stuffed with their Rider own brand - which I don't find very good, and the LN and Veritas offerings have declined. They no longer seem to stock the better quality Japanese hand tools, their own brand combination square (which I bought on-line) was rubbish (and refunded) and they have stopped doing Jet machinery. Jet was better than their own branded Chinese import stuff I felt. (The Jet cyclone extractor is very good for example).

Plus, their prices have shot up and so now if I want to have a look at say Festool I go to Axminster, then buy it from FFX or similar on-line operation at best available price (it's a commodity with Festool guarantee - why pay more?).

I do occasionally buy from them on-line - but now it is mainly small consumables that I can't get quickly elsewhere. The last one was a tile cutting blade that fits my Festool multi tool. They promised next day delivery and they were as good as their word.

I think they are sadly in a race to the bottom, with the likes of Rutland. In the past two years I find hardly anyone has many good words to say about them, and tradespeople have abandoned Axminster as no one has the time to risk the ridiculous failures in quality control that they are now increasingly known for.

This weekend I received a leaflet from them. It in was a Bridge City block plane that was about £500 and which they said would be an heirloom for future generations. This is such stupid marketing, especially in these times. If their target market is the gullible tool collector with a fat wallet, then good luck to them, but such customers will be as scarce as hens teeth.

It's a pity. I think the owners / management team need to wake up.

^^^^ what he said

speaking of bridge city, have you seen the new manual tablesaw ?

I see Axminster is also pushing their wares with the yootoobers now, something i never saw before.

When i used to go in their shop, I don't think i ever saw a veritas LA Jack in stock....now i only buy from other retailers. I imagine Mr Sefton might need to start carrying more stock to meet instant gratification demand.

 

[AndyT]

I think what we need is a thread similar to the wood yard thread for buying machinery and tools. When i was looking for machines (even with my google fu) its a minefield of places that don't sell the brands you want or their reputation and service is a bit iffy. personally i try to buy once so am happy to spend a bit more, now that doesnt mean i want industrial gear as im only a hobbyist, but it does mean i want something to last and be better built than some of the cheaper stuff.

There used to be such a list, looked after by @Newbie_Neil but I can't find it.

In this thread it's discussed, but the link is dead.

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/threads/uk-toolstore-listing-update-comments-please.7591/
Can anyone explain?
Neil, have you decided it's too much work to maintain? Have the new site owners removed it?

 

[Cabinetman]

I think this quote from Clogs says it all " Axminster is just another Chinese outlet ". My Axminster experience is having in the past bought a very old M900 second hand lathe and more recently a Hobby Series lathe. A few years ago I bought a small belt sander, which was missing parts, which Axminster sent out to me FOC, the build quality of the tool was poor and I made the decision never to buy power tools shipped as Axminster ever again. But I still purchase some hand tools and other sundries from Axminster.

The way the Chinese system seems to work , is that in the main what they sell is cheap and nasty, using poor quality materials, poorly designed and manufactured. They sell at a low price, even with shipping included. They sell in large numbers and are quite prepared to take the hit on refunds for those purchasers who object to being sold low quality merchandise. I know this because a few years ago I bought a brand new mountain bike for £117, it was on either Ebay or Amazon. The bike arrived and upon examining it I found the brake mounting points, which were welded, were not in the correct position resulting in the brake pads not being able to touch the wheel! I wanted a refund and they came back with a reduced price, I stood my ground and got my money back. They said to keep the bike. Normally, I would have been rubbing my hands at this. But no, its a pile of junk, still cluttering up my garden.

I also had a Vonhaus palm router that I was allowed to keep, because the original was defunct out of the box. I suspect the containers being shipped back to China from Felixstowe do not contain many returned goods.

The really terrible thing is that not even the shipping containers are returned, one trip only. I am in the Lions and we bought one to store equipment in. Good for us but what a chronic waste. Ian
About £1500 by the way

 

[marcros]

The really terrible thing is that not even the shipping containers are returned, one trip only. I am in the Lions and we bought one to store equipment in. Good for us but what a chronic waste. Ian

Some must be, there was a news article about the delays at the port of Felixstowe and delays generally the other day. Some of the delays are being caused by the empty containers waiting to go back.

 

[Cabinetman]

I’m sure you’re right Marcros, I suppose it depends on the manufacturer if it’s going to cost more to transport it back than it cost him to buy new, well there's the answer. The one we bought was in immaculate condition.

 

[craigs]

i wonder if i could persuade the better half to give up the flower patch so i can put a small container as a spray booth

 

[MikeK]

There used to be such a list, looked after by @Newbie_Neil but I can't find it.

In this thread it's discussed, but the link is dead.

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/threads/uk-toolstore-listing-update-comments-please.7591/
Can anyone explain?
Neil, have you decided it's too much work to maintain? Have the new site owners removed it?

I think this is the thread, but I'll have to clean it up to remove the HTML tags:

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/threads/the-list-online-tool-sites-finishing-specialist-items.960/

 

[billw]

The really terrible thing is that not even the shipping containers are returned, one trip only. I am in the Lions and we bought one to store equipment in. Good for us but what a chronic waste. Ian
About £1500 by the way

Shipping cost for a 40ft container China to UK is USD1200-1500. UK to China about USD450.

 

[CHJ]

There used to be such a list, looked after by @Newbie_Neil but I can't find it.

In this thread it's discussed, but the link is dead.
......
Can anyone explain?

Andy, the format for the thread reference with the new software has changed, I have tried (an managed) with some links I had, to change the format but I currently have not been able to get to Neils post, I guess he would not be able to keep it updated though if it was found, I can't amend my information threads even when my name is given as the author and would have to ask a mod. to amend for me.

 

[AndyT]

Thanks Chas. I've found the list thread now and can see how it has not been properly transferred to the XenForo software. A useful resource, ruined.

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/thread...-finishing-specialist-items.960/#post-1210578

 

[MikeK]

Thanks Chas. I've found the list thread now and can see how it has not been properly transferred to the XenForo software. A useful resource, ruined.

In case you missed my post #30 above, I'll clean up the post to remove the HTML formatting tags as I did for the wood source list. At least the information is still intact, from what I can see. I'll also update the first thread you included to fix the link.

 

[AndyT]

In case you missed my post #30 above, I'll clean up the post to remove the HTML formatting tags as I did for the wood source list. At least the information is still intact, from what I can see.

That would be great, Mike - could you also make it a sticky again?

 

[MikeK]

That would be great, Mike - could you also make it a sticky again?

Of course!

 

[Danieljw]

The adage is simple, if you want to buy cheap, buy expensive in the first place..
The chinese don't buy chinese!
My work took me to China and Taiwan for a few years, building wooden boats.
I was amazed at the volume of American and German tooling that was available, indeed owned and used by the professional and the diy enthusiast.
They simply prefered the longevity and build quality of "western tools"

 

[Gary_S]

I think a lot of tools are made in China, I cannot see much difference for example between Jet and Axminster Trade. I have a table saw, band saw, drill press and lunchbox thicknesser all from Axminster. The only piece I would out is the thicknesser. It is not man enough for the job the riser threads are prone to wear and the snipe id ridiculous. I am thinking of getting the big Planer Thicknesser but I may look at Hammer.

 

[craigs]

Im kinda hoping that all these chinese tools force other brands to lower their prices.....I mean £150 for an aluminium square..I don't care how red it is, thats a ripoff.

 

[Owd Jockey]

This just demonstrates a lack of knowledge of global manufacturing and capabilities. Wherever you have things manufactured, you get what you specify and what you pay for. It is necessary to make various checks along the process to make sure that you get this.

When you have something made in a specific country, it doesn't suddenly make it high or low quality. Buying a bike, which probably cost about £20 to have manufactured had no chance at all if being high quality.

I don't profess to know the in's and outs of "global manufacturing and capabilities" do you? Yes/ no? I do not specify, when purchasing, where the product is manufactured and sometimes you do find the origin until the package is opened. For many products it is not possible to "specify" or "make checks along the process". However, I do expect that the final delivered product broadly follows the advertised product information and is fit for purpose. Which clearly in the case of my bicycle it evidently was'nt! Whether my bike cost £100 or £1000 it means diddly squat if its not ride-able! Your assumption of my expectations of product quality is both incorrect and ill-founded.