MAC and Taiwan

Most of you are aware of this, but prior to buying a set of MAC sockets, I asked where they were made.. (I didn't see a made in USA or China anywhere.)

this is my response from MAC..

No they are not they are made in Tawain.

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Subject: Where are they made

Is this socket set made in the USA?
SXGM146BR

I avoid anything made in China like the plague.
Thanks

The MAC Edge are made in Taiwan. The regular old MAC sockets are still US made.

I just bought a set of used pliers from a vender that sells tools (not a Mac Vender), when I cleaned all the dirt and grime off them they all were made in Taiwan.

What I don't like (and I have said this a million times),is if that laser label wears off,then will Mac take them back or give me some story that they are not mac tools. Oh sure other GJ members have told me that Mac can always ID their own tools,but I am still leery.

PS. Hey Mac since you make them over seas why are they still expensive!

woody 73 said:

I just bought a set of used pliers from a vender that sells tools (not a Mac Vender), when I cleaned all the dirt and grime off them they all were made in Taiwan.

What I don't like (and I have said this a million times),is if that laser label wears off,then will Mac take them back or give me some story that they are not mac tools. Oh sure other GJ members have told me that Mac can always ID their own tools,but I am still leery.

PS. Hey Mac since you make them over seas why are they still expensive!

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You can thank Stanley for that....they are moving a lot of production to Taiwan. Unfortunately, this is not reflected in the sale prices. SD

i don't buy ANY laser etched tools period.

stricht8 said:

The MAC Edge are made in Taiwan. The regular old MAC sockets are still US made.

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Has anybody actually inspected these things on the truck? Our local dealer stopped by today and I wasn't impressed at all and still prefer my cheapie GP's as opposed to any truck brand.

No need to find a Mac tool truck for your purchase, just go to your local HF for the same tool at a much cheaper price.

^^^ What he said. I'm really not impressed with MAC's Taiwan stuff or it's price. I bought some of it on accident but I refuse to buy any more.

jay50 said:

No need to find a Mac tool truck for your purchase, just go to your local HF for the same tool at a much cheaper price.

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Now thats a low blow and entirely untrue.

Chadro said:

Now thats a low blow and entirely untrue.

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No it's pretty true from my experience. I really see no difference. I'm currently selling off my MAC tools and replacing them with SO. I moved to a shop that has no MAC dealer and the customer service number tells me there is NO dealer in my area (ya know the capitol of California, the biggest car economy in the US)
I was told I would have to pay to ship them in for warranty (ah, no I didn't sign up for this when I bought the tools)
and the last nail in the coffin was when they switched to taiwan tools. Taiwan is an island off China folks, not much difference in my eyes. People are exactly the same...
Before I moved shops they had given a co-worker of mine a warranty screwdriver replacement made in Salvokia or some **** like that.

Toolhorder said:

No it's pretty true from my experience. I really see no difference. I'm currently selling off my MAC tools and replacing them with SO. I moved to a shop that has no MAC dealer and the customer service number tells me there is NO dealer in my area (ya know the capitol of California, the biggest car economy in the US)
I was told I would have to pay to ship them in for warranty (ah, no I didn't sign up for this when I bought the tools)
and the last nail in the coffin was when they switched to taiwan tools. Taiwan is an island off China folks, not much difference in my eyes. People are exactly the same...
Before I moved shops they had given a co-worker of mine a warranty screwdriver replacement made in Salvokia or some **** like that.

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Not all places have SO dealers either, I don't have one anymore. The last regular guy went out about a year ago had to send in tools and the new guy came two or three times didn't make it too long ?? and the last guy that came buy was in trouble for a long time and it would take months to get replacement tools or parts when one broke.

vssjim said:

Not all places have SO dealers either, I don't have one anymore. The last regular guy went out about a year ago had to send in tools and the new guy came two or three times didn't make it too long ?? and the last guy that came buy was in trouble for a long time and it would take months to get replacement tools or parts when one broke.

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Yeah but the difference is Snap-On doesn't make you pay to ship in your broken tools. They honor the original agreement and if they have no dealer in the area they replace it 100% at no cost to the buyer. Mac told me on the phone that there is NO guarantee of dealer service for my tools and they don't have to provide warranty service in person and that I would have to pay to send my tools in.
Sorry but that's not how my relationship started with Mac when I started in this industry. Not only that but the last dealer I had sucked and never had tools on the truck and tooks WEEKS to order anything. That seems to be the common theme from techs posting here too.
The warranty replacements were being replaced with Taiwan junk from what I'm hearing so Mac tools is dead in my eyes. Not buying any used or new from now on.

It's a shame because I really do/did like the tools they made. I remember them being slightly cheaper than SO and without the high horse attitude I used to get from first SO dealer. Mac just sold out their customer base by moving overseas with production and screwing all the dealers over, that plus a crappy economy spells doom for Mac.

I didn't see anything wrong with the last new Mac tools I looked at; good chrome, looks well made, fit proper, comfortable handles. Truck price for Asian tools? Sorry, I draw the line there. I'll keep buying Gearwrench and Stanley if I want import tools. Stanley's quality is pretty much uniform across all its brands, why pay more for the Mac logo?

I own two sets of EDGE metric 3/8 drive sockets, standard drive chrome socket & semi-deep/mid length impact sockets. Briefly I had the 1/2 drive metric EDGE set, but sold the set because the set was has the same sizes as the 3/8 drive. Both sets purchased as new or near new on ebay.

Sockets that do not have USA stamped on the socket are made in Taiwan, the country of origin is identified on the back of the socket rail and the box.. My super short MAC sockets and 3/8 drive impacts have USA stamped on each socket. The edge sockets are Taiwan made and are quite good and have a very nice chrome finish compared to the dark chrome finish on US made sockets. Personally I like the chrome finish on the edge sockets.

Taiwan has mastered the art of manufacturing; any manufacturing site that employs Six Sigma, Lean manufacturing techiques and is ISO certified will produce top quality products with a lower manufacturing cost. Yes, the lower manufacturing cost includes a lower labor cost. A lower manufacturing cost should reflect in a lower cost/price of the tool, instead the price is on par with the US made sockets. In this case we are paying for the MAC name and MAC tools is benefiting from a larger profit margin which is the reason Taiwan is manufacturing tools for a lot of tool companies.

Also Taiwan does not have to deal with strict environmental guidelines as we do here in the US. I think accounts for the different types of chrome finishes on the sockets and lower manufacturing cost. All US made tools have the darker type chrome finish and Taiwan made tools have the bright chrome finish. Different processes and chemicals used will yield a different finish.

Although each tool truck has a disclaimer "We reserves the right to make periodic changes in construction or tool design at any time. We specifically reserves the right to make these changes without incurring any obligation or incorporating such changes or updates in tools or parts previously distributed."

I do not have a preference for US or Taiwan made tools, BUT:

When purchasing a professional grade tool from a Tool Truck the expectation is: The tool is the highest quality US manufactured tool on the planet with a no question asked exact/same tool replacement policy. This is the reputation that Snap-On, Mac Tools, Matco & Cornwell has been founded. Buying tools manufactured elsewhere contradicts the ESTABLISHED reputation of each tool manufacturer.

mac edge long and short, sae/metric are my everyday tools at work. i also have to share with 3 other guys since they are cheap asses... between all 4 of us only 3 sockets have broke in the 3 years i've had them. they are actually nicer than the USA super short MAC sets I have.