Friends -
as many of you understand, the AXMINSTER version Drill Guide is made in Taiwan. That manufacturer, like many in Taiwan and China, specializes in a particular type of tool or machine. They then customize their line to a degree dictated by the foreign buyer (US or other country) importer. This customization aims to make each importers product appear unique in the market.
Nothing new about that. Just look at stationary woodworking powertools. It's done with automobile engines and entire cars,too.
You need to understand that the days are long gone where Taiwan or China did not have the technical capability to make very sophisiticated products extremely well. The variables in outcome:
1. VOLUME ! ! ! AND the profit margins (think APPLE, and all higher end electronics...)
2. the end users un- or willingness to pay for quality level and features
3. the importers un- or willingness to manage the sourcing process from the beginning to delivery based on profitability.
On both counts, it is the importer who controls the level of quality, features and proper execution by limiting the spend up front in order to meet a particular "Price point" and also to minimize the importers costs by exerting minimum to zero importer's oversight over the whole process.
Easy to criticise the importer (many of the big names). Just look at the murderous competition and low margins in stationary powertool pricing. The Importers respond to their customers: major retailers and, ultimately of course, you, the end customer.
When you read here on the FOG the lengths to which some folks go to get the 'Cheapest price" - well then, as an importer and retailer you'll offer what the customer buys.
And that discourages many well known brands from going too far up the quality and features menu.
This is the long way of saying there is a BIG market for "good enough", and a progressively smaller market for "no compromise and no excuses" - which is where TSO has chosen to be.
I would be less than candid if I didn't tell you the ROCKLER product mirrors in a good number of ways what AXMINSTER has been struggling to bring to market. It also gives you an idea why we continue to hesitate until we see a product version that meets OUR expectations.
In the end, the customer's buying behavior drives it all. That's you and me. - think about it as you calibrate your expectations for a product or service.[wink]
Hans
