What is happening to Bosch

[DanielOB]

Bosch, an icon of quality tools?
USED TO BE and no more

I can see incresing number of complains on Bosch tools. I was happy enough to get cobination-drill-buldog MADE IN GERMANY and jig-saw from SWITZERLAND. Now nearly all is from China, Mexico, .. Home Depot slowly discontinuing Bosch at all. Many swears they will not buy Bossh any more. It all made me too that will no more put money on Bosch.

Looks Bosch got on very slippery ground. Well good for Festool and Mafell for their tools.

What is your experience with recent buy of Bosch tools and where it comes from.

 

[jacko9]

I have the MRF23EVS Router and I just saw that it was made in Mexico with parts from China.  It works pretty good so far and the fit and finish looks pretty good but, If I had seen where it was made I would not have purchased the Router.  My confidence in products made in China, etc is pretty low considering some of the "junk" I bought several years ago.  Too bad that Bosch decided that the profit margin was more important than the product life cycle.  Then again since banks and finance companies have been taking over companies like Powermatic the bottom line is all that matters.

Jack

 

[tbellemare]

since banks and finance companies have been taking over companies like Powermatic

Investment "Crapitalists"?

Tom

 

[shed9]

Its a classic case of the company being told they need to do it to stay competitive and to retain jobs which is generally usually closely followed by a job cull.

 

[jacko9]

since banks and finance companies have been taking over companies like Powermatic

Investment "Crapitalists"?

Tom

I think you coined a new word [wink]

Jack

 

[Kev]

Trading on a reputable name while you cut costs and maximise profits ... screwing the customer, all in the name of shareholder value??

That really happens ? [scared] [eek]

Next you'll be telling me the tooth fairy and Santa aren't real .....

 

[Stephen B]

[size=12pt]

Have not looked at Bosch in a long time.

Are you guys discussing the blue or green range?

The green has lost its shine for some time now, but I had thought the blue had maintained quality for value.

Edit. It has come to my attention via a PM that the green range is NAINA. This range is aimed at DIY/hobbiest and the blue is marketed at the professional /serious DIY in Aust.

 

[tjbnwi]

My new DAF220K is out 0.4º.  I'll send it back to be calibrated, Bosch claims 0.1º. I had an older model that died, it was dead on.

It really screwed me up on the project I purchased it for. My fault for not checking its accuracy prior to cutting.

Tom

 

[tjbier]

I basically bosch and festool,  bosch is mostly construction tools and have had no problems with em. Had nicad now litheon cordless. 
Circ saws and sawzalls too, I like em in fact. Hate dewalts circ saws, Milwaukees are nice but heavy.
its all what you have and what your used to....

 

[Ajax]

Outside of Festool, my next most purchased tool brand is Bosch.  I have Bosch 12v and 18v drills, Bosch routers, a Bosch jigsaw, a Bosch multi-tool, a Bosh router table, and Bosch L-Boxxes.  I'm fairly happy with all of them.

The only "issues" I have are:

1) Small runout on the 12V drills....but for $90-$100 per tool (about 30 Starbuck's Grande Americanos) this is acceptable for drilling and driving.  If I need more accuracy I go to the drill press.
2a) Depth adjustment on the routers is less than ideal...I spend a fair amount of time fussing about with the mechanism...it should be smoother
2b) The quick change adaptor for routers (AKA  Template Guide Adapter, RA-1126) can lead to some maddening eccentricity issues when using my Leigh dovetail jig...I wish this was more fool-proof.

IMO Bosch once staked it's ground to be between Festool and cheaper brands in the tool marketplace. I hope they don't yield this ground.  As I see it, there really is a market for "better" tools that are not quite at the Festool level.  For example, in my work I just don't see the value proposition of Festool drills.  Bosch, Milwaukee, and Makita offer very good drills and drivers for "my" money.  I'm starting seeing the value proposition of the Festool OF1400, but I already have 2 x Bosch MRC23s.  If those ever go bad (or I get fed up with the "issues" noted above), I'll replace them with the latest Festool.  Until then, they seem to work for me. 

 

[DanielOB]

I had lots of Bosch tools I got before i have learned for Festool and Mafell. Now the remainders are, as said, my 30 V Bosch - Buldog drill (made in Germany) which i use for massive torque and holes in concrete, and jig saw from Switzerland which I do not like for some reason. My Bosch drill / driver and circular saw just waiting for the day to bite the garbage bag. I already got Fein drill / hummer 14 V.
I lost confidence in Bosch. Taking 120 V in hand that is suppose to be double insulated by reliable standard makes me to cross myself and make some quick prayer taking such tools in my hand and after spotting made in China, Made for US, made by US company, ... and other trickeries.
Just tossed Bosch Colt and DeWalt 2.25 hp (full-automatic choice of wrong speed and waiting that a bit finish in my stomack) something that is suppose to work as a router, and ordered oF-1400.

If any replacement I need I will look at Festool ONLY. If Festool does not make it, for me such tool is not available and have to make somethoing myself.

How much money i waisted my God, and how expensive are that cheap tools. Festool are dirthy-cheap tools for me. You buy it only once and DONE.

 

[teocaf]

Last year during my shop overhaul, I got rid of all my Bosch tools for various reasons:  some were worn or outdated, some were not so good, and sold the decent ones because I bought into the Festool dust collection ecosystem as well as trying to reduce the different kind of batteries for cordless.  I was recently tempted to get a Bosch hammer drill because they are well known for that and the multiple positive reviews online for the model I was looking at.  Was also considering Hilti, Makita and Milwaukee.  Ended up going with Metabo and feel very good about my decision because my experience with their tools has been very good.  However, I have not received it yet so we shall see.

 

[semenza]

[size=12pt]

Have not looked at Bosch in a long time.

Are you guys discussing the blue or green range?

The green has lost its shine for some time now, but I had thought the blue had maintained quality for value.

Edit. It has come to my attention via a PM that the green range is NAINA. This range is aimed at DIY/hobbiest and the blue is marketed at the professional /serious DIY in Aust.

        Bosch has a green range?  Or are you maybe thinking of Ryobi?

Seth

 

[overanalyze]

I have quite a few Bosch tools I am  very happy with.  I think they are makimg some nice new tools. Every brand will have some duds every now and again.

 

[gippy]

[size=12pt]

Have not looked at Bosch in a long time.

Are you guys discussing the blue or green range?

The green has lost its shine for some time now, but I had thought the blue had maintained quality for value.

Edit. It has come to my attention via a PM that the green range is NAINA. This range is aimed at DIY/hobbiest and the blue is marketed at the professional /serious DIY in Aust.

        Bosch has a green range?  Or are you maybe thinking of Ryobi?

Seth

Bosch certainly has a green range, sold mostly in Europe and Australia I believe. I have never seen them in Thailand, Maktec seems to be the 'DIY' tool of choice here for those wishing to save a bit of money.

 

[Stephen B]

[size=12pt]

Have not looked at Bosch in a long time.

Are you guys discussing the blue or green range?

The green has lost its shine for some time now, but I had thought the blue had maintained quality for value.

Edit. It has come to my attention via a PM that the green range is NAINA. This range is aimed at DIY/hobbiest and the blue is marketed at the professional /serious DIY in Aust.

        Bosch has a green range?  Or are you maybe thinking of Ryobi?

Seth

[size=14pt]
Hi Seth,

No,  I was not thinking of Ryobi, as explained in my edit, Bosch make a green range marketed mainly at DIY.

See -  http://www.bosch-do-it.com.au/au/en/diy/startpage/power-tools.html

And for blue -

http://www.bosch-pt.com.au/au/en/professional/startpage/power-tools.html

Obviously they must think everyone in NA is 'Professional'!  [smile]

 

[shed9]

We get the green line in the UK as well - same coding of green for DIY and blue being the pro range.

 

[mastercabman]

[size=12pt]

Have not looked at Bosch in a long time.

Are you guys discussing the blue or green range?

The green has lost its shine for some time now, but I had thought the blue had maintained quality for value.

Edit. It has come to my attention via a PM that the green range is NAINA. This range is aimed at DIY/hobbiest and the blue is marketed at the professional /serious DIY in Aust.

        Bosch has a green range?  Or are you maybe thinking of Ryobi?

Seth

[size=14pt]
Hi Seth,

No,  I was not thinking of Ryobi, as explained in my edit, Bosch make a green range marketed mainly at DIY.

See -  http://www.bosch-do-it.com.au/au/en/diy/startpage/power-tools.html

And for blue -

http://www.bosch-pt.com.au/au/en/professional/startpage/power-tools.html

Obviously they must think everyone in NA is 'Professional'!  [smile]

There's no need for Bosch to bring the green version in NA
Bosch owns Skill power tool witch is also a diy grad of tools

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but it is my understanding that Bosch is, like Festool, a privately held, family run company.

I have been told that any "profits" that Bosch generates goes towards a charity, instead of shareholders.

I own the little Bosch table saw. For what it is, it's been a decent little saw. I have to remind myself that it is a $400 portable saw, versus a $3,000 Mafell Erika saw, and to adjust my expectations of performance accordingly.

Most of my power tools are Festool, my saws are Mafell, and the rest of my equipment is mostly Makita. If Makita didn't exist, my next choice would be Bosch. While I prefer the design and ergonomics of my Makita tools over Bosch, the Bosch tools I've used seem well designed and built.

 

[itchy]

I haven't had any problems with my Bosch tools, they work hard and have never let me down (and that includes made in china). Any company can have some slip ups Bosch sell so many tools that the chances of someone experiencing problems is far greater. I feel that for their price point they offer durable no nonsense hard working tools, Festool is definitely more refined and better integrated into a system but that is a different product line, market and price point.