What is happening to Bosch

[bdiemer]

Speaking of Metabo, I was surprised to see some of their tools on Lowes.com today.

That's the beginning of the end...

 

[flair woodworks]

I haven't bought a Bosch tool in years, but I have always liked their product line.  I hope this is not true.

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

Ha!  http://www.bridgecitytools.com/blog/2010/10/25/5-for-a-18-twist-drill-only-in-america/

 

[sae]

Bosch was running multi-national factory lines long before the perceived quality drop (specific to power tools).  For whatever reason (and I'm sure there are plenty), they're just not impressive anymore.    The popular products keep getting downgraded.  The new products are uninspired and disappointing when compared to the company's history.    The best tools often don't come to the states, let alone the fact that they also don't distinguish between their consumer and professional tiers over here. 

Bosch has made more mid-market stuff available in the past decade or so, but I find their top tier stuff is still really good.

I don't own too much Bosch, but of what I own:

detail sander is top notch, made in Switzerland, great fit and finish. More useful than my RO90 was.
glide miter saw, I love this thing, though I might pickup a more portable cordless saw in the future to supplement.
12v brushless driver is really lightweight (1.6 lbs), and tons of power to boot.
12v light is awesome, I'd say better than the SysLite for 1/3rd the cost.

Their new-ish (I think two years old now) half sheet sander is supposedly top notch. They make a Rotex competitor that's supposedly well worth the money (especially for being half the price of the Rotex). Their 18v multi-tool is supposedly the one to beat nowadays, better than the Fein, ultra low vibrations, etc etc.

I can see where the confusion is though, their cheaper tools that are specifically made to hit a budget (i.e. 1/4 sheet sander, cheaper jigsaw, smaller grinders, etc) don't really stand out at all.

 

[sae]

Speaking of Metabo, I was surprised to see some of their tools on Lowes.com today.

That's the beginning of the end...

It's been available for a few years now. They don't actively promote it on either side, Metabo would rather you visit a local dealer (which is usually a welding supplier since their core market is metalwork). It's really just a drop ship portal for those who don't want to go to the store.

I'd like to see better efforts made in marketing and promotions, but when I asked the local dealer, they said they're committed to this distribution model, i.e. they don't really care about generating a marketing buzz. Oh well.

 

[Cheese]

I'd like to see better efforts made in marketing and promotions, but when I asked the local dealer, they said they're committed to this distribution model, i.e. they don't really care about generating a marketing buzz. Oh well.

I owned a Metabo grinder 40 years ago and loved it until someone? decided that they needed it more than me. [mad]

Recently went to the local metal depot (Discount Steel) and they had a wall full of Metabo grinders, probably a dozen or more. Prices ranged from $60 to over $300. Some made in Germany, some made in China. I asked the salesman what the differences were and he said the DIY models were made in China and the professional models were made in Germany. So then I asked him what were the actual differences and he mumbled something about internal parts and the expensive ones were heavier. [eek] So much for Metabo marketing.

 

[jacko9]

It would be nice if manufactures would accurately describe the differences between "cheaper tools for home users" and "more expensive tools for craftsmen".

I don't mind paying a premium for quality tools but, when they start offering tools of different quality without accurate description of the differences, I tend to stay away from those manufactures.

I don't want to pay for a brand premium for a lower quality tool.

Jack

 

[Kev]

Speaking of Metabo, I was surprised to see some of their tools on Lowes.com today.

That's the beginning of the end...

It's been available for a few years now. They don't actively promote it on either side, Metabo would rather you visit a local dealer (which is usually a welding supplier since their core market is metalwork). It's really just a drop ship portal for those who don't want to go to the store.

I'd like to see better efforts made in marketing and promotions, but when I asked the local dealer, they said they're committed to this distribution model, i.e. they don't really care about generating a marketing buzz. Oh well.

I've looked at a few Metabo tools ... my dealer is careful to point out where the variants are made and the differences are significant when you look into it.

 

[tonylumps]

I think I own every 12 &18v tool Bosch makes .Never had a problem with any of them.There drill chucks really lock in tight as long as you here the Ratchet sound when tightening them down

 

[demographic]

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

Seth

Bosch definitely has a green range, way downmarket from the blue tools.

 

[Wuffles]

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

Seth

Bosch definitely has a green range, way downmarket from the blue tools.

Not in the US. They only do blue there apparently. It's come up before.

 

[mastercabman]

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

Seth

Bosch definitely has a green range, way downmarket from the blue tools.

Not in the US. They only do blue there apparently. It's come up before.

Oversea Bosch has a diy version of their tools
They are green in color
There's no need to have the green Bosch here because Bosch owns Skill and Skill is pretty much diy tools

 

[BrianJA]

I could be mistaken, but it seems like a lot of the bosch professional tools simply aren't available in the USA.  For example, I cannot find their plunge saw or tracks here.

Make it chrome. Men love chrome

 

[demographic]

I'm guessing that there must be a fair bit of Bosch's range that you guys aren't getting in the US?

As far as I'm concerned for years Bosch has been not the best in my opinion but recently its on the up in a big way.

 

[Wuffles]

I'm guessing that there must be a fair bit of Bosch's range that you guys aren't getting in the US?

As far as I'm concerned for years Bosch has been not the best in my opinion but recently its on the up in a big way.

Hang on a mo. They don't get the non-trade use green stuff, but they get the decent blue stuff, so they do get everything they'd be likely to want in the US.

 

[Sparktrician]

I could be mistaken, but it seems like a lot of the bosch professional tools simply aren't available in the USA.  For example, I cannot find their plunge saw or tracks here.

Make it chrome. Men love chrome

That or give it some serious cleavage...  [poke] 

[big grin]

 

[Holmz]

The title of thread subliminally (in a Koolaid style) suggests that Bosch are to be avoided.

1) They have a decent rail system
2) They are a SawStop style RE'AX coming out.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

I think Bosch 18V line up is fairly strong. Good to great build and some of the machines are stand out machines (in a good sense), the GBH 18 hammer drill, the GST 18V jigsaw and the Impact GDX 18V EC are some of them. I put all of them ahead of Festool - taking into consideration the Ti15 impact that is gone - and Festool could take note on some machines. 

I just could not stand the new Bosch grip for the most used machines: the drills/screwdrivers. The new Flexiclick (Centrotec-style) is solid and I think Bosch (in Europe) are strong and make some really great machines.

They are not that big in Sweden (they used to be fairly large and respected) but they are on the rise again, and well deserved.

One has to realize that that there are differences: the GST 18V Li Jigsaw is made in Switzerland and the 10.8V jigsaw is made in China. Some jigsaws are made in Russia. They feel different and although the 10.8V does feel "well made" there is a difference in haptics and build quality within the Bosch range. The Swiss made jigsaw I do prefer over the Carvex, I have both but I only bring the Carvex occasionally. I prefer the Bosch _in every_ way except I wish it tool Festool batteries.

One has to judge them on a machine to machine or application basis. I support any good tool brand out there. None has my heart completely though.

 

[jacko9]

It's too bad that manufactures don't value their brand and allow inferior items to be sold with their brand name to score some short term profit.  That strategy might be good for the stock investor but in my opinion bad for the market place.  I want to buy top quality tools (and other goods) and when a quality supplier slips in some inferior quality product I get furious and want to eliminate that supplier from my future purchases.

Jack

 

[Kev]

It's too bad that manufactures don't value their brand and allow inferior items to be sold with their brand name to score some short term profit.  That strategy might be good for the stock investor but in my opinion bad for the market place.  I want to buy top quality tools (and other goods) and when a quality supplier slips in some inferior quality product I get furious and want to eliminate that supplier from my future purchases.

Jack

Sadly I think "brand" in the past equalled reputation, now I think it's more likely to equal image. People have become mostly shallow and so have the "brands" and associated products they buy. Tiger Woods is effectively a brand as it's his image, and brand on brand equals profit [sad]

 

[abcd123]

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

I bought Bosch tools before I decided to go for Festool. I considered Bosch as the best on the market. As I bought more tools from Bosch, I discovered several issues with them. I contacted Bosch with questions and the answer was that I have to deal with it at my own. The level of precision of the Bosch tools was just too low for my expectations from high quality tools, therefore I sold all the Bosch tools on ebay and took the Festool way. Festool is meeting my expectations in a system of high quality precise tools. The saw is cutting where I expect to get the cut, the sander is doing the job as expected and the vacuum works just perfect.