Sidchrome - How The Mighty Have Fallen

[smidsy]

I actually have both 1/4 & 1/2 sidchrome sets and a few other bits and peices, but all older made in Aus gear.
Tradetools a Qld tool shop (started by Glen Ford of Glenfords tools) is selling a Sidchrome 1/2 drive socket for $69 - 29 sockets, ratchet, short extension & drill adapter.

Sidchrome were the best once, but when you can get it for that price it says a lot about how far they've fallen.

[cava]

Back in 1981 (Christmas) I bought my set of 1/2” for ~$80 trade price, if I remember correctly. How times have changed!

[havabeer69]

if they do the job is the quality bad?

I'd be more keen to know if they still honor previous "life time" warranties.

[Mobyturns]

if they do the job is the quality bad?

I'd be more keen to know if they still honor previous "life time" warranties.

A mate in retail always reckoned lifetime guarantees went something like this "if it's stuffed then that was the end of its lifetime. It worked up until then, didn't it?"

[derekcohen]

What is the difference?

TradeTools | Huge Range, Great Service


$69



vs

Sidchrome SCMT14150 1/2" Square Drive 21 Piece Socket Set in Detection Box with Compact Head Ratchet Metric - 1/2", 1/2" Drive, 12 Point, Metric, Sale Items, Sockets & Sets, Top Sellers - Discount Trader


$208




Regards from Perth

Derek

[Huon pine fan]

I'd be more keen to know if they still honor previous "life time" warranties.

Whilst it is probably at least 5 years ago my experience is yes.
I had purchased a 1/4" drive set at least 5 years before that, so maybe 2010 when they had the Pronto brand on them. The ratchet failed after a few years of very little use but I didn't immediately do anything about it. Then I was at a Total Tools branch trade show where their suppliers are in attendance. I asked a TT rep his thoughts and he opined that certainly if it was a TT branded tool it would be replaced without question but didn't like my chances with Sidchrome. So I spoke with the Sidchrome rep and he said absolutely yes. I went home, got the ratchet, took it back to the trade show and gave it to the rep who took my details. I told him that I had no proof of purchase. So 3 or 4 weeks later a new ratchet arrived in the mail. Definitely a positive experience for me. The only downside was that they had changed the ratchet design since my purchase so it no longer sits in the molded carrier space in the set.

[Bushmiller]

What is the difference?


Regards from Perth

Derek

About ten pieces with the larger set being the cheaper one! The more expensive set has a choice of ratchets. The cheaper set expressly mentions the lifetime guarantee while the expensive set makes no mention of this.



Regards
Paul

[Beardy]

I have a Sidchrome set along with TTI and Bacho ones and the Sidchrome is my least favourite. The ratchet handle is rubbish compared to the other two.

[Mr Brush]

You have to wonder if one set is Sidchrome, and the other is "Ridchrome", i.e. Chinese knock off

[The Spin Doctor]

What is the difference?

SNIP
Regards from Perth

Derek

In this day n age, sadly, not much. They're all made in china where quality control is non-existent.

I'm originally from canukistan and I have a set of Craftsman tools, that were sold by Sears so not even a top brand, from the 80s. They are head and shoulders above what you will find today, even from the top brands. It's a slow and steady decline in quality as all the companies have their products made in china.