Has anybody had trouble with Eastwood or their products? I thought they had a good reputation, but someone in another thread said they ripped somebody off. Comments?
crooks because prices are high in general, BUT never had a problem with them really ripping me off. i use them on at least a monthly basis for various things. as much as i hate them, they have never given me a problem.
prices just high for what they are selling. I've gotten some stuff there with no problems. - well I ordered a "Blind Rivet" tool ***uming that it was a quaility piece and when it arrived it was a junk Chinese Knock-Off of Vise Grips. just sent it back for my refund - had to eat the shipping though. They should tell you where the **** is made so you don't end up eating the shipping Oh and don't buy thier "Self Etching Primer" in the quarts....its a rip off - stuff is the worst self etch I have ever used.
They're not actually "crooks" , but their quality is not what you expect when you look at the pictures in their catalog. They are masters at making things look great on the printed page. Kinda the "Lillian Vernon " of the hot rod world. I havent bought there since my first experience. Look elsewhere.
I've never had a problem with what I've ordered from them. I think you have to be kind of selective in what you get from there. If the Harbor Freight catalog has the same item, it probably is the same item. Their name brand stuff is hit or miss. I bought their big polishing/buffing kit that had all the compounds, buffs, and a video and I was very happy with the quality of everything. I also bought their started body hammer and dolly set (hickory handles) and I like them as well.
I really like Eastwood for the fact that they give me ideas on some neat products. I've come to realize that almost everything they sell though, is available from someone else for cheaper and/or is better quality. Some of the stuff they sell is EXACTLY the same stuff you can get at Harbor Freight. Most of it is NOT available at HF (don't get me wrong), but point being, shop around. Get as many catalogs from other companys as you can get your hands on and you will find that all the abrasives, tools, coatings, etc. are all available through other people. They just organize things well in the form of kits and things. I firmly believe that they are just a smart company. Think about it... They have a free catalog subscription full of "cool looking" products (worth keeping next to the ****per for sure), they have an easy to order from website, advertise EVERYWHERE, have everything set up in "user friendly" kits (I.E. Engine turning, plating, buffing, etc.)... It really is a brilliant company! They can charge alot (and they make alot) because they're well structured, very public and have a relatively good reputation and their customer base is geared mostly towards wealthy hobbyists that buy because it's convenient one stop shopping... I'm in the wrong business!!
I'll pretty much echo what everyone else here has said. Shop around, but I've never had any problems with the company or the products I have purchased trhough them. I do like their '***embled' kits like the dolly and hammer sets, or the pinstriping set. These are usually very well thought out and a decent baragain.
Someone on the old Metalshapers list, sent them a product (english wheel, I believe) to see if they would retail it for him. Eastwood copied the design and had it manufactured overseas. I haven't bought anything from them since. Larry T
I hate to admit it, but so do I. They have some good kits. A lot of them are reasonbly priced based on what you get. The one kit that I ordered from them that I thought was a COMPLETE rip off, was the Engine Turning Kit. This is not a discussion on the correct way to engine turn, but I did find that it did NOT give you a consistant finish and found a hundred better ways to do it. The rip off part about the kit was the actual abrasive rolls they sell in the kit. They want $20+ for the kit and you can go to an abrasive shop and pick those up for VERY cheap and they usually have more sizes to choose from. Point being, just watch what you buy. A lot of the kits are well thought out and good deals though. I contacted Eastwood for advice on what polishing stuff to buy from them one time. I ordered everything they told me about for HALF the price from CASWELL Plating (LOVE that place!!). If you're an Eastwood buff, check out CASWELL Plating! http://www.caswellplating.com/
An abrasive shop!! That's what they all became when I was working in them and dumb-***ed colleagues would ask me stupid questions!!
I got as hinge pin pusher off them. Piece of junk. Wouldn't push a pin if its life depended on it. Just bent. Pat.
The catalog quality and the prices make you think you are getting better stuff than the low quality Chinese junk that the UPS guy dumps on your doorstep.
Its kinda funny when you see their tent at Carlisle. The catalog looks cl***y and organized. The tent at shows looks like a freaking bomb went off. **** is just everywhere, unorganized, no displays or order, **** just piled and thrown all over the place like its junk (some really is). It looks like a thrift shop gone bad.
I believe this has happened with other products as well.. I had read the account above.. and heard rumor of other items as well.. fwiw.. I dont live far from their store.. one day I was up there to get some "paint" for a friend.. and the salesman said "were repackaging the material now." turns out their "specially formulated" powdercoat material.. was simply bought in bulk.. and packaged for general consumption.. as others have said.. most everything they sell is available somewhere else.. and the fact that they sell "clarke" welders should shed some light on their perception of quality..
Wow - who whoulda thunkit? All right then, aside from Harbor Freight and Eastwood, who else sells such a proliferation of maintenance and resto products? I know about Mac Tools, but I have yet to see anything they offer be cheaper than Eastwood. What other sources are out there that I don't know about? Thanks.
I too have bought from eastwood and I have to agree with everyone else.Their prices are too high for what you get and I can usually find the same thing for less at harbor freight.
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