Another brand went to the Dark Side

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

I just heard an ad on the radio from Lowes. It announced that the Hitachi tools would soon be Metabo XXX. Went on to say the tools will still be the same Hitachi quality, but if you want the Hitachi name rush in and load up (or something like that). Not sure what's going on, but it sounds like Metabo (which has always meant high quality European tools to me) has picked up an Asian line to compete with somebody. I guess I would think Lowes would know that Metabo are Cadillac tools, and Hitachi would be a step down (no offense to Hitachi fans, but the ones I've seen aren't in the Metabo league).

[HandyDan]

I've got 12V drill and impact from Hitachi.  Been using four or five years without fault.  It is a decent tool set.  Maybe Metabo bought it because it is a good fit for them quality wise.

[Gene Howe]

Don't own any Hitachi tools but, I used my BIL's brand new miter saw and was highly impressed. Especially, when he told me what he paid for it.

[Ron Altier]

I wonder if the high import taxes on Chinese goods figured into this

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

To be clear, I wasn't bashing Hitachi. I know a lot of folks use them and like them. The only one I ever had was a battery drill, and that was about 10-12 years ago. It worked well until the batteries gave out. But it would be interesting to know what the folks at Metabo were thinking when they bought the brand.

[Artie]

I’ve never heard of the Metabo brand before. I will have to check them out so I know what I want to add to my “When I hit the lottery” list LOL

[Stick486]

18 minutes ago, Artie said:

I’ve never heard of the Metabo brand before.

very serious quality tools...

their grinders are as close to bullet proof as you can get...

[HandyDan]

12 minutes ago, Stick486 said:

their grinders are as close to bullet proof as you can get...

 

I have a Metabo 4 1/2" grinder.  Used the crap out of it and it still runs like new.  Gotta be over 20 years old. 

Edited September 10, 2018 by HandyDan

[Gene Howe]

Curiosity got the best of me. Just pulled up Metabo tools on Amazon. 

They say curiosity killed the cat. Dunno about that, but my credit card melted.

[JIMMIEM]

Looks like Hitachi bought Metabo.

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

10 hours ago, JIMMIEM said:

Looks like Hitachi bought Metabo.

If that's the case this is a sadder story than I thought. As for Metabo quality, we had a group of sheet metal contractors at the plant where I worked. Talking to the site boss about side grinders one day, he told us they use grinders a lot, sometimes 3-4 hours a day. When they used the Milwaukee brand (this was when Milwaukee was USA) they would ruin one in about 6-7 months and replace it. They switched to Metabo and some had lasted several years without fail. At that time they were still waiting for the first failure. No doubt they are high quality, industrial tools.

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

OK, it is even sadder than Hitachi buying Metabo (which was the case, apparently). I found this article that says KKR bought the combined firm. KKR (Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts) is a private equity firm that buys businesses and then RUINS them seeking higher profits. They are the ones who almost destroyed HD by putting Robert Nardelli in charge of it...he knew nothing about, well, anything. Truly sad, IMHO.