Originally Posted by
Eyes Roll
Cheap tools do not mean they are of poor quality or that they are not durable.
I pay for the tool's utility, not for the brand name. Since you mentioned Park, the company certainly expects its customers to pay for its brand name and prices itself out of the budget-minded customers' market for a lot of its tools, with a few exceptions. For every Park tool, I have found a non-Park alternative at a cheaper price that functions equally well or even better, in addition to lasting a lifetime.
I ask myself, "is my money, or most of my money, going towards the tool's utility or the brand name?" I refuse to purchase a tool where a lot of my money is going towards its brand name.
that has not been my expeience. the "paying for name" theme really is not true. you are paying for more precise tolerances, better quality metal, better design that you get from named tools.
Some things seem to be over the top, until you use them. I got an Abbey Bottom bracket tool, for shimano. seems over kill when you can use a $5 plastic thingy, but the actual function and experience is hugely better