Thread: Buying tools overseas- not always as they seem.

Originally Posted by krisfarm

Presto had no obligation to do that, I am impressed.

They probably saw that they did have an obligation Bob - to preserve there own good name, if nothing else. They will get great kudos from this dirt cheap PR exercise.

Glad you got a good result.

Seems there into copying everything they can these days.
Really great for the company to supply you with a new genuine set.

Dave

Glad you got a good outcome.

G'Day Fellas,
At the moment Aliexpress seems to alive with fake Mitutoyo gear.
Regards,
Martin

Thanks Bob, I'd never have guessed that someone would take the trouble to make fake drill bits, just goes to show you never know.

I'm impressed that Presto value their brand sufficiently to support their customers, full marks to Presto. I'm currently in the market for a set of fractional metric drills, I was thinking Dormer, but now, I think I'll be buying Presto

Just out of curiousity, is this the same Presto company that the POL gas fittings are named after? All australian gas bottles have POL ("Presto-lite") fittings as the standard for bbq lpg bottles.

Regards
Ray

Ray I'm not sure of the answer to your question, but Presto is a tool making company from Sheffield in England. I have 2 of their drill sets (genuine) plus some larger drills and other cutters. They are extremely high quality. I picked some up for Greg and as far as I'm aware he's happy with them too. As the sets are in 0.1 mm rises I keep them for special jobs that can warrant the precision.

Bob, yes sorry to say the grey ones are clearly fake and I saw it straight away as would have Presto themselves. The drill manufacturer in China is in this case pumping out drills so rather than putting "Happy Hong Drills" or something similar, they print "Preso" and copy that name. I haven't seen them in Singapore, but Hong Kong is littered with them, often sitting next to the genuine ones in a glass display cabinet. Definitely caveat emptor up here. Singapore however has taken a much tougher stance in the past 10 years so it's good to hear something is being done about it.

Similarly, hat's off to Presto. Let us know what you think of the real deal Bob, as I say, I like mine and would highly recommend them. Like anything good quality they're not cheap.

Pete

Edit: Bob, as an afterthought. I won't have a chance to do it today, but of you'd like to PM me the retailer's details I'm happy to pay them a visit, I'll be back in a few days. If they try to sell me dodgy products I'm more than happy to report it to the appropriate authorities here and I can pretty much assure you they will follow it up. As mentioned, about 8-10 years ago Singapore got quite serious about no longer turning a blind eye to this type of thing and came down hard on software and media piracy. If it's anything like that side of things, a raid where they find counterfeit or pirated products results in the store being immediately shut down. It used to provide some light entertainment watching the next one get knocked off in Sim Lim Square each night.

... Otherwise we can always send Greg "Bubba" Q around to ruffle them up a bit?

Am amazed to see this as have had a set of fractional Presto drills [grey case] for a few years now I too wrote them off as garbage and never bothered to perservere as they been used up doing woody stuff.They did run out badly.they were a fractional metric set 1-10mm in half steps.they were in black finish Sucked in by the cheap price from a door to door hawker who used to stop by my workshop.Good to see that an outcome happened for you.John.

I bought a pack of ten "Presto" 1/8" drill bits in Hong Kong a few years ago. I was surprised at how quickly these "English" made bits went blunt. Now I know why. The packaging looked like the real deal. Maybe it was, but I don't think the contents were.

Hi Guys,
I've just been (Saturday) to a model engineering exhibition in Harrogate UK. I was somewhat surprised by the plethora of fake tools, some quite obvious and some not so. You would expect the smaller and one man bands to be purveyors of these, but I would suggest that its the larger ones that seem to have the most. As always "caveat emptor"...

Regards:
BaronJ

Originally Posted by krisfarm

Back in 2011 while on a holiday I purchased some small tools from the local suppliers in Singapore, I have used most of them and they have been of good quality. A couple of weeks ago I needed a fraction sized metric drill so I opened my Presto 1-5.9mm HSS drill set, what a disappointment the drill had huge run out, I tried a couple of others and they were all varying degrees of run out. Over the years I have used drills from this firm on a number of occasions and they have been of good quality. I looked up the manufacturers contact details and sent an email off. I received a prompt response from the Product Development Officer a Mr Andrew Rycoft requesting further details and stating that he would sort it out. I then sent photos of the drill set,the business I brought the drills from, date of purchase and address. A couple of days later I received a reply from Andrew informing me that the drills I had purchased were not theirs, they were fakes. He also stated that Presto would be making further enquiries in Singapore to find the source. He also said that he would be replacing my drill set F.O.C. A short time later I received another email detailing the dispatch details and tracking number for the replacements. That is a first class supplier. Presto had no obligation to do that, I am impressed. We will all have to be on the lookout for more of these drill sets as I am sure they will be about. I have added a couple of photos to make identifying the fake sets a bit easier. The fakes are in a grey case, the genuine ones in a mid blue.
Bob

can I borrow your fake set...didnt you tell Presto that all wwf members bought the same set while in singapore....

seriously now, that is just fantastic of Presto...wow!!!
makes one feel that they should buy a box of their drills to support them for such a very kind gesture...
(ps dont tell Presto but I cant recall having heard of them before)

Thanks for all the interest, further developments Presto have asked me to post a few of the fake drills back for inspection and further action,being done today, they have their Singapore agent on the job as well. I will post any further developments when I hear back. The difference in the original drills and the faked is like chalk and cheese. The originals are a first class set of drills.
RayG
I do not know if POL fittings are one of Prestos product line, will have to have a look on there web site.
Bob

I have had a look on Presto's web site and they dont list an Australian agent...might explain why I have never heard of them

G'Day,
You have got me thinking, maybe if I complain to Mitutoyo about my fake 300mm caliper, will they send me a genuine one ??? .
Regards,
Martin

Originally Posted by toolman49

G'Day,
You have got me thinking, maybe if I complain to Mitutoyo about my fake 300mm caliper, will they send me a genuine one ??? .
Regards,
Martin

if you can name the supplier , back it up with copy of invoice they just might...big companies must protect their brands.