Understood! But "we" don't really want those in the mass-market any
more. G

Who's the "we"? I sure do.

Remember where the tools you're talking about are sold. Hardware
store Harry, Wal-Mart, or your typical home center aren't going to
bother to even stock a $40 chisel or $50 honing guide. If this wasn't
true, your local Ace or Home Depot's hand tool aisle would look a lot
more like Woodcraft's than what we see now. It's not like they
_can't_ get good stuff. Your typical Woodcraft style store would be
in every town, if that's what the purchasing public demanded.

It's sad, people flock to the borgs, and some nice hardware stores have
gone out of bidness because of it... there is plenty here though, but nothing
like a Woodcraft. But as far as production of more costly things like I
am yakkin about, there are still the woodworking businesses online and
specialist stores that will stock desireable items, such as Rockler and
Woodcraft and single store front retailers. General and Stanley could do
it no problem, as much as Lie-Nielson is distributing their tools.

The typical crappy Stanley or Buck Brothers, as well as the half-way
decent Marples Blue Chips are fine for what the average shopper needs.
The market has told this to the retailers.

Yeah and retailers have the same economical ideas, why pay too much for
something that most likely will not sell fast enough.

Good hand tools have become a niche. If Lee Valley and Garrett Wade
were cleaning the mass-market's clock, I have no doubt that Stanley,
Irwin, or General _would_ sell the better stuff, or else the BORGs
would be beating a path to Rob Lee's office to make wholesale
agreements. That's what successful business do, sell what folks want
to buy.

Seems they almost couldn't care less, nor do they pay attention.

Barry

--
Alex - "newbie_neander" woodworker
cravdraa_at-yahoo_dot-com
not my site: http://www.e-sword.net/