Brown Tool
Hi all,
I happened to check out the VAF web site tonight and I see that our name has been discussed and I wanted to help clarify why as a general rule our tools cost less than those of other suppliers. First let me say that the RV community is lucky to have several great tool companies to choose from. Avery and Cleaveland are both excellent companies with very well deserved reputations and Bob Avery sets the gold standard for providing outstanding customer service.
Regarding "Made in the USA", we stock over 3,000 different individual tools and the
OVERWHELMING majority are made right here in the good ol' USA. My company, like every other aircraft tool supplier stocks some globally sourced tools (read Taiwan). Specifically, our Spring Back Dimple Dies are made in both Taiwan and the USA. All of the Screw Size Dimple Dies that we sell are made in the USA, and for the Flush Rivet Dimple Dies, we source these both from our USA supplier and a supplier in Taiwan. The quality of both is superb and laying next to each other, it is impossible to tell which is which.
The misconception that our prices are lower because our tools are imported is just that, a misconception. Again, the overwhelming majority of our tools are made in the USA. Our prices are generally lower for one reason and one reason only and that is
economy of scale. Our business model is built on volume. The normal RV tool suppliers focus on the kitplane community almost exclusively, we do not. We sell to the largest airlines, every major aircraft factory in the USA, every branch of the US military, many foreign militaries, and repair stations in just about every country in the world. We also of course market to the RV/kitplane community, but it is not our sole focus. We are the largest aerospace distributor of Sioux Tools in the world and we supply Sioux Tools to many of the smaller suppliers. Where one of the smaller tool companies might stock 100 pairs of cleco pliers, we currently have about 3500 in stock, where one of our competitors might have 30 or 40 Rivet Guns on the shelf, we currently have over 400 in stock and ready to ship.
There is of course a trade off in dealing with us. I have never built an RV (but I have built C-130's, C-5B's, MD-11's, and worked on just about every commercial airplane flown by airlines in the 80's & 90's. I have replaced more seat track and installed more stringer repairs in 727's than I care to admit). It is unlikely that I will have the specific knowledge or time to walk you through a specific task on an RV and for the tool supplier that does have that knowledge and time, you must be willing to compensate him for his knowledge and his time. It is highly unlikely that I will repair the Rivet Squeezer you bought off of e-bay for "free", because I do not have a margin built in to my prices to account for "free" repairs. The staff at Brown Tool numbers just 10 people, including myself, and with about 100 orders processed each and every day, we will not always have the time to chit chat. What we will do is offer you a quality tool at a fair price.
I hope this helps to clarify the difference you see in prices and selection from supplier to supplier. The key is to balance what you need and expect out of a supplier and make the appropriate choice. You cannot go wrong with any of the tool suppliers that service the RV community. I go to "battle" each and every day with all of my competitors but I also have great respect for all of them and consider many to be friends. Each tool supplier does things a little differently and seems to have a niche and all work hard to earn your business. Find the tool supplier that fits your needs and budget and for those that choose my company, know that we appreciate and value your business.
Thanks to all!
Michael Brown
Brown Aviation Tool Supply Co.
www.browntool.com
[email protected]
1-800-587-3883