Auto-Clamp - what were they thinking?

[LCHIEN]

http://www.blackanddecker.com/produc...251&toolview=2



Talk about useless gadgets... Saw this at HD for twenty-something dollars

I tried it and man, was it slow. Quick Grips would be faster, cheaper and smaller.

[Ed62]

What were they thinking about? They probably thought you'd buy one.

Ed

[LarryG]

"We'll build one next time, right here, in the Noob Yuppie Workshop ..."

[os1kne]

It's a bad solution to a problem that is better solved by Quick-grips. The battery powered Crescent wrench is another waste of product development. I don't get what they see.

[Hellrazor]

For ever person who says "Thats a stupid product", there are 10-20 others buying it.

One of the guys at work asked me why I didn't buy one of those wrenches. My reply was "Because I am happy with my box wrenches and its a silly idea".

[LinuxRandal]

Looks to me, like the engineer got tired, using a c-clamp, to push back his rotors on his car, and said, I can do it easier.


Other then that, I can only see it used by a po'd member of the fairer sex, so they don't break a nail when they break our .....

[JTimmons]

For ever person who says "Thats a stupid product", there are 10-20 others buying it.

Yep, and the other is job security!

When I saw this thread I thought it was some type of automotive clamp, never would have thought this. The wrench idea is pretty lame too.

Let's not forget the automatic tape measure of last year.

[LCHIEN]

On reflection, I think the people who buy it are DIYers' wives and kids.
They know the old man loves clamps, they think they're doing him a favor.
That's why my wife and kids know better than to try and buy me tools, electronics, and fishing gear unless specifically asked.

[JTimmons]

On reflection, I think the people who buy it are DIYers' wives and kids.
They know the old man loves clamps, they think they're doing him a favor.
That's why my wife and kids know better than to try and buy me tools, electronics, and fishing gear unless specifically asked.

I thought this too. It'll be funny to see the return carts the day after xmas though!

[LCHIEN]

I thought this too. It'll be funny to see the return carts the day after xmas though!

Takes a lot of guts to return it when when the little rugrats are proclaiming how they picked the perfect present for daddy.

[JTimmons]

This is true, in that case B&D is evil.

Altough my dad never has that problem. Just got back from Wally World on my break. Went on got him the new Leatherman Surge, I pray he likes it.

[Pappy]

They were thinking, "Let's build a senseless gadget tools, introduce it just before Christmas, and sell a bunch if them for gifts!"

[os1kne]

To get gift ideas - my wife tends to pay attention to what I look at in the tool section, or tools that I see in use on television - so when we were watching tv and the commercial for the B&D products came on I was sure to proclaim "what stupid products" (I knew that she hadn't started shopping yet). Fortunately, she said that she used to look at B&D products, but they really seem to be junk - so I don't think that I'll have to worry about getting one of those gems under my tree.

[michael.scheller]

Means Well

LOML and kids mean well. They buy me gadget gifts each year thinking that it was something neat. I've gotten golf gadgets, tool gadgets, beer gadgets and a few others.

Granted one of the gadgets was the impetus for me to get involved in the hobby and to buy real tools. I got a Mr. Beer homebrew kit for Christmas, while in Germany, about 8 years ago. After brewing up the first batch of crappy beer using the ingredients and instructions enclosed, I thought there must be something better. So after some research, I bought a "real" homebrew kit and went to town. It has been a wonderful hobby just for the looks on the faces of my used to be stationed in Germany friends who drink my Bock or Hefeweizen.

My daughter, 13, and son, 8, helped me brew up a batch of Double Chocolate Stout for the fermenter just yesterday. We'll likely be transferring a batch of Alt into the secondary fermenter today. I hope that it is bottled and drinkable before New Years Eve, I've a friend coming to visit who just so happens, opened and sampled that very first batch of horrible beer with me in Germany 8 years ago. He hasn't had any of my beer since and I'm hoping it turns out well.

I learned to preempt some of the gadget stuff by announcing during the stupid TV ads, "what a stupid gadget". But be forewarned, it is too late in the Christmas season to do this now. Your spouse and kids might have already purchased the "great gift" have it wrapped and beneath the tree.

[Ed62]

I tell my wife gift cards is the way to go. That way people don't get things they really don't want. If that's what I get, she won't see much of me for a day or two. That's another bonus for her.

Ed