The Original: How to Tell a Woodchuck Tool From the Look-Alikes
Imported look-alikes of our tools have appeared online. Here is how to tell the original, and why the difference is where the money is.
A Word on Look-Alikes
Tom Hoff began designing the first Woodchuck Tool in 2007 while clearing a lot in Gardiner, New York. He found that the tools on the market weren't tailored to his needs, and he took it upon himself to create something better. To date, Tom has built every Woodchuck Tool himself since the first sale in 2009 and continues to refine his products year after year based on customer feedback.
Since the beginning of this company, imported look-alikes and cheap knockoffs have popped up online time and time again. Why, might you ask? The answer is simple. Tom has designed kick-a** products that people rave about, time after time after time.
The main issue with lots of these lookalikes and knockoffs is that some of them are so identical in design that customers have asked us if they are ours.
As you can imagine, this is very frustrating, but we cannot preface this enough:
Unless you have purchased your Woodchuck Tool directly from our website, from one of our authorized retailers, or from our five select Amazon.com listings, then you have not purchased an authentic Woodchuck Tool.
How to Identify Cheap Look-Alikes
Shockingly low pricing. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. We build a rock-solid product that we firmly stand behind, and while products are not cheap, try one out for yourself, and it will become clear why that's the case. Companies that have knocked off our look and design tend to list their tools at a fraction of the price because they've cut corners every step of the way. So please do yourself a favor and buy the real deal up front.
The Woodchuck Tool sticker. On every single Woodchuck Tool, we have the exact same sticker that we place on each and every one. If that sticker is not on the tool and is not shown in the product images, then you guessed it: it is a cheap lookalike, and it is not authentic.
Two-piece handles. Some people have found that if they split the aluminum handle into two pieces, it drastically reduces shipping costs and therefore allows for cheaper pricing. The downside is it leaves you with a tool that only has a fraction of the lifespan and is destined to break or wear rapidly.
Blue hooks. One of the ways companies have tried to differentiate themselves is by changing our red hook color to blue. A specific company has even gone so far as to mass-manufacture one of these lookalike tools and is currently drop shipping it from China to retailers all over the world. The outcome of this is simple. Hundreds of people are left thinking they're getting a solid, well-made tool only to discover quality control issues, poor build quality, and, worst of all, a stolen, ripped-off product. This company is so unethical that they have gone as far taking product imagery off of our old website, photoshopping our product photos, and using them in media as their own.
Why we WONT chase the price down
Look-alikes can sometimes sell for half our price because it costs a fraction of ours to make. The difference comes out of the metal, the fit, and the longevity of the tool. If you are ever unsure whether a tool is authentic, don't hesitate to call us or email us call us. We'd be happy to save you from buying a crappy tool 10 times out of 10. Do not support foreign thefts because of an enticing deal. Instead, support a U.S.-based business that has been a driver of innovation and development in the forestry and logging industry.
If you're curious to learn more about our founder and the story of Woodchuck Tool, check out this article: Woodchuck Tool Origin Story
Questions? Contact us
Email: Contact@woodchucktool.com
Phone: (570) 832-4110