I'm about to buy some new deep sockets in 3/8 drive and some extension bars and a few other little bits currently missing from my tool collection. I noticed on e-bay that there are a lot of tools on there made by Bergen. They seem to be priced OK but it all depends on how good they are.

Anyone got any Bergen stuff? Any comments on their quality as I have never heard of them.

Any comparisons? ie are they more towards the Blackspur (ie cheap crap) end of the market, or the Facom / Teng end (ie good but pricey), or more middle of the road like halfords, draper etc (ie perfectly good enough for me without breaking the bank)

I almost always use the halfords pro stuff now.
So easy to replace if they get broke. I have had to take a couple of items back and have had them replaced with no trouble at all. Even though it was my own fault that I broke them . I didn't tell them that though

I used to use Snap-on. But to be honest, they are not worth the sky high prices.

Having said that. I have bought some very good cheap tools as well.
I bought a set of 3/8 drive, deep sockets, made buy laser about 12 years ago.
I have used them a lot & have given them a fair bit of abuse over the years . Not looking very prety now but still going strong.


Ronnie

I have a variety of tool brands, made up from buying what I can afford at the time and buying the best I could. But I would heartily second Ronnie's comments on the Laser Brand! Cheap as you like, ut feel very good to use, and they have taken a fair bit of usage from me (not abuse), but good going and have stood up very well to those trials!

Steve

halfords pro

SOLD ALL MY SNAP-ON STUFF ON EBAY.

I have had some Kamasa cheapo 3/8" and 1/4" drive sockets for 18 years now and the only thing I've had to replace is the ratchet due to abuse.

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Originally posted by Peteff
I have had some Kamasa cheapo 3/8" and 1/4" drive sockets for 18 years now and the only thing I've had to replace is the ratchet due to abuse.

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most of my stuff IS halfords pro, but the problem with it is, that the stock they carry at my local store is pretty rubbish. No metric deep sockets (but plenty of AF in its place) only one length of extension. Staff are crap (when you can find one). Limited range of bits. The glass cabinets are often half empty.

But I am happy with the Halfords items I have got, but I can buy Bergen off the internet for the same price (hence my question) as the Halfords ones (if they had them in stock). So thats why I wanted comments on the Bergen. I have some other Teng, Facom, Britool bits, but i'm not a 'badge whore' so i'm not too fussed about it all matching.

halfords pro every time and the way to buy them is with a trade card up to 1/3 off the price shown,

I've got 1/2" drive metric & imperial deep impact sockets by Bergen, not at all shiny with a dull black finish. I've had to replace the 16mm due to my using a 3lb hammer to force it onto a corroded 17mm bolt. The only other fault is that there was no 14mm size so I bought that seperately. I've had them 10 years now & i use them daily on agricultural stuff. Cost at the time was about £15 a set.
I got a set of Bergen stubby AF spanners off Ebay recently & was disappointed with the quality though, OK for what they cost but not up to the standard the sockets are.
Have a look at Franklin stuff, I was sick of the boy at work borrowing my Bergen sockets so I got him a set of Franklin ones for his 21st & they're pretty good too.

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Originally posted by balidey
most of my stuff IS halfords pro, but the problem with it is, that the stock they carry at my local store is pretty rubbish. No metric deep sockets (but plenty of AF in its place) only one length of extension. Staff are crap (when you can find one). Limited range of bits. The glass cabinets are often half empty.

But I am happy with the Halfords items I have got, but I can buy Bergen off the internet for the same price (hence my question) as the Halfords ones (if they had them in stock). So thats why I wanted comments on the Bergen. I have some other Teng, Facom, Britool bits, but i'm not a 'badge whore' so i'm not too fussed about it all matching.

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^^^^^^^^

Thats easy they are bang in the center of town and open all hours 9-8.

So they have bugger all like for like compertition

[Edited on 4/1/08 by big_wasa]

I have some Bergen sockets and love them.

I always use them over the Snap on as im afraid to scratch them

And as above I always use a Us-pro ratchet instead of the snap-on. again very well made and fair priced. Sold by the same outlets as Bergen