Swiroset.com

If you are in agriculture, budgets are likely to be tight and you will often seek savings. That is practically “business as usual” in agriculture.

However, one area you may not want to cut back on is your tools. It may make little sense to buy prestige items such as Krone hay equipment if you later put it at risk by trying to maintain it with cheap tools.

So, here are some important tips for selecting quality tools.

1. Look for recognized quality brands. If they’ve been around for a long time and have a reputation for quality, then they’re clearly doing something right. Be prepared to pay a little more, if necessary, for that piece of mind.

2. Learn a little about metal descriptions. For example, if terms like “HSS” or “Chrome Vanadium” don’t mean much to you, you should research them and other similar technical designators. This is because tool manufacturers often use such designations to describe the quality of the metallurgy they use. Note that the hardness of the metal is not necessarily always the only criterion behind the selection; read about that too.

3. Make sure you understand how the different tools work and which one is right for the job. Most professional farmers or farm workers will understand this well, but it is still possible to see people using a totally inappropriate tool for the job. That can be dangerous and jeopardize what you are working on and perhaps any guarantees you may have. In this sense, quality means “selecting tools that are suitable for your purpose.”

4. If you are buying tools from a brand you have never heard of, do your research online first. Try to find out where the manufacturer is located and get objective feedback on their products. Be on the lookout for fraudulent sponsored comments designed to be misleading. It can often be detected by the repetitive phraseology used in feedback comments, such as “tools of exceptional value,” “truly exceptional quality items,” and “an excellent product,” all used by supposedly different buyers in quick succession.

Also be on the lookout for feedback that is overly effusive (using a lot of superlatives) and left in a language that is clearly not the native language of the alleged customer in question. Lastly, most legitimate positive comments are usually terse, such as “good buy and very satisfied.” Be suspicious of the large number of positive comments that go into unnecessary detail; It might suggest that the reviewer is getting paid per word and is working too hard to prove himself.

5. Buy tools that offer a money-back guarantee. Use a credit card or other payment mechanism that offers a degree of protection in case you demand your money back. That means avoiding cash payment mechanisms or cash transfers.

6. Be very careful about offers that seem too good to be true. Some producers offer loss leaders when they are starting out and that can lead to real bargains, but it can also mean that a manufacturer is taking shortcuts in a big way on quality.

Good luck with your purchase!