Affordable Bonsai Tools?

TreeBay

Hi Salix, here are some comments on your remarks. I didn't have any need to comment on this thread until it turned into a JR/TreeBay bash. Understandably, now I need to make some clarifications!

TreeBay offers three grades of JR tools (intermediate, pro & master), and I made the decision almost a year ago not to carry the majority of the novice grade tools because I don't consider them the best value, when you can usually upgrade to a better tool for a few dollars more.

If you are making your judgment based on "novice grade" JR tools somewhere else, I agree with you, but you can take advantage of the JRL Warranty for refund or replacement.

Two points here:
#1 As to why TreeBay only carries JR: it is very difficult to make a tool purchase over the Internet with any confidence. As you note below, you can't lay your hands on the tools and each product needs to have distinct features. Too many offerings gets confusing to the buyer. JR offers a 3-year guarantee for replacement or refund, which generates a lot of confidence in an Internet purchase.

#2 By the way, when I click over to the Monk's concave cutter or root cutter section, wire pliers, etc., today, I am only seeing one brand there, so I am a little confused what you are talking about. Maybe they have more variety in-house than they offer on the Internet?

• Have you had the opportunity to look at any of the tools in the JR Intermediate, Pro or Master grades? It is very difficult to demonstrate any claim of feel, appearance and performance on the Internet, so it is essentially impossible for a product to speak for itself. Most buyers have to rely on the reputation and judgment of the seller, backed with the opportunity to return the tool if it doesn't meet the anticipated level of quality.
• The JRL Warranty is unmatched in the industry.
• It is important to understand that products advertised as similar may not be. For example, in comparing the finish detail in the highest grade tools, Is it laminated stainless, just stainless, or simply "silvery metal?"
• If a buyer doesn't agree that the JR products "feel better, look better, and perform better than similar items from somewhere else" s/he can return for replacement or money back, any time within the 3-year warranty period. (not 15 days as elsewhere!)

[HR] The JRL Warranty

Joshua Roth tools are warranted to be of the highest quality materials and workmanship for a period of three years after purchase. If you are dissatisfied for any reason with the performance of a JRL Bonsai tool, you can return it, along with a copy of your original sales slip, for a free replacement or refund, as you prefer.[HR]

Regards,

Matt

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salix

Matt, just to clarify, and certainly NOT to enter into any sort of argument about it (I absolutely defer to your knowledge and experience in matters bonsaical), I was not attempting to "bash" you, Treebay, or Joshua Roth, but merely to state my experience with and opinion of different products while offering some general consumer advice for anyone who wants to get the best deal while buying ANYTHING.

You are correct that the JR shears that I own and dislike are novice-level tools, and I'm sure that the tools of higher quality and price are much more impressive. My statements were based on a comparison of beginner-level (affordable, as per the topic heading) tools. For the same money, the monks have a better cutter and a better set of shears than JR, IN MY OPINION.

I guess that the sail in front of all of this wind is:

Opinion
Preference
Personal experience

whatever you want to call it. As such, I hope and assume that everyone will take it with a grain or two of salt.

Thanks for responding to my posts,

salix.

stephentoddpope

actully i have used jr tools one time, and was amazed at how well they worked, an would have baught some from treebay if it wasn't a money issue, and sence a friend gave mine to me, the price/quality is much higher w/ these, considering mine the price is 0 and the quality id say is 6 so 0/6 to me is much better i think that say 35 bucks for one tool of a 10 quality.

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Jay

Salix...stephen et al... a good point to remember is this,
1- Bonsai Tools are not cheap!
2- Bonsai Tools will last for a long time (if a good grade of tool is obtained).
3- Concave cutters, for sure, can not be replaced by hardware store tools.
4- Some Bonsai tools can be (somewhat) replaced by garden center tools.

Knowing this, I would strongly suggest that someone looking to get tools with none do this.
1- Save your money and wait to buy a good to better grade concave cutter...hey one with a three year return policy ain't bad.
2- Use kitchen shears or scisssors, small pruners and other tools on hand till you can afford to buy the good stuff.

Last... loyalty to a brand of tools is sometimes like loyalty to a car company. We could have huge discussions on why a BMW or Mercedes or Cadillac or Lexus or etc etc is better.

If you are buying a tool and do not know the manufacturer, you better have faith in the seller. Also you better know the return policy and the guarantee,

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chibi-neko

Actually, don't expect to get a 10 quality tool for $35.
$35, is usually about the cheapest you'll get for *any* tool. My $30 cutters are just basic carbon steel ones from Japan. For "10 quality tools, you'll probabbly end up paying closer to $80 (or more).

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stephentoddpope

well......that further emphasizes my point, that quality and price matter, i would rather have a medium tool for cheap than a high quality tool for expensive.

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stephentoddpope

oh yeah, i know this has almost nothing to do w/ this thread, but i have some shears that have a rubber coated handle, and has a cute little alligator on it, it is a japanese tool, any idas on the brand?

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