Spent $400 on a 'revolutionary' hoof stand that was just a rebranded cheap import

I saw this ad for a new hoof stand last fall, all these promises about better angles and less back strain. The company made it sound like it was designed by farriers for farriers, so I bit and dropped $400. When it showed up, the welds were rough, the adjustment knob stripped on the second horse, and the whole thing wobbled. I took it apart and found the exact same casting marks as a $75 stand from a farm supply catalog. Felt like a total sucker. Now I'm back to my old trusty stand that cost me $150 ten years ago. Has anyone else been burned by these fancy tool rebrands, or found a brand that's actually worth the money?

2 comments

2 Comments

walker.alex1mo ago

That $75 farm supply catalog version is probably from the same factory that supplies half a dozen "premium" brands. I've seen it with anvil stands too, where a $300 model is identical to a Tractor Supply special except for the paint color. The markup on rebranded basic tools is insane because they know pros will pay for anything that claims to save time or strain.

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david1231mo ago

Check the weight and steel grade specs if they list them, that's the real tell. I bought a generic one once and the metal was way softer, it dented on the first big job. Sometimes the extra cost is just paint, but sometimes they actually use better materials you can't see.

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