I was sceptical of buying a high quality pair of pliers like this over amazon, simply because tools have a lot of counterfeits but was pleasantly surprised. The tools came oiled nicely for transit, a must, and were on the stiffer side but still highly usable out of the package. Over time the action will loosen up to be what a standard lineman's plier is like, but for out of the box this was perfect quality. If you're an apprentice electrician, this is an absolute must have, other brands pale in comparison, and could only be matched by Knipex. But for the simple reason of domestic origins, I tip favour to Klein. This does come from a Knipex fanboy btw.