I got my order in for 3 Bessey Beyceps lifting jacks.
What happened is I ordered 2 from Blains during a recent sale, because this kind of tool works well in pairs and the price was great, but 1 was cancelled because they apparently ran out and couldn’t fulfill it. I checked and it was still in stock, so I ordered another pair.
That’s how I ended up with 3.
The Bessey lifting jacks arrived in large tool-fitting carboard boxes. Made in China.
I had hoped Bessey was making these in Europe. I’m surprised and a little disappointed that this isn’t the case, especially given the premium price.
Made-in-China knockoffs of the Viking Arm are considerably cheaper on Amazon and other online marketplaces. While I wouldn’t trust such tools, I can see why a lot of tool users have been buying those instead of pricey name-brand lifting jacks.
Quick tests went well. The quality seems decent, and the lifting jacks are intuitive to use.
The pricing confuses me. Blain’s price went from $65 each to $110, and Acme Tool’s price is still $137. Home Depot just listed the Bessey BEY9 lifting and assembly tool at $119 each.
Maybe Bessey and Home Depot will work out promo pricing for Father’s Day.
If I recall correctly, Dewalt’s construction jack ($99 at Home Depot) is also made in China.
As far as I’m aware, only the original Viking Arm ($129 at Amazon, similar at Acme Tools) is made outside of Asia; the Viking Arm is made in Norway.
Bessey and Viking Arm have a “strategic partnership” and licensing agreement. Stanley Black & Decker also entered a licensing agreement with Viking Arm, following a legal patent infringement complaint over Dewalt, Irwin, and Stanley lifting jacks.
That doesn’t explain why Bessey is making these in China, but I find behind-the-scenes happenings to be interesting.
I don’t think I’ll regret buying Bessey Beyceps lifting jacks at $65 each, even though they’re not made in Europe as I had hoped.
At over $100 each, I think the original Viking Arm might be the way to go. Luckily, there always seems to be deal pricing on the Dewalt construction jacks that drops the price per tool to under $100. The best pricing so far was $119 for 2. Maybe Blain’s promo price of $65 per Bessey jack will return.
