WAMT....what annoyed me today!

[Suvv]

WAMT - Doing the bank's job for them online, transferring our ISA's, so that they don't move it into a low interest account. Something that I used to do annually, in branch, when we had one!!! (Usually with the manager, coffee and biscuits provided!). Ah for the old days when the customer was king!

I remember my wife and I going into NatWest and transferring our ISAs from another bank to them.
We had to open a normal savings account as well for some reason and waiting at the counter a helpful lady said that she could do it for us.
She did my Wife's OK but managed to transfer my ISA into the new ordinary savings account. I didn't realise until the paperwork came through and it was extremely difficult to get it sorted out.
Every time I contacted them I got a different person who said "Just transfer it to the new ISA" I then had to explain that it was over the ISA annual limit wherupon they said that they were not sure what they could do. They eventually sorted it and paid me for loss of interest.
So much easier to do it myself online

 

[mj4456]

I am not saying we don't need branches, I did say for businesses we do (and that probably includes charity and the like) - but for 95% or more of people, there is probably no need to enter a branch

I was short changed by the cash machine in the local shop recently* and so had to call into the local branch to sort it, waited longer to speak to someone than to fill in the form! Money was back in my account within minutes, couldn’t achieve this online as the bot didn’t understand the problem, I also took money out of my account*-more than the machine would allow-to keep the housekeeping wallet full, I try to pay everything cash so can go through a bit in a week.
* Hence the reason for using the branch to withdraw a months? housekeeping/pocket money usually at a time.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

... but for 95% or more of people, there is probably no need to enter a branch

The actual proportion of transactions made in a branch this year, up to June, was 30% ...

UK: branch banking usage 2025| Statista

Branch banking usage in the United Kingdom (UK) decreased notably between 2019 and 2025, though it remained relatively stable between 2021 and 2025.

www.statista.com

 

[Pixbarmy]

Never understood the need for in-branch banking. Everything can be done online now and yes, I think they are an expensive luxury. Most people shouldn't need to visit a bank - pay cheques (if people still use them) online, just do bank transfers for anything. Mortgage, maybe - but my last remortgage with a broker was just over the phone. Businesses are different so a more personal touch may well be needed.

Try telling that to your 99 year old mother, who has no internet or mobile phone, or older folks who cannot see well or are hard of hearing, or anyone who doesn't understand the different types of savings accounts. It's a minefield for us carers, who are trying to get our "cared for" the best rates, without taking away their independence. The banks are making millions out of older folks who just don't understand, or know about the situation, that could be resolved by a chat with a human being.

 

[cambsno]

The actual proportion of transactions made in a branch this year, up to June, was 30% ...

UK: branch banking usage 2025| Statista

Branch banking usage in the United Kingdom (UK) decreased notably between 2019 and 2025, though it remained relatively stable between 2021 and 2025.

www.statista.com

I suppose the question is did they NEED to or just use because it's there. For example, I couldn't set up my kids bank account online, had to be in branch for some crazy reason (including asking a 12yo what they intended to use the money for - pointless)! Were people literally walking past and thought about popping in for something they thought of. Or was it stuff people do via habit which could be done online just as easily

 

[cambsno]

Try telling that to your 99 year old mother, who has no internet or mobile phone, or older folks who cannot see well or are hard of hearing, or anyone who doesn't understand the different types of savings accounts. It's a minefield for us carers, who are trying to get our "cared for" the best rates, without taking away their independence. The banks are making millions out of older folks who just don't understand, or know about the situation, that could be resolved by a chat with a human being.

I don't disagree, there are some great reasons to use branches and that is one. I have not said everyone doesn't need a branch, just that most of us could do it without a branch (and as Andrew has posted - 70% of us don't need to go into a branch.

 

[Tringa]

I don't disagree, there are some great reasons to use branches and that is one. I have not said everyone doesn't need a branch, just that most of us could do it without a branch (and as Andrew has posted - 70% of us don't need to go into a branch.

Agree, me and Mrs T haven't been in a branch for years and have no desire to do so. Unfortunately for those who do need to go into a branch, folks like us mean the number of branches will decrease.

My late MiL had no interest in the internet and was very dismissive of it even though she was happy to have her daughter buy things online for her. Have to say we were glad she did not want internet access as she would have been a scam victim in next to no time.

Dave

 

[Mozthecat]

Never understood the need for in-branch banking. Everything can be done online now and yes, I think they are an expensive luxury. Most people shouldn't need to visit a bank - pay cheques (if people still use them) online, just do bank transfers for anything. Mortgage, maybe - but my last remortgage with a broker was just over the phone. Businesses are different so a more personal touch may well be needed.

The older my wife and my parents get the less able they are to deal with online banking. Even simple things like randomly enforced 2FA are a challenge when physically controlling a mobile phone is a problem.

 

[JohnC6]

The older my wife and my parents get the less able they are to deal with online banking. Even simple things like randomly enforced 2FA are a challenge when physically controlling a mobile phone is a problem.

Re costs. I think a shared hub is a good way forward for the very reasons you mention. That and wanting a face to face experience to get something sorted.

 

[woof woof]

The last time I bought a new watch it had an idiotic overcomplicated strap and of course no instructions. It took me a good 10 minutes to work it out and after that operation was very difficult until it freed up a bit with use.

Fast forward to today and two new watches with yet another idiotic overcomplicated mechanism. I worked out how to open it and I have to say it's incredibly stiff and very difficult to do one handed until it frees up a bit but the adjustment is at the moment beyond me. It's supposed to have an easy adjustment mechanism but annoyingly the Youtube directions don't match up. "Squeeze the two tabs..." What tabs? There aren't any. Even if there were the strap is so large I don't think there'll be enough adjustment and there are no pins or screws between most of the links so I suppose this means a trip into town to the watch kiosk and I suppose these two idiotic straps will need to be removed and binned and replaced with sensible leather straps.

Strap designers.. For God sake. Why not just stick with what works easily and with one hand.

 

[Tigger.ufo]

The last time I bought a new watch it had an idiotic overcomplicated strap and of course no instructions. It took me a good 10 minutes to work it out and after that operation was very difficult until it freed up a bit with use.

Fast forward to today and two new watches with yet another idiotic overcomplicated mechanism. I worked out how to open it and I have to say it's incredibly stiff and very difficult to do one handed until it frees up a bit but the adjustment is at the moment beyond me. It's supposed to have an easy adjustment mechanism but annoyingly the Youtube directions don't match up. "Squeeze the two tabs..." What tabs? There aren't any. Even if there were the strap is so large I don't think there'll be enough adjustment and there are no pins or screws between most of the links so I suppose this means a trip into town to the watch kiosk and I suppose these two idiotic straps will need to be removed and binned and replaced with sensible leather straps.

Strap designers.. For God sake. Why not just stick with what works easily and with one hand.

How about buying a watch with a sensible strap in the first place? Would be much less stressful for you.

 

[woof woof]

How about buying a watch with a sensible strap in the first place? Would be much less stressful for you.

That sounds easy but these were bought on line and of course you don't get detailed pictures of the strap and how it works on line so I couldn't know that these had yet another new design and for 3 of the 4 I bought there was no alternative strap option. Looking at the how to do it videos this design seems to be a copy of a design Rolex and possibly others use which has trickled down. Anyway. The biggest issue is the length of the straps and they'll both need either links taking out or replacing with a new strap so a trip into town is needed.

Even so, how many people buy a watch based on the strap design? Do you? I'd guess that you don't. I'd guess that if trying a watch on in a shop you pick based on the design of the watch but you'd then notice the design of the strap when you come to try it on and then you'd either make the decision to change the strap or move on to another watch with a different strap. When I can I'll go into town and see if these bracelets can be shortened enough and if they can't I'll either go for a leather/fabric strap (which most of my watches have) or go for a metal strap which can be shortened and adjusted.

I've got two more watches to come one of which has a metal strap but beyond that I can't tell what it's like but it'll probably be the same as these. The last watch has a fabric strap so that should be much less of a problem and at worst will probably just need an extra hole punching.

And it's not really stress, just annoyance that straps seem to have got a lot more fiddly and they don't bother to include instructions. Not in the box and not on their website either.

 

[JohnC6]

How about buying a watch with a sensible strap in the first place? Would be much less stressful for you.

I (we) spent a lot of time looking for a watch recently. I don't do expensive when it comes to items like this but do want something decent so settled on this one which I now have.

Tissot T-Classic Gentleman 40mm Mens Watch T1274101603101 | Goldsmiths

Tissot T-Classic 40mm Mens Watch

www.goldsmiths.co.uk

It has that stupid so-called "deployment clasp". As you see,absolutely no mention of it on the ad page.. When it arrived my wife and I had to get a Youtube up on how to close it. It tells you everything when there's a video available for that. I won't post it because your query is "why not buy a watch with a sensible strap" As Alan points out, you don't know about it until the watch arrives,having bought it online.

As I say,I looked at a lot of watches and this one chimed..Lol. I actually got mine directly from Tissot, Switzerland. They had my old one 20-odd years old and weren't able to fix it to their standards. It was a lovely midnight-blue dial. I was very sorry to see it go.

So.. I took this new one the jeweller my goes to, (so confidence in them) to buy a regular leather strap..(no clasp) and she said, no need to. She just took the clasp off it. I now have a watch I like with a strap I like.

 

[welshwizard645]

TfL

Bus arrives at the stop 11 minutes LATE. Then stops at the stop because the driver has been ordered to, to even out the service.

Raging I was, like an irate chihuahua standing on an icecube.

 

[woof woof]

I (we) spent a lot of time looking for a watch recently.

I've been buying "homage" watches for a few years. I have a couple of nice Swiss watches and an old Russian Sekonda but I wanted some cheap mechanical watches that I'm not worried about damaging when out and about and these homage watches are great for that. They look nice, they're cheap and the movements are of acceptable quality. Many seem to have Seiko NH3x movements. I do have too many so these last ones will be my last... apart from an orange one I want as I haven't got an orange face one

I watched a few videos about "building" a watch but in reality there really doesn't seem that much to it. The watch movement comes complete but you do get to select the case, dial and hands and you marry them all up together. It's something I might have a go at just to have a custom to me watch but I think I'll have to get one of those magnifying headset thingies as I doubt my eyesight is up to fitting the hands.

I've looked at some watches which are obviously built in this way from kits and sold complete and they go for anything from £300+ to £600+ but of course the price you pay if buying all the bits yourself depends upon the bits you choose. One "Made" in UK watch company sells watches into the £600's and they have NH3x movements.

This is the arrangement my two latest buys have. BUT. Mine doesn't slide or at least I can't get them to and if they do or I could get them to there won't be enough adjustment.

BTW John.
The over complicated latch arrangement that I complained about and which is identical to yours is on a leather/pretend leather/fabric strap and it was initially very stiff but with use it has loosened up and it's quite easy to manage now even with one hand. This new mechanism, the one on my 2 new watches and in that vid above, is different again. On one strap it's easy but on the other it's very stiff. The length of the band is my main issue though and I think both will need replacing. I hope you're getting on better with yours now it has a new clasp.

 

[woof woof]

TfL

Bus arrives at the stop 11 minutes LATE. Then stops at the stop because the driver has been ordered to, to even out the service.

Raging I was, like an irate chihuahua standing on an icecube.

The Chihuahua imagery is perfect

 

[boogie man]

Yodel. Googling shows apparently they’ve got massive logistic problems of late. They’re even asking their big customers to go elsewhere for delivery services over Xmas and Black Friday. Of course they haven’t bothered to tell us plebs any of this…. I’ve got a parcel due that was picked up on the 28th November but hasn’t moved out of their depot since. Seller tells me they’re not responding to messages/complaints either.

https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2024/12/yodel-capacity-crisis/

 

[Mozthecat]

Yodel. Googling shows apparently they’ve got massive logistic problems of late. They’re even asking their big customers to go elsewhere for delivery services over Xmas and Black Friday. Of course they haven’t bothered to tell us plebs any of this…. I’ve got a parcel due that was picked up on the 28th November but hasn’t moved out of their depot since. Seller tells me they’re not responding to messages/complaints either.

https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2024/12/yodel-capacity-crisis/

What is really frustrating is its rolled over to the "higher grade" carriers that normally don't suffer from the black Friday nonsense and interfered with a whole load of B2B shipments over the last few days...

 

[Norkie]

I don’t wish to sound like a humbug but, Christmas cards with glitter partially glued on!
Open the envelope and get glitter all over the worktop

 

[woof woof]

Being stuck in a car for three hours with someone who stunk to high Heaven. Have a shower and wash your clothes! Please!

Of course I'm British so I didn't say anything. I opened the windows when I got home.

And a PS to explain and justify my annoyance...
This person is married with children, they have their own home and both adults are employed and AFAIK there's no medical condition. It's just a general I haven't washed myself or my clothes smell. There is as far as I can see no reason for any lack of hygiene. This isn't a one off, I see this family very often and this person or their clothes always smell.

 

[Nod]

I don’t wish to sound like a humbug but, Christmas cards with glitter partially glued on!
Open the envelope and get glitter all over the worktop

Certifiable humbug here and it's commercialmas cards in general that AMT! The glittery ones are unrecyclable and the whole card industry is a sucker's game. Pick up the phone!

 

[ancient_mariner]

Certifiable humbug here and it's commercialmas cards in general that AMT! The glittery ones are unrecyclable and the whole card industry is a sucker's game. Pick up the phone!

OTOH my wife makes cards by hand - it's a nice way of sending something unique to friends that you don't see often.

 

[Norkie]

Yeah we make our own hand made cards, super

 

[JohnC6]

I don’t wish to sound like a humbug but, Christmas cards with glitter partially glued on!
Open the envelope and get glitter all over the worktop

I mentioned that darned glitter stuff..micro-plastic infact, because, as Nod has mentioned, it's non-biodegradable when we were having a discussion about Christmas cards and the amount of CO2 pushed into the atmosphere by the lorries delivering to retailers and then the Royal Mail delivering them to homes.. It was in the context of, not only sending them to people we haven't seen for years, but also using the internet. Cards can be sent that way..I get a birthday card from our friends up the road that pops into my Inbox. They're by Jacquie Lawson.Quite funny some of them as they're animated.

The EU has outlawed the sale of plastics smaller than five millimetres that are intentionally added to products but do not dissolve or break down naturally.Of course, this includes plastic glitter used either on its own or which has been added to other items,eg.. makeup or nail products. They don't really want to ban glitter per se but the normal plastic variety..ie non- biodegradable glitter. As we're not in the EU it doesn't cover the UK but,fair play to some retailers ,they won't sell cards with glitter because of the environmental implications. You can buy Bioglitter. The message is getting through.I don't think it addresses your problem re covering your worktop with it, though..

 

[ancient_mariner]

It was in the context of, not only sending them to people we haven't seen for years, but also using the internet. Cards can be sent that way..I get a birthday card from our friends up the road that pops into my Inbox. They're by Jacquie Lawson.Quite funny some of them as they're animated.

We're each different - I LOATHE e-cards from the heart of my bottom, especially animated ones with music. If you're going to email me a greeting at least put some thought in and write me a message instead of sending me someone else's ghastly digital tat.

Again, you really have no idea how much I HATE them.

They're also a great vector for getting viruses onto your computer.

 

[JohnC6]

We're each different - I LOATHE e-cards from the heart of my bottom, especially animated ones with music. If you're going to email me a greeting at least put some thought in and write me a message instead of sending me someone else's ghastly digital tat.

Again, you really have no idea how much I HATE them.

They're also a great vector for getting viruses onto your computer.

Well..I don't like cards of any sort tbh least of all Christmas cards.I don't even look at who sends them to us and I very nearly asked a friend..a close friend of my wife's but I also worked with her husband ..not to send me that birthday E-card. She puts a Christmas card through the door. She managed to get through lymphoma and each day quietly suffers and I thought,' you know what..she likes to do it (I mean the birthday E-card)and given what she's constantly goes through ,uncomplaining, I think I can put aside how I feel about cards. Ie..get things into perspective.

I was unaware of the computer infection aspect. I'll take that on board and won't open it in future but I will send a thank you Email. Best of both worlds.

I'm mellowing a bit..Lol. Around us there are a few house with flashing lights on..all colours and next door have 'frost' (glitter ??)..on their windows and I thought..why not,the weather is awful re dullness it cheers the place up a bit. I'm sounding like Ebenezer Scrooge after he was visited by his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley, who showed him Christmas past..present and future.

 

[ancient_mariner]

She puts a Christmas card through the door. She managed to get through lymphoma and each day quietly suffers and I thought,' you know what..she likes to do it (I mean the birthday E-card)and given what she's constantly goes through ,uncomplaining, I think I can put aside how I feel about cards. Ie..get things into perspective.

In that situation I would be gracious and keep quiet - as I frequently do.

 

[JohnC6]

I've been buying "homage" watches for a few years. I have a couple of nice Swiss watches and an old Russian Sekonda but I wanted some cheap mechanical watches that I'm not worried about damaging when out and about and these homage watches are great for that. They look nice, they're cheap and the movements are of acceptable quality. Many seem to have Seiko NH3x movements. I do have too many so these last ones will be my last... apart from an orange one I want as I haven't got an orange face one

I watched a few videos about "building" a watch but in reality there really doesn't seem that much to it. The watch movement comes complete but you do get to select the case, dial and hands and you marry them all up together. It's something I might have a go at just to have a custom to me watch but I think I'll have to get one of those magnifying headset thingies as I doubt my eyesight is up to fitting the hands.

I've looked at some watches which are obviously built in this way from kits and sold complete and they go for anything from £300+ to £600+ but of course the price you pay if buying all the bits yourself depends upon the bits you choose. One "Made" in UK watch company sells watches into the £600's and they have NH3x movements.

This is the arrangement my two latest buys have. BUT. Mine doesn't slide or at least I can't get them to and if they do or I could get them to there won't be enough adjustment.

BTW John.
The over complicated latch arrangement that I complained about and which is identical to yours is on a leather/pretend leather/fabric strap and it was initially very stiff but with use it has loosened up and it's quite easy to manage now even with one hand. This new mechanism, the one on my 2 new watches and in that vid above, is different again. On one strap it's easy but on the other it's very stiff. The length of the band is my main issue though and I think both will need replacing. I hope you're getting on better with yours now it has a new clasp.

My bold. Ah..no..I don't have a new clasp. The lady in the jewellers took the darned thing off so I just have a regular leather strap now.

 

[woof woof]

My bold. Ah..no..I don't have a new clasp. The lady in the jewellers took the darned thing off so I just have a regular leather strap now.

I went into town today and had both watch bands shortened for a total of £10. They're very comfortable to wear and the fastening mechanisms have loosened up nicely. I'm now very happy with them.

 

[Pixbarmy]

I sent off for a retaining clip, which is about the size of a postage stamp and the packaging was unbelievable. Plastic sleeve in a padded envelope, in a box that would almost fit a pair of boots!

 

[andya700]

Just taken the car out for a decent run and to get two essential items - toilet rolls and Fairy non bio washing liquid. Mission accomplished, but when I got home the Fairy, described as XXL and in supposedly same packaging to the previous one was 2145ml and the previous one 2450ml. Unfortunately seems to be a sign of the times.

 

[LCPete]

Just taken the car out for a decent run and to get two essential items - toilet rolls and Fairy non bio washing liquid. Mission accomplished, but when I got home the Fairy, described as XXL and in supposedly same packaging to the previous one was 2145ml and the previous one 2450ml. Unfortunately seems to be a sign of the times.

To be honest we’ve been buying own brand for things like that for ages now, it does the same job

 

[woof woof]

My B&Q precision screwdrivers seem to be made of chocolate. I have tools I've had for over 40 years and I think it'd need a direct nuclear hit to damage them but new stuff seems to be a bit of a problem. I do wish things were made to last longer than the first use.

Back when I was an apprentice electrician my instructor once showed me how to make a hole with a screwdriver and a hammer. What screwdriver could stand up to that these days?

 

[Pixbarmy]

My B&Q precision screwdrivers seem to be made of chocolate. I have tools I've had for over 40 years and I think it'd need a direct nuclear hit to damage them but new stuff seems to be a bit of a problem. I do wish things were made to last longer than the first use.

Back when I was an apprentice electrician my instructor once showed me how to make a hole with a screwdriver and a hammer. What screwdriver could stand up to that these days?

I can't guess where they were made!

 

[cambsno]

My B&Q precision screwdrivers seem to be made of chocolate. I have tools I've had for over 40 years and I think it'd need a direct nuclear hit to damage them but new stuff seems to be a bit of a problem. I do wish things were made to last longer than the first use.

Back when I was an apprentice electrician my instructor once showed me how to make a hole with a screwdriver and a hammer. What screwdriver could stand up to that these days?

You can, but (not a dig at you) but we generally favour buying cheap rather than properly these days. I use tools rarely and then it's for basic jobs around house like changing a switch - so cheap stuff from B&Q is fine for me. My dad used to say "buy cheap buy twice"

 

[Jelster]

My B&Q precision screwdrivers seem to be made of chocolate. I have tools I've had for over 40 years and I think it'd need a direct nuclear hit to damage them but new stuff seems to be a bit of a problem. I do wish things were made to last longer than the first use.

Back when I was an apprentice electrician my instructor once showed me how to make a hole with a screwdriver and a hammer. What screwdriver could stand up to that these days?

When I left school in 1978 I was an apprentice mechanic. I still have some of the Snap On, Blue Point and Kamasa tools I had during that apprenticeship. Some have a bit of rust here & there, but generally, they all still do what they were meant to, some 40 plus years later. But then I have some Phillips screwdrivers I picked up last year that seem to be made of lead......

 

[woof woof]

You can, but (not a dig at you) but we generally favour buying cheap rather than properly these days. I use tools rarely and then it's for basic jobs around house like changing a switch - so cheap stuff from B&Q is fine for me. My dad used to say "buy cheap buy twice"

I get frustrated with things that are often to be honest just fit for the bin whilst they're still in the shop. I'd much rather pay a decent price for something which will last years and in doing so hopefully pay someone a decent wage to make it. Buying rubbish products made in China by a bloke paid a pittance in a factory powered by electricity generated using coal and having it repeatedly shipped half way around the world to replace the last piece of tat you bought is bad for the environment and aren't we all supposed to care about that these days?

I remember when I was 21 and my car got broken into and my tool box was stolen. Back then I could only afford to buy a tool a week and luckily for me my parents used to chip in and buy me a tool a week too. I still have those replacement tools 40 years later. That says something for the build quality. These days you can walk into Poundland and buy a tool and the chances are it'll be no worse that the tool you'd buy at B&Q for multiple times the price and neither will last a fraction of the time I'd want them to.

Same with everything we buy these days. It is IMO difficult to buy quality stuff.

When I left school in 1978 I was an apprentice mechanic. I still have some of the Snap On, Blue Point and Kamasa tools I had during that apprenticeship. Some have a bit of rust here & there, but generally, they all still do what they were meant to, some 40 plus years later. But then I have some Phillips screwdrivers I picked up last year that seem to be made of lead......

Yup.

 

[ancient_mariner]

It's funny how things change. 40 years ago a cheap guitar was practically useless, and yet now a £200 instrument is probably quite gigable. But tools are soft and bendy, even sometimes when a bit more expensive. Possibly says more about what people use.

 

[Jelster]

I get frustrated with things that are often to be honest just fit for the bin whilst they're still in the shop. I'd much rather pay a decent price for something which will last years and in doing so hopefully pay someone a decent wage to make it. Buying rubbish products made in China by a bloke paid a pittance in a factory powered by electricity generated using coal and having it repeatedly shipped half way around the world to replace the last piece of tat you bought is bad for the environment and aren't we all supposed to care about that these days?

I remember when I was 21 and my car got broken into and my tool box was stolen. Back then I could only afford to buy a tool a week and luckily for me my parents used to chip in and buy me a tool a week too. I still have those replacement tools 40 years later. That says something for the build quality. These days you can walk into Poundland and buy a tool and the chances are it'll be no worse that the tool you'd buy at B&Q for multiple times the price and neither will last a fraction of the time I'd want them to.

One thing I will say, is that about 5 or 6 years ago I bought a set of Halfords combination ratchet spanners. I use them weekly, and they show no signs of failing. However, these were from their "professional" range and weren't cheap. My other issue regarding tools is drill bits, how they blunt so quickly I don't know, and I'm sure they never used to.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

It's funny how things change. 40 years ago a cheap guitar was practically useless, and yet now a £200 instrument is probably quite gigable. But tools are soft and bendy, even sometimes when a bit more expensive. Possibly says more about what people use.

One reason for that discrepancy is probably that the skills for designing and making guitars have been improved, partly by the invention of new tools and materials. On the other hand, older customers for workmens' tools compare prices with a long time ago when selecting them, ignoring the vast inflation in money.

Taking a random example from page 107 of the November 1956 edition of Practical Mechanics, a very basic Black and Decker mains powered electric drill cost just under £7, which is £148.21 in today's money. However, Amazon will sell you a Black and Decker 18V battery drill, probably far more more useful than its remote ancestor, for just £39.86. The modern drill's low price is almost entirely due, as in the case of the guitar, to changes in design and manufacture.

My guess is that such advantages just don't exist with simple tools like spanners, screwdrivers and hammers. So the only way to satisfy the average customer's appetite for low prices is to reduce the expense of manufacture, which can only be done by using cheaper materials and cruder manufacturing processes. I'm fairly sure that if you pay the prices asked by those who supply tools to tradesmen and large companies, you'll get simple tools just as good as, or even better than, those used by your grandfather.