Both Wrox and Ryobi are foreign brands that have gained approval from skeptical Americans over the past few decades. They offer quality power tools at affordable price ranges, which transformed them into reliable names for many handymen and professionals alike.
However, there are some differences between these two brands as well. The main difference is in their product range, after-sales service, and affordability.
Let’s have a deeper look at what sets these two brands apart and by how much.
A brief history of Worx
Worx is a brand owned and distributed by the Positec Tool Corporation. Introduced to the market in 2004, the parent company is based in Suzhou, China and they established their North American headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Worx is primarily known for its range of lawn and garden tools like lawnmowers, trimmers, and chainsaws. It has become a reliable manufacturer of a wide variety of DIY power tools over time. Worx also exports to other continents.
A brief history of Ryobi
Ryobi is one of the big shots in the power tool industry. Since its debut in 1943, the brand has been serving the industry with a wide variety of printing equipment, power tools, and builders’ hardware. They started manufacturing power tools in 1968.
The parent company is named Ryobi Limited, which is based in Hiroshima, Japan. The only manufacturing location the company has in the USA is in Shelbyville, Indiana. They have a loyal customer base across the whole world.
Ryobi manufactures power tools and other equipment for the automobiles, telecommunications, and electronics industries. It’s a fairly big brand with roughly 10,000 employees working from them.
Worx vs. Ryobi: Who offers more
Product variation
Worx
Worx is known to lead the cordless tool market. The power tools Worx supplies are lightweight, powerful, and affordable. Even if they receive the most hype with their garden tools and power tools, they also manufacture quality tools for a number of different industries.
However, Ryobi, serving the market for longer, produces a wider range of product lines than Worx.
Ryobi
Ryobi has been in the market for over 75 years. As a result, they got to know what their customers wanted better and could match the market demand with a massive range of tools and equipment.
They’ve also created some reliable platforms like 18V one+, USB lithium, and Link Storage to reach unique client bases and they’re doing a great job. With a vast majority of tools produced, Ryobi takes the lead on product variation.
Product quality
Worx
This is a tough battle. Despite being newer in the market, Worx has become fairly popular. All their tools are considered ideal for light use, repair jobs, and DIY tasks. With their decent quality tools and affordable price range, Worx is considered a popular “consumer brand.”
Ryobi
Usually, people tend to be a bit skeptical about the products that aren’t manufactured in the USA, and for good reasons. Ryobi is among the very few foreign brands that have been able to win over their customers with their exceptional quality products and service.
In terms of product quality, Ryobi performs on par with Worx. Both brands focus on providing quality tools in a reasonable price range.
Warranty
Worx
Worx provides a three-year limited warranty with all of their tools and that’s about it. However, they require you to register yourself online, at the address they provide, within 30 days of the purchase. Otherwise, the warranty will only be applicable for 24 months.
Additionally, The conditions of keeping the warranty valid are a bit strict.
Ryobi
Ryobi scored an easy win in this sector with their superior and user-friendly warranty policy. All power tools from Ryobi are covered by a 3-year limited warranty and a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Most of the outdoor tools are equipped with a 5-year warranty and more indoor tools feature a 3-year warranty. As a result, Ryobi is the clear winner with a better, more user-friendly warranty policy.
Customer Service
Worx
Here, selecting the clear winner becomes hard again. With the superior quality products and decent customer service, Worx has already been awarded the Popular Mechanics Tool Award with at least 5 of their products.
The decent quality customer service and the time taken to solve customers’ issues will put Worx at a slight disadvantage in comparison to Ryobi.
Ryobi
Ryobi takes the lead with sheer numbers. They provide significantly more ways to connect with them at any time. You can call them, mail them, text them, and even chat with them online. They connect with their peers on a more personal level, building a better connection with them.
Price
Worx
None of the brands offer prices that are unreasonable. The pricing difference between those two brands is negligible. However, Worx comes a little behind again in spite of offering a bit lower price range.
The main reason behind this is the sheer number of Ryobi’s massive inventory.
Ryobi
With considerably more choices at your disposal, you’ll also feel a little biased towards Ryobi. They are especially known for providing entry-to mid-level tools at great prices.
With a wider selection (almost double as Worx) tools, Ryobi has maintained the balance between quality and price for a long time. That’s why they have been dominating the market for over decades.
It’s okay to feel a little skeptical about the quality of foreign products. However, both Wrox and Ryobi have won over their customer base with their decent quality product and service.
Worx vs. Ryobi: Which is the best for you
That entirely depends on the work you have in mind. Some Worx tools may outperform similar tools from Ryobi and vice versa. The deciding factor for you will most probably be the after-sales service.
If that’s the case, Ryobi is the clear winner. However, not everyone’s priority lies in the same place. If you long for a more robust, affordable, and user-friendly tool, we recommend going for Worx.
On the other hand, if you long for a better warranty policy, a wider selection of tools, and decent value for money, go for Ryobi. You won’t be disappointed.
FAQs
1. Is Worx made in China?
Ans: Yes. Worx is a power tool brand owned and distributed by the Positec Tool Corporation, The company is based in Suzhou, China with its North American headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina.
2. Where is Ryobi made?
Ans: Most of the Ryobi products are made in China, although some of the products are assembled in their Indiana manufacturing unit.
3. Is Ryobi a Home Depot product?
Ans: No but Ryobi products are popular among Home Depot customers and they offer exclusive Home Depot access to sell their products both in-store and online.
5. How do I contact Worx customer service?
Ans: You can contact Worx customer service online through their website. They also have options to be contacted via call. Their contact info is 855-279-0505. They are available at 9:00 am – 8:15 pm EST throughout Monday – Friday.
