Reading this thread and had to comment as well.
ND2020, you can’t throw out these bs ‘facts’ based entirely on incredulity. You are not talking to a bunch of millennials here where ‘facts’ are based on feelings and opinions. Just because you ‘think’ everyone sources from China doesn’t mean it’s fact. What have you got to back this up? A PO from probolt to Alliexpress, proving they source from there? You say your fasteners are top quality grade 5 titanium....and then the head of a bolt literally falls off
How do you know? Have you had them independently tested? Have you seen the factory in China? What about their QA processes? Goods in, material sourcing standards? So the factory says they are grade 5 and they are cheap, so they must be grade 5 and awesome quality....because they say so. Fact. A uk company says they make their own, but charge a lot. Bunch of liars, lying through thier teeth...because, we’ll, they charge a lot....and there is only one maga-factory in China the ‘Awesome grade 5 titanium factory co’....probably. I’ve not seen it, but based on what you say, I’m going to say that’s fact. Because we’ll, it must be, right?
I’m going to go out on a limb and say you have bought crap quality fasteners and they would go nowhere near my bike. Fit what you like to your bike, but be assured, not all bolts are created equal. Apparently the heads don’t fall off the good ones.
I did a lot of research on fuel lines for my cars. People were complaining that fuel line they bought from China was deteriorating in months...yet it has the correct standards marking on it (it was made in the ‘Awesome top quality fuel hose co’ factory in China ( it’s right next to Awesome grade 5 titanium factory co. Fact. Because that’s what I think, so must be, right?). Surprisingly, I found reputable suppliers put their name on their product and you could buy it through their authorised distributors to ensure it’s not knock off stuff. It was crazy. The ebay Chinese stuff looked the same. It was black, rubbery and you could run fuel through it and everything! According to your logic, that must mean I’m just being ripped off and it all comes from the Awesome top quality fuel hose co. Factory. Of course. Silly me.
You have asked for opinions, but I’m not sure why. You just argue you point from a position and incredulity and ignore what is fact. You have a crap bolt, one from a load of bolts from Aliexprsss..but refuse to accept that there is a chance they may not be great quality....but then go onto to say someone like probolt lies about having a factory (and no, I have not seen the factory....but that doesn't prove it’s not there) based on nothing more than bs opinion..which you peddle as fact.
I think carefully about where I source safety critical fasteners. I’d advise you do the same.