In reply to crustypunkuk: They are cheap because they are a single piece fixed head design which is straightforward and hence cheap to manufacture.
They are perfectly workable ice tools, no more, no less. Had plenty of students using them when I've been instructing and they do the job.
As an economic option for getting on Scottish grade III routes they will do brilliantly. The same applies to most UK routes up to grade V as well as moderate alpine routes and easy cascades. They won't be amazing on cascades much past WI4+ but you can't have everything.
For low/mid grade UK winter climbing whether you have basic or top-notch axes doesn't make much difference. However UK climbers' preoccupation with gear is normally inversely proportional to experience so when it comes to basic gear like this many climbers I've met will rapidly start obsessing that the reason they aren't climbing vastly harder is they don't have the latest and shiniest gear.
If you're aiming to potter around on classic easier routes are not one to worry that your kit is only adequate rather than vastly capable then they'll certainly do the job without breaking the bank.
