O.K. So I have to ask

[Jamez]

Why does everyone seem to hate Mac Tools so much?

I've never bought a bad tool from my dealer, who has always treated me excellent, consistently has way better pricing than Snappy, and is very up front about the tools no longer being made in the USA. No warranty hassles either.

So what gives?

 

[FoMoCoPower]

Never a bad tool,so how would you know that you never had a hassle with a warranty?

 

[mrholeshot]

I don't like them because for a good while they wern't telling the COO. They were hiding the fact letting you buy what you thought was USA built tools only to find they were built in China. Like a cheating spouse, Just walk away and never look back.

 

[CUSTOMMANCAVES.COM]

Oh...Mac Tools? I thought everyone was referring to these...

Nevermind.

 

[WSMC633]

A. Most people here don't like an old American Company that used to make all of their tools here now Manuf. in China, and to top it off, they still charge the same for the tools.

B. There seems to be a common thread of bad experiences with Mac dealers.

 

[WSMC633]

****Double Post*** Sorry!

 

[Jamez]

Never a bad tool,so how would you know that you never had a hassle with a warranty?

Because when I bought a rusted up 7 piece wrench set at yard sale and asked him what I could do with them, he swapped the whole set out for new ones due to "chrome chipping".

I've been buying from him ever since then.

Maybe my dealer is different than most, but he has always been up front about the tools being made in Taiwan, and as far price goes, good luck buying a complete 1/4 drive metric short snap on set off the truck for under $100, but that is exactly what I paid for my Mac ones.

I'm just curios more than anything, because I hear so few people even speek about them other than to curse Stanly

 

[MrMark]

Buy Blue Point then if you want Taiwan stuff. And again, why would you buy MAC when it is all Taiwanese? Cheap? Probably not. If you don't care about COO, then why not just buy Harbor Freight or Gearwrench or anyone of a bunch of different imports instead of paying MAC prices.

So you tell us why MAC tools command a premium when they are Taiwanese tools?

 

[Skin]

All the truck companies make stuff in asia so i dont get the problem unless someone wants to cite specific issues where there was an actual bait and switch performed. A lot of Mac's tools are still USA made so saying they're all made in china is some BS right there.

As far as Mac goes their PR people are terrible since they literally do little to no damage control. Outsourcing without a heads up, the whole stance on warranty and how they will only honor it if you are the original purchaser. The closure of the Sabina plant which i believe is where Mac started. Then specific instances here like the guy who had some welds start popping on his toolbox and was told by the district manager to take a hike. Its all bad news and very little to no good news, hence Mac *****. If all i read was Snap-On dealers failing to honor warranties or not replacing faulty $20,000 toolboxes, or dealers charging more than list price, i'd think Snap-On *****. But because good impressions get mixed in, it offsets the bad.

They really need some reps/dealers to get on boards like these and help people like what Snap-On has. That would help their GJ image immensely i'm sure.

If your dealer is fantastic and informative and the tools serve you well then more power to you, keep purchasing their stuff. Some people have terrible matco or snap-on reps in their areas so they dont purchase those tools either. As the saying goes different strokes for different folks.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

mac tools chrome always peeled and they used to cost more than snap on and ....the dealers kept going under ....right to this year . now no dealer

 

[wreckercologist]

mac tools chrome always peeled and they used to cost more than snap on and ....the dealers kept going under ....right to this year . now no dealer

Everything you ever needed to know about Mac tools^^^^^^

 

[Jamez]

Their is absolutely no comparison between the mac tools and the stuff you buy at harbour frieght (Princess Auto would be the equivalent up here in Canada)

Maybe it is just my dealer, he has been great. My Snap On deal *****, alright guy, but the BS when asked about products drives me nuts. According to him, all of Snap On's stuf is made by them for them, but If I can grab a package of finger spinners supposedly made by Snap On in USA, walk off his truck, into the mac truck, pick up the very same package that costs 10 bucks less, be told not only that it is made in china but that I can to House of Tools and buy the same package for another 10 bucks less than that.

That is what has sold me, my driver must be the exception

 

[Hiball]

I honestly dont own any New Mac stuff, I do have some older stuff ive picked up over the years. I generally buy/sell tools to fund my Wright purchases and i wont buy Mac unless its cheap. I did recently pick up a 5 piece SAE flare/open end wrench set and although its older (satin beams, shiny head) it feels like a quality piece.

 

[D9H 90V]

I have no opinion of Mac tools, theres no dealer in my area. only Mac tool I have ever held was a 9/16 wrench and it seemed kinda small

 

[jabberwoki]

Oh...Mac Tools? I thought everyone was referring to these...

Nevermind.

Your a funny bloke

 

[Stick Figure]

I tried to buy a hole saw from MAC once. I was using another techs and smoked it, so i called them up to get a replacement for him. They gave me the dealer info, the dealer called me, i told him where i was, what i needed, asked him if he needed a credit card etc. "No i'll stop by if you guys have some new people there" we had 3 out of 4 of us that were new. Never heard from him again, he just never stopped by, never called, never a thing from him. I do see his truck outside of a few food places down the street from the shop though.

 

[chopper1]

Granted I don't have many new(er) Mac tools, but, most of the 3/8 sockets I've used over the years have been Mac and I've 2 sets of open end wrenches (one set is angled) that are my primary go to pieces when I don't need a combo. I also have a couple Mac adjustable open end wrenches.
I've never broken any of them so I've never tried to warrant them.
Some of my deep sockets have very worn outsides from being used in tight places and some of the chrome sockets have chips, but they are used, not display pieces. All of my Mac tools are USA made and many are marked Sabina.
It seems that I am in the minority, but I for one am very satisfied with Mac.

 

[Simplespeed]

I tried to buy a hole saw from MAC once. I was using another techs and smoked it, so i called them up to get a replacement for him. They gave me the dealer info, the dealer called me, i told him where i was, what i needed, asked him if he needed a credit card etc. "No i'll stop by if you guys have some new people there" we had 3 out of 4 of us that were new. Never heard from him again, he just never stopped by, never called, never a thing from him. I do see his truck outside of a few food places down the street from the shop though.

Same here, like i said in a couple other threads, i cant get the MAC guy to come to our shop even after i told him i wanted a new roll cart and flashlight and a few other things and would pay cash. WTF? I told a snap on guy that we only have a mac truck that comes to our shop and he laughed and said most people around here havent seen a mac truck in 10 years. I remember in high school a girlfriends dad drove a mac truck and went out of business.

 

[JASTECH]

I have a MAC top box, 117pc Tap & Die set and 1/4" drive socket set w/ratchet, extensions, shallow/deep that was nice and very handy that my uncle stole from me and have never been able to replace. My sruff is old MAC but I will not buy any of that new mess they push now.

Thanks, JASTECH

 

[Justanoldguy]

Why does everyone seem to hate Mac Tools so much?

Everyone?? Seems a bit over the top.
I don't hate them.
If fact I know nothing about them..

 

[mrholeshot]

Their is absolutely no comparison between the mac tools and the stuff you buy at harbour frieght (Princess Auto would be the equivalent up here in Canada)

Maybe it is just my dealer, he has been great. My Snap On deal *****, alright guy, but the BS when asked about products drives me nuts. According to him, all of Snap On's stuf is made by them for them, but If I can grab a package of finger spinners supposedly made by Snap On in USA, walk off his truck, into the mac truck, pick up the very same package that costs 10 bucks less, be told not only that it is made in china but that I can to House of Tools and buy the same package for another 10 bucks less than that.

That is what has sold me, my driver must be the exception

First the driver doesn't make the tools. He only sells them. You are fortunate to have a good driver since more than 1/3 of MAC dealers filed a class action lawsuit against Stanley Works (aka MAC tools) over deception and fraud. MAC tools still sells some good items but they left a really bitter taste in my mouth when I was buying some hard tools that had been made in the US before before switching to China and charging the same price for the product that was clearly not the same caliber. I had to seek out the COO and after being lied to by MAC headquaters for at least 6 months someone finally fessed up. MAC has some deceptive practices and I don't like that. It has nothing to do with the driver. I was a long time MAC customer )since about 1972. I bought a lot of there tools. I was well satisfied with them. They pulled a bait and switch. The driver is just the middleman who sells the product. He has no control over the product itself.

 

[Solid Lifters]

A MAC tool murdered my entire family!

 

[comedyman809]

whats funny is,

everyone loves proto.

but hates mac.

all stanley

 

[mooman]

I had just sent in a 3/8" breaker bar that was shot.
What I received was a new one marked USA on the handle. No hassle.
They're OK in my book.

 

[mrholeshot]

whats funny is,

everyone loves proto.

but hates mac.

all stanley

Most of MAC tools I like. I especially like the Macsimizer tool boxes. I like them better than the Snap-On. I just don't like MACs deceptive way of doing business. It has nothing to do with the drivers of the USA built tools. Overall I rate theie USA built tools at #2 in quality among all other tool companies. They were very deceptive over selling many product made in China and not being forthcoming about the COO. It doesn't take but a few of those experiances to turn you agaist the entire line. that said if I see a set of MAC wrenches or sockets at a Flea Market, Yard Sale or Craiglist I will pay much more than I would for many other brands. I still have quite a few MAC tools and they have done me great. I also have some that are constant reminders that the company outright cheated me.

 

[Cumminst100]

I really like the older MAC wrenched, the ones with the v opened end. Especially the long handled ones, some of my favorites.

 

[shotgunfatcat]

I really like the older MAC wrenched, the ones with the v opened end. Especially the long handled ones, some of my favorites.

Same here, love the long handled ones, but for 285 for the knuckle savers, I would rather get the snap-on's for 300.

 

[dankicksass]

I just bought my first MAC tool, and I'll be all kinds of pissed if it doesn't ship soon. I've got mostly CM and SO; I believe the used MAC speeder I bought is USA but if its TW, I really can't complain based on price.

 

[fordbroncodave]

i can't spend another penny with mac tools because of the stuff they sell now. either it is rebranded or 3rd party made in china tools. i can't justify spending the kind of money for snap on tools and get ATD stuff.
yah the dealers may be nice guys but the tools will lie to you. cornwell does the same thing but at least the prices are far cheaper

 

[Rnz520]

I actually like MAC tools, the USA made sockets are excellent, and if you can get the Edge sockets cheap they are also a good bargain, do their job really well when it comes to stripped bolts they are just tall so hard to squeeze in tight places.
The wrenches are some of the best, I still prefer the long Cornwells that I own but the MACs are very good.
My dealer is a nice guy, I know what tools to look for, avoid Taiwan MAC because of the ridiculous price. The problem is he is tight on money, takes him forever to order stuff and his truck is a bit empty but I try to help him as much as I can and always pay up front.

 

[fatfillup]

It boils down to service. The OP has a great dealer who takes care of him.

I have some mac stuff cause I used to have a great dealer. And am happy with the quality. Don't have a dealer now and truly don't care for asian made tools coming off any tool truck. Would buy new US made mac if I had a dealer, but have none.

 

[Jamez]

So the driving force behind the bulk of the anti Mac stuff is the COO deal when they switched, obviously left a very bitter taste in most folks mouth. And believe me, I get that, I actually was unaware of that until recently.

I brought this thread up to my dealers attention, he printed it out and is going to bring it up a the next drivers meeting.

I understand the not wanting to pay truck prices for Taiwan made tools, and I brought that issue up as well. Again, I get that, I too feel a tool made in Taiwan should not cost the same as that same tool being made in USA or Canada.

But heres the thing.... Gear Wrench.... In my opinion, worth every penny you pay for them. $110 for a 7 piece flex head set at CT. (not on sale). Excellent quality tool made in Taiwan. Blue point ratchet wrenches are also overseas production, and I keep hearing people prefer them over the snap on ratchet wrenches. I spied a 14 piece ( 7 metric, 7 sae) double flex Mac Edge ratchet wrench set for $279 while on the truck today. seems comparable to me...

As far as the price, I picked up a 1/4" metric deep/shallow, 1/4" SAE deep/shallow, 3 piece 1/4" extension set, 1/4" ratchet, and a new fixed handle bit driver for $300 today. I think the prices do reflect where the products are made.

And one other thing, I bought 3 Westward 5.5mm sockets in the first 3 years I worked at my current job, all of them started rounding fasteners after a few months of use (mainly taking out coil pack studs on gm 3.4L engines - I do a lot of intake jobs), I spent the extra money on a mac 5.5mm after the third one, and have been using it for a year and a half now and it is not yet rounding off bolt heads.

Both sockets are made in a far away land, but there is a major diference in quality.
I don't care if they are made in India, as long as they are good tools.


Keep the comments coming, I am actually finding it very interesting what everyone thinks about this....

 

[ChiffChiff]

Both sockets are made in a far away land, but there is a major diference in quality.
I don't care if they are made in India, as long as they are good tools.


Keep the comments coming, I am actually finding it very interesting what everyone thinks about this....

I feel like this is something that isn't pointed out too often. I myself tend to shy away from products that are made in China. But I also think that just because its made in China doesn't necessarily mean its a poor quality product.

There are different levels of quality in manufacturing and I think it is ultimately up to the company that is selling these products in the USA to determine if it is a product that is up to the standard they feel is acceptable.

 

[mrholeshot]

I spent the extra money on a mac 5.5mm after the third one, and have been using it for a year and a half now and it is not yet rounding off bolt heads.

Both sockets are made in a far away land, but there is a major diference in quality.
....

I think the MAC socket is still made in the US, I could be wrong but I hope not.

 

[Vinko]

I'm just curios more than anything, because I hear so few people even speek about them other than to curse Stanly

Merkava posted some really nice photos of some slim Mac wrenches; they looked fantastic; and I wish I had an excuse to buy them.

 

[Vinko]

the whole stance on warranty and how they will only honor it if you are the original purchaser.

I don't have a problem with this.

 

[Vinko]

First the driver doesn't make the tools. He only sells them. You are fortunate to have a good driver since more than 1/3 of MAC dealers filed a class action lawsuit against Stanley Works (aka MAC tools) over deception and fraud. MAC tools still sells some good items but they left a really bitter taste in my mouth when I was buying some hard tools that had been made in the US before before switching to China and charging the same price for the product that was clearly not the same caliber. I had to seek out the COO and after being lied to by MAC headquaters for at least 6 months someone finally fessed up. MAC has some deceptive practices and I don't like that. It has nothing to do with the driver. I was a long time MAC customer )since about 1972. I bought a lot of there tools. I was well satisfied with them. They pulled a bait and switch. The driver is just the middleman who sells the product. He has no control over the product itself.

Holy cow, I didn't know it was a 1/3 of the drivers who filed that suit What number does that represent?

 

[Vinko]

Blue point ratchet wrenches are also overseas production, and I keep hearing people prefer them over the snap on ratchet wrenches. I spied a 14 piece ( 7 metric, 7 sae) double flex Mac Edge ratchet wrench set for $279 while on the truck today. seems comparable to me...

I've got to double-check, but I think my driver has a few of the BP offset rat. double-box wrenches that say USA. I assumed they weren't old stock, but can't be positive.

 

[mrholeshot]

If you really want to see some dirt

http://mactoolssuck.com/

 

[rayzor32]

They aren't as good as snap-on but they are cheaper. As with anything warranty experiences depend on the dealer I never had a problem. Main reason I don't like them as much is because they have WAY too much taiwan made stuff. And if their socket's say "MAC USA" on them thats a brand name and they are made in taiwan, and thats just plain wrong to do something like that. Also if you buy a mac antivibe hammer for 40 bucks you can buy a stanley which is the exact same (except different color scheme and name) for half the price! I have a few mac tools but they account for probably 1% of my toolbox.