As more and more tools are being made overseas what will the back of the tool trucks look like in 5 or 10 years? I'm basically asking as I am trying to decide on what tool truck to buy from. It's buying into a long term investment and I'm curious if they will all be tawain or chinese tools in the future. Obviously snap on will probably remain U.S. but what are your thoughts on the other brands quality of tools down the road?
Tool truck brands in the future.
- Thread starter Kyle.F
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Matco is screwed. With the Apex spin-off and Bain Capital consolidating production and now Matco spun off; at this point I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see a foreign company buy the brand. MAC is linked with Proto which feeds government and industrial contracts so i'd say they're a decent choice. Cornwell will still be making the same tools domestically for the next 100 years that they have been for the last 100 years-innovation be damned. Snap-On hard line will most likely not go anywhere however they're also the most focused on global growth so I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot more import tools which is pretty much whats happening with every new product introduction (about 75% of the time its imported).
The fact that something is imported shouldn't really be a concern so much as who will stick with strict standards of quality. As an example quite a bit of the Taiwan product made for MAC and Snap-On is really nice stuff. Some of my favorite tools are from China (cordless mostly), Taiwan, and Japan.
The fact that something is imported shouldn't really be a concern so much as who will stick with strict standards of quality. As an example quite a bit of the Taiwan product made for MAC and Snap-On is really nice stuff. Some of my favorite tools are from China (cordless mostly), Taiwan, and Japan.
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Brownsfan
Well-known member
Matco and Cornwell are already full of Taiwan made stuff. Mac has some but seems to be swinging back the other way. By far the most USA made offerings off of a tool truck is Snap On. It's not even close. But that said I wouldn't limit myself to one brand let alone one truck brand. No one brand makes the best of everything. But out of all brands snap on makes great tools top to bottom. Not the best of all categories but one of the best.
stevenhs
Well-known member
I think these trucks will be downsized...
Badattitude
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Snaponese would be my guess
Kidding aside, I'd question if you'll even see any tool trucks on the road in 5-10 yrs. The big boys in my area aren't selling what they need to stay alive. They're hurting! Even the marinas aren't generating the tool demand that they used to
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
The tool truck will resemble a UPS or FedEx truck even more than it does now.
They sure deliver a good selection of tools, new or used..
I have heard this long, long, ago... Funny is the tool trucks are getting bigger.
fatfillup
Well-known member
If you want to concentrate on one brand from a truck, buy Snap on. Your chances of having a local dealer is much better with SO then the others no matter where you go in this country.
tdkkart
Well-known member
Tool truck comes to your shop on Monday mornings, you bust a tool, or realize you need a new tool on Monday afternoon. Do you wait till next Monday, or do you go online to buy what you need, most likely in equal or better quality, and more than likely for less money, and have it delivered by Thursday??
Until the tool trucks can compete in this scenario, they will continue to dwindle.
BTW, my father bought a Craftsman 3/4 drive socket set in the late 60's, a couple months ago the ratchet mechanism quit working, Took it back to the store, they didn't have a rebuild kit in stock so they handed him a new ratchet which he says works better than the old one ever did.
Until the tool trucks can compete in this scenario, they will continue to dwindle.
BTW, my father bought a Craftsman 3/4 drive socket set in the late 60's, a couple months ago the ratchet mechanism quit working, Took it back to the store, they didn't have a rebuild kit in stock so they handed him a new ratchet which he says works better than the old one ever did.
I think the tool truck brands care more about selling (and churning) franchises and making loans then selling tools.
Low cost overnight shipping (like the MSC Direct model) would be a lot more efficient all the way around if the objective was actually selling tools.
trackwelder
Well-known member
I just call the dealer and have him come by with a replacement or meet him somewhere. The industrial rep at work can take a bit more to meet up with, but its worth it for the discount.
APEowner
Well-known member
I've always had Snap-On dealers that would swing back by on Monday or Tuesday at the latest. That's why most of my stuff is Snap-On. I would say that on line vendors are the biggest competitors to the trucks though. I get stuff from McMaster-Carr overnight and it's always quality stuff. Sometimes it's even Snap-On
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
absolutely!!!I basically order all of my tools and shop equipment online.
I do agree that MATCO is probably facing a questionable future with finding someone to make their tools. Time will tell.
Cornwell does have a factory but, they only produce their core hardline. Many of their tools from pliers, roto ratchets, hex or torx bits, screwdrivers, etc. are outsourced and imported.
I think MAC is having a bit of a resurgence. Their impact wrenches, cordless tools, Duratek screwdrivers, 90 tooth ratchets, and PROTO linkage items are top notch.
Snap on continues to excel and probably always will. However, mechanics wages are mostly flat and with the tool quality gap narrowing quite a bit, I see techs spending less on the truck and more online.
I think SK will try to reclaim their place among independent mobile distributors but, it will take time to Establish credibility and quality once again.
Tool trucks will always be around to meet a tech's needs but, the dealers will face increased competition in the future.
lbvb
Member
I have a tool truck. Its not always the brand its the individual. There are a-holes and good guys at all companies. A good tool man and get you any brand.
Find a tool man that has been around and show a little loyalty. All tool guys get killer deals.I give those deals to my respectful and good guys.
The other day a guy brought his creeper in for warrenty.A shop truck ran it over
Find a tool man that has been around and show a little loyalty. All tool guys get killer deals.I give those deals to my respectful and good guys.
The other day a guy brought his creeper in for warrenty.A shop truck ran it over
The tool truck is just like the lunch truck everywhere I have worked! When the truck shows up the mechanics drop what they are doing and run out to it. The Snap On guy leaves his number incase you need a tool replaced, but most mechanics have a back up tool or borrow another mechanics tool until theirs is replaced.
I have never made enough money to invest in full sets, but I have bought a few tools off of the trucks. And they are usually the best, that's why the tool truck shows up a couple days before pay day. He is collecting his cut of your check.
I have never made enough money to invest in full sets, but I have bought a few tools off of the trucks. And they are usually the best, that's why the tool truck shows up a couple days before pay day. He is collecting his cut of your check.
abvw
Well-known member
My dealer's route is not very big so I can either meet up with him on his next stop, or have him swing back to the shop at the end of the day, that's if he has it on his truck.
Otherwise if he has it stocked in his storage/warehouse it's usually the next morning.
If he doesn't have it at all its free overnight or 2 days courier by FedEx or Purolator.
I would say the biggest competition is not the Internet, but parts supply stores like Napa that can deliver anything you need in 2hrs or next day. Then again Napa charges as much as Snap-on for their Ultra-Pro (Canadian Carlyle).
Sent from my Q10 using Tapatalk
dutchgray
Well-known member
Ours are almost all vans, Sprinters, Transits etc. They will only survive if the drivers offer good service, internet sales and fast parcel delivery really hurt them, its only tool knowledge and easy warranty that the trucks have in their favor.
smittyjones
Well-known member
I don't know about that. Ours are getting bigger every year it seems. People don't want to buy from an empty truck, because they can't get it then. Most of the reason we're buying from the tool truck is because it's easily accessible. Need a tool? This guy has it on his truck, and is on his way over. Meanwhile, this other guy (or amazon or whatever) might have it cheaper, but I wouldn't have it until next week.
And when your Amazon tool breaks how do you replace it? I would buy Husky if I didn't have to mail the tool plus pay shipping and handling to get it back. If there was a Husky truck it would probably do pretty good.
I was just wondering what a HF truck would smell like.
Badattitude
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Can you imagine the day in the future where sites will advertise: "Free shipping to continental USA, US Federated Moon Colonies, and Mars Principalities. Alaska and Hawaii 12.99$ extra.
I just ground through a few of Snap-on's 10k statements. They appear to have a steady increase in the percentage of tool sales through their 'mobile van' channel over time. Not what I would expect given that they have a retail website.
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blown94conv
Well-known member
Because what most people don't realize, is they want service. Most people working in the trade don't want to tool shop in their spare time.
So why would that be greater in 2014 than it was in 2006? I can definitely see where there might be downward pressure on truck sales due to having an online presence, but not the opposite.
Perhaps they are cannibalizing Mac/Matco/Cornwell to some extent.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
Snap on also has the largest number of franchisees compared to the others. I think but I am not100% on this. That they have more than the other 3 combined. And increasing every year. Don't see them going anywhere anytime soon.
MoparMarv
Member
I don't see a harbor freight tool truck in the future. I could see someone selling import tools out of a truck and have heard of independent tool stores doing stuff like that. Find a tool guy you like and buy some stuff not just bring him tools you bought at a garage sale looking for a replacement. If he is a good guy he will start throwing you a bone more and more. The last guy I was dealing with would have a tool that was sitting in his garage for 15 years and he would be asking full current retail value for something with surface rust or that was damn near obsolete. It all boils down to the tool guy being good with money, how good of a salesman they are and treating the right customers right. The biggest problem with tool trucks that I have had is the fact some took forever(maybe never) to fill an order. After 3 months you tend to give up and just order it online. The good guys would have it next week or the week after. Nothing sells more tools like tools coming off the truck.
Just imagine how much stuff you'd have to push out the back of a HF truck to make a decent living. Both the sales price and the margins would be too low.
So what exactly do (for instance) guys in commercial automotive shops even buy off of a tool delivery truck? I'd think they'd be *** deep in sockets/wrenches/screwdrivers/ratchets/pliers after a year or three...so what would be left is specialty tools you don't already own or warranty returns (hardly a way for a SO franchisee to make a living).
Exactly. A HF truck would need a 1.5-2X markup and then everyone would ***** about the price. SO disguises the tool truck markup by inflating the web prices.
toolman9w
Well-known member
Its hard to talk about tool trucks if you never worked in a shop where they have a steady one. I never had a "good" Snap on guy, just my area I guess cause there are good ones. I had a good Mac guy back in the day (RIP) and 2 good Matco guy's in a more recent time. It has all to due with service, point of service (right at work), attitude of distributor and payments. Did I mention service.? So the future for tool trucks at this point is bright.
wornoutoldman
Well-known member
Sprintman
Banned
The Toptul one I know is about to get much bigger than a truck. It's a converted coach!
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I have two different Snap On franchisees as tennants (commercial suites) and they definitely aren't going anywhere anytime soon. We also had a Mac guy as a tennant, but he went under. I might be the only guy on this board who brings in more money from Snap On dealers than what I give them!