About done with Matco

[Need more space]

It seems like everything I grab or buy on the truck says made in china or Taiwan, if it doesn't say that it doesn't say anything at all. This continues to happen so I checked the items I wanted on their website before the truck came by, With those items the website didn't say where the item where made. The matco truck always had a cheap line but it seems that's the direction the whole trucks going.

 

[Fedwrench]

Matco doesn't manufacture anything but, tool boxes. Everything aside from tool boxes is made by someone else. Now, Matco used to sell many hardline tools that were US made, many in Armstrong factories. Now as Apex continues to consolidate remaining US manufacturing in South Carolina and shutter the rest, Matco is hawking more imported hardline tools. All of the tool trucks are selling more imported tools these days. Want US made tools get off of the truck and look at Wright, SK, and most Proto.

 

[Need more space]

Matco doesn't manufacture anything but, tool boxes. Everything aside from tool boxes is made by someone else. Now, Matco used to sell many hardline tools that were US made, many in Armstrong factories. Now as Apex continues to consolidate remaining US manufacturing in South Carolina and shutter the rest, Matco is hawking more imported hardline tools. All of the tool trucks are selling more imported tools these days. Want US made tools get off of the truck and look at Wright, SK, and most Proto.

I own a lot of SK, love it! However gotten to the point where I've had a hard time with warranty from my local tool stores. I noticed under US tools you didn't mention snap on, are they offering china junk?

 

[jrobb316]

Very little of snap-on's line is China. I can't think of one thing, honestly. Blue Point is another story. Another thing about Matco that irritates me is their warranty. My dealer says that when he sends stuff back, EVERYTHING is inspected and they charge him back for anything they deem "worn out" from normal use. He is then forced to charge the customer back, but tells them up front this may happen. My snap on guy will warranty anything for any reason. I may just have a good one, but he tells me when he sends a box of broken stuff back, each item has a weight, and if the weight is correct on the box, then they melt it down or do whatever they do with the lot. I have also been buying more non tool truck brands.

 

[MG44]

It really is snapon or nothing when it comes to the truck tools. We may go a year with no Matco driver but snapon ways covers the route.

 

[Askme42]

Very little of snap-on's line is China. I can't think of one thing, honestly. Blue Point is another story. Another thing about Matco that irritates me is their warranty. My dealer says that when he sends stuff back, EVERYTHING is inspected and they charge him back for anything they deem "worn out" from normal use. He is then forced to charge the customer back, but tells them up front this may happen. My snap on guy will warranty anything for any reason. I may just have a good one, but he tells me when he sends a box of broken stuff back, each item has a weight, and if the weight is correct on the box, then they melt it down or do whatever they do with the lot. I have also been buying more non tool truck brands.

I think this is just business as usual for an apex tool brand.

 

[jrobb316]

I think this is just business as usual for an apex tool brand.

I agree. I'm not a fan, therefore don't patronize Apex much at all. There is better quality stuff out there for the same or less money.

 

[Skin]

My dealer says that when he sends stuff back, EVERYTHING is inspected and they charge him back for anything they deem "worn out" from normal use.

Your dealer is full of it. All the brands have certain stipulations on specific tools. Matco at one time use to be picky about deadblows. Breaking a ratchet, wrench or socket though? They'll cover it.

I own a lot of SK, love it! However gotten to the point where I've had a hard time with warranty from my local tool stores. I noticed under US tools you didn't mention snap on, are they offering china junk?

Depends what you're buying. A lot of china in the Blue-Point line. Some of Snap-Ons newer additions have been from Taiwan (air saw and a few special tools come to mind). The cordless lithium line is either "assembled" here which means anything, or Chinese, and the charger and batteries are Chinese.

All Snap-Ons test lights, meters, and leads come from South Korea.

Just a few examples off the top of my head.

With all the trucks if you stick to basics like sockets, ratchets, wrenches you're usually fine. Same goes largely for Matco although the chrome sockets have lost the USA stamp lately and all their ratcheting wrenches and their double box high performance wrenches are from Taiwan.

 

[nicksnothereman]

It seems like everything I grab or buy on the truck says made in china or Taiwan, if it doesn't say that it doesn't say anything at all. This continues to happen so I checked the items I wanted on their website before the truck came by, With those items the website didn't say where the item where made. The matco truck always had a cheap line but it seems that's the direction the whole trucks going.

Welcome to the dark side!

Actually, most of the taiwanese stuff is really good just...make sure you're paying taiwan cost not american cost because the carpet doesn't always match the drapes with this stuff.