anybodies boss HATE tool trucks?

[bamackc]

I never dicked off on the tool truck for extended periods of time so I'v never had a problem.

 

[radrush]

If all the service managers hate the tool trucks, how do the tool truck guys make any money?

 

[TheFarmer]

Old thread but I love it when tool trucks roll by and I'm lucky to have a boss that appreciates tools as well. A lot of chit chat in all the tool trucks that come by, Snap-On, Matco and Cornwell. Good guys in all trucks, never a problem here.

I seriously spent over 45-minutes talking with the Cornwell guy the other day. Good guy.

 

[ECP]

I've never felt pressure about being on the truck, even though I'm 1 of only 2 bodymen in a busy shop.... I don't take coffee breaks, so if I spend even 20 minutes on the truck BS'ing with the Snappy guy one day per week, I don't feel too bad.

Plus, I think the boss came to realize I work faster with Snap-On tools anyway so he likes it

 

[slip knot]

Damm ya'lls SO guy stops by to BS? Mine barely stays long enough for me to get out and see what hes got. Guess we're a buncha deadbeats that dont buy enough for him to stop by and BS. Probably the only reason he stops at all is because the Matco guy is starting to hit us up a bit nowdays.

 

[TheFarmer]

Damm ya'lls SO guy stops by to BS? Mine barely stays long enough for me to get out and see what hes got. Guess we're a buncha deadbeats that dont buy enough for him to stop by and BS. Probably the only reason he stops at all is because the Matco guy is starting to hit us up a bit nowdays.

That's pretty f'd up. My Snap-On guy is great. I've bought several boxes from him over the past few years and the only reason why he got my business was he offered to lend me a scanner for a day or two to see if I liked it. Needless to say I have myself a Solus Pro (Now want an Ultra) and he's been awesome. Invites me to his house to look at his new toolbox arrivals (which I have a few times).

My Matco guy...he warranties anything I have of his w/o any questions. Just says it'll be here next week and he's here next week with it. Love him and I mean that because he's gotten tool carts/cabinets to me faster than anyone.

My Cornwell guy...amazing guy. On his route home he met me at my parents house (on his way home) to warranty stuff. Literally no money out of his pocket, just met me traded some broken swivel sockets for new stuff. I know, whatever right?? Well this has gain him major respect from me and it tells me how well he stands behind his tools. A majority of my sockets over the years belong to Cornwell b/c of this.

I'm in Northern Ca. if anyone wants to know my dealers PM me! lol. I will help them sell if you're within their limits, seriously. Great guys. If any dealer is treating you anything wise...

EDIT: I should add I stopped buying from Mac Tools because they no longer have a guy in my area. I have a box full of Mac Tools **** that needs to be warrantied. I could send it in but whatever...the box is here if Mac Tools ever gets their sh*t together. My broken pieces makes for good nostalgia conversation pieces

 

[Displaced Hokie]

The hate may also come from him (or her) seeing new/young techs get in over their head in the truck. Although you can't save people from themselves, I've seen too many folks sell their souls to the tool man. And usually it was because the new/young guy wanted to fit in or stop getting teased for not having "truck" tools. Then you watch them not being able to afford lunch, new boots, decent clothes, or the dentist...but they've got that damned giant green half-empty toolbox!

Or, flat out the guys lollygag in the truck for way too long.

When I was the boss, I went on the truck with the guys as I had interest too. When it was obvious the looking was no longer serious, I left and the guys followed.

 

[TheFarmer]

Or, flat out the guys lollygag in the truck for way too long.

DOH!

 

[Toolhorder]

This is another reason that I'm opening my own shop then I answer to myself and self says 45 mins. on any tool truck is okay.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

good luck with that bro

 

[Toolhorder]

good luck with that bro

Gotta spend money to make money

 

[slip knot]

Gotta spend money to make money

There is " some " truth in that. just make sure that you can make money off it.

I'll say that working for yourself is the only way to truly be self sufficient, but its also the best way to go broke really fast. BTDT.

 

[85camaro]

I had a boss that gave us dirty looks after five minutes. I've had others that were fine as long as the tool buying/browsing session didn't turn into a long winded bs session.

 

[TheFarmer]

Gotta spend money to make money

Amen. Can't be afraid. If you fail...you fail, whatever. Take a loss chock it up get another job pay it off and be a man. If you win, you win. Take the ticket and win. BTW Toolhorder, I don't know what you do but smog is a big business in Ca Not a want...it's a need but I'm sure you know the bureaucracy and legal **** involved in it.

 

[BloodySinner]

Why don't you just visit the truck during your lunch period?

 

[bgott]

Why don't you just visit the truck during your lunch period?

Those trucks go from shop to shop. They can't be at every shop during lunch. Plus, the dealer needs to eat, too.

 

[Nitsuj]

If all the service managers hate the tool trucks, how do the tool truck guys make any money?

The trucks aren't what managers dislike. It's the techs all heading out to the truck and shopping. You tell the tool guy what you need, he brings it in. I've never met a tool guy that doesn't deliver right to the tech's station. Theres really no reason to go out to the truck. If you want to shop, do it on your own time then no boss can complain. Or, be good enough at your job that you're boss won't mind so much if you have to stop by the truck for a few minutes. I've been a service manger. If my best tech walked out to the truck, I'd trust that he had good reason, and I'd have no problem with it. I've also had techs that looked for any excuse at all to stop working. They go to the truck, drink coffee, shoot the breeze and fondle every tool on the truck they have no intention of buying.

Bottom line is, if you're good at your job, and your boss trusts that everything you do has good reason, he'll let it slide. If he's watching you like a hawk and trying to keep you focused, you may want to ask yourself why. I don't mean that as an insult. I just mean that you may want to examine how your boss views you as an employee.

 

[SLAUGHTERHAUS FAB]

These days I'm the BOSS, but I haven't been on a tool truck in 4 or 5 years.

 

[TheFarmer]

These days I'm the BOSS, but I haven't been on a tool truck in 4 or 5 years.

Curious (seriously), what do you do on a daily basis and in what city? Cause I WANT TO GO TO THERE (30 ROCK!). Tools break and you always need replacements aka tool trucks, Sears or whatever means you need to go through to get replacements. Unless you haven't broken anything in the last 20 years...cause whatever I broke has been replaced for free. Except for the sh*t I upgrade.

 

[sscustom]

my boss has the same thing with my co worker because he spends to much time on the truck talking !

 

[PowerGenGuy]

I agree with Nitsuj! You can window shop online for SO. Bs'ing on the truck is part of the truck mans job, builds relationships so that techs will buy from them, hopefully only from them. Bosses and managers like to see work get done, and they know who abuses the priveleges and who does not. Flat rate or whatever, wo's always need to close asap. I am curious why some tech's need to spend more then 10-15 min's on the the truck every week, how much stuff are you buying, how much do you actually need, don't you already have the items, what have you been using up to that point, and how much of the truck time is BS? Does a tech really need every tool on the tool truck? I know everyone is different and has different needs, and we all come from different areas of trade expertise. Personally I use online to browse and shop, know what I want, find the tool truck on his rounds, or call him, and order my stuff. Sometimes I do ordrer online.

 

[GoBlue]

I give myself and my employees 15 minutes on each. We get three per week and all on diff. days. They dont like it...they can find another job. I dont have time to **** around with malcontent assholes.

 

[cotjocky]

I guess I think like the majority here. If you boss is a real ****, look for another job and when you find it, leave. Problem solved.

Some bosses are rank and that's the way it is. Do you want to work in that environment for years? Not me.

If people are hourly employee's and they are hitting up 3 tool trucks a week and spending 30-60 minutes on every truck every week, then they need to get back to work. If a boss has a problem with 1 or however many employee's, he needs to take it up with those employee's and let the rest do their business. Tools are required for the job and what you buy and how much you spend is your business.

I won't say their was never an instance where I lost track of time and spent 20-25 minutes on a truck one week. Sometimes it's due to waiting in line, asking about a specific tool/s or on occasion got off on a BS subject. Everyone slips up. For the most part, I got on 2 trucks a week for 5-15 minutes and got back to my job. I only had a boss ask me to not take long on the truck a couple times because we were covered up. I obliged as he was always good to me. At the same time, I've always been the kind to bust *** on a regular basis. If on occasion I was asked to make lunch quick or I was needed to work over 30-60 minutes, I never gave it a second thought and did it.

Work is like any other relationship. Give and take with compromise. If you are a good employee and bust your *** for your shop, yet your boss remains unyielding, find a shop where you fit in better.

Eventually he'll be the only "tool" left.

 

[targets from us]

take all your tools home.

 

[Hawk321]

Easy...do YOUR stuff in your break or after work. When your dealer wants to earn money...tell him that to accept that.