are your tool guys getting worse?

[sludwinjr]

im in connecticut and have been noticing lately that the tool guys (snap-on,
matco, mac cornwell) have no desire to sell tools.....
i have looking to trade in my mac tech 1000 triple bank for a deeper box and i cant seem to get any answers from these guys. the box is 9 months old and mint, owe nothing,ect..... low balled for 1000 on trade by one guy, 2 of them said they cant afford to do trades on boxes, my matco guy forget, its taking him over 6 weeks to replace 4 screwdriver ( my 8 piece set broke over the last year and ive been waiting for them all so i get a set) and i ended up with 3 differant styles of matco screwdrivers and still waiting on the rest. i got to say after reading these forums, apparently connecticut ***** for tool guys..
never thought it would be so hard to buy a tool box again....

 

[trout]

Seems like every service person in this area doesn't really want to make money, not surprised it's affecting the tool guys as well.

 

[airbuff101]

I'd guess it's the economy in CT (and many other states)that ***** for toolguys nowadays. I can't imagine that they have much to work with.

 

[hammergodthor]

My tool reps are having a tough time with the economy and all. The Matco man could be having trouble paying his bill, and got cut off by Matco corporate. Just a guess.

 

[trout]

I'd guess it's the economy in CT (and many other states)that ***** for toolguys nowadays. I can't imagine that they have much to work with.

True, the number of dealerships that have closed is unreal. I just got a letter last week that the dealer I got my car from is shutting down all it's GM operations.

 

[fordbroncodave]

CT must not be a heavy automotive area....

 

[american lockpicker]

Nope the local Snap On dealer and the guys in the tool section of Lowes are always eager to sell me tools.

 

[84bimmer]

I don't think tool dealers like taking boxes. They take up too much room on the truck. And sometimes it takes a long time for them to sell. It can turn into a real hassle for them. Have you put it on CL? You'll get more for it there anyway.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Mine will trade in a heartbeat. He always has a list of guys looking for a good used box and he buys enough of them when they have a good trade allowance that he can give someone a good deal and still make money

 

[MoToys]

x2. My SO dealer was looking to buy back the used box I got from him not even 3 months after he sold it to me. I'd suggest a quick ferry ride down to Long Island.

 

[jay50]

Most are having trouble paying the bills along with deadbeats they're trying to hunt down to get their money.
Not a good time to be a tool truck salesman when the economy is going into the *******.

 

[sludwinjr]

not a bad idea......guess its the area im in.....any tool dealers in the hartford area on here?.... ill have to throw on craigslist and sort out the rifraff....

 

[Greatbear]

The Snappy dealer I am stuck with has stopped giving me the usual little break on stuff and some items seem downright outrageous.. Compared to a friend that lives not too far away, he gets a better price by at least 10% or more than we do.

 

[econoaddict]

Ours are getting a bit worse in a bit different way.
They used to come in and chat abit ask if you needed anything, do the deal or say thanks and head out.
Now if you don't need anything they follow you around and hound you to the point it starts to make you mad. They go a few steps beyond hard sell.
Price breaks are non existent now-a-days as well.

 

[Dust]

We don't even really get anything other than a Snap On guy at my shop. The Mac guy is a joke (Mexican guy who just rolls around on a bike asking "You okay?" instead of making sales pitches.), and the Matco guy stopped coming around in the middle of 2009.

The Snap On guy kind of knows he's got a monopoly on our shop, and charges accordingly, though he will cut deals from time to time.

 

[Borrego]

Never dealt with a tool guy and do not plan on doing so........In fairness, in addition to the economy being what it is, the spectre of Ebay must be affecting these guys greatly, and not in a good way. They must know if they are not competetive with prices, some will buy off Ebay instead of their truck.
At the monent, their captive market is the tech or mechanic who is brand loyal and likes his stuff shiny and new off the truck and is willing to pay accordingly. I would venture to say that is not a very big pool of customers.

 

[smalltruck]

Borrego I'd argue the size of that pool with you. A guy at work today shelled out nearly 500 bones for some new snap on ratchets.

 

[mrshaun]

I don't think tool dealers like taking boxes. They take up too much room on the truck. And sometimes it takes a long time for them to sell. It can turn into a real hassle for them. Have you put it on CL? You'll get more for it there anyway.

I love taking trade in boxes. I have a list of 20 people that want trade in boxes for home use or to get their kid a box for future use. I have sold about 10 boxes this year and have 2 kra2343pc boxes going out this week. taking a krl761 in trade and have a guy lined out to take it already.

 

[mrshaun]

i also use a tool storage survey form for those that are "kind of" looking for a box. gives me a better idea of their budget towards tool storage.