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CORNWELL TRUCK - Los Angeles ?

blue dog

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Anyone in the Los Angeles and surrounding area ever see a Cornwell mobile tool truck? It donned on me today when i was next to a snap on truck in traffic on the freeway that i do not think i have ever seen a Cornwell truck before.
 
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MrMark

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Jan 25, 2010
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Southern Cal.
I've seen a Stahlwille truck.

I see a Matco truck sometimes.

Once I saw a MAC truck.

Can't recall ever seeing a Cornwell truck.
 

4x4gearhead

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New Hampshire
In NH there are like 2 ******** distributors for the whole state but you arent really missing much besides craftsman quality tools at a snap on price!
 

Joe B.

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As an adult I have lived in the following:
Los Angeles - 10 Years
Ann Arbor(MI) - 2 Years
Portland(OR) - 3 Years
Chicago Burbs - 5 Years

and I have never once seen a Cornwell truck. I see MAC, Matco & Snap on all the time.

I really don't believe this company exists. Cornwell is likely an internet hoax.
 

HandyManny

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See MAC and Snap-On pretty frequently, especially when I was repairing aircraft. Even bought from MAC several times.

Seen a MATCO truck twice, once in Southern Oregon and another time in my own home town. Both times they looked to be in service.

Seen three Cornwell trucks in my whole life and all within the last year and a half. The first two were probably the same truck and looked to have been long out of service with a badly faded paint and logos. Just saw one that appeared to be in service earlier this week on the highway. The dealers phone number area code wasn't from within my state. Never seen a Cornwell hand tool though, not even in all the intermittent years I turned a wrench on the job.
 

mrholeshot

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Anyone in the Los Angeles and surrounding area ever see a Cornwell mobile tool truck? It donned on me today when i was next to a snap on truck in traffic on the freeway that i do not think i have ever seen a Cornwell truck before.

The chrome on Cornwell ratchets don't pass C.A.R.B. specs:bounce:
 

Test Tech

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Oct 28, 2010
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Automation Alley
I have seen Cornwell trucks around metro detroit once in a while. Even had one visiting a former employer for a while, but he was a jerk. A friend of mine missed one payment while on vacation and the Cornwell guy wanted to break in to his toolbox to repo the stuff. My friend only owed like 200.00, one of the other guys in the shop paid off the bill and told Mr. Cornwell not to return.
 

Chris Adams

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Oct 21, 2007
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I see them on the road locally, (High Desert, San Benardino county, California) never saw one stopped but they obviously have a local presence.
If I ever see one parked I will take a look inside see what the prices are.
The used Cornwell tools I buy are all first rate though.
 

Theloniousmonk

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Where the tall corn grows!
WANTED:

cornholio.gif


"For nice shinny tools"...




(sorry, had to do it)
 

mrholeshot

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I have seen Cornwell trucks around metro detroit once in a while. Even had one visiting a former employer for a while, but he was a jerk. A friend of mine missed one payment while on vacation and the Cornwell guy wanted to break in to his toolbox to repo the stuff. My friend only owed like 200.00, one of the other guys in the shop paid off the bill and told Mr. Cornwell not to return.

There was probably more to the story than that. Most tool guys are pretty understanding if you have been a good customer. They depend on you to continue to buy tools from them. You not paying them is like your boss not paying you. The only problem I ever had was with one Snap-On guy and he was just getting started. He had a snotty attitude and "Expected" people to buy just because he rolled up in the truck. I had to call him over to the side and told him to ease up and use some kindness and pataince and my guys would buy from him. Took a few weeks but he came by one day and brought a Pizza for my guys. That was the best 10 dollars he ever spent. My guys flocked to his truck like kids to the ice cream truck. He started keeping Atomic Fireballs and a bowl of miniture hershey assorsted candies on his truck. He learned kindness wins people over, free candy gets them on the truck and once on the truck it's hard to walk off with nothing.

I find most tool men of a very pleasent nature. When you sell overpriced tools you need to be. Most of the ones who are real dickheads that work your account are the ones just getting started or about to go under.
 

fordbroncodave

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As an adult I have lived in the following:
Los Angeles - 10 Years
Ann Arbor(MI) - 2 Years
Portland(OR) - 3 Years
Chicago Burbs - 5 Years

and I have never once seen a Cornwell truck. I see MAC, Matco & Snap on all the time.

I really don't believe this company exists. Cornwell is likely an internet hoax.

come to minnesota and they are as abundant as snap on trucks
 

HandyManny

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There was probably more to the story than that. Most tool guys are pretty understanding if you have been a good customer. They depend on you to continue to buy tools from them. You not paying them is like your boss not paying you. The only problem I ever had was with one Snap-On guy and he was just getting started. He had a snotty attitude and "Expected" people to buy just because he rolled up in the truck. I had to call him over to the side and told him to ease up and use some kindness and pataince and my guys would buy from him. Took a few weeks but he came by one day and brought a Pizza for my guys. That was the best 10 dollars he ever spent. My guys flocked to his truck like kids to the ice cream truck. He started keeping Atomic Fireballs and a bowl of miniture hershey assorsted candies on his truck. He learned kindness wins people over, free candy gets them on the truck and once on the truck it's hard to walk off with nothing.

I find most tool men of a very pleasent nature. When you sell overpriced tools you need to be. Most of the ones who are real dickheads that work your account are the ones just getting started or about to go under.

I would hope so. My experience has just been different.
 

Deskmechanic

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Long Beach, CA
When I had my first tech job in Temecula we had a regular Cornwell guy but that was like 15 years ago. Bought a set of real nice combo wrenches from him and got ripped off on a cheap used craftsman toolbox with Snappy badge (what can I say I was young and stupid).

Haven't seen one since, in fact haven't even thought of Cornwell until I found Garage Journal. Almost never see the tools at swap meets.
 

Pukeballs

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Rancho Mirage, CA
Saw a couple of their trucks at a YellowBasket restaurant in Palm Desert CA a few months ago. The two drivers sat close to where I was and looked like they were having a meeting with a higher up. Tried my best to eavesdrop but couldnt hear much.

cornwell.jpg
 
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that is a ghost cornwell truck
I work 3 miles north of newark , nj and there are 3 different snap on dealers territory within a mile of here , no other trucks
 
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mrholeshot

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Saw a couple of their trucks at a YellowBasket restaurant in Palm Desert CA a few months ago. The two drivers sat close to where I was and looked like they were having a meeting with a higher up. Tried my best to eavesdrop but couldnt hear much.

cornwell.jpg

Was that photo taken in Roswell NM?? lol
 

seagravedriver

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Puyallup
agreed. The few cornwell tools i have, i really like

Agreed. There is a guy running in an area East of Tacoma WA. Nice guy, nice tools. Waaay better than the older Cman stuff I have. His service for the one issue I had was fast and friendly, and I am no pro.
 

klhitman

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pewee valley
i have never seen anything other than a snap on truck. my buddy at work loves cornwell. i think they look cheap but he has had them forever.
 

Flash21

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Jul 23, 2008
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Several Cornwell trucks in my area. No pro here either, the dealers have been really friendly, no pressure and really helped get me the tools I needed.

Same here: The few Cornwell tools I have are TOP shelf and I chose them over all other brands (including Snap-On) because of the merits of their design and how they felt in my hands.
 

Dale B

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Rowland Hts , SoCal
I talked to one on the phone a couple years ago , I think he was based in Chino , not far from me . But he didn't have what I wanted anyway.
 
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blue dog

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Seems to me that cornwell does not get any love around here, is it just because of the availability [ lack of mobile trucks ] in my eyes the tools are nice and i would like to own some more of them, yet they seem hard to come
 

Chadro

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Seems to me that cornwell does not get any love around here, is it just because of the availability [ lack of mobile trucks ] in my eyes the tools are nice and i would like to own some more of them, yet they seem hard to come

Snap-On is about the only one that gets any love around here. maybe a little for Matco as well (thats a BIG maybe). Cornwell and MAC, HA! Forget about it.
 

econoaddict

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Oregon
We have a local Cornwell dealer, he came by for about a month and then quit showing up. I called and asked why and to let him know I needed a socket warrantied.
He straight up told me he only stops at shops that buy at least every other week other wise it's a waste of his time and I should send the socket in to get it replaced because he wasn't going to stop by.
No problem, Snap-on shows like clock work.
 
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blue dog

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So aside from there mobile availability, i just do not see any love for Cornwell tools here at all. Until recently, there was a thread regarding how cornwell ratchets looked the best. i could care less about that.
I have a friend in Santee, San diego who has a small shop, all his tools are Cornwell, everything that i picked up and checked out were very nice, quality tools. I was just curious why they get no love here. I would purchase them if they were available to me, just seems that a cornwell truck is some kind of anomaly here in Los Angeles. Seems odd for a place that is one of the highest populated areas in the country.
Not here to start a ******* match regarding the quality of cornwell tools, so please keep that to yourself.
 

Vinko

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When you sell overpriced tools you need to be.


:lol: -- I wonder if this is actually true. There's probably some segment of buyers who respond better to arrogance when buying expensive ****. Sort of an exclusivity thing.

As for candy on the truck, my driver said he stopped doing it 30 years ago. Too many wrappers on the ground, in sockets, behind stuff, etc.
 

Test Tech

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Automation Alley
There was probably more to the story than that. Most tool guys are pretty understanding if you have been a good customer. They depend on you to continue to buy tools from them. You not paying them is like your boss not paying you. The only problem I ever had was with one Snap-On guy and he was just getting started. He had a snotty attitude and "Expected" people to buy just because he rolled up in the truck. I had to call him over to the side and told him to ease up and use some kindness and pataince and my guys would buy from him. Took a few weeks but he came by one day and brought a Pizza for my guys. That was the best 10 dollars he ever spent. My guys flocked to his truck like kids to the ice cream truck. He started keeping Atomic Fireballs and a bowl of miniture hershey assorsted candies on his truck. He learned kindness wins people over, free candy gets them on the truck and once on the truck it's hard to walk off with nothing.

I find most tool men of a very pleasent nature. When you sell overpriced tools you need to be. Most of the ones who are real dickheads that work your account are the ones just getting started or about to go under.

Most major tool company dealers are much more reasonable, just as you've described. This guy was the exception not the rule. I assume he learned from this as he did come back for one or two more weeks and no one would even go out to his truck.:lol_hitti
 

ricleh

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Sacramento, CA
Anyone in the Los Angeles and surrounding area ever see a Cornwell mobile tool truck? It donned on me today when i was next to a snap on truck in traffic on the freeway that i do not think i have ever seen a Cornwell truck before.

It's been a long time (1970's), but I used to see Cornwell trucks regularly in Orange County and LA. I bought a lot of tools from the Cornwell distribution warehouse that was right next to the Fullerton airport. I have no idea if it is still there. It was right at the end of Artesia Blvd. where it ended at the airport.
 

Lotek

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Los Angeles, Ca.
We have a Cornwell guy who comes to our shop, more reliable than the Snappy dealer, who shows up every three weeks or so, Tried calling Matco to get a truck to stop by, (previous guy was ordered off the premises after fighting with a tech), no such luck, you would think they would be all over a dealership with 20 techs. :headscrat

I can get his # for you if you want.
 
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blue dog

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We have a Cornwell guy who comes to our shop, more reliable than the Snappy dealer, who shows up every three weeks or so, Tried calling Matco to get a truck to stop by, (previous guy was ordered off the premises after fighting with a tech), no such luck, you would think they would be all over a dealership with 20 techs. :headscrat

I can get his # for you if you want.

I appreciate the offer, but i was just asking due to never seeing a cornwell truck around and the cornwell tools i have held in my hand were all very nice. I just figured in this area i would see one every now and then. I see the same mac truck all around the west side, his area must be big, and i see snap on trucks every week. And the fact that it seems that there is never any discussion about cornwell here.
 
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Basskiller

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s cal
So aside from there mobile availability, i just do not see any love for Cornwell tools here at all. were very nice, quality tools. I was just curious why they get no love here. Not here to start a ******* match regarding the quality of cornwell tools, so please keep that to yourself.

Cornwell used to get lots of love here, especially from some of the longtime members. However, seems they don't post here anymore. :(
 
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