Death of toolman

[snapmom]

Will the toolman die just as the milkman did.

 

[chadster1]

I doubt it. The business is changing but I think that there will always be a need.

 

[tpolley]

if the gov't keeps giving away new cars there won't be as many older cars needing repair. mechanics will suffer and tool trucks will suffer.

 

[eborcim]

Even the secondhand tools have to originate from somewhere. Unless all the manufacturers are going to set up a retail presence.

BTW, we can still get milk delivered.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Milkmen are common over here.. Far from extinct.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Will the toolman die just as the milkman did.

Why, did the toolman sleep with the lady of the house?

 

[Toolhorder]

I think the bigger question is will our auto industry die....

 

[Danglerb]

Ditto here on the home delivery of milk.

You want to worry about something, that would be all the local parts delivery places doing some kind of Ace or TrueValue hardware national group and getting into the tool business with a serious quality non USA brand.

Or the automotive trade getting stood on its ear by some kind of top down change in how dealers service works.

 

[mrshaun]

who wants to go to sears to warranty all those tools all the time and go to HF every other day to find a tool. easier to hit the numerous trucks and have a variety of stuff.

 

[snapmom]

So, why can't you just order on the net. Will toolman give up the the expense of the truck and bad debt and pass the savings to the internet buyer.

 

[chadster1]

So, why can't you just order on the net. Will toolman give up the the expense of the truck and bad debt and pass the savings to the internet buyer.

When new tools come out, people want to see and feel them. It would be hard to sell the difference of an Dual 80 ratchet with a power point slide. A lot of tools need to be demonstrated to show the value of the tool. As valuable as the internet is, it will never replace live interaction.

 

[Hawk321]

A toolmen will not die, so long employed mechanics need own tools. It depends more on the qualification of a toolmen, if he will survive and his prices. I guess, that the future needs more brands on one truck.

 

[Sloper0204]

This thread kind of hits at the heart of the issue with me. I love ordering online due to where I live and my work conditions. I am gone to work for two weeks straight (14 days of minimum 12 hours days) and home for two weeks. If I need a tool or something, I usually need it when I'm way out of contact with anywhere that would even possibly have it in stock. Thats when the internet comes into play.

But on the other hand, I'm in town for two weeks at a stretch.

I just need to get around to contacting my local tool man and seeing if he would stop by my place so I can send some cash his way. Supporting local is very important in my opinion, but unfortunately sometimes you do just have to outsource.

 

[porschedude996TT]

I heard that Obama is going to give us new cars everyother year and the old ones will be donated to Mexico...LOL

 

[Joel 67]

When I had a toolman I always enjoyed going on to the truck and seeing what sort of neat stuff he had. And you can't beat the convenience of getting things replaced or getting new tools you find a need for in your hands immediately. Most of the tools I bought because I needed them but I also bought stuff I liked but did not really need. If I were only making internet purchases I'd have never bought those other things. My point is that the convenience and wow factor are what helps keeps the toolman in business.

 

[TheToolMan]

No, My health is pretty good. I will be around for a while. Thanks for asking

 

[fatfillup]

As long as mechanics can make a good living, tool men give good service and cars keep changing, there will be a need for tool men. Their role will change over time as well as their offerings, but face to face sales is often how new procducts come to the market, especially to a niche market like pro mechanics.

 

[mrshaun]

touch and feel is always the best policy..... for tools that is....

 

[Snappy]

The internet just isn't the same as walking onto the Snap-on truck and drooling over all that chrome. Not to mention BS'n with the Snap-on guy. It's nice to be able to walk on the truck & have your ratchet rebuilt why you wait too. It's like the personalized service that we used to get from the milkman and the breadman

 

[krusty the clown]

i see the tool truck going the way of the milk truck, but i believe there will still be a rep to call on shops and drop ship orders from the warehouse.

 

[CarCrafter]

NEVER, who'll bring us those little calendars with the naked girls on them if they went byebye??

 

[autoace]

Depends, if you are a MAC tool man, you will go bye bye. A rolling Harbor Freight at high prices is nothing to get excited about. If the tool companies keep selling re-branded Asian tools, and discontinuing their good products, tool dealers could go away.

 

[babzog]

The internet just isn't the same as walking onto the Snap-on truck and drooling over all that chrome. Not to mention BS'n with the Snap-on guy. It's nice to be able to walk on the truck & have your ratchet rebuilt why you wait too. It's like the personalized service that we used to get from the milkman and the breadman

There was a breadman? Gee... the wife was certainly kept busy, wasn't she?

I like to see and hold tools as well but, once you've seen one socket, you've seen 'em all. Sometimes it's more convenient to order exactly what you need, when you need it and have it arrive a couple of days later.

 

[chadster1]

There was a breadman? Gee... the wife was certainly kept busy, wasn't she?

I like to see and hold tools as well but, once you've seen one socket, you've seen 'em all. Sometimes it's more convenient to order exactly what you need, when you need it and have it arrive a couple of days later.

But have you seen the newest sockets?

 

[Dust]

if the gov't keeps giving away new cars there won't be as many older cars needing repair. mechanics will suffer and tool trucks will suffer.

What makes you think new cars won't need repair? My shop has seen numerous brand new vehicles needing major repairs before and just after delivery.

 

[babzog]

That's a pretty neat socket. View media item 1324

 

[rsanter]

the toolman will always be around. just wait for the electric cars and the specific tools required for them

bob

 

[illmatyk]

There's no more toolmen/tool trucks in my area.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

Get matco and snap on at my place

 

[bgott]

Y'all are missing the most important point. The toolman will become obsolete when the internet extends credit to mechanics with a bad credit score and collects weekly!

 

[supertooljunkie]

NEVER, who'll bring us those little calendars with the naked girls on them if they went byebye??

Your dealer has "nudie" calenders!! My dealer quit giving those away in '96 because they weren't PC anymore.

You are a Lucky Boy!

 

[Major Ramifications]

Wait, some of you guys still have milkmen in your area? How does that work? Wouldn't it be cheaper to get the milk from the grocery store? I mean, you have to go the grocery pretty regularly anyway, so why pay some guy to personally deliver it to you? I suppose it is in glass bottles, also. Do you same guys also have an ice man to come bring you a block of ice for your icebox? We have these modernistic electrical gadgets called refrigerators here, no ice needed. Do you same guys also start your car with a crank? I'm just kidding, but I can't believe that they still have milkmen in some areas. People have cars now.

 

[george4]

But have you seen the newest sockets?

Very interesting, what is that socket?

 

[Vinko]

Will the Toolman die? That's a great question SnapMom. I don't know. I buy from my driver because he's from the same town, knows the guys I know, and I think he's a good, honest person with a lot of knowledge. However, my main stuff I buy torque wrenches from Sturtevant, sockets from Apex, some tools from Proto and Armstrong. SnapOn can't compete in quality. I haven't tried the INdustrial line, which is cheaper, but I don't need a rep. showing up, and I'd rather my SO money go to the guy I know in the truck, rather than a rep. in a shirt and tie and briefcase, which is what you get with an industrial rep.

I choose to pay more money to buy some Snappy stuff because I want to help the guy out. And I've got a small SO addiction. And it's convenient. And has become a ritual. I realize that certain stuff is more expensive from him (ear protectors -- just bought for the shop, picks and cotter pin tools, drivers, GripOn stuff, little stuff from BP that I've needed). Bought 2 used boxes from him. I could've bought from McMaster/MSC for cheaper, but I like supporting small independent businesses.

I think a lot of SO is overpriced. (But I still buy it ) I think they could cut out the middle man. I think a lot of SO marketing speak about the tool man is BS. I've got about 6 SR torque wrenches and 20 rebuild kits. Order 100 Apex sockets at a time. I don't need a toolman for that.

Maybe the finance model is what keeps a lot of them going.

So, why can't you just order on the net. Will toolman give up the the expense of the truck and bad debt and pass the savings to the internet buyer.

 

[gunner3773]

When I was a Ford mechanic back in the 70's, I bought off the Mac or Snap-On trucks and they were great USA made tools. Expensive, but well worth it. Last week I purchased an OTC slide hammer kit for about $125.00. A couple of days ago, I went to Harbor Freight on a whim and saw what appeared to be the EXACT same slide hammer set with a different case for 45.99. Also, I saw what looked exactly like the OTC bearing splitter set that I bought on sale for 29.99 and then used a 20% coupon.

I then sent an email to OTC regarding their 7249 ball joint press. OTC confirmed that the BJ press is made in China. In looking at the OTC press and the HF press, I am not seeing the difference except for the price.

So, if the "quality" tool companies are switching over to off-shore products, I can definitely see the tool truck heading the way of the milk truck.

As a side note, is there anything we purchase that isn't made off-shore?

 

[quattrojon]

Will the toolman die just as the milkman did.

I sure hope not!

 

[arkangel06]

nope.......