ZRX61
Well-known member
Saw one today. Appears to be the Matco truck re-wrapped as it had a Matco license plate frame & the name of the owner was the local Matco guy.
Gear Wrench tool truck?
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AreYaSerious
Well-known member
Yes, they have them. Wouldn't mind seeing one in my area.
M_George
Well-known member
I was at Tractor Supply a couple of weeks ago and asked them why they were changing from Gearwrench to an unknown name tool.
They told me that Gearwrench was changing over to truck sales and they had to change brands. I thought that this a bit silly. Gearwrench would get a lot more sales if they sold to the public. DYI's don't get their tools off the trucks.
They told me that Gearwrench was changing over to truck sales and they had to change brands. I thought that this a bit silly. Gearwrench would get a lot more sales if they sold to the public. DYI's don't get their tools off the trucks.
I have been on one. It was a Sprinter van, inside was well set up. I bought a serp belt tool flex section. Guy was following along a "SK Tool" truck guy who used to stop by my work... Miss that goofball... Unfortunately kind of a half-assed go at it in my area. Local Matco guy is legit and does not push Gearwrench.
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
WITH GEARWRENCH STREET TEAM YOU GET :
Freedom to choose your route
Freedom to set your goals
Free GEARWRENCH truck wrap
First-to-market knowledge on the latest GEARWRENCH tools and innovations
Exclusive GEARWRENCH products available only to you
One of several previous threads - Gearwrench Tool Truck
I’ll be curious to see if that is actually true. It does sound like a moronic business decision in this day and age.
In other news Cadillac just announced moving to electric vehicles as the answer to their flagging sales. So plenty of executives making foolish decisions with shareholder money.
DTE
Well-known member
I seen one a couple days ago in High Point NC.
M_George
Well-known member
Especially since their a quarter mile from HF. Advanced Auto is dropping the Gearwrench line as well. Is it any wonder HF is cornering the tool market
Stooge
Well-known member
I saw on Nick Morellos's "Snap on Mac Matco Buy Sell" facebook page, that he has a new Gearwrench truck that I believe was a previously a Matco truck. Gearwrench has some good stuff, and he's really seemed to start advertising the specials on it a lot more on his page
No wonder, cheap-er and good quality tools delivered on a truck. Snap-on's biggest USP is soon to be not that unique.
IMO the Gearwrench truck is a destined for failure, it will be impossible to complete with the online sales model across the product line. If you go to GW site and check out “full retail price”, I doubt you would find anyone willing to pay that much, especially since the precedent has been set in regards to pricing. Even if they rid the online/B&M marketplace of the product line, which would take years....You have too many companies willing to ****** up GW’s share of that market for them to be successful solely in the mobile market.
This, I don't know how you can go around selling tools that are listed on Amazon. They need to figure out who they are as a Brand, you can't just try a little of everything.
itylerstewart
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Nick Morello has been running his truck in Jersey for as long as I can remember. He also ships nationwide, and by drone. He's combined online and tool truck sales and he kills it
There is obviously a market for front door service of quality tools if you have the means to purchase/distribute at a competive price point. I don’t see many independent tool trucks in my area, but not being locked into franchise agreements and the ability to cherry pick brands/tools is a good thing.
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anndel
Well-known member
If GW is pulling their product from retail stores and moving towards truck sales, will they pull their products from Amazon.com as well? That's suicidal.
Nick Morello, the Guy who runs the Facebook Tools page (Snapon-Mac-Matco buy sell trade or something like that) Runs around in some gear wrench trucks, Im pretty sure.. And I think he just added one to the fleet, that used to say matco on it
Looks like my post was just restating what has been said already.. haha
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dr_clyde
Well-known member
I won't buy cheap gearwrench in stores unless there's literally no other choice, no way in hell im paying truck prices for Apex ****.
I would have bought Armstrong and Allen off a truck, but since Apex killed them off I have zero interest in Apex brands. They screwed up so many good American tool companies I go out of my way to support other companies.
I would have bought Armstrong and Allen off a truck, but since Apex killed them off I have zero interest in Apex brands. They screwed up so many good American tool companies I go out of my way to support other companies.
jsmeece
Well-known member
MattPersman
Well-known member
On a similar topic, the last time I need warranty for a gearwrench product I did get that gearwrench ratcheting wrench replaced with a matco wrench on a matco truck. He said that’s what they replace them with now. I’m not certain they sell gearwrench any longer through matco.
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plinker
Well-known member
Matco re-brands tools from several US companys, so it's not just re-branded import's.
Pretty much sums it up.
Naltastrife
Member
We have a gearwrench tool truck that stops by our shop, although Ive never been on it. Coworkers bring the flyers from the truck in, and the prices are nearly double what you can buy the same set for on amazon or other suppliers.
Apparently the driver also refuses to warranty anything that wasnt purchased through him. Pretty much removes any desire to set foot on the truck for me.
Apparently the driver also refuses to warranty anything that wasnt purchased through him. Pretty much removes any desire to set foot on the truck for me.
Interesting. I use my MAC guy to replace gearwrench stuff and he gives me gearwrench back.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
If he knew how screwed up their tools are, he wouldn't worry about it.
hangfirew8
Well-known member
I don't see anywhere that GW is going exclusively truck. The very wording of that page, "Exclusive GEARWRENCH products available only to you" implies non-exclusive products available elsewhere.
We're already seeing a major auto parts retailer replacing GW products with private branding. Just about everywhere GW is sold has its own branded tools (NAPA/Carlyle, Sears/Craftsman, Lowes/Craftsman, etc.) They have to compete for shelf space with the incumbent, that's hard enough with their signature product (ratcheting wrenches), it's really hard with a full lineup.
They're just looking for other ways to build their market share. They've done about as well as they could do with Bricks & Mortar retail. What better way than take a chunk out of the Mac/Matco/SO/Cornwell truck market?
We're already seeing a major auto parts retailer replacing GW products with private branding. Just about everywhere GW is sold has its own branded tools (NAPA/Carlyle, Sears/Craftsman, Lowes/Craftsman, etc.) They have to compete for shelf space with the incumbent, that's hard enough with their signature product (ratcheting wrenches), it's really hard with a full lineup.
They're just looking for other ways to build their market share. They've done about as well as they could do with Bricks & Mortar retail. What better way than take a chunk out of the Mac/Matco/SO/Cornwell truck market?
Wrapitinbacon
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We have 3 GW trucks running around here in the Dallas area that I have seen, from what I was told one guy owns all three 
haven't checked it out though, haven't been curious until now.
haven't checked it out though, haven't been curious until now.
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Truck prices????
Are you all crazy?
Who's your SnapOn dealer and tell him I have an envelope of cash. If he can get me snap on tools at gearwrench prices, I'll throw stacks at him. Hell, I'll even pay you guys a finder fee, but I suspect theres no tool trucks selling at GW prices, nor is GW selling at tool truck prices.
Amazon Gearwrench prices or the Mobile truck prices that someone has already mentioned is about twice as high?
The “Point” being is that the costs associated with driving the big white truck, regardless of the Name tag slapped on the side has costs associated with it that the “Average” GW buyer isn’t looking to subsidize.
Would you be willing to pay double the price for GW just so you could have front door service/warranty versus buying via the interwebs?
Unless I'm confused, the comment I replied to seems to think Gearwrench (in stores) is the same or similar priced to truck tools, which is insane.
No, probably not. I really like their tools for the money because they're on the cheaper side and have worked remarkably well for me. If the price starts increasing I would start turning to other tool company's that have worked remarkably well for me, at now cheaper prices given this hypothetical. That said I've had some bad luck with tools the last few weeks, an order from AmazonUK and an order from NapaOnline, so I'm starting to possibly place more value in the front door service/warranty department. Unfortunatly the issues I had where not with used broken tool sneeding warranty but just tools needing be returned. So with that, I would pay ~15% more for their tools for front door service/warranty and any more than that, I'd just go elsewhere or buy more Snap on tools.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
You are confused. I won't buy GW at the store price point. Therefore, there's not a snowballs chance in hell I will pay the massive premium that trucks have to charge to make any money on the business model.
If I'm gonna pay the truck premium, I expect top shelf American made tools with exceptional service.
I strongly disagree with how Apex tools does business, so I do my best to vote with my wallet.
PartsGuy
Well-known member
Our local Matco guy was effectively "fired" from his franchise a while back, and then reappeared as a GW Street Team-ster. He owned his truck, so he stripped the Matco and eagle signage off of it, and now goes by AT Tools (his initials are AT). Literally removed all of the M's, C's, and O's from all the MATCO logos, left the AT and TOOLS.
He sells GW, and my techs usually complain that most of his inventory is available MUCH cheaper elsewhere. Even the 25-year veteran in the shop with the monster Matco box doesn't do much with him anymore.
We are spitting distance from Matco's toolbox plant, yet there is still no Matco sales presence in our town. I interviewed with Matco last fall, and was offered their "Mobile Sales Manager" position. They are now trying a company-owned truck approach in lieu of franchisees in select markets. I ultimately declined the job after seeing just how rigidly "corporate" their sales and structure was going to be, and some second thoughts about the quality of the products.
(And it would have been awkward buying Snap-on from my current dealer while working for Matco!)
He sells GW, and my techs usually complain that most of his inventory is available MUCH cheaper elsewhere. Even the 25-year veteran in the shop with the monster Matco box doesn't do much with him anymore.
We are spitting distance from Matco's toolbox plant, yet there is still no Matco sales presence in our town. I interviewed with Matco last fall, and was offered their "Mobile Sales Manager" position. They are now trying a company-owned truck approach in lieu of franchisees in select markets. I ultimately declined the job after seeing just how rigidly "corporate" their sales and structure was going to be, and some second thoughts about the quality of the products.
(And it would have been awkward buying Snap-on from my current dealer while working for Matco!)
I don't think anyone is saying that, GW suggested list prices on the website "used" too be comparable to he Major Tool truck prices, Obviously the list prices didn't translate to Online/BM price points. The pricing discussion is simply trying to figure out how close to List does a mobile tool dealer need to be to cover the costs associated for that business model and still turn a profit for the owner operator. I'm sure based off volume of sales, that number considerably less than list, but definitely higher than 10-15% of online prices. It appears based off some comments that 100% Markup is the going rate.
If this is true, which remains to be seen, I think Napa(Carlye) and Tekton are the biggest beneficiaries. Harbor Freight (Icon) too if they can match Gearwrench 'quality' for less.
Like some of you I'm no fan of Apex(Bain) for what they did to some iconic American brands. I don't wish them well but hate to see their rank and file employees screwed by crappy management.
Like some of you I'm no fan of Apex(Bain) for what they did to some iconic American brands. I don't wish them well but hate to see their rank and file employees screwed by crappy management.
Yah I read it again for a third time and now I see it, brains a little slow today. Long week, my apologies!
I agree, if Im paying truck prices, I want quality tools and too would prefer them be made in America. Certinaly not insane markups on rebrands. Matco guy here is super nice....but I just cant buy any of those tools as I know where to find alternatives or the same tool online significantly cheaper. I'd like to see someone carry around all the "odd" American tools, Cornwell, Wright, SK, proto? That would be a stellar truck.
Yah I got it now. I'm curious how it'll work out, I dont see anyone paying tool truck prices for their stuff, I certainly wouldn't and I really really like almost all my gearwrench tools. Plus the tool truck warranty isn't even THAT good? It's nice and all, and would have saved me from my last headaches, but still its a week or two at a time for us. Our Snap on guy comes once every two weeks and matco once every week. Sure, they might swing by if there was an emergency or they pass on their route, but generally speaking a week to warranty out a tool is useless. The job will have been long done. With amazon prime (ugh, I hate pushing prime because they NEVER ship me my **** in 2 days anymore) I can have things in....2 or 3 days, aka the same work week, not next week.
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
Our Cornwell dealer went Gearwrench then stopped coming to our shop because we weren’t buying from him anymore. His promos were decent but otherwise his prices were higher. I can’t fault him for that it costs a lot more to run a small scale truck operation than the online sellers overhead. But I also can’t afford to subsidize businesses either.