How much longer can Matco keep up the charade

[xin]

Before joining this site I had no idea non pros bought truck brands to any real extent. Having been a mechanic all my adult life and working in shops since high school I’ve enjoyed the service the pro brands provide. It’s hard to explain to people who don’t work in a high productivity repair shop every day. The focus is on the job at hand and not the repair, upkeep and replacement of the many tools used. Buying tools online is easy but service after the sale is more complicated. Also many brands don’t have the depth of product line the pro brands have. Sometimes it takes 10 different styles of the same size wrench to get it done.

I think people instead of looking at the entire picture (look at one piece and get welded to that). I have done that before as well, to me I will not buy something when there is no service.

I agree on the 10 different styles, ran into an issue on a Jetski many years ago having to use a Snap-On 10mm flex head wrench. The ONLY tool that could access the bolts to it.

Was it expensive YES, however got the job done and still have that wrench today along with others. I called the Snap-On guy up he drove all the way to the shop and sold me 1 wrench I needed at that time.

One can buy most anything online, but if they don't have any serviceability in the field and/or someone you can actually deal with it is a PAIN in the rear.

Lastly, living in a RURAL area getting shipping (online) orders is hit and miss. It may arrive it may not (have had lots of packages get LOST) and never arrive. MORE of my TIME wasted and having to contact the online retailer to find out where the package is, then to RE-ORDER it again. One time it took 3 times and it was from the most popular ONLINE outfit.

IF online orders were spot on in RURAL areas sure some of that 'might' work however it don't. From the results I as well as others have had it is a toss-up if you will get the order or it is LOST.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Yep! That’s pretty accurate. Someone posted the Snap-on quarterly report and it was surprising how much profit was based on finance.

Having worked in shops for a while now:


Most mechanics don't make a lot of money. "Hey $20 a week gets you this", gets most in the door. Most mechanics find tools to be a means to an end, not a hobby/interest in and of itself like we at GJ do.

Tool trucks sell easy finance (often to those with **** credit), and warranty service. Although more often than not, the warranty is irrelevant on most items, being that they are of high quality. Techs also use it to hide how much they spend to wives/GFs. "Just making my $50 a week payment".


Most of all, most people refuse to shop around for anything. Get out of the shop (still getting paid if you're hourly), get some tools for $20 down on top of the $20 a week you planned on spending anyways. Nicer and higher quality than what $20 buys you, and most guys think they are only spending that extra $20. "My payment didn't go up, I just always expect I'll pay X per week, and always have what I need".

 

[xin]

Online ordering charade is not cutting it either when items are LOST and you don't receive them.

 

[vssjim]

I work in and shop and have had tool dealers forever but now we have one and I do believe that the tool dealer thing is kind of shaky really. The new s-o guy is a few years on the job others are gone and the internet has defiantly put a torpedo in the ship and she is listing. I came from a time when tool dealers and tool wholesalers were all around and they all made money but no more. The tool dealers will survive but in small numbers but 1980 isn't coming back where every area had two or three plus brands going to every shop just how it's going to be.

 

[Parrothead]

Online ordering charade is not cutting it either when items are LOST and you don't receive them.

I don’t know where you’re ordering from, but everywhere I do has a tracking number that sends alerts to your smartphone to update time and delivery. If you don’t have a smart phone you can alway check it on the computer.

*What’s really impressive is the update for delivery isn’t off by more than 15 minutes.

 

[xin]

I work in and shop and have had tool dealers forever but now we have one and I do believe that the tool dealer thing is kind of shaky really. The new s-o guy is a few years on the job others are gone and the internet has defiantly put a torpedo in the ship and she is listing. I came from a time when tool dealers and tool wholesalers were all around and they all made money but no more. The tool dealers will survive but in small numbers but 1980 isn't coming back where every area had two or three plus brands going to every shop just how it's going to be.

Sure to a degree but the 'internet' online is not the end all be all.

IF one lives in a big urban environment, most don't so that does not hold water. The delivery in RURAL areas is 'shaky' and if you do get what you order it is destroyed.

They are not going to stop running the trucks, that is the WHOLE part of their business model. I think this 'myth' of all of the jobs are all going away hysteria is out of control. A lot of things people thought would go away have not and they will not.

At the end of the day - a company has to service what it sells (anyone can sell something online). Problem is when it breaks and/or don't work. The 'online' seller does not really care as they just shipped it to you.

This is part of the problem, everyone buys into 'internet' fill-in-the-blank will replace this. YOU still have to have CUSTOMER SERVICE and filling out some form for a call back is not going to cut it.

Next up is robots will replace all Tool truck vendors, ain't going to happen period. PLUS the most popular online one (freight prices for over-night) have like tripled or quadrupled from the old $3.99 they used to have. Another big PAIN point.

 

[65k10]

Get rural enough and you pretty much have to rely on ordering things since there aren't enough people for a tool truck to make money. I think the closest Snap-On route is a town 30 miles from me on a Wednesday. Of course, I'm not a pro (I work on a farm. Wrenching is not a daily thing) and can get by on fewer tools which makes ordering things not as time sensitive since I can usually make do with what I have if necessary.

 

[xin]

Get rural enough and you pretty much have to rely on ordering things since there aren't enough people for a tool truck to make money. I think the closest Snap-On route is a town 30 miles from me on a Wednesday. Of course, I'm not a pro (I work on a farm. Wrenching is not a daily thing) and can get by on fewer tools which makes ordering things not as time sensitive since I can usually make do with what I have if necessary.

Ordering from home to the shop/business they come by.

But the deadhorse of the 'internet' ordering will replace all businesses and everyone will order online is not going to cut it.

Tool trucks are here to stay, it is the BACKBONE of the business. Matco never had a problem.

 

[65k10]

I don’t know where you’re ordering from, but everywhere I do has a tracking number that sends alerts to your smartphone to update time and delivery. If you don’t have a smart phone you can alway check it on the computer.

*What’s really impressive is the update for delivery isn’t off by more than 15 minutes.

To be fair, I've had several tool shipments show up as an empty package with a hole in it. In my experience it's been limited to Amazon purchases where inadequate packaging was used. It's happened just enough that I'm picky about what I order from them if it's something I need.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Lastly, living in a RURAL area getting shipping (online) orders is hit and miss. It may arrive it may not (have had lots of packages get LOST) and never arrive. MORE of my TIME wasted and having to contact the online retailer to find out where the package is, then to RE-ORDER it again. One time it took 3 times and it was from the most popular ONLINE outfit.

IF online orders were spot on in RURAL areas sure some of that 'might' work however it don't. From the results I as well as others have had it is a toss-up if you will get the order or it is LOST.

That's literally a problem with your local USPS/UPS/Fedex and has nothing to do with online retailers. They have no control after it's handed off to the shipper.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

But the deadhorse of the 'internet' ordering will replace all businesses and everyone will order online is not going to cut it.

Tool trucks are here to stay, it is the BACKBONE of the business. Matco never had a problem.

I understand forming opinions from personal experiences, but you're painting with a broad brush if you think (in your own bold letters) RURAL Arkansas is giving you any indication on the direction technology is moving.

This is coming from a guy in Idaho, where we're WAY behind the curve as far as technology goes, but my wife still gets her Amazon deliveries from USPS on Sundays.

I think the last report was something like 65% of American households have Amazon Prime. More people have Prime than landlines now.

 

[65k10]

Ordering from home to the shop/business they come by.

But the deadhorse of the 'internet' ordering will replace all businesses and everyone will order online is not going to cut it.

Tool trucks are here to stay, it is the BACKBONE of the business. Matco never had a problem.

I guess I'd have to find out more about the route that guy runs to see how flexible he is on getting stuff from him. I should sometime, since I'd like to see if I could get an SF80A for less than retail.

For now it's just been easier to order tools from Zoro or some other online vendor since I can get what I need in a few days without having to take time away from other daily tasks. *shrugs* Everyone's situation is different. I can certainly see the appeal of the tool truck business model and get why it works. For my needs ordering tools online has been sufficient.

 

[Mikeske]

I work in and shop and have had tool dealers forever but now we have one and I do believe that the tool dealer thing is kind of shaky really. The new s-o guy is a few years on the job others are gone and the internet has defiantly put a torpedo in the ship and she is listing. I came from a time when tool dealers and tool wholesalers were all around and they all made money but no more. The tool dealers will survive but in small numbers but 1980 isn't coming back where every area had two or three plus brands going to every shop just how it's going to be.

I bought from a jobber a complete basic set of Bonney tools in 1983 and still have them today. I found it interesting that the jobber sold me 2 of every ratchet in 1/4" 3/8", 3/8ths flex head, 1/2" and 3/4". I asked him knowing that the ratchets were more expensive and he stated in the middle of a job a ratchet breaks get the other one out and keep working, call me and I will have a replacement out to you the next day. Time is money and now I know how true the statement was when I broke a flex head 3/8ths ratchet. I did not lose a step and the next day I had a new ratchet and he took the old one. Today in most shops the only tool truck most shops n rural areas have is the Snap-on dealer.

After my flex head ratchet broke I started to do duplicates of my wrenches and sockets that were the most commonly used sizes and for the same reason. But when I got the duplicates I just went with a cheaper brands as they were my backups. They get the work done until I had time to get replacements for the better brand tools. After a while I just kind of just used the cheap stuff if it work as well as the name brand stuff. I used a lot of tools for the last 45 plus years and as long as it worked I was ok.

I can see that the tool trucks will still be around for the foreseeable future as in the higher productivity shops be it automotive, trucks or for me aircraft higher quality and better tools are a requirement with good backup of a knowledgable dealer. I would recommend what the jobber that sold me the Bonney set was that get duplicates of the more commonly used tools. Yeah it can be expensive but if your favorite ratchet breaks grab the other one and keep on keep on.

 

[Parrothead]

Sure to a degree but the 'internet' online is not the end all be all.

IF one lives in a big urban environment, most don't so that does not hold water. The delivery in RURAL areas is 'shaky' and if you do get what you order it is destroyed.

They are not going to stop running the trucks, that is the WHOLE part of their business model. I think this 'myth' of all of the jobs are all going away hysteria is out of control. A lot of things people thought would go away have not and they will not.

At the end of the day - a company has to service what it sells (anyone can sell something online). Problem is when it breaks and/or don't work. The 'online' seller does not really care as they just shipped it to you.

This is part of the problem, everyone buys into 'internet' fill-in-the-blank will replace this. YOU still have to have CUSTOMER SERVICE and filling out some form for a call back is not going to cut it.

Next up is robots will replace all Tool truck vendors, ain't going to happen period. PLUS the most popular online one (freight prices for over-night) have like tripled or quadrupled from the old $3.99 they used to have. Another big PAIN point.

Actually, I see why you have the perspective you do. That’s cool, I get where you’re coming from now. I don’t agree with it, but at least I grasp the concept.

I will point out that most of the population DOES live in an urban area according to the US census. 80% to be exact.

https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2016/cb16-210.html

 

[gte718p]

At the end of the day - a company has to service what it sells (anyone can sell something online). Problem is when it breaks and/or don't work. The 'online' seller does not really care as they just shipped it to you.

This is part of the problem, everyone buys into 'internet' fill-in-the-blank will replace this. YOU still have to have CUSTOMER SERVICE and filling out some form for a call back is not going to cut it.

Next up is robots will replace all Tool truck vendors, ain't going to happen period. PLUS the most popular online one (freight prices for over-night) have like tripled or quadrupled from the old $3.99 they used to have. Another big PAIN point.

One can buy most anything online, but if they don't have any serviceability in the field and/or someone you can actually deal with it is a PAIN in the rear.

The serviceability is a red herring. Quite frankly how many times does a wrench, a screw drive, or a ratchet need to be serviced? I've never broken a SnapOn wrench. I've broken a few Crapsmans though. Rebuilding a ratchet is every 5 years give or take for me. I'll buy that a pro turning wrenches 8 hours a day every day may need them rebuilt once a year. The whole point of buying quality tools is they last and you don't need to service them.

2ndGearRubber nailed it with the financing. People buy into the myth that you need Snappy or MAC. The constant payment is a classic scheme to exploit the poor. You you end up paying insane interest rates and going deeper into debt. It has been a standard practice since the industrial revolution. They literally teach it in schools. Either how to avoid it or how to implement it depending on what school you go to.

But wait my truck account doesn't charge interest you say. Sorry paying 5 times the rate for an equivalent product has the exact same effect.

Don't get me wrong, I like Snap On tools. I just finished taking the alternator out of my 4runner. That was a pain in the @$$, but I was thinking how nice my new 80 tooth long flex head ratchet was. Perfect tool for the job. However it is a luxury that I can afford. If you can afford it go for it. If you are making payments on it there is no excuse other then keeping poor people poor.

The myth of the tool truck really needs to die.

 

[marineman]

I think there will be some thinning of the herd in the tool trucks within the foreseeable future but I don't think the tool truck business model will completely go away for quite a while. I also think when tool trucks do finally die it won't be because of online ordering but it will be a lack of sales outlets. I've been in hr/ recruiting for a bit now and my sole job is recruiting truck drivers and mechanics for a trucking company. The number of young people looking for blue collar work is practically nothing compared to older generations. My personal rate in the last 6 months is 1/17 people hired are under age 45. A lack of work force will force most independent shops to close and the dealership service department will consist of 1 or 2 guys with computers. None of the tool brands can afford to stay in business with that being their only market.

 

[RAS61]

And Napa can be a fricking joke. None of our Napa’s cared about selling tools at all. I tried repeatedly to have caryle stuff delivered and it never showed up. Never mind warranty service.

Funny, an auto parts store seems like the perfect setup to sell pro tools - they already have the customers and delivery vehicles making runs, and should be able to easily stock more tools than a truck, what a natural cross over business!

 

[Skin]

I don't think Matco is trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes. Most people realize that they only make tool boxes, everything else is made for them by someone else.

Have to disagree. Unless you're a tool aficionado you're going to have no idea Matco doesn't outright own a tool manufacturing facility. Why would you think otherwise? Kind of bizarre for a company to be around literally since the 80s and never obtaining its own ability to manufacture a product.

 

[nbruno]

Personally the lack of reliability of online ordering is what drives me crazy. Perfect example: one day shipping for a water pump, arriving by 8pm tonight. Guess what? It's 11:23 and I'm pretty sure the UPS guy isn't out driving around right now. That pump was supposed to be out the door tomorrow morning but there is no way it will arrive before noon.
Fluid evacuator, ordered 2 day shipping on a Tuesday morning... Got it the following Tuesday. Problems like this is what will keep tool trucks in business. Call the tool man and he shows up that day. Try calling Amazon or UPS when your **** doesn't show up and you get to talk to a machine and spend 30 mins on the phone and guess what? All you found out is what you already knew... Your **** didn't show up.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[WittHay]

Ordering from home to the shop/business they come by.


Tool trucks are here to stay, it is the BACKBONE of the business. Matco never had a problem.

I would say the backbone of North America is the trucking industry. Amazon and internet vendors in general are totally dependent on trucking companies. All of those trucks are repaired and serviced with a high % of tool truck tools.

In reality, tool trucks are getting bigger. I seen a Snap-on truck the size of a large motor home at the local farm equipment dealer today. The one in the picture is from rural Alberta.

Stuff keeps getting bigger and more complicated. The equipment dealerships are the only ones that can repair a lot of the machinery and farm shops themselves are getting bigger.

The more people buy off the internet, more smaller delivery vans are needed. More tool truck tools are sold to service those vans. The Snap-on and Mac guys are always at the diesel places that service and repair those Sprinter delivery vans.

 

[Lassen Forge]

If you're chasing around town buying, replacing, or warranting tools, you're not making money, and your boss or the shop owner ain't gonna keep you around if you're not making them money.

That tool truck keeps mechanics working and shops in business, just like parts suppliers and parts delivery people. You don't make money not wrenching. You go out of business.

 

[vssjim]

Have to disagree. Unless you're a tool aficionado you're going to have no idea Matco doesn't outright own a tool manufacturing facility. Why would you think otherwise? Kind of bizarre for a company to be around literally since the 80s and never obtaining its own ability to manufacture a product.

When they were bought by Danaher corp there were other Danaher corp. divisions that made tools for them but they are all closed or sold off now only Yorktowne Tool box industries remains from the Matco/ Danaher corp family

 

[Volvotechdude]

I think the myth that buying cheap as you can and watch the money roll in is total B.S. Sure just starting out I'd tell anyone yea start out with the basics and keep a small account. Upgrade as you go. Using the "keeping the poor, poor" argument is politics plain and simple. If that were the case a lot of people shouldn't have smartphones or Xboxes. As a tech, I do have some harbor freight. Did they break after normal use everyday? Yes they did and I upgraded as I they did. Tool trucks serve a purpose in service and functions as a relationship which can be beneficial. Most of those guys cut you a deal and hey, you had a bad week and can't give them $50? Than they'll take what you can give them. Alexa at Amazon doesn't give a hoot how broke you are, it's all or nothing for a maybe decent product.

 

[Skin]

When they were bought by Danaher corp there were other Danaher corp. divisions that made tools for them but they are all closed or sold off now only Yorktowne Tool box industries remains from the Matco/ Danaher corp family

Danaher purchased Matco prior to turning into a tool giant. Even while under ownership that had products made outside of Danaher from companies like Bonney, Wright, and National Machine.

I'll never understand why they didn't try to spin Matco off with 1 or 2 of the old Armstrong/Craftsman factories as opposed to everything getting shuttered with Matco stuck in a poor predicament.

 

[WittHay]

One of my tool related goals, is to actually go inside a Cornwell and Matco truck. Cornwell USA tools to me are unique and I wouldn't mind comparing them to Snap-on or Mac.

There are lots of Taiwan tool out there that are not common brands. Also I have Taiwan tools that don't look like anything available in the US. I would like to see how Matco Taiwan compares to them. There is also US made tools and specialty tool that are unique to Matco.

I guess if Cornwell can stay in business, Matco can too. With no manufacturing, Matco has no overhead or capital ******* in factories. Buy large quantities of tools, sell them at a higher price. Same business model as Amazon without the hassle of dealing with the public, as most of their sales are to dealers

 

[Wamsutta]

I guess if Cornwell can stay in business, Matco can too. With no manufacturing, Matco has no overhead or capital ******* in factories. Buy large quantities of tools, sell them at a higher price. Same business model as Amazon without the hassle of dealing with the public, as most of their sales are to dealers

That's an interesting point you made. I haven't thought about it like that.

 

[gte718p]

I think the myth that buying cheap as you can and watch the money roll in is total B.S. Sure just starting out I'd tell anyone yea start out with the basics and keep a small account. Upgrade as you go. Using the "keeping the poor, poor" argument is politics plain and simple. If that were the case a lot of people shouldn't have smartphones or Xboxes. As a tech, I do have some harbor freight. Did they break after normal use everyday? Yes they did and I upgraded as I they did. Tool trucks serve a purpose in service and functions as a relationship which can be beneficial. Most of those guys cut you a deal and hey, you had a bad week and can't give them $50? Than they'll take what you can give them. Alexa at Amazon doesn't give a hoot how broke you are, it's all or nothing for a maybe decent product.

I'm not sure how politics enter into to it. It is straight economics.

It is also nothing new. I recommend Upton Sinclairs "The Jungle" circa 1914 as the definitive American book on the topic.

Yes there are lots of folks who should not have Iphones and Xboxes. Companies are always trying to market to you. They rarely have the consumers best interest in mind. Lot of generic options that serve the same purpose without the "status" symbol. Bad decisions are not solely the domain of tool purchase.

 

[Volvotechdude]

Again, I reiterate gte....politics. "The Jungle" reference is just that. As a counterpoint to that book, you should read "The Gulag Archipelago" by Solzhenitsyn. True companies market but not all market with an evil benevolence. Snap on is the best because they DO make the best of most tools out there. As a disclaimer I prefer Cornwell.

 

[Mr_B]

Tool trucks aren’t going anywhere. There’s a world out there outside of the diy harbor freight crowd

Most techs don’t bother buying from the internet. I hardly ever did.

autoparts stores are potentially the best, my napa will bring me tools within hour or 2 of request and even warranties carlyle over phone and had replacement via delivery driver in 48hrs, would of been same day if stocked .
I needed new prybars, went out on lunch as saw sears sale on craftsman set striking cap USA made by you know who, picked up the other sizes too on sale prices, superb and fraction of cost of truck and bought a nice lunch too .
Last item I warranted via snapon truck took over 2 weeks and I had go out my way pick it up or wait longer ...
I don't bother with trucks too much as after 3 decades I bored of the prices and poorer tools/service, only real nice driver I have is MAC so I happy work with him a bit as getting the service, snapon guy changes so often I do snapon online .
There is a big world outside of tool trucks and HF too, parts suppliers and online way to go and opens door to world leading items from knipex, stahlwille, koken, facom etc for very very sensible money .

 

[Wamsutta]

The tool trucks still have one main advantage: You get to touch and feel the tools before buying them. With online purchases, I have to use my imagination to determine how the tool might feel.

 

[Banjorear]

The fact that the truck model exists at all today baffles me. In this day and age it seems more and more like a dinosaur roaming the earth. With the internet and parts store delivery (including tools) I just don’t get it. To each their own.

I think a lot has to do that trucks extend credit. Only a small percentage buy the tool outright. Many rely on credit to get the tool. Can't do that on line for most guys would max out there credit cards.

 

[shanny19]

We'll see how the tool truck thing works out because the truck brands are basically doubling down by not taking eCommerce seriously. Foreign manufacturers have made great strides in the last couple decades and shipping to the consumer has gotten faster and cheaper. Only time will tell.

You’re right about that. I would have spent many hundreds of dollars with Cornwell if they had online ordering. Instead, they tell me that they choose to “show support” of their dealer network. Which as far as I can tell resembles CellularOnes coverage area circa 1986.

 

[gte718p]

Again, I reiterate gte....politics. "The Jungle" reference is just that. As a counterpoint to that book, you should read "The Gulag Archipelago" by Solzhenitsyn. True companies market but not all market with an evil benevolence. Snap on is the best because they DO make the best of most tools out there. As a disclaimer I prefer Cornwell.

Snap On does make some of the best tools. I agree. However, the myth that you need Snap On or any tool truck to be a "serious" mechanic is pure and complete BS. It is a carefully crafted marketing message.

The tool truck brands served a purpose at one point in time prior to the internet and mass distribution networks. They have carefully cultivated their brands and cultivated the myth. It is not accidental that some of the biggest tool truck evangelist are instructors.

The message of you need this and you can afford this small payment for the rest of your working life is malevolent. They even do studies on what the thresh hold of pain people will tolerate is.

Really the fact that the company is malevolent doesn't mean they don't make good tool and doesn't mean you shouldn't buy from them. It does mean folks, especially new techs should go in open eyed and question if a Snappy ratchet is 10x as good as a HF or 5x times as good as Tekten, GearWrench or Williams.

The same thing applies to Apple, Microsoft, Sony, Lucky, etc, etc, etc.

 

[Alpine4x4]

You’re right about that. I would have spent many hundreds of dollars with Cornwell if they had online ordering. Instead, they tell me that they choose to “show support” of their dealer network. Which as far as I can tell resembles CellularOnes coverage area circa 1986.

Cornwell is a brand I didnt even know existed till I started reading here...

 

[Fedwrench]

I guess the short answer is as long as MATCO has customers stepping on the truck spending money.

It's interesting that more than a few of you mentioned Cornwell. Cornwell makes the majority of their hard line (wrenches, most ratchets, & sockets) but, everything else from tool boxes, pliers, screwdrivers, to hex/torx bits and diagnostic tools are made by other companies and rebadged as Cornwell.
Many Cornwell items are Taiwan or PRC sourced but, that doesn't seem to generate as much anger directed at Cornwell as MATCO.

 

[nbruno]

How long can the tool trucks/Matco keep up the charade? As long as people are buying $900 Cell phones and $7 cups of coffee from Starbucks. No one ******* when 35¢ worth of coffee is delivered in a 35¢ cup and they pay $7 and it's pissed out 2hrs later. Why are you bitching about the cost of tools that likely will last a lifetime?
Actually let's amortize that $7 coffee over a year say 4 days a week. $28 a week, $112 a month, $1300 a year. You just pissed out $1300 in one year!
I'll take $1300 in Matco tools and drink tap water thank you.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Wamsutta]

Many Cornwell items are Taiwan or PRC sourced but, that doesn't seem to generate as much anger directed at Cornwell as MATCO.

People have a soft spot in their heart for Cornwell because they are still a U.S. manufacturer of tools and they're not a huge corporate conglomerate. Eugene Cornwell was a blacksmith back in 1919 and started out making punches and chisels out of old car axles.

 

[Parrothead]

The tool truck brands served a purpose at one point in time prior to the internet and mass distribution networks. They have carefully cultivated their brands and cultivated the myth. It is not accidental that some of the biggest tool truck evangelist are instructors...

...Really the fact that the company is malevolent doesn't mean they don't make good tool and doesn't mean you shouldn't buy from them. It does mean folks, especially new techs should go in open eyed and question if a Snappy ratchet is 10x as good as a HF or 5x times as good as Tekten, GearWrench or Williams.

The same thing applies to Apple, Microsoft, Sony, Lucky, etc, etc, etc.

And I will add with the internet and information available today, we’ve learned more about who makes what and what the cheaper alternative is to said truck brand.

The perfect example is the Matco Silver Eagle sockets. They are indeed the same as Husky sockets you buy at Home Depot. Why would anyone buy a Silver Eagle socket at 3x the price? Knowledge is power. That is the charade.

 

[WhiffySpark]

It’s pretty obvious who does it professionally and who doesn’t. Trucks aren’t aimed at DIY and never will. Until you work 50+ hours in a shop to make a living a lot of you won’t understand.

We just had a huge thread on this not too long ago with a good discussion. You are going to be judged by your box and tools wether some diy guy in the internet agrees with that or not.

 

[shawndp]

It’s pretty obvious who does it professionally and who doesn’t. Trucks aren’t aimed at DIY and never will. Until you work 50+ hours in a shop to make a living a lot of you won’t understand.

We just had a huge thread on this not too long ago with a good discussion. You are going to be judged by your box and tools wether some diy guy in the internet agrees with that or not.

See, to me this mentality is as outdated as the tool truck model. I have over the ears had many techs who showed up to work and used Mastercraft / Craftsman and whatever else they got at Princess Auto (our version of Harbor Freight) and got the job done, collected their salary and raised their families. We work 55 hour work weeks as a matter of routine, so please tell me how I am supposed to judge my staff? If a man does good work, he's a good tech - holding a Matco wrench isn't some magic wand that fixes stupid. I do not care what brand of tool box someone has, or what is in that box as long as the job is done. The shop next door too has a couple of 310T techs with a few decades of experience who rock the HF 4-drawer tool cart and non-truck boxes. I guess I ought to tell them they aren't serious professionals and they shouldn't be touching 1/4million dollar trucks. Welcome to 2018, the world may have changed a little...