How much longer can Matco keep up the charade

[vssjim]

My biggest thing with Matco is as stated above imported tools at US prices. If I want a Taiwan wrench I'll buy Toptul or others for much less than Matco and even their re branded special stuff from Lisle and such is way too high. Just don't see any reason to deal with them.

 

[plinker]

I'm amazed that this thread doesn't die

A couple more thoughts, MATCO continues to evolve. With the loss of Armstrong production facilities, they were able to find a new US made source for their ratchets but, I don't think they've found a domestic source for their wrenches. I also think their options for US made wrenches are slim to none. I mean they can't use Stanley with the MAC conflict of interest. I don't think SK would want to do it. Maybe wright but, they've been done that road before long ago.
I think MATCO has moved away from from being gearwrench clones and Apex (or whatever it's called today) for the most part and works hard to find to find quality tools. In the end MATCO may be the brand some people love to hate but, no one forces you to buy them.

The one guy at work has a newer set of their wrenches, look nice, They look very similar to the Kabo ratcheting wrenches I have made for Matco. No USA stamping on them. It'd be nice if the same place making the ratchets could make the wrenches as well.

I dont think they had much choice with the wrenches given the situation, The only one that could have done it would be Martin for private label. Not 100% sure on that though.


My take is yeah they have re-branded tools. IF there is enough of a price difference, I'll just buy the OEM branded tool from online or in store. However if it is a bigger pain to have to warranty a tool thru the OEM vs. on the truck, the truck is worth the extra to me.

 

[davethorik]

I'm amazed that this thread doesn't die

A couple more thoughts, MATCO continues to evolve. With the loss of Armstrong production facilities, they were able to find a new US made source for their ratchets but, I don't think they've found a domestic source for their wrenches. I also think their options for US made wrenches are slim to none. I mean they can't use Stanley with the MAC conflict of interest. I don't think SK would want to do it. Maybe wright but, they've been done that road before long ago.
I think MATCO has moved away from from being gearwrench clones and Apex (or whatever it's called today) for the most part and works hard to find to find quality tools. In the end MATCO may be the brand some people love to hate but, no one forces you to buy them.

I'd be curious to learn why Wright and Matco parted ways, and if there is any animosity there. Could end up like one of those married couples who get divorced, and then wind up getting married a 2nd time?

(side tangent)Also been wondering which company the "contour grip" ratchet handle is attributed to...and further in that vein, did Matco have the exclusive rights to the "contour grip" or was Wright selling them simultaneously?

Seems nowadays the "contour grip" is the popular choice for people who buy Wright ratchets, the Tootsie Roll are viewed as archaic, and knurled handles largely seem to have gone out of vogue.(/side tangent)

Isn't it NMG in Stow, Ohio that made or makes Matco sockets? I wonder if they have wrench forging capabilities. Perhaps with some of the Matco profits on ratchets, AJ Manufacturing could expand to wrenches in the future.
Wilde offers wrenches but who knows if they themselves are a rebrand. ProAmerica's website seems to only list pliers, so they're out. Plinker's suggestion of Martin makes sense. I kinda doubt SK would also, because there are SK trucks, and that might be a conflict of interest. I am drawing a blank on any others.

 

[Schurkey]

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.

I remember Mac and Matco catalogs where the tool part numbers were the same. Seemed obvious to me that they were the same tools, stamped with different brand names.

I'm not old enough to remember Mac Allied Tool Company, the first time a MATCO truck showed up they were bragging "Mechanics American Tool Company" and the driver claimed they were owned by Chicago Pneumatic. Wasn't exactly true, I guess both Matco and CP were owned by someone else.

I have a few Matco tools. A few sockets, a few wrenches, an extension or two. They've been good tools. I'm especially impressed with my 10mm long 6-pt wrench. I guess it was made by Wright. I'm not sure how to confirm that. Actually reminds me more of Bonney.

I have a Matco-branded (OTC-sourced) diagnostic 'scope/graphing multimeter. Haven't used it much. Paid about 1/8 retail price, new from eBay, and a half-dozen years out-of-date. Seems to work fine; even the battery holds a charge.

My point is, everything I bought directly from a Matco rep was sourced from the USA. The item I bought on the secondary market may have been "new" ("Unused" would be a better term) wasn't DAMNED COMMUNIST except for minor bits like the test leads...the main part was Korean, I think. Or Taiwanese.

I don't know what I could buy from Matco NOW that 1) I actually need, 2) that isn't made in China.

Also can't believe another hate Matco thread went 5 pages.

I can. They've abandoned the "Mechanics AMERICAN Tool Company" name, Mctco doesn't have the same ring, though. At this point, they're not explaining what the acronym stands for.
https://www.matcotools.com/about/



Snap-On has a downmarket brand--Blue Point. If Snappy wants to sell imported stuff under the Blue Point label, I could live with that.

OTC's similar downmarket brand was Stinger.

Mac had Blackhawk, and now has...Expert?

Matco has Silver Eagle.

Upmarket Sears tools were Craftsman, downmarket were sold under a variety of names, I remember Companion and later Evolv.

WHY ARE THEY ALL SELLING IMPORTED DOWNMARKET TOOLS UNDER THE UPMARKET NAME INSTEAD OF WHERE IT BELONGS? Brand dilution nearly killed Cadillac. GM spent a fortune to try to drag that turd back "upmarket". Sooner or later, the same dilution is going to hurt the "Name Brand" companies.

I'd be curious to learn why Wright and Matco parted ways, and if there is any animosity there. Could end up like one of those married couples who get divorced, and then wind up getting married a 2nd time?

If my 10mm wrench was sourced from Wright, they'd do well to go back there. Whoever made it, did a fine job.

 

[Wamsutta]

I'm amazed that this thread doesn't die

A couple more thoughts, MATCO continues to evolve. With the loss of Armstrong production facilities, they were able to find a new US made source for their ratchets but, I don't think they've found a domestic source for their wrenches. I also think their options for US made wrenches are slim to none. I mean they can't use Stanley with the MAC conflict of interest. I don't think SK would want to do it. Maybe wright but, they've been done that road before long ago.
I think MATCO has moved away from from being gearwrench clones and Apex (or whatever it's called today) for the most part and works hard to find to find quality tools. In the end MATCO may be the brand some people love to hate but, no one forces you to buy them.

What's the name of that American company that makes Matco's ratchets?

 

[1foxracing]

What's the name of that American company that makes Matco's ratchets?

http://www.ajmanufacturing.com/

 

[byoungblood]

Hate fueled by jealousy is my guess. I'm a younger non-pro hobbyist who buys off the truck because I like quality stuff regardless of what it is.

With the other options available, it is financially foolish. Take their lending out of the equation and you can still buy other brands of tools that are just as durable for 50-75% of the price.

When younger guys come on here asking where to buy their tools, I reiterate the same thing, buy your core basic hand tools from a well known, reputable brand, and skip the trucks. If it is something that you honestly think you’re going to break, have a backup. What you save not buying from the truck can probably buy you a good quality (non-HF) spare. Once you have the money, splurge on something if you think it feels better in the hand or works a little better. Most tools, if cared for, and most importantly, used properly, will last a lifetime.

It is my personal opinion that the warranty/service aspect on basic hand tools is incredibly oversold by the truck brands as to its real worth. I can see it with diagnostic tools and specialty tools, much in the same way I wouldn’t buy a piece of electronics test equipment new without some expectation of service. But the mere fact that several in this thread alone have stated that they still have the same tools they bought, and used professionally, for the past 30 years backs up my assertion that people get far too hung up on the warranty. Truck brands know this and exploit it, and charge a price to match.

 

[sk farmer]

schurkey. i would put money on your 10mm being a a bonney made wrench.

i have piles of bonney made wrenches. some say bonney, some matco and some john deere. still my favorites.

 

[Bryanthegreat]

One thing that I didn’t like about the Matco Top Torque screwdrivers made by Witte is the fact that the Matco name wears off but the Witte name is molded in the screw
Driver. They are nice screwdrivers and more convenient for me to buy off the truck but I don’t really buy any more Matco stuff as I can typically find it elsewhere without their sticker or stamp.

 

[toolman9w]

I remember Mac and Matco catalogs where the tool part numbers were the same. Seemed obvious to me that they were the same tools, stamped with different brand names.

I'm not old enough to remember Mac Allied Tool Company, the first time a MATCO truck showed up they were bragging "Mechanics American Tool Company" and the driver claimed they were owned by Chicago Pneumatic. Wasn't exactly true, I guess both Matco and CP were owned by someone else.

I have a few Matco tools. A few sockets, a few wrenches, an extension or two. They've been good tools. I'm especially impressed with my 10mm long 6-pt wrench. I guess it was made by Wright. I'm not sure how to confirm that. Actually reminds me more of Bonney.

I have a Matco-branded (OTC-sourced) diagnostic 'scope/graphing multimeter. Haven't used it much. Paid about 1/8 retail price, new from eBay, and a half-dozen years out-of-date. Seems to work fine; even the battery holds a charge.

My point is, everything I bought directly from a Matco rep was sourced from the USA. The item I bought on the secondary market may have been "new" ("Unused" would be a better term) wasn't DAMNED COMMUNIST except for minor bits like the test leads...the main part was Korean, I think. Or Taiwanese.

I don't know what I could buy from Matco NOW that 1) I actually need, 2) that isn't made in China.


I can. They've abandoned the "Mechanics AMERICAN Tool Company" name, Mctco doesn't have the same ring, though. At this point, they're not explaining what the acronym stands for.
https://www.matcotools.com/about/



Snap-On has a downmarket brand--Blue Point. If Snappy wants to sell imported stuff under the Blue Point label, I could live with that.

OTC's similar downmarket brand was Stinger.

Mac had Blackhawk, and now has...Expert?

Matco has Silver Eagle.

Upmarket Sears tools were Craftsman, downmarket were sold under a variety of names, I remember Companion and later Evolv.

WHY ARE THEY ALL SELLING IMPORTED DOWNMARKET TOOLS UNDER THE UPMARKET NAME INSTEAD OF WHERE IT BELONGS? Brand dilution nearly killed Cadillac. GM spent a fortune to try to drag that turd back "upmarket". Sooner or later, the same dilution is going to hurt the "Name Brand" companies.


If my 10mm wrench was sourced from Wright, they'd do well to go back there. Whoever made it, did a fine job.

Mechanic American tool company is the first time I ever heard that. I think it's a shame Matco can't find anybody in the US to keep their promise on quality and production rate. The majority of backorders come from American companies. It ***** really. Took them a year and a half to find someone here to build a quality ratchet and keep up with production. I can't imagine being on the committee that decides all that business.

 

[themiller]

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.

It’s unfortunate - they could take 1 minute during downtime to place an order vs. 30 minutes some random time during the week. Not to mention with all the $$$ saved they could have duplicates of everything at home.

My FIL wrenched at dealers for 30+ years and he said “the truck” and smoking were the two biggest contributors to small paychecks in his coworkers. I found a whole drawer full of awards and bonus check receipts from Acura, GM, and Honda dealers for billable hours and no comeback months.

Going through his tool receipts (kept everything) he bought a few things on the truck, but 90% was craftsman or used from the pawn shop. He would have killed to have internet shopping; I know because the last few years of his life he did way too much of it...

Work smarter not harder!

 

[davethorik]

I have a few Matco tools. A few sockets, a few wrenches, an extension or two. They've been good tools. I'm especially impressed with my 10mm long 6-pt wrench. I guess it was made by Wright.

If my 10mm wrench was sourced from Wright, they'd do well to go back there. Whoever made it, did a fine job.

They did at some point, maybe 80s/90s? I wanted a Wright long handle 1/4 ratchet, but they don't make one themselves. They did for Matco though, with contour grip, but every time one shows up on ebay there is a bidding frenzy. I ended up finding a Cornwell TR4 so gave up on finding one of those Matcos.

 

[Wamsutta]

http://www.ajmanufacturing.com/

1foxracing, thanks for the link.

 

[WordMan]

I can. They've abandoned the "Mechanics AMERICAN Tool Company" name, Mctco doesn't have the same ring, though. At this point, they're not explaining what the acronym stands for.
https://www.matcotools.com/about/

Whatever they might have said it means, the origins of MATCO is "Mac Allied Tool Company." They were the half of MAC Tools which brought in the rebranded stuff before they split from MAC.

 

[Wamsutta]

It's easier to think of MATCO has a toolbox manufacturer that sells rebranded tools on the side.

 

[AJHD]

It's easier to think of MATCO has a toolbox manufacturer that sells rebranded tools on the side.

Well said...

 

[Vwpower]

Its typical for garage journalers who post pics of their new tools in the wrapper and tell us how much they like them without ever using them to not Understand the value of a tool truck.

 

[Fedwrench]

It's been over 5 years since this thread started and Matco seems to be alive and well as any other tool truck

 

[dnschmidt]

Well, Matco's been pulling the wool over everybody's eyes for at least 25 years so I see no reason that they can't continue to do that for the next 25 years.

 

[WordMan]

Well, Matco's been pulling the wool over everybody's eyes for at least 25 years so I see no reason that they can't continue to do that for the next 25 years.

MATCO split from MAC in 1979.

 

[liliysdad]

Weird necrothread …. But I will sa the Matco Eighty8 is easily my favorite ratchet. Matco may not make it, but you can’t buy it anywhere else.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Weird necrothread …. But I will sa the Matco Eighty8 is easily my favorite ratchet. Matco may not make it, but you can’t buy it anywhere else.

But everyone told me matco only rebrands! LOL