Love competition :cool:

[sdguy55]

Until recently where i work all we could get for high-end tools is Snappy. Well one of the guys in our company decided to start selling CP, at very discounted prices. And just a couple weeks ago a new Matco dealer recently announced he was gonna start swinging by weekly. Idk about you guys but i think this is an amazing thing. Competition is an awesome thing for getting great deals on tools. For example, i got a price from my CP guy on what some 3/8 impact sockets would cost, 28 bucks. I then casually relayed the price to my snappy dealer and told him i was thinking about buying. Shaved off the price some from snap on impact sockets . I wanted the snappy ones in the first place but it is o so nice to light a fire under there asses and get stuff for cheaper just cause you might go somewhere else.

 

[Al Bundy]

It's great until the guy gets tired of cutting his profit down to nothing and stops showing up. Your Snap On guy, or any other truck guy is there to try and make a living. They aren't there because it's fun to drive the truck around all day.

 

[allinon72]

It's great until the guy gets tired of cutting his profit down to nothing and stops showing up. Your Snap On guy, or any other truck guy is there to try and make a living. They aren't there because it's fun to drive the truck around all day.

You make no mention of the Matco guy, who then would be declared the "winner" in the great game of free markets.

 

[canuckian]

I suspect you got lucky with that one. He gave you money off a $200+ set of sockets because of the price of a $28 set of sockets? apples and oranges. Now, if the new Matco guy was going to give you a great deal on something in the same proce range as the Snap On equivalent and you mentioned it to the SO guy, he'd be wise to at least price match or come as close as he could without losing money.

I figure if I tried that with my Snap On guy he'd direct me to the nearest Canadian Tire, Home Depot or Princess Auto.

 

[GoBlue]

I have a Snap on truck, a Matco truck, a Mac truck, and a ******** truck. None cut deals and i have found their tools to be about the same price or at least in the same ball park. Competition be damned your paying MSRP. Even though Snap on is widley considered to be the superior tool, Matco is far and away number one in my area (and its a high volume area). Why? Service...out Matco guy offers the best service and is a nice guy to boot. People would rather give him their money...and no...he doesnt cut deals to do it. Its a smart buyer who decides wich truck offers a better ballance of service/product. You just want low prices buy online!

 

[allinon72]

I have a Snap on truck, a Matco truck, a Mac truck, and a ******** truck. None cut deals and i have found their tools to be about the same price or at least in the same ball park. Competition be damned your paying MSRP. Even though Snap on is widley considered to be the superior tool, Matco is far and away number one in my area (and its a high volume area). Why? Service...out Matco guy offers the best service and is a nice guy to boot. People would rather give him their money...and no...he doesnt cut deals to do it. Its a smart buyer who decides wich truck offers a better ballance of service/product. You just want low prices buy online!

And we all wonder why tool trucks are disappearing. Folks have the misconception that the only way to compete is on price...that is completely false. In this case, customer service, warranty handling, personal relationships, good products, etc. are all ways to compete. Especially in this industry in which people know they will be spending some money as soon as they step on the truck.

 

[Yojinbo]

I suspect people are using this "freedom" in the marketplace. This is bound to create chaos, fluctuating prices, good deals, bad deals, good service, bad service and turnover. Mostly the best will win, sometimes not so much.

Only a good state-managed economy can cure this "competition" you speak of. Then we can fill out a form and wait six months for each tool, Comrades.

Yes, I do love competition even when its some other guy trying to snipe my customers (I do not sell tools). Competition keeps my team sharp. You can THINK you are the best all day long, but until a free market tries you; how can you KNOW?

 

[Brad54]

It's great until the guy gets tired of cutting his profit down to nothing and stops showing up. Your Snap On guy, or any other truck guy is there to try and make a living. They aren't there because it's fun to drive the truck around all day.

He's a salesman. Period.
If he wants to sell his product, he may have to come down from his high horse a little bit... just like every other salesman selling a widget on commission.

-Brad

 

[sdguy55]

My snapon guy has been the only truck in the area for quite a few years. Competition in this situation is always a good thing. He is a great guy and if you buy something and has to ship it in he goes out of his way to drop it off. This wasnt me tryin to screw him out of something just so i can do it again. It was me doing it to see if he would be willin to flex a little for my continued buisness. I dont think thats a bad thing. He did it. Im glad he did. And he can be confident i will continue to buy his stuff. And there is no need to try and cut anymore of his prices.

 

[Jagmandave]

there is no need to try and cut anymore of his prices

Really? It's been my experience that once you discount your prices, the customer expects you to do it on every deal from then on....

I agree that a little competition can be a good thing, but in the end people buy their stuff from people - well it used to be that way. Anymore, with the interwebs, it's harder to hold that ethic.....

 

[audiocrazy25]

I only wrench on my spare time. But the snappy dealer in my area will cut me really good deals on everything I want, even special orders. But I pay him cash. He is already visiting shops near my business so he gets to make a sale without going out of his way much.

 

[sdguy55]

there is no need to try and cut anymore of his prices

Really? It's been my experience that once you discount your prices, the customer expects you to do it on every deal from then on....

I agree that a little competition can be a good thing, but in the end people buy their stuff from people - well it used to be that way. Anymore, with the interwebs, it's harder to hold that ethic.....

So your saying its impossible for a person to not expect to get a deal every single time after just cause snappy to do it once? No. If your smart you just pay what you pay 99% of the time and then if there is something that you feel is worth haggeling over then you put up an offer. If a person is dumb enough to ask for a deal everytime and doesnt get it time after time then guess what? You just made your dealer irritated with you and you just burnt a bridge. I dont think anyone in a sales position for as long as he has been doesnt have one person that every once and a great while asks 'hey, would you be willin to cut me a deal on this?' nothin wrong with that. Worst the guy is gonna do is say no.

 

[Syndicate]

I have been and will continue to buy snap on tools off of the 5 trucks in my area. The service with all 5 snap on guys is great. I buy and sell for a living, and I get good deals because of who I know. It does pay to know and have as friends ceo's in high places, regional reps, and everyday people. I have bought off of other brand tool trucks, but the service is worth my money all day long on snap on. One is a retired race car driver, 1 is a military man, 2 are used to be mechanics, and the last is a rookie straight outta college. All are cool, and all will go outta the way to make you feel like you are appreciated not only as a customer but as a person. I have known 2 of them for over 25 years. They both were at my wedding, and have spent many a holiday with each other's families. These are the type of people I can call at 2 in the morning, and they will be wherever I need them by 3. I know, it has happened more than once. That goes along way in my book! And they will forever have my business!

 

[Jagmandave]

So your saying its impossible for a person to not expect to get a deal every single time after just cause snappy to do it once? No. If your smart you just pay what you pay 99% of the time and then if there is something that you feel is worth haggeling over then you put up an offer. If a person is dumb enough to ask for a deal everytime and doesnt get it time after time then guess what? You just made your dealer irritated with you and you just burnt a bridge. I dont think anyone in a sales position for as long as he has been doesnt have one person that every once and a great while asks 'hey, would you be willin to cut me a deal on this?' nothin wrong with that. Worst the guy is gonna do is say no.

Not saying it's impossible, I'm saying that it's a slippery slope....that once he starts discounting it's hard to stop. Ask the car mfrs about rebate checks, and how hard it is now not to offer "cash back" to get people to buy a car. Thanks, Lido....

Your suggestion that you'll only ask for a discount "once in a while" will eventually become expected - after all, you're a good customer who buys all the time.