mac guy gave up

[wise]

My mac guys been in buisness for a really long time and I've never had an issue. Once or twice a year he goes to tool shows and comes back with a crazy amount of discount stock. He staggers the discounts for a few months but doesn't argue about giving them early or later. (I have a good reputation with him and always pay my bill, and I generally either purchase or order something everytime I step foot on his truck). I think the majority of Mac stuff is great quality, but not as good as Snap-On. If the dealer wasn't such a nice guy who didn't give discounts, I'd probably stick to Snap-On, or Proto.

We didn't have a Snap-On guy for a really long time. We have a guy now and he was brand new (ex-mechanic), and at first he didn't know the first thing about earning customers. I have a good relationship with him now and buy lots of tools which I think Snap-On make the best (Dead-Blow Ball Peins, Dual80's, etc.). Now that I've bought a bunch of stuff from him and he knows I pay my bills, he plays around with the prices, and makes lots of substitutions when I buy sets on sale.

I can see how some tool truck drivers can be dicks, and if they screw people over and don't build relationships, there business will suffer, period.

They have to watch out for certain people that will ring up a huge bill and move across the country though... It's not an easy business to be in.

 

[Skin]

Its gotta be hard to sell tools when the company is trashing their name by replacing with outsourced junk.

I like domestic made tools as much as the next guy but saying that because they're imported they're automatically junk is entirely ignorant. The only point you can really argue is that of price. And once again if you read my post back on page 2, most of the imports are from Taiwan. Their base labor wage is about 4x higher than that in China and they're an Ally of the US. Its not the most terrible thing in the world to buy their (generally high quality) products. I for one want MAC to have as much USA product as possible but I cant subscribe to the "import is all ****" line either.

I noticed they have a newer Expert line in their catalog which is all Taiwan. Maybe they'll move some production back. Anything can happen, look at the brand new USA Proto ratcheting spline wrenches.

Lastly anyone who thinks Snap-On is better is drinking the koolaid. 10-15 years ago things were different but today Snap-On wouldn't have half the catalog they do without imported products. Not to mention that whole "USA stamps on tools are bad for our global image" phase. Last time I checked Matco, MAC, and Cornwell didn't voluntarily strip the USA off their USA made tools. They've all continued stamping what they can proudly.

 

[firebox40dash5]

I've always been curious what happens when guys take out a big truck debt i.e tool box plus tools and then either quit or get fired it must be hard for the dealers to collect i guess if that happens enough it could cause them to go under

In theory, the dealer has a security interest in your tools until you pay him off... you stop paying, he can repo your junk. Of course, that requires physical access to said stuff, and you not selling it to pay other debts... or buy dumber things. Beyond that you get into the legal system, and I'm thinking that many wrenches who welch on their truck bill would be what collection companies call judgement proof... even if they sue and win a judgement, there's nothing much there for them to get to pay it. Sucky situation for the dealer for sure. And like wise said, if they pack up and move, it could get real sucky for the dealer, even moving a county or tow away and having to sue in that court could make trying to recover not worth it.

 

[Armstrong1720]

No mac or corn truck around here since the early 90's. i called mac with a problem and the lady couldn even find a truck an hour away from here !!

 

[amlv20]

My Mac guy has been iffy for the last month and hasn't shown up in three weeks.its fine if he doesn't want my money but don't make lame excuses. It gets hard to warranties lately, I think he might be heading the same direction. Good thing my experiences with snap on has been getting better.