Mac is the new cornwell

[Steve_P]

Not working at a shop, I tried to call corporate to find out how to contact the appropriate dealer for our area. They told me they don't give out contact info and the drivers will not meet anyone anywhere but a shop. Claimed they had documented instances of drivers being assaulted, robbed, beaten. I pointed out that their phone number is probably plastered on the truck along with their name so it's not like it's a secret, but that fell on deaf ears and they just repeated the same ******** back to me.

I don't own many MAC tools and I certainly will never buy a new one again. Their mail-in warranty process was **** too, so if I can't mail it in and your drivers are hiding from customers, what's the point doing business with them? Plenty of other places to buy import junk tools, no need to deal with that nonsense.

Just my $.02 of course.

Snap On is the same way as I contacted them years ago to find a local dealer. IMO, they want you to buy from their website and cut the dealer out of the equation if you don't already work at a shop. If they were concerned about dealer safety, they could make it so the dealers could voluntarily participate in a database on the SO website, they can only meet you at a shop on their route, etc. It's just a BS excuse to screw the dealers- if you order online then SO gets all the profit instead of a small fraction, and to add insult to injury, they charge you $20? for shipping on a <$250 order.

The way to find a local dealer is either ask a local shop, or search for "Snap On dealer" with your city and state on Facebook.

I see a Mac truck more than I do SO in my area- this is probably just luck. I've seen all of the big 4 trucks in my area, and recently a Gearwrench truck, which kinda shocked me. I haven't seen the Cornwell truck in a few years, but I'm also not driving around much.

 

[Jtels85]

I see MAC trucks in Cincinnati more often than SnapOn.

Matco is virtually non-existent.

I’m surprised Matco and Cornwell don’t have trucks coming to our heavy equipment repair shop. They’d make a killing. I guess they don’t like making money though, I dunno.

 

[Bagherra]

Probably time for someone to link that horror story of a GJ member who tried to be a Cornwell dealer several years ago...

I dont know the story, please tell

 

[VolvoRyan]

I see all the tool trucks driving around out here. Quite often, too.

I'm not surprised. We're in the sticks. A round trip to HF would take 90 minutes. Someone coming to you is well worth the money.

-Ryan

 

[Semi-hole mechanic]

I live in rural Southeastern IL. Like Ryan, it’s at least an hour round trip to the closest HF. I see both the SnapOn and Mac trucks at the local dealerships (all Big 3, owned by same company)., and on St Hwy 33. In the last 5 years I’ve lived here I’ve seen the Marco truck once or twice and have never seen a Corwell. I think I saw on Tekton’s site that they are starting truck franchises.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

The mac truck is getting harder and harder to find for a lot of guys. I have to order from my old shop since moving jobs to a different area. But it's still a 150k population city. Is the franchise that bad or stanley that hard to rep?

MAC and Snap-on are very popular here in the western Chicago suburbs. I see more MAC trucks than any other brand. They are all run by one guy that breaks up the area into multiple routes that he then gives to his team of drivers. Snappy is the same way here. The MAC guy for our area is a cool guy but he’s always wiped out so his truck looks and feels sad. But he services a ton of machine/auto/manufacturing shops so maybe he can’t keep it stocked enough? Doesn’t help that he is ESL so it’s really hard to talk with him. I really like MAC/Proto/SBD tools but I buy more Snappy because I can communicate with the driver and Matco cause he actually services my shop.

Yea but you don't get a lot of deals off their website like when you deal with cash and your local driver. Buying from their website isn't worth it for me.

That’s the important thing people miss out on. The Snap-on guy is always running a truck promo usually on stuff he’s trying to unload from inventory. Our MAC guy seems more unwilling but again I can’t really talk much to him as he is ESL. So maybe he does and I’m just in the dark.

Tool trucks still do really well here. Matco is probably the most iffy. Cornwell just doesn’t exist here. MAC and Snappy are neck-and-neck for top spot.

 

[MWEric]

I dont know the story, please tell

If you can find the thread it’s well worth the read. Pretty long but very interesting and well written

 

[jttc09]

Must be your area but up here in NorCal Mac is doing just fine. There are two running around the bigger city next to me and both trucks are absolutely stocked. The one MATCO guy is stocked and busy as hell. It’s snap on that’s struggling in this area. My dealer shut down this summer and the other one I moved too seems to be knocking on the door ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

 

[belvedere]

I dont know the story, please tell

Advise from any tool truck owners needed

After almost 20 years in Automotive parts and service, I'm done. I'm tired of pissy customers that want everything for nothing, bouncing from shop to shop, shop owners that cant pay you or want you doing **** like ripping people off, working 12 - 14 hours a day, 6 days a week and being expected...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[impactims]

The mac truck is getting harder and harder to find for a lot of guys. I have to order from my old shop since moving jobs to a different area. But it's still a 150k population city. Is the franchise that bad or stanley that hard to rep?

This is all regional and always has been.

Some areas have lots of Mac representation and not so much snap on. With other areas, Cornwell has the most representation. For others, it’s snap on.

It ebbs and flows too as year ago by…

 

[Vinny]

Advise from any tool truck owners needed

After almost 20 years in Automotive parts and service, I'm done. I'm tired of pissy customers that want everything for nothing, bouncing from shop to shop, shop owners that cant pay you or want you doing **** like ripping people off, working 12 - 14 hours a day, 6 days a week and being expected...

www.garagejournal.com

Wow. That was a Rollercoaster. Hope he's doing all right.

 

[xjfish]

My local Mac guy is doing quite well for himself. I think he owns 3 trucks and has at least 2 employees running routes for him. Cornwell not so great locally, someone tried briefly and went under.

 

[Kscardsfan]

I talked with Mac a couple years ago about starting a franchise. I was looking at a $500,000 initial investment just to start. The truck couldn't be more than like 10 years old, and there was slim pickens. Add storage fees, fuel, maintenance, insurance, internet etc. It is not a cheap start up. You could ALMOST start a brick and mortar franchise for that cost. Snap-on was about double to start from what I understand.

I did the same thing and came to the same realization. Wasn't worth the risk and certainly difficult to get the capital for it.

 

[Kscardsfan]

We just started getting a Mac truck

The USA made wrenches and sockets look well built.

The rest of the tools are imported and comparable tools can be found for a lot less.

They also have DeWalt stuff but it's 2x the price as the store in town.

Their price for a stream light was $100 more than the snap on guy.

Our local Mac guy will outright tell people to buy Knipex and save some money over his products. He has made his bones by being honest and working with folks.

 

[dchawk81]

Our local Mac guy will outright tell people to buy Knipex and save some money over his products. He has made his bones by being honest and working with folks.

Does he stock Knipex?

 

[Kscardsfan]

Does he stock Knipex?

I'm not sure, he had the Mac badged Knipex on the truck that are marked up double or more. For some guys the warranty service and knowing he's going to be there every week is worth it to them, but he doesn't actively push them towards it.

 

[dchawk81]

I'm not sure, he had the Mac badged Knipex on the truck that are marked up double or more. For some guys the warranty service and knowing he's going to be there every week is worth it to them, but he doesn't actively push them towards it.

I was just curious if he stocked branded Knipex he could sell that for a profit too and still be okay.

Vs pushing those guys entirely away from his truck.

 

[Kscardsfan]

I was just curious if he stocked branded Knipex he could sell that for a profit too and still be okay.

Vs pushing those guys entirely away from his truck.

I didn't ask, or if I did I don't remember anymore. It's been 18 months-2 years since this conversation.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

I was just curious if he stocked branded Knipex he could sell that for a profit too and still be okay.

Vs pushing those guys entirely away from his truck.

My Snap-on guy has branded Knipex but it just sits on the truck. Everyone buys the Snappy pliers instead. He has been carrying Vessel for a bit and that is absolutely selling like hot cakes.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Does he stock Knipex?

All the trucks sell knipex. Mac/matco normally rebrand with their logo next to Knipex. Snap on sells them branded Knipex only from the supplemental catalog. I believe cornwell does the same thing, not adding another logo to the grips, just Knipex.