Mac tools in trouble?

[bimmer630]

My indy tool truck guy today told me he heard a rumour that Mac tools was almost to the point of going out of buisness. I know they havent been doing too great recently anyway and their prices are insane for what you get..
Also, my mac guy has a huge tool truck but mostly sells off brand stuff from SK and Grey pneumatic, Sunex etc.. because he feels bad about how pricey the MAC hardline stuff is

 

[blackz26]

Somehow... I just don't see it. Snap on is still in business.. their prices... out of this world..

 

[R-C]

Haha wish the snap on guy felt bad when he gives me a total.

I don;t walk off that truck without feelin lighter.

I somehow doubt they made it through the mass of the recession to duck out now.
Maybe the government will start buying tool companys

 

[Gotmayhem]

Somehow... I just don't see it. Snap on is still in business.. their prices... out of this world..

I'd argue that Snap-On charges more for a hand tool that is often far superior...and more often than not actually made by them, in America.

But that is probably a discussion for another thread

 

[blackz26]

Haha wish the snap on guy felt bad when he gives me a total.

I don;t walk off that truck without feelin lighter.

I somehow doubt they made it through the mass of the recession to duck out now.
Maybe the government will start buying tool companys

Lighter in the wallet? Because it'd take an awful lot of money to way more them tools, unless its all coin! Lol

 

[bobcatdan]

My personal feelings is mac has been going south fast for the last 10 years. When I started in the late '90's, I felt mac was every bit as good as SO. Then one cheesy gimmicky import tool after another. That said, I doubt mac is going anywhere, however I would like to know where their market share stands today compared ot 15 years ago.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I know they havent been doing too great recently anyway and their prices are insane for what you get..

Sounds like another one of them local problems ...My MAC Guy is busier then hell...always has stuff turning over on the truck, good guy, great deals, I'm personally not too concerned about it.

 

[bimmer630]

All of their product is turning into china **** though, for the same price as the american stuff, and at half the quality

 

[Skin]

All of their product is turning into china **** though, for the same price as the american stuff, and at half the quality

Actually its Taiwan "****". The basic hand tools they've outsourced haven't gone to China. Many of their American made items like their combination and flare wrenches, regular sockets (including impact), and ratchets (coarse tooth) etc.. share production facilities with Proto in Texas so they wont be going anywhere any time soon. Its literally made under the same roof.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Actually its Taiwan "****". The basic hand tools they've outsourced haven't gone to China. Many of their American made items like their combination and flare wrenches, regular sockets (including impact), and ratchets etc.. share production facilities with Proto in Texas so they wont be going anywhere any time soon. Its literally made under the same roof.

Partially true...the "Flagship" Mac Edge Impact sockets are Taiwan, I know...I just got 2, 1/2" drive sets a couple weeks ago.
News flash guys...COO has no bearing on quality what so ever. Theres just as much domestic junk as imported junk. Theres also a whole lot of good import stuff.
I'm not just defending MAC with that statement...thats true of any MFG..let the tool(s) stand on its own merit not the COO.

 

[Skin]

Partially true...the "Flagship" Mac Edge Impact sockets are Taiwan, I know...I just got 2, 1/2" drive sets a couple weeks ago.

That's why I said "basic" sockets . I'd consider the edge modified 6 point. They still offer a full line of basic 6 point sockets that are all USA made, identical to Proto Professional sockets. Nicest chrome in the industry as far as i'm concerned.

 

[RCStocker]

Don't hold your breath on Snap-on. They are selling out their name. They sell a lot of stuff made in China. They are not making many things they did a few years ago and some of the sets are much shorter and you can't get the other sizes. If the econemy keeps going the way it is they are headed for trouble.

The problem is that many of the imports are very good and Gray form Canida is great and you can't beat SK tools.

 

[bimmer630]

But they want over 400.00 for a set of combo wrenches last time I checked, which makes the truck guy try and sell you the taiwan stuff instead. It just *****. These pick tools and scrapers and ratchets are all ****... same POS tools I can buy in walmart branded as "titan" but mac has the balls to just paste their name on the handle and expect a pro wrencher to not notice its a junk tool

 

[Skin]

But they want over 400.00 for a set of combo wrenches last time I checked, which makes the truck guy try and sell you the taiwan stuff instead. It just *****. These pick tools and scrapers and ratchets are all ****... same POS tools I can buy in walmart branded as "titan" but mac has the balls to just paste their name on the handle and expect a pro wrencher to not notice its a junk tool

I take it you haven't stepped on the Snap-On truck and seen shelves full of blue-point. I have. Its the same story as what you're preaching. They all do it.

 

[Gotmayhem]

I take it you haven't stepped on the Snap-On truck and seen shelves full of blue-point. I have. Its the same story as what you're preaching. They all do it.

The overseas made Blue Point is branded as Blue Point though, not Snap On. I think that's the point he was making. That Mac just puts the same brand name on the tools regardless of where they are made.

 

[Roots]

I've thought they've been essentially in disarray since that squabble about ten years or so ago with their own dealer network. Ever since than, it seems they've seriously lowered their supplier quality levels. I'm not sure how much veracity there is to it, but I've heard Stanley Black & Decker has wanted to unload them for a long time. A few years ago there was another dealer backlash against them over their calling their dealers distributors versus franchises, and all of the legalities surrounding that... No idea how it ever turned out, but seemed pretty shady from what I recall.

 

[Thumper]

I know they can't keep a dealer down here......wonder why..??

 

[Hiball]

It doesn't seem implausible that Mac could be headed for trouble, Mac trucks are few and far between around me when compared to Snap On, Matco.. The price of a Item has little to do with the profitability of a Company (lol at the financial genius's here) Snap on is a very soundly ran company, don't believe me.. Check there financials.

As far as the "Import" chatter, they all do it.. Or offer a import line somewhere in there catalog.

 

[redwrench60]

Mac tools has been in trouble for ten years, this isn't new. It ***** but the sad fact is the Mac tool truck you get on today isn't the same truck you got on fifteen years ago. I used to buy a lot of Mac early on when I started but its been years since I could depend on them. In my area you spell Mac "M-U-D"

 

[R-C]

I think I'll be the first to admit it.

As a fairly new wrench head in a professional setting.

Some of you guys can take it to far. Okay so Snap or Mac rebrand their tools, but this a practice EVERY almost every single major company does is almost every single industry. If you are going to take the time to research how to get the same thing cheaper, more power to you, you should save somethin by being better educated. However, don't get upset when you impulse something you thought looked cool, that you find out can be had cheaper.

It's really not a huge deal. I'm alllllll for USA made products, all for it. I ride a Harley I drive 2 fords ect ect. But thats because IN MY OPINION they were the best option anyways. If honda comes out with something that puts a smile on my face, I'll buy it. I'm not gonna write something off because it's stamped Taiwan. That's almost borderline racist. I'm trying to afford a KTM dirt bike, they are amazing machines made in Australia, doesn't mean I'm not a patriot.

I just feel like it's a topic to easily overshadowing better discussion..

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

i'd argue that snap-on charges more for a hand tool that is often far superior...and more often than not actually made by them, in america.

But that is probably a discussion for another thread

got proof of that ?

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

sounds like a bunch of lube rack kids around here

 

[miatakid]

sounds like a bunch of lube rack kids around here

lol. yes it dose.

 

[Gotmayhem]

got proof of that ?

sounds like a bunch of lube rack kids around here

Good stuff, not interested in that bait.

My "proof" is the tools that I hold in my hands and use. The proof is the deals my SO dealer will give me and the zero-leeway I get from the Mac dealer. The proof is the headache I've seen coworkers go through to warranty their Mac tools. The proof is the Stanley truck that comes every week disguised as a Mac truck. Of the 5 boxes at my workplace, if you were to take all the truck tools out of them and divide them by brand I'm fairly certain there would be roughly 85% SO/Matco and the rest Mac.

You can say that there are good and bad dealers and I agree. But if the tools can't sell themselves than a tool truck will need a hell of a dealer to keep going.

 

[lbgradwell]

I'm trying to afford a KTM dirt bike, they are amazing machines made in Australia...

Dude...

 

[R-C]

Dude...

Bro...

 

[Brownsfan]

I take it you haven't stepped on the Snap-On truck and seen shelves full of blue-point. I have. Its the same story as what you're preaching. They all do it.

At least Snap On puts those under the Blue Point brand. They don't try to pass them off as Snap On. They separate them. Mac will just stick the Mac name on anything they think they can sell. Do they all rebrand sure. But I would bet of all the tool truck brands SO rebrands less and makes more of their tools in the USA.

 

[lbgradwell]

Bro...

Claiming KTM bikes are made in Australia kinda hurts your credibility...

 

[R-C]

Claiming KTM bikes are made in Australia kinda hurts your credibility...

My credibility really wasn;t that important?

But I watched a official KTM video on there youtube channel, on how the bikes are built and they said they were manufactured in AU. I'll link the video if you want

@googled http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/186440-where-are-ktm-bikes-made/

 

[MattPersman]

I just got a new MAC dealer a couple weeks ago, I always kinda liked MAC reasonable sales, interesting items. Problem is I hadn't had a Mac dealer for about the last 5 years that kinda turned me sour but got my stuff warrantied and will buy odds and ends from him based on promos for sure. Snap on gets my main money cause I know they will stand behind it by truck or mail for years to come.

 

[lbgradwell]

My credibility really wasn;t that important?

That's up to you!

But I watched a official KTM video on there youtube channel, on how the bikes are built and they said they were manufactured in AU.

I believe you will find that to be Austria. Very different...

 

[R-C]

That's up to you!



I believe you will find that to be Austria. Very different...

 

[Pinhook]

MAC was bought in 1980 by Stanley (the same company that owns Proto, Black and Decker, DeWalt, and used to manufacturer Craftsman, Husky, & Kobalt).

The parent company made 884 million dollars in 2012 and had 10 Billion in revenue.

They have stated that MAC grew approx 11% last year.

 

[CWP1616L]

 

[soulstryke]

That wrench looks exactly like my asd full polish proto wrench cept mine doesn't say knucklesaver on it

I might add that it would be foolish to buy snap on for something you only used once a month or once every few month, assuming you make a regular joe's wage. This is when you test out the taiwan tools.

 

[bimmer630]

The new Knuckle savers arent V-groove open ends?

 

[amlv20]

My indy tool truck guy today told me he heard a rumour that Mac tools was almost to the point of going out of buisness. I know they havent been doing too great recently anyway and their prices are insane for what you get..
Also, my mac guy has a huge tool truck but mostly sells off brand stuff from SK and Grey pneumatic, Sunex etc.. because he feels bad about how pricey the MAC hardline stuff is

That's a rumor I've heard off and on for a while now.when I first started at my old job I only liked the Mac guy and bought a lot from him, both the matco and Indy guy told me that Mac was going to claim bankruptcy and the it was the Mac guys last week. Never happened, what did was the matco guy lost everything and the Indy guy almost went bankrupt. I still have the same Mac guy, but he has been flaking the last two months, so snap on now it is.

 

[03protege]

Don't hold your breath on Snap-on. They are selling out their name. They sell a lot of stuff made in China. They are not making many things they did a few years ago and some of the sets are much shorter and you can't get the other sizes. If the econemy keeps going the way it is they are headed for trouble.

The problem is that many of the imports are very good and Gray form Canida is great and you can't beat SK tools.

You are joking right? Snap-On's sales and profit numbers are higher than ever and apparently some investors think they are doing ok.

https://www.google.com/finance?q=NYSE:SNA

 

[redwrench60]

How the hell does a Mac tool thread turn into a let's bash Snap-On thread?

 

[amlv20]

Some of us drink the snap on kool aid, others drink the haterade.