Mac Tools

[Kenskip1]

To whom it may concern. Hello. My name is Kenneth .I now live in Lebanon Missouri. Last week I stopped into my local Stihl dealer as I noticed one of your associates van in the parking lot.To cut to the chase I asked if he had a 4 mm on a 3/8 drive socket. He showed me the entire set. I asked the cost and was told $86. I mentioned to him that I did not want the entire set. The one that I requested was like $14. I told him that I could purchase the entire set at Harbor Freight for this cost. . Well he went off the scale, telling me that if I use harbor freight tools that I was a poor mechanic.He told me that he would never bring anything to me to be repaired.He was totally out of line. I am 60 year old and on disability. My funds are limited. However this man insulted my integrity, along with my self pride. By the way, on my repairs to lawn mowers, chainsaw ext, I have a 90% success rating. I do not appreciate this behavior from anyone.
Granted that Harbor Freight has some tools of a lesser quality but with some common sense one can spot this and make purchases else where.
In closing, your sales associate was out of line. I will mention that I also have tools from Snap On, Craftsman, Stanley along with a few others. I trust that you will give this matter some attention. Thank you for your time, Kenneth

I have since received a call from the Mac Tool district in my area.We talked about the incident.He was apologetic.The individuals name was mentioned and I was assured that a proper response was forthcoming.
I am still awaiting an outcome. Thanks for listening, I needed to vent, Ken

 

[crguy]

What did you expect telling the Mac guy you could buy stuff cheaper elsewhere?

 

[DSM_PWR]

surely a touchy subject for any tool truck owner.. selling tools for their franchise is their livelihood. "I could get it cheaper at Harbor Freight" is a line they hear all too often.

 

[leg17]

Why didn't you just go to Haba Flate in the first place?

 

[blown94conv]

You don't like the price, say no thanks and walk away. No need to mention how much cheaper the same thing is somewhere else.

What did you expect him to do, match the price? I really don't understand people sometimes.

 

[Brownsfan]

Do you know how many times he hears I can get it cheaper elsewhere? A lot. He shouldn't have lost it the way he did but you did indirectly insult him and the products he is selling. The only similarities between Mac and Harbor Freight is they are tools. There is a big difference between HF and Mac when it comes to sockets.

 

[AdamD87]

Please provide the Mac rep's info. I would love to purchase that socket set from him.

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[derosa]

Guess I have trouble really seeing the issue here. Go to sears, a strip of sockets goes on sale for 20.00, individually they're 4-7 each putting a pieced together set in the 50.00 range. Sets are always significantly cheaper then individuals. And if you're happy with HF why are you visiting the Mac truck. I stopped at the local fastenal today looking for a cheaper set of wrenches, when they told me how overpriced the store brand was I just said thank you I'll keep that in mind and then left.

 

[nieuport17]

Thank you for your time would be sufficient.
HF and Mac are not the same thing.

 

[Fedwrench]

If your funds are limited, why would step on any tool truck to price something?

It sounds like you insulted the tool dealer's integrity and his way of life by comparing the quality MAC tools he sells to those offered by harbor freight.

This is an example of why many tool truck dealers don't deal with walk on's.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I stay off tool trucks since I know how expensive they are. I would never be so rude as to climb on one and insult the dealer by comparing anything at harbor freight to his products. No doubt he could have been nicer, but you pretty much pulled out the ultimate insult. Next time just go to harbor freight, you aren't the target market.

 

[purplezr2]

Any one see the irony, the OP was at a Stihl dealer which is also a premium brand.

 

[FigureItOut]

$86 for a full set of 3/8" drive sockets starting at 4mm? I don't buy a ton of truck brands, but that's damn affordable.

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[organ]

You insulted him... no pity for you.

 

[gagreen]

$86 for a full set of 3/8" drive sockets starting at 4mm? I don't buy a ton of truck brands, but that's damn affordable.

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That's what I was thinking. I'm sure guys who want a mower repaired that come into your shop and insult you by telling you how out of line your prices are and how they can get the same work done by unethical child labor for cheaper, would be well received.

 

[Skin]

$86 for a full set of 3/8" drive sockets starting at 4mm? I don't buy a ton of truck brands, but that's damn affordable.

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I assume the OP meant a 4mm hex bit socket. In that case MAC sells rebranded VIM mostly, although they do have a couple bit socket sets that are USA I think. All the same he's not talking about normal 6pt chrome sockets as 4mm 3/8 doesn't even exist.

Maybe they've since changed suppliers but for what its worth HF bit sockets were junk last I looked, some aren't even close to their stated size and merely round out the fastener.

 

[FigureItOut]

I assume the OP meant a 4mm hex bit socket. In that case MAC sells rebranded VIM mostly, although they do have a couple bit socket sets that are USA I think.

Makes much more sense now.

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[ChrisPace]

Yep, that wasn't going to end well. Are you guys sure that this isn't a joke post or something?


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[Vantastic]

You told on him. Good job.

 

[nutsnbolts]

I told him that I could purchase the entire set at Harbor Freight for this cost

This is not true. You cannot get the same set at Harbor Freight, period. You can get a cheap, inferior copycat version at Harbor Freight.

 

[Kenskip1]

The tool in question was a 4 mm Allen wrench on a 3/8 drive socket. Just prior to the truck visit I went to my local Oriells, then Auto Zone. The nearest HF is about 70 miles one way.What ever happened to customer courtesy?My monies are used as green as anyone else.His van was parked in a parking lot at my local Stihl dealer.I insulted him? Get real. He is working with the general public. He should have enough experience working with the public.How many mechanics use tools bought from Lows, or Home Depo? Simply put this individual was a total jack ***. I am a disabled veteran and I will not have someone treat me with disrespect.End of conversation, Ken

 

[blown94conv]

Sorry Ken, but I think you disrespected him first. While two wrongs don't make a right, again, what did you expect when you replied like you did?

 

[1978silverado]

Tool truck drivers sell quality tools and provide a service by coming to your workplace. Harbor freight stuff shouldn't be in the same sentence with Mac, snap on,or matco tools.very low quality.

 

[Kenskip1]

Sorry Ken, but I think you disrespected him first. While two wrongs don't make a right, again, what did you expect when you replied like you did?

Yes sir you are right.However I was polite and courteous when I entered his van.I am now able to see your point however, insults about my mechanical ability are not very well received.I take a lot of pride in my work.Thanks for the insight, Ken

 

[skunkape1]

He should not have insulted your mechanical ability but don't take things so personally. I assume he has no knowledge or experience with your ACTUAL mechanical ability but said what he did as a way to compare tool quality between Mac and HF.

Now, if someone said that after picking up a mower from you that you had just repaired, then you really had your ability insulted. Do you get my point?

 

[Greg85mcss]

Insults aside he's the only one in the area that has that specific bit & that gives him the ability to name his price.


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[woody 73]

I know my funds are also limited, and as much as I would love to buy new tools I try and avoid all the tool trucks knowing about sticker shock.

What I found works best for me is buying used, now I realize that finding just the one special tool (in this case a 4mm allen socket) is very hard especially when you need it now, so I have a list of places that I can call if I need it in a hurry; being lucky that I live in a larger townt helps me out.

Just for argument sake op do you happen to have a grainger/fastenal type store in your town that you can walk in and just buy the one tool that you need instead of the whole set?

Or do you happen to have an auto parts store that would loan you out that one tool in question making your life a little easier?

 

[nutsnbolts]

While l don't necessarily agree with the way you went about things, it wasn't lost on me that you said you are a vet. Thank you for serving my country Ken

 

[redwrench60]

If you can buy the whole Harbor Freight set cheaper than the one Mac bit socket then why don't you? Instead of wasting the man's time. This is a perfect example of why many dealers shy away from walk-ons by individuals. Wrong target market.

 

[2jz4me]

Im losing faith in this forum. Anybody on here defending this ***** acting that way to a 60 year old man needs to do a little soul searching. Who freaking cares if said he can get it cheaper at HF? Tool trucks are in the sales business if you cant handle a comment like that then wipe your vag or find different work. Anybody here ever tell a car salesman they saw a better deal somewhere else for the same car? Im so sick and tired of the damn grandiose attitudes about these f@!ing tool brands. Id love to hear the price comparisons of all the korean made tv's hanging on your walls. Where I come from its the truck guy that should have said no thanks and moved on and not started running his pretentious little mouth. People need to start having respect. Period. I dont care how he felt about the customers comment.

 

[saulvg99]

Im losing faith in this forum. Anybody on here defending this ***** acting that way to a 60 year old man needs to do a little soul searching. Who freaking cares if said he can get it cheaper at HF? Tool trucks are in the sales business if you cant handle a comment like that then wipe your vag or find different work. Anybody here ever tell a car salesman they saw a better deal somewhere else for the same car? Im so sick and tired of the damn grandiose attitudes about these f@!ing tool brands. Id love to hear the price comparisons of all the korean made tv's hanging on your walls. Where I come from its the truck guy that should have said no thanks and moved on and not started running his pretentious little mouth. People need to start having respect. Period. I dont care how he felt about the customers comment.

Amen! You tell them man. The seller should've been a professional and not insult the older gentleman.

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[Bigblue&Goldie]

The nearest HF is about 70 miles one way.

So drive your happy *** 140mi roundtrip if you think you could save money on a $14 purchase.

 

[2jz4me]

I hope he does. Hell, Ill buy the set myself and send it to him and eliminate the 140 mile drive just so he doesnt buy anything from that ****.

 

[scissorman]

To the OP, do you have a 4mm allen wrench and a 4mm 3/8" drive socket? If so just cut a length of the allen wrench and install it in the socket and you have your tool at no cost to you. I've done this with a 7/8" allen wrench so I could torque the king pins on my D60 front axle to the required 600 ft/lbs.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Wow.

 

[methomas70]

Ken,

This is opportunity knocking on your door.
Go buy a truck, stock it with quality tools.
Drive around and sell the tools at Harbor Frieght prices.
That'll show em.

 

[BFHtime]

Thank you for your service.

The Mac driver does not know you from the next unknown guy, that walks on his truck. Respect is earned, as I am sure you know.

The Mac guy, should have shown the customer the value of what he had, instead of going on a rant. Poor business practice. He should have explained why his product cost more, so the customer can see if the value, is worth the customer purchasing, the product from the seller.

That the Mac guy is insulted, is BS. The walk on customer may not be familiar with the product. That should have been an opportunity for the driver to show the value of his product. That would be how to gain a customer, instead of the customer buying a chinsey set.

 

[2jz4me]

Ken,

This is opportunity knocking on your door.
Go buy a truck, stock it with quality tools.
Drive around and sell the tools at Harbor Frieght prices.
That'll show em.

Wow, great suggestion, that sounds totally reasonable.
You really showed him.

 

[L.Cheapo]

You basically went into the man's house and crapped on his carpet. No possible positive outcome there.

Does your 90% success rate mean one in ten repairs you perform results in a comeback?

 

[BDT/NWMN]

That Mac guy apparently lacks a sense of humor..
When You told him the whole set could be purchased at Harbor Freight for $14.00 //// He should have burst out laughing


With the character he demonstrated by mudslinging Your mechanical ability, //// a simply uncalled for reaction... What did I gain??? is a question I seriously doubt he would take time to ever ask himself... Instead; He sure told You! uncalled for..