When I first started off in the auto repair business back in the early 70's I was buying MAC tools. I continued buying the tools up until a few years ago. I bought a set of MAC brand Vise Grip Pliers (monthly special) and a set of MAC special edition John Force screwdrivers. I was busy in the auto repair business and didn't question the COO because I just assumed that all MAC branded tools were built in the USA. When I saw both those sets and how cheap they were built and what real POS they really were I got to looking very carefully at the quality of their tools. Unlike Snap-On who in most cases improves quality that MAC Tools had begun a real downward spiral since the Stanley Takeover. The Foose special edition is nothing but Stanley Pro tools neatly arranged in a cheap POS box and pimped out under the MAC tools and Chip Foose banner. To me it makes both of them sellouts. Many MAC dealers threw in the towel a few years back and the dealers had their own forum and lawsuit going against MAC. My MAC dealer that started doing business the same month and year that I went to work at my first dealership threw in the towel after 40 years and started a garage door company. He stated that the tools had gone in the toilet, service to the dealers was near impossible and MAC/Stanley wanted them selling MAC branded China built tools at near the price of the original MAC USA branded tools.
Mac tools has become the pimp of China flying the American Flag. I love my Macsimizer (built in the USA) boxes but just about all the other MAC stuff I own I've just about sold off. I have a few sets of Wrenches left and a good many sockets but I wont ever set foot back on the truck unless it's for a replacement or maybe a drawer slide for my boxes.
They are not the whipping boy, they stepped into this with their eyes on nothing but the bottom line and proceeded to shoot themselves in the foot. It's their own fault for the reputation they have built. You can step on a MAC truck and buy some Stanley China stuff at near Snap-On prices or go online to Wal-Mart.com and buy the Stanley Professional line (same as MAC Foose,Pliers, Locking pliers,long nose Pliers, for about 1/10 the cost off the truck. MAC has become a product of it's own greed.
My favorite MAC tool are my toolboxes. Far superior to Snap-On in strength and duability although not quite as pretty but my Macsimizers are 6 years old. Hell they may be built in Tiwan for all I know now. To me Stanley Taking over MAC Tools is ending up about the same as when AMF bought Harley Davidson. Maybe as MAC slides down the toilet there will be a buy out by what few American employees left and they can build a company worthy to be called MAC Tools again. For the record I'm seeing more and more Snap-On stuff coming from China/Tiwan. It's a crying shame that Blue Point wrenches and sockets are built in Tiwan and Lowes/Kobalt wrenches and sockets are built in the US. People better wake up and start to boycott these sell out companies. If you want China built tools go to Harbor Freight and pay what they are really worth. I have nothing agaist HF because you know what you are getting when you walk through the door. In my opinion MAC, Matco and several other former top name brand tool companies have become the Trojan Horse of the tool world. They roll in as one thing but filled with Chinese.
I could go on my they keys of my laptop are starting to glow, lol
