Maybe this is naive: What Makes Boxes So Expensive?

[-B-]

Lista = brick *********, no bling, decent price

Pick what works for you. Good price, strong, pretty...pick two, because you aren't getting all three.

If you want a top-notch box for the best price, Lista is it, IMHO. It isn't pretty, but you can use it as a second set of jackstands if you want.

 

[Bolster]

Could somebody throw a micrometer or calipers on a Craftsman and a pro box and tell us what is actually the difference in thickness of metal used to build the box?

Theorizing is good and all, but let's just measure it. I don't have a high end box, so I can't do it.

 

[Skyline]

Saying the multi-thousand dollar boxes are needed for additional weight capacity is like saying a Porsche is needed to reduce commute times.

What a second....back when I was commuting I think a Porsche could have definately saved me 10 minutes a day!!!

Back on point...I think Garfunkle makes an excellent point. And it is a point not lost on the dealerships either. For example, at our local Lexus dealer, every tech has matching beautiful black KRL (top and bottom) boxes. Not sure if the dealership bought them, or the techs were forced into them. I've heard of a lot of dealerships mandating certain type/color boxes. Eventually every customer is going to see the inside of your shop, and profesionalism helps to sell your crazy high labor rates.

 

[billymade]

If you contact Waterloo Industries; they probably would tell you, everyone has said they are very nice and helpful folks! http://www.waterlooindustries.com/contact.asp

 

[nissan_crawler]

What a second....back when I was commuting I think a Porsche could have definately saved me 10 minutes a day!!!

Back on point...I think Garfunkle makes an excellent point. And it is a point not lost on the dealerships either. For example, at our local Lexus dealer, every tech has matching beautiful black KRL (top and bottom) boxes. Not sure if the dealership bought them, or the techs were forced into them. I've heard of a lot of dealerships mandating certain type/color boxes. Eventually every customer is going to see the inside of your shop, and profesionalism helps to sell your crazy high labor rates.

Professionalism has nothing to do with having a Snap-On box. I could easily point out 20 people with Snap-On boxes at work just in my hangar alone, that if you threw my C-Pro in and asked Joe Blow which looked more professional, he wouldn't be picking the Snap-On boxes.

 

[zuspiel]

Very true, but you don't exactly have a run-of-the-mill C-Pro box...

 

[jerk_chicken]

Professionalism has nothing to do with having a Snap-On box. I could easily point out 20 people with Snap-On boxes at work just in my hangar alone, that if you threw my C-Pro in and asked Joe Blow which looked more professional, he wouldn't be picking the Snap-On boxes.

I have a friend who is a top graduate technician of his two levels of training. He said at the dealers he worked at, he would see new hires coming in with their walls of snap on, and then they'd know those guys would only last a couple weeks at these dealers. Less often, they'd see a new guy walk in with two boxes, and it would more often than not end up that he would be the technician that could do just about anything and last for years.

 

[Chris Adams]

Could somebody throw a micrometer or calipers on a Craftsman and a pro box and tell us what is actually the difference in thickness of metal used to build the box?

Theorizing is good and all, but let's just measure it. I don't have a high end box, so I can't do it.

Miking a box is harder than would think because of paint and other things, like that it is almost impossible to mike the inside of the pro boxes.

If you look at a premium box there is no doubt it is MUCH better built.

No one who has used one will even argue that.
The debate is over why the premium cost, which is roughly five to ten times the cost of the inferior boxes.
And also often argued, whether it is worth it.

 

[garfunkle24]

Miking a box is harder than would think because of paint and other things, like that it is almost impossible to mike the inside of the pro boxes.

If you look at a premium box there is no doubt it is MUCH better built.

No one who has used one will even argue that.
The debate is over why the premium cost, which is roughly five to ten times the cost of the inferior boxes.
And also often argued, whether it is worth it.

I think toolboxes are the same as anything else from a tool truck. Lots of times you have to pay 50 - 100% more to get an extra 5 - 10% of performance. This, of course, can seem like poor value. If, however, you need the extra 5% performance, what choice do you have?

As for miking toolboxes, don't a lot of manafacturers list the gauge of metal used?

For example, my box is 16g for the chassis and 18g for the drawers (KRL).

 

[jerk_chicken]

No one is disputing there can be better quality with more paid.

What is being debated is that the cost has surpassed the materials and workmanship for that level of quality several times over.

 

[garfunkle24]

No one is disputing there can be better quality with more paid.

What is being debated is that the cost has surpassed the materials and workmanship for that level of quality several times over.

erm....that was exactly my point. If a box or tool costs 100% more and only performs 10% better, in general terms it is worse value for money. If, however, you need the extra 10% performance, tough s#%t.

 

[jerk_chicken]

Wasn't disputing you, someone somewhere above. Should have quoted.

 

[garfunkle24]

Wasn't disputing you, someone somewhere above. Should have quoted.

No problem, was just clarifying my point about diminishing returns.

 

[voidifused]

"one mans Junk is another man's treasure"

 

[Garage_Mahal]

I guess the point here for us junkies is figure out what factory makes the tool truck boxes and buy that company's factory-direct brand and have it shipped FOB. Cuts out several middlemen.

 

[krusty the clown]

I guess the point here for us junkies is figure out what factory makes the tool truck boxes and buy that company's factory-direct brand and have it shipped FOB. Cuts out several middlemen.

snap on, mac and matco make their own.............cornwell uses waterloo


but with all of the debates on why they cost so much (and most having some merit), most of the cost is in warehousing and distribution.

 

[Vinko]

Cornwell makes a very good profit selling it to him. They give him a high retail price....say 7200.00 bucks for the 67 inch series, but to be competative, no one pays that.

This is essentially what my SO-driver said as well. That SO makes a good profit selling to him, and that no one to whom he sells pays retail price on box.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Very true, but you don't exactly have a run-of-the-mill C-Pro box...

True, but even if it was standard, the same would apply. If I see a tech with a beat to piss Snap-On box, or a clean shiny Craftsman, I would go to the one with the Craftsman first.