New Cornwell Dealer kicking SO's A$$!!

[msg4gsm]

So, today was the first day a brand new Cornwell Dealer stopped by our shop with a shiny, super well stocked truck, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised... Mostly.... First of all, let me say I have been basically begging the SO dealer in our area to stop by for 3 months. In that time he has managed to stop by once with a dirty, dusty, nearly empty truck, and on that 1 stop my coworker bought a Classic 60 Box, I spent a few hundred (cash) and my boss bought a few things. Since that day he has ignored multiple calls/texts, has said he would stop by again, and never showed, and has basically been a complete ****. I would love to give SO my money, there are a few things I really want, but at this point it has been nearly impossible. What a disappointment. .. Enter Cornwell dealer... so after my coworker saw his truck and got his number, I gave him a call. He answered, right away (on X-Mas Eve morning..I was just gonna leave a voice mail) we set a date which he actually called to confirm two days before and then guess what?? He actually showed up..... even exactly when he said he would. Now the good stuff.. His truck was packed to the gills with just about everything Cornwell makes.. I know Cornwell still makes a good amount of USA made stuff, but what I didn't know is exactly how much.. Basically thier entire core line is made in Ohio and I was blown away by the quality. Especially the sockets and Punch & Chisel sets.. I mean you could just feel the quality oozing out of them. No frills, no gimmicks, just kick *** old school quality.. Think Wright tools or 80's SO (for lack of a better comparison) but a whole truck full... The one thing that was slightly less than perfect was the prices... Woo-Hoo... They were expensive... Not any more than SO, but not much less either. I bought a beautiful 10 PC. Punch & Chisel for $200.. The SO is just about the same price, but the Cornwell quality was just through the roof. Like many of us, I am willing to pay a premium for USA made truck brand stuff, especially if the quality is like all this Cornwell stuff was. And the icing on the cake.. The super friendly dealer gave 3 of us a total of almost a $1,000 in truck credit.....and didn't want a dime till next week. Best service, pride, quality and overall experience you could possibly ask for from a tool truck dealer. Just seeing if any of you have had this same experience with Cornwell recently, and if you noticed thier super high pro quality and USA Made heavy selection. I really wish I was saying all this about SO too, but like the post says. Cornwell kicking SO' s a$$.... at least here in Southern Maine..

 

[BMack37]

It's all on the dealer, that's why there are such fanboys of every company. Your SO guy might not be your SO guy for long if that's how he is doing his job...but Southern Maine, I don't imagine there's a lot of guys dying to get territory there.

Glad you found a good dealer.

 

[msg4gsm]

but Southern Maine, I don't imagine there's a lot of guys dying to get territory there.

I know that in most of Maine that is probably the case ,but actually I am just outside of Portland and this area is jam packed with Auto dealers and manufacturing plants. The whole SO thing really is strange. A huge bummer.

 

[jd_1138]

I know that in most of Maine that is probably the case ,but actually I am just outside of Portland and this area is jam packed with Auto dealers and manufacturing plants. The whole SO thing really is strange. A huge bummer.

Plus all the independent shops and garages. I'm glad you found a quality representative and thanks for buying Ohio made tools. Puts a lot of food on the tables of families.

 

[RedneckWelder]

We had a great Cornwell dealer but he suddenly changed to Gearwrench. Supposedly he will still warranty Cornwell tools I assume by getting in touch with another dealer or the company itself and he definitely still warranties other brands he sold.

We had a good Snap On dealer initially then he quit, then we got one who didn't know what he was getting into and he couldn't manage a truck properly then an experienced dealer brought his route and the last guy is awesome.

 

[Wamsutta]

Next time you see the dealer, check out the Cornwell made extra long combination wrenches and the Cornwell made ratchets. Good stuff.

 

[xj31]

I have had the same Snap on dealer for 20 years. In tha time I have never seen a ******** truck. Too bad because I still have a few cornwell tools I bought around 1988, like 1/2 impact sockets and some wrenches and I have never broken one.

 

[walrus]

We've had a Cornwell dealer around me for many years, he has a nice truck and its got a good selection of stuff. I've seen some newer Cornwell dealers in my travels around the Bangor area. I also saw a Mac dealer yesterday, first one of those I've seen in years

 

[Bluejoe]

A fully stocked tool truck. I could have gave him some of my money. Nice

 

[KnurledNut]

Cornwell makes a good quality line wrench. They tend to fly under the radar, like many of their tools.

 

[BMack37]

I know that in most of Maine that is probably the case ,but actually I am just outside of Portland and this area is jam packed with Auto dealers and manufacturing plants. The whole SO thing really is strange. A huge bummer.

Ahh, gotcha. Yeah, Portland would be the exception. Hopefully you can get a new SO dealer too.

TBH, I'd rather a good Cornwell dealer than a good Matco dealer. For tool trucks everyone seems to think it's SO then Matco then Mac. I personally think it's SO then Mac/Cornwell then Amazon/KC Tool and finally Matco.

 

[lugnut71]

I have always had a snap on guy , he does good, mac has come and gone, matco was around a few years but he got out last year, my cornwell guy does ok, but half his truck is full of Milwaukee cordless, moves a lot of it, don't know if he would make it without the Milwaukee stuff.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

In today's market, the brown tool truck can outsell any of the white trucks if the Dealer isn't pleasing the customer. I have also found the brown tool truck to be highly reliable.
Something often noted about the white tool trucks: many don't stick around for long. Give Him Your best wishes and some business, and hope things stay bright and polished.

 

[bimmer630]

In today's market, the brown tool truck can outsell any of the white trucks if the Dealer isn't pleasing the customer. I have also found the brown tool truck to be highly reliable.
Something often noted about the white tool trucks: many don't stick around for long. Give Him Your best wishes and some business, and hope things stay bright and polished.

In the long run, I wonder if buying online and dealing with shipping stuff that does break back in for warranty, is cheaper or the same cost as paying for tools off a truck

 

[Metalio]

When you buy truck tools the costs of the truck service are probably included in the price of the tools, same goes for the warranty.

 

[Skin]

Dollar for dollar you should actually pocket some serious cash vs buying from Snap-On, especially if you stick to Cornwell fliers which have real sales in them as opposed to Snap-Ons stupid full list to a whopping 5% off.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

In our area, SnapOn currently has a dealer. While lacking a SnapOn Dealer for some time; the tools would have to be sent in to corporate. So I paid for the weekly red carpet service when purchasing the tools, and then would have to pay for shipping warranty items to corporate. Double whammy. Good thing is, My breakage rate is low. Today; I no longer work in a dealership, so have to take time to drive and meet the Dealer at one of His nearby stops. If He does not have a particular tool in stock, I would end up making a second trip.. For Me, that would be a triple whammy. The added value of the SnapOn red carpet service is lost in My case.. For Me, it would be easier, cheaper, and more convenient to package a warranty item and stick it in the mailbox with the proper postage.

In the 70'S, 80'S, 90'S; I bought SnapOn tools because they offered quality, warranty, finance, and selection on a weekly basis. Area vendors offered modest selections of SK and Duro. I had these choices for quality tools, and still placed special tool orders thru mail order catalogs such as Landmesser Tools.

With todays web retailers, that brown tool truck offers a wider selection of tools and prices. I still board a SnapOn truck on occasion for some of My pet tool desires, but most purchases come on the brown truck.

 

[davethorik]

The only problem with Cornwell tools is that to buy them, you have 3 options: off the truck, be a Cornwell employee, or buy used.

The local Cornwell dealer died last year and his spot hasn't been filled. That said, they just built a new warehouse and bought Kennedy tool boxes, so they must not be doing too bad.

 

[lugnut71]

I am actually glad that they are still in business, its a good family owned business since the 1920's , and since they got with kennedy their boxes are usa made. I will support them ! They have some good rebranded tools and the hardline wrenches that they still make are very nice.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

The only problem with Cornwell tools is that to buy them, you have 3 options: off the truck, be a Cornwell employee, or buy used.

The local Cornwell dealer died last year and his spot hasn't been filled. That said, they just built a new warehouse and bought Kennedy tool boxes, so they must not be doing too bad.

I bought a set of 3/4" drive sockets on eBay a few years back. "New"/unused/pre-owned. Nice set for the price. So, If I choose to buy a few more sockets to expand that set?? I have to locate a Dealer, pay full list price, and most likely pay shipping from His location.

It is great for a company to protect the Dealers, but they will be unlikely to gain any customers in areas not served by a Dealer. SnapOn can be ordered online, but obviously there are two ways to look at it...

There is a GJ Member who was a Cornwell Dealer. After reading of His experience with Cornwell Corporate; that company slid down a few notches on my tool lust list. Nothing wrong with the tools, just the .............

 

[davethorik]

I bought a set of 3/4" drive sockets on eBay a few years back. "New"/unused/pre-owned. Nice set for the price. So, If I choose to buy a few more sockets to expand that set?? I have to locate a Dealer, pay full list price, and most likely pay shipping from His location.

It is great for a company to protect the Dealers, but they will be unlikely to gain any customers in areas not served by a Dealer. SnapOn can be ordered online, but obviously there are two ways to look at it...

There is a GJ Member who was a Cornwell Dealer. After reading of His experience with Cornwell Corporate; that company slid down a few notches on my tool lust list. Nothing wrong with the tools, just the .............

Yeah, I read that whole thread...it is unfortunate. I read that, and see on here a lot of members say there aren't Cornwell trucks nearby, makes me wonder how Cornwell is doing so good. They must dominate some markets we at the GJ simply aren't hearing about.

 

[Strouty]

...but Southern Maine, I don't imagine there's a lot of guys dying to get territory there.

Southern Maine is the best territory.

I know that in most of Maine that is probably the case ,but actually I am just outside of Portland and this area is jam packed with Auto dealers and manufacturing plants. The whole SO thing really is strange. A huge bummer.

Let me guess the Snap On driver was named Brian.

 

[anndel]

No Cornwell, SK or even Gearwrench in Hawaii. Only the big 3 - Snap On, MAC and Matco.

 

[Strouty]

No Cornwell, SK or even Gearwrench in Hawaii. Only the big 3 - Snap On, MAC and Matco.

The big 2, that last one is DOA

 

[toolman9w]

The big 2, that last one is DOA

That's constructive to the thread.

 

[toolman9w]

The guy in the truck makes the difference rather it be Snappy,Mac, Cornwell or Matco. Service is the the key. Full truck of tools is part of good service.

 

[intillzah]

We used to have a Cornwell truck stop by where I work, He didn't move a whole lot since the 2 old guys are into Snap-on and the 2 young little pieces of **** we had (had, past tense) would literally just walk away from him as soon as he went up to them and asked if they needed anything...

I felt bad for him, but being in parts. I can't justify buying a large amount of tools like that..

 

[Mhyde52]

I'd like to see a cornwell dealer, or any tool truck that actually wants my business.

Last year I had a snap on guy that agreed to sell to me, stopped by once, but wouldn't come to me regularly as I'm out of his way and admittedly not purchasing a huge amount. This I'm fine with. He let me know that I could stop on the way in to work one morning a week at a predetermined spot that he usually stopped at anyway to grab a coffee and an egg sandwich. Worked out to be perfect timing for my winter schedule. So my second visit this winter as soon as I hop on the truck to pay off the product I got the week prior, he slams his egg sandwich in the bag and throws it on the dash. I tell him to go ahead and finish while I poke around a minute. His response: No, I'm F-ing done with it now! Fine attitude, fella!

No one wants to be interrupted while eating a greasy sammich, but heck, the guy told me to meet him at that place and time!!

No big loss. The only large purchase I was interested in this year was a tool box. He didn't want to deal or even help me out unless I was ready to buy a $10k+ box al almost msrp.

 

[OKIEtyler]

Yep, love Cornwell. My guy is awesome as well in central Oklahoma.

 

[Jimithing616]

I am just starting out, but, I was able to snag an amazing deal on a cornwell set of impact sockets and yes, I agree, amazing quality... I’m now looking at buying more, I like Snap On, but, I’ve never been about buying something or paying more just because it’s popular and that seems to be the case with Snap On in the used market anyway. Just my experience.

I think Cornwell could do a bit better at advertising as well as updating the User friendliness of their website... both of those would go a long way to putting them in the minds of buyers.... a lot of guys just forget about them when it comes to truck tool companies... seems like they don’t even get the respect that Matco does, which is a shame, as IMHO they are way better and make more tools in the USA.... their Blue Power Taiwan stuff is decent too... and they price is better than blue point.

However the upside for buyers is a lot of people don’t know what Cornwell is worth, hence my score at the Pawn shop... I got a $750 dollar impact set and a $200 air ratchet for $120 cuz they had no idea Cornwell was what it is... try to find a deal on snap on stuff there and you’ll be disappointed, same eBay prices everyone charges for used SO tools...

They also need to do some updating to their tool line as far as branding and bringing SOME stuff into the 21st century like snap on has done really well... but all in all, I think they have the product to be up there with Snap-on, they just need to get the word out and guys need to talk about them more... I’m not a marketing guru but if they can get 1/2 the brand loyalty SO has and they deserve, they will be killing it.

 

[Jimithing616]

Ahh, gotcha. Yeah, Portland would be the exception. Hopefully you can get a new SO dealer too.

TBH, I'd rather a good Cornwell dealer than a good Matco dealer. For tool trucks everyone seems to think it's SO then Matco then Mac. I personally think it's SO then Mac/Cornwell then Amazon/KC Tool and finally Matco.

I am very new to the mechanics world, only a few years, but coming into it, reading on GJ, the impression I always got was exactly what you see it as....

1- Snap On
2 Mac
3 Cornwell
4 Matco
Etc etc etc for TOOL TRUCK brands... that is. Not saying that’s how it goes for all brands.... I get the impression on here a lot of guys would put SK, Proto, Wright after Snap On or even Before it... lol

 

[cubfarm 1]

One thing to check out,Cornwell does warrenty torque wrenches forever. Local dealer said no. I called the factory number and explained that I wanted mine re-calabrated. no problem no bill. I did explain that if it could not be repaired I did want it back rather than replaceing it. the ratchet head is stamped Cornwell-skidmore!!! It came back with a good cleaning and fresh calabration. I still like it.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I am very new to the mechanics world, only a few years, but coming into it, reading on GJ, the impression I always got was exactly what you see it as....

1- Snap On
2 Mac
3 Cornwell
4 Matco
Etc etc etc for TOOL TRUCK brands... that is. Not saying that’s how it goes for all brands.... I get the impression on here a lot of guys would put SK, Proto, Wright after Snap On or even Before it... lol

that is a Bingo! There are a number of quality USA tool products to choose from: add Wilde, Enderes, Trusty Cook, Williams USA, Norseman; to name a few more. They all can hold first place for a given tool. Klein makes some good pliers, Vaughan hammers and Mayhew punches are A1 tools. The list is endless...

 

[BDT/NWMN]

The guy in the truck makes the difference rather it be Snappy,Mac, Cornwell or Matco. Service is the the key. Full truck of tools is part of good service.

So True.. Whether it be a cafe, grocery, clothing, hardware, or parts store; service station, lawn care business, or whatever, Good Service and products are key elements.

There are a few customers that are totally Brand loyal, but many will look at various other brands and find things to purchase..
Could a Cornwell Truck roll into SnapOn dominated territory and start a successful business? Yep. Would a grouchy SnapOn Dealer feel the impact? Most likely even more so than a Friendly Dealer. The Human element of Service makes a difference that extends into web sites as well.. When a business website is selling a set of sockets; should I really need to e-mail them asking the sizes included in the set..? Such websites become My last resort for their products.. Yes, Good Service is a key element.

 

[seang81]

In today's market, the brown tool truck can outsell any of the white trucks if the Dealer isn't pleasing the customer. I have also found the brown tool truck to be highly reliable.
Something often noted about the white tool trucks: many don't stick around for long. Give Him Your best wishes and some business, and hope things stay bright and polished.

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the brown tool truck?

 

[Strouty]

UPS. Get it?

 

[Wamsutta]

Whenever I order Snap-on, the brown truck brings it.

 

[Ji m]

I'd like to see a cornwell dealer, or any tool truck that actually wants my business.

Last year I had a snap on guy that agreed to sell to me, stopped by once, but wouldn't come to me regularly as I'm out of his way and admittedly not purchasing a huge amount. This I'm fine with. He let me know that I could stop on the way in to work one morning a week at a predetermined spot that he usually stopped at anyway to grab a coffee and an egg sandwich. Worked out to be perfect timing for my winter schedule. So my second visit this winter as soon as I hop on the truck to pay off the product I got the week prior, he slams his egg sandwich in the bag and throws it on the dash. I tell him to go ahead and finish while I poke around a minute. His response: No, I'm F-ing done with it now! Fine attitude, fella!

No one wants to be interrupted while eating a greasy sammich, but heck, the guy told me to meet him at that place and time!!

No big loss. The only large purchase I was interested in this year was a tool box. He didn't want to deal or even help me out unless I was ready to buy a $10k+ box al almost msrp.

yeah,
my job feels like it's 24 hours a day sometimes so I'd probably give the guy a pass on the egg sandwich anger lol.

I'm happy Jim 90% of the time,
but angry-Jim does peek his head out from time to time , so I get it.

Your call though,
I understand not wanting to spending money with someone if they're a hot head.

 

[purplezr2]

In our area, SnapOn currently has a dealer. While lacking a SnapOn Dealer for some time; the tools would have to be sent in to corporate. So I paid for the weekly red carpet service when purchasing the tools, and then would have to pay for shipping warranty items to corporate. Double whammy. Good thing is, My breakage rate is low. Today; I no longer work in a dealership, so have to take time to drive and meet the Dealer at one of His nearby stops. If He does not have a particular tool in stock, I would end up making a second trip.. For Me, that would be a triple whammy. The added value of the SnapOn red carpet service is lost in My case.. For Me, it would be easier, cheaper, and more convenient to package a warranty item and stick it in the mailbox with the proper postage.

In the 70'S, 80'S, 90'S; I bought SnapOn tools because they offered quality, warranty, finance, and selection on a weekly basis. Area vendors offered modest selections of SK and Duro. I had these choices for quality tools, and still placed special tool orders thru mail order catalogs such as Landmesser Tools.

With todays web retailers, that brown tool truck offers a wider selection of tools and prices. I still board a SnapOn truck on occasion for some of My pet tool desires, but most purchases come on the brown truck.

Why are you paying to ship to corprate? I have always called or IM snapon and either got a shipping label or they tell me to discard the broken tool.

 

[seang81]

UPS. Get it?

Thanks, i'm a bit slow sometimes. Our brown truck guy is solid