Questions for the Cornwell guy

[Scotsman1886]

I am looking at retiring from the "City" soon and need a job. While I am not in the business, I have several friends that are auto techs. They all think I should get a tool truck.

I am supposed to have coffee with a guy from Cornwell next week.

I need some questions to ask him about the business. I have been hearing horror stories lately so I need y'alls help.

 

[fatfillup]

Tough business. Long hours, constantly chasing money. I personally would go Snap on if I was going to be in the tool business. Snap on is the most accepted tool by far by mechanics. I sell used tools and the guys always flock to Snappy. Not saying anything bad about the other brands, just Snappy sells best.

If you do decide to do it, kill your customers with good service, give them a discount for cash, be timely on your stops and don't extend too much credit to young techs.

If they offer a company job where they provide the truck and inventory to start, that would let you see if you like it before you jump in with both feet. You also need thick skin cause the techs will abuse you badly whenever a tool fails.

 

[Brownsfan]

Of the 4 tool truck brands snap on is the most recognized. Cornwell is probably the least. Of the 4 Cornwell offers the best programs and territory freedom. My Cornwell guy looked into all 4 before deciding to go with them. They have some great tools at decent prices. I am just going by what he told me. I have a bunch of Cornwell tools and use them daily without any failures. The jr72 is one of the best ratchets I have used.

 

[1982fxr]

ask him directly and very specifically about the horror stories. Don't beat arounf the bush

 

[gsmornot]

My vote would be Snap-on or Cornwell too. The less stuff you sell that is made/sold by other brands the better. Would hate to be like one of those Youtube guys talking about a $100 flashlight that can be bought elsewhere for $30. You would lose not only sales but credibility. At least with the two brands mentioned everyone (mostly for Cornwell) knows the name and knows the value of the tool if ever they have to sell them later.

 

[Nitroinsane]

I go by my theory on tool vendors


Snap on: always calm,cool,and relaxed never pushy. All of my local reps have really nice houses and personal vehicles

Mac: is always pushy and is always Asking me if I want to buy a toolbox. Always chasing my former coworkers down. He would be at the shop four days in a row trying to track payments

Matco: never has **** on his truck, did 5 years for credit card fraud, never comes around or his truck is always broke.

My opinion snap on takes care of there guys. I have heard the territory is not easy to get

 

[Scotsman1886]

Thank you all for your thoughts.

I started looking at the different companies. Several techs I talked to said Matco because there isn't one that services them. Trouble is they wont even talk to me without doing a credit check first.

Cornwell guy called me and even after I told him I couldnt get started before the end of the year,he was still willing to talk and even meet with me.

Snap On has several reps in my area and I hear too many bad things about Mac.

There's an independant guy here who is very well spoke of. I hoping to pick his mind as well.(used to sell Snap On)

 

[bobcatdan]

As a tool truck customer, to me it is about service, that is why I buy from them. I want a truck that is on time every week. Has what I need on truck. The more wheeling dealing they do, the more I like. When I had a cornwell dealer, I bought more stuff from him then snappy.

 

[chris142]

Cw will require a $20k down to get your foot in the door.

 

[Stick-man]

I have had a terrible Snappy, never had anything on the truck, and took forever to get it.

I had the greatest Snappy, always gave a discount and had or got what I needed quickly.

Mac dealer was great, but I don't like their tools.

I have a few Cornwell, but not popular around here at all.


From a buyers standpoint, I loved a discount, no hassle on warranty work, and products when I want them or a week or so later. I might sound demanding, but I ALWAYS paid at least the agreed minimum amount, most of the time more. So I guess I would say, if you provide a good service, you better get paid on time and to the terms agreed. Those that hold up their end, will buy more the better you treat them.

My problem now is that the best Snappy dealer I had was my last, and he went on to corporate. I'm at a point where my warranty needs are 95% of my business and my purchases are 5%. So it's really hard to find a new, friendly dealer.

Just a view from a buyer, good luck.

 

[CWP1616L]

Cornwell has some very good proprietary tools that other truck companies don't have. Namely their ergonomic comfort beam combination wrenches with the hexagonal open end and their ergonomic contoured polished chrome handle ratchets.

 

[kool_BOY8323]

my experience has been pretty different. snap on is the one guy we avoid at my shop. the guy's a ****. he cant stand warrantys, doesnt even talk to you if you've never spent money with him, his truck always has the same old **** on it.

my cornwell guy hasnt even charged me for my 2 new impact guns, and its been over a week. he gave me last month's specials on the them, and is willing to break up a set of tools to get you just the one you need. im sticking with cornwell.

 

[PowerGenGuy]

Not even sure if there is a Cornwell dealer around here, never ever saw a truck. I know two local snappy guys. One is great, I consider him a friend, an expensive friend mind you. The other SO guy is nice, but pushy, he is always trying to make a deal and sell up. That is his job I guess. But the first mentioned SO guy is not pushy. He is friendly and we chat about work, family, kids etc. He has a good route and all the shops around like him. I think that a SO guy who is nice, with a lot of experience does not push for a sale. I think they just let the tools sell themselves and the money comes in. If I had the nards and money was no issue I would sell SO. Great product that is marketed well, and sells well even at high prices.

 

[wafrederick]

Then you have the debtors that don't like to pay and you have to repo the tool they owe money on.Cornwell can pull franchises,did it to the dealer in the Muskegon,Mi area for some reason about a year ago.

 

[Thumper]

Stay away from Mac...the dealers around here are dropping like flies.

Cornwell is a good choice IMO..damn good tools and not a pricey as the others.

I have no clue how much $$ these guys want for startup.. I'm not a tool dealer just an old retired mechanic that's been on a shitload of tool trucks....even a Vulcan truck...LOL.

 

[TheGrooveking]

VULCAN truck! I can remember one of those, he used to come to where I worked in the early 80's, the next day the Williams truck would show up, great times a different dealer everyday of the week.

TheGrooveking

 

[firebox40dash5]

my experience has been pretty different. snap on is the one guy we avoid at my shop. the guy's a ****. he cant stand warrantys, doesnt even talk to you if you've never spent money with him, his truck always has the same old **** on it.

my cornwell guy hasnt even charged me for my 2 new impact guns, and its been over a week. he gave me last month's specials on the them, and is willing to break up a set of tools to get you just the one you need. im sticking with cornwell.

Everyone's experiences with drivers are going to vary. Not much sense basing a decision to go into business on other people's experiences with their drivers. Aside from whether a previous driver seriously soured your customers on the brand by being a ****, which is a possibility.

My Cornwell guy was pretty cool, but he folded last year because he decided he'd rather do inflatable bounce houses at birthday parties than sell tools. Now we have no Cornwell guy, and no service. I guess I could badmouth them, but why? The guy had no obligation to keep selling tools, and Cornwell has no obligation to find another driver, so whatever. That said, the only thing he had that interested me (and that I bought) was a set of pliers. I would call them a distant 3rd, and maybe 4th, depending on your area... tied with Mac. You couldn't pay me to invest in a Mac truck, as far as I'm concerned they're circling the drain, and I wouldn't want to get stuck helping them hold the bag when they finally go down that drain.

I'd stick to Snap-On or Matco, personally, and leaning toward Snap-On. As has been said, provide great service, discount for cash up front, and don't let broke young guys get overextended. I'm sure it's great to rack up $10k in sales to someone just out of UTI in one month, but how great is it to spend the next 3 months not getting paid by him, and the next month trying to find the tools he never paid you for? Likewise, don't be the guy (my SO guy, for example) who thinks your goods are the bargain of the century. They're not. They're obscenely expensive. Recognize it, admit it, and move on... sell on what you provide for that money over others. Not many other places will finance an individual with thousands in "interest free" financing and service at their location. If you're not extending that "free" credit (IE they're paying cash up front) then happily accept less, and enjoy not having to chase your money down and worry it'll disappear.