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S/O FLF-80 vs... Matco???

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RickP330

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 12, 2007
Messages
831
Location
Middle Island, NY
Hey guys,
I was tooling around the lab and saw a Matco truck at the motorpool so I figured what the heck. I won't bore you with the discussion, but this guy didn't even know who Snap On was LOL. How could you be in the business and not know your competors tools??

Anyway best I could find (forgot the Matco number) was a flex head "similar" to what he showed me:

3/8 DR X 12 FLEX RATCHET
Part#: BR12FTA Price: $102.05

vs

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?tool=all&item_ID=79845&group_ID=20864&store=snapon-store

and he told me the Matco price was 110. I was kind of dumbfounded, no brainer to buy the FLF. What's up with this, it is cheaper?
RickP
 
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A

a390st

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Joined
Jun 9, 2008
Messages
920
I have quite a few Matco tools, since my cousin used to be a dealer. You either have a jerk for a tool guy or he is brand new and hasn't ever done anything tool related before in his life. I have a Matco BR8T that is really smooth, but I have no doubt that the fancy new 80 tooth SO's are going to be the best thing going for a while. By the way, the BR12T is the longer version of the BR8T.
 
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billymade

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Apr 2, 2008
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7,461
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New Mexico
Matco used to be the cheaper brand of tools compared to Snap-On; is this a trend with Matco, is their stuff as high or higher then Snap-On? Interesting development if this is the case; used to be mac, matco, snapon; on the scale of low to high price wise for tools.
 
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cruiser808

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Mar 9, 2008
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1,921
Location
Hawaii
I too have and enjoy using Matco's BR8T and BR12T. They are indeed very fine ratchets. That said, I think that on a one-to-one comparison with Snap-on at Matco's price points.....well, the Matco folks seem a little too proud of their ratchets.
 
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DavidtheDuke

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 6, 2008
Messages
559
billymade said:
Matco used to be the cheaper brand of tools compared to Snap-On; is this a trend with Matco, is their stuff as high or higher then Snap-On? Interesting development if this is the case; used to be mac, matco, snapon; on the scale of low to high price wise for tools.
Click to expand...

The only reason I can think of is they think people who have a bad relationship w/ SO and/or simply think SO is worse is their only viable market, so that's where they go anyway. They've done this as long as I've been in the auto repair business (past 2-3 years).
 
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Merkava_4

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Dec 26, 2007
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14,518
Location
Clovis, CA.
Matco thinks that by raising their prices above the cost of Snap-on, that will have the psychological effect of their tools being better.
 
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Lightning

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Joined
Apr 27, 2008
Messages
154
In North America, Snap On tools are generally considered best. In Germany, there are tools companies at least as good or better than Snap On. Generally, the more expensive the tool, the better, but not always. Matco tools should not be more expensive and if they are, buy Snap On.
 
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a390st

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Joined
Jun 9, 2008
Messages
920
Matco has had a pretty good place in the market, offering a solid line of tools at a lower price point than SO. They also work out of a truck so that they can come to you, and have provided very good service. However, more recently I have noticed that they have a somewhat smaller lineup of specialty tools and higher list prices. A good customer should generally get a SUBSTANTIAL discount off of list price. I have heard that some dealers are trying to hold their prices up a little more lately. I think that is a bad policy, as they risk losing their niche by trying to be SO rather than Matco, when they still sell Matco tools. I suppose over the next year or so what they're really up to.
 
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krusty the clown

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Nov 18, 2007
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niangua, mo
a390st said:
Matco has had a pretty good place in the market, offering a solid line of tools at a lower price point than SO. They also work out of a truck so that they can come to you, and have provided very good service. However, more recently I have noticed that they have a somewhat smaller lineup of specialty tools and higher list prices. A good customer should generally get a SUBSTANTIAL discount off of list price. I have heard that some dealers are trying to hold their prices up a little more lately. I think that is a bad policy, as they risk losing their niche by trying to be SO rather than Matco, when they still sell Matco tools. I suppose over the next year or so what they're really up to.
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the dealer gets little markup on the tools so why should they have to discount? when i was a dealer i would only discount if the buyer payed cash......there is no way you can discount if your taking payments.

both matco and mac are higher priced for lesser quality than snap on now.
the only matco hardine tool thats better than snap on is the new pinless swivel impacts in my opinion.
 
A

AutoTech

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Joined
Jul 30, 2007
Messages
332
billymade said:
Matco used to be the cheaper brand of tools compared to Snap-On; is this a trend with Matco, is their stuff as high or higher then Snap-On? Interesting development if this is the case; used to be mac, matco, snapon; on the scale of low to high price wise for tools.
Click to expand...

Alot of Matco's prices have passed up Snap On and not near as good of a tool as Snap On in my opinion!
 
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bowtie3

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Nov 11, 2007
Messages
195
Matco has got a very big case of the big head lately. They need to go down to the Sears store to look around to see what to charge for the same tools they are trying to sell. Charging what they do for Sears tools is totally crazy. Why anyone would pay even close or more for Matco than SO is beyond me. If you like Matco go to sears get same thing for 1/3 price. Matco is a joke.
 
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bowtie3

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Nov 11, 2007
Messages
195
Oh yea forgot to say that anyone driving a tool truck of any brand that tells me he has never heard of SO will not get a dime from me because he is a liar and a idiot, and i would not trust him to keep up with my private info.
 
J

joenero

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Mar 4, 2006
Messages
263
Location
north ca
lol, the sad part is that is kinda true, the mechanisms in the 36 and 60 tooth ratchets are the same.

Still can't beat the thin locking flex head ratchets when you need them though.
 
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Fedwrench

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Dec 9, 2007
Messages
14,959
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Valley of the sun
You probably wouldn't have that F80 series ratchet if Matco didn't come out with their 60 tooth family of ratchets a few years ago. Matco's pinless impact sockets can't be beat for low profile and strength. No collar to get in the way. Are Matco's prices absurd? Absolutely, just like every other tool truck. Yes, there is shared technology and some tools blur across the Danaher family tree. Yes, you should buy whatever brand or particular style of tool you can afford and like. It's all a matter of personal preference. This doesn't mean that Matco tools ****. Given the choice between a Matco 60 tooth ratchet or a Snap on 80 tooth, I'd probably go for the Gearwrench 60 tooth ratchet.:evil:
 
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wrenchr

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Jul 29, 2007
Messages
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Fedwrench said:
You probably wouldn't have that F80 series ratchet if Matco didn't come out with their 60 tooth family of ratchets a few years ago. Matco's pinless impact sockets can't be beat for low profile and strength. No collar to get in the way. Are Matco's prices absurd? Absolutely, just like every other tool truck. Yes, there is shared technology and some tools blur across the Danaher family tree. Yes, you should buy whatever brand or particular style of tool you can afford and like. It's all a matter of personal preference. This doesn't mean that Matco tools ****. Given the choice between a Matco 60 tooth ratchet or a Snap on 80 tooth, I'd probably go for the Gearwrench 60 tooth ratchet.:evil:
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The gearwrench is the same as the matco / craftsman 60 tooth.
 
E

eschoendorff

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Joined
Feb 6, 2005
Messages
8,991
Location
Michigan
bowtie3 said:
Matco has got a very big case of the big head lately. They need to go down to the Sears store to look around to see what to charge for the same tools they are trying to sell. Charging what they do for Sears tools is totally crazy. Why anyone would pay even close or more for Matco than SO is beyond me. If you like Matco go to sears get same thing for 1/3 price. Matco is a joke.
Click to expand...

You said it... I was only thinking it...
 
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