Salesmen using junk tools.

[selohssa]

I was at my local glass suppliers open house tonight. They had a couple of companies showing off their new tools. One company had a new tool to cut out glass with limited room for a knife or where an extractor would cause damage. The tool was okay, not real impressive and I still like the induction heater better. This new tool was $1900 and took 45 min to cut out the glass. It was marketed as a tool for people that are very commited to their quality and for someone that wants the best. That all sounded good until I noticed the salesmans personal tool kit. There was NO tools that had a brand name on it and I doubt that his set would last for more than a week of real use. After I saw it, I could not believe anything that he was saying about quality.

Am I being too critical or do you guys think that someone who is trying to sell premium tools should use premium tools themselves?

 

[nolatoolguy]

I was at my local glass suppliers open house tonight. They had a couple of companies showing off their new tools. One company had a new tool to cut out glass with limited room for a knife or where an extractor would cause damage. The tool was okay, not real impressive and I still like the induction heater better. This new tool was $1900 and took 45 min to cut out the glass. It was marketed as a tool for people that are very commited to their quality and for someone that wants the best. That all sounded good until I noticed the salesmans personal tool kit. There was NO tools that had a brand name on it and I doubt that his set would last for more than a week of real use. After I saw it, I could not believe anything that he was saying about quality.

Am I being too critical or do you guys think that someone who is trying to sell premium tools should use premium tools themselves?

Nope, i agree

 

[bmxr4life87]

Its like going to the snap on guys house and seeing him use Harbor Freight tools

 

[selohssa]

Its like going to the snap on guys house and seeing him use Harbor Freight tools

Yeah.
I was at the house of the CEO of a multinational heavy equipment company. He wanted me to do some work on one of his cars. His company buys all of their apprentices top quality tools. His garage had nothing but Canadian tire tools. I know that Mastercraft tools will "do" for home use but I expected more from a guy like that with a million dollars in cars in the garage.

 

[srmofo]

honestly though, what are a salesmans tools for HIS job? maybe a briefcase or nice pen??? Either way, Its certainly not going to be the same tools that the installers are using because their jobs are different. honestly though, If was a good salesman/rep he should think how that might look to the people hes selling to. And while he doesnt need the best, he should at least try to buy something that isnt from the dollar store.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

Yeah.
I was at the house of the CEO of a multinational heavy equipment company. He wanted me to do some work on one of his cars. His company buys all of their apprentices top quality tools. His garage had nothing but Canadian tire tools. I know that Mastercraft tools will "do" for home use but I expected more from a guy like that with a million dollars in cars in the garage.

Most self made wealthy people got that way by "making do"...

 

[Harix]

I just had $50k Snap-On/John-Bean Visualiner installed in my autoshop by official installer, and all their tools are all junk harbor freight tools.. not even craftsman..

 

[kaffine]

And the installers are probably thinking he paid $50k for this equipment and I am only getting $30 to do the install.

The salesman has junk tools because that is all the techs would loan to him.

Of course if he had good tools then everyone would ask how often does it break if he can afford high end tools to work on it.

 

[TireTracks]

Most self made wealth people got that way by "making do"...

Very true.

Not everyone needs snap on. A bolt doesnt give a damn about the wrench that turns it.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

As a salesman, was he provided tools? Were these his travel (our junkyard) tools, due to risk of theft/loss by the airport?

 

[a390st]

I used to carry junk tools in my work truck so that when they were loaned out or stolen I wouldn't be out anything. The company wouldn't pay for out tools but we had to have them. My personal tools were a different story.

 

[daveblank]

I just had $50k Snap-On/John-Bean Visualiner installed in my autoshop by official installer, and all their tools are all junk harbor freight tools.. not even craftsman..

In my experience, installers are real bad about leaving tools behind. Therefore, they buy the cheapest things that they can.

 

[fatfillup]

I use a combination of junk, medium grade and a few top grade tools in my service truck. I don't turn wrenches full time and am terrible at losing them because as the owner of a small business, my mind is often on them next ten things I have to get done. I have always been able to get them job done. Now I am upgrading my personal collection slowly as I buy a lot of tools for resale and a few I keep for myself. While most would keep the best for themselves, I sell the best and keep the lessor ones (scarred or a little rusty) as upgrades.

I think RbrtAWhyt said it best, self made wealthy people got that way by making do. While I'm not wealthy, I do need to save as much money as I can for retirement so I don't go first class on most things. I buy a lot of used things and bank every penny I can.

 

[jeepnut24]

Its like going to the snap on guys house and seeing him use Harbor Freight tools

This... They better use what they are trying to sell.


Then again, the last few people we have had at the house have left a variety of tools, so I can sorta understand not wanting to carry the best. Another friends had all his stolen out of the truck TWICE.

 

[Happyshooter]

If you are taking tools into a customers place, or out to the public, your tools will get stolen. Usually one or two at a time.

 

[selohssa]

Most self made wealthy people got that way by "making do"...

True, at least in the begining. The thing was that every time I saw his wife, she had a different top end hand bag. I talked to him for quite a while about high end watches and he had a hell of a nice collection. I did tease him about his tools and his reasoning was that they bought a new house every couple of years and they would just buy everything brand new for each house.

 

[selohssa]

My point of this thread is that if you are trying to get people to buy a premium product at a premium price, I think that you should be the type of person that believes it for himself.

It is like seeing a Mercedes salesman driving a Kia.

 

[64merc]

True, at least in the begining. The thing was that every time I saw his wife, she had a different top end hand bag. I talked to him for quite a while about high end watches and he had a hell of a nice collection. I did tease him about his tools and his reasoning was that they bought a new house every couple of years and they would just buy everything brand new for each house.

That's funny you should say that because I was talking to a guy the other day and he said that when he was growing up his parents always left everything behind when they moved every couple of years. I think it has to do with being a compulsive shopper. I mean, how hard would it be to hire a moving company.

 

[chadster1]

You wont see me using any junk tools.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

True, at least in the begining. The thing was that every time I saw his wife, she had a different top end hand bag...

A perfect example of a materialistic woman who married into money...

 

[speed bump]

You know i'll bet his bag has been stolen more than once and/or tools have walked off on him. I know a lot of guys who do mine maintence who buy cheap wrenches, and sockets because which hurts worse loosing a $60 wrench loosing from a wrench set that cost $40?

 

[ZRX61]

The owner of one of the P51's I work on has a plastic toolbox from Horrible Fright in his hangar... filled with tools from the same place.. luckily all he does is check fluid levels..

 

[Skin]

its done intentionally. Lose a few sets of very expensive tools to theft or someone elses incompetence and have to purchase new ones out of your own pocket and you'd be carrying passable garbage with you too i promise.

 

[RPH]

When on a job site and tools disappear I just buy the replacement and add it to the customers expenses. They get the used tool and pay for the new one.