Let's say for a minute that there was no ebay, no internet. If a tech died, retired or got promoted to service writer, his tools would certainly make it into other hands. Obviously through other channels, whether a flea market or yard sale, a direct sale to another tech, or whatever. NO ONE would just throw out high quality tools. So I really don't see how eBay is the cause of problems for the dealers. Used Snap-on tools do not die or get burried when their original purchaser no longer has a need, they move to other hands. The method with which they move to other hands has absolutely no effect on a truck dealer's profits. If there are used Pro tools floating around, some dealer sold them new, (and made his cut), at some point to some tech....with one exception.
The ONLY exception, and the tool sales that the dealers should be pissed off at, are the ones where NO dealer made money. And guess where those sales come from? The corporate web sites of Snap-on, MAC, Matco etc. This whole thing "warrantee only to original purchaser" is a ruse to appease the dealers and deflect attention from the real source of the problem. Snap-on and the others are the ones cutting their own dealers' throats....not eBay.
What eBay IS doing though, is opening the market to non professional consumers. When a hobbyist can get nice used Snap-on stuff for prices competitive with new Craftsman, perhaps with even more convenience, why not? Perhaps some of these hobbyists will actually seek out the tool truck to buy stuff, too, (once they get properly hooked.) And since these hobbyists generally use their tools much less than pros, they will break less....so less need for returns. So where is the problem???? In addition, these hobbyists are taking used pro tools off the market, meaning fewer used tools left for pro techs to buy....forcing the pros to buy more new stuff.