SK bankruptcy

[Merkava_4]

SK marketed their products to Joe homeowner and Joe homeowner is a cheap sunuvubitch. They should've of targeted the professional end user; that would've allowed them to focus on quality and charge higher prices.

 

[Hiball]

SK marketed their products to Joe homeowner and Joe homeowner is a cheap sunuvubitch. They should've of targeted the professional end user; that would've allowed them to focus on quality and charge higher prices.

It didnt help that the Average Joe Homeowner is having difficulties putting food on the table, letalone buying tools. I believe SK's initial goal (after Facom) was to target Professionals as ive seen a SK tool truck (1 time.. LOL). I believe they dug there own grave by ******* away any relationship ties they had with local retailers and focusing on moving there tools thru the Many Online vendors they currently have. There prices arent too far away from many of the other truck brands prior to the ramped up SK Clearance deals that we have seen over the last few years. This Company needed some serious help in there Marketing department and sadly our economy is in the *******, Its just not a good combination. Im gonna hope for the best for SK and Ideal but its just not good timing.

Steven

 

[trailwart]

1 thing i always watch for with a company buying other company's is what there long term ideas are with the purchase. there have been many company's bought by players trying to grow bigger, but they don't continue with the name/brand. many are bought just for all the patent rights a brand/company holds either for tools,process.
maybe they will buy sk, take some tooling and all patents and sell all the assets and make sk name dissapear for life. then they have patent rights to incorporate into other brands/lines under there corporate roof that are doing well. basically, let the sinking ship sink, but salvage whats worth salvaging.

 

[Merkava_4]

I believe they dug there own grave by ******* away any relationship ties they had with local retailers and focusing on moving there tools thru the Many Online vendors they currently have.

I'm wishing there were more manufacturers willing to sell online directly like S/O does. A lot of these online vendors don't maintain a warehouse for keeping stock available.

 

[sberry]

I believe they dug there own grave by ******* away any relationship ties they had with local retailers and focusing on moving there tools thru the Many Online vendors they currently have. There prices arent too far away from many of the other truck brands prior to the ramped up SK Clearance deals that we have seen over the last few years. This Company needed some serious help in there Marketing department

I agree, when the auto parts stores which were a main outlet started dropping them it was downhill from there. It was nice to be able to buy off the shelf or have it delivered in an hour.

 

[jvitez]

I'm wishing there were more manufacturers willing to sell online directly like S/O does. A lot of these online vendors don't maintain a warehouse for keeping stock available.

I've now ordered twice from Snap-On's website using the Canadian link. Both times the items showed up well packaged within a week. Only issue is they use Purolator courier, which only attempts to deliver once, then sends the parcel back to their depot and make you pick it up. We have Snap-On tool trucks here, but why would I chase them if I can order online in my jammies at 11:00pm? It would be totally different if I was a profession tech.

So yes, I think all tool manufacturers should have an online ordering option.

 

[Merkava_4]

I've now ordered twice from Snap-On's website using the Canadian link. Both times the items showed up well packaged within a week. Only issue is they use Purolator courier, which only attempts to deliver once, then sends the parcel back to their depot and make you pick it up. We have Snap-On tool trucks here, but why would I chase them if I can order online in my jammies at 11:00pm? It would be totally different if I was a profession tech.

So yes, I think all tool manufacturers should have an online ordering option.

Maybe some of the female types on this board would like to see a picture of you in your jammies.

 

[Skyline]

I believe they dug there own grave by ******* away any relationship ties they had with local retailers and focusing on moving there tools thru the Many Online vendors they currently have. There prices arent too far away from many of the other truck brands prior to the ramped up SK Clearance deals that we have seen over the last few years.
Steven

Exactly!

But I think you can blame their demise much more on marketing stupidity and greed than on the economy.

 

[wafrederick]

I have been told of warranty problems with Snap On and one Snap On dealer did whom is no longer a dealer.I have been told a couple dealers would not warranty tools because the tool was not purchased from them.One Snap On dealer got caught mixing rocks with warrantied tools and is no longer a dealer.Snap On weighs the boxes of warrantied tools when they recieve them and found this.I have been getting SK tools warrantied with no problems,at an Auto Value parts store.Hand the broken tool to the delivery person whom brings it back to the store and get a replacement delivered.

 

[pokerqueen]

I found this site after after reading all the news about sk's bankruptcy and the pending sale to the Ideal company. Let me say that it seems many people will indeed miss sk tools but as the wife of a displaced employee there is so much more involved than no longer being able to get the tools. The Man (and I use that word loosely)who owned this company made short work of taking a long standing prosporus company and within 4 years managed to run it in the ground and ultimetly destroy the lives of many many employess. My husband worked at the Defiance plant for 22 years. He like all the others have yet to be notified of the happenings of what has taken place. If the economy was to blame it somehow might lighten the blow but this was 1 mans incompetence stupidity and greed. The bottom line is there was much more lost here than someone not being able to get there favorite tools but the lively hood of so many hard working people that no one is thinking about.... Just my 2cents

 

[Hiball]

I found this site after after reading all the news about sk's bankruptcy and the pending sale to the Ideal company. Let me say that it seems many people will indeed miss sk tools but as the wife of a displaced employee there is so much more involved than no longer being able to get the tools. The Man (and I use that word loosely)who owned this company made short work of taking a long standing prosporus company and within 4 years managed to run it in the ground and ultimetly destroy the lives of many many employess. My husband worked at the Defiance plant for 22 years. He like all the others have yet to be notified of the happenings of what has taken place. If the economy was to blame it somehow might lighten the blow but this was 1 mans incompetence stupidity and greed. The bottom line is there was much more lost here than someone not being able to get there favorite tools but the lively hood of so many hard working people that no one is thinking about.... Just my 2cents

I hope everything works out for you and your husband and as a fellow Union Worker B.L.E.T i can see past all the BS that gets spilled blaming the Unions for every Corporation that fails. Its the Easy way out to blame the unions, Nobody ever looks at the finance and poor business decisions ie: Lavish expendentures, Bonus's during times of Poor Sales etc...

Steven

 

[mikevango]

The bottom line is there was much more lost here than someone not being able to get there favorite tools but the lively hood of so many hard working people that no one is thinking about....

wow. and we were bitching about not being able to warranty our tools. good luck to your husband and the rest of the employees.
i tried my best to help out. i bought a lot of sk tools this year.

 

[trailwart]

I found this site after after reading all the news about sk's bankruptcy and the pending sale to the Ideal company. Let me say that it seems many people will indeed miss sk tools but as the wife of a displaced employee there is so much more involved than no longer being able to get the tools. The Man (and I use that word loosely)who owned this company made short work of taking a long standing prosporus company and within 4 years managed to run it in the ground and ultimetly destroy the lives of many many employess. My husband worked at the Defiance plant for 22 years. He like all the others have yet to be notified of the happenings of what has taken place. If the economy was to blame it somehow might lighten the blow but this was 1 mans incompetence stupidity and greed. The bottom line is there was much more lost here than someone not being able to get there favorite tools but the lively hood of so many hard working people that no one is thinking about.... Just my 2cents

not trying to be an ***, but maybe you need a support group for your issues and feelings. bottom line is the tools. very unfortunate you and your family is affected by the company's situation, deal with it, just like many millions of americans that are out of work! some advice, 1 door closes but another 1 opens. company's fold everyday, thousands more are unemployed everyday, but life goes on. you didn't stop in for a pity party did ya?

"he bottom line is there was much more lost here than someone not being able to get there favorite tools but the lively hood of so many hard working people that no one is thinking about.... Just my 2cents"
like i said, this is a tool forum and not a support group for displaced workers. look around on these forums and you will see posts/threads about unemployment, displaced workers, politics. Hell, i have been unemployed 3 years, got another degree, bought another house and living debt free. you will survive, you need to be able to adapt to the situation at hand. good luck to ya!

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Hell, i have been unemployed 3 years, got another degree, bought another house and living debt free. you will survive, you need to be able to adapt to the situation at hand. good luck to ya!

What is amazing about this post is that you still live in Michigan.....And have a job....

 

[User_Name]

not trying to be an ***, but ... good luck to ya!

Might not be trying, but definitely succeeding.

 

[trailwart]

no job, just adapted and made sacrifices.

i just take her post as trolling for some pity. if her husband didnt work there, she would care less about the situation, but it affects her so she feels it.

 

[kythri]

It's also poor form to join a tool forum to chastise the users over their posts about them losing their ability to buy/warranty their desired tools, and because they didn't consider the "human cost" of the bankruptcy.

Has SK even layed anyone off yet? Wouldn't the sale to Ideal stop part of that?

 

[Hiball]

It's also poor form to join a tool forum to chastise the users over their posts about them losing their ability to buy/warranty their desired tools, and because they didn't consider the "human cost" of the bankruptcy.

Has SK even layed anyone off yet? Wouldn't the sale to Ideal stop part of that?

People dont make the best decisions when they are stressed over how they are gonna pay the bills if her husbands job is lost. "IF" Ideal buys them, There is nothing to say that they will maintain the plant in defiance or chicago, Nor the workers. Ideal may offer work to some of the workers and hell they might not miss a beat, Who Knows? I expect maybe we shouldnt be so hasty towards are new member who might have a little more on there mind other than where "We can buy/warrant our SK tools"

 

[kythri]

I expect that our new member really has no interest in participating in the community, since, after 22 years of her husband's employment (and how many years of this site's existance?), she waits until now to join.

I apologize if someone joining to scold members and spout off platitudes about corporate greed set me off.

 

[Hiball]

I expect that our new member really has no interest in participating in the community, since, after 22 years of her husband's employment (and how many years of this site's existance?), she waits until now to join.

I apologize if someone joining to scold members and spout off platitudes about corporate greed set me off.

I doubt she has any interest in participating in our community, And she might never come back. I expect her interest is/was to find out any information about the possible SK bankruptcy as she mentioned that the company hasnt given any notice to its employees. If you havent done much googling lately you would be suprised to how many GJ posts get linked after searching. That is how she found this site, She wasnt looking for Tool information and such, As i said earlier people deal with sitsuations differently and i expect she didnt mean anything by her post. Im willing to give someone the benefit of the doubt when there possibly not in the best state of mind.

 

[jride200]

not trying to be an ***

i just take her post as trolling for some pity.

Now two forum members succeeding in being assholes. Got to admit, the two of you, and your cold lack of compassion, seriously makes me want to limit my time here.

 

[TheGrooveking]

Now two forum members succeeding in being assholes. Got to tell admit, the two of you, and your cold lack of compassion, seriously makes me want to limit my time here.

+1, I didn't read anything that required the response those two guys gave, totally uncalled for.

TheGrooveking

 

[Merkava_4]

I'm seeing allot of drama on this page of the thread.

Ryan, where are you?

 

[doctorschmullus]

Didnt I start a thread like this yesterday also?

 

[WHT]

not trying to be an ***, but maybe you need a support group for your issues and feelings. bottom line is the tools. very unfortunate you and your family is affected by the company's situation, deal with it, just like many millions of americans that are out of work! some advice, 1 door closes but another 1 opens. company's fold everyday, thousands more are unemployed everyday, but life goes on. you didn't stop in for a pity party did ya?

This place never ceases to amaze me.

 

[pokerqueen]

I meant no disrespect towards anyone here nor was I looking for a pity party. I was mearly tring to put a little light on the reason why sk tools and there customer service has gone by the wayside in the last few years. for those of you who expressed good wishes thank-you and for the few others all I can say is I hope you never have to expierence haveing the rug pulled out from under you. Yes the plant is closed in Defiance and all employees are "laid off." Although laid off and permenently out of a job where sk is concerend are 2 very different things. Having gone into bankruptcy and the owner not standing by the contract means no severence pay.. The least he could have done was been honest with the employees and given them the chance to start looking for other employment 2 years ago.. All I know is lots of unhappy creditors, employees customers but 1 very happy bank somewhere in France... Good luck on your search for sk hand tools and and thanks to those of you who kept my husband working all those years.

 

[Hiball]

I meant no disrespect towards anyone here nor was I looking for a pity party. I was mearly tring to put a little light on the reason why sk tools and there customer service has gone by the wayside in the last few years. for those of you who expressed good wishes thank-you and for the few others all I can say is I hope you never have to expierence haveing the rug pulled out from under you. Yes the plant is closed in Defiance and all employees are "laid off." Although laid off and permenently out of a job where sk is concerend are 2 very different things. Having gone into bankruptcy and the owner not standing by the contract means no severence pay.. The least he could have done was been honest with the employees and given them the chance to start looking for other employment 2 years ago.. All I know is lots of unhappy creditors, employees customers but 1 very happy bank somewhere in France... Good luck on your search for sk hand tools and and thanks to those of you who kept my husband working all those years.

Hopefully if Ideal does pick up the tab for SK they will offer some jobs to "Laid off" workers, It may require re-locating but it might be worth it in todays economy. I would say your current contract severance pay went kaput with the Bankruptcy filing. Good Luck..

 

[jride200]

I meant no disrespect towards anyone here nor was I looking for a pity party. I was mearly tring to put a little light on the reason why sk tools and there customer service has gone by the wayside in the last few years. for those of you who expressed good wishes thank-you and for the few others all I can say is I hope you never have to expierence haveing the rug pulled out from under you. Yes the plant is closed in Defiance and all employees are "laid off." Although laid off and permenently out of a job where sk is concerend are 2 very different things. Having gone into bankruptcy and the owner not standing by the contract means no severence pay.. The least he could have done was been honest with the employees and given them the chance to start looking for other employment 2 years ago.. All I know is lots of unhappy creditors, employees customers but 1 very happy bank somewhere in France... Good luck on your search for sk hand tools and and thanks to those of you who kept my husband working all those years.

No need to apologize. Remember... these are the same guys who, likely, insist on USA made tools, only to then belittle your troubles. It's much more than a USA stamp to boast about--its the livelihood of fellow Americans. Hypocrites. I wish you and your family the best. I was laid off a year and a half ago, and although stressful for a spell, things are working out quite well. Hang in there.

 

[WHT]

No need to apologize. Remember... these are the same guys who, likely, insist on USA made tools, only to then belittle your troubles. It's much more than a USA stamp to boast about--its the livelihood of fellow Americans. Hypocrites. I wish you and your family the best. I was laid off a year and a half ago, and although stressful for a spell, things are working out quite well. Hang in there.

Also wish you and you family the best and hope things work out for you and all the other families affected by this bankruptcy.

 

[gasjockey]

so what ever happens im gessing no more sk

 

[Rico.]

so what ever happens im gessing no more sk

Holy thread resurrection Batman....

SK Tools are alive and well, this thread was from over a year ago.

http://www.skhandtool.com/

 

[geologist]

*facepalm*

20 seconds on Google and you would know.

 

[Big Gus]

Good grief, google is your friend!

Yes S-K has been bought and is alive and well.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

WOW you guys are hard on him

 

[gasjockey]

i was just woundering becouse on goggle some places sayed the were and some sayed the wernt

 

[CARS]

Yes S-K has been bought and is alive and well.

I don't know if I would go that far. The ratchet I got a couple months ago is a p.o.s. compared to the one I bought years ago.

 

[JohnMcD348]

OK, so is the old factory still in business or did they move it somewhere else? Just wondering about the employees who got laid off with no warning from the previous posts. If there was something I missed, I'll admit I didn't read evey post in this thread so, maybe it was explained and I missed it.

 

[mudflap]

Not if they are made over seas.

Why not, people are still paying big bucks for SNAP-chONg tools.

 

[Junkman]

Keeping the company in Chicago has a lot of benefits, one is from an environmental standpoint and that is if they are in Chicago proper they are actually allowed to discharge a higher concentration of metals in the effluent stream. When I ran printed circuit board facilities in four locations in the Chicagoland area we were allowed to have a wider swing on the ph and a metals PPM (parts per million) from our waste water pretreatment system. Let me tell you the difference between 10PPM of a metal and 3PPM is a big expensive deal.

TheGrooveking

I always knew that Chicago was polluted with politicians, but I thought that the EPA had cleaned up the other pollution.. Guess not

 

[TheGrooveking]

I always knew that Chicago was polluted with politicians, but I thought that the EPA had cleaned up the other pollution.. Guess not

It actually has more to do with the waste water system, the closer you get to the main processing plant the greater the total flow of water, thus by the dilution factor it is allowable. Back in the mid 90's I had to relocate a printed circuit board company from North Ave. and Sheffield out to Franklin Park, the Chicago location was allowed a discharge ph of 3 to 9 and a copper limit of 10ppm, were as the Franklin Park was a ph of 6 to 8 and a copper limit of 2.8ppm.

TheGrooveking