SK tools core focus

[XxToolAholicxX]

Thanks Eric for the inside scoop.. Wishing S-K Tools lots of luck and I will be supporting this company as to keeping the American man working and providing for their families..

 

[raiderhillbilly]

All you SK tool haters PM me with prices that reflect your disgust for your current SK tools. I only have about 100 SK ratchets, I guess I could find space for a few more.

 

[NOZZLEMAN]

The real home for SK for years & years was jobber auto parts stores and related type retail. I built my SK tools when I worked at an Allis-Chalmers dealer outside Orlando, FL as a kid (1970's). I still have all those tools in my "machine shop" box - my main box I replaced with Snap over the years. I remember going into independent hardware stores (hell they all were back then), a town's auto parts store, mower shop or the like and seeing S-K hanging behind the counter. Of course... all of that old America is gone now & we are left with chain store everything and Wal-Mart marketing mentality.

 

[3baygarage]

The real home for SK for years & years was jobber auto parts stores and related type retail. I built my SK tools when I worked at an Allis-Chalmers dealer outside Orlando, FL as a kid (1970's). I still have all those tools in my "machine shop" box - my main box I replaced with Snap over the years. I remember going into independent hardware stores (hell they all were back then), a town's auto parts store, mower shop or the like and seeing S-K hanging behind the counter. Of course... all of that old America is gone now & we are left with chain store everything and Wal-Mart marketing mentality.

Yes. There is so so so much Vintage to later SK around these parts too.

What would it take for them to get back in stores? And not just their 1/4 flex ratchet that was in the Sears socket aisle.

I get that it's a whole new thing with Ideal, but what does it take? Just asking.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Well, that is the current status quo thing. You can go "big box" mass-merchandiser retailer, or go online. The days of small independent retail auto parts stores are long gone here, unfortunately, or I'd probably still be punching a cash register.
If S-K can successfully manage to start chopping out their own piece of the pie online they'll do fine.

 

[Loscaldazar]

Yes. There is so so so much Vintage to later SK around these parts too.

What would it take for them to get back in stores? And not just their 1/4 flex ratchet that was in the Sears socket aisle.

I get that it's a whole new thing with Ideal, but what does it take? Just asking.

Contracts with stores that already have their own line of tools (Autozone's Duralast, Napa's Carlyle, etc) or are already contracted with another tool line (AAP and gear wrench, Meijer and Tekton, Walmart and Stanely, etc). That's why SK is almost only in independent (not chain) stores. It's hard to compete on price point for shelf space in AAP next to gear wrench. Almost every major store chain (sans target and a few others) have their own tool line or have contracts to sell a certain well known tool brand. Not much room for SK to grow in that direction.

 

[3baygarage]

One of my local hardware used to have SK. Remnants of stock I should say. I was told there was just no outlet for it.

Btw my two closest Sears got chopped and are closing starting next week. I guess through online sales the people have spoken.

 

[supertooljunkie]

I am old enough to remember when most DIYer's had Craftsman raised panel tools as their "go to" tools. That is what my Dad had as well as what I started with. My Dad gave me my first set of SK sockets in 1/2" in late 70's. They were in a metal box, and the breaker bar had the "tootsie roll" rubber handle on it. Those were the fiirst SK tools I had ever seen. I thought them exotic because at the time, I wasn't that familiar with Snap on, Mac, Proto, Williams, and others. I enjoyed using them and chose those over C-M when needed.

It wasn't until I started working for an independent auto shop in early 80's that I became acquainted on a day to day with tools trucks and their brands. As I bought into the tool truck hype I didn't use the SK as much and spent way more on the other brands than I should have.

As I got older I started using my SK stuff more over truck brands and prefer some of it over truck brands. I haven't purchased any of the new SK tools since Ideal has brought them back, I use Ideal electrical tools on a day to day basis and find the quality to be first rate. I know I am comparing apples to oranges, but Ideal produces good stuff.

I have 15-20 SK ratchets of various sizes, and prefer them over most of my older Snap on ratchets. I like the SK polished wrenches over Snap on. To me they feel better in my hand. I haven't purchased many new mechanics tools in a while, but am looking to purchase a set of the X-Beam wrenches.

To make a short story long, I'm glad that Ideal has brought SK back from the dead and has kept making them in the US. All companies have glitches and SK seems to be standing behind them.

 

[four.cycle]

"Contracts with stores that already have their own line of tools... etc."

^ Getting a product line into a major mass-merchandiser chain is no small feat.
First thing they want is price. You have to come in under the competition. Ergo: lower profit margin.
Second thing is they invariably want some sort of "exclusive" kind of deal (or product.) Example: it's almost impossible to buy an item at Costco that is available from another source; Costco orders the item the way they want it (be that packaging or quantity or size) in order to prevent an "apples to apples" price comparison. (Yes, of course there are exceptions.)
Then they want terms. You give them 30-60-90 2% 10th proximo, they counter with 60-90-180 4% proximo.
Then they want ad money up front. You literally have to pay them money up front for an "advertising allowance" so they can promote your product.
And then after all that, when you've got both hands firmly around your ankles, they tell you they need a better price.

Been there/done that: Eagle Hardware, Bartell Drug, Schucks/Checker/Kragen, etc.

They're better off going the online route (which is where the market seems to be going anyway), and let the sharks eat each other.