Because of where I work we have an industrial rep and a regular truck dealer.
I buy from both depending on the need.
If you need it now I go with the truck guy. The industrial rep has to order all of the stuff so you have to wait often a couple of weeks.
While the industrial rep is for selling to the big companies, as a courtesy they will often sell to the employees as well.
Warranty. It is my understanding that for the company any warranties are done by the rep as a courtesy. This is based on the fact that they are often production used tools that get the snot beat out of them. He told me that is it is broken and not that old he will replace it and if it is just worn out the company is SOL.
I have warrantied several things through him and never had a problem. The tools are the same tools,with no different markings on them
Bob