Snap on truck blues :(

[1loudsuv]

So I started a new job and the snap on truck that comes by is empty compared to the guy I dealt with before

I ordered some stuff from him and guess what? He didn't bring anything

Can a different snap on truck come by? Or am I stuck with him? Would be nice to have 2 snap on trucks come LOL

 

[Diesel-Mech]

Nope you are stuck with him unless you are willing to meet up with another guy or order online, it ***** having dealers like that they really are practically useless.

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

How empty is the truck? That can be a bad sign....

The dealer could possibly be on tool hold. Which in your case could mean you would get a new dealer or another local dealer would take his area (or perhaps have no dealer)

I doubt another dealer will come by while he is still in business, they are supposed to have protected areas.

-BWP

 

[LGMechanical]

Thats just like my Mac dealer lol.

 

[1loudsuv]

I see like 3 other guys always pass by but this is the only one that stops by, he probably has 15 grand or so of stuff last truck at my last job must of had like 70k of stuff

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

The dealer could possibly be on tool hold. \

My last guy had a tool hold, when i would order something, he would buy it on his credit card and then resell it. That lasted a very short time.

 

[TruckTech]

I guess Ive only held a few jobs with tool trucks, so my views are limited, but I dont think Ive ever seen a tool truck in such a state of affairs. What is a tool hold, and how do dealers get them?

 

[kwhitelaw]

I guess Ive only held a few jobs with tool trucks, so my views are limited, but I dont think Ive ever seen a tool truck in such a state of affairs. What is a tool hold, and how do dealers get them?

dealer may owe the manufacturer too much money, so they will not send them anymore tools til the balance is paid down.

what happens then sometimes is the dealer takes the $500 (for example) that you just gave him, and uses that to pay down his bill, freeing up the ability to get in more tools. it becomes a revolving cycle.

alot of it is to blame when dealers allwo a tech to open a large truck account and slowly pay it down.

 

[TruckTech]

alot of it is to blame when dealers allwo a tech to open a large truck account and slowly pay it down.

How much $ is a 'large truck account'?

 

[kwhitelaw]

How much $ is a 'large truck account'?

it depends on the truck driver. my old guy let me put a krl7022 on a truck account and pay weekly. that required him to front the money for my box and hope that i paid in full.

techs skip town on payment and truck drivers get stuck with the bill. which is why my new truck guy wont revolve more than $500 I think, without switching you to a line of credit from snap on.

it all depends on how well your truck guy trusts/knows you, and how much he wants to risk.

 

[GSSFC]

Not having personal experience, but to me this would the fault of the "tool truck" in general. I hear these horror stories of guys buying $10K worth of tools and have to pay back $25 a week or something (not accurate, but you get the point). Do that to 10 new techs and you have $100K worth of credit out there, and are getting $250 a week to pay it off (if you are lucky and the tech's even pay). They do it to themselves, make it so easy for guys to buy stuff, and then they can't pay their own bills. You really think a guy that makes $12-15 an hour can afford all that stuff he buys every week if he had to pay cash?

My personal opinion, but credit *****. Buy an inexpensive but quality Craftsman tool set, and let the tools make you money to buy stuff with CASH! Or go on Craigslist and find all the smoking deals on used stuff. Owning stuff is so satisfying. I'd rather own a 2 year old car outright, than be setup to make 5 years of payments on something brand new.

Tim

Tim

 

[TruckTech]

it depends on the truck driver. my old guy let me put a krl7022 on a truck account and pay weekly. that required him to front the money for my box and hope that i paid in full.

techs skip town on payment and truck drivers get stuck with the bill. which is why my new truck guy wont revolve more than $500 I think, without switching you to a line of credit from snap on.

it all depends on how well your truck guy trusts/knows you, and how much he wants to risk.

That *****. My SO is about $750 right now, and my MAC is about $600, paying $30 to $50 a week on both. They keep trying to sell me more.

 

[komobu]

The student discounts are really nice. I just retired from US Army Aviation. I now work as a Auto Mech during the day, and I am taking some classes at the local community college in automotive maintenance. As a result, I get 50% off through Snap On, MAC and Matco. Matco is the easiest. They give you web access and it shows the retail price and the student price. Just about everything is at least 50% off. The only issue is you have to pay immediately through a credit card. There are no truck accounts for this. But I can by new items for usually much cheaper than I can buy used on eBay.

I also have a Snap On truck guy that comes by our shop on Wednesdays. He knows I buy mostly through the school, but he does provide me support and takes care of my broken Snap On stuff that I buy through the school. I guess he figures when I am through with the school, I will be buying from him and he has a point.

 

[Shocker]

On the Cornwell truck I rode on, the distributor carries guys to the tune of around 500. More goes to the credit company.

 

[TRTOOLSUPPLY]

My O My ,Folks bashin' TOOL TRUCKS....Merk jabbin' at SO......Times have changed since April!

I recall a "joke" about tool trucks being blasphemous......or at least when I made one...

 

[bry@n]

wow....my truck account is $5,000, I don't have a revolving account. I bought a krl1022 on a truck account. I pay $100 a week. We meet once a month so I can pay and warranty/ buy tools. He is pretty good to me and then again, I keep my word to him. If he won't be around the week I pay, I will pay him early.

 

[SCguy]

Hmm, strange, I actually have a balance on my Snapon revolving account! He owes me money! Actually, it's only until my new tools I ordered come in, (KRBC3T, hang-on screwdriver rack, and SGDTRXL70BR long Torx screwdriver set)

My dealers truck isn't crazy full, he had to order a FLFH80 for a co-worker! I thought that was like one of the bigger sellers?

My biggest complaint is ordering to receiving takes two weeks. His orders come in on the same day he makes the route to my shop so he can't deliver until the next week.

RD

 

[Shocker]

So Bry@n, the tool guy carries 5k personally? It is not on a credit account with the tool manufacturer? That is a ton for a truck owner to carry.

 

[kwhitelaw]

So Bry@n, the tool guy carries 5k personally? It is not on a credit account with the tool manufacturer? That is a ton for a truck owner to carry.

its possible the dealer took that box and/or tools in on trade, or repo.

my dealer was telling me about a guy who was moving and couldnt take his box with him. he owed the dealer $600 outright for tools. my dealer gave him $400 cash, cleared his balance, and took ownership of a KRA that retails for $4200. ended up flipping the box for $2000 at his next stop that day and pocketed over a grand with no real work or up front money.


back to topic, but a dealer floating 5K is awfully trusting. my old dealer floated me on a krl7022 and a bunch of tools. when i upgraded to krl1023 i decided to go thru snap on credit to take advantage of the rebate.

kevin

 

[bry@n]

So Bry@n, the tool guy carries 5k personally? It is not on a credit account with the tool manufacturer? That is a ton for a truck owner to carry.

Yes,
I would not have gotten the box on a revolving account. I am not sure, but I would assume the revolving accounts have interest like a regular cc. I am pretty blunt and straight forward. He has my #'s and delivered the box to my house. I changed my cell # and called him to let him know. Not that he calls me, I usually call him and say I am looking to stop by and give you cash lol.

He is also a very good guy, knowledgable, has a big truck and lots of stock (very rarely need to order stuff) and has no trouble with anything. He is one of the most successful distributors in the area.

examples:
had a issue with a 1/4 ratchet, he warrantied it for a t72....has a sloppy flex 3/8's ratchet and it was old, he swapped for a flex head 80 tooth.....no questions asked. I didn't even ask, he just did it.

 

[Vinko]

k at my last job must of had like 70k of stuff

Just curious about the economics of something like this. How much a guy has to make a year and how many years he amassed 70K worth of stuff. You figure it's like what? The equivalent of $100K or thereabouts in after tax dollars. Not that you have to say anything about it.

 

[Vinko]

I am taking some classes at the local community college in automotive maintenance. As a result, I get 50% off through Snap On, MAC and Matco. Matco is the easiest.

I should register for a class at the local community college. Just to get the discount

 

[bry@n]

well,
If I was a mechanic by trade, I would buy a lot right around december. I would buy just for the write off. My accountant looks at my stuff in November and tells me whether I need to write stuff off or not. Usually, the money spent nets me a tool or somethng, rather then giving the gov't the same cash.

 

[bry@n]

I should register for a class at the local community college. Just to get the discount

Thought this very same thing!

$275 for the class and I will save that on the first purchase. lol

 

[kwhitelaw]

Thought this very same thing!

$275 for the class and I will save that on the first purchase. lol

or you could just look up the info for your local community college that offers a tech class and load that into the snap on page and see if it takes it.....

...just sayin

 

[Diesel-Mech]

or you could just look up the info for your local community college that offers a tech class and load that into the snap on page and see if it takes it.....

...just sayin

That wont work, Snap-on verifies that people are actually students for that very reason.

 

[kwhitelaw]

That wont work, Snap-on verifies that people are actually students for that very reason.

keep on thinking that...

 

[Diesel-Mech]

Well you might have figured out a way to pull it off but I had to wait 2 weeks while they confirmed I was a student that was eligible for the student excellence site and that was after I had already been ordering from the industrial rep.

 

[bry@n]

oh, I would go. You'd be suprised how many things you'll forget or miss.

In my current job, I have a new jack all the time tell me something I forgot 5 years ago. Why? He just came out of school and it's fresh. Never to old to learn.

p.s. the discount would be enough motivation. lol

 

[bry@n]

How does that worl anyway?

you sign up for adult education classes and choose auto. Then you order from an industrial guy?

 

[komobu]

It is definitely worth it to take the classes just to get the discount. However, keep in mind that you have to pay cash/credit card up front. So if you do not have the cash or the credit card the plan wont do you any good.

As far as how the program goes, once you start taking the course, you ask for the Snap On Industrial Rep. He will fax or email you a form that has your SSAN and must be signed by the instructor. It also has your anticipated Grad Date. Once he gets that form back, you can start ordering through him. Basically you look through the catalog and send him an email of what you want. He sends you an order form with the prices. You send him back the credit card info and he places the order. The stuff then gets sent to your house directly from Snap On. If they have the item on hand, it usually takes me about ten days to receive my stuff.

He can also hook you up with a Student Excellence Program (SEP) account where you can order right off of their website. That is easier because the website has the prices. This 8-19mm socket set (212FSMY) http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?search=true&item_ID=57&PartNo=212fsmy&group_id=244&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all lists for 141.75. I bought it through the SEP for $63.93. The SH80 list for 142. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?search=true&item_ID=85839&PartNo=sh80&group_id=22911&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all I bought it through SEP for 64.04. That is less than half. The only problem with the SEP is that they dont have everything and a lot of the stuff are prepackaged starter sets.

The MATCO site is much better because you basically fill out the same stuff into their website and once it is verified, you can order anything they have in their catalog. It remembers you as a student and once you log on it has the student price listed. This used matco ratched sold used on GJ for 50.dollars
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38111

It has a list price of $148.90. It can be bought by a student through their website for $71.47 Not bad to buy something brand new for roughly the cost of used.

A lot of guys buy toolboxes through the program, and great deals can be had but they dont sell the Top of the Line Boxes through it. They do have the Classic 72 and Classic 96 series though. If i remember right, the Classic 96 boxes (Bottom two bank) were less than 3000.

Keep in mind, Snap On, Mac and MAtco do not charge for shipping all you pay is the price of the item and sales tax. That is why usually you can get a much better deal than buying used through eBay.

 

[ovilla]

I thought Snap On made it so you could only get the 50% off discount on ONE initial/final order. Can you get the discount all the time, as long as you're a student? Also, do you have to sign up for a full load of classes or can you just take one? I'd like to take an Auto class just to learn some stuff but have no plans of switching jobs. If I can get a quick tool discount, then that's just icing on the cake for sure.

 

[TangoFoxTrot]

I think this just shows how much markup is involved with these brands, and how much extra you're paying for others to finance these tools when you make a cash purchase. The incredible markup of the tool truck brands has far more to do with how they're distributed and their credit lending than the actual cost to manufacture.

Obviously, Snap On and Matco aren't losing money when they sell these tools with the 50% student discount, they're still making a profit. Because it's a cash purchase only directly through the company and there's no sales rep involved, you're getting a more "fair" price for the tool itself.

It is definitely worth it to take the classes just to get the discount. However, keep in mind that you have to pay cash/credit card up front. So if you do not have the cash or the credit card the plan wont do you any good.

As far as how the program goes, once you start taking the course, you ask for the Snap On Industrial Rep. He will fax or email you a form that has your SSAN and must be signed by the instructor. It also has your anticipated Grad Date. Once he gets that form back, you can start ordering through him. Basically you look through the catalog and send him an email of what you want. He sends you an order form with the prices. You send him back the credit card info and he places the order. The stuff then gets sent to your house directly from Snap On. If they have the item on hand, it usually takes me about ten days to receive my stuff.

He can also hook you up with a Student Excellence Program (SEP) account where you can order right off of their website. That is easier because the website has the prices. This 8-19mm socket set (212FSMY) http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?search=true&item_ID=57&PartNo=212fsmy&group_id=244&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all lists for 141.75. I bought it through the SEP for $63.93. The SH80 list for 142. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?search=true&item_ID=85839&PartNo=sh80&group_id=22911&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all I bought it through SEP for 64.04. That is less than half. The only problem with the SEP is that they dont have everything and a lot of the stuff are prepackaged starter sets.

The MATCO site is much better because you basically fill out the same stuff into their website and once it is verified, you can order anything they have in their catalog. It remembers you as a student and once you log on it has the student price listed. This used matco ratched sold used on GJ for 50.dollars
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38111

It has a list price of $148.90. It can be bought by a student through their website for $71.47 Not bad to buy something brand new for roughly the cost of used.

A lot of guys buy toolboxes through the program, and great deals can be had but they dont sell the Top of the Line Boxes through it. They do have the Classic 72 and Classic 96 series though. If i remember right, the Classic 96 boxes (Bottom two bank) were less than 3000.

Keep in mind, Snap On, Mac and MAtco do not charge for shipping all you pay is the price of the item and sales tax. That is why usually you can get a much better deal than buying used through eBay.

 

[komobu]

I thought Snap On made it so you could only get the 50% off discount on ONE initial/final order. Can you get the discount all the time, as long as you're a student? Also, do you have to sign up for a full load of classes or can you just take one? I'd like to take an Auto class just to learn some stuff but have no plans of switching jobs. If I can get a quick tool discount, then that's just icing on the cake for sure.

Yes...I have placed about 4 or 5 different orders through Snap On and 2 different orders through Matco. I can place as many orders as I want. That is why they ask for your anticipated grad date.

As long as you are taking one class, you would qualify. Currently I am not taking any, but I still qualify because my anticipated grad date is still another year away.

 

[Vinko]

Obviously, Snap On and Matco aren't losing money when they sell these tools with the 50% student discount, they're still making a profit.

It's not obvious to me that they're making a profit. And if they are, it's not obvious to me that they're making a substantial profit.

 

[kwhitelaw]

It has been said in the past, but Snap On is taking a loss through the student program. with the hopeful outcome that you will continue to purchase tools throughout your career from them..

remember the first time you tried crack? you got a hookup to get you hooked on, and you kept coming back for more...

or was that just me

 

[35mastr]

I also think that there is a limit in dollars that you can purchase under that program. I remember kids that were in the T-10 program when I was with Toyota. They had a 7k limit. But most did not have the money or credit cards.

So they were not using it. Well I was assigned one of those kids to train while he was in the program. They go to claas for an amount of time. Then they go to the dealership and work for experience for the other amount of time.

Well this kid had his dicount and never planned on using it. I bought all the 7k in what I needed for home.

We did this for quite a few years with these kids. Lots of the guys would stock their home boxes with the student discount that most did not use.

 

[TangoFoxTrot]

It's not obvious to me that they're making a profit. And if they are, it's not obvious to me that they're making a substantial profit.

How much money do you think they're losing on these programs?

The reason why I say its obvious they're making a profit is why else would they be participating in this program if they weren't making some profit on selling the tools. I have a hard time believing they do it out of the goodness of their heart, and it's not like they get some sort of government kick back for giving a student discount.

I'm sure the main reason these companies have these discounts is in order to get new mechanics using their tools, but I have a hard time believing Snap On and Matco are losing millions and millions of dollars selling tools below their cost to manufacture in order to get people to try their tools.

They already "donate" tools to a lot of vocational schools (which does have tax advantages)in order to get students to like using their tools. To further subsidize every tech student to buy their tools would seem to be a colossal waste of money if they actually were losing money on these sales.

My guess is they make a small profit on the tools themselves, but at the end of the day, Snap On and Matco are banks disguised as tool companies, and the real money is in the financing and loans that they sell with the tools and equipment.

 

[SteveV]

I don't believe for a minute that these tool truck companies are losing money with these Student discount programs. They probably don't make as much as they would like to, but they're still in the black. If they were losing money, that would be one of the first things they would cut in a down time.

What these tools cost through the student program is probably close to what they could be priced at if these tool truck companies sold their tools directly without all the middlemen, and also didn't build the financing into the tool's list price.

 

[TRTOOLSUPPLY]

Any of you fellas ever seen what the big tool companies are selling the tools to your Government for?

As a company that deals with and also see the final price these corp's are selling to the gov't for..... the very same sockets and wrenches they sell to you.....I DOUBT THEY ARE LOSING MONEY on student programs!