So Matco is backordered on all ratchets

[warmpancakes]

Just spoke to customer service, I have a ratchet there for warranty, The got it Aug 18th, I was told it would ship Oct 12th due to backorder, Now that date is moved to Dec 14th. so 16 week backorder for a simple 3/8 ratchet, Im sure the "distributors" are loving this

 

[Farmall450]

Maybe they got a big government or industrial contract?

 

[warmpancakes]

nope she told me they are moving the plant to South Carolina, and the flooding in SC stopped work

 

[mechanical turk]

Are all Matco ratchets made by Apex? I sent in an Armstrong ratchet for warranty through the local Fastenal about a month ago, they are replacing it instead of rebuilding it and was told that too is backordered. Haven't gotten an update on another delay but I also haven't heard anything about it coming in. Wouldn't surprise me if it is subject to the same delay. It is a 1" ratchet so I figured the less common size was the factor, if they are backed up on all ratchets I hope it isn't indicative of a large problem with their manufacturing.

 

[warmpancakes]

id make a phone call, when I was on the phone with the very helpful person at matco, she told me there was no other ratchets to swap me to, Im going to call today and see if i can swap to a different tool they will probably do this, Lady was very helpful

 

[Loscaldazar]

This has been an issue with many Apex branded tools (USA made) recently. They consolidated all their operations to one plant, and are struggling to get that plant up and running.

 

[shockwave]

I am having the same issue with 1/4 repair kits that have been back ordered for a month already

 

[afazz]

Interesting. I ordered a 3/8" Armstrong MAXX ratchet from MSC last month and it's on backorder as well.

 

[90zcar]

See if they will transfer the credit over to snap on to get your replacement!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[finn]

I sent a Matco ratchet in for warranty around Sept 1.

Checked on the status Last week and they said it will be in stock Oct 14 and will likely ship Oct 15.

That email response from Matco customer service was probably before the flood, so we'll see.

Likewise, It took over a month to get a replacement from Snapon that I sent in for warranty in late August.

So much for service from the "professional" truck brands.....!

 

[1950mercury]

At least it's not because they are outsourcing them to china...I can live with the waiting

 

[Brownsfan]

Yet.

 

[warmpancakes]

I sent a Matco ratchet in for warranty around Sept 1.

Checked on the status Last week and they said it will be in stock Oct 14 and will likely ship Oct 15.

That email response from Matco customer service was probably before the flood, so we'll see.

Likewise, It took over a month to get a replacement from Snapon that I sent in for warranty in late August.

So much for service from the "professional" truck brands.....!

My first ship date was oct 12th,

 

[popparoach]

My Matco comfort grips don't say USA on them. I was toldits because the plastic is from Taiwan.

 

[Sterff]

I sent one in on 8/25 and was told it was backordered. They said it would ship on 9/30. Called again yesterday and was told about the flood. I asked for a different color ratchet ( I had green) and they are supposedly sending me an orange one. They said most are backordered until December.

 

[Skin]

Wonder if this applies to impact sockets and combo wrenches as well. Wouldn't want to be a Matco distributor without basic products like that. They can thank Danaher for this mess, if they gave a damn they would of gave Matco some dedicated production instead of dumping everything. I still don't understand why they held onto Matco given that.

 

[sha]

This explains so much. Thanks for sharing.

 

[toddoky]

Wonder if this applies to impact sockets and combo wrenches as well. Wouldn't want to be a Matco distributor without basic products like that. They can thank Danaher for this mess, if they gave a damn they would of gave Matco some dedicated production instead of dumping everything. I still don't understand why they held onto Matco given that.

It's possible that the profit margins for Matco branded tools is higher than all the other brands they spun off to form Apex with Cooper.

 

[Brownsfan]

Or Apex didn't want Matco.

 

[toddoky]

Or Apex didn't want Matco.

Danaher formed Apex as a joint venture with Cooper so I would imagine they kept Matco out of the deal because they wanted it for a reason.

 

[Brownsfan]

I meant when Bain bought all those brands maybe they didn't want Matco. I thought the Apex name was formed after Bain acquired all the companies.

 

[Fedwrench]

MATCO doesn't make anything but tool boxes everything else comes from someone else.

 

[snail81]

heck I emailed them about repairing my ratchet sunday and haven't heard a word. Guess I need to call

 

[DirtyWeRX]

My driver said that APEX is in The process of moving plants so it will take a little while. In the mean time, he pulled the guts out of one of his ratchets off the truck to put in mine.

 

[rayh91]

I had that issue trying to warranty my 3/8 long handle locking flex a few months back. He told me it was backordered then. I was pretty annoyed. Eventually got one but it took over a month.

 

[Skin]

It's possible that the profit margins for Matco branded tools is higher than all the other brands they spun off to form Apex with Cooper.

Higher than Gearwrench? Not a chance. The only reason I can think they kept it is because its low overhead. All they have to maintain is a toolbox plant and a distribution center. What the pencil pushers fail to realize is that without product it goes to worthless.

 

[AmishFury]

My Matco comfort grips don't say USA on them. I was toldits because the plastic is from Taiwan.

funny how that works... a little bit of plastic that doesn't really affect how the tool functions makes them stamp TOOLS instead of USA after the MATCO

 

[toddoky]

Higher than Gearwrench? Not a chance. The only reason I can think they kept it is because its low overhead. All they have to maintain is a toolbox plant and a distribution center. What the pencil pushers fail to realize is that without product it goes to worthless.

Since neither of us have access to their accounting metrics I guess we'll never know their actual reasoning for holding on to it. I would guess the margin contribution related to selling truck brand level tool boxes exceeds that of Gearwrench products, but I could be wrong obviously.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Driver said a safety inspector actually shut everything down the first time. And the floods added to it

Does t matter to me. I don't own any ratchets. He did say that's the only thing on back order.

 

[afazz]

Interesting. I ordered a 3/8" Armstrong MAXX ratchet from MSC last month and it's on backorder as well.

I take this back, my ratchet arrived this afternoon.

 

[Vinko]

Danaher formed Apex as a joint venture with Cooper so I would imagine they kept Matco out of the deal because they wanted it for a reason.

What year did Danaher & Cooper form this joint venture, do you know?

 

[toddoky]

2010 according to Wikipedia.

 

[Sterff]

Got my warranty ratchet today. AFR88TM

 

[Vinko]

2010 according to Wikipedia.

Reason I ask is that, AFAIK, Apex wasn't "formed" in 2010 -- it existed well prior to that. We've been using Apex tools since the early 90's (I think recommended by the Snap On man as a matter of fact - because particular things held up better than SO's) -- perhaps I've misunderstood your post though. That said, I wonder if Apex was previously owned by another company.

 

[Skin]

APEX itself is still around making fastener tools and is apart of Apex Tool Group but the latter is different from the single company, instead consisting of all the tool companies Danaher and Cooper spun off. Not sure there was any connection to ultimately choosing that for the name for the spin-off though.

 

[toddoky]

Reason I ask is that, AFAIK, Apex wasn't "formed" in 2010 -- it existed well prior to that. We've been using Apex tools since the early 90's (I think recommended by the Snap On man as a matter of fact - because particular things held up better than SO's) -- perhaps I've misunderstood your post though. That said, I wonder if Apex was previously owned by another company.

As reported by Skin, I'm referring to the Apex corporate identity (ATG), not the Apex brand of tools.

 

[warmpancakes]

Just spoke to customer service, I have a ratchet there for warranty, The got it Aug 18th, I was told it would ship Oct 12th due to backorder, Now that date is moved to Dec 14th. so 16 week backorder for a simple 3/8 ratchet, Im sure the "distributors" are loving this

Just a Update Now matco says the ship date is moved to Jan 4th so they have had the ratchet close to 5 months if is ships Jan 4th

 

[Evan(CA)]

Just a Update Now matco says the ship date is moved to Jan 4th so they have had the ratchet close to 5 months if is ships Jan 4th

And here I sit with a BFR128LFTG that never gets used because I prefer the snappys

 

[mechanical turk]

Curious warmpancakes, did you get an update or get your ratchet back? I'm still waiting on mine, having a hard time getting updates from my Fastenal contact that sent it in to Apex for me.

 

[DSLTRK]

Just a Update Now matco says the ship date is moved to Jan 4th so they have had the ratchet close to 5 months if is ships Jan 4th

That's ridiculous AND absurd. They expect $100 for a Ratchet and this is the level of service you get.



What a shame, the Danaher thin-profile ratchets are one of my favorites. Better use my other brands till this blows over.....