So Matco is backordered on all ratchets

[warmpancakes]

Just got off the phone with matco, at tomorrow is 4/29 expected ship date or 8.5 months , jeff on the phone didnt feel confident that they would ship tomorrow, said call back monday for a update

 

[anndel]

Wow, I would go with Mac or Snap On (which I did) instead of waiting that long.

 

[warmpancakes]

i have all snap ons these were laying around broken for years, so i mailed them in, they will be sold quickly after

 

[48548]

Just got off the phone with matco, at tomorrow is 4/29 expected ship date or 8.5 months , jeff on the phone didnt feel confident that they would ship tomorrow, said call back monday for a update

I hope you aren't making/losing money with these ratchets.

 

[warmpancakes]

nope, if monday I get a new date ill be requesting a credit for the retail price of the three ratchets so i can purchase something different

 

[panknuckshovel]

Wow!!!!! Almost close to dealing with Babs in this whole mess.

 

[Skin]

I spoke to my Matco dealer about this and he hinted that Matco might be looking at having another company outside of the Apex group to make them. Don't know if he has the straight 411 but he knows its having a big negative impact that will be a long term problem for them since some techs are stepping onto Snap On trucks because of this.

TheGrooveking

I assume the patents went with Apex so I don't see how they could. Different ratchets sure but doubt they're going to make the same ones state side through another manufacturer any time soon. Sad to say but the most likely thing i'd see them doing is using Gearwrench factories. Their own fault for not securing some dedicated tool production when Danaher was having the fire sale (of sorts).

 

[ianguilly]

Ha my Matco guy keeps asking why I don't want to try one of his ratchets.

 

[Brownsfan]

This thread got me thinking. I looked through my box and van real quick and Matco is the one tool truck brand that I don't own ONE single tool from. My area just got a brand new Matco dealer and I have been on his truck at one of the dealers I service. I do want a set of the screwdrivers. I really like the way they feel. Oh and he didn't have ONE non silver eagle ratchet on the truck. I really do want to give the guy some business though. He is a really nice guy and is a former tech so I will be buying some stuff from him

 

[HomeTheaterMan]

I also don't generally buy Matco tools and this thread makes me glad of it.

My main reason is that when I worked in a shop our local Matco rep was horrible in every way. I bought a couple of things from him and they seemed like pieces of ****. After that, I lost pretty much all respect for the brand.

I'm also not a huge Apex fan. I love my Gearwrenches, but when I had to deal with their warranty recently it was a pita and cost me more in shipping to send the item back than I'd originally paid for the item. Then I had to wait for them receive it, then ship me another one. Honestly, if I'd needed the tool to do my job I'd have been in trouble.


IMO, if buying professional level tools I'd never even consider Matco over Snap On.

 

[zeroj8]

So i called in to check the status on my ratchet that's been backordered since 1/18/16. The very nice lady on the phone apologized that they were on backorder and the date has been moved back to 5/27 and then said that it is not set in stone and may change again. After that I ask if I can exchange it for a different tool, and give the part number for a 3/8" Dial type torque wrench, she goes on to tell me that is on backorder, and before I can ask about anything else, she said that all sockets, ratchets, wrenches, and torque wrenches were currently on backorder.

How can basically all of the general line tools be on backorder, I know for a fact I still see the trucks on the road.

 

[yamaha0343]

Snap On has to be loving this!

 

[smittyjones]

My Matco guy says they're going to be ADV ratchets when they come in. Mine's been backordered since like November.

 

[warmpancakes]

just called back in. F riday I was told shipping Monday, today im told June. 10 months for a ratchet. time to talk to the Attorney generals office in Ohio about a consumer fraud case


I have 3 ratchets in for warranty retail value 293.75

 

[Murphy4570]

Wow dude, what a joke. I never did like Matco ratchets. They always break too easily.

 

[Dr. Jekyll]

Holy cow that's nuts! Does Matco have any reps on this board?

 

[warmpancakes]

not that im aware of, ive been quietly blasting them on facebook that will be getting more vocal soon

 

[Dr. Jekyll]

Very disappointing to hear this. I just started to upgrade all my tools and I can see how this news won't build any confidence in the company.

 

[panknuckshovel]

Ha my Matco guy keeps asking why I don't want to try one of his ratchets.

Does he laugh or cry when you tell him that he knows why?

 

[finn]

I guess it's a waste of time to email Matco for an update on the status of the replacement for the ratchet I sent in for warranty on September 1 then.

Thanks for the GJ status report.

Lucky I'm a patient guy.

 

[Dr. Jekyll]

Saw a post on their page about a 9 month wait on ratchets then watched it promptly get deleted. I wonder why they don't want to address it? I get you can't fulfill the orders but a timeline and guidance would be nice.

 

[smittyjones]

I just tweeted at them, "@matcotools Maaaaaaaaaaan, when are ratchets coming in? It's been like 6 months since mine broke."

In the past they've always responded (like when we didn't have a rep, but had broken tools), but hasn't always gotten anything done.

 

[DemoFly]

I don't think I would be patient enough to not cause a scene if this happened to me.

 

[finn]

I don't think I would be patient enough to not cause a scene if this happened to me.

Life's too short to get upset because of a $75 tool.

 

[Skin]

So i called in to check the status on my ratchet that's been backordered since 1/18/16. The very nice lady on the phone apologized that they were on backorder and the date has been moved back to 5/27 and then said that it is not set in stone and may change again. After that I ask if I can exchange it for a different tool, and give the part number for a 3/8" Dial type torque wrench, she goes on to tell me that is on backorder, and before I can ask about anything else, she said that all sockets, ratchets, wrenches, and torque wrenches were currently on backorder.

How can basically all of the general line tools be on backorder, I know for a fact I still see the trucks on the road.

I sent in a whole bunch of combo wrenches a couple weeks ago. 7 day turn around and they looked like new production with much cleaner forgings. Both the original and replacements were USA.

They don't even make their chrome sockets. Sounds like you were getting stories. Either it was a green CSR who was unsure of what to do or they're trying to deter people from getting credit-which would be odd.

 

[ianguilly]

Does he laugh or cry when you tell him that he knows why?

He freaked out when I first met him and asked if matco was having ratchet issues still. He seemed surprised that I knew about it. I guess they don't want to be to vocal about it.

 

[Dr. Jekyll]

I hope those of you waiting on fulfillment of backorders get them soon. Keep us prayed when you do please. Thanks!

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

that *****, i have 1/4 that keeps slipping, had been warrantied 2 times before( matco put new guts)

 

[Dr. Jekyll]

I didn't realize they were troublesome, I'm just looking to grab a couple of their shorty 3/8", maybe it's time to look elsewhere.

 

[10thanncobra]

It took me 6 months to get a head kit for my 1/2 torque wrench sent out. Couldnt even get the district rep who i bought my double bank box from to even help me out. Numerous calls and emails,months later it just randomly showed up.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Now I don't really regret not trying a matco ratchet. All mine are red. That being said my last driveway had a few rebuild kits. I'm not sure if he still does. He was one of the top 25 dealers idk if they get priority

 

[1982fxr]

glad I got my Armstrong 88's when i did...

 

[Brownsfan]

I sent in a whole bunch of combo wrenches a couple weeks ago. 7 day turn around and they looked like new production with much cleaner forgings. Both the original and replacements were USA.

They don't even make their chrome sockets. Sounds like you were getting stories. Either it was a green CSR who was unsure of what to do or they're trying to deter people from getting credit-which would be odd.

Who makes Matco chrome sockets. I'm pretty sure it's not apex.

 

[Skin]

Who makes Matco chrome sockets. I'm pretty sure it's not apex.

Apex/Danaher never made their basic chrome sockets. National Machine Group in Stow Ohio has been making them for something like 30 years. Supposedly they started using imported steel stock around 2010 so everything lost the USA stamp.

 

[TheGrooveking]

Apex/Danaher never made their basic chrome sockets. National Machine Group in Stow Ohio has been making them for something like 30 years. Supposedly they started using imported steel stock around 2010 so everything lost the USA stamp.

From the beginning of Matco being its own tool company they had Wright making their sockets until 93/94, then I thought they were made in the same manufacturing plant as Armstrong?

TheGrooveking

 

[LB-1911]

From the beginning of Matco being its own tool company they had Wright making their sockets until 93/94, then I thought they were made in the same manufacturing plant as Armstrong?

TheGrooveking

Additional information -

Cut & paste from 4th paragraph of their History page -

Our Industrial Products Division, NMG Industrial, located in Stow, Ohio, engineers and manufactures specialty tools including Matco® sockets, Matco® air tools,

http://www.nmgaerospace.com/about-us/history/

 

[TheGrooveking]

LB-1911, Thank you for the education. Interesting info.

TheGrooveking

 

[TigerDude]

How can basically all of the general line tools be on backorder, I know for a fact I still see the trucks on the road.

Because being made in the USA doesn't always mean a company knows what they are doing.

 

[Wamsutta]

Are you guys saying that Cornwell ratchets are now easier to get than Matco ratchets?

 

[Dr. Jekyll]

I also wonder what the franchisees are selling if the manufacture can't get any products to them. Can't sustain a business model like that for too long.