Thought I would email some tool companies

[soulstryke]

On a boring Thursday night a thought came to me! What if I emailed 10 different Hand tool companies, whose tools i have in my toolbox at work and at home, and requested them to send me or Cod me toolbox stickers.

I mean i had nothing to lose and was curious to how these companies would respond to 1 lone individual. I also know that 1 customer service rep does not speak for the entire tool company, but these companies should portray some sort of guidance through their training and practices to these individuals. I was polite and complimented them on the tools of theirs i possess and I contacted all of them through their customer service emails on their webpages.

I'll admit i expected minimal if any responses. So I admit i am pleased with the responses.I ended up emailing these 10 companies, SK, Gearwrench, Craftsman, Snap on, Mac, Proto, Wright, Armstrong, Westward and Jet. Below is a timeline.

Thursday Evening- I fire off the emails and within the hour i get computer generated responses from Proto and Snap on telling me my ticket would be looked at.

Friday 5am-Snap on responds in 1 brief sentence, Sorry no only dealers sell stickers. (our $ provides very fast customer service that is for sure)

8am- Sk responds also briefly in 1 sentence, No problem, would love to send you some SK stickers to show your pride. (Wowza, was most pleased with this response)

830am- Armstrong replies, "we don't have any, But ill have some made up and make sure you get some". (Not going to lie this response amazed me the most)

420pm- Craftsman responded in a long 2 sentence apologetic email stating that they appreciated my business but could not help me out.

6pm- Mac responds, they agreed to send me some samples, but directed me to their online store for the full sticker pack. (this is quite fair IMO, Was hoping Snap On would give me a response like this)

And thats all i heard so far, it is after all only technically the 2nd business day since i sent the email. If i hear more ill update the post. I am expecting to hear from wright, but i have already assumed Proto has junked my email. The lower brands i emailed are also doubtful IMO.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Channellock and Klein have been more than happy to send stuff out. Nice people to deal with.

 

[gsea]

Not surprised by SK's response. They really seemed to have figured out their market and how to keep us happy. I spent a good hour chatting with the SK reps at SEMA this year and they hooked me up with a few tool "samples" and were great guys to talk to.

 

[Glock Ness Monster]

I to received a very nice response from Sk when I emailed them about a printed catalog. I quickly got a response from Sk stating they would send me a catalog. Few days later I, recieved a full color catalog as well as a signed letter thanking me for my business and interest. Much better than the response I got from Armstrong, which was zip, nada, no response at all. I promptly ordered some SK tools.

 

[3baygarage]

Very cool experiment. I expect at least 100 emails to S-K in the next 24 hours, LOL.

 

[soulstryke]

Kinda a update, knew Wright would respond. No sticker but they sent me a catalog

 

[soulstryke]

holy image size.........uh ......my bad lol

 

[kac0825]

Ingersoil rand, channellock, east wing and gator tools all were more then willing to send me stickers as well. My car box is full of them.

 

[Jomo]

Wow.
Something as simple as a few stickers to make a customer happy.
And to have that customer help market their brand.
Huge marketing fail for all but SK in my humble opinion.
Definitely an interesting experiment.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Stickers are expensive yo!

It's nice of some of them to send you swag but maybe they should just include it with a purchase of a set like they do with some of the retail brands...er...one of the retail brands. It was a fancy sticker too.

 

[soulstryke]

Ya, a few other guys at my work have stickers from parts companies. They would get them with random belts or other various items or suppliers. Why not tool companies as well.

 

[383 240z]

I am AMAZED at how my customers react to a simple sticker. I can't tell you how many times I've had either a wary new customer, an unreasonably upset repete customer become completely enthraled with us simply because I threw a sticker in the box with his parts.

I have a file of e-mails on my desktop full of replys from guys thanking me for such a simple act. I had a guy who was upset that UPS damaged his parts, he wanted the replacement right away, however I need the damaged parts back before I can send out the replacement, (don't jump on me about this every company does this). He did not have the cash or credit to buy another. I tried every trick in the book to calm him down, and get him what he needed, when he needed it. I offered him 15% off his next order, I offered him a gift card, and a few other things, he refused them all. Finally he called me back with a buddys credit card, still refused my offers, said he would pay the full price so he didn't feel like he owed us anything, and never deal with us again.

I gave my warehouse guy a handfull of stickers and a keychain to be put in his order and I gave him free 2 day shipping. He has been a loyal customer of mine for 3 years now, he spends about 13K a year with me. All for 5-6 stickers. Keith

 

[spongerich]

I sent out a bunch of requests a while back.. mostly to parts and accessories companies and motocross gear makers.

The absolute best reply I got was an email from the president of PB Blaster.
He thanked me for my loyalty and asked if he could use my comments on their website.
He also said to expect a package from them with his compliments.

When it arrived, there were a few stickers, a hat and 6 cans of their products!

 

[Arne73]

Every time I've ordered from Rockauto they've sent magnets with pictures cool cars on them. Nice touch, I've got quite a collection now.

 

[Davefr]

Starrett is one of the best with promotional items. They'll send you real useful stuff like large machinist tap and drill posters, conversion reference cards, catalogs, etc.

 

[Westly]

I wouldn't settle for less than a bikini calendar.

 

[wornoutoldman]

Shameless plug here.

For the guys looking for contact info for stickers and swag:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=223925

 

[Ric in Richmond]

One of the guys who supplies parts for my kawasaki. (Search kwick and els) always includes stickers and candy bars in every shipment.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[diggerrick]

I sent out a bunch of requests a while back.. mostly to parts and accessories companies and motocross gear makers.

The absolute best reply I got was an email from the president of PB Blaster.
He thanked me for my loyalty and asked if he could use my comments on their website.
He also said to expect a package from them with his compliments.

When it arrived, there were a few stickers, a hat and 6 cans of their products!

Great company right here in Ohio.

 

[Farmall450]

Very cool experiment. I expect at least 100 emails to S-K in the next 24 hours, LOL.

I'm gonna be one of them!

 

[carcajou]

Oh no! More stickers and decals to take off when i buy used tool chests. At least most of the new ones come off easy enough.

 

[soulstryke]

after seeing kac0835 post, I sent out emails to Channellock and IG also. Channellock responded the next day and said they would love to send me some. I am really impressed with these i guess you would call them smaller than the big 3 tool brands.

 

[rlitman]

Oh no! More stickers and decals to take off when i buy used tool chests. At least most of the new ones come off easy enough.

There's no way I'd be allowed to apply a sticker on my wife's Snap On tool chest. But there's a way around that. Get a blank magnetic sheet, apply the sticker to that, cut around the edges, and slap the magnet on your toolbox, refrigerator, whatever you feel like for that day. Problem solved.

 

[GreaseMonkey45170]

I have never gotten wright to respond to an email, Which one are you guys using, cause the one on the website never has gotten resonded to.

 

[oxycodone]

One of the guys who supplies parts for my kawasaki. (Search kwick and els) always includes stickers and candy bars in every shipment.

Yeah, but Kwick is a one-man shop who really knows his target audience: Old, fat guys with fat wallets and ZRXes.


(Pete is good people )

 

[soulstryke]

wright never said anything to me just sent me a book.

 

[JBradley500]

I still appreciate the auto body store my dad used to get the naked lady calendars from in the 80's. God bless America!

 

[Hammell]

I sent Wright an email, A lady sent me an envelope with lots of Wright stickers and a few metric to sae conversion chart stickers, also made by Wright. I stuck one of each on my tool box. Also got a tool catalogue but it seems they haven't updated in a few years. Maybe try contacting them thru Facebook?

 

[Cyclones6]

Every time I've ordered from Rockauto they've sent magnets with pictures cool cars on them. Nice touch, I've got quite a collection now.

Just starting mine.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

 

[davesnothere]

Try knipex. They hook up fat swag boxes.

 

[Waggoner72]

Just starting mine.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

I work at a rockauto warehouse part time, I may of put those magnets in for ya!


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[Stuey]

Every now and then I get emails asking for stickers, a t-shirt, or pen. I looked into how much these things would cost to have made up - customized promotional swag is very pricey!

Once I noticed a difference between a new product I ordered and how it's described on the brand's website. They thanked me for bringing the discrepancy to their attention. I asked for a sticker or small doodad as a thank you. They sent me two rolls of printed toilet paper and two mini matchhead boxes. Best swag ever.

 

[Farmall450]

Just starting mine.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

Same here!
Restored w/ rock auto parts I believe.

 

[Travisnd]

Shameless plug here.

For the guys looking for contact info for stickers and swag:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=223925

As previously mentioned, if you guys check out this thread, you'll see what companies will send stuff and what they will send!!!

 

[Cyclones6]

I work at a rockauto warehouse part time, I may of put those magnets in for ya!


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Nice! Its the only place I order for parts for my Sonata.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

 

[uniballer]

I just spend the last hour do this! Here is the list of who I emailed.

Proto
Snap-on
S&K
Gearwrench
Craftsman
Mac
Wright
Armstrong
Channellock
Klein
Starrett
PB Plaster
Kennedy

Hope I get some goodies! Starrett offers posters, data sheets and tons of stuff, all you have to do is contact them!

 

[Steinmetz]

When I worked as an engineer for The Boeing Company (a long time ago), I would routinely carry various company-generated promotional stickers with me on field trips. I found that maintenance mechanics at various carriers universally enjoyed receiving them. Later, I took other, more valuable "swag", like logo-inscribed coffee cups and pen knives.

It generated enormous goodwill.

 

[uniballer]

all of them besides two have responded!!!!! Excited!

 

[Rickedstyles]

How did you approach Starrett? Since they probably don't have stickers..just ask for posters or charts? I lost my chart at home (I like the small card ones)
Which email at Blastercorp? looks like you can go straight to the top there

 

[jeffmoss26]

Starrett has a place on their website to order promotional stuff.
Blaster is local to me, I still need to stop by for a visit.