Question is, how many of you get more than one visit a week from the same driver? I'd imagine not very many. While I love how the Snap On truck pulls right up to our door, it would be kinda nice not to have to wait a week (or sometimes more) to receive a tool that I had ordered. Going to a Sears is about a 45 mile round-trip out of the way for me, so yes...the convenience is there of having them come to you. Also aware that the routes that most drivers have won't allow them to visit more than once a week. My shop only has two mechanics...myself and someone else. The only tool truck to visit is Snap On, but surely some shops get a visit from several different brands thru the week.
Tool truck visits
- Thread starter mds47588
- Start date
venturesomerite
Well-known member
My snap on guy is pretty good. He'll bring a tool in before a scheduled visit if I ask him too, aka tell him I really need it.
Last week I got him to come to a job site (not even the shop where he normally goes) just to warranty a 8 mm socket.
Last week I got him to come to a job site (not even the shop where he normally goes) just to warranty a 8 mm socket.
mudflap
Well-known member
At the County garages, most of us buy all our tools from NAPA now. Our NAPA guy is at the shop every day, sometimes twice a day, delivering parts. They have a full line of very good professional tools. Usually have anything in stock that you want, or need to warranty. But next day if it needs to be ordered in. In my opinion quality is just as good as snappy, at half the price, plus shop price is 20% less than a walk in would get. If you have a NAPA near you, you should consider checking them out. http://www.carlyletools.com/
chrisa7164
Well-known member
When I was at the dealership the tool trucks came in weekly like clockwork. Monday was mac tools..Wednesday was matco..and Thursday was snap on. If you did order something and it came in they would usually drop it off before their normally scheduled visit if you needed it beforehand.
We get Snap-On and Mac on Thursday, and Matco and an independent gentleman on Friday. If you're polite and don't miss payments any of the big 3 there will gladly stop by any day of the week and sometimes even in their personal vehicles. Mutual respect and good business etiquette can go a long way with tool truck drivers.. from my personal experience, whatever that's worth.
F-Bobby
Well-known member
It's really hard for my area to maintain a snap on dealer. Don't know why, but they have a huge turnover rate. We just got a cornwell guy and he seems to be decent. But our best tool truck is our Mac Tools guy, he's Been on the route for 20+ years and is very consistant.
Flivver250
Well-known member
+1 Tool salesman absorb a large amount of bad debt because of a large percentage of dirtbag buyers. 10% is not uncommon. Honoring agreements and giving them business go a long way.
sberry
Banned
We use the parts store too, deliver daily
HighPlainsWrencher
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- Jun 10, 2013
- Messages
- 218
weekly visits from Cornwell and Snap On. If I am calling them anytime else its usually not for a ratchet, socket or wrench and if I am I can get by for a week without it. If I need something that is not tool truck specific its gloves off, the first company to have it in stock for a price I am willing to pay and can get it to me as quick as I am willing to pay for then I will buy it from them. Whether its the local parts store, tool truck or a company on the internet.
^^Yes, very true. I make sure I take care of him and he takes care of me. 2 years once a week with the same driver and I have never missed a payment and usually pay more than the minimum. A good relationship with your driver is key in getting taken care of, getting good deals, and getting dibs on things off the truck before others. Respect goes a long ways.
Chris83
Well-known member
At my previous shop I would go months with out seeing a truck until I started buying more from snap-on. Before I quit I was seeing the snap-on truck at least twice a week.
Now at my new shop snap-on truck comes Tuesday mornings and Mac every other Friday.
Now at my new shop snap-on truck comes Tuesday mornings and Mac every other Friday.
jjjrmx5
Well-known member
Part of a large route here.
Snap-On once a week.
Mac once a week, but at times every other week.
SO driver does warranty/replacement/swap/fix work right there on the truck in most cases.
S-O drivers get two or three shipments a week from Kenosha as part of the deal to keep the product and order chain flowing. Or at least those drivers with good balances.
i've seen the SO driver do a special stop if the tool crib or purchasing needs a specialorder or emergency order filled, and I have had my SO driver drop ship on his account from WI an item or items to my house if a week wait time was too long.
Good drivers know their route and cutomers well. And treat them accordingly.
80/20 rule still in effect.
Snap-On once a week.
Mac once a week, but at times every other week.
SO driver does warranty/replacement/swap/fix work right there on the truck in most cases.
S-O drivers get two or three shipments a week from Kenosha as part of the deal to keep the product and order chain flowing. Or at least those drivers with good balances.
i've seen the SO driver do a special stop if the tool crib or purchasing needs a specialorder or emergency order filled, and I have had my SO driver drop ship on his account from WI an item or items to my house if a week wait time was too long.
Good drivers know their route and cutomers well. And treat them accordingly.
80/20 rule still in effect.
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warmpancakes
Well-known member
I usually see my snap on guy on tuesday as my scheduled stop, But hes never more than 10 minutes away, 3 or so weeks ago Needed a 3/4 drive torque wrench for work, he had to order it from Crystal lake, it was dropshipped redlabel , and snap on was cheaper than or normal sources (fastenal grainger)
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
I don't work in a shop, so I call my driver whenever I want to meet up. He is usually at the city service dept just down the street Tuesday mornings.
Our tool crib supplier is here 3 days a week (vendor managed inventory).
Our tool crib supplier is here 3 days a week (vendor managed inventory).
Heavy Metal Doctor
Well-known member
When I started, we had 4 different trucks stopping here once a week each. It's a very busy area and none of the dealers have ever had time to make 2 visits a week on a regular basis.
SO is the closest we have had to what I would call reliable or consistent and the SO guys have always gone the extra mile - deliver stuff that's really needed, meet up close buy when on a different day / route, and even offer to come in after hours to set up a new tool box or equipment if help is needed.
The only other brand serving our industrial neighborhood these days is a Matco guy who never stops here.
SO is the closest we have had to what I would call reliable or consistent and the SO guys have always gone the extra mile - deliver stuff that's really needed, meet up close buy when on a different day / route, and even offer to come in after hours to set up a new tool box or equipment if help is needed.
The only other brand serving our industrial neighborhood these days is a Matco guy who never stops here.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
I wanted to try them out but NONE of my local Napas have them just Evercraft
Get on the Carlyle website and order a free catalog. Any Napa should be able to order what you need within that book even if they don't stock it.Also sign up for the Carlyle club,you get a card and an additional discount on the tools in the CHT line.
thinman
Well-known member
I don't work in a shop but I buy from a SO guy who is really good about ordering stuff and keeping his schedule. He works in my area at least a few days a week, so I text him and he gets back with where I can catch him.
Loscaldazar
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- Feb 23, 2013
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abvw
Well-known member
My Snap-On driver covers a big route, so I normally see him once biweekly, but he has no problem dropping by any time he's got something in for me.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
There were different amounts on different items. I think on a socket set or something I priced between $45-$60, it was $5 or 6 bucks cheaper.Not bad for just signing up on line. It only applies for items under the CHT name though, other items exempt. More than likely they won't beat Lowes on prices but I like my Napa tools and get good service so I go there.
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Strange, I suppose if it was a private store instead of Corporate they could opt out, however every Napa around here is well stocked with the Carlyle line.
mudflap
Well-known member
We have 3 or 4 Napa stores in the area. It does seem like some are more intrested in selling the Carlyle line than others. Our parts guy runs out of their main warehouse, so he can bring us almost anything in their catalog on his next parts run. We do everything from PMs on police/fire vehicles, to repair / service plows/dump hydraulics/heavy equipment/emergency apparatus. When we need something big (over 1-1/4), or a speciality tool, it might be next day They have an easy line of credit for the guys that want to go that route. Sure beats the tool truck guys. Waiting a week, or lose a route, stop coming when you have a toolbox full of their stuff....(been down that road) Price is above KOBALT/CRAFTSMAN, probably in the ballpark with GEARWRENCH. Give them a shot . I guarantee you will not be disappointed by their quality, or warranty........
mudflap
Well-known member
http://www.carlyletools.com/...................
wafrederick
Well-known member
Matco comes in on Fridays,I pay him on the spot if I ever owe money.My Matco tool dealer was trying to find a deadbeat customer,bought a toolbox from him and was not making payments on it.Did finally find him.Even repoed some tools from another deadbeat customer,owed $400.00 and never paid it off yet.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
There are no Napa/Carlyle ratcheting wrenches, However they do stock a wide variety of GearWrench ratchet wrenches. Atleast my local store, from the xl long to the stubbies, reversible, etc. I'm not sure who the OEM is for a lot of it,but it's not all from the same place. Infar makes the long combo wrenches,someone else said King Tony may be involved in some others.I have found out whoever produced the Cornwell 72 mechanism apparently makes the ratcheting mechanism for the Carlyle 90 tooth ratchets. The design is the same.
Part of the reason they can't keep a good tool guy is a lot of wrenches think they can be the Snap On guy, with no retail background, they fail.
I had a good friend who was a snap on dealer, he was very successful until he took on 2 additional trucks, and that was his downfall, had he kept just the one truck, he would have been able to survive.
The guys he hired were wrenches and didn't care about his business like he did.
That is the truth right there, my buddy had 15% bad debt on 2 trucks, and his drivers were getting run over with bad debt. That caused him to lose all 3 trucks.
He spent quite a bit of time in court trying to recoup his goods or money.
Brownsfan
Well-known member
Yes it is nice.2 walls full of all sorts of tools. Usually 2 tool sales a year with deep discounts,and the real deals catalog which gets you some good deals.It's a nice place to go for tools and service but don't expect the discounts/savings you'd get on line.
davesnothere
Well-known member
matco comes thursday.
snap-on comes friday.
mac used to come by on wednesday. now he only comes by if one of us wants to buy something or owes him money.
we dont see him much.
snap-on comes friday.
mac used to come by on wednesday. now he only comes by if one of us wants to buy something or owes him money.
we dont see him much.
Heavy tech
Well-known member
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- Sep 16, 2013
- Messages
- 272
The last place I worked, Snap-on came every other Monday, 10am, you could set your watch by him. But he was 60 miles away, so extra trips were pretty much out of the question. he could send something out on the courier if if was an emergency.
There isn't any dealers that regularly come to the shop I work at now, because it is a secure facility, and it's a pain in the *** for them to get through security. But they will come if we call ahead with an order.
I also buy a lot of Ultra Pro tools from Napa. I wish they would bring the Carlyle line to Canada, but it doesn't look like they plan to anytime soon.
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There isn't any dealers that regularly come to the shop I work at now, because it is a secure facility, and it's a pain in the *** for them to get through security. But they will come if we call ahead with an order.
I also buy a lot of Ultra Pro tools from Napa. I wish they would bring the Carlyle line to Canada, but it doesn't look like they plan to anytime soon.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It's tool man tuesdays at my shop. mac at 11, independent guy at 2 and matco at 4....best relationship is with matco and he will come whenever i text him and it helps that he lives a few blocks from my house so it's like having a tool store a minute away on the weekends. snap on comes to the shop next to mine on mondays, has never stepped foot into my shop, which ***** for him because i spent 75k with the other dealers over the years. been wrenching for 12 years and have never even met a snap on dealer.
shockwave
Well-known member
Cornwell matco ans snap on come once a week they are all pretty good I never really had to have them come by 2 times in a week thou