Uh-oh (Toptul)

[mrholeshot]

Once you guys get all your wishes from TopTul (full inventory, multiple dealers, fast service, state-side distribution hubs, easy web purchasing, fast callbacks, email support, etc. etc. etc.) then TopTul prices will no longer be the bargain they are now.

All the service you guys want, will inevitably raise the price of TopTul. Yep. Worth repeating: All your service demands will push the prices right up. Don't say I didn't warn you.

"There is no free lunch."

Yeah but one of the most expensive tools you can buy is the one you can't get service on. No matter how cheap it is. If you are going to price yourself over Craftsman you better at least have the same service. HF sells a good extra long wrench set. The biggest gripe people have is it skips a size or two in the metric. TopTul builds the wrench so why not build skipless sets? For me when a set skips sizes like 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 one or more in all but two sets. To me this really makes the set loose appeal. It's like they want to sell you the fillers at big money.

 

[Bull]

For me when a set skips sizes like 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 one or more in all but two sets. To me this really makes the set loose appeal. It's like they want to sell you the fillers at big money.

Does TopTul offer those missing sizes, separately? If so, you could just order them in bulk, then offer your custmers complete sets by adding them to the sets that are missing those sizes.

I don't think anything from TopTul costs "big money" btw.

 

[mrholeshot]

Does TopTul offer those missing sizes, separately? If so, you could just order them in bulk, then offer your custmers complete sets by adding them to the sets that are missing those sizes.

I don't think anything from TopTul costs "big money" btw.

Yes they offer them seperatly. I could order them in bulk but people like those plastic trays.

 

[Bull]

Yes they offer them seperatly. I could order them in bulk but people like those plastic trays.

You would know better than I, having been a pro wrench for a long time.

I personally have no attachment to the plastic trays, and prefer to store myself in some of the other organizational aids that are available.

 

[mrholeshot]

You would know better than I, having been a pro wrench for a long time.

I personally have no attachment to the plastic trays, and prefer to store myself in some of the other organizational aids that are available.

I toss the trays myself but have seen a lot of guys walk away from a good deal on a set of loose wrenches. I prefer racks. I wish Snap-On would bring them back

 

[Bull]

Maybe you could offer your full sets in racks, with a still-attractive price? Just ideas from an amateur, but it seems like an ok solution to the problem.

 

[mrholeshot]

Maybe you could offer your full sets in racks, with a still-attractive price? Just ideas from an amateur, but it seems like an ok solution to the problem.

Only if it's cost effective.

 

[ultgar]

As a dealer/distributor for high end tools and shop products, I am very impressed with the quality of Toptul. Great quality at a cheap price.

Sales were a bit slower than I antipated (I probably sell 5-6 Facom items for every Toptul item) and as such, I am still working off my large opening stock order. A second stock order (the folks at Toptul like orders over $10k) had been postponed back in June due to unexpected expenses and now it looks like a 2nd stock order will be submitted in the next week. The only downside is the 45 day delivery time from Taiwan to NJ.

I looked at a few other Taiwanese lines (JTC, Genius, Sonic) and it still looks like Toptul has the broadest selection (Sonic and JTC have more automotive specialty tools) and the best finish. The main thing Toptul has going against it is the expectation of poor quality due to country of origin. Many Snap-on, Mac and Facom tools are coming out of the same country at 3-6 times the price of the similar Toptul item.

I still have some Toptul left and dropped all the online pricing 20% to make room for the next stock order.

As to the tool set packaging, Toptul offers blow-mold case sets, metal box sets, and plastic module trays. I personally like the foam module trays (Sonic has a broad selection here) but had to go with their plastic modules for now....great form to tool control. SD

 

[swaterbenny]

I still have some Toptul left and dropped all the online pricing 20% to make room for the next stock order.

Do you still have all the stuff listed on the site in stock? Also do you need a promotional code for the 20% off? Thanks, Ben

 

[Vinko]

Once you guys get all your wishes from TopTul (full inventory, multiple dealers, fast service, state-side distribution hubs, easy web purchasing, fast callbacks, email support, etc. etc. etc.) then TopTul prices will no longer be the bargain they are now.

All the service you guys want, will inevitably raise the price of TopTul. Yep. Worth repeating: All your service demands will push the prices right up. Don't say I didn't warn you.

"There is no free lunch."

Let me just be contrary here: If it's true there's a 45 day lead time and a 10K minimum order, this isn't too bad if you can plan and have the cash flow. What it means is stateside a distributor (not a dealer) has got to make a big investment in carrying inventory. You set up the right website, and spend quite a bit more than 10K, and you might have a chance. That's assuming that Toptul's easy to deal with, would respect certain distributor areas, etc

I don't see the price of toptul going higher because of this. Maybe the 20% discount on already low prices wouldn't be offered as much as they've been by Ultgar and Wren....

Of course who wants to be a stocking distributor these days? Everyone wants to be a web jocket and just set up a site and have some other poor schmo drop ship on behalf of their customer

 

[tonydanzah]

also interested in the 20%

 

[ultgar]

also interested in the 20%

There is no additional 20%. The online pricing for most of the Toptul items listed in my online store http://www.ultimategarage.com/shop/index.php?cPath=755 were adjusted down back in July. For example, the 1/2" drive deep socket set was $110.00 at http://www.ultimategarage.com/shop/part.php?products_id=2928 and now is down to $88.00 .

SD

 

[ultgar]

Let me just be contrary here: If it's true there's a 45 day lead time and a 10K minimum order, this isn't too bad if you can plan and have the cash flow. What it means is stateside a distributor (not a dealer) has got to make a big investment in carrying inventory. You set up the right website, and spend quite a bit more than 10K, and you might have a chance. That's assuming that Toptul's easy to deal with, would respect certain distributor areas, etc

I don't see the price of toptul going higher because of this. Maybe the 20% discount on already low prices wouldn't be offered as much as they've been by Ultgar and Wren....

I think pricing would go higher with a US importer. I looked at Genius and a lot of the same items that Toptul sells are 25-30% higher through Genius. The cost of maintaining the US importer ( and some degree of profit for its owners) will have to be paid for out of the margins on the products meaning higher cost to the dealers and less dealer profit or higher end-user cost. SD

 

[Vinko]

I think pricing would go higher with a US importer. I looked at Genius and a lot of the same items that Toptul sells are 25-30% higher through Genius. The cost of maintaining the US importer ( and some degree of profit for its owners) will have to be paid for out of the margins on the products meaning higher cost to the dealers and less dealer profit or higher end-user cost. SD

Steve: no doubt you're right. I poorly wordedd my message and meant to say stocking distributor (who sells from an internet store front direct) vs. someone who simply is an internet jockey that has tools "drop shipped".

I could see a guy who, like you, stocks, but who say makes (I presume) much larger order or orders regularly, might be able to do quite well if other factors were in place.

That said, I wouldn't envy trying to build a rep. on the 'net. A double-edged sword no doubt. And perhaps a fickle audience.

 

[mjozefow]

Mrholeshot, I'm not sure how I would feel dealing in Toptul stuff. If a guy like Mike, who was known for stellar customer service and quick turnaround can't get orders out, then maybe the problem lies in the company.

Perhaps Mike screwed up, but it seems odd that someone with the rave reviews he had would not have been able to make it work. Makes you think...

It sounds like you are a savvy guy and have been around the block. I have faith in your judgment.

 

[dede2897234]

I purchased from Mike Wren early this week the following Toptul hand tools:

- model # CAHA0840, 1/4" drive universal joint $2.95
- model # CAAA0806, 1/4" drive, 6" regular extension bar $1.90
- model # AAAA1616, 16mm standard combination wrench with 15* offset $5.44
- model # AAAA1818, 18mm standard combination wrench with 15* offset $6.91
- model # AAAB2020, 20mm standard combination wrench with 15* offset $8.65
- model # AAAB2121, 21mm standard combination wrench with 15* offset $9.17
- model # AAAB2222, 22mm standard combination wrench with 15* offset $9.27

This is my first hand tool purchase from him. Mike gave me a 20% discount and the total came to $35.43 (not including the $10.20 U.S.P.S. medium box, flat rate, priority shipping). He shipped out my package on Wednesday (from Spokane, WA) and I received it on Friday. The quality of the full polish hand tools is amazing for the price!

The key to a successful transaction with Mike Wren (as well as Rob from South Bay Tools) is multiple phone calls (early in the morning) plus e-mails when placing the order, possible order modifications, payment, and shipment. If you do not call him at each point in the transaction, there will be days of delay in the order process. Like was mentioned above, he is very busy with his career in investments.

Even though he is busy, Mike is a pleasure to converse with and cares about satisfying the customer.

Mike told me that his next, smaller shipment from Toptul will arrive within the next 2 to 4 months. In addition, he plans on continuing to place smaller shipments with Toptul in the future to meet customer demand of desired Toptul hand tools. Lastly, Mike is planning a clearance sale within the next month or so for certain hand tools. He is currently setting up for the clearance sale. Once the set up is complete, Mike is going to contact 10 of his existing customers at a time. In addition to the normal 20% Garage Journal discount, Mike will add an additional 10% off.


Dave

 

[dede2897234]

At the end of September, I purchased from "TheToolChest.Ca" the following Toptul satin finish, standard length, metric, combination wrench set:

http://www.thetoolchest.ca/products/16PC-Combination-Wrench-Boxed-Set-%28Metric%29.html.

I contacted their customer service department via their online form about the availability of the wrench set. They do not list a phone number anywhere on the website. Within several hours, I received a friendly, informative response via my e-mail address.

The wrench set was shipped out by "TheToolChest" the next day via U.S.P.S. Priority International Mail Parcel service. I am glad that they still offer CAD $10.00 flat rate shipping for a heavy wrench set. It took one week for the package to arrive from their operations in Canada to my home. The manufacturing precise and application of the satin chrome on the wrenches is flawless. It was nice to include a quality, all-steel carrying case with a moderately priced wrench set.

I am very satisfied with my first "TheToolChest.Ca" purchase. I planning on ordering again from them in the near future.


Dave

 

[mrholeshot]

Mrholeshot, I'm not sure how I would feel dealing in Toptul stuff. If a guy like Mike, who was known for stellar customer service and quick turnaround can't get orders out, then maybe the problem lies in the company.

Perhaps Mike screwed up, but it seems odd that someone with the rave reviews he had would not have been able to make it work. Makes you think...

It sounds like you are a savvy guy and have been around the block. I have faith in your judgment.

Customer service was my best asset in my shop. I'm going to have to pass with TopTul. Right now I'm down for a few months so my income dropped 75%. Not the right time plus I don't like how they lay out their tool sets. I hate size skipping. You can get that at Harbor Freight

 

[posaune]

Customer service was my best asset in my shop. I'm going to have to pass with TopTul. Right now I'm down for a few months so my income dropped 75%. Not the right time plus I don't like how they lay out their tool sets. I hate size skipping. You can get that at Harbor Freight

Aww, man! I'm never gonna get those 75deg deep offset wrench sets in the trays!

 

[matthew]

Customer service was my best asset in my shop. I'm going to have to pass with TopTul. Right now I'm down for a few months so my income dropped 75%. Not the right time plus I don't like how they lay out their tool sets. I hate size skipping. You can get that at Harbor Freight

I agree with the comment on skipping sizes, but on the flip side Toptul prices (or at least Mike Wren's prices, which I assume are basically percentages of Toptul list prices) for open stock items are reasonable from what I've seen. I'm willing to accept a set with a couple of skipped sizes if I can buy a couple of single wrenches to fill those gaps without paying 10 times as much per wrench as the set costs. And from a dealer perspective, I think that can also be used as a positive since you can stock a set, and offer singles to upgrade it if the buyer wants, but don't need to stock two totally different sets.

 

[Sick Puppy]

Maybe you could offer your full sets in racks, with a still-attractive price? Just ideas from an amateur, but it seems like an ok solution to the problem.

Or better still, do complete sets in custom made foam trays- pretty expensive to get one tray sorted, but once the design is sorted, they could be churned out couldn't they?

 

[pez_79]

Have people had a good experience with thetoolchest.ca people?

 

[tonydanzah]

Have people had a good experience with thetoolchest.ca people?

yes I just bought set of long beam toptuls. Shipping from canada to IL did take about a week though.