What are your experiences with Matco!!!

[autoace]

With problems with MAC and now SO,I was wondering how Matco dealers and their corporate are about service and warranty. I could email them, but they will just tell me what I want to hear, I want real world experiences. I am more interested in the guy who had to deal with Matco directly, not a dealer. I am ultimately concerned about warranty replacement with them, not through a dealer. They have some nice odds and ends that Cornwell hasn't sent down the pipe yet. I am considering them for some online purchases, but wanted to hear from you guys and then I will check with them. DO THEY HAVE GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE,and warranty replacement???????Danaher is a large company, I've had good luck with KD products being replaced in the past, by mail. Is there a Matco rep. in the house????

 

[Merkava_4]

Is there a Matco rep. in the house????

Yes....daveblank is....he's already posted in your Snap-on vs. Cornwell thread.

 

[autoace]

Thanks, keep in mind I consider just service,good. Meaning I don't mind buying ratchet rebuild kits if I don't have a dealer. A few weeks after I mail something in for warranty is a reasonable time frame, for non-dealer service, to get a new one back. Cornwell exceeds my expectations, but if the service was worse, it would still be ok. I don't expect miracles, but refuse the curses. I checked the Matco online catalog, and the only bad thing I saw was the heavy infiltration of made in Taiwan. Their USA hardline products look good though, especially the ratchet selection and the laser markings on the sockets,excellent looking impact swivels,just sold my SO ones. There are no Matco dealers around here, so online is all I have, which is fine if they play ball without a dealer.

 

[eschoendorff]

You would be better served going to some other repair shops in your area and asking them about the customer service from the specific dealer in your area.

The only time I ever poked my head inside a Matco truck, I was given a dirty look by the driver (he could tell I wasn't a tech - the shirt and tie as a dead give away). When I looked around, I swear, the inside of the truck looked like the automotive aisle at the local Sears. Lots of Lisle and GearWrench stuff.

After that, I decided that if I needed or wanted Matco stuff, I could just go to Sears or NAPA and buy the same stuff - where my business is appreciated.

That is my experience. YMMV.

 

[Merkava_4]

The only time I ever poked my head inside a Matco truck, I was given a dirty look by the driver (he could tell I wasn't a tech - the shirt and tie as a dead give away).

You could always go to your local industrial uniform supply and order up some tech clothes for hopping on the truck with.

 

[eschoendorff]

You could always go to your local industrial uniform supply and order up some tech clothes for hopping on the truck with.

Or - and this is a big OR - I could just stick to the company and dealer that gives me the best service (Erroll from Snap On) and use the money that I would have spent on tech clothes on tools instead.

 

[Merkava_4]

Them dealers need to get it through their head that money is money; whether is comes from a mechanic or from a music teacher.

 

[Fedwrench]

I think your level of satisfaction with Matco will depend on the level of service received from your local dealer. You also may not be too happy with the country of origin not being stamped on more of their tools these days. As for me, I've received nothing but, great service from my local dealer. As for the tools, as other people have pointed out there are some similiarities between Matco tools and other branches of the Danaher tree. However, there are differences too with matco being a better quality product. My Matco tools have proven to be very durable and I have only warrantied one or two pieces over the last 7 years. My favorite Matco tools include their pinless impact swivel sockets, their 60 tooth ratchets, their proswing ratcheting wrenches, and their sockets. Your results may vary. As with any other tool truck brand, alot of their specialty tools are rebadged KD, Lisle, OTC, Waekon, etc.

 

[eschoendorff]

I think your level of satisfaction with Matco will depend on the level of service received from your local dealer. You also may not be too happy with the country of origin not being stamped on more of their tools these days. As for me, I've received nothing but, great service from my local dealer. As for the tools, as other people have pointed out there are some similiarities between Matco tools and other branches of the Danaher tree. However, there are differences too with matco being a better quality product. My Matco tools have proven to be very durable and I have only warrantied one or two pieces over the last 7 years. My favorite Matco tools include their pinless impact swivel sockets, their 60 tooth ratchets, their proswing ratcheting wrenches, and their sockets. Your results may vary. As with any other tool truck brand, alot of their specialty tools are rebadged KD, Lisle, OTC, Waekon, etc.

See post #5...

 

[daveblank]

When I looked around, I swear, the inside of the truck looked like the automotive aisle at the local Sears. Lots of Lisle and GearWrench stuff.



That is my experience. YMMV.

Each distributor has the ability to set his inventory up as he needs to. If most of his customers wanted Gearwrench instead of the Matco ratcheting wrenches then that's what he needs to stock for customer satisfaction.

My inventory matches my route. That's why I keep Grey Pneumatic sockets in stock & ready for sale. 75% of my route is in a economically disadvantaged area of town. A set of Matco impact wobble sockets is more $$$ than some of these guys make in a week. If I told them "all I have is the Matco" they wouldn't buy it. They would find another alternative. I found it for them. In my opinion, that's the service I told them I would provide, & I try my hardest to do it every day. I aslo still keep the Matco brand on hand. What I do for every sustomer is show them both sets, explain the differences, & let them make the choice.

 

[billymade]

In my area, Matco is the only dealer that has been consistent in the past 20 years or so; he is the same guy day in/day out and isn't going anywhere; he is a really nice guy and has warranted a couple things I have asked to have replaced. Problem is, when I get on the truck.... there isn't much on there that I want! I wish he sold Snap-On and then I would have the best of both worlds; tools that I want/lust after and good service to along with it! I turned in a old Matco/Wright based allen socket that was missing the bit (the old ones had a set screw in them) and he gave me a new one, that looks to be a import with no questions asked; I approached the situation with, "can I buy a replacement bit for this socket"? He said, ohh, we haven't had those in years and just gave me a new one, no hassles... He is a very nice guy, said to "come on the truck and take a look around!"; too bad there isn't anything on there that was of interest; the fact that it is danaher based tools and mostly rebadged OEM is a bummer.... the exictement and lust factor.... just isn't there...

 

[daveblank]

With problems with MAC and now SO,I was wondering how Matco dealers and their corporate are about service and warranty. I could email them, but they will just tell me what I want to hear, I want real world experiences. I am more interested in the guy who had to deal with Matco directly, not a dealer. I am ultimately concerned about warranty replacement with them, not through a dealer. They have some nice odds and ends that Cornwell hasn't sent down the pipe yet. I am considering them for some online purchases, but wanted to hear from you guys and then I will check with them. DO THEY HAVE GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE,and warranty replacement???????Danaher is a large company, I've had good luck with KD products being replaced in the past, by mail. Is there a Matco rep. in the house????

I chose to become a Matco distributor for 2 reasons.
1. I have always liked their product line that was available to me.
2. Their distributors have always done me right.

Don't get me wrong, I've had outstanding dealings with Snap On, Mac, & Cornwell, but it wasn't consistant or without arrogance. Believe me, I was a cocky tech. Whenever a new distributor would pull up, I would walk out to his truck with my warranties. When he would try & sell me something I would always say "you're new here, once you've prooved that you're here to serve me & have some staying power, I'll buy". If he made it a point to see me every week when he came, even though I wasn't buying, after a month I'd throw him a bone & pay cash. If all went well then I'd start buying.

As far as Matco corporate handling your warranties, I've read here that you have to obtain an RGA. I don't know the proper answer since that's not how I do buisness.

If you do decide to go with Matco, link through my site. www.matcotools.com/daveblankenship I think I get a whole 1% from it, but anything helps to pay the webpage fees!

 

[Merkava_4]

daveblank,

One of the arguments I wish you'd put to rest is the Craftsman Pro vs. Matco combination wrench debate. Some of the guys on the board here seem to think that they are exactly the same, but I have my doubts. What are your thoughts?

 

[eschoendorff]

If I do choose to buy from Matco, it will be through a forum member!

ps.. Dave, are you any relation to Kenny Blankenship from MXC????

 

[krusty the clown]

daveblank,

One of the arguments I wish you'd put to rest is the Craftsman Pro vs. Matco combination wrench debate. Some of the guys on the board here seem to think that they are exactly the same, but I have my doubts. What are your thoughts?

per my matco dealer..........all us made wrenches regardless of brand, that are made by the danaher tool group, are made in the same plant and stamped for whichever brand it's going to be shipped too.

 

[goeb92]

matco has outshined any other truck here in nw ohio.so used to be the big dog here but with one lousy rep they sent it in the toilet.he is retiring soon so we wont have a dealer around here

 

[eschoendorff]

per my matco dealer..........all us made wrenches regardless of brand, that are made by the danaher tool group, are made in the same plant and stamped for whichever brand it's going to be shipped too.

I think I love my Craftsman Pro wrenches just a little bit more right now...

 

[krusty the clown]

I think I love my Craftsman Pro wrenches just a little bit more right now...

so are you thinking that you got matco quality at a sears price or everybody else is buying sears quality at a matco price

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

The only Matco guy that we ever had come by our shop only did so for a short time; I learned later while working as an intern at the local police station in the investigations department that he had been arrested for ********* activity, both the distribution of child **** and enticing young children into his home for his own personal entertainment.

Jim Grippe
Santa Rosa, CA

Ron Kessler is the rep that we have now, he comes by every Thursday afternoon about 3 PM.

Adam

 

[daveblank]

daveblank,

One of the arguments I wish you'd put to rest is the Craftsman Pro vs. Matco combination wrench debate. Some of the guys on the board here seem to think that they are exactly the same, but I have my doubts. What are your thoughts?

According to the people at corporate, while they are made in the same plant & on the same line they are not made to the same specs. The buyer dictates how they are made. They pick the metal type, hardness, finish, & any other specs they want since it's their tool with their name on it.

If I do choose to buy from Matco, it will be through a forum member!

ps.. Dave, are you any relation to Kenny Blankenship from MXC????

Never heard of him.

 

[wrenchr]

The matco wrench does have the opti torque open end, it is like snap ons flank drive.

 

[Merkava_4]

According to the people at corporate, while they are made in the same plant & on the same line they are not made to the same specs. The buyer dictates how they are made. They pick the metal type, hardness, finish, & any other specs they want since it's their tool with their name on it.

Are the Matco wrenches made to different metallurgical properties such as different steel, different hardness, different measurements, and different finish? I hope to hell they are because I'm not buying a Matco wrench if is it's the same as a Craftsman Pro wrench; the Craftsman Pro wrench is too thick on the ring end for starters....

 

[davestlouis]

Snap On is the only brand I have that the ring end will fit on a BMW M20 starter. My Matco, Ptoro, Craftsman Pro are all too thick.

 

[Merkava_4]

I guess I'll have to go see a Matco wrench for myself and draw my own conclusions.

 

[Diesel-Mech]

All of my Matco dealings have been pleasurable. I ordered some sockets online and they sent me the wrong set. I called customer service and they said no problem keep our mistake and the correct sockets were on my door step 3 days later.

I have been pleased with all of my Matco tools particularly some of the wrench sets.

 

[daveblank]

Are the Matco wrenches made to different metallurgical properties such as different steel, different hardness, different measurements, and different finish?

That's what I was told.

 

[Merkava_4]

That's what I was told.

I already know that Matco wrenches are different than C-man Pros; but I was hoping you'd back me up on that; maybe even post some macro shots of both wrenches side by side; you're a Matco distributor for krypes sake!!

 

[krusty the clown]

That's what I was told.

dave, i'm not hacking on you but when i went to new distributor training we were introduced to a guy who was supposedly in charge of new product development at matco's tool manufacturing plant. he told us that any new tool idea's that our customers had to let him know, he would get the plant tooled up to make them. well i had a product idea so i called matco and asked for him personally (i talked to sunny, i think she's still with matco) and was told that there was no one by that name who worked for matco. now remember at this time (right after danaher bought matco) matco was still outsorcing everything from other suppliers, the only things on the truck that came from a danaher owned company was, kd, ammco and jacobs. and they we not private labled. so don't believe everything matco tells you!

i'll also tell you this, at a kickoff meeting another distributor looked in a regional managers notebook and found a company report showing that sockets were being imported from taiwan at 18 cents a piece. list price was $4.80 at the time, so we were paying $2.88..........

 

[Stanger]

A friend of mine owns a shop and they have a great Matco dealer. He is the only guy they deal with.

 

[Fedwrench]

I already know that Matco wrenches are different than C-man Pros; but I was hoping you'd back me up on that; maybe even post some macro shots of both wrenches side by side; you're a Matco distributor for krypes sake!!

We've done this before. search the posts, Pictures were posted of Craftsman Pro side by side with Matco. I believe it was a 13mm combination wrench.

 

[krusty the clown]

We've done this before. search the posts, Pictures were posted of Craftsman Pro side by side with Matco. I believe it was a 13mm combination wrench.

thats funny because the pic was posted by you in a thread started by merkava

 

[Merkava_4]

We've done this before. search the posts, Pictures were posted of Craftsman Pro side by side with Matco. I believe it was a 13mm combination wrench.

Was it a Bonney, S-K, or current Danaher made Matco wrench?

 

[krusty the clown]

Was it a Bonney, S-K, or current Danaher made Matco wrench?

s-k?

do a search on theads started by merkava_4

 

[Merkava_4]

s-k?

do a search on threads started by merkava_4

The hell with it, I'll just go buy my own Matco and C-man wrenches and post my own pictures.

 

[paramudduck]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20770&showall=1

Post #7.

 

[Fedwrench]

thats funny because the pic was posted by you in a thread started by merkava

I told you we've done it before.

I'm starting to worry about Merkava. First, he admits the Gearwrench rotoratchets might be ok. Secondly, he gets Danaher out of Daido. Finally, he can't remember the posts about Craftsman Pro and Matco wrenches being the same. I may need my eyeglass prescription updated but, I think Merkava forget to take his meds today.

I do look forward to seeing Merkava's pictures of a Matco and Craftsman Pro wrench though. They'll be clear and distinct showing the differences.

 

[autoace]

Thanks for the replys, The MATCO impact swivels look unique, no pin, kind of a cross with slots to give more degree of angle. Some of the hardline looks fabulous. I hate the Asian import thing, but if I have to buy it at times, I want it from a company with good customer service. I already ordered a catalog, it will be nice to make Cornwell,Matco,Hazet,Wiha,Wright tool purchases, my SO truck impulse buys are over. I'm looking for the finest of each type of tool, regardless of price. It will take some time, but what a tool set it will be, a tool nuts delight thank you all for the input

 

[eschoendorff]

Each distributor has the ability to set his inventory up as he needs to. If most of his customers wanted Gearwrench instead of the Matco ratcheting wrenches then that's what he needs to stock for customer satisfaction.

My inventory matches my route. That's why I keep Grey Pneumatic sockets in stock & ready for sale. 75% of my route is in a economically disadvantaged area of town. A set of Matco impact wobble sockets is more $$$ than some of these guys make in a week. If I told them "all I have is the Matco" they wouldn't buy it. They would find another alternative. I found it for them. In my opinion, that's the service I told them I would provide, & I try my hardest to do it every day. I aslo still keep the Matco brand on hand. What I do for every sustomer is show them both sets, explain the differences, & let them make the choice.

Now taht makes sense. Then again, you are also a dealer who has a clue...

 

[daveblank]

I already know that Matco wrenches are different than C-man Pros; but I was hoping you'd back me up on that; maybe even post some macro shots of both wrenches side by side; you're a Matco distributor for krypes sake!!

So, you want me to drive to sears, buy a wrench, come home, take pictures, post them, & then return the wrench?

I backed you up the best I could & gave you the information that I was told. I have nothing in writing from Danaher & I'm sure I couldn't get anything if I tried.

 

[autoace]

According to the people at corporate, while they are made in the same plant & on the same line they are not made to the same specs. The buyer dictates how they are made. They pick the metal type, hardness, finish, & any other specs they want since it's their tool with their name on it.




Never heard of him.

My father has been a VP for several large companies. They were not tool companies per say but.......For their brand, virgin materials were used, for the same assembly line, re-labels, scrap and lesser quality raw materials were sent through the same equipment and processing. The stuff all looked the same, but it wasn't really. They made fiber optic network devices, but I would assume tool manufacturing may be similar.