I knew a guy doing that 2-3 years ago......He was buying out closed dealerships in central FL. Taking lifts, compressors, tools, inventory for 10 cents on the dollar. He then would sell to new shops (independents mostly). He had a lot of cool tools in the process. He got 3 Saturn stores in one month and had a guy close a dealership only to be forced to re-open by the franchise a month later (he had to buy back all his previously sold inventory!).

$$$$$$ CHA CHING $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

sounds like a very smart biznessman :drink:

Matco and Craftsman tools are both made by a "parent" company, Danaher tools. I believe that could happen.

Just like Donzi, Fountain, and Baja are owned by a "parent" investment company.

[QUOTE=offshorexcursion;3303149]Matco and Craftsman tools are both made by a "parent" company, Danaher tools. I believe that could happen.

It has happened,I get Mac and Snap-On stuff all the time I opened a box of broken bolt extrators last year it was a 25 piece set.24 were Matco one was Snap-On.

Danaher also makes Gear Wrench they have a complete tool line now.They have changed the game.

Back when I was a dealer Snap-On started making rachets and wrench's for Auto Zone, and the stores would tell people that we would fix the rachets under warr for them.
Don't know if they still do or not but it did happen also Ace Hardware was selling Snap-On stuff in the stores.
AAHHH the wisdom of mother Snap-On.
Just a F'ed up bis all around.
Sorry Tim.

but you dont order a New Donzi and recieve a Fountian in the wrapper :eek: i sure hope not or ya better return that Fountian immediately :lolhit:

I did the Snap On gig for 2 years from 1988 to 1990 and lost my azz. I took over a territory that had not seen a dealer in 4 years and less than 5% of my customers qualified for EC (company credit). The first year I put over 80K of my money on the street in the form of RA credit never to be seen again.By the end of the second year I could do my route in 2 days by only going to the stops that payed their bill. Look up Inkster Michigan the murder capital of the world.

As far as hand tools go Snap On all the way. I have about 200K in Snap On products and after 30+ years they are all payed for.

Wow I ran a Matco route for 4 years on the east side of Joliet Il, You know next to the prison Joliet Jake came out.
No Company credit either. Had no Matco guy for a couple years before me,had 60 to 78 on the street at all times.
Ran 2-3 % skip worked with other Matco dealers to collect and had a legal collection company hired. cost 25 to 50 % of debt but thats was better than 0.

:party-smiley-004: well also found them if they couldnt be found:coolcowboy:
Aint taking money out of my kids mouth if you know what I mean!
Did real well my district manager and I still talk and he has a route open for me anytime I want back.
Just my exp.
Jim

Wholly crap Did not check his inventory!

When I started as a dealership mechanic in 1981, I was told "there is a difference". I thought, other than price there can't be that much difference. My Craftsman stuff seemed to work OK, but when the Snap-On guy came in one day just as I was cussing a rounded bolt, he stops me and hands me a Snap-On socket. Even after the Craftsman socket had rounded it, the Snap-on socket did the trick. Years later, they still replace anything I break, and I have a Snap-On box that I have to open the bottom drawer to use as a step so I can look into the top.

here come the short jokes:eek:

-I too was a Snap On dealer. Put in 18 years on the road, got out in 2000. It was an incredible ride the first 10 yrs and the money was fantastic, especially for a kid fresh out of trade school! After they downsized by closing local warehouses and going to full franchise dealer agreements, it was increasingly difficult to provide the level of service my customers were accustomed to and the profits took a dive. I really enjoyed the business and the customers but the company sure had its share of shady management!

I've now been out 10 years and still have dreams of driving the tool truck almost every night! I've really got no issues, infact I still buy tools occationally and only from the Snap On trucks! All good things come to an end eventually.

-Kurt:drink:

Seems like a whole lot of you guys are ex tool dealers. lol

I use Craftsman and "Binford", tool box is a good Craftsman, but has an assortment of brands. I have alot of old tools that my grandfather gave me that I wouldn't take anything for, and some are altered.

But, we all need to be very thankful that we even know what a tool is and how to use them. I once thought, when I was young, that every male knew how to use tools. I found out different. Many years ago, when I started my manufacturing company, I hired a "friend" to help out. One day I gave him a 1/2" rachet with a socket and told him a job to do. He went away and came back in a few minutes and told me to give him another rachet.......... that one went the wrong way and he needed one that turned the other way!!!!!!!! I found out he didn't even know how to open the hood of his car.

I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth, my dad put a wrench in my hand and taught me how to use it.

Dolph

:drink:

That's pathetic http://smiliesftw.com/x/picard1.gif

craftsman box's full of snap on,the box dos'nt move much but the tools are busy as he$$

A few of my favorits are the 1/4 inch rachet body with the 3/8 drive,great for tight spots and the woble extension,midy sockets are a must as well.:coolcowboy:

they do make a step ya know for you Short ones :lolhit:

Been turning a wrench for 24 years now, have over 200k in tools now from Snap-on to china crap, some times you need to make a tool and you dont want to ruin a $50 tool when a $5will do. Most are Snap-on for a few reasons, most of the time they are the best but around here Snap-on is the only guy you allways have, all the others come and go and you get screwed cuz the Matco, Mac, or Cornwell guy went out of biz. So I wind up with a bucket full of broken crap waiting for a new guy to show up, so whenever Snap-on runs a good trade in deal I swap out for them. Have a KRL1024 that I ordered a custom setup on that took them forever to make but got a great deal on, had the side box and locker on a KRL 1000 that is now my home box, and yes they are full not like the slackers who just want a big box.

and move right on to the 3 Olives Bubblegum & Red Bull :eek::drink:

Why all the fancy boxes and crap? All you need is a mexican speed wrench :lolhit::lolhit:

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/a...0byJTClark.jpg

Show-off... ;)


Dayum! Dat's a huge box!

That's when you roll her over.........:coolcowboy:

was a snap on dealer for 12 years. Great tools but as a company they are a bunch of ****ing thieves!!

Snap on has the most precise sizing, I've checked with a mic. They are also priced so high you can buy several sets of other brands and spend less. $325 for 1/2" deep impacts is a tad bit pricey. I have Mac, Snappy, some Matco. Wound up with a Mac box (love it, hutch is nicer than snappys) because the matco man was too cool to spend time with me or competing on price, snap on man wanted to sell me a smaller box for $1500 more. Mac gave me a good deal. I think box quality is about the same for all 3. They all have a cheaper and a best line of boxes.

Suprised by the number of ex tool guys on here.Looks like I'm the only one still doing it though.

I'm going to go independent.

Who are you with now,you going to the ISN show in June?

That's way to much tool for the job, use vise grips.
ed

The reason for all the EX tool guys is the companies make it to easy to start up. Once they sell you the initial inventory, and you spend all the money you have, they don't care about you.

Its just like ANY other business. It takes MONEY to make money. When you finance your business you are really not making anything, just paying the bank. Live in your moms basement for 5+ years, scape by, be one of the best in whatever business, and then you might make it.

Matco, Cornwell, Mac, Snap on all make a good tool. The service is what makes the difference. Most opioions on here really have to do with how good of service they are getting not really which box or tool brand it is. You will tend to overlook a problem if the dealer is taking care of you.

Good choice. But make sure you have enough money and not bank loans. It takes money to make money.

If I did it again I would go with cornwell (with out a franchise loan from them) but most my inventory would be independent tools except hardline. Then you have the best of both worlds.

I think box quality is about the same for all 3.

ya think the same GO$BROKE ???
my son just called me and said he found a Craftsman Box all tools included on CL this morning and they went and picked it up ... Either Craftsman brand is way cheaper priced then SNAP-ON or they found a H@LL of a deal , he gave $1500.00 for the box and every drawer is full of tools , he told me can't tell from new and guy said he even waxed the box 1X a month :eek: for my son tinkering around on his cars , and motorcycles he prolly can get away without doing SNAP-ON brand for know .:coolcowboy:

Congrats on a great deal:drink:
As you said, tinkering. Craftsmen are tinker tools, great for home and not a pro.
Open the drawers on the box and give'm a wiggle:eek:
Looks like he did real good for a 1st home box.:drink:

Open the drawers on the box and give'm a wiggle:eek:

i have'nt seen it Cosmic and was surprized when i got the call this morn there in Ill with snow and -9 degrees and i'm in Florida with Sun and 55 WOOHOO :coolcowboy: on the brite side he'll have his own set and wont searching all over the shop for mine :lolhit: with 4 boyz :eek: these guys will take apart anything and everything just for fun.:drink:

A good friend left Matco last year and went to Cornwell,they made him a $very$ nice deal.He started in April of 2010 and just missed top 100 in the nation.He is currently 9th in the nation.His whole attitude is different about the business.
The people running Cornwell are all from Matco for the most part.And in my opinion they have the best current dealer contract out of the four companies.

I use Snap On for all my tools (box and hand tools) and also grilling. YPM makes the marinade that we use while bench racing. :D It has infrared too. You can have your steak medium rare and then sear it to seal in the juices.

Here is my bottom box....rolling on Dubz.

Im what I would call an "almost pro" tool user. I wrench on and own quads, boats, Toy haulers, Rv's, motorcycles 2 cars & a truck. I do 75% of my own work and go to pros or friends for the rest.

I've got a smattering of stuff now, and had LOTS stolen.

Snap-on and Matco are great. My old proto stuff was great.

All my Facom stuff is as good or better than my snap on stuff. This is the most underrated stuff out there. (or my stuff I bought 10 years ago is) HArd to find though.

There is always a snap on truck around, and you should buy your tools from the guy that services you most.

Craftsman stuff breaks, but you can get it replaced, but the other stuff doesn't break to start with.

As far as boxes go it seems you get what you pay for.

I go fluke for most of my multimeters.

As far as spending 10X less on craftsman stuff I see this 2 ways.

1. It's the tool that doesn't break in the middle of the job I want. Being able to get a replacement is nice but means little when you are hundreds of miles from a store stuck in the sand dunes at night.

2. Stuff that breaks cost more when I factor my time energy and frustration in.

The craftsman stuff works for the most part, and it has its place for my purposes as a tool of use vs a tool of choice.



Uncle Dave

sweet.

U.D

Those barbecues are really nice.I saw one on my friends Snap-On truck.Almost to nice to use.

The quality of a craftsman box is nowhere near snappy, matco, or mac.
BUT $1500 for a decent sized box full of tools sounds like a great deal! A home box doesn't need to have drawers strong enough to stand on.

Love the BBQ Thundersusone!