It depends where you are and the "There is always a Snap-On guy" doesn't always apply. I go to plenty of shops where the Snap-On guy doesn't show up for a month or two at a time or there simply isn't one. The one Snap-On competitor told a customer of mine "business is slow, guys aren't paying, why should I work everyday?".
I know there are places in this country where Mac rules, there are places where Matco rules, there are places where Cornwell rules, it all depends where and who. Distributors make the tools. I am the guy people see. I was just at a shop where they told me flat out "I thought Matco tools where junk until you showed me the quality of them and your products, I mean I haven't even seen a Matco guy for years before you.". I pointed out to him that I took that stop over from another Matco guy who had been going there for a year. The guy was just NOT a tool salesman. So much so that these guys forgot he ever went there or sold tools.
I have one good Snap-On competitor and that is it. The rest of my competition have terrible reputations for service and reliability. Mac in this area, warranty is a 4 letter word. One local Mac guy won't warranty free items. Namely if you buy an impact and it comes with free sockets, you didn't pay for the sockets so you have to buy them if they break. That is bull**** and ridiculous, but guys still buy from him. I have no concept of why they'd do that. Or if something becomes out of date, you have to pay the price difference for the new replacement if yours is broken. That is bull too. I just replaced a brake flaring tool from the early 80s. Originally it was $45, the replacement for it is $130. I traded it out straight up. It is warranty, not the guys fault they updated the kit.
I fight for my customers. I had Matco deny me a warranty on something I felt should have been warranty, so I went out of my way to email and bitch to the right people and got it covered. Guys shouldn't have to argue about warranty or have to worry about what is gonna happen anytime they break something, that is my responsibility and my job.
All that said, this business isn't as easy as it seems, and some days I want to tell everyone where they can stick their sockets.
Sorry I haven't responded to any PMs or inquiries, been busy and not wanting to think about work when I have a chance to relax. Ok back to work.
Ive dealt with two different Snap On guys in the last couple of years. My problem is they are unreliable, and they dont seem to be interested in selling tools. Are there any Snap On dealers on CK5? I know they can take orders over the phone and have the stuff mailed to my adress, so location should not be a problem. I dont want to buy from the Snap On website because everything is list price.
