Is the tool truck business still profitable?

I am likewise intrigued by the business model.

When seeing those trucks driving around, I always envisioned them pulling up to plants at lunch break and baws perusing the goods and spending their Turnaround checks on shiny chrome tools they may or may not need.

Would love to hear from someone who actually knows how it works.

They buy a franchise, get their inventory and truck set up, then they have a territory that they have exclusively. It's not a job for lazy people. You've got to get to the dealerships constantly and anything else you can hit in that territory. You make money on the high margin tools on those trucks and then you make even more on the financing.

Problem is, you're chasing deadbeats constantly and the days are long. Gotta be there before they open in some places and after in others. Personally I wouldn't do it.

Snap On is the most overpriced tool brand on earth.

Harbor freight sells everything they do at a fraction of the cost.

If you want premium tools buy Wera—half the cost of snap on and higher quality, made in the Czech Republic

Depends. The start up costs are significant and you’ll use most of your profits servicing the debt. This is fine if you have enough savings to go 5 years without taking any cash from the business.

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Didn't snap pm make a decent product at one time?

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Yeah they used to make a lot of nice stuff. I still have some from when i ran my race car shop and it'll all still rocking. I think their quality has slid some but thats just anecdotal from friends.

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Didn't snap pm make a decent product at one time? Similar to Craftsman?

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They make a great product to this day but where the problem lies is the quality distance from cheaper options isn't as far as it used to be.

The best mechanic I know bought all his tools from flea markets and yardsales, and the only "truck" brand tools he owns he bought off a couple of dealership guys who found themselves in a legal pinch and needed money for a lawyer. It is a racket, but they sure are shiny.

Nowadays, I figured the tool trucks are from the software/computer companies.

The tool trucks in good areas are. The problem is the floating credit to someone without credit, carrying inventory that doesn’t sell, warranty issues and you have to find the perfect balance of scarcity and accessibility.
If you are always there they won’t buy as much because you will be back again soon. If you don’t go enough they find other sources.

The tools are high quality, but not high enough to warrant the high price. As others said Harbor Freight has 2 lines with life time warranties which is similar to the old sears model. Bring in the broken tool and walk out with a brand new one.

My son has a Mac, Matco and snap-on accounts for work. I warned him about it, but like most our kids they have to learn the hard way sometimes

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I don't think you can buy Snap-On online

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Just about all the major tool truck brands, with the exception of Cornwell, have online stores that you can purchase from and have it ship directly to you. The catch is most of them, such as Snap-On charge a ridiculous shipping fee.

You could purchase a 10 dollar screwdriver, but it's going to cost you 30 bucks to have shipped to your door. I know Snap-On will throw in free shipping after you purchase more than $200 dollars in product. I'm not sure what MAC or Matco charge, I'm sure it's something similar.

I'm a DIYer who purchases nice tools second hand from Ebay for certain things. Most of my tools are Craftsman/Armstrong that I've acquired over the last 30 years, but I did get a few Snap-On and Cornwell tools from Ebay. Won't catch me on a tool truck anytime soon unless I win the powerball.