How much do Snap-On sales reps make?
 

I see ads all the time for Snap-On franchise opportunities. And I see the trucks driving around a lot too. How lucrative is this gig? What's the initial investment? Do they finance it for you or require a lot of cash upfront? I'm tempted to call them, but I know I'll get a sales pitch and would rather hear it from others if they know about it.

its TOTALLY deendant on what route you get, but most make well over $75K, with many over $100K. You buy the truck, you finace the tools from them to sell, they do long term financing for big purchases, you finance off the truck stuff.

What does a truck like that cost and can you keep one in your driveway or do you have to park it at their location each night?

I would suppose it depend on the neighbor hood. Growing up a guy had a Matco or Mac truck in his driveway every night.

My next door neighbor is a snap-on guy. Parks his truck somewhere near his sales territory - never seen his truck at home.

I don't know his salary but he doesn't live like a 6 figure man. 6 figures in the midwest is doing pretty good. Lives quite frugally but you never know - may be socking it away for a rainy day.

Never has asked me to buy any tools and he sees me with wrenches in my hand just about every time we converse. Funny part is he can't even repair a broken lawnmower. I don't think he even owns a set of tools.

In the rare times I need a snap on tool? I call the local route dealer...buy off his truck in the evening, after he's made his rounds. Once in a while, the tool is special order, which takes a few days. The truck is parked at his home...

I just don't understand how there could be such a huge market for their tools. Their ads say they give you all your accounts and a territory. Doesn't every auto repair shop already have all the tools they need? How would they be able to open the doors if they didn't already have tools? If Snap-On tools have a lifetime warranty, how do their sales guys make enough to run a truck and survive?

Tools break, get lost. New young guys come on board and build their boxes over time, they can't afford it all at once. Wrenches who've been at it for a while can have boxes worth well into the 5 digits.

I hear a lot of the Snap-on guys get shafted on the financed items, so you might have to play bill-collector and repo-man as well. If I was going to drive around in a truck all day on some sort of route, I think I would look into a FedEx franchise.

I had a wrench in Fairfax, VA tell me he had over $100k into his toolbox and he wasn't even the shop owner.

I also heard somewhere that the Snap-On drivers have to do collections and repos. I'd really like to find one who can tell me everything without trying to talk me into doing it.

The other one I've been looking into is M.A.R.S. But their online interview process is ridiculous. Listen to these audio clips of employees and then write what you learned from each one. Kidding me? That feels like high school detention.

Here's a link to my Snap-On rep:

http://motors.search.ebay.com/Snap-On_eBay-Motors_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR40QQsacatZ6000QQsatit leZSnapQ2dOn

buddy up with a rep and do a "ride along" to see what its really like.

They hound every wrench in their patch. My buddy buys tools every week. Every F'ing week. There is always a new set of wreches or diagnostic tool. Most guys are dealerships are paid flat rate and are always looking for a way to shave time. Having the exact tool for each specific task saves time and makes them more $$.

my friend was a dealer for a couple years, he later sold the route/truck/etc after his divorce as sales on his route were suffering, he did ok, but it deffinately depends on the route you're assigned. the truck owners are reimbursed for warranty stuff, a good owner will "cover" you while the exchange with snap-on is made by giving you one off the truck and not making you wait for the exchange from his supplier.

the biggest reason snap-on/mac/matco sell tools is because they show up at your shop, and you can buy "expensive" tools on the "payment plan", imo some of the tools are worth it, but the majority of them are overpriced when compared to craftsman and the like.
having been in my field for 15+ years having the lifetime warranty helps, i have only had to buy one pair of wire crimpers, i have had them warrantied (replaced) probably about 6 or 7 times over the past 15 years.......my ratcheting wrenches were expensive and when they brake they get fixed under warranty......been using the set for about 7 years.
the things i use the most are the ones i'll spend the money on, i use a standard craftsman tool box, 10 drawer top/8 drawer bottom, cost me about $300, one of the guys i work with has a $12,000 matco box..........i will never let my tools sleep better than i do :D

I never considered it, but I guess using my eBay store could help too. I will keep my eyes peeled for a stopped truck in the area and ask the driver for the lowdown.

Matco and Snap-on drop in every week to check on us, sometimes they sell, sometimes they don't. They thrive on impulse buyers. To some having a new tool is like crack.

I doubt Snap-On would allow you to sell their stuff on E-Bay. My link was to a general E-Bay search for all "Snap-On", most of it used. Unless I need something right away, that's where I purchase my tools at a significant savings.

I've bought many a tool from my Snap-on guy that he got back when the payments were'nt made, or the tools were repoed. Usally at a really significant savings

No
Each mechanic has to have his own tools. And all the latest tools. And a $5k dollar toolbox. And they're always hiring new ones.

The market for snap on tools is -******* huge-

RL, is the newswire business drying up? :confused: