Why do Toolbox Manufacturers Charge High Interest Rates and Mechanics are willing to pay for them?The high interest rates of toolbox financing provide benefits for the manufacturingcompany and the mechanics. The company increases their net income and themechanic receives financing, convenience and the name brand.We have all been there. We walk into the garage of our mechanic’s shop, taking a quick glance; we see the huge elaborate toolboxes that each mechanic owns. Most of them are from Mac, Matco or Snap-On. Unless you work in the tool industry most people do not realize what the real cost of each of these boxes is.The average toolbox costs a minimum of $4,500 and can run up to $9,500 for just one component of the set. The Big Three toolbox companies in the industry are Mac, Matco and Snap-on and all are using outrageous interest rates depending on state requirements. The rates vary from 6.25% all the way up to 22.50% in most states.So how much does that toolbox really cost if a mechanic makes weekly payment for the whole term of the contract? A $4,500 dollar contract as theprinciple balance at 22.50% interest while paying $32.71 a week for 208 weeks (4 years) will cost a total amount of $6,803.68. That is over $2,000.00 ininterest. Looking at a $9,500 dollar contract at 22.50% interest while paying $69.06 a week for 208 weeks, will cost a total amount of $14,364.48. That is almost$5,000.00 in interest!Looking at this scenario from a company’sperspective, there has to be a point ofcompetitiveness. Each manufacturer offers in-housefinancing for mechanics that are interested in buyingtheir product. Due to many mechanics having little ordamaged credit, the companies are taking a financial risk by financing them. Considering that forevery 100 contracts the company buys 2 will default on the loan. There is a 2% chance of defaulton a loan. Each company buys 300 contracts on average per day, approximately 78,000contracts annually which means that 1,500 will more than likely default. The rate of interest onthe company’s part is determined by an estimate of how much money will be lost.If the interest income from these rates makes up approximately 35% of each company’s netincome, then the total amount of interest income would be 37% from these contracts.For thecompany, the benefit of bringing in a 35% net income outweighs the cost of a 2% loss of interestincome.The other point of view, the mechanic’s, involves three solutions to this question.