The Snap On truck made a weekly stop to one of the shops I worked for.
Everyone had a line of credit and made a weekly payment, also got to see the latest and greatest tools.
Craftsman tools used to made in America and the starter sets including a few hundred tools would come on sale for $200 or so.
I work for Hawaiian Airlines where mechanics start at $21.50/hr. They hire straight out of A&P school now. Not sure how it is at other airlines.