Snap-On Tools are they really that good ?

[SteelArt]

Ok being an Aussie we don't see as much Snap-On as what you USA Guys do. Until recently I have been a Sidchrome sort of guy with everything I have being that brand.

Anyway Sidchrome have gone to Poo and their quality is no longer with them, either is their warranty. I am looking at getting some new tools and thought about Snap-On and then I started looking at prices...

Wow Snap-On is very expensive, more so in Australia.

Had a look on line and found a nice $30 000 set ... http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013526JE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Anyway is there any good on-line Snap-On dealers that you can recommend and would ship stuff to Australia. Even on a bad day USA Prices are at least half what they try and charge us down here...

 

[commonut]

Good question! Had never though of asking. Good to see someone else from Brisbane here. Post any answers you get so that the rest of us Aussies can get in on it too please.

 

[catfish]

saw a set of 12 snap on wrenches (imperial) in cash converters for 795$
good luck selling them for that

 

[Ed_EOD]

They are easily worth the truck price if you are a pro and have a dealer. I have purchased a couple things from the local SO dealer but the rest of my stuff came from the used markets. The initial price made me cringe but I could care less years later when I am still using the stuff. I'm sure my kids won't care when they are using it either. I would recommend looking at eBay and the classifieds here and trying to get folks to ship to Australia if you want to try some out. There are some things though that you can get just as good quality with other US brands (Wright Tool) and spend a little less.

I have seen a few Sidchrome tools from the Aussies here in Afghanistan and was a little disappointed. Most of the tools I have seen here have been made in China, other than the Wiha and Felo.

 

[SteelArt]

So is Truck Price different to Dealer price ?

I see there is a Snap-On truck just up the road but just thought he would be the same or more than the dealers

 

[mrholeshot]

Their hard tools are the best. If you don't have a dealer to service them not worth the money.

 

[mrshaun]

the prices are the same on the truck as well on the website. you can get better deals off the truck and you get to see and touch the items you want to buy.
I think the tools are worth buying lol lol...

 

[SteelArt]

If I could get them at USA Prices then I would buy them ....

 

[catfish]

I have seen a few Sidchrome tools from the Aussies here in Afghanistan and was a little disappointed. Most of the tools I have seen here have been made in China, other than the Wiha and Felo.

saw a sidchrome ratchet at the flea markets on the weekend but it was a little worse for wear (rust etc) , they made them in australia until 1990 when they moved production to china.the price is pretty steep for something that is made in china but the choice here is non existent.

 

[GBNZ]

Let me know what you need i have lots of contacts.

 

[SteelArt]

Let me know what you need i have lots of contacts.

Cheers I will have a look and send you some numbers

 

[kc-steve]

Just a wild guess . . . the price differences might be due to the fluctuation in currency values. The U.S. dollar is falling in relation to other currencies.

The Snap-on tools sold in Oz are at the old higher prices bought with higher valued U.S. dollars. Wait a while, they will get cheaper.

Steve

 

[billymade]

Seems to me, I would at least go to a truck to begin with and "touch, feel" the tools; get a sense of the pricing structure (get a catalog and price sheet). You can find your nearest dealer by calling Snap-On here: http://www.snapontools.com.au/contact_us
There are many ways to get premium products at a good price; used is the way to go, imho! Ebay and here in the classifieds are good sources; you just need to find people that willing to ship them to you. "Moose" our resident UK Snap-On fanatic; might have some insight into what and how he procures his Snap-On "treasures" from the US and get them into his awaiting toolbox in the UK!
Ebay: Austraila, NZ and especially Japan; do have some Snap-On stuff on there; another option is, flea markets, online classifieds etc. I'm sure there are Snap-On tools in the used marketplace in NZ, you just need to find where they are being sold. Snap-On tools are probably used primarily in the pro sector; mechanics buy, sell tools all the time... you need to find out where these types of people, sell their stuff! Here in the USA; "pawn shops" are popular places where mechanics "offload" tools, these many times are a place to get a good deal on used Snap-On tools. Flea markets (or "boot sales") are sources as well; with some guys specializing in selling used tools! Good luck in your search; you can get what you want, it will just take time, research and money. Figuring out where to get Snap-On reasonably and having them shipped to you or finding NZ based sources for tools used... will probably provide you with whatever you want or need.... wether you want to pay the prices, thats a whole different story!

 

[SteelArt]

they will never get cheaper. Aussie shops / Gov't etc like taking our money way to much for that to ever happen.

Maybe if you are talking about old prices being when we were at $0.49 then yeah ...

 

[Ed_EOD]

The Aus dollar is about even with ours. The price difference is probably the crazy (compared to the US) tax you guys pay, but it also seems like you guys make more money for similar jobs. I know the Aus military gets paid quite well.

So just bypass that tax **** and get stuff used.

 

[Davefr]

If you want SO, then I'd buy them from the classified or Ebay. If the seller won't ship to OZ then set up a forwarder which will give you a US ship to address.

SO's regular price does not represent good value unless you need services from a local dealer like truck credit, on site shopping and easy warranty service.

If those three factors aren't real important to you, then don't buy new SO.

 

[superautobacs]

If you want SO, then I'd buy them from the classified or Ebay. If the seller won't ship to OZ then set up a forwarder which will give you a US ship to address.

SO's regular price not not represent value unless you need services from a local dealer like truck credit, on site shopping and easy warranty service.

If those three factors aren't real important to you then don't buy new SO.

on all points mentioned.

 

[fordbroncodave]

snap on quality is superior and nothing compares to it. hands down the best tool you can buy

 

[superautobacs]

snap on quality is superior and nothing compares to it. hands down the best tool you can buy

Are you absolutely certain?

 

[cranky]

i would buy more snap on but the prices here in the uk are way higher than in the USA. i can get tools from stahlwille,gedore,beta and others for way cheaper. i like teng made in taiwan but they do a pretty good job and im a pro wrencher. also heard that snapon are not as leniant with there warranty returns here in the uk

 

[Monte]

I heard "Nepros" from Japan is equal if not better ?

 

[Davefr]

snap on quality is superior and nothing compares to it. hands down the best tool you can buy

Hogwash!! Snap On has a very broad product offering and quality is consistently high.

However depending on the specific tool, there are plenty of others that meet or and even exceed SO even before you consider the value proposition.

 

[superautobacs]

I heard "Nepros" from Japan is equal if not better ?

Of course, Nepros can't compete with the sheer number in variety that Snap-on offers. SO is more than likely the king in the automotive trade for the number of products they offer.

 

[mrholeshot]

snap on quality is superior and nothing compares to it. hands down the best tool you can buy

I agree to a point. I agree it is superior but there are tools that compare. I rather have all my boxes filled to the brim with them but in the last 10 years or so there have been some killer tools show up on the scene. While made in Taiwan the Duralast 36 tooth ratchet is head on compitition to Snap-On former 936 series. Gearwrench's Roto head ratchets are head on contenders to Snap-on's 100 series. While I agree that they are the best tool you can buy I won't agree nothing compares. I broken enough of them over the years to know no tool is industructable. Then there are the gearwrench pearhead ratchets. You can pick up a 1/2 drive Gearwrench comfort grip 60T ratchet for 20-25 dollars off amazon compared to 150 dollars for the Snap-On 80 tooth. Both are well built and can stand up to day in and day out use. 10 years ago these ratchets didn't exsist. There is some real compitition out there. To ignore it would be foolish. I wish I had some of these choices when I was in my prime. I can make just as much much money with a duralast of gearwrech as I can with a Snap-On. I can carry a lot more of it home with the two former. When it comes time to sell them I won't take near the hit either.

 

[cranky]

Hogwash!! Snap On has a very broad product offering and quality is consistently high.

However depending on the specific tool, there are plenty of others that meet or and even exceed SO even before you consider the value proposition.

completely aggree with dave could not have said it any better. for example i get wera or wiha screwdrivers cheaper than snapon here in UK and i think are superior to the snapon although i have only ever used a snapon driver a couple of times

 

[flatheadguy]

I've been turning wrenches for over fifty years. Started out with Craftsman. Then, after a few years, started buying Snap_on. The "feel" of the tool was much btter. Although, they didn't really perform any better. A certain amount of the psychological aspect creeps in. They look and feel SO good!! Now, I have a VERY complete set of auto and aircraft tools. All Snap-On at my shop. At home, Craftsman. Both suit the requirements.Overall, yes, Snap-On is more expensive, but it's a personal choice. The prices today rock me. With so many other decent tools on the market, it's becoming a bit more difficult for me to recommend Snap-On to newcomers. There are some that are equal in all ways.
"Are they that good".? In my opinion, they used to be. (smiling)

 

[jetz]

In my opinion, Snap On tools are better. That is depending on what the item and job is. There are certain items, that Snap On has patented that you can't find anywhere else. Items like the 4 way open end wrenches are a timesaver. I am certainly happy with the quality, and I will buy again.

 

[cranky]

In my opinion, Snap On tools are better. That is depending on what the item and job is. There are certain items, that Snap On has patented that you can't find anywhere else. Items like the 4 way open end wrenches are a timesaver. I am certainly happy with the quality, and I will buy again.

if i had money i would defo buy more snapon products but even hazet cheaper here in the UK. not heard of the 4 way open end wrenches before im gonna go have a look now

 

[mrholeshot]

In my opinion, Snap On tools are better. That is depending on what the item and job is. There are certain items, that Snap On has patented that you can't find anywhere else. Items like the 4 way open end wrenches are a timesaver. I am certainly happy with the quality, and I will buy again.

Cornwell invented the 4 way angle wrench before I was born. I can't think of a thing that Snap-On has that someone else doesn't have the answer for. A lot of stuff get repaired without a Snap-On tool in sight. I've always been a fan of Snap-On and own a shitload of it but the love fades after years of handing over so much money with so little in return. It's a lesson that has cost many a technician a decent living. It's a hard habit to break. The lack of the USA stamp makes it much easier to see other brands a little more clearly

 

[back2class]

To me the good thing about them is across their entire line quality is very high. As some others have pointed out, some other brands have slightly better or as good items. And more importantly some brands are 1/8 the price and 95% as good quality. But you will nearly always get a very high quality item without fail, but rarely is it any better then something someone else makes. I would say nearly all brands can be hit or miss, but SNap-On is the most reliable.

I sold nearly all my snap-on. To me as a intense hobby user they just do not represent a good value. I would much rather have a broad range of high quality tools then a small stash of snap-on. If I were wrenching every day all day that 1-2% difference would mean 2 or three less damaged bolts a year and that could mean a few lost hours of productivit lost. That few hours is worth the hundred extra bucks for the snap-on wrenches over the KD or Wright.
To me I have a kind of list of things that you want the absolute best for, and it seems snap-on makes the best for these items. I feel strongly that for nearly every other common hand tool even pros would be wasting their money buying through snap-on. There is of course the benefit of a weekly service, easy finincing and "my ego says I need the most expensive thingy". To me that makes up most of the insane price they charge and reason people pay it, it's not that the tools are that much better.

Here is the list I feel should be snap-on if you can afford it. Just about everything else, you are paying for a name and for the easy credit.

Hex keys and sockets (gold colored ones)
Torx sockets (gold colored ones)
Screwdrivers (There are others as good, but they are a wear item and easy to replace)
Any wrench with open ends or crowsfeet
Line/flare nut wrenches and sockets
Tripple square sockets
Taps, dies and thread chasers (not because they are better, but because they break and wear out and Snap-on is about the only company that will replace them without issue.)


Many times mid priced items like Channellock and Craftsman items will be just as good and most of the time Matco, Proto, Wright, Cornwell will be just as high quality.

 

[MrMark]

Yes! And Snap-on is the best company I have ever dealt with in terms of Customer Service. They are truly outstanding.

 

[Dewaynep]

Well, I'm replacing my Craftsman sockets with Snap-on. I've been a hobby wrencher for years and CMan served me well in that, but now that I do it at my shop on other peoples vehicles, I see the value in the snap-on sockets and wrenches. They just plain fit the bolt or nut better with less chance of stripping them out. I will say that my favorite ratchets don't have the snap-on name on them. I do have Snap-on ratchets, they just aren't my go-to ratchets.

 

[Theloniousmonk]

I've gotten along just fine, in various industries from OTR/ indust. maintenance to auto repair, since the early 90's... WITHOUT purchasing any SO tools. SO does make a good tool, no argument there. I have many reasons, most of which are intangible personal ones. I use alot of SK & Wright, some Cman, some Proto, quite a bit of German/French. I appreciate what SO is. Not gonna ramble on about this. To each their own.

 

[HandyManny]

I too appreciate what Snap-On is. But I always got along perfectly fine without them working in a professional environment. There are other brands out there that have been around and are just as good at a fraction of the cost. I have used quit a number of SO hand tools, so I know what I'm comparing to. There are even some newer Tawian imports that compare quite well to SO at a much better price. I also know quite a few highly skilled techs who were among the best I know and they had very little from Snap-On, if anything. There are plenty of other options for professional grade hand tools if you don't want to break the bank, in my opinion.

 

[Chadro]

I love Snap-On but I like Matco, MAC and Cornwell just as much. Some things they make are in fact the best out of the 4 major brands but some are just on par or inferior to the others. I like my Witte made Matco screwdrivers better then Snapon and I like my Matco prybars better then Snapon for example.

 

[mofo62]

They are easily worth the truck price if you are a pro and have a dealer. I have purchased a couple things from the local SO dealer but the rest of my stuff came from the used markets. The initial price made me cringe but I could care less years later when I am still using the stuff. I'm sure my kids won't care when they are using it either. I would recommend looking at eBay and the classifieds here and trying to get folks to ship to Australia if you want to try some out. There are some things though that you can get just as good quality with other US brands (Wright Tool) and spend a little less.

I have seen a few Sidchrome tools from the Aussies here in Afghanistan and was a little disappointed. Most of the tools I have seen here have been made in China, other than the Wiha and Felo.

+1





I too


V!

 

[mofo62]

I've been turning wrenches for over fifty years. Started out with Craftsman. Then, after a few years, started buying Snap_on. The "feel" of the tool was much btter. Although, they didn't really perform any better. A certain amount of the psychological aspect creeps in. They look and feel SO good!! Now, I have a VERY complete set of auto and aircraft tools. All Snap-On at my shop. At home, Craftsman. Both suit the requirements.Overall, yes, Snap-On is more expensive, but it's a personal choice. The prices today rock me. With so many other decent tools on the market, it's becoming a bit more difficult for me to recommend Snap-On to newcomers. There are some that are equal in all ways.
"Are they that good".? In my opinion, they used to be. (smiling)

V!

 

[fordbroncodave]

I agree to a point. I agree it is superior but there are tools that compare. I rather have all my boxes filled to the brim with them but in the last 10 years or so there have been some killer tools show up on the scene. While made in Taiwan the Duralast 36 tooth ratchet is head on compitition to Snap-On former 936 series. Gearwrench's Roto head ratchets are head on contenders to Snap-on's 100 series. While I agree that they are the best tool you can buy I won't agree nothing compares. I broken enough of them over the years to know no tool is industructable. Then there are the gearwrench pearhead ratchets. You can pick up a 1/2 drive Gearwrench comfort grip 60T ratchet for 20-25 dollars off amazon compared to 150 dollars for the Snap-On 80 tooth. Both are well built and can stand up to day in and day out use. 10 years ago these ratchets didn't exsist. There is some real compitition out there. To ignore it would be foolish. I wish I had some of these choices when I was in my prime. I can make just as much much money with a duralast of gearwrech as I can with a Snap-On. I can carry a lot more of it home with the two former. When it comes time to sell them I won't take near the hit either.

compare USA tools to USA tools. the labor rate in this country greatly effects the price of the product. since they work for pennies in china where gearwrench is made, they are making as good if not better profit then snap on makes in the USA. their quality margin can be sky high and still compete with snap on on a daily basis. if you like tools made outside your country not made by your country then that is fine with you but its not ok with me. i support our country and that is that.

 

[MrMark]

It's not just that. It's also that Snap-on innovates and that costs money in terms of R&D. It's completely wrongheaded as an American to support companies that knock-off Snap-on designs. Snap-on can't compete with that; no one can. The Chinese don't respect intellectual property; never have and never will.

It's not just patents it's trade dress as well. Those duralast and Gearwrench rotoratchets are shameful Snap-on copies. They are made to look like Snap-on products down to the most minute detail. It doesn't cost much to copy today with CNC machines. It does cost money to innovate. It's the same thing with pharmaceuticals. If everyone just is allowed to copy there is no incentive to innovate so those who don't care and just buy Chinese or Taiwanese because it's cheap ought to think not only about preserving an Americans job (and that is not the job in Autozone) but also rewarding innovators and not copiers.

 

[mrholeshot]

compare USA tools to USA tools. the labor rate in this country greatly effects the price of the product. since they work for pennies in china where gearwrench is made, they are making as good if not better profit then snap on makes in the USA. their quality margin can be sky high and still compete with snap on on a daily basis. if you like tools made outside your country not made by your country then that is fine with you but its not ok with me. i support our country and that is that.

I support our country more than most. While I'm a fan of well built tools from an country I buy a lot of USA stuff as well. You don't support American business by buying tools at a flea market or ebay. I placed an order for 404 dollars just today on USA built Williams tools. Spent 212 dollars last week on USA tools (New Craftsman ratchets) and about 400 several weeks before that in Sears on USA Crasftsman. I also spent 150 dollars on a new Snap-On ratchet off the truck just to name a few. I compare the Taiwan tools because they do compare. Even buying those things supports some US workers. I bought USA tools for over 40 years so I don't need someone telling me I didn't, havent or am not supporting my country. Snap-On buys a lot more stuff outside the borders than I do. Who does that support. It makes me sick to hear you flag waviers telling me how I'm not supporting the USA when I buy more tools retired than most working technicians. I also like a good bang for the buck and frankly I think Snap-On has become a rip-off. Not putting USA on some of their tools has some meaning. It's not patriotic thats for sure. It's as important to me that my USA tools are marked as such. If they were still 100% USA it would still have USA on them. Sorry no more support for Snap-On.