Snap On USA/marketing, we the techs, can do math...

[Turbo-J]

once again, nothing against our SO dealers...

Snap on USA, please do not think we the techs can not do simple math...
Lets look at this months Hot Tools specials...the low profile socket sets(great tools by the way)

there offering a "free" 9 piece 3/8 socket set when you buy the 10 piece set(1 ratchet, 9 sockets) for $311.50...lets do the math..

a 10 piece set cost $197.40, the ratchet cost 74.50, so a set less 1 ratchet is 122.90....so that comes to 320.30 for 18 sockets and 1 ratchet...so in reality your only saving $8.80 and you're really not getting a "free socket set"

another thing i hope Snap On USA/Corporate hears is that they need to keep the blue point line of hand tools separate from the SO hand tools..i am talking about how they integrated snap on and blue point in there current catalog. the older SO catalogs never did that before. I believe they did that to make the catalog look bigger. jus my 2 cents

 

[johnsdeere850j]

once again, nothing against our SO dealers...

Snap on USA, please do not think we the techs can not do simple math...
Lets look at this months Hot Tools specials...the low profile socket sets(great tools by the way)

there offering a "free" 9 piece 3/8 socket set when you buy the 10 piece set(1 ratchet, 9 sockets) for $311.50...lets do the math..

a 10 piece set cost $197.40, the ratchet cost 74.50, so a set less 1 ratchet is 122.90....so that comes to 320.30 for 18 sockets and 1 ratchet...so in reality your only saving $8.80 and you're really not getting a "free socket set"

another thing i hope Snap On USA/Corporate hears is that they need to keep the blue point line of hand tools separate from the SO hand tools..i am talking about how they integrated snap on and blue point in there current catalog. the older SO catalogs never did that before. I believe they did that to make the catalog look bigger. jus my 2 cents

jesus that stuff is expensive

 

[chadster1]

once again, nothing against our SO dealers...

Snap on USA, please do not think we the techs can not do simple math...
Lets look at this months Hot Tools specials...the low profile socket sets(great tools by the way)

there offering a "free" 9 piece 3/8 socket set when you buy the 10 piece set(1 ratchet, 9 sockets) for $311.50...lets do the math..

a 10 piece set cost $197.40, the ratchet cost 74.50, so a set less 1 ratchet is 122.90....so that comes to 320.30 for 18 sockets and 1 ratchet...so in reality your only saving $8.80 and you're really not getting a "free socket set"

another thing i hope Snap On USA/Corporate hears is that they need to keep the blue point line of hand tools separate from the SO hand tools..i am talking about how they integrated snap on and blue point in there current catalog. the older SO catalogs never did that before. I believe they did that to make the catalog look bigger. jus my 2 cents

Post a pic or a scan of the Hot Tools you are talking about. I am not seeing what you are referring to in my January or February Hot Tools.

 

[chadster1]

If you want to communicate directly with Snap-on corporate, you will have a better response by submitting your concerns using the contact information located at the link below.

http://buy1.snapon.com/snapon-store/customer.asp?Ref=

 

[Turbo-J]

Post a pic or a scan of the Hot Tools you are talking about. I am not seeing what you are referring to in my January or February Hot Tools.

chad, I am assuming you guys get different Hot tools, depending on what region of the country you're in???

 

[chadster1]

Yep, thats a mis print. It would not be the first time that there was a pricing mistake in Hot Tools.

I bet if you asked your dealer about it, he could get you the correct pricing.

That promo is not available in the region that I am in right now.

 

[Turbo-J]

Yep, thats a mis print. It would not be the first time that there was a pricing mistake in Hot Tools.

so is that the same Hot tools you have for this month?

on another subject what happened to the "Anthem" polish they use to make?

 

[briggsguy17]

once again, nothing against our SO dealers...

Snap on USA, please do not think we the techs can not do simple math...
Lets look at this months Hot Tools specials...the low profile socket sets(great tools by the way)

there offering a "free" 9 piece 3/8 socket set when you buy the 10 piece set(1 ratchet, 9 sockets) for $311.50...lets do the math..

a 10 piece set cost $197.40, the ratchet cost 74.50, so a set less 1 ratchet is 122.90....so that comes to 320.30 for 18 sockets and 1 ratchet...so in reality your only saving $8.80 and you're really not getting a "free socket set"

another thing i hope Snap On USA/Corporate hears is that they need to keep the blue point line of hand tools separate from the SO hand tools..i am talking about how they integrated snap on and blue point in there current catalog. the older SO catalogs never did that before. I believe they did that to make the catalog look bigger. jus my 2 cents

If you don't like the price, quality or selection feel free to shop elsewhere. BTW I have the same set minus the free stuff and it was only $100 on sale, so I am sure that the price is a misprint.

 

[chadster1]

so is that the same Hot tools you have for this month?

on another subject what happened to the "Anthem" polish they use to make?

No it's not the one that I have.

I have never heard of the anthem polish.

 

[Turbo-J]

If you want to communicate directly with Snap-on corporate, you will have a better response by submitting your concerns using the contact information located at the link below.

http://buy1.snapon.com/snapon-store/customer.asp?Ref=

never really looked into it, so is Corporate pretty good at responding to the customers emails? I am gonna try and use it and see what they say. thanks!

Yep, thats a mis print. It would not be the first time that there was a pricing mistake in Hot Tools.

I bet if you asked your dealer about it, he could get you the correct pricing.

That promo is not available in the region that I am in right now.

i didnt know pricing was always an issue in hot tools. I bitched at my dealer, saying after I bought all the low profile stuff many months ago, now they have promos!!

how do we get Snap On to make a low profile 1/4 drive, 10mm 12pt socket??

 

[Turbo-J]

If you don't like the price, quality or selection feel free to shop elsewhere.

Snap on quality or price have never been issue with me....

like it says on back of the truck..."quality is not expensive, its priceless"

or others i seen, "Cry once, buy the best"

like they always say "there is a diffence" 100% true!!!

have a nice day!

 

[mrholeshot]

Snap on quality or price have never been issue with me....

like it says on back of the truck..."quality is not expensive, its priceless"

or others i seen, "Cry once, buy the best"

like they always say "there is a diffence" 100% true!!!

have a nice day!

Ive never seen the Mona Lisa on the truck. Great tools no doubt. For the most part outragously overpriced. I can say that because I have boxes full of Snap-On tools. Sorry 600 dollars for a 1/4 drive general service set is a bit extreme. They can sell tools at 50% to students that will prob sell them on ebay but the guy out there that keeps drivers in a job get to take a stiff one to the rear.

 

[jeffk14]

All the math you need:
For Snap On, anything > 40% of retail = bad deal.

"Snap On. There is a difference." Very true. Just nowhere near a TWELVE HUNDRED PERCENT difference!

 

[Roots]

All the math you need:
For Snap On, anything > 40% of retail = bad deal.

"Snap On. There is a difference." Very true. Just nowhere near a TWELVE HUNDRED PERCENT difference!

In defense of Snap On or any truck brand for that matter, you have to remember that you're paying for a great quality tool (in general) plus exceptional service. Similar to that given by industrial sales reps to large clients, when even if you're spending 10k a year on tools, you're not considered a large client by those standards.

 

[FirstStateTools]

You do pay a lot for snap on. I buy them in massive quantities when dealerships and shops close or master technicians retire etc, etc.
Basic fact of life, Boxes fetch 40% of what they cost new if they are still in good shape, tools about 50% of what you paid off the truck. If you think students get a good deal, you should see government pricing.. OMFG!
The average tech has to invest in what he needs most to get money come back in. Dont buy $50K in tools as a start up mechanic. Buy craftsman or other quality tools, as they break or wear out, thats a sign you use them enought to buy from the top names like Snap On , Mac and Matco. If you want a better deal, save the money up and buy tools cash, dealers cut you a break if you do that, remember if you give the tool guy $20 a week it will never pay off your bill, you are working for nothing and thats no fun.
Most of all, get good, get better, get stupid good then and only then, buy a big flashy toolbox. It is only a home for the tools that make you money..

 

[schloe]

You do pay a lot for snap on. I buy them in massive quantities when dealerships and shops close or master technicians retire etc, etc.
Basic fact of life, Boxes fetch 40% of what they cost new if they are still in good shape, tools about 50% of what you paid off the truck. If you think students get a good deal, you should see government pricing.. OMFG!
The average tech has to invest in what he needs most to get money come back in. Dont buy $50K in tools as a start up mechanic. Buy craftsman or other quality tools, as they break or wear out, thats a sign you use them enought to buy from the top names like Snap On , Mac and Matco. If you want a better deal, save the money up and buy tools cash, dealers cut you a break if you do that, remember if you give the tool guy $20 a week it will never pay off your bill, you are working for nothing and thats no fun.
Most of all, get good, get better, get stupid good then and only then, buy a big flashy toolbox. It is only a home for the tools that make you money..

If boxes only sell for 40% of MSRP, then why do you list yours for over 50% of MSRP on ebay???

Just messing you with you

 

[MattT]

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Ive never seen the Mona Lisa on the truck. Great tools no doubt. For the most part outragously overpriced. I can say that because I have boxes full of Snap-On tools. Sorry 600 dollars for a 1/4 drive general service set is a bit extreme. They can sell tools at 50% to students that will prob sell them on ebay but the guy out there that keeps drivers in a job get to take a stiff one to the rear.

If they are so outragously overpriced, why do you have boxes full Snap-on tools? Don't come back with the BS answer "they were cheaper then". I have been buying them since 72 and their prices have always been a good percentage of a mechanic's take home pay.

You have boxes full like a lot of us do, they work, work well, don't break very often, are delivered to your door and replaced when they do break. They are also among the best tools on this planet and they make special tools that make the jobs easier and faster.

If you don't want to pay the price, then stay off of the damn truck. Don't ***** if someone else wants to spend their money. It's their money, not yours.

 

[demographic]

<Dons Nomex undercrackers>

Am I missing something here?

The whole marketing strategy of Snap On has been based (successfully I might add) on people being unable to do maths since the company started acting as a hire purchase seller.

Who here seriously believes that drop forging a ratchet body takes Snap On several hundred percent more time and effort than all the other companies? How much more (as a percentrage of overall tool cost) do you think the materials cost?

Consequently its working a treat for them.

I'm not suggesting that they are bad (just in case the SO addicts get their undercrackers all twisted) but I'm not believing that are several hundred percent better.

 

[Roots]

Who here seriously believes that drop forging a ratchet body takes Snap On several hundred percent more time and effort than all the other companies? How much more (as a percentrage of overall tool cost) do you think the materials cost?

Consequently its working a treat for them.

I'm not suggesting that they are bad (just in case the SO addicts get their undercrackers all twisted) but I'm not believing that are several hundred percent better.

To be fair, you have to compare Snap On (or any of the truck brands) to industrial brands like Wright, Armstrong, Proto, etc. The truck brands are certainly significantly more, but tend to not be several hundred percent more compared to the MSRP of those other brands.

The major price difference I think, is accounted by the difference with the supply chain logistics versus manufacturing costs. Having truck based distribution channels and service capabilities cost a fortune. However they provide a valuable service for that cost, as the market appears to readily embrace them.

 

[blown94conv]

They are expensive. And I have a toolbox full of them, and wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[mikevango]

They are expensive. And I have a toolbox full of them, and wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[mrholeshot]

If they are so outragously overpriced, why do you have boxes full Snap-on tools? Don't come back with the BS answer "they were cheaper then". I have been buying them since 72 and their prices have always been a good percentage of a mechanic's take home pay.

You have boxes full like a lot of us do, they work, work well, don't break very often, are delivered to your door and replaced when they do break. They are also among the best tools on this planet and they make special tools that make the jobs easier and faster.

If you don't want to pay the price, then stay off of the damn truck. Don't ***** if someone else wants to spend their money. It's their money, not yours.

Well they have always been expensive but techs could make more money back some years back. I took home more money in 1985 than I did in 1995. The more experianced you become the more complex the jobs you are handed. You lose out on the gravy work. Also the price of the actual tools has risen much faster then the pay rates. Then there are so many more tools a tech has to have compared to 10-20 years ago. I started buying off the truck because it was hard to find things other places when I started. I never let the fact the stuff was overpriced stop me from buying it. It doesn't change the fact it's overpriced. Technician jobs were more plentiful and more stable than they are now.

When I was a dealership tech in 1985 I made 17.50 pfrh. I know techs in dealerships in my area now only making 14.00 pfrh. The pay to investment ratio has really gone in the wrong direction.

I never bitched about someone else spending their money. I still buy a little from Snap-On, still love the tools, Just now they are extremly overpriced

 

[Skin]

The major price difference I think, is accounted by the difference with the supply chain logistics versus manufacturing costs. Having truck based distribution channels and service capabilities cost a fortune. However they provide a valuable service for that cost, as the market appears to readily embrace them.

Sorry but what service is that? From what i understand dealers get no payment from SO for doing things like warranty service, giving out loaners, and helping people out. I'm sure they dont pay for fuel but obviously that can be written off as a business expense. The actual people selling you the product lease the franchise, and purchase their stock. Its effectively just a retail store on wheels. Likewise apparently the markup from dealer to consumer is ~30% which isnt all that great.

So what exactly is SO doing thats so expensive when its infact the dealers who bend over backwards and get little to show for it?

Hell they even have to purchase promotional items. SO sounds like a cheapass company if you ask me.

IF dealers were being given flyers, catalogs, promotional items, and reimbursed for their time spent troubleshooting or repairing SO tools, filling out and submitting items for warranty, as well as time spent going to all their stops, i'd agree there is certainly some added cost. But they dont get squat so i cant see the justification.

All SO seems to do is sell their name and supply the product.

 

[jeffk14]

If they are so outragously overpriced, why do you have boxes full Snap-on tools? Don't come back with the BS answer "they were cheaper then". I have been buying them since 72 and their prices have always been a good percentage of a mechanic's take home pay.

Snap On is very expensive now. They were very expensive back in the early 1980's when I bought most of mine. The difference is that there are many, many more decent alternatives to the insane S/O prices now than there were then.

The S/O business/pricing/distribution model is living on borrowed time. Just watch.....

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

I agree that the better you are, that you will get a higher percentage of the complex jobs. Unless you are a **** however, the service writer will feed some gravy your way to make up for it. The only guys in this area making 14.00 pfrh are the ones just starting out. If a seasoned tech in your area is making $14, he is either very bad at his job or needs to move because he has pissed someone off in a major way.

We always had an independent dealer in the 70's that came to the shop that we bought SK, Armstrong and the like from. He even had some Japanese and Taiwan tools back then that he would sell if you didn't have the cash for the truck tools and there was always the Sears, Western Auto, JC Penney's and the like for cheap tools also.

All jobs were more plentiful then compared to now. Check out the construction industry right now. There are engineers in parts of the country working for $14 to $15 an hour and as far as the investment goes, have you seen what independent truckers are paying for a new tractor right now? How about farmers? Priced a combine or farm tractor in the past few years?

Face it, almost everything you do anymore requires more education, more tools, is getting more complicated, requires better skill sets and pays less for the effort you put out.

 

[maxipouce]

Thanks MattT, I was experiencing troubles trying to find that photograph !

 

[joeswamp]

To be fair, you have to compare Snap On (or any of the truck brands) to industrial brands like Wright, Armstrong, Proto, etc. The truck brands are certainly significantly more, but tend to not be several hundred percent more compared to the MSRP of those other brands.

The major price difference I think, is accounted by the difference with the supply chain logistics versus manufacturing costs. Having truck based distribution channels and service capabilities cost a fortune. However they provide a valuable service for that cost, as the market appears to readily embrace them.

Truck distribution is crazy expensive, and don't forget the whole "buying on time" factor. Snap-On tools are in fact very good value if you're a young mechanic with bad credit. Built in to the price is a sky high interest rate, but that's to be expected given a young mechanic's credit risk -- it's similar to the interest charged on "micro loans" to entrepreneurs starting out in developing countries.

Snap On cannot charge this interest rate explicitly because of usury laws, the situation is similar to "rent to own" furniture.

The real list price of Snap-On tools is what they charge large industrial accounts. This is the price of the tools with the truck distribution and high-risk loan interest rate removed. With some negotiation these prices can drop below Craftsman list prices, and Snap-On is still making money.

 

[Two dollar steak]

You are really paying for the service as much as the tool from a truck. You have the tools brought to you, normally you salesman has actually used a tool before in their lifetime, not so at sears ect, and returns are simpler. Also payment plans are a huge bonus to new or financially burdened techs. Most important to me is supporting a small business owner.

 

[FirstStateTools]

If boxes only sell for 40% of MSRP, then why do you list yours for over 50% of MSRP on ebay???

Just messing you with you

Thats a very fair question, it is simple math.. the listing price covers the 12% fees that Ebay and Paypal charge if you buy it with the "buy it now" feature. If you can pay cash, have a trade in or need it shipped, "make an offer" and go from there. We are the only sellers, (i know of) that will crate and ship worldwide, which although is very expensive it is a whole lot less than buying it new from the dealer. Any members on here from Australia or Europe will back me up I am sure. The supply of boxes over there is low as we often ship them over there. Want to know more, let us know.

 

[SledgeFix]

Don't buy $50K in tools as a start up mechanic. Buy craftsman or other quality tools, as they break or wear out, that's a sign you use them enough to buy from the top names like Snap On, Mac and Matco.

Amen to that. Haven't broken any of my Cman tools yet. Maybe I'm just not misusing them hard enough?

 

[ngk22r]

If you want to communicate directly with Snap-on corporate, you will have a better response by submitting your concerns using the contact information located at the link below.

http://buy1.snapon.com/snapon-store/customer.asp?Ref=

I just want to point out something really important here which many people here know already.


Thank you chadster1, and also to mrshaun for your stand up work going way above and beyond to help people out who you guys do not even have as RA customers.

Most people would not go as far to help people out like you guys have!!


on a side note to mrholeshot; if only gearwrench could be as helpful as these guys.

 

[ZombiehunterEKY]

It is like this for me. I am 27 and new as a baby to this kind of work. If not for the Snap On Dealer in my area I would not have a damn thing to work with. My buddy let me borrow so stuff but for god sake it gets old quick having to ask to borrow items from other techs and causing them to have to stop their work to get something for me out of their box. Yeah I am in debt but I plan on having my credit account paid off by this time next year. Does that interest rate **** *** yes it does but with anything with a interest rate... make more than your minimum payments. It is all about balancing. I am thankful for the way I have had to do without since I got out of the military. It has taught me to live with not having things other people my age would die without. Would it be nice yes but is it necessary no. Are those tools I went into debt for necessary. Damn right. Without them this ol boy here is not going to be making money and causing others to take more time to complete what they have too do.

 

[Bull]

Dont buy $50K in tools as a start up mechanic. Buy craftsman or other quality tools, as they break or wear out, thats a sign you use them enought to buy from the top names like Snap On , Mac and Matco.

I've been on here a long time, but this is the first time I have seen this particularly advice given. It makes a helluva lot of sense!!

 

[johnsdeere850j]

It is like this for me. I am 27 and new as a baby to this kind of work. If not for the Snap On Dealer in my area I would not have a damn thing to work with. My buddy let me borrow so stuff but for god sake it gets old quick having to ask to borrow items from other techs and causing them to have to stop their work to get something for me out of their box. Yeah I am in debt but I plan on having my credit account paid off by this time next year. Does that interest rate **** *** yes it does but with anything with a interest rate... make more than your minimum payments. It is all about balancing. I am thankful for the way I have had to do without since I got out of the military. It has taught me to live with not having things other people my age would die without. Would it be nice yes but is it necessary no. Are those tools I went into debt for necessary. Damn right. Without them this ol boy here is not going to be making money and causing others to take more time to complete what they have too do.

I would have bought a bunch of craftsman personally, and if it were me and I couldn't afford them I would go to the bank or to family, whatever and beg if I had to and borrow a couple thousand. That would pretty much buy every craftsman hand tool you'd need to get started and you could have enough left to buy some IR air tools. Guess it would depend on what you were going to be doing, but I think 2g's would get a lot more craftsman and IR than SO off the truck.. Maybe i'm wrong, not trying to piss you off just some friendly conversation I think past is the past anyway.

 

[ZombiehunterEKY]

Its all good and if i could have went to family I would have. This is the first real job in a number of years. Last year for 5 months I cut grass 6 days a week make less than 150 dollars a week. I am talking like 5am to 5pm. My living bills have to come first right now. I know it doesn't make since to add another bill to bills I was behind on but the bills the wife and I have are not that bad once they are caught up (which I might add will be this paycheck). So I went the credit route. If I could have went about it another way I would have. I hope I am not coming off like an ******* or anything I was just showing that there are some people out there that may not have other options. I was one of them. In fact on the family thing my mother comes to me for help including when I had those ****** 20-25 dollar a day jobs. Yeah I know...I love her but she is still ****** at handling her bills etc...

 

[Lt CHEG]

I think what a lot of people forget about is where Snap On Tools are made. It seems like the majority of them are made in the US, where manufacturing costs are several times more expensive than in places like China and Taiwan. Snap On wants to make as much profit as the companies that are making stuff overseas so all the added wage costs for making tools in the US gets passed along to the consumer.

I've always liked to tinker and was a real motorhead in high school. So when I got a part time job at Sears in the Hardware section in college, it was a great part time job for me. I got to be around stuff that I liked, and made a decent wage for someone in my situation as we worked on commission and I was a good salesperson and also had a good chunk of experience with most of the tools we sold. Anyhow, most of the Craftsman tools were shipped in boxes from the manufacturer like Western Forge for example. What I noticed was that as time went on, more and more Craftsman tools were made overseas. Now you're starting to see it with even the truck brands making more and more stuff overseas.

I guess I look at it this way;for most people a Chevy Malibu will work just as well for their needs as a BMW 3 series and for less money. For some people who need the extra performance and for others who can afford the increased quality and performance and have an appreciation for such they buy the BMW even though it costs a bunch more. To me I like quality and appreciate service. I'm just a shade tree tinkerer that gets a lot of satisfaction from doing what work I can myself, and I also find working with my hands to be a nice distraction from my every day job. For me, I have an assortment of tools from different places. I mostly have Craftsman because they've always worked well for me, and I bought a lot of stuff at great discounts when I worked at Sears. I also have some Snap On tools, Rigid pipe wrenches, Napa stuff here and there, etc. I buy what I think will do the job I need it to do and when I can justify the extra cost for increased performance or when I just have an appreciation for something nice I'll call my local Snap On dealer. I especially find myself calling Snap On for unique tools that aren't made elsewhere like my recent Oil and Fuel Filter combination socket for my Powerstroke Diesel. I have an appreciation for some nicer things, and I don't expect made in the USA Snap On tools to be priced like slave wage made in China Harbor Freight tools. I don't think that I'm throwing money away at all when I buy from Snap On, just like I don't feel like I wasted any money on my Rolex, Tag Heuer, Breitling and Omega watches that really don't do that much more than what my $30 Timex does. It's all about value to the individual.

 

[treasureseeker]

All the math you need:
For Snap On, anything > 40% of retail = bad deal.

"Snap On. There is a difference." Very true. Just nowhere near a TWELVE HUNDRED PERCENT difference!

With the arrow pointing to the right I read that quote as for Snap on, anything greater than 40% of retail = bad deal

 

[wrencheshurt]

Why must this useless drivel be brought up so much. Why do some people insist on being so arrogant thinking that people care what they buy, get over yourself buy Fisher Price tools or whatever you want, just shut up.

 

[Skin]

I think what a lot of people forget about is where Snap On Tools are made. It seems like the majority of them are made in the US, where manufacturing costs are several times more expensive than in places like China and Taiwan. Snap On wants to make as much profit as the companies that are making stuff overseas so all the added wage costs for making tools in the US gets passed along to the consumer.

Please dont take this the wrong way but for the most part any truck tool company's retail pricing is a joke and should be offensive to any blue collar worker. When they charge you, the buyer, $500 for some basic metal wrenches, or $360 for a 15pc socket set, they are not just skimming by. The markup is enormous.

Look at what you can buy Williams sockets/wrenches for and compare it to SO's retail price for a similar item. It has nothing to do with trying to recoup manufacturing costs. You are being bent over the counter.