How can mechanics afford Snap On?

[HandyManny]

I am not a tech, but here is my observation from the shop that I have handle alot of my repairs in a rural area. There is very little tool-truck tools at the shop other than some specialized Matco. It seems the balance is either S-K (which the Auto Value used to sell), Craftsman, and odds and ends from a place called Sam and Jake's Tools (a Harbor Freight-esqe store). I have been very pleased with this shop and their willingness to seemingly fix anything. I have had everything from '07 Monte Carlos to VW New Beetles to Lada NIvas to Citroen 2CVs fixed at this shop. The owner refuses to deal with Snap-On and this is partially because they have gone through several drivers and there is currently no Snap On Truck in the area. Matco seems to be the big name here and I think that is partially because it's a former tech driving the truck and he has more cred with the locals.

So, I'll take my $50/hour mechanic who seemingly can fix anything out of a 2 bay rinky-dink shop than one who has tons of tool bling.

You have just validated my point. I'd rather have someone who knows what they're doing than someone who gawks over their Presigious tools. Besides, lower cost tools doesn't mean cheap tools. There are lots of professional grade high quality tools that can be had for much less than truck brands, perform just as good and last just as long.

 

[mrholeshot]

I don't know maybe I'm different, but to me pride and prestige comes from doing the job right the first time and knowing what you're doing. No tool brand can make up for that.

You are absolutly correct. But to auto techs there is a prestige factor to deal with. It's like that with so many things like cars, homes, motorcycles even right down to your shoes. I may beat around in my Van or F-150 but I still enjoy breaking out my Chevelle that gets about 4mpg. Some people will pay 200 dollars for a pair of jeans. For me a pair of Wranglers is all I need. Some people will buy a Mercedes but I'm as happy as a clam with my truck. Some people have to have the latest cell phone. My cell phone is 5 years old and I can make and take calls just like a new latest greatest most expensive. You spend the most money wherever your passion is. If your passion in in auto repair or building chances are thats where your highest quality priority will be. To some their job is just a job. You see a guy loaded down with loads of Snap-On tools and a big toolbox chances are he's passionate about his job. That doesn't mean that everyone with a big toolbox and lots of Snap-On makes them a great tech anymore than buying a Ferrari makes yyou a great driver

 

[Danglerb]

Tools of the trade, for a hobbiest a tool that does the job 10% faster may have little value, but if you make your living with a tool the cost is almost irrelevant if it works better.

I used to get into the old PC vs Mac argument, and the big point was always the higher cost of the Mac, which is absurd in professional use. A 5% improvement in an engineers productivity could EASILY be worth $10k/year. You also can't hire 1/10 of a person, so paying double for equipment instead of adding an employee saves money.

Nice tools make you happy, give you pride, and that could be worth the added cost in itself.

 

[jeffk14]

Employer owes it to the employees to stay the fk out of their personal business after the time card is punched out for the day.

Hear Hear!!!

 

[HandyManny]

You are absolutly correct. But to auto techs there is a prestige factor to deal with. It's like that with so many things like cars, homes, motorcycles even right down to your shoes. I may beat around in my Van or F-150 but I still enjoy breaking out my Chevelle that gets about 4mpg. Some people will pay 200 dollars for a pair of jeans. For me a pair of Wranglers is all I need. Some people will buy a Mercedes but I'm as happy as a clam with my truck. Some people have to have the latest cell phone. My cell phone is 5 years old and I can make and take calls just like a new latest greatest most expensive. You spend the most money wherever your passion is. If your passion in in auto repair or building chances are thats where your highest quality priority will be. To some their job is just a job. You see a guy loaded down with loads of Snap-On tools and a big toolbox chances are he's passionate about his job. That doesn't mean that everyone with a big toolbox and lots of Snap-On makes them a great tech anymore than buying a Ferrari makes yyou a great driver

Personally I'm the kind of guy who wouldn't be seen in anything but Levis Jeans, a Carhartt t-shirt, and driving around in my F-150

My biggest passion if hunting and shooting. Always has and always will be. Yet most of my arsenal is still made up of guns that are basic common makes and models. I go for more the utilitarian type stuff rather than the fancy or exotic stuff. Same with my hunting gear.

 

[scott37300]

Side-jobs steal from your primary employer.

You owe it to your employer to not do side-jobs.

This has got to be one of the most blindest statements I have ever read. Do you honestly believe you have to live your personal off clock time by what benefits your employer? I gave my employer 110% for my schedualed hours. I would never say to a customer that I can do it cheaper, that would be taking business away. But if a friend asks me to do some work on my time I will. When my employer starts paying me for my personal time then I will let them tell me what I can or can't do at home.

 

[wafrederick]

Snap On tends to overprice and that is one reason why some are going in the Matco,Mac or Cornwell tool truck.Their smoke machine is now $5,000.00 using special oil.Most recomend the Red line over the Snap On since it use baby oil from any grocery store,Only one that does this.Snap On's warranty problems with the not purchased from me is helping my Matco dealer out,he is doing great although he has been on the road about a year now.Snap has not fixed their warranty problems yet and that is what is hurting them.I now know where to get SO's headquarter's phone number,my neighbor Ken has it written on his toolbox at work.Snap On even terminated one dealer serving in the Bay City,Mi area,this dealer was doing a huge no,no.Was putting customers on a type of credit which did hurt the customer at the end,ended up hurting Snap On $1.5 million dollars too.Not going after this ex dealer which should be done

 

[jeffk14]

Doing side work for friends and family is one thing. Drumming up side work is something different. If the pay is too low at your shop and you are a good tech, move on. As stated good techs are hard to find. If you can prove your worth, ask for reasonable renumeration for it or go find it elsewhere.
Too many techs drumming up work a little too close to the shop (or within).

No it's not. The only reasonable gripe that an employer should have is if a tech was drumming up side work while on the clock or on company property. PERIOD. Other than that, there's no such thing as "too close to the shop".

An employer has no right to care about what an hourly employee does on his/her own time. It's none of their f#%$ing business.

I'd be willing to bet that the shittiest employers also tend to be the ones who are most likely to ***** about employees' side jobs instead of minding their own f#%$ing business and paying a decent wage.

 

[dirttracker18]

I would also bet that most good quality well paid techs rarely do side work unless friends or family. No need to.

And yes, I meant on the clock or on the grounds or had something to do with the shop in the past. If you met them at the shop, they're off limits.

 

[Theloniousmonk]

No it's not. The only reasonable gripe that an employer should have is if a tech was drumming up side work while on the clock or on company property. PERIOD. Other than that, there's no such thing as "too close to the shop".

An employer has no right to care about what an hourly employee does on his/her own time. It's none of their f#%$ing business.

I'd be willing to bet that the shittiest employers also tend to be the ones who are most likely to ***** about employees' side jobs instead of minding their own f#%$ing business and paying a decent wage.

Yup, and any business that does smells of a formerly coked out Gen. Mgr. with a control issue. Same guy that'll screw around on his wife w/ the new desk clerk, same guy that ignored his kids, same guy w/ the pretty caddy escalade and matching gold chain bracelet, same guy that knowingly signed off on fraudulent title transfers, etc... Same guy that sees no value in good employees that are productive and make the company money. Same guy that only sees employees as a cost and liability and treats em accordingly.

If anybody is working at an establishment that even sticks a fingernail in your personal life, it's time to move on. I'm not talking about getting fired when your face is plastered on the front page for triple homicide either.

 

[canuckian]

different mechanics/techs have different needs, wants and priorities. Some are smart when it comes to money management, some aren't. Some are resistant to Snap On's marketing, student discounts, 2 for 1 sales, blinding chrome, etc. and some fall weak in the knees. i'm not a tech but my job has expenses and tool requirements as well and I just try to buy the best that I can afford to do the best job that I can. I refuse to take on debt to fund the tools I need to do my job and I do pay cash for them. Some people choose to get caught up in the credit trap and end up with a lifetime of payments to a tool company, or other company depending on what items they need to do their jobs.

That being said, for the past while since I've worked 10+ years getting my life and finances in order, Ive been buying higher end tools for personal use. I'll never amass $100,000 in tools, simply because I don't need the expensive scanners, puller sets, etc that pro techs need but i do pay cash for what i buy. I do buy some off the truck but I also try and find more economical routes to get the tools I want. I know people that aren't techs for a living that have truck accounts with semi-high balances. Those guys are plain stupid in my books but they let their "wants" overpower their means and they end up paying interest or cost of borrowing every week for something that won't earn them money and will depreciate.

So, to respond to the original question, some techs spend their entire life making a payment to a tool truck or corporate account and others pay cash for everything and upgrade when they can. Either way, it isn't hard for a working tech to have a $100,000 set of tools.

 

[JE Caudle]

If tools are your lively hood you should have the best you can find
for the given job.

A Craftsmen wrench is just as good as a Snap-on. That is until
you need to get into a real tight space and that clunky Craftsmen
can not compete with the nice slim Snap-on. The same can be said
about ratchets. The Snap-on has a very short click distance (For a lack of
a better word.) while the Craftsmen has a yard between clicks. SK also makes
a fine short click ratchet.

I once had a Silver Beauty MIG welder. (Much like what Harbor Freight sells.) I thought
it was great. It did everything I needed it to do. I decided I needed a little larger
MIG so I ordered a Hobart from Sears. With in the first few minutes of using the
new Hobart I discovered my Silver Beauty (That I loved...) was a real piece of POOP!

All that being said I have a somewhat large roll around filled with Craftsmen tools and a
string of 1/4" Snap-On sockets. The reason I have Craftsman tools is I am NOT
trying to make a living with them. If it takes me an extra 2 10ths to do a task
I'm not out anything and I have saved the cost of the equivalent Snap-on tool.
When you are trying to put food on the table every 10th counts.

BTW a 10th is 6 minutes for those who never did piece work.

 

[mrholeshot]

Side-jobs steal from your primary employer.

You owe it to your employer to not do side-jobs.

You don't go after the shop you are working at customers. Friends and family nomally send you enough business and referals to get you going on your own to fill in your time. I never owed any employer anything but a hard days work and my best work possible. What I do on my time was absolutly none of his concern or business. I knew my guys did sidework and I didn't care as long as they wern't trying to get my customers to bring their cars to their house. When I worked for other people I never took a sidejob from my employers customers (but the offers were many) but if it wern't for sidework not many shops would open. Every shop I know with a owner/tech started off the same way. Many times when I changed jobs 1/2 of my cliantel followed me to the next job.

You won't get far in the automotive world feeling you owe any loyalty to your employer. If you show up for work, do good work and make them money they owe you. I paid my techs on Friday, they didn't pay me.

 

[jeffk14]

And yes, I meant on the clock or on the grounds or had something to do with the shop in the past. If you met them at the shop, they're off limits.

Nope. Sorry. No such thing as off limits people. Only when and where you can solicit them.

 

[ptschram]

If anybody is working at an establishment that even sticks a fingernail in your personal life, it's time to move on. I'm not talking about getting fired when your face is plastered on the front page for triple homicide either.

LOL-when I worked for an operating company of American Electric Power, there was a morals clause and another in my agreement with them that basically said I was under scrutiny 24/7. When I got my picture in the paper at a political event with a state politician who was averse to the interests of the company, I got hauled into the president's office to explain my actions.

Ever been drug-tested? That's something that could be done during your off-time.

Every job I've had I was forbidden to do the same work for anyone but my employer. Didn't matter whether I was an engineer, a service adviser, a parts manager, I was forbidden to do similar work to my employer's for anyone but my employer.

Dealerships are the scummiest of the scummy, IMO.
Been fired twice for no valid reason. Once, the day before, I was complimented for the sales over the last month as they'd been the best the parts department had ever done. The next day (a week after I moved into a new house with a new, bigger mortgage that my boss knew about), I was told I couldn't handle the job. WTF??? Yesterday you were telling everyone what a great job I'd done last month.

 

[jeffk14]

LOL-when I worked for an operating company of American Electric Power, there was a morals clause and another in my agreement with them that basically said I was under scrutiny 24/7. When I got my picture in the paper at a political event with a state politician who was averse to the interests of the company, I got hauled into the president's office to explain my actions.

Ever been drug-tested? That's something that could be done during your off-time.

Every job I've had I was forbidden to do the same work for anyone but my employer. Didn't matter whether I was an engineer, a service adviser, a parts manager, I was forbidden to do similar work to my employer's for anyone but my employer.

Dealerships are the scummiest of the scummy, IMO.
Been fired twice for no valid reason. Once, the day before, I was complimented for the sales over the last month as they'd been the best the parts department had ever done. The next day (a week after I moved into a new house with a new, bigger mortgage that my boss knew about), I was told I couldn't handle the job. WTF??? Yesterday you were telling everyone what a great job I'd done last month.

It's just wonderful how "bidness" types like to crow on and on and on about "competition", "the free market at work", "opportunity" and all that other horseshit UNTIL somebody threatens their little piece of the pie.

 

[mrholeshot]

I would also bet that most good quality well paid techs rarely do side work unless friends or family. No need to.

.

You would lose that bet. All but a very few auto techs (no matter how well paid) do side work. It's how they keep things like race cars, hot rods and future shops financed. I never touched my primary income for any of my hobbies. I let my side work pay for all those things. Sometimes it isn't about need. Had it not been for sidework I could have never opened up my own shop.

 

[dirttracker18]

Nope. Sorry. No such thing as off limits people. Only when and where you can solicit them.

If you met them at the shop and you or they solicit work later and you accept, then you are doing your employer a serious disservice.
If you think that little of your employer, move on to a place that you have more respect for.

If you met them at the shop, you are stealing them from the shop.
Period.

If you like side work that much and do not repect your employer, hang a shingle out front of your shop, get your insurance and off you go, all the side work you can handle and feel free to skim from your previous employer.

 

[ptschram]

Had it not been for sidework I could have never opened up my own shop.

I was working in my driveway before I opened my shop. My employer at the time was a tier one supplier to all of the assemblers. They were CRAZY about anyone doing anything similar.

 

[ptschram]

If you like side work that much and do not repect your employer, hang a shingle out front of your shop, get your insurance and off you go, all the side work you can handle and feel free to skim from your previous employer.

This is what I'm most concerned about. Not enough guys working out of their homes have enough insurance. I don't think I have enough insurance!

 

[jeffk14]

If you met them at the shop and you or they solicit work later and you accept, then you are doing your employer a serious disservice.
If you think that little of your employer, move on to a place that you have more respect for.

If you met them at the shop, you are stealing them from the shop. Period.

If you like side work that much and do not repect your employer, hang a shingle out front of your shop, get your insurance and off you go, all the side work you can handle and feel free to skim from your previous employer.

Nope. Not stealing. "Period". The ONLY thing that an employee owes an employer is a day's work for a day's pay. That's it. Meddling chickenshit employers who expect ONE-WAY loyalty are a sore spot for me lately, so we've obviously reached an impasse here. Have a nice day.

Oh, and for the record, there are precious damned few employers these days who are worthy of my respect or of the best that I have to offer. Peace.

 

[K5blazer83]

Here's my 2 cents:

If using cheap tools like HF and Craftsman was the case then the federal government and the U.S. military would jump all over that to save a buck or two. BUT they don't, Every tool I used during my 5 years in the Navy as an Airframes Mechanic was Snap-On, Mac, SK etc. I NEVER saw HF, Craftsman etc in their toolboxes. Would I ever use a Chinese or Craftsman wrench to touch a 150 MILLION dollar Boeing E-6 Mercury or a $36 MILLION Lockheed P-3 Orion that gathers intel on terrorists...not a chance in hell.
If you're a tinkerer in your own driveway...IE a hobbyist then yeah, the tool trucks are not for you because they're not geared towards the hobbyist/weekend warrior/shadetree's. When I was an apprentice in an indy shop and a tech at a Saturn dealership I used my tools to make money. I didn't have time and most techs won't take the time to go to Sears or HF after they punch the time card.
Rant over.

 

[dirttracker18]

E & O insurance is not cheap and keeps most guys from going out on their own. At least with coverage. All is good unless things go bad, then they go really bad.

This is the reason I stopped doing custom out of my garage. The extra income was good until I looked into insurance. Nevermind then (Canada anyway) Without it if something did happen I am now putting my entire family in financial jeopardy.

The amount of work I have to do just to cover that cost changed my mind. I only do custom work for close friends now. Although I have a guy courting me to take on a large scale custom project that has me reconsidering. When he offers enough money I just may get the insurance.

 

[mrholeshot]

If you met them at the shop, you are stealing them from the shop.
Period.

.

Some shops I worked at wouldn't do an engine swap or Trans overhaul. The customer would ask where could he get it done. I would give him my card and tell him to call me after hours. Thats not stealing from the shop. If the shop won't do the work someone has to. might as well be me. If a Peugeot rolled up to my shop I'd flat out tell the owner I had a guy that would work on it at his house. I didn't want it in my parking lot. I rather one of my guys work on it at home than send it down the street to bigger competitor.

 

[chewy7]

Nice tools make you happy, give you pride, and that could be worth the added cost in itself.

any brand can do that

 

[pipsters]

I put around $80k into my education for a job that paid $12,000 my first year working, in 2003 nonetheless. And I didn't have anything left over to sell worth anything (ie tools!).

 

[Theloniousmonk]

LOL-when I worked for an operating company of American Electric Power, there was a morals clause and another in my agreement with them that basically said I was under scrutiny 24/7. When I got my picture in the paper at a political event with a state politician who was averse to the interests of the company, I got hauled into the president's office to explain my actions.

Ever been drug-tested? That's something that could be done during your off-time.

Every job I've had I was forbidden to do the same work for anyone but my employer. Didn't matter whether I was an engineer, a service adviser, a parts manager, I was forbidden to do similar work to my employer's for anyone but my employer.

Dealerships are the scummiest of the scummy, IMO.
Been fired twice for no valid reason. Once, the day before, I was complimented for the sales over the last month as they'd been the best the parts department had ever done. The next day (a week after I moved into a new house with a new, bigger mortgage that my boss knew about), I was told I couldn't handle the job. WTF??? Yesterday you were telling everyone what a great job I'd done last month.

Yea, and it's all wrong... though hard to get away from these days. I used to do the corp. office thing, we had moral clauses and all sorts of nonsensical sht people had to sign to be hired... along with a very indepth concomp that included no employment w/ competition for five years and no side work if your job was a designer or accountant. Some day, when enough employees wake-up enmass, the employers will realize the "time/work for money" transaction is as far as the relationship will ever get.

This is what I'm most concerned about. Not enough guys working out of their homes have enough insurance. I don't think I have enough insurance!

THIS is a very valid point. Discussed before, but not mentioned until now in this thread. What is the c2b ratio when a guy is doing some side work to pay for his SO tools and kills a car?

 

[dirttracker18]

Nope. Not stealing. "Period". The ONLY thing that an employee owes an employer is a day's work for a day's pay. That's it. Meddling chickenshit employers who expect ONE-WAY loyalty are a sore spot for me lately, so we've obviously reached an impasse here. Have a nice day.

Oh, and for the record, there are precious damned few employers these days who are worthy of my respect or of the best that I have to offer. Peace.

Sorry to hear it. You have obvisouly had some challenges. I will not ask as I think if you cared to share you would have.

I agree, good employers are few and far between these day.

 

[pipsters]

Here's my 2 cents:

If using cheap tools like HF and Craftsman was the case then the federal government and the U.S. military would jump all over that to save a buck or two. BUT they don't, Every tool I used during my 5 years in the Navy as an Airframes Mechanic was Snap-On, Mac, SK etc. I NEVER saw HF, Craftsman etc in their toolboxes. Would I ever use a Chinese or Craftsman wrench to touch a 150 MILLION dollar Boeing E-6 Mercury or a $36 MILLION Lockheed P-3 Orion that gathers intel on terrorists...not a chance in hell.
If you're a tinkerer in your own driveway...IE a hobbyist then yeah, the tool trucks are not for you because they're not geared towards the hobbyist/weekend warrior/shadetree's. When I was an apprentice in an indy shop and a tech at a Saturn dealership I used my tools to make money. I didn't have time and most techs won't take the time to go to Sears or HF after they punch the time card.
Rant over.

Ironically I just worked with a guy who used to A&P for jetBlue. He said most of the mechanics there used HF and Craftsman tools. Those a/c cost a lot too...

 

[mrholeshot]

E & O insurance is not cheap and keeps most guys from going out on their own. At least with coverage. All is good unless things go bad, then they go really bad.

This is the reason I stopped doing custom out of my garage. The extra income was good until I looked into insurance. Nevermind then (Canada anyway) Without it if something did happen I am now putting my entire family in financial jeopardy.

The amount of work I have to do just to cover that cost changed my mind. I only do custom work for close friends now. Although I have a guy courting me to take on a large scale custom project that has me reconsidering. When he offers enough money I just may get the insurance.

My Liability on my shop wasn't that high. The insurance on my wreckers was an a differant story. To protect yourself here you make yourself a LLC. Even when I was doing mobile under a business licence I was an LLC.

 

[K5blazer83]

All I'm saying is all my tools from my days of wrenching were paid for in cash. I owe nothing to Snap-On, Matco, or MAC. So I don't see a reason for me to downsize to HF or Craftsman since I already own the professional brands. UNLESS I was in debt and needed money. But that is not likely the case.

 

[jeffk14]

Sorry to hear it. You have obvisouly had some challenges. I will not ask as I think if you cared to share you would have.

I agree, good employers are few and far between these day.

Believe it or not, after all this banter back and forth, I've been very blessed and have had very few employment-related challenges thrown at me in my life, relatively speaking.

I don't work in the automotive industry. I'm a 28-year aircraft mechanic working the flight line for a fairly decent employer who is a major carrier. FWIW, they don't allow me to work for competitors but it's pretty much a moot point. First of all, they pay well enough that I don't need to and second, I'd have a hard time getting an MD-11 into my garage!

 

[tonydanzah]

Here's my 2 cents:

If using cheap tools like HF and Craftsman was the case then the federal government and the U.S. military would jump all over that to save a buck or two. BUT they don't, Every tool I used during my 5 years in the Navy as an Airframes Mechanic was Snap-On, Mac, SK etc. I NEVER saw HF, Craftsman etc in their toolboxes. Would I ever use a Chinese or Craftsman wrench to touch a 150 MILLION dollar Boeing E-6 Mercury or a $36 MILLION Lockheed P-3 Orion that gathers intel on terrorists...not a chance in hell.
If you're a tinkerer in your own driveway...IE a hobbyist then yeah, the tool trucks are not for you because they're not geared towards the hobbyist/weekend warrior/shadetree's. When I was an apprentice in an indy shop and a tech at a Saturn dealership I used my tools to make money. I didn't have time and most techs won't take the time to go to Sears or HF after they punch the time card.
Rant over.

unfortunatly the military would love to use cheap tools, would save a lot of money. But the berry act prevents tools used being made outside the usa.

 

[jeffk14]

Ironically I just worked with a guy who used to A&P for jetBlue. He said most of the mechanics there used HF and Craftsman tools. Those a/c cost a lot too...

I've been in the business of caring for heavy jets for a looong time and while there are quite a few boxes around with some truck-brand tools in them (mine included) there is an awful lot of other, cheaper stuff in play as well. The job always gets done and we have never lost any lives or aircraft for the lack of a Snap On wrench either.

 

[Theloniousmonk]

My Liability on my shop wasn't that high. The insurance on my wreckers was an a differant story. To protect yourself here you make yourself a LLC. Even when I was doing mobile under a business licence I was an LLC.

In a financial class years ago, I remember someone stating that the best decision anybody can make, to be more sound from a personal fiscal position, is to incorporate/llc/etc... yourself.

 

[nate379]

I don't know about other branches, but with the Air Force we bought whatever brand of tools. I was in charge of a tool room for about 3 years so I have an idea on how it all worked.
No one gave 2 shits what brand the tool was, just that we had the tools required and they would work correctly.

Reason that Snap On, Matco, etc is popular is because..

A. They have GSA contracts
B. Cost (50-60% off list)
C. Marketing/Sales. They pimp their **** just like they do to the auto techs.

 

[SuperSocket]

Here's my 2 cents:

If using cheap tools like HF and Craftsman was the case then the federal government and the U.S. military would jump all over that to save a buck or two. BUT they don't, Every tool I used during my 5 years in the Navy as an Airframes Mechanic was Snap-On, Mac, SK etc. I NEVER saw HF, Craftsman etc in their toolboxes. Would I ever use a Chinese or Craftsman wrench to touch a 150 MILLION dollar Boeing E-6 Mercury or a $36 MILLION Lockheed P-3 Orion that gathers intel on terrorists...not a chance in hell.
If you're a tinkerer in your own driveway...IE a hobbyist then yeah, the tool trucks are not for you because they're not geared towards the hobbyist/weekend warrior/shadetree's. When I was an apprentice in an indy shop and a tech at a Saturn dealership I used my tools to make money. I didn't have time and most techs won't take the time to go to Sears or HF after they punch the time card.
Rant over.

Well when working on a multi million dollar jet in a multi billion dollar industry... and your performance results in lives saved or lost... I'd expect the best tools regardless of the price.


Keep in mind, we send in 1.5m cruise missiles to chase people on the backs of camels. Not very cost conscious but at least it's guaranteed.

 

[Skin]

If tools are your lively hood you should have the best you can find for the given job.

A Craftsmen wrench is just as good as a Snap-on. That is until
you need to get into a real tight space and that clunky Craftsmen
can not compete with the nice slim Snap-on. The same can be said
about ratchets. The Snap-on has a very short click distance (For a lack of
a better word.) while the Craftsmen has a yard between clicks. SK also makes a fine short click ratchet.

Cman Pro wrenches have been around for years. Every bit as good as a SO. Cman has had their RHFT for decades, then the slim profiles, and of course most recently the premium grade. Not sure what era you're in, but there are tons of alternatives out there with or without Cman. SO is in no way unique.

Personally when it comes to hard line tools [sockets, extensions, basic wrenches etc], i feel ripped off when i buy SO. Even used the price difference is HUGE. I dont know how people can justify the $15-$25 single extension or $10-$40 socket. Going into 10 grand or more debt for a box? I think i'd start shaking from nerves. Just isnt for me.

 

[PeteMoore]

I currently have no form of gainful employment

However, my stock of tools from my days asan Airframe fitter have now been sold or are being sold. £300+ for a Dotco Die Grinder/Miller is a hell of a long way into the Snap-On tools I want to own as opposed to those I own but have no use for.

Had I not spent the money on the good names such as Dotco, Atlas Copco and Desoutter, i wouldnt be in the position I am at the minute, where I can use the money from these to buy second hand and old new stock Snap-On, Mac, Britool, etc that I wish to own to replace my current hand tools.

For me anyway, having a very high quality tool kit in the garage is the reason I venture out there each day, for the same reason I didnt buy these cheap folders or shears but instead have post-war English made guillotine and brake press. Yeah they cost a LOT more, but the ability to do the job with little or no concern as to how a tool may fair from its use is a huge thing for me.

Ill happily admit to having a kit comprised almost entirely of Halfords Professional (again Lifetime Warranty) but always with the view to upgrading. Much the same as the US Military, the HM Forces use Britool for pretty much everything and as such I was accustomed to using a good quality tool. I want my tools to look every bit as good as they can perform. Thats why I like truck brands, nothing else in my life revolves around "brand whoring" so this is my one vise.

 

[ptschram]

THIS is a very valid point. Discussed before, but not mentioned until now in this thread. What is the c2b ratio when a guy is doing some side work to pay for his SO tools and kills a car?

Or kills himself, or someone else.

I did a fatal accident investigation June 27, 1989, just ask me how I remember that date. It wasn't just because I made a pile of money that day.