There is a difference. PRICE

[Big Johnson]

Am I the only one that thinks Snap On goes too far, slapping red paint and a sticker on stuff made in China, then charging ridiculous prices for it. I have the HF model and my dad's shop has the SO model. He nearly **** his pants when I told him how much I paid for it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/10-ton-super-heavy-duty-portable-hydraulic-equipment-kit-44900.html
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...=675750&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog:dunno:

 

[Super Sport]

While I wouldn't necessarily say it justifies the price difference, but the SO comes with a better name, a better warranty, and better support/service. When you buy SO you're not just paying for the tool itself.

 

[pipsters]

A lot of the stuff looks the same but I'm not completely convinced the stuff at HF is the same as the name brand products coming out of China. More likely the factory making the SO product sold the blueprints to another factory and HF now imports that product.

I'm NOT a SO fanboy, won't ever be able to justify buying it, but I don't believe the HF stuff is the same.

 

[mrb]

More likely the factory making the SO product sold the blueprints to another factory and HF now imports that product.

more like HF bought a snapon, sent it to their factory in china and said make us this for $3.99

 

[pipsters]

more like HF bought a snapon, sent it to their factory in china and said make us this for $3.99

Also very possible!!

 

[lennoxlennox]

Yawn

the OP needs to come up with a new schtick

the harbor freight vs snapon trolling on all his posts has gotten old...and well ... boring

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Am I the only one that thinks Snap On goes too far, slapping red paint and a sticker on stuff made in China, then charging ridiculous prices for it. I have the HF model and my dad's shop has the SO model. He nearly **** his pants when I told him how much I paid for it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/10-ton-super-heavy-duty-portable-hydraulic-equipment-kit-44900.html
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...=675750&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog:dunno:

Might as well insult somebodies mother rather than to open up this can of worms here............

 

[wreckerman5357]

When that HF porta-power is ******* oil all over the inside of a customer's rig and it won't get the job done, you will sing a different tune.

 

[Big Johnson]

Yawn

the OP needs to come up with a new schtick

the harbor freight vs snapon trolling on all his posts has gotten old...and well ... boring

Hey, dont get me wrong. I have a lot of SnapOn and I love em, but China stuff for same price has gotta go.

 

[battlegraduate09]

^ that confuses me ? your china screwdriver set costs $95 too ??

 

[Big Johnson]

^ that confuses me ? your china screwdriver set costs $95 too ??

Im sorry for the misunderstanding. But yes this tools is "SnapOn" Made in China, and cost some poor dude $250 thinking its American Quality.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=683171&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[battlegraduate09]

i see where your coming from, i guess it comes down to personal preference. Did i really NEED my green instinct screwdrivers, nope.

however, in my opinion, snap on ratchets, dual 80, are my favorite.

 

[Big Johnson]

i see where your coming from, i guess it comes down to personal preference. Did i really NEED my green instinct screwdrivers, nope.

however, in my opinion, snap on ratchets, dual 80, are my favorite.

Not just your opinion, mine too. I love my locking flex head dual 80. I have over 20 ratchets and that is my favorite.

 

[wreckerman5357]

Im sorry for the misunderstanding. But yes this tools is "SnapOn" Made in China, and cost some poor dude $250 thinking its American Quality.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=683171&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

So you are saying that 7.2 volt impact is not Snap-On because it was made in China? I have one and it is a quality product, it replaced air ratchets for me. Just because something is made in China does not make it ****. Snap-On is a good company with great quality control and this applies to their Chinese made power tools as well.

The price Snap-On charges buys you a tool of the highest quality and great customer service. As long as they continue making tools that make me money, I don't give a **** where they are made. There is a large difference between something Snap-On has made in China and something Harbor Freight has made in China. Snap-On has excellent quality control, HF does not. Made in China does not mean **** quality, just like made in the USA does not mean high quality.

 

[HaroRider]

Wasnt this supposebly the case with HF screwdrivers? I believe they are simply imitation. And just appear the same, not actually the same quality.

 

[Big Johnson]

So you are saying that 7.2 volt impact is not Snap-On because it was made in China? I have one and it is a quality product, it replaced air ratchets for me. Just because something is made in China does not make it ****. Snap-On is a good company with great quality control and this applies to their Chinese made power tools as well.

The price Snap-On charges buys you a tool of the highest quality and great customer service. As long as they continue making tools that make me money, I don't give a **** where they are made. There is a large difference between something Snap-On has made in China and something Harbor Freight has made in China. Snap-On has excellent quality control, HF does not. Made in China does not mean **** quality, just like made in the USA does not mean high quality.

Honestly, I was completely awestruck when I saw China on a SnapOn. I thought Bluepoint was the brand they sold when they were not the direct manufacturer. What is the point of Bluepoint(no pun intended) if they sell stuff Made In China labeled SnapOn. Why not just get rid of Bluepoint altogether. Btw, I have a China Made cordless impact that I love from Craftsman $89.99 on sale though.

 

[dankicksass]

I always feel like I'm taking a risk with a Harbor Freight tool. Snap-On has confidence built in.

 

[Skin]

if people think Snap-On has some special treatment or factory in china that no other supplier, be it HF, Northern Tool, Costco etc.., has access too you're being nieve. Best you could hope for is a stricter quality assurance but many of the products that look identical most likely are identical.

It ***** seeing chinese made snap-on products but for certain items its inevitable in order to offer a wider variety or cheaper alternative.

 

[blown94conv]

if people think Snap-On has some special treatment or factory in china that no other supplier, be it HF, Northern Tool, Costco etc.., has access too you're being nieve. Best you could hope for is a stricter quality assurance but many of the products that look identical most likely are identical.

It ***** seeing chinese made snap-on products but for certain items its inevitable in order to offer a wider variety or cheaper alternative.

They own the factory in China. I would say that gives them a vested interest in the products coming out of it.

Apple sells all the IPhones it can make, from a Chinese factory. How many people complain about the quality of them?

 

[Tarheelgarage]

am i the only one that thinks snap on goes too far, slapping red paint and a sticker on stuff made in china, then charging ridiculous prices for it. I have the hf model and my dad's shop has the so model. He nearly **** his pants when i told him how much i paid for it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/10-ton-super-heavy-duty-portable-hydraulic-equipment-kit-44900.html
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...=675750&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog:dunno:

 

[Boiler]

if people think Snap-On has some special treatment or factory in china that no other supplier, be it HF, Northern Tool, Costco etc.., has access too you're being nieve. Best you could hope for is a stricter quality assurance but many of the products that look identical most likely are identical.

Maybe the nieve one is you? I've seen **** products and high quality products come from the same factory many times. And I can design a part for you and depending on the materials, processes, and finishes I can make it fail in 10 different ways. Looks are very deceiving.

How can a company basically sell free tools like HF? They are so cheap that they have to cost nearly nothing at the point of leaving the factory. Even made at any USA manufacturer, they'd surely cost 3-4x the harbor freight cost.

And finally, making an item even slightly better can be a big deal, for example picking a 10% more durable material could cost 2-3x as much as the less durable. Fit tolerance, finish, rigidity, etc could cost a lot more than you think, and then you've got the service end of things.

Bottom line is there are lots of reasons to buy Snap On, and one to buy HF, they're cheap. I hate HF like I hate Walmart. Cheaper is not better to me. I hate buying a cheap ************* and then having it not perform. To me buying the cheapest of anything, regardless where it comes from, just reinforces what is killing our jobs and economy. If all we ever do is reward the lowest pricepoint, then all we'll have when its over is a bunch of **** jobs (if any) and junk up to our ears.

 

[warmpancakes]

Bottom line is there are lots of reasons to buy Snap On, and one to buy HF, they're cheap. I hate HF like I hate Walmart. Cheaper is not better to me. I hate buying a cheap ************* and then having it not perform. To me buying the cheapest of anything, regardless where it comes from, just reinforces what is killing our jobs and economy. If all we ever do is reward the lowest pricepoint, then all we'll have when its over is a bunch of **** jobs (if any) and junk up to our ears.

Amen if more people thought like you Id still have a Job , but its currently in Mexico or China depending on what product you ask about

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Am I the only one that thinks Snap On goes too far, slapping red paint and a sticker on stuff made in China, then charging ridiculous prices for it. I have the HF model and my dad's shop has the SO model. He nearly **** his pants when I told him how much I paid for it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/10-ton-super-heavy-duty-portable-hydraulic-equipment-kit-44900.html
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...=675750&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog:dunno:

Am I the only one that thinks you're trolling?

 

[richfinn]

Maybe the nieve one is you? I've seen **** products and high quality products come from the same factory many times. And I can design a part for you and depending on the materials, processes, and finishes I can make it fail in 10 different ways. Looks are very deceiving.

How can a company basically sell free tools like HF? They are so cheap that they have to cost nearly nothing at the point of leaving the factory. Even made at any USA manufacturer, they'd surely cost 3-4x the harbor freight cost.

And finally, making an item even slightly better can be a big deal, for example picking a 10% more durable material could cost 2-3x as much as the less durable. Fit tolerance, finish, rigidity, etc could cost a lot more than you think, and then you've got the service end of things.

Bottom line is there are lots of reasons to buy Snap On, and one to buy HF, they're cheap. I hate HF like I hate Walmart. Cheaper is not better to me. I hate buying a cheap ************* and then having it not perform. To me buying the cheapest of anything, regardless where it comes from, just reinforces what is killing our jobs and economy. If all we ever do is reward the lowest pricepoint, then all we'll have when its over is a bunch of **** jobs (if any) and junk up to our ears.

I dont know much about Walmart (apart from holiday shopping) they seemed to carry brand name goods which were reasonable quality to me.

We have a large retailer in the UK who are trying to get a stranglehold on everything retail and I know it seems unethical and immoral the way these companies do business sometimes.

The truth is though, if Walmart weren,t doing it so successfully in America someone else would be. Maybe a European chain, maybe Chinese. Either way some of those people rely on those Walmart jobs (no matter how we view them) and at least they are an American company.

I remember in Time in Britain when Sunday was a day of rest (everything closed barring the pubs). Fish and Chip shops outnumbered McDonalds and more or less everyone drove a British Leyland car Or a Triumph Bike. These days are gone and we are now basically a mini USA with retail parks/Malls and 24 hr TV.

If you got rid of Walmart tomorrow, do you think the Butchers/Bakers and candlestick makers would return to main street USA?

 

[PRH44]

Bottom line is there are lots of reasons to buy Snap On, and one to buy HF, they're cheap. I hate HF like I hate Walmart. Cheaper is not better to me. I hate buying a cheap ************* and then having it not perform. To me buying the cheapest of anything, regardless where it comes from, just reinforces what is killing our jobs and economy. If all we ever do is reward the lowest pricepoint, then all we'll have when its over is a bunch of **** jobs (if any) and junk up to our ears.

This quote sums it up for the most part. Not only is this happening in the manufacturing sector but also in the construction industry.
Low bid gets the job more times than not. In the electrical industry the low bid may give you the looks on the surface. Turn on the switch and the light comes on, hey great job and it was cheap right! However the boxes used are too small, the devices are the cheapest and burn up. The wiring methods are wrong not supported or installed per NEC. the fan is hanging on a plastic box etc etc, but you cant see the inferior workmanship above the ceiling or in the wall. Just like the shiny chrome and paint hiding inferior metals, welds, etc in a tool.
Now there is no sense in spending high dollar for something being used a few times year by a DIYer. I understand that. I also know that a littler home work and reading and consultation with a pro will usually net me the best brand for my money.
I work hard for my dollar and before I hand one cent over to anyone for anything I better be getting the best possible deal I can get. Sometimes this means spending a little more for something thats going to last. More often than not it takes me a while to pull the trigger. I have to look at what I expect from the product and buy accordingly.
I have tools from all over the world but I have done my home work like most guys on here.
My take on the tools of my profession is as follows
Priority 1= Performance
Priority 2 = price
Priority 3 = Appearance
Performance/price ratio is the best way to approach this and yes performance means WARRANTY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Sometimes this process tells me I need a cheap tool. It depends on how often you use it and what type environment you use it in.
I have to say though there is nothing like a fine engineered and quality built tool. This is also a factor for me as I support the effort and cost it takes to research, develop and produce such a tool.
This is where knock offs or stolen engineering gives me heart burn. So use your mind and money wisely and support the companies that keep giving quality products when your wallet allows it. you just might need a job there some day.

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

When I buy something off the trucks, I do it because it's easy and I know what i'm getting. For the most part it's quality, customer service, and warranty. You're paying for that truck to come to you, rebuild your ratchets, replace your wrenches, order a handle for your convenient carrying case for free. This harbor freight debate is old and has alot of variables for different people. That's why there's a harbor freight review topic. Some stuff is good, some stuff is not. Same with the trucks. Sure, my first welding helmet was a harbor freight... it worked fine. for a professional welder, probably not. After years of breaking wrenches and screw drivers, I now lean towards ones with a warranty. Whether it be SO, Matco, craftsman... etc...

There's no right or wrong answer with the harbor freight/name brand tools question. There's professionals, DIY's, hobbiests, weekend warriors... What works mint for one guy, may not for the other. For me, i'm tough on my tools, I use them everyday. If there was a harbor freight truck that made an appearance twice a week with a lifetime warranty... I'd bite.

 

[Roots]

more like HF bought a snapon, sent it to their factory in china and said make us this for $3.99

+1 This is a really common practice. As is Chinese contract manufacturers doing this themselves. I know one manufacturer who a few times a year receives packages from China with either his or his competitors merchandise, that's identical until disassembly and material/quality analysis. Looks can be very deceiving.

 

[lennoxlennox]

Looks can be very deceiving.

and then again... one look is all it takes to see where the quality is and isn't

 

[kxxr]

When that HF porta-power is ******* oil all over the inside of a customer's rig and it won't get the job done, you will sing a different tune.

And the other guy will be cleaning the **** out of his pants. Nobody wins.

 

[TOOLFREEQ]

snapon owns the factories and the tools are built to their standards with better steel /components than say some companies that just get anyone to build their tools for practically nothing. I think labor, cheap taxes /business expense plays more of a role in big companies moving to china or over seas more than the idea of cheap materials This statement does not mean I agree or support businesses that are doing this I am very aware of c.o.o when I buy tools and proudly buy made in usa when ever possible and go clearly out of my way/budget to do so






i

 

[Skin]

They own the factory in China. I would say that gives them a vested interest in the products coming out of it.

Apple sells all the IPhones it can make, from a Chinese factory. How many people complain about the quality of them?

No, Snap-On does not own every factory in China just like they dont own every tool manufacturer that supplies them in the US. Its often contracted out. Apple doesnt own Foxconn. And i never said quality goods cant come from China.

Maybe the nieve one is you? I've seen **** products and high quality products come from the same factory many times. And I can design a part for you and depending on the materials, processes, and finishes I can make it fail in 10 different ways. Looks are very deceiving.

How can a company basically sell free tools like HF? They are so cheap that they have to cost nearly nothing at the point of leaving the factory. Even made at any USA manufacturer, they'd surely cost 3-4x the harbor freight cost.

Grossly overpriced does not equal better quality. We all know what Snap-On does to their pricing to maintain a certain prestige. And its funny, HF has been selling many of their items long before Snap-On slapped their name on them yet people here, clearly in denial, accuse HF of copying. Is it really so hard for people to grasp that Snap-On might, just might, share a similar facility for certain products that others might use as well?

 

[warmpancakes]

No, Snap-On does not own every factory in China just like they dont own every tool manufacturer that supplies them in the US. Its often contracted out.

correct Just like apple doesnt 100% own their plant The chinese govt is a partner in everything over there

 

[markw365]

Sigh... My buddy is on his third balljoint press. I sold him my OTC after he bent 1 harbor freight press, and he snapped another one. HF presses were 40 bucks at the time and the OTC's were 80. So he's wasted 80 bucks on HF presses. I sold him my OTC for 40 since I inherted my dad's press, he's into his OTC for $120. Yup, I'm impressed with HF tool quality. A lot of their stuff "looks the same" but the metallurgy isn't there. I've snapped a few craftsman 1/2" drive breaker bars, my snap on sn24 has never needed replacement. Hmm. Oh, torx bits, twisted off 2 lisle T55's and a KD T55. I now have a snapon T55, it didn't twist taking the head off a duratec 2.3. Yeah, it was 30 bucks, but I lost a day having to pick it up from the snap on guy because the "just as good" ones twisted off.

I tend to think you get what you pay for. Snap on is $$$ because you can rely on it. It does no good to have a "lifetime" warranty when you're always using the warranty because the tool can't do the job it was designed to do.

 

[lennoxlennox]

^^^ what he said ^^^ times a million


ya... when you bust some pos and have to wait until the next week when your truck guy comes... how's that cheap pos working for ya now???

there is no substitute for quality

 

[BJ42LX]

HF mode then Ching red for one only only only dadel. HF madel and for only slapping rices SO my onearging red made He Snap harginks pand farginap On I too fargint that too for onearging red farly one the He He SO my sticulous that hop hat ants thinks stuff model ants shina, stuff my dad's shop On I then I har, thar, the it have nearly one ne He too for inapping ridices then goes told paid paid paing red has for on sticulous thin stuff mode SO model. He one it.

Am hat then slappinks the HF mode Sn

 

[Hiball]

Just because it looks the same, Doesnt mean it is the Same Quality.. Obviously im not talking about Snap on tools that are OEM'd by another company, because All tool trucks sell stuff under there name that is made by another company domestic and abroad.. If you dont do your research as a Buyer, Your the only 1 to blame. The Chinese have made a living by copying US patents in and outside of the Tool world and mass producing them, and NOT all of it is equal to the original item and in some cases they might be better.

 

[plinker]

If you dont do your research as a Buyer, Your the only 1 to blame.

+1

Anymore I research even the most piddly thing's I intend to buy, but I dont usually get disapointed either. And it does get old sometime's.

 

[TwoInch]

HF mode then Ching red for one only only only dadel. HF madel and for only slapping rices SO my onearging red made He Snap harginks pand farginap On I too fargint that too for onearging red farly one the He He SO my sticulous that hop hat ants thinks stuff model ants shina, stuff my dad's shop On I then I har, thar, the it have nearly one ne He too for inapping ridices then goes told paid paid paing red has for on sticulous thin stuff mode SO model. He one it.

Am hat then slappinks the HF mode Sn

is he strokin out?

 

[wreckerman5357]

+1

Anymore I research even the most piddly thing's I intend to buy, but I dont usually get disapointed either. And it does get old sometime's.

That is some wisdom right there. The guy that researches things he plans on buying does not get screwed like the guy that just buys hoping he is going to get something that works. I rarely get anything that is a POS any more because I research what I am getting and buy only after I have a pretty good idea what I am going to get. Tools, guns, hunting equipment, auto parts, electronics, etc: I can't remember the last time I bought a stinker.

 

[BJ42LX]

is he strokin out?

Possibly.