Sent an email to Snap-on about the "missing" USA on their new ratchets

[Thedroid]

Here's the reply. As a Snap-on fan I'm not impressed.


Why don't the new ratchets have USA stamped on them? I've been a
long time customer, and I can't seem to understand why something so
important would be omitted. I've heard numerous rumors, and the most
popular one is that the guts are made in Taiwan. Snap-on tools are very
expensive, and I can't think of any mechanic willing to pay Snap-on prices
for tools made in Taiwan. When paying these prices for your quality hard
line tools, we expect and deserve to see USA stamped into the metal.


Thank you for contacting Snap-on Tools.

Our corporate headquarters as a whole decided instead of putting emphasis on where the item was made they chose to just emphasis the Snap On name that it speaks for itself. Everyone knows they are getting a high quality item when purchasing from Snap On Tools. Hope this is the answer you were looking for. If you would like to provide the item number you have I can look to see what the country of origin is. Have a good day.

Thank you,


Snap-on Customer Care
Visit www.snapon.com for ordering or product information
877-762-7664

 

[mrb]

interesting..........

 

[Joelfke]

almost seems like theyre nicely going around the fact that they arent made in usa...but they offer to look up where....i say we give em like 10 items that should but dont have USA on it and see what they say

 

[walrus]

That doesn't good to me.

 

[chad s]

Thats a BS answer, in my opinion. Most manufacturers these days who makes their product in the USA is damn proud to do so, and wants to display it.

I am not saying that they are not USA made, as I have only evidence to show that they are, but it may be a step in the direction of changing to offshore manufacturing, and trying to hide it.

 

[TRTOOLSUPPLY]

"CIRCLE THE TOOL TRUCKS"SnapO IS UNDER ATTACK AGAIN!!


Why don't they have a better answer than "YOU KNOW YOUR BUYING QUALITY"?EVERYONE KNOWS?


My answer is buy WRIGHT TOOLS, if Wright makes the size or tool you need,they are 100% made in USA using 100% USA steel!82+ years 100% American designed and manufactured!!!!

 

[-B-]

"CIRCLE THE TOOL TRUCKS"SnapO IS UNDER ATTACK AGAIN!!


Why don't they have a better answer than "YOU KNOW YOUR BUYING QUALITY"?EVERYONE KNOWS?


My answer is buy WRIGHT TOOLS, if Wright makes the size or tool you need,they are 100% made in USA using 100% USA steel!82+ years 100% American designed and manufactured!!!!

Please could you stop posting like a 12 year old it reflects poorly on your business.




Now as to the OP this now opens the door for them to start swapping lower cost products to increase over all profit. No longer satisfied with kestone ( 100%) mark up and having to support all the wasted money on marketing ( racing etc.) 500 +% profit now must be derived from cheaper sourced products. Looks like the secondary market is going to be strong for those then know what they are looking at.

 

[Stuey]

My answer is buy WRIGHT TOOLS

No offense, but that seems to be your answer in every single one of your posts.

Back to topic - it looks like S-O prepared a canned response to that inquiry. Perhaps many people are emailing with the same inquiry.

 

[Joelfke]

No offense, but that seems to be your answer in every single one of your posts.

Back to topic - it looks like S-O prepared a canned response to that inquiry. Perhaps many people are emailing with the same inquiry.

i wouldnt doubt it...90% of this board said they wouldnt buy snapon if they were made overseas...with good reason...snapon must know this and are trying to hide it

 

[Merkava_4]

"If you would like to provide the item number you have I can look to see what the country of origin is."

Yeah, what's the part number?!!? I'll email them myself and I'll get the plant's address it was made at!!

 

[TRTOOLSUPPLY]

Hey -B-,Just trying to have a few laughs with the SO guys.
I am upfront with what I sell and I don't hide behind a screen name like some here who are selling SO tools and are trying to protect the high prices they recieve(receive) from selling SO.
I also have given members names of other brands other the Wright if they were looking to save $ and have given everyone on the GJ a 22.5% discount on Wright tools,what are the people selling SO offering?

 

[Merkava_4]

I am upfront with what I sell and I don't hide behind a screen name like some here who are selling SO tools and are trying to protect the high prices they recieve from selling SO.

I before E except after C !!!!!!!!

 

[TRTOOLSUPPLY]

Thanks Merk,
I type like a twelve year old!See that's humor!
Some folks can take a joke!Most SO folks seem like they can't!!!

 

[Vulturej]

I love my SO tools but I have a feeling in another 10 years you will be able to buy them at the big box stores.

 

[T56 Impala]

I would say, judging from that answer, that the tool in question and many others, are currently or soon will be made off shore. How is that going to sit with you SO die hards? (Serious question, not trying to start a mud throwing event here...OKAY?) Will you still buy it because it says Snap On? Since it seems to still be top quality? (For how long remains to be seen.) Will you switch to another brand like Mac, Cornwell or Wright? Will it enrage you to the point that you will dump the brand all together?

As many know, I am far from a SO fan. I prefer my Craftsman and Wright tools. (Not affiliated with the Wright seller TRTOOLSUPPLY.) I would surely dump a company like Wright if they moved off shore. They would get none of my money. Craftsman I know and fully expect to have some off shore pieces. I know that going in. At least they are marked as such. It seems like SO is going WAY out of its way to hide something.

 

[RRmech]

Most companies go out of their way to proudly proclaim.....MADE IN USA!!

But NOT Snap-On?

Makes one wonder what idiot made THAT decision!?

Steve

 

[RRmech]

......unless they ARE hiding the country of origin!?

Steve

 

[T56 Impala]

I love my SO tools but I have a feeling in another 10 years you will be able to buy them at the big box stores.

You already can. SO labeled Flash lights and knives are for sale at Costco!!! I understand what you are saying. I for one would LOVE to open up a specialty store that sold ALL of the big brands under on roof. INCLUDING Toptul, SO, and the rest. Let people compare them side by side. What would be the harm? (loaded question)

 

[48548]

I guess that will up the value on my older MADE in USA tools, hehehehe. Like my plomb and proto and older SO tools.

 

[walrus]

Please could you stop posting like a 12 year old it reflects poorly on your business.

No more than the non stop advertisments for his business.

 

[paranoid56]

I love my SO tools but I have a feeling in another 10 years you will be able to buy them at the big box stores.

i see this in 5 years

 

[Axis11]

I love my SO tools but I have a feeling in another 10 years you will be able to buy them at the big box stores.

I agree, soon they will come out with their exclusive "harbor freight edition".

I'm surprised they didn't split the line between usa and global components and create tiers of quality instead of possibly diluting their core lineup.

Are the hand tools the only SO products still made entirely in the us? I thought they where using rebranded (but still quility) air tools, etc., for awhile but I could be wrong on that.

 

[Stuey]

Would it be a great idea to launch an email campaign? Someone can draft a letter, and then we all copy and paste it and email SO's offices.

They can ignore a handful of people, but if they have several dozen or even hundreds of people demanding that they resume marking USA-made tools as such, they might listen.

What do you guys say? Yay or Nay?

If yay, what exactly do we want to convey? I think that the following points should be conveyed.

1. We strongly prefer USA-made tools to imported tools for various reasons
2. USA-marked tools instill a sense of pride in us and helps enforce our trust of USA manufacturers and their products
3. The absense of a made-in-USA or similar USA designation instills a sense of doubt regarding where a tool is made, as the word of a manufacturer is simply not enough these days
4. Resuming the practice of marking tools made in the USA as such will reassure us of the continued committment of manufacturers to keep production in the US and will remind us of the correlation between "high quality" and "made in USA".

 

[Joelfke]

Would it be a great idea to launch an email campaign? Someone can draft a letter, and then we all copy and paste it and email SO's offices.

They can ignore a handful of people, but if they have several dozen or even hundreds of people demanding that they resume marking USA-made tools as such, they might listen.

What do you guys say? Yay or Nay?

If yay, what exactly do we want to convey? I think that the following points should be conveyed.

1. We strongly prefer USA-made tools to imported tools for various reasons
2. USA-marked tools instill a sense of pride in us and helps enforce our trust of USA manufacturers and their products
3. The absense of a made-in-USA or similar USA designation instills a sense of doubt regarding where a tool is made, as the word of a manufacturer is simply not enough these days
4. Resuming the practice of marking tools made in the USA as such will reassure us of the continued committment of manufacturers to keep production in the US and will remind us of the correlation between "high quality" and "made in USA".

personally i say yay...however some companies dont care when the *** on top of the company says "we need a bigger profit margin" and/or "my clothes cant be hand tailored if we dont have a bigger margin"

 

[TRTOOLSUPPLY]

To -B- and Stuey and everyone else,I am sorry if I have offended anyone on this great website.
As far as the non stop advertisement ,I assumed that one could mention it on the posts everytime,once again sorry if I upset members.
I sell from 3 different suppliers over 235,000 tools and all brands MIT,Ridgid,Proto,Wright,etc..the Wright just happens to be my favorite because they are American made.
When Stuey suggested putting the being a seller of Wright tools in my sig.I thought I would give a bigger discount to GJ members to help them buy US made tools" IF" that is what they wanted.
As far as my answer every time it is because most of the time people are complaining about lack of quality made US tools,I did not mean to make anyone mad, just trying to joke a little.The problems extend farther than the tool market it is the very heart of the problems the whole USA is facing!

Once again SORRY to everyone I might have upset

Richard

 

[Joelfke]

Why no complaints about the constant Toptul hype? Sometimes this seems like the "Wrentools Journal".

ive got some toptul its some good stuff....

but the guy wasnt advertising it....

 

[doug.j]

For what it's worth I saw the 80 tooth model featured on How It's Made. It looked like an American factory and USA was not being stamped on the ratchet body. At least a few are/were USA made. Strangely I have an 80 tooth model stamp USA.

 

[The Muffin Man]

I really don't like the way some tool companies' management is proactively making it inconvenient to find the country of origin. If they were so proud and confident in their product, then why on earth would they neglect to list where it is made .

Why no complaints about the constant Toptul hype? Sometimes this seems like the "Wrentools Journal".

Thank you for not contributing anything relevant to this thread.

 

[Stuey]

To -B- and Stuey and everyone else,I am sorry if I have offended anyone on this great website.
(snip)

Nono, you didn't upset or offend me, and the 22.5% discount is definitely appreciated, or at least it would be by me if my tool budget allowed for new tools. I'll send you more commentary via PM.

For the most part, let's all try to keep this thread on track and focused on the the issue at hand - Snap On's decision to avoid marking certain tools as USA.

 

[Joelfke]

For what it's worth I saw the 80 tooth model featured on How It's Made. It looked like an American factory and USA was not being stamped on the ratchet body. At least a few are/were USA made. Strangely I have an 80 tooth model stamp USA.

my F80 also has USA on it...

 

[DHS]

I think every American should be happy / excited about a company that still chooses to manufacture in the USA, I am. Also my next purchase will probably be with Wright. As for SO even if they are made in the USA, it sounds like that what they want to do is ease into it letting you believe that your precious SO is still American, when in reality it is just another sell out and a disappointment.

 

[Vulturej]

Would it be a great idea to launch an email campaign? Someone can draft a letter, and then we all copy and paste it and email SO's offices.

They can ignore a handful of people, but if they have several dozen or even hundreds of people demanding that they resume marking USA-made tools as such, they might listen.

What do you guys say? Yay or Nay?

If yay, what exactly do we want to convey? I think that the following points should be conveyed.

1. We strongly prefer USA-made tools to imported tools for various reasons
2. USA-marked tools instill a sense of pride in us and helps enforce our trust of USA manufacturers and their products
3. The absense of a made-in-USA or similar USA designation instills a sense of doubt regarding where a tool is made, as the word of a manufacturer is simply not enough these days
4. Resuming the practice of marking tools made in the USA as such will reassure us of the continued committment of manufacturers to keep production in the US and will remind us of the correlation between "high quality" and "made in USA".

I think a snail mail campaign would be better, then we could cut in half our least favorite SO tool and add it to the letter. I think someone might get the point, probably won't any good except for a good laugh.

 

[rsanter]

well look at it this way, by law they have to mark country of origin on imported products. the fact that it does not say made in *** means that at least the body was made in the states and quite likly all of it is.

as far as the comment of why they dont think its important to say MADE IN THE USA,
to me it seems important however there is another point of view.
I was working for a company (plastic injection molding) that makes its stuff here in the states (calif. and Texas) and after the 9-11 incident I brought up the point that we should have a 'made in the usa' on all the products we sell. most the people I spoke with (shop level people, machnists, engineers) all agreed and when I brought the issue foreward upper management shot it down. I got answers like 'we dont need that to sell products' or 'we dont want are products to look like a racecar' or 'it dosent say its made somewhere else so they will know its made here'
short story, the upper management didnt have a clue as to the value it brought. they were bothering to make it here but not taking that as an edge...dumb.

on the comment about a letter writing campaign. it worked with FORD. Ford was going to make the probe the new mustang at the time. a letter writing campaign brought that to a hault real quick. later when they planned another redesign they included mustang clubs as focus groups (I was involved through the local mustang club at the time)

bob

 

[garfunkle24]

If they're made in the same way, from the same materials, with the same quality control, I couldn't care less if they were made in Bangladesh.

 

[forceyoda]

If they're made in the same way, from the same materials, with the same quality control, I couldn't care less if they were made in Bangladesh.

But would you still be willing to pay what the are charging for them?

Why do they still put the USA on the wrenches that are made in the USA?

We know that at least the rachet mech is made oversees for the dual 80's but now i am starting to wonder if the whole thing is made overseas.

 

[DHS]

If they're made in the same way, from the same materials, with the same quality control, I couldn't care less if they were made in Bangladesh.

What if Grey would go overseas, would you feel any different?

 

[forceyoda]

I can see how snap on is going to do this. They start taking the "USA" of their stuff then slowy move production to asia and stop listing the country of origin so we are playing the guesing game as to where it was made. The funny thing is how many people thought the dual 80 was the greatest tool to come out since the combo wrench.

 

[Weedwaka]

I just bought a bunch of dual 80's . They better not be made in china.

Submit all dual 80 part numbers and see what they say.

 

[Stuey]

If they're made in the same way, from the same materials, with the same quality control, I couldn't care less if they were made in Bangladesh.

That's a big if, and you're missing many other factors that result in the difference between certain USA tools and certain import tools.

 

[snapmom]

My SO F-671 says Canada.