HF blantantly copying Snap on look

[pi_guy]

Anyways some people just deny HF just because it's made in china and it's too cheap...you can only bash a product of you have personal experience with it. Some of their tools are good value.


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How many products have to fail before you can bash HF? At this point I can not remember how many failures I have had with HF products as at this point in time I have trashed or given away most of my HF purchases. The die table leaks and will not hold position, so I cut blocks of wood to keep at needed height.
So it is a case of repairing the tool before you can use it. How much fun is that?

HF can copy SO tools are much like books they all kind look the same but it is the contents in creation and the effort put in to that item that makes the difference.

 

[zendriver]

How many products have to fail before you can bash HF? At this point I can not remember how many failures I have had with HF products as at this point in time I have trashed or given away most of my HF purchases. The die table leaks and will not hold position, so I cut blocks of wood to keep at needed height.
So it is a case of repairing the tool before you can use it. How much fun is that?

Why would you continue to buy products, from a company, that your are unhappy with the quality of their products?

 

[pi_guy]

Why would you continue to buy products, from a company, that your are unhappy with the quality of their products?

I do not buy any more from HF. Pointing out that I had purchased HF junk in the past and it continues to be trash.

 

[DonglordActual]

The screwdrivers from earlier look more like Witte than Snap-on.

 

[d.mcfarland]

For the sake of this thread, I'm going to go buy a set today. I'll even test them out a little and report back.

 

[d4dawg]

Agreed.



And I think GJ has a lot of SO HF cross shoppers...



Even if 99% of HF is not so great, they have some amazing tools. The old brake caliper service set (they carry a stripped down crappier version now) was absolutely terrific for the price.

Are you referring to the made in Taiwan set with both the left and right hand spinners? I know those are not available anymore. You think the current set with the Maddox name is a step down in quality?

 

[d.mcfarland]

Picked it up. $9 and change out the door.

Pros: $9, basically complete starter set, should work fine for most things

Cons: Feels cheap, ergonomics are bad (hands don't line up properly), non acr

Only thoughts at this point are they feel worse than standard Craftsman handles, the 1/4" hex bit handle has a c clip that holds the magnet in and doesn't have the greatest strength for the bit to stay in, and I'm assuming when I break one that HF is going to require me to bring them all in for warranty?

I will say that this set felt way better and quality seemed higher:

 

[pstemari]

...C Clamps should be fine

I got a handful of c clamps from HF where the fixed jaw wasn't square to the spindle. Made it impossible to tighten properly.

However, they did make dandy wire guides for the back of my desk when I was at Amazon.

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[mfewtrail]

I'm assuming when I break one that HF is going to require me to bring them all in for warranty?

I will say that this set felt way better and quality seemed higher:

They should require you to bring them all in to swap them, though some clerks might swap a single and then place the package they removed it from in the clearance section with a slightly lower price. Those "comfort grips" definitely look less comfortable than the "pro" screwdrivers you posted an image of. I have a set of the cheap rubber coated red handled screwdrivers that come in a case from HF and they've honestly been 100% fine for home & auto use. I've used them almost exclusively for a few years to test them out. Haven't worn one out or broke any yet. I haven't really destroyed many screwdrivers of any brand. If you use them properly, you're not that likely to break them...

 

[Greeny]

Haven't worn one out or broke any yet. I haven't really destroyed many screwdrivers of any brand. If you use them properly, you're not that likely to break them...

Many of my screwdrivers, including "nice" craftsman, were quickly worn out by my teenage kids. They confused them with chisels, prybars, and punches!

I can relate to the earlier comment that screwdrivers are consumables.

 

[jeejay]

I can relate to the earlier comment that screwdrivers are consumables.

Oh yeah.

 

[6PTsocket]

The color scheme argument is interesting.

Red and black is used by AutoZone, Wurth, HF, Milwaukee and Snappy among a dozen others. I can't imagine any one of those was the first in history to use it either.

What would it take to legally protect a color combo in a global market?

A number of years ago, DeWalt went after some low end, discount store brand that was doing yellow and black and won. Dunno.

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[Lelandwelds]

Harbor Freight has an interesting sales model. They want a tool with a certain look and feature set. They go to a group of their favorite mfg and say " produce please". They sell all versions at once and discontinue the problem children and poor sellers. They put the money in the bank.

Snap-on, if you think about it, has the same sales model.

 

[6PTsocket]

I'm a weekend garage person, and not even every weekend. I occasionally randomly see a tool truck go by somewhere. But honestly I don't even know how to go about buying tools from a tool truck. Am I supposed to run out in front of one to get him to stop? That's why you'll see me at HF, or Sears if there is still one around.

Not necessary to risk your life in traffic. Snap On sells direct, with free shipping and no minimum. Just go to their web site. As a weekend warrior I can't justify their prices but I needed a clean up tap and a regular tap and they were the most convenient and actually the cheapest on a small sale like that. Try and find open stock on a Lang/ Kastar clean out tap. If you follow the tool truck thread, a lot of the high priced stuff is just rebranded stuff available at much lower prices with the manufacturer's name on it. Some of Sap On's own stuff is available at better prices from their own industrial brands. The whole route truck system creates high prices. There is also snob appeal. If you pay through the nose, it must be much better. There is a whole world of brands between Snap On and HF.

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[kythri]

Not necessary to risk your life in traffic. Snap On sells direct, with free shipping and no minimum. Just go to their web site.

I posted an ad on my local Craigslist asking for contact information for area Snap-on dealers, and got info for three dealers in the area I'm in.

Called them, figured out their routes, and made arrangements to meet one of them at one of their stops.

 

[Codejack]

I have 2 sets of HF screwdrivers:

I grabbed this set out of the discount boxes lined up at the front for like $4:

Supposedly magnetic, only the big philips driver will actually pick up a screw. I also didn't notice at first because I grabbed them on my way out the door, but there is no #2 philips driver, the most common size!

So then I grabbed these for my Dad:

Acetate handles, very nice, if not as thick as Cman. These have been working well. $9 with a coupon.

Here's the set I should have gotten:

Hard handles and bolsters on the shanks; $9.50.

If those don't work out, I'll shell out for Wera or Carlyle.

 

[6PTsocket]

I posted an ad on my local Craigslist asking for contact information for area Snap-on dealers, and got info for three dealers in the area I'm in.

Called them, figured out their routes, and made arrangements to meet one of them at one of their stops.

If you need to see at tool or discuss something that may be convenient but to order something online is the way most stuff is bought today. No waiting, nobody to talk to. Order it and a couple of days later it is there. No need to chase down the truck.

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[kythri]

Eh, I've ordered from the website before. No issues with it, but there's no discount, so there's no value-add to the online store.

Not saying there's necessarily a discount going to the dealer direct, but it's same-day service, and it's not any more effort to "chase down the truck" than it is to go to any other retail establishment. Waiting a couple minutes for my turn in line is preferable to waiting a couple days for a package to show up.

 

[openwheelracing88]

Here is my take on HF:

If you are good, then you can do the work with HF tools.
If you **** at it, then you need Snap On, everything Milwaukee makes, and a shiny Cornwell tool chest.

I employee tons of field technicians. They hop from one state to another in first class with free checked bag of basic tools. You will never be able to tell what kind of tools are used based on finished work, because they are flawless, with or without HF tools. They need a special type of tool? HF is usually on the radar, along with HD, Lowes, Ace, GraybaR....etc. The handle shape and color don't matter, the skill and knowledge matters.

 

[L.Cheapo]

If you need to see at tool or discuss something that may be convenient but to order something online is the way most stuff is bought today. No waiting, nobody to talk to. Order it and a couple of days later it is there. No need to chase down the truck.

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Dealing with a truck gets you access to promo deals, which at times can be substantial. Percentages off, BOGOs on wrench sets, sockets, bit sockets, etc. If you only need one thing ever, its no help. But if you're looking to build up your tool inventory over time, it's the way to go. I generally don't buy things that aren't on promo anymore, and my dealer had some great deals after the recent franchisee conference on many different things.

 

[scooby074]

Absolutely these import companies (not just HF but Gearwrench etc) are copying Snapon's style. Regardless of what you think of the brand, to many the brand is regarded as the Cadillac, even if they dont personally use them.

I was looking at a Napa flyer today and did a double take at the Gearwrench ratcheting screwdriver, I thought for a second it was snapon (made me think of this thread). The handle colours and the direction change mechanism just clicked as snappy for a minute.

And of course there was the whole jack fiasco. Plus the HF new cordless are almost clones of Dewalt and Makita's appearances. HF makes no bones about cloning the "leaders" in whatever field they are wanting to compete in, its right in their comparison ads.

 

[dnschmidt]

Yawn, followed by snoozing sounds, and finally snoring sounds: WHO CARES!

 

[Snakebyt]

I got the pro flexhead ratchet in 3/8 last week, been using it all week at work, i am impressed, so far been a great ratchet. I got the extended one and love it, borrowed a friends SO version and used it for a job, and honestly, at this point, i dont see the $150 difference.

 

[openwheelracing88]

WOW, black handle with red end caps.

I wonder where snap on copied that from.

 

[guitarbutt]

Snap On invented the colors red and black.

Just like Goodyear is ripping off Firestone by making black tires.

 

[Motorman55]

I could care less that they look 'similar' to Snap-On or any other tool company. Do all HF tools have to be ugly? Their all just tools. Buy what you like and what you can afford.

 

[Hawk]

Snap On invented the colors red and black.

Just like Goodyear is ripping off Firestone by making black tires.

Actually Goodrich Tire Company first added carbon black to white rubber to create black tires so both Goodyear and Firestone are copying Goodrich.

 

[ozyborn]

They can copy the look all they want to. Junk is still junk.

 

[Moparman390]

How is this still going on?!?

8 Pages?!?

 

[Fedwrench]

How is this still going on?!?

8 Pages?!?

Boredom is a terrible thing.....

 

[Codejack]

They can copy the look all they want to. Junk is still junk.

My HF 1/2" breaker bar held up to ~500lb-ft this weekend.

"Good enough" is still good enough

 

[zendriver]

Yawn, followed by snoozing sounds, and finally snoring sounds: WHO CARES!

This thread is hitting 150+ posts so apparently many do, including you.


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[ishiboo]

You can buy all you want. For the price they are a good value, but I think they are fraudulently trying to compare their tools to Snap-On, to make you think they are even competitive with Snap-On, and copy the look of Snap-On to boot. I just don't like that kind of misleading marketing.

I think this is completely silly. Who the hell is going to get HF tools confused with Snap-On? They have completely different buyers (for the most part) and completely different markets. Nobody is buying HF because it looks like Snap-On, nor buying it because they get confused and think it IS.

 

[ishiboo]

Absolutely these import companies (not just HF but Gearwrench etc) are copying Snapon's style. Regardless of what you think of the brand, to many the brand is regarded as the Cadillac, even if they dont personally use them.

I was looking at a Napa flyer today and did a double take at the Gearwrench ratcheting screwdriver, I thought for a second it was snapon (made me think of this thread). The handle colours and the direction change mechanism just clicked as snappy for a minute.

And of course there was the whole jack fiasco. Plus the HF new cordless are almost clones of Dewalt and Makita's appearances. HF makes no bones about cloning the "leaders" in whatever field they are wanting to compete in, its right in their comparison ads.

Doesn't Snap-on license the ratcheting screwdriver mechanism from Apex/GW, or vice versa? I thought that was a thing. Not that the handles should be that close... but maybe it's not as simple as a copied look.

The Snap-on jack is/was made in the same factory as the Harbor Freight, so it's not terribly surprising they look alike. You hire Company X to build you a jack with a certain specification, and don't get an exclusive design... that's what you're going to get.

 

[Hawk]

This thread is hitting 150+ posts so apparently many do, including you.


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Most of us are laughing that anyone would confuse the two, and do not believe there is a problem.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Doesn't Snap-on license the ratcheting screwdriver mechanism from Apex/GW, or vice versa? I thought that was a thing. Not that the handles should be that close... but maybe it's not as simple as a copied look.

The Snap-on jack is/was made in the same factory as the Harbor Freight, so it's not terribly surprising they look alike. You hire Company X to build you a jack with a certain specification, and don't get an exclusive design... that's what you're going to get.

Where did you get all this good info??

 

[Mr_B]

It all about color branding and while snapon don't and cannot own red many other power tool brands such as dewalt, makita, Milwaukee likely do own color copyrights for that market sector .
Pitts Pro is generally green themed, no idea why the ratchets red and very similar to snapon soft grips, it not coincidence lot of products similar in some ways and no coincidence on the printed marketing comparison to snapon .

 

[bcradio]

They can copy the look all they want to. Junk is still junk.

I wouldn't say Snap-On is junk, but I guess some people may not be fans.

 

[Sycan]

Picked it up. $9 and change out the door.

Pros: $9, basically complete starter set, should work fine for most things

Cons: Feels cheap, ergonomics are bad (hands don't line up properly), non acr

Only thoughts at this point are they feel worse than standard Craftsman handles, the 1/4" hex bit handle has a c clip that holds the magnet in and doesn't have the greatest strength for the bit to stay in, and I'm assuming when I break one that HF is going to require me to bring them all in for warranty?

I will say that this set felt way better and quality seemed higher:

I'd say you just tossed $9 in the trash. They're cheap ****, and will probably cost more than $9 in damage when the ****** tip messes up a hard to get screw head.

But hey, what a value. I paid about $20 per screw driver off the SO truck 4 years ago and will probably have and use them for the next 25 years, that to me is value. It's like the clowns that buy 5 different ratchets at $25 a piece trying to find something better than a $100 Dual 80, I still have my first Dual 80 ratchet from 15 years ago. It's perfect, haven't wasted any money trying to find something better.

These threads always turn into ******* matches because there is always the guys that basically say I'm foolish to buy $25,000 of Snap On tools. In my mind it's an excellent value, I'm 40 years old, basically have every tool ever needed and make a damn good living with them. When I get old and die my sons can either keep using them or sell them.

 

[zendriver]

Most of us are laughing that anyone would confuse the two, and do not believe there is a problem.

good point.

It's not hard to determine one plastic handle, for the other.

One is expensive, the other is inexpensive.