Snap On Tool NOT GUARANTEED!!

[Junkman]

I was working on my 1962 Chevrolet, and needed my clutch head sockets, and when I took them out, I noticed that the chrome was pealing on a couple of them. Haven't had a need for these for a very long time, so they just reside in the tool box drawer. When I started looking for the part number on the socket, I noticed in very small print "NOT GUAR" next to the Snap On logo. I looked at the date code, and 3 of them I bought in 1963, and 2 in 1964. This is the first time that I have ever encountered this. I looked on the Snap On website, and they are still a current item, in one form or another, but there is no mention of not being guaranteed. Is this something that they did back then, and have since changed their policies?

 

[csi123]

It has been asked quite a few times on this forum. Basically the marking means they were sold to the government at a lower price in exchange for no guarantee.

 

[plinker]

I've seen it on a 3/8 to 1/4 adapter before, not sure when policy changed. IIRC, some super thin walled S-K sockets were also marked similar.

 

[ssdave]

Items that are likely to break due to the nature of the tool are not guaranteed by Snap-on and other manufacturers, and marked as such. I have reducing socket adapters, and several specialty sockets (carburetor come to mind) that are marked as not guaranteed by S.O. Reducing adapters are marked not guaranteed by Proto, as well as some thin wall specialty sockets.

 

[Fedwrench]

I think it has less to do with being sold to the government and more to do with the ease of which the tool can be broken.

 

[malibu101]

I have a couple mixed sizes of long tappet wrenches, most dated about early 90's, that are stamped- warning low torque use only.

Is that telling me to be careful, OR, that there is no guarantee that if I exceed some unmentioned amount of "low torque" and break it they won't cover it?

In the OP's case of stamped "not guar", it seems simple to me.
In my case, (reading it like a lawyer it seems not so cut and dry to me.

If I break this wrench- Do I have a case against them to warranty it?

 

[four.cycle]

Items that are likely to break due to the nature of the tool are not guaranteed by Snap-on and other manufacturers, and marked as such.

^ this.

It's quite common for some specialty items to be marked "not guaranteed".
Off the top of my head: Indestro's 618X connecting rod socket, all of their 3/8" drive hex and clutch-head bits, a few extra-thin-wall 1/2" drive 12-point deep sockets.... there were others but I can't remember them all.

It's because of the nature of the tool and the manner in which it's used and its potential for failure - some stuff just cannot be guaranteed.

 

[Junkman]

It has been asked quite a few times on this forum. Basically the marking means they were sold to the government at a lower price in exchange for no guarantee.

The only involvement that the government has in my purchase of these tools, is that I purchased them with what was left over in my pay after the government took their mandatory share of each dollar that I earned.

The tools are not broken, but have pealing chrome, which I found out the hard way, when I cut my finger on the exposed edge of the broken chrome. I can understand that they will not warranty a tool that is easily broken from use, but bad chrome should always be an issue that they would want to resolve. I will call SO in the morning and ask them.

 

[malibu101]

The only involvement that the government has in my purchase of these tools, is that I purchased them with what was left over in my pay after the government took their mandatory share of each dollar that I earned.

The tools are not broken, but have pealing chrome, which I found out the hard way, when I cut my finger on the exposed edge of the broken chrome. I can understand that they will not warranty a tool that is easily broken from use, but bad chrome should always be an issue that they would want to resolve. I will call SO in the morning and ask them.

You don't know if you don't ask.

 

[four.cycle]

If you have a dealer you might take it up with him.

We sold Indestro with an "unconditional lifetime warranty". Period.

Even the items that were stamped "Not Guar." right on the tool. We instructed our employees to just replace the tool and return it to the warehouse. The sales representative always took care of us, because in the big picture it was nickel and dime stuff.

 

[Skin]

They cover them now partly because its a bit socket. Yours are a 1 piece forging. You see "not guaranteed" and "no warranty" a lot on thin wall impacts and socket reducers.

 

[Wamsutta]

"NOT GUAR" does not mean not guarantied.

It just means that the product does not contain Guar Gum.

Ingredients:

Ingredients: Milk, Buttermilk, Whey, Cream, Corn Syrup, Skim Milk, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sugar, Contains 2% or Less of Vanilla Extract, Artificial Flavor, Mono & Diglycerides, Carob Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Cellulose Gel, Cellulose Gum, Carrageenan, Vitamin A Palmitate, Caramel Color, Annatto for Color.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Country-Rich-Reduced-Fat-Vanilla-Ice-Cream-4-25-l/32232238

 

[3baygarage]

An older pickle fork with NOT GUAR stamp, no date code.

I have a couple with the stamp. The old flexible 3/8 spring extension is another. Seen lots of the clutch sockets and other driver sockets and adapters with it.

I have an SK 3/4 to 1/2 reducer with the stamp.

Proto, if you read their warranty, doesn’t cover flex sockets!

 

[JohnnyRocket]

I was working on my 1962 Chevrolet, and needed my clutch head sockets, and when I took them out, I noticed that the chrome was pealing on a couple of them. Haven't had a need for these for a very long time, so they just reside in the tool box drawer. When I started looking for the part number on the socket, I noticed in very small print "NOT GUAR" next to the Snap On logo. I looked at the date code, and 3 of them I bought in 1963, and 2 in 1964. This is the first time that I have ever encountered this. I looked on the Snap On website, and they are still a current item, in one form or another, but there is no mention of not being guaranteed. Is this something that they did back then, and have since changed their policies?

If I owned a socket for 55 years I would have noticed the "NOT GUAR" markings long before now. I can tell you from experience that if you had called Snap-on before making this post it would have been "Snap-on warrantied an item that says no warranty!"

I remember a couple of shouting matches I've had with Sears/Craftsman over some minor items in the store. The big 3 US toolmakers are always smooth sailing over customer service phone lines if you actually purchased the tool from them rather than used.

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

Snap On is actually really easy to deal with if youre a good customer. Ive dealt with a few snap on guys that were dicks before but Ive never been refused warranty or come to think of it never even been given a hard time about it. The dealer I have now will warranty tools that are older than me that I obviously didnt buy new. The whole reason he comes by every other week is because i call him when i have broken stuff to exchange. He jokes that we break more **** in our shop than any other customer he has. But every time he comes we also buy tools and pay in cash. The cost of a few warranty items is pennies compared to the sale he usually makes.

 

[jonshonda]

I really love it when people blast companies on the internet w/o even trying to contact them. Can't be bothered to pick up the phone or type an email, but obviously have enough time to make a thread on GJ.

If you have an issue with someone talk to them about it, don't go around stabbing them in the back by talking sh!t. Didn't your parents ever teach you that?

 

[3baygarage]

I really love it when people blast companies on the internet w/o even trying to contact them. Can't be bothered to pick up the phone or type an email, but obviously have enough time to make a thread on GJ.

If you have an issue with someone talk to them about it, don't go around stabbing them in the back by talking sh!t. Didn't your parents ever teach you that?

I don’t think this is that thread.

 

[JohnnyRocket]

I don’t think this is that thread.

The original poster is upset that his no warranty tool has peeling chrome and before he called Snap-on he posted here. Snap-on probably would have just replaced it, particularly for a chrome issue rather than a breakage issue.

 

[3baygarage]

The original poster is upset that his no warranty tool has peeling chrome and before he called Snap-on he posted here. Snap-on probably would have just replaced it, particularly for a chrome issue rather than a breakage issue.

He said he plans to call and hopefully he reports back.

I don’t see any bashing of them going on. I see it as a discussion with your buddies in the garage about an old practice of Snap On.

 

[jonshonda]

Here is how this should have gone down. OP has issue with product that is clearly marked as Not Guaranteed (which doesn't mean they won't, just can't guarantee they will). OP calls company in question and speaks to them about it. They either make him happy or they piss him off, OP then creates thread to detail the finer points of the topic.

 

[Rickster]

Ouch.. WTH??

 

[thesilverone]

another look at me clickbait thread

 

[Super Sport]

Here is how this should have gone down. OP has issue with product that is clearly marked as Not Guaranteed (which doesn't mean they won't, just can't guarantee they will). OP calls company in question and speaks to them about it. They either make him happy or they piss him off, OP then creates thread to detail the finer points of the topic.

It looks to me like the OP was simply asking a question. I don't see any brand bashing in his post, only confusion. I think it's a valuable discussion, as I would not think they would warranty such a tool.

 

[Junkman]

I really love it when people blast companies on the internet w/o even trying to contact them. Can't be bothered to pick up the phone or type an email, but obviously have enough time to make a thread on GJ.

If you have an issue with someone talk to them about it, don't go around stabbing them in the back by talking sh!t. Didn't your parents ever teach you that?

It is obvious that your parents didn't send you to a school where reading comprehension was part of the curriculum. I didn't blast the company! I didn't stab "them in the back by talking sh!t.". It is also obvious that you never learned the lesson about respect.

 

[Junkman]

He said he plans to call and hopefully he reports back.

I don’t see any bashing of them going on. I see it as a discussion with your buddies in the garage about an old practice of Snap On.

Replacement being sent.

 

[Wamsutta]

My spell check says both guaranteed and guarantied are correct.

 

[PFSard]

Replacement being sent.

I was unaware of the NOT GUAR exceptions to SO's line-up. Then again, I've only buy used SO tools in good condition. So, I don't ask for SO to warranty any that I purchased used.

Glad it worked out for you. Chrome peeling is hazardous.

 

[rlitman]

It has been asked quite a few times on this forum. Basically the marking means they were sold to the government at a lower price in exchange for no guarantee.

Those usually have a G as the first character in the part number. They're also more often black oxide and not chrome finished.

Snap On now has industrial brands that serve this purpose (same tool, lower price with more limited warranty)

Replacement being sent.

Very nice!

As for chrome failing being a warranty issue, I can see that, in most cases. If your chrome were failing because the sockets were twisted, then perhaps not.

 

[LB-1911]

I will call SO in the morning and ask them.

Replacement being sent.

Thanks for the update.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Those tools stamped not guaranteed are government contract ones.

 

[Junkman]

Those tools stamped not guaranteed are government contract ones.

I asked this specific question, and was told that not all tools that Snap On markets are guaranteed for breakage, and some of them are stamped next to the logo to that effect. They are guaranteed against manufacturing defects, such as peeling chrome. Snap On supplies a lot of tools to the Aerospace industry, and they are all black finished tools, since the industry can't risk having a piece of chrome come loose, and cause a failure. Friend works at Pratt & Whitney) I also know that Snap On has sold tools to the military, and those tools are marked, so they can't be warrantied. When it comes to Snap On tools, it is surprising some of the tools that they will warrantee, when you would think that just the nature of the tool would not have a warrantee. An example of this are there hammers. Screwdrivers are warranted for blade breaking or wearing out, but the handles are not. The only exception are the black plastic handles that have a tendency to crack from age. Those they will replace.
I had a good conversation with the phone representative, who has been with Snap On for many years, and knows the product line. I took advantage to ask all the questions that I have always wondered about. Some of the information above is from this conversation.
Inquiring minds want to learn, and some minds just want to argue, and cause pandemonium.

 

[Richard Cranium]

thanks for the update Junkman

 

[shanny19]

Those tools stamped not guaranteed are government contract ones.

I think that's a myth. I think that with years of experience buying all the aftermarket SO I can get my hands on in the shadow of a huge military installation.

I hunk what is NOT a myth is that SO sold plenty of non date coded tools to Uncle Sam and that's the mechanism for not warranting them. My collection is only one data point, but it strongly supports my beliefs.

 

[1320]

I think that's a myth. I think that with years of experience buying all the aftermarket SO I can get my hands on in the shadow of a huge military installation.

I hunk what is NOT a myth is that SO sold plenty of non date coded tools to Uncle Sam and that's the mechanism for not warranting them. My collection is only one data point, but it strongly supports my beliefs.

I have plenty of wrenches and sockets that are mostly 1970s era that were certainly not ever part of any government program and purchased directly from a Snap-on dealer. What I'm saying doesn't disprove what you're saying, though.

I don't know how it worked in the past, but I have a buddy who deals with a Snap-on rep through US Army channels and the tools that come through that venue are not special in any way - normal Snap-on tools.

I occasionally come across folks saying any Snap-on item with a "V" in the part number was sold to the government only, but I'm sure that isn't the case either. Plenty of VO and VS series wrenches out there that certainly weren't only sold to the government.