AnyBody Ever Seen a Snap On Store?

[Art From De Leon]

Years ago, a person could go to the regional Snap On warehouse in Shertz, TX, and buy over the counter.

The dealer in Laredo had a store to sell to his customers from Mexico. This was allright, as he put me down as having a address in Nuevo Laredo, and this kept me from paying sales tax to Texas. He also had his truck route, and I believe it was one of his boys that run the store.

 

[billymade]

I read on the web; that Snapon used to have a retail store in Albuquerque: http://www.strategy-business.com/press/16635507/9598

 

[DHCrocks]

back in the late 80s early 90s I would go to the Snap On warehouse over here and just buy stuff over the counter, don't know if you can still do that though.

 

[snapmom]

Years ago, I could walk into a so distribution center and buy any thing I would want. It was neat, they had hundreds on toolboxes their, and bins of very kind of so tools you would want. This was in Tampa FL.

 

[Elwood77]

God I could get in real trouble in a place like that.. would make a great place to visit on a vacation though.

 

[Snappy]

Yes , I bought a torque wrench from a Snap-on warehouse in West Chester , Pa ...quite some time ago.
Scott

 

[oldtools]

I saw some Snap On tools (maybe they are imatations) in Pep Boys recently.

 

[NAYLOR]

There was one in Beeville, Texas. Now it is a used car lot, I think.

 

[jerk_chicken]

It would probably do well. Get lots of followers who want to touch and feel the products, and those who are fans from the Nascar and other routes of advertisement.

 

[LoneStarSA]

Years ago, a person could go to the regional Snap On warehouse in Shertz, TX, and buy over the counter.

Shoot I never knew that. I would have hit it up when I was living in San Antonio.

 

[DHCrocks]

it's not like a real store, you can't just brouse. basically you tell them what you want and they go in the back and get it.

 

[idoine in toronto]

I could swear there was a new Snap On retail store north of Toronto in the Vaughn Mills shopping center that opened a few years ago. It was a small store, filled with all Snap On merchandise, but geared more for the home mechanic instead of the professional. They carried lots of garage art, T-shirts, jackets, hats, stickers, magnets. They did have some tool boxes and tool sets on display, but it seemed more like an outlet for Snap On "logo" gear. I don't think its still open, as I couldn't find it listed when I was looking for it recently.

 

[lbgradwell]

I could swear there was a new Snap On retail store north of Toronto in the Vaughn Mills shopping center that opened a few years ago. It was a small store, filled with all Snap On merchandise, but geared more for the home mechanic instead of the professional. They carried lots of garage art, T-shirts, jackets, hats, stickers, magnets. They did have some tool boxes and tool sets on display, but it seemed more like an outlet for Snap On "logo" gear. I don't think its still open, as I couldn't find it listed when I was looking for it recently.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're right; I have the same vague recollection of such a place (though I'd never visitied)...

 

[idoine in toronto]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're right; I have the same vague recollection of such a place (though I'd never visitied)...

That makes me feel better. I thought I was going crazy when I couldn't find any trace of it recently.

 

[1961MGA]

I could swear there was a new Snap On retail store north of Toronto in the Vaughn Mills shopping center that opened a few years ago. It was a small store, filled with all Snap On merchandise, but geared more for the home mechanic instead of the professional. They carried lots of garage art, T-shirts, jackets, hats, stickers, magnets. They did have some tool boxes and tool sets on display, but it seemed more like an outlet for Snap On "logo" gear. I don't think its still open, as I couldn't find it listed when I was looking for it recently.

Are you thinking of the one that was in Sherway Gardens a while back?

 

[lbgradwell]

That's it; Sherway Gardens! A buddy bought a ratchet and extension there about 4 years back...

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

they did away with the warehouses in the early ninties
a lot of the reps bought routes

 

[billymade]

I went to a Snap-On distrubution/warehouse, when a dealer refused to warranty a 1/2" ratchet (the body of the head was cracked); they gave me a brand new one.... no questions asked, no fuss no muss! I had a very good experience with them; this was in the early to mid 90s in Northern California, near Gilroy/San Jose area...

 

[idoine in toronto]

Are you thinking of the one that was in Sherway Gardens a while back?

It could have been. I haven't been there in a while. Its not listed in the Sherway Gardens directory now, so I guess it's gone now, wherever it was.

 

[Schmizter]

Well I have been trying to find out something about a Snap-on Ratchet,
I called a lot of people and finally got a answer on the date but no more info than that. I was hoping to find a bit more. If anybody has any suggestions that would be awesome.

 

[Schmizter]

Here are a few more pictures of the markings.

 

[Fedwrench]

Here in Phoenix up until about 2003, the distribution center would have annual sales of excess tools and the dealers from all over the valley would sell their repoed and returned tools at about half off. they even had the sale once at the fairgrounds. There were some great deals back then. They don't do that sort of sale anymore.

 

[Elroy]

Just noticed these words of wisdom.

"It's not the tools in the toolbox, it's the mechanic who knows how to use them that matters."

How true.

 

[Elwood77]

I saw some Snap On tools (maybe they are imatations) in Pep Boys recently.

Ya we sell Snap On stuff at Pep Boys now (I'm a mechanic at one)
Right now we got: flash lights, shop lights, knifes, razors, knife sharpeners and tool bags. Its all cheaply priced stuff and is made in China.
Word is we will be getting some more new stuff in a few months.

 

[rsanter]

if there was a SO store near me I might not ever want to leave there

bob

 

[Schmizter]

I am sorry to say this but you guys are so rude, you talk all snap-on but can't help a guy that has a question about a ratchet maybe you arent as bright as you think you are!! I know it was made in 1951 and that will have to do.

BTW I bet you don't even know what year Snap-on making tools,

Let me help you out 1920 and they made custom tools at first!

I am a moter head as well and enjoy expanding my tool box, or even talking about it once or twice, but you guys take the cake and need a life.

 

[toadjammer]

Schmizter,
You are "high jacking a thread" please start a new thread with a title like "Trying to identify this SO ratchet" you will get a better more knowledgeable response. Right now you are just being rude.

 

[joeswamp]

Here in Phoenix up until about 2003, the distribution center would have annual sales of excess tools and the dealers from all over the valley would sell their repoed and returned tools at about half off. they even had the sale once at the fairgrounds. There were some great deals back then. They don't do that sort of sale anymore.

What happens to all the repoed and returned tools today?

Inquiring minds want to know..

 

[lbgradwell]

I am sorry to say this but you guys are so rude, you talk all snap-on but can't help a guy that has a question about a ratchet maybe you arent as bright as you think you are!! I know it was made in 1951 and that will have to do.

BTW I bet you don't even know what year Snap-on making tools,

Let me help you out 1920 and they made custom tools at first!

I am a moter head as well and enjoy expanding my tool box, or even talking about it once or twice, but you guys take the cake and need a life.

You lack basic courtesy, Schmizter. Maybe you need to leave now.

 

[J.A.F.E.]

I am sorry to say this but you guys are so rude, you talk all snap-on but can't help a guy that has a question about a ratchet maybe you arent as bright as you think you are!! I know it was made in 1951 and that will have to do.

BTW I bet you don't even know what year Snap-on making tools,

Let me help you out 1920 and they made custom tools at first!

I am a moter head as well and enjoy expanding my tool box, or even talking about it once or twice, but you guys take the cake and need a life.

The way to get an answer is to politely ask in your own thread. I sent you a PM with some information about your wrench to keep from highjacking someone elses thread, a PM which you didn't even have the class to acknowledge.

Since you insist on highjacking someone else's thread and since you insist on critisizing people for not responding, which may have happened for any number of reasons including the fact you keep highjacking threads you show an appauling lack of courtesy and no manners whatsoever. You also need to work on the spelling bucko.

Since you seem to know so much about tools and since I'm not as bright as you, I will never answer or respond to a post you make. Hopefully others will follow suit. In the meantime I say go away and don't come back.

 

[Tool Pants]

I went to a Snap-On distrubution/warehouse, when a dealer refused to warranty a 1/2" ratchet (the body of the head was cracked); they gave me a brand new one.... no questions asked, no fuss no muss! I had a very good experience with them; this was in the early to mid 90s in Northern California, near Gilroy/San Jose area...

30 or so years ago I went to a warehouse in the San Jose area to buy a Blue-Point large metric tap for my 1975 Fiat. No hardware store had this size.

When I tell people there was a local Snap-On warehouse in the old days they do not believe me. Plus I could not remember where it was. I thought south San Jose or Morgan Hill. Next town further south is Gilroy. Maybe it was in Gilroy.

At least I did not dream it because Billymade remembers it.

Blue-Point made in USA tap. Only Blue-Point tool I have, and I still have it.

 

[billymade]

Tool Pants, it was either in Morgan Hill or on the way to Gilroy; I lived in Los Gatos at the time and I think it was a somewhat substantial drive. It was nothing special; it had a "Snap-On" sign on the front, you walked in, there was a counter and a big warehouse with toolboxes and Snap-On goodness, everywhere! I was nervous that wouldn't help me; because, a dealer refused me and practically threw me off his truck! He told me I didn't buy it from him and I probably got it from a flea market, he wouldn't warranty it... blah, blah, blah. I worked at a body shop in Milpitas at the time, during the summers, it wasn't summer and since my Snap-On dealer at the body shop was a nice guy, I figured instead of driving all the was to Milpitas, would try the local dealer in Los Gatos! Mistake! But my persistence paid off and I did get a brand new 1/2" ratchet (S830?) and this was my first substantial Snap-On tool at the time. I was really impressed and with the encouragement of my fellow coworkers at the body shop and using their Snap-On tools; started to build up my Snap-On tool collection! The ratchet was from the 50s, yes I did get it from a flea market (the dealer was right about that one!) and it a a hairline crack in the head; I do not think I have ever seen a Snap-On ratchet with a cracked head since! When I handed them the ratchet; they hardly looked at it and went to the stock area and gave me a new one... within probably a couple of minutes, I had a new ratchet in hand and was on my way! Now thats SERVICE!