Are you brand loyal or prefer tools for certain tasks

[jonjon1]

I have buddies that are ALL snap-on Or ALL MAC and others that just buy the cheapest they can get, I am in the middle of the road.

I prefer SK for certain things like wrenches {Snap ons are too sharp for my delicate hands}, chrome sockets and extensions {seems to give the most for the money, I have broken more mac and snappy chromes than sk over the years}, I like sk ratchets too, my roto is used most...

Matco for some wrenches, impact sockets {their swivels are awesome}...

IR for air tools {except for some sk and snap-on like my snap-on da is great and my sk wobble air ratchet is awesome, also the big so air ratchet is nice too..

Snap-on for a lot of stuff, like screw drivers, files, punches, taps, pullers, drill bits, sockets, hammers, etc

I also love gear wrenches and posi lock pullers, and a bunch of other tools, so I am in no way brand loyal, I have cornwell, mac, matco, snap on, sk, kd, ir, etc in my box...

 

[bobcatdan]

I wouldn't say I'm brand loyal, but I'm pretty solid a tool truck guy. I like the to my door service, I'm not a buy stuff on the internet guy unless I have too. In years when I had several trucks to buy from, I'd shop to see which brand offered the best product for the best price. More recently, I only had a SO guy as no other others bothered to stop. My tool set did start to lean heavy to SO where before it was pretty balanced with SO, Mac, SK and dashes of Matco and Cornwell. All said and done, I like USA tools, but for the right price and quality, I will buy import like sunnex impact sockets. I'd like to mix some Williams, Wright and Proto in since I have found avenues of my liking to get these brands. However, I'm already very saturated in hand tools that more wrenches or screwdrivers is hard to justify.

 

[bczygan]

I buy tools higgledy-piggledy, and helter-skelter, with no rhyme or reason.

So, no.

 

[BeachBoy]

not brand loyal at all, except that if I set my mind on one cordless set, I'll keep the same brand to use the batteries (Milwaukee in my case).

I prefer to have the best of each brand that get all the same brand.

like yesterday I needed snips, came to GJ and searched.. ended up ordering the Midwest Tool as it was the best according to many reviews.

 

[woody 73]

Not loyal to any brand per say, I started with all dewalt cordless and it makes it hard to switch when I have all the same chargers and batteries. Not a fan of sk ratchets but I like their sockets and wrenches. I like snap on ratchets along with cornwell; Williams screwdrivers, IR ail tools, grey impact sockets, old mac knuckle savers, proto punches,trusty cook hammers, etc...

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have bought some HF "specialty" pliers (extra long needle nose, fuel hose, etc). 95% of what is in my box is Craftsman, most over 30 years old, some over 40 !

 

[66354dream]

Im not brand loyal but try to buy from the better quality brands if I can.

 

[Kirbot]

A lot of my tools are Gearwrench, because advance auto sells them 40% off.
But I'll generally go with whatever middle of the road brand has the best value.

Gearwrench, Craftsman, Urrea, Blackhawk, Tekton, Proto, Husky, Kobalt, Arca, Pittsburgh, Channellock, Knipex, SK, Duralast, Mac, Jobsmart, Stanley, and even some Facom have all found homes in my box.

 

[danielhp89]

Snap-On ratchets, sockets and wrenches. Don't have my socket collection complete, swapping out USA craftsmen to SO and the craftsman is going in my truck box. Screwdrivers I prefer Wera and pliers I like knipex. Power tools are all Milwaukee. Need a bigger toolbox so I can justify more tools but dont have the money to get the quality I want at this point.

 

[Adam.C]

I never used to be brand loyal. but I got to work with Snap On tools at work and soon discovered that I agreed with their slogan " there is a difference". I really try to be objective, but I have alot of tools and few match the quality of my truck tools.

Guys here raved about knipex. I like the Cobras alright, but the snappies are nicer in the duck bills, cutters, needle nose, I own both. I have s wide range of socket brands, but prefer my truck tools for fit and feel.

I really don't want to be brand loyal because I want to have an open mind. But my experience tells me the truck tools (don't know much about premium euro tools) are better than big box store and even some industrial stuff.

 

[thegroundpounder99]

I'm not brand specific as in everything has to be made by the same company , but I'm brand specific on what type of tool I'm buying. Probably 90% of my box is Snap On, all my pliers are Channellocks, lots of Blue Point and VIM too.

 

[monkeyspanners]

I was brand loyal for years, then Stanley bought out Britool and they just weren't the same after so now i just buy all different makes which has the benefit of making it easier to identify a tool as they have different handles etc.
I tend to look for bargains on ebay now rather than ordering new from the tool shop which also is probably due to having less disposable income than 20 years ago.

 

[cianh91]

brand loyal is too hard when so many companys have certain tools better than others and with some cheaper brands now matching the warranty of snap on my boxes have mixes of every type tool brand makes no odds once i trust the tools up to the job even with power tools all mine are fifferent brands according too use there for ie: expensive welder drills and polishers cheap grinders as there the most likely to take a big fall

 

[UserNameAttempt3]

I buy what I can get a deal on and what works.

 

[Wizzard]

I am not brand loyal, I try to get the best tool for that category. I have Snap On and USA made Craftsman mostly (some of the USA Craftsman sockets are better than Snap On).

Brand loyalty also wastes some people's money. For example the Snap On split beam torque wrenches that sell on eBay for $300 can be had for half the price directly from the company that makes them, Precision Instruments.

 

[BearsFan315]

brand loyal... not really
i try to buy good quality tools that will last and do the job

90% of my tools are craftsman, mainly because that is what i grew up using and with family in the business getting them at a discount was always nice. I have some other brand tools for specific uses/ needs or Point of Convenience at the time, but try not to skimp on quality. No real complaints on any of the Craftsman tools, beat up and abused a few along the way, and just changed them out on the replacement program. recently got a 10" Craftsman Drill Press, need to set it up and abuse it some. My Craftsman Professional Corded Drill has been really nice and I have beat the HELL out of that thing from drilling, screwing together many benches for the local soccer club, to working on restoration of my 1929 Chevrolet. No complaints and it still runs great...

 

[rsanter]

I am semi brand loyal.
When I find a brand that works well, holds up well and I get good service from, I tent to stick with them or at least favor them. That is not to say that I will not cross brands as there is more than one brand that I have good experience with.

Also, I am sometimes brand loyal because of comparability as well. I am a Dewalt guy. Yes I belive that some of the other brands are good too however I have the Dewalt cordless so I stick with them for comparability. If the ever stop supporting the series I have I may go to another brand if I think that is a better deal at that time.

Bob

 

[PugetDude]

Anyone who looked at my tools would conclude I'm either a schizophrenic or an equal-opportunity hoarder.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

I love Snap-On but I'll buy almost any other truck brand and sometimes other USA brands so I'd say I'm semi-loyal to Snap-On but besides that no I'm not brand loyal.

 

[crewchief888]

98% of my "working" tools came new off a tool truck.

i bought specific wrenches/sockets from different trucks for several reasons.

they may have been the ONLY brand that had what i needed,
it was available "right here, right now"
my balance was low and i was in a buying mood
exact same tool from 2 or more brands, buying on cost alone


my home tools are a mixed bag of truck and industrial brands, kobalt, CM, gearwrench.

i may be considered brand loyal in my tool box choice....

 

[jetdawg]

yes, to several brands

 

[sonvolt]

Yes to SK, Wright, Proto and Blackhawk

 

[L.Cheapo]

I amassed most of my tools as a teenager working in a shop in the mid 1990s. To that end, it was all USA Craftsman, aside from Snap On ratchets and ratcheting screwdriver. I added very little between then and just a couple years ago. Since then, I've only been buying Snap-on. Reason being I have a great rep, my abilities and the projects I take on have expanded into needing specialty tools, and I appreciate quality. I'm not blind however, and I'll give any well made USA/Canadian/Euro produced tool a good look.

 

[pi_guy]

I tend to be brand specific. Settled on Snap on hand tools because after 30 years my old stuff works as well as my new stuff. I like fluke meters and Martel who makes stuff for Fluke. I stick with Miller for welding stuff.
In previous years I had purchased a bunch of HF stuff, which has failure rates that are unacceptable. So that has pushed me to search a bit harder for better products.
Starret and Myitoyo for measuring, Kipex for odd pliers, Dewalt for battey powered tools, Textronix for scopes, Panasonic Toughbook for track side data downloads and testing.

I ski race and settled on Atomic skis and binding, and completed the setup by buying swix equipment for tuning and getting the tools & taking the classes needed to be able to set Atomic binding and tune skis properly. It puts me in a position at a ski hill that I can change a binding to an other set and not miss an event. Most race binding are not stocked by ski hill sports stores. And know that I will not hurt myself with a bad binding or improperly setup one. I use one deWalt drill to run my ski waxing brush, it lives in the truck during the winter. Even with the cold it has never failed me, I only apply flourinated wax outside due to dangers from particles. And the drill just works.
Ski resorts will only test binding at the DIN chart recommendation which puts me at a 6, my speed skis DH& SG are set at 12 and my GS & SL skis are set 8 or 9.
So when you hang out your cheese with spotty equipment you can never be sure of the result.

 

[sam.coll]

Im not brand loyal as I dont believe 1 manufacturer can make "the best" of any particular tool. I like Stahlwille for sockets extensions wrenches and screwdrivers, snap on ratchets and ratchet screwdrivers, mitutoyo measuring, starett for punches, warren brown torque wrenches, knipex pliers, although when it comes to power tools I only seem to be buying Makita


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[monster1]

I was loyal to a brand until the brand started making overpriced Chinese garbage and calling it good. I now buy from whoever makes the best product at the price my wallet can afford. It doesn't have to be USA but it does have to be a quality tool.

 

[RedRabbit]

I buy mainly Snap On and Mac. I follow my grandfathers advice that those are the best brands, and so far he is right. He did pass down some craftsman usa, and they work well, but I have very little Matco or Cornwell. I believe there is a reason they are expensive.

 

[Wamsutta]

Pliers is one area I get really diversified in; for example: Brand X may have great nose pliers but Brand Y has better slip joint pliers. I can't be brand loyal when it comes to pliers.

 

[ADSR]

yes, to several brands

Agreed!

 

[Trans1998am]

when I first started getting tools I bought then from what used to be checker. The powerebuilt tools I bought were leaps and bounds from the cheapest set harbor freight that I had. I liked the fact they were in town and I didn't have to drive to sears which was in another town. I will say that now harbor freight has some really nice stuff for the money and I do have some things from them. Then checker became O'rileys which I didn't like and I wasn't to impressed with napas stuff. And they still don't carry any Carlyle stuff. Plus they are not open on sunday. Then they built a Autozone and I have been buying tools from there. I have been happy with both powerbuilt and Duralast.

 

[Olafur]

Basically - no.

My policy is to systematically avoid scams involving some "geniuses" trying to capitalize on the glory of good old toolmakers by stamping cheap tools -made by the modern equivalent of slave labor - with their name.

Two examples:
Bahco!
Decades ago Bahco was a Swedish toolmaker who made some of the best tools available back then with hefty price tag. Today you pay extra premium just for the name if you buy "Bahco" tools made all over the world. The old Bahco is long gone. IMHO this is a scam, a deliberate illusion. Fraud!

Toptul!
A new kid on the block. Not pretending to be anything but a Taiwanese tool brand. You pay no premium for them - and you get a lot for what you paid for. Transparent and fair!

 

[Flivver250]

Loyal to American forges as much as possible. Lately I have been buying mainly Wright, Mayhew, SK, Klein and more Wright! Did I mention Wright? I have loaded my box up with their products. I doubt I could step on a Snap-On truck and not buy something, same for Mac. I don't wrench twist for a living anymore, otherwise I'd lean toward my most reliable truck vendor. For many reasons I do not like buying Asian, and find cheap HF products just not worth my time. Call me a snob, but I don't like cheap tools, guns, cookware, knives, shoes or gifts. I don't even want cheap women. Buy the best and buy it once. The best come from US forges and also some great product comes from Europe, but I'd prefer US.

 

[MattN03]

As a shade tree mechanic, I've started off with Craftsman hand tools, but I've recently bought a Snap On ratchet and a Blue Point impact through our SO Industrial Account. The difference in quality is amazing, but it's pricier than the Craftsman stuff. My plan is to replace my Craftsman ratchets as they wear out with SO ratchets and maybe a few other high use tools.

 

[Tim37]

I'm not loyal to a brand but I am loyal to a good dealer. For years I wouldn't buy snapon because of a bad experience with a bad driver.

 

[kctyphoon]

i think S/O would have an even bigger following if they just dropped their prices to something more realisitic in the eyes of the masses.. they would definately own the "blind loyality" award if their production went up, and prices went down.

its a shame there is basically NO retail outlet for any of the US made tools in a place like HD or Lowes.. i think Tekton is going to start having a much bigger following soon as it seems more and more is being made in the USA from them.

 

[canuckian]

Though 75-80% of my tools are Snap On, I have tools in every category from different manufacturers. The biggest reason i end up buying Snap On besides quality is the fact that they're the only truck brand support I have available to me. I've never seen a MAC or Matco truck in my area. The only Cornwell truck I've ever seen was in SC on vacation and I did pick up a few items on that one visit. if I ever have issues with them I'm probably screwed because as far as I know, Canadians can't mail their tools in to Cornwell for warranty.
I have quite a few European tools as well and would likely have an easier time purchasing and getting service with those brands than I would with Cornwell Mac or Matco because they're mostly geared towards servicing customers on their trucks. Not griping, just very aware of their business model.

So no, I'm not brand loyal. I buy for quality and availability of sales/service. If those elements get me the best tool in a category, I'm good. No complaints so far

 

[Jim C.]

I'd say that I'm sort of brand loyal to Craftsman.... at least before most of their stuff started being made in china. I'm not a pro tech so I never visited the trucks or really had easy access to them, and for what I was using my tools for, it was easy to go to Sears and pick up what I needed. Everything was made in the USA and reasonably priced. For a long time, my dad was a Sears employee, so I'd also get to use his 10% employee/family discount on anything I purchased. It just made sense to buy Craftsman, so I have a lot of it from the 1980s and 1990s. No complaints with any of it. I still buy old used Craftsman tools too. More recently, I'm not as brand loyal as I used to be but I've become EXTREMELY conscious about a tool's COO. So now I'm more COO loyal versus brand loyal.

Jim C.

 

[Davefr]

I'm brand loyal. But the number of brands I'm loyal to is >100.

I don't see how anyone could limit the number of tool brands to just a few.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

I am somewhat brand loyal, but I would say that I'm 'tool loyal'. I buy the brand that makes a very high quality tool that works the best and that I find comfortable. Price is another consideration, but not as big of one unless I don't thinks it's worth what I can but it for. I won't pay a substantial amount more for a tool that is only marginally better. I also won't pay substantially more for a rebranded tool. I'd rather but from the OEM. After much experience in a wide variety of trades, there are certain tool brands that I consider a known value. For those few brands, if I need a tool for a given task, I'll often look at theirs first, or when spotted for a fair price in the used market, will often be willing to give there version a try with little to no research. For mechanics hand, air, and specialty tools, Snap On has become one of those brands for me. While not every tool they make is the best on the market or worth the cost to me, it's a good bet that for a given tool, theirs is going to be one of the best working, longest lasting, and most ergonomic examples.

 

[NC-Shaun]

I am not Brand Loyal, every manufacturer has tools that are great. I pick and choose tooling that works best, and I can afford.