Shiftless
Well-known member
None of my Channel Lock pliers have broken EVER!
Broke……..🤬 (Snap on) Update 8/8/2023
- Thread starter MWEric
- Start date
I have never broken a pair of any brand of groove joint pliers.
I have seen many pairs of broken groove joint pliers on large commercial and heavy industrial job sites, though. I don’t know how it happens… maybe they use a hammer handle on them?
finn
Well-known member
It’s that Damn Chinese steel SnapOn started using.
It’s common knowledge that cheese is added during the steelmaking process.
It’s common knowledge that cheese is added during the steelmaking process.
The Tool Tyrant
ALLIANCE MEMBER
No more 'Hurk McGuirk' there buddy!
You're not wrong, but I'll play devil's advocate... Snap On usually doesn't take that long to replace a broken item. It all depends on the dealer and current inventory levels at the time.
I also didn't read the thread, so I don't know if the OP went to his dealer or went through SO customer service. I can't speak as to the reason for the delay. The few times I've had to replace a broken (or lost) Snap On tool I've been able to get a replacement that day or the next week (next truck visit).
However I will also say Snap On has been hit by the supply shortage, or whatever else their excuse might be. There have been a lot of delays and chronic out of stock items for a very long time now. I've had tools take several weeks or even months to show up after my dealer ordered it for me, or it was simply unavailable to order all together.
Finally, Snap On tools can/do/will break and warranties exist for a reason.
bwringer
Well-known member
Note to self: do NOT shake hands with "MWEric".
LOL... it have USA stamped all over both the new and broken AWP65....
Assmeble in the USA ? with Snapon approval ? maybe they didn't do the Snap-off inspection
4 1/2 months seems excessive in the worst of circumstances. There are ranting threads on here where someone takes their 1960s USA made Craftsman thingy in to an Ace Hardware and they can’t replace it. So then person comes on here and complains about how terrible Ace is and how SBD and Craftsman all ****. All the SnapOn fanboy threads always rave about the convenience and great service from a tool truck. If I overspend for a pair of junk pliers I’d expect to get them replaced within a few days at most. Or give me a credit on something else and I’ll go buy some Doyle pliers at HF this afternoon.
CGarage
Well-known member
4.5 months is not acceptable turn around time.
I have a few items that have been on back order now for 3+ months.
I have a few items that have been on back order now for 3+ months.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
I would be upset about that turnaround time.
A coworker broke the yoke on his 10yo 12" snap on flex head, comfy grip. It's been rebuilt a few times, but it's worked hard for him for many years. It's been 2 weeks now waiting for a replacement, probably going to be 3 weeks monday. He probably could've gone on the truck and negotiated into a different handle grip or whatever, but hasn't bothered.
It's very annoying when "the system" fails with the tool trucks.
EDIT: Apparently not 4.5 months ^
Jim greengo
Well-known member
I've never seen any brand of channel locks break like that.
I know they've been around for a long time, but to me ot seems like a very ****** business model overall, that nowadays is based largely on their old fame.
demarpaint
Well-known member
The OP was away overseas and hasn't seen the dealer in a while. So we can't blame SO in this case.
Update……….dealer finally got the new one.
My buddy broke his Large Blue-Point waterpump pliers and it was taking a long time for Snap-On to get a replacement. The reason, it was a Snap-On computer glitch . That waterpump plier now subs to a Snap-On model that is always on the truck.Update……….dealer finally got the new one.
Other than selling a pliers that broke immediately upon use.
We don’t really know how long it took for the pliers to be replaced. How long of a wait is acceptable?
demarpaint
Well-known member
A week or so, if the driver has them on the truck, then that day. The OP was away was my point, so we won't know for sure how long it would have taken. FTR I'm waiting over 3 months for an impact socket that was part of a set from HF, in order to get the socket they have to get the replacement set in stock. I'm not losing sleep I have another socket that works.
Yes OP left out that he was gone and made the wait time longer. I’d say a week wait for the premium paid for tool truck tools is too long.
What impact socket set are you waiting on at HF? I’ve been in a couple of them near me recently and they seem to be nearly fully stocked.
demarpaint
Well-known member
IIRC it is 19mm from the colored set of impact sockets, they don't sell them individually, and my store doesn't have them, at least as of about 2 weeks ago when I went there for gloves. Truth be told this thread reminded me when HF was mentioned. Next time I'm there I'll check again.
Not to derail this thread but what kind of colored impact sockets do they sell?
demarpaint
Well-known member
It seems to work for them. Snap On has been around over 100 years now and one of the few remaining USA founded/owned tool companies and actual manufacturers of tools (not just a vendor, reseller or a rebrand company).
But opinions can definitely vary depending on your interactions and your need for buying/using tools...
Are you a mechanic or a DIY'er?
As a mechanic weekly tool truck visits to the shop and buying from a tool truck is just business as usual. It's been that way long before I worked in the industry and will continue for long after I leave it.
But I'm also a DIY'er, and if I were exclusively a DIY'er, I would absolutely find their business model difficult. Paying premium prices online without the weekly tool truck benefits *****, and not being able to buy from a physical store or even 3rd party vendors/resellers like Amazon, also *****.
This is the part where I think they’ll struggle in the future on their up and down the street business. Young people have grown up with Amazon delivering their whatever-it-is sometimes the same day or within two days at most. And you can get almost any brand, size, color, shape, price range, etc at your fingertips on your smartphone. Waiting a whole week for a truck to stop by who might not have what you want in stock and you’ll wait until the next week? Blasphemy!
Houdini5150
Well-known member
It happens..nice warranty
Entirely possible. Things change with time. It will interesting to see if, when and how Snap On changes their business model to adapt. But it's not just Snap On, it's an entire industry.
Dakotadadv8
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 30, 2021
- Messages
- 1,483
DIYer I can wait for my Snap on tools, rather have Snap on take care of the professionals first since they rely on the tools to make a living. Again not sure if DIYers are Snap on's target market, IMO DIYers can wait or buy something else from HF, Lowes, Ace, Home Depot, or Amazon. I am fortunate to have the $ and time to buy Snap on tools from the truck or website or Craftsman from Lowes. By the way Snap on customer service are very good especially during Covid.
Yes I think Snap On is unique for this. I don't think there's any way for me to even buy any of their tools here in Europe, unless I really tried to track down one of their dealers for the aerospace mechanics but that seems annoying...
Really is so much more convenient. Next one or two generations of young mechanics will surely require them to adapt.
Proto, Wright, Williams, SK and all the import brands (even the German tool brands) are available on Amazon Prime. S-O and Mac and Matco are the three truck brands I see rolling around. They will have a tough time trying to compete not only on service and delivery speed but also price and quality. Truck credit seems less important when almost anyone can get a credit card and make payments.
No, they're definitely not. Tool truck brands don't market themselves to the DIY crowd. They sell to professionals working in professional settings (shop, mining, aerospace, etc.), they don't drive through your neighborhood like the ice cream man.
Don't forget about Cornwell (as a tool truck brand).
No argument on a wider variety of tools being offered online at generally lower prices.
But I have to disagree in part with the service comment, at least for the professional. There are no brands on Amazon that are going to come by my shop, I have to call or e-mail them. Even if it's a local store, say HD or HF, I have to go to them for service and warranty. The quality comment is negligible, and can go either way, too many variables.
As for your last comment, there is a difference between truck credit and actual credit. Truck credit, or a truck account, doesn't charge interest whereas a credit card does. However credit being offered by the tool truck company does charge interest, just like a credit card.
One advantage tool trucks definitely have is that truck account and the ability to pay for something over time without interest as opposed to paying in full upfront. Then again, depending on the purchase amounts and interest rates, you could pay the same or pay more depending on the route you take. Most people are not going to crunch the numbers.
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
I didn’t forget about Cornwell, I said the trucks that I see. I haven’t seen a Cornwell truck in probably at least a decade. Maybe I did forget about them?
It’s always said you can have fast, good or cheap but not all 3, pick 2. Amazon and some of the other online retailers can do it cheaper faster and with similar (sometimes better, sometimes not) quality items than the tool trucks. So they’re hitting all 3 in comparison.
You should be able to figure out how to get fast service from an online retailer. Tekton usually has things to me in two days too.
Credit card or tool truck credit- either way you didn’t have the money up front to purchase it. The tool truck pricing has the interest cost built into the price you pay, they’re not carrying you for free.
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Screw that. For the few SO tools I have, I expect the same service as any of their other customers.
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I never had any luck with randomly parked trucks with anything. If I break anything... I would just mail it in.
scooby074
Well-known member
Update……….dealer finally got the new one.
Whats up with the discoloration in the circled areas? Just curious.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Agreed, you bought it, SO should take care of it. Usually mail is the easiest though if you don't have truck service.
Don't waste too much of your energy - It astounds me how much flak tool trucks catch from people who literally do not use them.
IDK they can miss out if they want to I guess.
bcradio
Well-known member
different angle for light to reflect is the reasonWhats up with the discoloration in the circled areas? Just curious.