Buying SnapOn tools

[haulna]

Hi, first post on this forum. What a grate site.

I'm tring to figure out how a non-professional wrench turner goes about buying SnapOn tools. Is it common practice to find the SnapOn truck and follow him until he makes a stop and ask to take look inside? Can you make a purchase with a credit card?

Thanks,
Nick

 

[kartracer55]

Truck or Order from the snap on website. You can request to find a dealer in your area from the snap on website and have him give youa call... he may or may not stop at your home though, so you might have to meet him at a stop. Im fairly pissed off at snap on because of thier sh*tty customer service, so Im not to keen on buying stuff from them. What are you looking for specifically? Did you think about Proto or SK for it?

Jim

 

[eschoendorff]

The Snap On tool truck makes a stop 2 blocks from my house, but it's usually when I'm at work. I've caught the Snap On guy before (really a nice guy), but in most cases it's easier to order directly from www.snapon.com

They gave me free shipping last time, BTW. Just sit back, click and watch your money blow away!

 

[motorheadjohn]

I have bought a few items from their website www.snapon.com Shipping has always been pretty fast. Dealing with a truck rep is better if you can get hooked up with one.

 

[sprackydoo]

Yeah look it up on the site or just call a local mechanic and ask him when the truck rolls by. Also nice cuz you can find out if the MAC truck runs through to. Not sure for someone who doesn't work at a shop but i've opened an account with them (no interest pay 10% of balance every week) I have also payed with credit card

 

[Thumper]

Run him down and hop on........break out the "platinum" card.......they love those. Yes they do take credit cards and they will sell to you.

 

[Luckydevil]

You guys make it sound like a big red ice cream truck with mobs of full grown men running down the street after it.

 

[sprackydoo]

You guys make it sound like a big red ice cream truck with mobs of full grown men running down the street after it.

nah just a money pit to work on your other money pits

 

[eschoendorff]

You guys make it sound like a big red ice cream truck with mobs of full grown men running down the street after it.

Yup.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Or you can always look in the yellow pages under hand tools and just arrainge to drive by mr snappys house after hours, they will usually accomodate you, especially if you are spending money. If you are not a professional heed Kartracers warning, I too have had problems with warranty after the purchase with snap on since I am not a pro wrenchbender. That said I still love their product line!

 

[Wolverine]

Do NOT discount eBay as well. Some good deals on there.

 

[davejs]

Why do you want to waste the money unless you only need a couple speciality tools.

 

[ringer]

Why do you want to waste the money unless you only need a couple speciality tools.

I hear a can of worms opening up!

SnAp On caN nEvAr LoSe!!!!!

 

[Jared]

Why do you want to waste the money unless you only need a couple speciality tools.

In my mind good tools are never a waste of money.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Hi, first post on this forum. What a grat site.

I'm tring to figure out how a non-professional wrench turner goes about buying SnapOn tools. Is it common practice to find the SnapOn truck and follow him until he makes a stop and ask to take look inside? Can you make a purchase with a credit card?

I stopped when I saw a SO truck stopped at a business, introduced myself and stepped on, also have located dealers and gone by their house in the evening to pick up tools. Not unusual, I've seen others do it, generally the dealers will take business any way it comes.

Charles

 

[davejs]

Hey, what do I know about good tools, I'm on a 2G limit for tool purchases a year. I stopped buying SO tools when they wouldn't warranty them. Buying a tool that has no warranty is a waste of money, when bought at a premium price. I don't buy cheap tools I buy good tools. I also realize that spending extreme amounts of money to sooth the ego of those who think SO is the best are entitled to there own opinion. I won't give SO 1 more cent of my money, I only spent a few grand with them when before I traded ALL of their **** in on better tools.

 

[rrangus]

Hey, what do I know about good tools, I'm on a 2G limit for tool purchases a year. I stopped buying SO tools when they wouldn't warranty them. Buying a tool that has no warranty is a waste of money, when bought at a premium price. I don't buy cheap tools I buy good tools. I also realize that spending extreme amounts of money to sooth the ego of those who think SO is the best are entitled to there own opinion. I won't give SO 1 more cent of my money, I only spent a few grand with them when before I traded ALL of their **** in on better tools.

I have purchased Snap On tools for almost 50 years. The HAVE NEVER even acted like that they would not warranty tools. I had some screwdrivers replaced last year that were purchased in the early 60's. No questions.

 

[eschoendorff]

I have purchased Snap On tools for almost 50 years. The HAVE NEVER even acted like that they would not warranty tools. I had some screwdrivers replaced last year that were purchased in the early 60's. No questions.

Unfortunately, it's all too dependent on your particular dealer. Some are great, some are not. The guy in my area is pretty cool... I wouldn't be suprised if he warranted stuff no problem. Other dealers... well, let's just say that Snap On's warranty isn't really consistent from dealer to dealer.

 

[Thumper]

I have never had a problem with any of my Snap-On guys over the years( and they have been several diff ones).

 

[davejs]

I had even bought their top line impact that never worked. The next week I tried to return it or have it fixed and dealer said I had to have done something to it. "THEY HAVE THE BEST TOOLS THAT NEVER BREAK" $350 for an impact that doesn't work. Next year I tried to trade it back in on something else and was told it was only worth $50. Two weeks later after more warranty hassels on other tools I traded it and ALL other tools to MAC. In the following years I have bought more tools from Mac and NEVER had any problems. All I ever hera from that SO guy is I'm buying junk. I look it as MAC has gained a good customer from the customer service of SO. For all those people who will put up with poor service from SO I see it as a waste of money.

 

[l_bilyk]

You guys make it sound like a big red ice cream truck with mobs of full grown men running down the street after it.

 

[rrangus]

Unfortunately, it's all too dependent on your particular dealer. Some are great, some are not. The guy in my area is pretty cool... I wouldn't be suprised if he warranted stuff no problem. Other dealers... well, let's just say that Snap On's warranty isn't really consistent from dealer to dealer.

I have purchased tools in NC, TX, MD, and VA from SO and had tools warranted also. Probably a dozen different dealers. Some more pleasant to deal with than others but no problems

 

[Bill K]

Never had any problems with repair or warrenty on any tools. I've returned tools for service to all of em. Mac Matco Snap-on, and Sears. Got more "attitude for the Sears clerck than anyone else. Asked " Did you use it for a hammer?" in a smartassed tone . To which I replied " does it look like a hammer" in my best sarcastic voice. He shut up and replaced the tool pronto.I think a lot has to do with the relationship you build with each dealer.
Bill

 

[Uncle Buck]

Funny, I have never had a bad experience returning tools to sears, but I have never had a positive experience with over a HALF DOZEN SO reps in four different states, so I guess I will echo davejs's sentiments regarding SO, sell that overpriced **** to some other sloping head knuckle dragger!

 

[hornett22]

i like their hand tools.

their drills **** ***.i have had good luck with SO dealers except the new ****** in knoxville TN.he's worthless and no one can stand him.as for air tools,you can't go wrong with IR

 

[Elroy]

Funny, I have never had a bad experience returning tools to sears

The only real problem Elroy has had returning broken tools to Sears is they typically don't have the replacement in stock. And when they do have the tool in stock they want to know my name and address.

To which Elroy replys: You didn't give a damn what my name and address was when I bought it. You just wanted my money. Now replace the damn tool.



Oh ya, Thank you.

 

[Coach James]

"To which I replied " does it look like a hammer" in my best sarcastic..."

I love sarcasm
Coach

 

[Coach James]

rrangus, anything going on with bringing racing back to the speedway up there?
Coach

 

[Fast Orange]

I hope the Sears you guys deal with is in better shape than the one near one of my company's jobsites.The wreckage from the southern hurricanes is more organized than the tool department. The display cases look like they were filled with a backhoe,most of the description/price tags are missing from the racks,and after three visits ,I still have no idea what their full polish wrenches look like. I have yet to see anyone working in that department-even at the register!
Another shining example of American retail at it's finest.

George

 

[kartracer55]

To which Elroy replys: You didn't give a damn what my name and address was when I bought it. You just wanted my money. Now replace the damn tool.



Oh ya, Thank you.

Nothing like a happy customer!! I havent had a problem... only had to return a few but they really dont give a damn what you do in the store around here as long as they dont have to get up or otherwise put forth any other effort.

Jim

 

[Coach James]

"..filled with a backhoe."

I've been in 2 Sears stores in the last month. One was really neat and orderly with all the tools easy to find and the other had a tool dept. that reminded me of Big Lots. Tools on the floor, in the wrong place, dirty, etc and the dept. manager didn't seem to care.
Coach

 

[haulna]

Thanks for all the info. It's good to hear all sides of the story.

I am considering buying the SO hard handle screw driver set as a first purchase. I really enjoy opening up my tool box when the need arises and seeing top of the line tools for the given job. I know the cost is up their but it should be a once in a lifetime purhase. I just have to make sure my wife knows that the SO drivers are not for pulling weeds in the flower beds.

 

[[email protected]]

im not happy with snap off they dont give me deals & they are pushy i buy from matco mostly i am an ase master mechanic & ase master machinist i usualy pay cash or check & get a 10% discount by the way iown about 85000 in tools & dont owe on any of them

 

[Tx Firefighter]

I'm also an ASE Master Technician. I used to wrench full time for a living, after a career change, now I just do it sideline on my days off.

I've bought Snap-On tools since 1991.

Personally, I like Snap-On better than any of the other brands.

What I get a kick out of, is folks complaining about one particular brand. Those tool companies sell franchises to all kinds of people. There's as many ******* Mac men as there are Snap-On men, or Matco, or Cornwell, or whatever. The law of averages says that if you have a group of people, any people, a certain percentage of them will have bad people skills, no matter what brand is painted on the side of their truck.

Buy from the tool men who you believe will be easiest to deal with every week from now on. My Snap-On man was #24 in world sales volume last time I asked him. That's pretty profound in the grand scheme of the number of Snap-On men running up and down the road in this world.

 

[[email protected]]

i first bought snap off tools in1973 & out of all of the different tool men idelt with only about 3 of the snap off guys were really decent. they take classes to teach them to sell sell sell alot of times they dont want to warranty stuff. i have even had to call the co. on a couple of them. it shouldnt take 3 months to warrenty a ratchet! the headquarters is less than 50 miles from me. i like a lot of different brands but they have rubbed me wrong too many times. have agood one Mike

 

[thump186]

I geuss I'm among the lucky few. My snap-on dealer goes above and beyond what he needs to do to satisfy his customers. He recently bought his truck and route from snap-on. Never a problem warranting tools if he doesn't have it on the truck the next week he has it. He has made special trips on several occasions when I needed a tool, has taken the tool i needed out of a kit if he didn't have the single, to the point he even ordered snap-on jackets for those who wanted one at no cost to us.

 

[Uncle Buck]

thump186: You either owe him $/ or are currently spending alot of $ with him, or you are at a shop he is doing business with, or wants to promote business in,otherwise you would prolly just get crapped on like the rest of us!

 

[thump186]

your right I am currently spending money with him and the reason I choose to do that is becasue of his attitude and the way that i have been treated.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Quit spending money on a regular basis and wrenching in a shop on his route, then look him up in a year or so and i'll bet that oh so helpfull attitude with evaporate like a fart in the wind!

 

[iiibdsiil]

I can't believe y'all have problems like this. I NEVER made any large purchases with my Snap-on guy when I was working his route. I used to SHOW him what I purchased USED at the pawn shops, and he would say "That was a killer deal." He sold me a Blue Point AT-123 impact gun used for $20. Every week, I went onto the truck "Whatcha got used?" I was young, 16, 17, maybe he had a heart, I dunno. My hammer that my dad found on the side of the road was warrantied after I told him where I got it from. AFTER I left the shop, I would still go see him on Fridays. Told him I wanted a box, he had one that he had to sell on a customer for not paying his bill. $3000 later I got my red box pictured below. And he told me if I want to trade it in on a new box, he'll give me $5500 on a trade in. Then he came to my HOUSE and dropped it off after his route was done, and made sure I got it in my garage just fine. I NEVER owed him money for more then 2 weeks.

Coincidentally, he isn't doing it anymore. I think my old boss splitting town with a $5,000 bill probably didn't help him much.