Costco Snap-On Products

[buick64203]

I see it as SO detroying thier business model.

 

[Chadro]

I realize that we would/could all agree that pocket knives are "tools", but that is definitely not what I referred to. Indeed, pocket knives are some of the most equity-branded "specialty products" on the market, along with ball caps and coffee mugs. Top quality US manufacturers have been licensing "specialty product companies" to make cheapo pocket knives with their logos on them for nearly a 100 years. (Some of those older knives are quite collectible now).

When I said that I did not expect to see cheapo hand tools licensed to wear the Snap On logo, I referred more specifically to sockets, wrenches, ratchets, etc. (And yes, I have seen the little cheapo Snap On pocket screwdrivers, but they are also not what I meant.)

And yet, who knows? Maybe Snap On WILL license products which I would not expect them to? Maybe you WILL see double-cheapo $9.99 socket/ratchet sets at Sam's Club or Costco with Snap On logos on them? I don't work at Snap On, and neither am I their outside marketing/advertising consultant. (But if I were, I would certainly advise against it). However, like someone said in an earlier post in this thread, ball caps, t-shirts, coffee mugs, etc, are great ways for any company with a popular brand to make some profits, in a very stagnant economy. It's probably been the best profit strategy which ever happened to Jack Daniels and Harley Davidson.

My Costco has the Snap-On branded multi tool, does that count?

 

[ecotec]

it is different with jack daniels and harley davidson. their logo merchandise is not chinese sour mash whiskey or chinese motorcycles. it is sweatshirts and glasses and toasters and condoms... well, their logos are on pretty much everything. i would love to see a breakdown on how both companies actually make money. i would especially love to know what percentage of HD profit is from logo merchandising.

but it is just not the same. their logo merchandise may be the whoring out of their Intellectual Property, but it does not affect the sour mash whiskey/motorcycles.

snap on sells high end tools. to put their IP on generic chinaman **** tools absolutely waters down the brand.if you do not see the difference, you just do not want to.

 

[Lump]

it is different with jack daniels and harley davidson. their logo merchandise is not chinese sour mash whiskey or chinese motorcycles. it is sweatshirts and glasses and toasters and condoms... well, their logos are on pretty much everything. i would love to see a breakdown on how both companies actually make money. i would especially love to know what percentage of HD profit is from logo merchandising.

but it is just not the same. their logo merchandise may be the whoring out of their Intellectual Property, but it does not affect the sour mash whiskey/motorcycles.

snap on sells high end tools. to put their IP on generic chinaman **** tools absolutely waters down the brand.if you do not see the difference, you just do not want to.

Ecotec,
Actually, you and I agree completely. If Snap On allows the use of their logo on cheapo hand tools, I will consider that to be a big mistake by their marketing department. And even licensing that air compressor is very risky strategy, in my opinion. I am not passing judgment that Snap On is currently licensing their "brand equity" wisely or poorly. I was merely explaining how "brand equity" marketing works, and why companies do it at all.

 

[t100]

remember OCC? selling **** load of 2-dollar t-shirts at $25 each with no overhead, that's good business. sorry, it's better-than-dope business.

rock bands making a lot of money selling t-shirts at their concerts.

 

[Up And Down]

remember OCC? selling **** load of 2-dollar t-shirts at $25 each with no overhead, that's good business. sorry, it's better-than-dope business.

rock bands making a lot of money selling t-shirts at their concerts.

Agreed. The issue here is that Snap-On is selling cheap tools with their name on them. Snap-On is tools. If they chose to sell cheap T-shirts that would be a different story. It is the same as if OCC was selling cheap low quality chinese imported motorcycles with their name on them.

 

[Perryk]

I seem them around here too. ACE Hardware has the "Snap-On" work lights for $39.00. They keep showing up on CL for $80. I was thinking about picking up a few and looking for some sucke...um... I mean buyers.

.....thats a stand up thing to do

 

[Zrexxer]

That's a good deal on two pairs of Mechanic's gloves regardless of what it says on the back.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

it is different with jack daniels and harley davidson. their logo merchandise is not chinese sour mash whiskey or chinese motorcycles.

A few years back, a buddy of mine bought his kid one of those Pep Boys type "mini choppers" for Christmas - guess whose logo it was proudly emblazoned with? Think major manufacturer that was nearly ran into the ground by AMF in the 70's.

 

[W650Mike]

Lump,

Thanks for the insight and explanations of brand equity.

I’ll admit that I almost bought several of the SO flashlights at ACE Hardware for Christmas presents. As I looked closer I didn’t feel that the quality was commensurate with the name. I also thought that it was a little sad to see the Snap-on name in the junk tool bin, even though that's where it belonged.

I looked at one of the knives and was embarrassed for Snap-on.

 

[Fatandre]

I thought snap on was only made in the USA :/

 

[glenmore]

I think this is a pretty smart idea by SO. You get tremendous exposure in COSTCO. The items sold don't look like the type of items that get SO's lifetime replacement gurantee, but doesn't COSTCO do that?

If you have people complaining about trying to find a truck to buy stuff from why not get the ball rolling with a few items in a brick and mortar store? Mechanics can go to their truck, some of us can track down one, but new buyers may be herded to the website. Free shipping and the occassional BOGO offers? That is a way to drive business.

Yes, the tools are expensive, but Rolex still sells a lot of watches.

 

[rsieracki]

That would make a good signature.

id like to point out i copy and pasted BEFORE i saw this

 

[smalltruck]

Snap on has a 60% stake in chinese tool maker Zhejiang Wanda and has plans to further invest in China, India and the eastern europe. This came from an article in march 2007.

http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Snap-On_(SNA)
and more reading
http://seekingalpha.com/article/133874-snap-on-the-future-looks-promising

And then I found this....
http://www.wandasnapon.com/about.asp

 

[american lockpicker]

I thought snap on was only made in the USA :/

At one time it was. Now they are willing to do anything to make a quick buck. You should see what they did to Bahco.

 

[Chadro]

I think this is a pretty smart idea by SO. You get tremendous exposure in COSTCO. The items sold don't look like the type of items that get SO's lifetime replacement gurantee, but doesn't COSTCO do that?

If you have people complaining about trying to find a truck to buy stuff from why not get the ball rolling with a few items in a brick and mortar store? Mechanics can go to their truck, some of us can track down one, but new buyers may be herded to the website. Free shipping and the occassional BOGO offers? That is a way to drive business.

Yes, the tools are expensive, but Rolex still sells a lot of watches.

lol, your average person might go for an $18 pair of gloves or a $20 powerstrip but once they visit Snapon.com and see the average Snapon prices, they'll go into heart failure and never think about Snapon again.

 

[lbgradwell]

I know SO isn't in the wood/construction bussiness, but I found out they are made by alltrade.

Alltrade manufactures/sources many of the Snap-on branded items.

 

[Busted Bolts]

Oooohhhh!!!

 

[mbmopar]

I've had one of the snap-on branded reel lights from Costco in Canada for the last year and a half. It has held up well, and was about 25 bucks IIRC....a deal is a deal. If it lasts another few years, I'll have no complaints. Seems pretty sturdy, I can break most things without even trying hard,,,

 

[contactme_11]

it is different with jack daniels and harley davidson. their logo merchandise is not chinese sour mash whiskey or chinese motorcycles. it is sweatshirts and glasses and toasters and condoms...

I'd buy Snap On brand condoms.

 

[american lockpicker]

I'd buy Snap On brand condoms.

I'll stick with Trojan they are made in USA...

 

[Roots]

The notion that this was the result of a lone low level marketing rep who signed some papers is preposterous. For the contract to have standing and contractually obligate Snap On to follow through, the "lone low level marketing rep" would have had to have legal authority to represent Snap On.

 

[DanCo]

I bought a Snappy branded flashlight from pep boys(before I had my first tool truck experience). Then after a few months of building a relationship with my Snappy dealer, I asked him if he had an LED upgrade for the flashlight. Gave him the light he went to look it up, came back 30 min later and said its not in any of his catalogs/database. Then he said it might be a european edition light, offered me a deal on a rechargeable streamlite.

 

[mhm993]

I bought the flashlight last year. Absolute junk. Not gonna get fooled again.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Hi Folks,

Upon taking a visit to our local Costco, I took a walk down the isle where all of the tools, automotive products are and to my amazement, I found the following Snap-On branded items:

1) Air Compressor - it was a vertical model, red in colour with a cheap white/clear Snap On sticker on the tank that was already peeling off. Made in China.

2) Plug-in Bar - red, total of 15 amps, again made in China. The bar which was a couple of feet long is held on the wall by two plastic clamps. Completely turned me off, although the bar itself looked ok.

3) Mini shop vac - Yup, red and labeled Snap On and made overseas.

4) Work light reel. - Red & Black, made overseas.

I was just surprised to see them selling, in my mind, "fake Snap On".

Anyone else come across these items while shopping at Costco?

I know Ace Hardware was selling "Snap On" flashlights a few years ago.
And I'm pretty sure Auto Zone was selling stuff labeled "Snap On"
Thanks,
Tony

 

[Chadro]

I know Ace Hardware was selling "Snap On" flashlights a few years ago.
And I'm pretty sure Auto Zone was selling stuff labeled "Snap On"
Thanks,
Tony

My sears tool catalog has Snap-On flashlights in it lol.

 

[scoot86]

Well I hope snap on doesnt go the way of craftsman like it has here in canada.I got the trouble/flashlite from costco 3yrs ago it is by far the best cordless lite I've ever owned, batteries that came with it lasted a year using it steady, the magnet surprised the hell outa me when I forgot it stuck to the floor of my truck after a 40km drive through back roads and finally saw the lite shining. Wouldnt by a new one though they flicker like cheap led lights do

 

[Theruse]

I bought the Snap-on LED Worklight. It says it is licensed from Snap-0n. I use the light all the time when working under the hood. Liked it so much I bought a second one.

http://reviews.costco.com/2070/1001...t-2000-lumens-5000-kelvin-reviews/reviews.htm

 

[mdtaylorjr]

I asked my local distributor about these and he told me that a former CEO actually sold the rights to a previous version of the logo to make a quick buck and hit a bonus number. He told me to look closely and notice that the logo will be different than the current products. Its just cheap **** to make non mechanics feel like they have snap on too. D I, sq.

 

[kctyphoon]

love how guys get bent out of shape when they see these things... like the brand is only for "elitists" and making money any way possible should be beneath them - and using their "american" name to mislead people is a surprise.. take comfort in the fact its only for $30, and not the usual $300 or $3000 they would normally be happy to overcharge.

 

[iScream]

Only thing I'm familiar with is the LED work light. It's an excellent light for the price regardless of COO. Certainly not something to damage their brand.

 

[stevenhs]

Do they make snap on beer or cake?

 

[AJO]

Snap on rum would hit the spot. Liked the flash light, I bought 2 more for the shop.

 

[ChrisPace]

Many "exclusive" companies that get big eventually "sell out". This happened to Rockford Fosgate in the early '00s. When I first started buying car audio equipment in the '90s, you could only buy RF equipment in dedicated stereo stores, i.e., authorized dealers; and that is the way it had always been for that brand. The first sign that they were about to "sell out" was when they started showing up in Crutchfield catalogs in the late '90s. Their "sell out" was complete when they started showing up in Best Buy stores in '00 or '01, complete with a marketing-friendly "max" wattage figure in huge lettering plastered on the amps. Needless to say, their reputation took a huge nose dive, and their products got divided into two categories by enthusiasts; the good "old school RF" stuff, and the newer junk at Best Buy.



I'm not saying that's happened to Snap-on yet, but if e.g. a new "value line" of raised panel Snap-on wrenches shows up at Costco or whatever, they'll be well on their way.

Rockford was going public and they had to be in a well known retailer to be successful in the stock market. Yes it almost killed them, that and they were the very last ones to move to overseas manufacturing, these two factors combined took them to within inches of their death. The Best Buy relationship only lasted a very short while. Kicker took the Best Buy channel after Rockford pulled out and added Walmart at the same time. They have bounced back the last 5 years in the specialist channel as the premium amplifier line. Rockford has over 50 actual engineers working for them. No other audio company can say that. Engineering will pull them through some tough times. Rockford just introduced a 19" woofer that has nearly a million dollars in engineering costs. The Klippel European testing equipment shows it's producing the lowest amount of distortion a woofer has produced. They can make a comeback.

Btw, Snap On made a few runs of Rockford Fosgate special edition tools. I would love to buy a set of the screwdrivers. They had red handles of course.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[AutoTeck84]

I don't think it's good marketing myself. Yeah it's good exposure but it ultimately hurts the brand. The last thing a prestigious company like SO needs is people sub-consciencly identifying their tool with Chinese **** lining the aisles at Costco.