counterfeit Snap-on?

[John316]

In light of a recent thread where someone tried passing off a HF ratchet as a snapon, I have often wondered if anyone has come across any counterfeit snapon products. It seems at the higher price point that snapon sells for they would be an obvious target for something like this.

Anyone know if this has been a problem?

 

[Rezeppa]

I have run into re chromed snapon sk an Mac tools before it was something else. It took me a good 15mins to figure it out. I was at a flea market and this guy had a ton of high end tools sitting out all looking brand new. So I picked a few up and eventually noticed some really old MAC wrenches with a perfect polished look not the more industrial look they used to carry. So i picked up a 13mm wrench and tried to put it on my drain plug on my pickup only to find the chrome was swollen and wouldn't fit on either the box end or open end. I confronted the man at the table and he spilled the beans and told me his friend owned a chaining shop and they would rechrome old rusty tools and sell them as new. Idk much less old rusty tools sell for but it seamed retarted to me.

 

[NoNN37]

Almost all snapon are marked snapon and have a part no. So its difficult to pass hand tools as fakes.
Most wannabe SnapOn stuff I see are Boxes, Chests, Rollers, Carts etc. People change the badge and some poor guy with little knowledge gets burned.
Its not really a problem unless you dont know what youre looking at.

 

[Rezeppa]

Almost all snapon are marked snapon and have a part no. So its difficult to pass hand tools as fakes.
Most wannabe SnapOn stuff I see are Boxes, Chests, Rollers, Carts etc. People change the badge and some poor guy with little knowledge gets burned.
Its not really a problem unless you dont know what youre looking at.

That was my other point. Everything is in the detail. It is hard to counterfeit something with little detail because of the perfection level. Like a Rolex there is a lot of detail on a Rolex so many can't tell the difference but on wrenches there are only a few identifying characteristics. Most of us can tell the difference between a Pittsburg and a Snapon so the chance of passing a game is greatly reduced.

 

[NoNN37]

Most of us can tell the difference between a Pittsburg and a Snapon so the chance of passing a game is greatly reduced.

yeah, but then there's also the subject of existing tools, rebadged by snapon and sold for over twice the price. One can get the equivalent and advertise them as Snapon. although its not counterfeiting I guess one can pass it off as SnapOn by showing them the exact thing in the SO catalog.

 

[toolchaser]

I have a couple of pistol grip style allen wrenches with Spain as COO that have the same colors and same font lettering as SO but say "Snap- en" with the " e " almost closed down to an "O"

 

[canuckian]

I have a couple of pistol grip style allen wrenches with Spain as COO that have the same colors and same font lettering as SO but say "Snap- en" with the " e " almost closed down to an "O"

hat's likely real. Their comfort grip allen/torx wrenches, adjustables, locking pliers and probably a few other tools are made in Spain.

Is this the type you're referring to?
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=hand&item_ID=645967&group_ID=682326&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[franzdom]

I am still surprised a GJ member did this, has he commented as to how this happened?

 

[toolchaser]

Yeah I knew Bahco made them for SO but why the slightly off logo? I'll try to get a pic posted later

 

[Steinmetz]

yeah, but then there's also the subject of existing tools, rebadged by snapon and sold for over twice the price. One can get the equivalent and advertise them as Snapon. although its not counterfeiting I guess one can pass it off as SnapOn by showing them the exact thing in the SO catalog.

If you mark them as Snap On yourself, it is an infringement.

 

[1320it]

In light of a recent thread where someone tried passing off a HF ratchet as a snapon, I have often wondered if anyone has come across any counterfeit snapon products. It seems at the higher price point that snapon sells for they would be an obvious target for something like this.

Anyone know if this has been a problem?

Where!? Link? Wow.

 

[Steinmetz]

I have a couple of pistol grip style allen wrenches with Spain as COO that have the same colors and same font lettering as SO but say "Snap- en" with the " e " almost closed down to an "O"

Likely actionable under subchapter III of the Lanham Act. an import that tends to create confusion in the mind of the consumer by using a deceptively similar mark.

 

[Packard V8]

Would anyone know for sure is it to inhibit counterfeiting that Snap-on doesn't sell replacement badges for older boxes?

jack vines

 

[NHBandit]

The guy who was trying to sell bogus Snap On ratchets on Ebay is no longer a member here if I'm not mistaken. Camarotoolman was the guy. Same name on Ebay. Either he was booted or he left with his tail between his legs after being exposed. I guess it really dosn't matter as long as he is gone. What he was doing was simply sticking new Snap On handles on cheap ratchets. It didn't fool anyone who knows tools which is how he got caught. Counterfeiting tools including the stamped brand name which has to be done proir to chroming is another issue completely. It would have to be done in huge volume in a factory to be done well enough to fool all but the completely clueless buyer and I haven't heard of it happening so far. I wouldn't put it past the Chinese though if they thought there was enough profit in it. Look at the number of fake Rolex watches and counterfeit Silver dollars flooding the market.

 

[woody 73]

I don't know about snap on but a long time ago I bought a Herbrand breaker bar from a GJ member I could swear on a stack of bibles 10 feet high that it looks like the chinese made the tool and used the old name to fool people. Now I could be 100% wrong and indeed it is the real deal but my gut tells me it came from China.

One Day my son brought home a gold chainthat someone gave him , I looked at it and it was so real that it fooled me. I took it to a store and they tested it sure enough it fooled everyone untill the test came back 100% fake; so yes the chinese are very good at what they do!

 

[Steinmetz]

The guy who was trying to sell bogus Snap On ratchets on Ebay is no longer a member here if I'm not mistaken. Camarotoolman was the guy. Same name on Ebay. Either he was booted or he left with his tail between his legs after being exposed. I guess it really dosn't matter as long as he is gone. What he was doing was simply sticking new Snap On handles on cheap ratchets. It didn't fool anyone who knows tools which is how he got caught. Counterfeiting tools including the stamped brand name which has to be done proir to chroming is another issue completely. It would have to be done in huge volume in a factory to be done well enough to fool all but the completely clueless buyer and I haven't heard of it happening so far. I wouldn't put it past the Chinese though if they thought there was enough profit in it. Look at the number of fake Rolex watches and counterfeit Silver dollars flooding the market.

Trademark enforcement is actually pretty thorough here in the United states, especially in the software and auto parts areas, where I have witnessed enforcement actions firsthand (the U.S. Customs Service generally seizes all of the infringing items and has them destroyed). Mexico is a different story. Trademark and Trade Dress infringement has always been rampant down there.

 

[Steinmetz]

Almost all snapon are marked snapon and have a part no. So its difficult to pass hand tools as fakes.
Most wannabe SnapOn stuff I see are Boxes, Chests, Rollers, Carts etc. People change the badge and some poor guy with little knowledge gets burned.
Its not really a problem unless you dont know what youre looking at.

Sometimes it's hard to tell. For example, there was a real counterfeit fastener problem in the aircraft industry some time ago. It even caused the Boeing Company some discomfort for awhile due to the need for additional inspections of purchased fasteners.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I'd argue theres no "real" money to be made by counterfitting SO tools (or any other tool truck brand) vs Coach Handbags and such. Figure, 99% of SnapOn sales come off trucks or their own corporate site. Factor in Credit and everything else...The bulk of purchases are done in a very controlled distribution channel. For the guys who want snap on stuff and shop online, most of us would/could identify a fake...I dont buy SO stuff on eBay because I just figure its all old wore out stuff anyways.

 

[ganymede]

I don't know about snap on but a long time ago I bought a Herbrand breaker bar from a GJ member I could swear on a stack of bibles 10 feet high that it looks like the chinese made the tool and used the old name to fool people. Now I could be 100% wrong and indeed it is the real deal but my gut tells me it came from China. ...

Towards the end of Herbrands mfg days in America some of the tools were outsourced from Taiwan.

 

[mmack66]

I have a couple of pistol grip style allen wrenches with Spain as COO that have the same colors and same font lettering as SO but say "Snap- en" with the " e " almost closed down to an "O"

Like that?

 

[toolchaser]

I'll have to look when I get home from work. (they have been in my bottom drawer for months)

 

[lbgradwell]

The guy who was trying to sell bogus Snap On ratchets on Ebay is no longer a member here if I'm not mistaken. Camarotoolman was the guy. Same name on Ebay. Either he was booted or he left with his tail between his legs after being exposed.

Gone. And good riddance.

Kudos to the mods for banning this member. A failure to do so would be a tacit approval of his methods notwithstanding that the fraud did not actually occur at the GJ. The integrity of the forum demands that such people be shown the door.

 

[Hawk Thor]

Bearings are another thing that's popular amongst frauds. Cheap and/or old bearings in SKF, ***, Timken, Koyo and NSK (To name a few.) boxes.

There have even been old bearings cleaned up and put in new boxes that look like high quality bearing boxes, but are in fact completely un-useable.

We had a fishing company supply us with a "new" very large bearing for the propshaft of a trawler. The engineers opening the crate got suspicious and the bearing turned out to be an old bearing that had been cleaned up. It still had old grease in it, but new grease had been put on the outer most parts of the bearing.

The fishing company was out thousands of dollars and we ordered from our official SKF dealer.

Just a heads up.

 

[markdtn]

...I dont buy SO stuff on eBay because I just figure its all old wore out stuff anyways.

Even if it is worn out, it has a lifetime guarantee though. I have bought several SO sockets and screwdrivers at flea markets and pawn shops. If they break, you get a new one.

 

[zakmartin]

I saw some fake Snap-on tools for sale at MBK (it's a huge shopping mall full of counterfeit goods) in Bangkok about 10 years ago. They were mediocre facsimiles that came out of China, much like the fake Rolex watches and North Face bags they had on sale on different levels of the mall. I wish I had taken photos of them when I was there. God only knows I got enough photos of tuk-tuks, ladyboys and scorpion kabobs.

 

[richfinn]

They sell a few "Fake" Snap-On tools in Costco, like knives/Torches and other **** that just weakens the brand. It will be like "Tommy Hilfinger/Dolce and Banana" clothes all over again, in a few years no one will want to touch it with a bargepole.

Lights touch paper and retires to a safe distance

Whatever happened to "Stack-On" Toolboxes??

http://www.stack-on.com/ seems they got away with it

I,m going to register Strap-On Tools in the UK to see what happens

 

[lbgradwell]

Even if it is worn out, it has a lifetime guarantee though.

Technically not. The warranty resides with the original purchaser.

 

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

Gone. And good riddance.

Kudos to the mods for banning this member. A failure to do so would be a tacit approval of his methods notwithstanding that the fraud did not actually occur at the GJ. The integrity of the forum demands that such people be shown the door.

Speaking of that P.O.S.
The buyer of the first sold fake ratchet left him a positive feedback

http://www.ebay.com/itm/snap-on-1-4...=&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...rotoolman&ftab=AllFeedback&rt=nc&myworld=true

 

[franzdom]

Gone. And good riddance.

Kudos to the mods for banning this member. A failure to do so would be a tacit approval of his methods notwithstanding that the fraud did not actually occur at the GJ. The integrity of the forum demands that such people be shown the door.

Thanks for the update. We really don't need people like that around here.

 

[Skin]

I'd argue theres no "real" money to be made by counterfitting SO tools (or any other tool truck brand) vs Coach Handbags and such. Figure, 99% of SnapOn sales come off trucks or their own corporate site. Factor in Credit and everything else...The bulk of purchases are done in a very controlled distribution channel. For the guys who want snap on stuff and shop online, most of us would/could identify a fake...I dont buy SO stuff on eBay because I just figure its all old wore out stuff anyways.

I'm of the same opinion. It wouldnt make sense after you factor in the creation of copied dies and of course the actual stamping and forging equipment. May as well just make your own cheapo brand if you had access to all that. Although apparently there is an outfit that does, or did, make counterfit Hazet tool sets so i guess anything is possible.

http://www.hazet.com/en/fakes-new/

 

[Conductor562]

Speaking of that P.O.S.
The buyer of the first sold fake ratchet left him a positive feedback

http://www.ebay.com/itm/snap-on-1-4...=&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...rotoolman&ftab=AllFeedback&rt=nc&myworld=true

I know several of us reported the P.O.S. to eBay, but did anyone attempt to notify the buyer of the original counterfeit ratchet? I should have but I didn't

 

[Buckgnarly]

I know several of us reported the P.O.S. to eBay, but did anyone attempt to notify the buyer of the original counterfeit ratchet? I should have but I didn't

Is that possible on Fleabay...I thought they kept the identies secret.

Edit: used the feedback link.....

 

[Conductor562]

Is that possible on Fleabay...I thought they kept the identies secret.

Edit: used the feedback link.....

I dunno, may not be able to

 

[Buckgnarly]

I dunno, may not be able to

You can, just use the feedback link to go to the buyers identity page, then use the "ask a question" option. If it ever happened to me, I sure would want someone to give me a heads up, just the right thing to do.

 

[RV77]

The guy who was trying to sell bogus Snap On ratchets on Ebay is no longer a member here if I'm not mistaken. Camarotoolman was the guy.

A pos tool selling pos tools...how did he get called out ?

 

[lbgradwell]

...but did anyone attempt to notify the buyer of the original counterfeit ratchet?

Yes, the buyer was informed.

 

[Conductor562]

A pos tool selling pos tools...how did he get called out ?

They locked it down, but check it out for yourself:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=180845

Edit: Sorry, this link works now

 

[twincam00]

The old and new snap-on logo, they changed it on many of their tools going into 2011

View media item 16414
I started a thread on it awile ago
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137102

 

[03protege]

Even if it is worn out, it has a lifetime guarantee though. I have bought several SO sockets and screwdrivers at flea markets and pawn shops. If they break, you get a new one.

Many people have been having trouble getting their items warrantied by snap on if they don't have proof of original ownership.

I am guessing you either have a good dealer relationship, have an extensive record of purchases with them, or haven't gone through the warranty route in some time.

 

[Steinmetz]

They sell a few "Fake" Snap-On tools in Costco, like knives/Torches and other **** that just weakens the brand. It will be like "Tommy Hilfinger/Dolce and Banana" clothes all over again, in a few years no one will want to touch it with a bargepole.

Lights touch paper and retires to a safe distance

Whatever happened to "Stack-On" Toolboxes??

http://www.stack-on.com/ seems they got away with it

I,m going to register Strap-On Tools in the UK to see what happens

This would never happen in the States. I'm surprised it can occur in England.