does your Snap On guy give free catalogs?

[Jim85IROC]

Just curious. I don't turn wrenches for a living, so I don't really have access to the local Snap On guy on a regular basis. So, I emailed Snap On for a catalog. They replied that I can use the website or buy one for $5. I've always felt that it's kind of cheap to ask a potential customer to buy a catalog. In my line of work vendors can't give you a catalog fast enough, because they know that you're going to buy your parts from the first place you find it.

That said, I was wondering if your local guy gives out catalogs. I'm also curious if he has to buy them or if Snap On provides them.

For what it's worth, Matco was happy to mail one right out.

 

[BHH]

Never seen a SO catalogue but I imagine if they list everything on the website and than some it must be bigger than a phone book. Easily costs more than $5 in paper.

 

[canuckian]

My snappy guy gave me one the first time I met him. The catalogue is great but their tool line changes frequently so the catalogue won't have all the newer stuff in it. The website is probably your best bet or if you have an iPhone, the current catalogue is a downloadable app.

 

[Jim85IROC]

Never seen a SO catalogue but I imagine if they list everything on the website and than some it must be bigger than a phone book. Easily costs more than $5 in paper.

Maybe so, but everybody from Jegs to Mouser to Grainger seem to understand the advantages of getting a catalog into their customer's hands.

 

[GoBlue]

Dont have one...i honestly didnt know they had one. I did buy a Cornwell one a couple of years ago though.

 

[Jim85IROC]

My snappy guy gave me one the first time I met him. The catalogue is great but their tool line changes frequently so the catalogue won't have all the newer stuff in it. The website is probably your best bet or if you have an iPhone, the current catalogue is a downloadable app.

Yeah, their website is great, but I've always liked to have that paper catalog to flip through, especially on the john!

 

[carterbeauford]

Never seen a SO catalogue but I imagine if they list everything on the website and than some it must be bigger than a phone book. Easily costs more than $5 in paper.

Cabelas seems to do quite well offsetting the cost of mailing me a 3 inch thick hardbound catalog every 3 months by selling lots of overpriced products.

 

[canuckian]

Yeah, their website is great, but I've always liked to have that paper catalog to flip through, especially on the john!

Lol...that's where mine is!

 

[diesel research]

Yes always. There is also an industrial "i" version that is mostly the same but first 50 or hundred pages has additional mostly rebranded or 3rd party stuff.

Then there is the "RWD" catalog which is 100% rebrands like VIM, gearwrench, thexton, OTC, stallwille, hazet, knipex, KD, IR, sioux, ez redlisle, makita, dewalt, on and on.

There is also a paper pricelist, think it cost like 25cents, but is sometimes handy to get a rough guestimate. No truck dealers I've met openly offer them, some don't have them, and others are just reluctant and would rather not. Once in a while when I ask, they oblige.

 

[KX250Fmotoracer]

Actually, I just got one from my snappy man today for free

 

[BajaBound]

I am personally not a fan of the website I prefer to flip through a catalog.

 

[SS5150]

My dealers gave them out when asked, landed a few price lists but those are a little harder to get.

Their line is changing so fast that there's a bunch of new stuff that isn't in the newest catalog.

 

[Pedro86]

I emailed Cornwall with the "contact" section. just got mine today- with a price list as a seperate catalog! didnt pay a dime.

I requested a so from the website, had to pay $5.00
I requested one from my dealers- paid nothing.

 

[DanCo]

I've always gotten one from my Snappy guy. Perhaps someone has answer to my question, will 2012 have a new catalog? I've been looking at catalog 1100 for the last 2 years.

Dan

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

I got the catalog free from my dealer.....

 

[BHH]

Sounds like the drivers give them out to their clients who they know will spend money or already are. And the company chargers because they are a publicly traded company with a cult following and know that there are people who will get catalogues and never spend money. They are not hurting their clients because the ones spending money have access to the catalogues, the potential hobbyists have to pay a small fee which basically probably barley cover the cost of printing.

 

[klhitman]

the snap on guy that comes to my work will give you a catalog if you want. like said before, if you have the paper in front of you, you are more likely to order from said vendor.

 

[MattT]

I've never had to even ask for a catalog on the truck. They just handed them out, along with price lists, a few years back. And FWIW I can't blame any tool truck company for charging for catalog requests from people who ain't customers. Folks would be taking the freebies and selling them on ebay.

Slight aside but the worst company I've ever encountered for being stingy with paper catalogs is McMaster. When I was spending over a grand a month with them it took multiple requests to finally get a catalog. And I had to keep the damn thing under lock and key to stop other guys, who were also spending good money with them, from permanently borrowing it.

 

[Scuderia-F1]

My Snappy man always hands me a new one when they get released. I´ve never had to pay for one. But the dealers have to pay for them, the same goes for the wall calendars that I´m always been handed around christmas each year.

But for quickly checking up tools I pretty much prefer the iPhone app or the SO site.
But it´s still nice to have the paper edition.

 

[Skin]

Sounds like the drivers give them out to their clients who they know will spend money or already are. And the company chargers because they are a publicly traded company with a cult following and know that there are people who will get catalogues and never spend money. They are not hurting their clients because the ones spending money have access to the catalogues, the potential hobbyists have to pay a small fee which basically probably barley cover the cost of printing.

This is a nice theory but how about people that spend a hundred or two directly from snapon.com. I've never seen a catalog thrown in the box from them.

As to the cost being "too high". Dont make me laugh. Ever see the hard cover encyclopedia MSC UPSs to you free of charge? Snap-on is just being cheap by making people buy them [dealers pay for them as well].

 

[Biomed]

I guess I'm old fashioned too - I like to page through catalogs. The web site is certainly more up to date. I wish Snap On did it like Brownell's, you order the catalog for say $5 and then get a $5 credit on your next order.

 

[packofqtips]

my dealer has them on his truck with his business card attached to the cover, hands them out for free

 

[TonyCH]

Yes he does.

IMO its much easier to find something you are not looking for by browsing the paper catalogue. In the website I rarely wander to sections I am not interested at the moment. Some sections I never visit but with the paper version I have stumbled into many interesting things by accident.

 

[Jim85IROC]

Yes he does.

IMO its much easier to find something you are not looking for by browsing the paper catalogue. In the website I rarely wander to sections I am not interested at the moment. Some sections I never visit but with the paper version I have stumbled into many interesting things by accident.

that's exactly why I like them. I become much more aware of their full product offerings.

 

[laskt9]

my dealer gave everyone in my shop a SO catalog, a RWD catalog, price lists for both, and pocket screwdriver.

 

[Davefr]

As to the cost being "too high". Dont make me laugh. Ever see the hard cover encyclopedia MSC UPSs to you free of charge?

Yea the MSC catalog is the biggest catalog I've ever seen yet they mail them out free of charge. They must weigh about 10 lbs.

Sometimes it's so much easier to find something in a paper catalog then a website!!!

The problem with the SO catalog is the absence of prices. I think they want to "set the hook" before the sticker shock.

 

[mrshaun]

Catalogs are free to me and free to my customers.
I only get a few price lists annually so I do hold back on those.

 

[diesel research]

This is a nice theory but how about people that spend a hundred or two directly from snapon.com. I've never seen a catalog thrown in the box from them.

As to the cost being "too high". Dont make me laugh. Ever see the hard cover encyclopedia MSC UPSs to you free of charge? Snap-on is just being cheap by making people buy them [dealers pay for them as well].

I guess I'm old fashioned too - I like to page through catalogs. The web site is certainly more up to date. I wish Snap On did it like Brownell's, you order the catalog for say $5 and then get a $5 credit on your next order.

Just ask for a catalog. It's not difficult.

 

[ptschram]

My S-O guy hands me a flier every week even though I tell him not to. He laughs and tells me I buy something out of almost every one so it's worth it to him!

Having my box full means that now I'm just replacing broken stuff, rounding out a set, or impulse buying.

 

[CaseyJoes.]

Yes he does.

IMO its much easier to find something you are not looking for by browsing the paper catalogue. In the website I rarely wander to sections I am not interested at the moment. Some sections I never visit but with the paper version I have stumbled into many interesting things by accident.

x2. Nothing beats a paper copy. I have asked for both paper SnapOn and Matco catalogs from tool trucks and was handed one in a split second for no cost. I like the paper copys because I can mark pages of stuff I want with strips of cut-up post-it notes.

 

[Appleyard]

Yep! New catalogs every year. All the truck brands, plus price lists for Cornwell, Mac, and Snap On.

 

[Jim85IROC]

Just ask for a catalog. It's not difficult.

I asked. I was told to fork over $5.

 

[BloodySinner]

Why wouldn't the dealer give out a free catalogue? I guess he does not want your money. I got one from both Snap-on and Mac.

 

[diesel research]

I asked. I was told to fork over $5.

Is he your regular dealer?

 

[Eagle Point]

I was a Snap-on dealer back in the 80's & 90's and the catalogs and price lists were free to the dealers so I handed them out to anyone that asked for one. I even had cases of the Spanish version of the catalog which really scored points with a certain crowd on Thursday. I also had Mac and Matco catalogs and price lists on my truck so we could compare prices. Not sure how things are these days but I have asked a couple dealers in the area for a current catalog and price list and they never seem to have them?

 

[Jim85IROC]

Is he your regular dealer?

I put in my request through the website, and they are the ones that said they cost $5. I don't have a dealer; I don't turn wrenches professionally. The reason I asked if the truck guys paid for them is that I'm not too likely to buy from him, so I didn't want to ask for a catalog if it was coming out of his pocket. Now that I know he's not paying for them, I'll try to flag him down.

It sure would be easier if Snap On could have just sent me one. :-/

 

[Skin]

Catalogs are free to me and free to my customers.
I only get a few price lists annually so I do hold back on those.

I stand corrected. What is it they make you pay for, Hot Tools flyers?

 

[jeffmoss26]

A few weeks ago I saw a SO truck in the parking lot at Sears (for the auto center), went up to him and asked for a catalog. He gave me one and I got to see the truck.
Brought it to show some buddies at work, several of us are tool junkies. I wonder if he would come by the office so we can look at all the tools?

 

[wafrederick]

I have some older Snap On Catalogs with the price guide.I have seen one Snap On catalog in the Japanese langauge,was on Ebay.

 

[e30bradley]

all the techs at the shop I work at have SO catalogs so I don't think they paid for them. And the local Matco guy gave me one free when I asked for it.