Have you experienced "tool discrimination"?

[slipjointed]

Over the years I've heard my good share of comments, and more recently read my share of message-board comments regarding the pressure that is put on tradesmen of all types to own certain brands of tools.

The other night I was showing my new Wright stuff to a friend that is an auto mechanic. His first response was, "I've never heard of them", but after handling the tools and an explanation from me of Wright's history of a company as well as their company mission, he admitted that the tools were, in fact, very nice. That's a bit besides the point. This thread isn't really about any specific brand.

What he said afterwards though, was what intruiged me, that, "I would love to have some of that in my box, but I wouldn't be able to get a job anywhere". I asked him what he meant, and he said that if he didn't have Snap-on tools, he couldn't get hired as a mechanic at any good shops.

I was really surprised, because I've always known that there is the "tool status" issue, as with many other aspects of life, but I never thought it was to the point where owning (or not owning) a certain brand of tool could directly have an effect on one's employability. He seemed dead serious about it too, so I have to assume that he either was told this by someone he trusted, or had actually experienced it himself.

I've personally experienced it to a lesser degree, where I was working a job, and the supervisor for that job (thank god it was an outside contract and I never had to work for him again) refused to let me do a calibration on some equipment because I was using my Tenma multimeter, and in his words, "Fluke is the only company that makes good meters, I don't see how you can expect to do good work with that no-name piece of ****".

That isn't the first time I've experienced something like that for refusing to pay a 400% inflated price for a Chinese made multimeter stamped "Designed in USA". Fluke still makes decent meters, but frankly there's no difference between them and myriad other high-end Americhinese meters that cost half as much or less.

In the same vein, I've gotten **** because I don't want to pay $40 for Klein lineman's pliers that have sloppy knurling in the jaws that flattens out the first time you grab something other than copper, or $10/ea screwdrivers that strip out after 100 screws. Evidently anyone who doesn't own Kleins can't possibly have a clue in hell about electrical.




I'm sure every single person on this forum has caught some kind of **** for what tools they own, whether it be for being too cheap, or too expensive.

My real question and the point of this thread is, have you ever actually experienced tool discrimination to the point where it affected your ability to get a job, or to be allowed to perform a task at a job you already are working?

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I've had it both ways, having a mixed bag of tools. It's either "That's cheap ****, it'll never work." or "You paid too much, my cheap one is just as good."


I can't say it's ever affected me getting a job, i've never had a problem getting a job (as a mechanic) despite being young, having no qualifications and no driving licence, so i can't comment on that front.

I used to quite often get something like "What's this ****?" from a guy i worked with. Usually followed by him having to swallow his words when it turned out to either do the job perfectly or save his *** on something he screwed up.

Like you, i won't give in to the "demands" of others on what brands i should own. Again, pliers for example; i've been told numerous times that mine won't work and i should buy Snap-on ones. Yet, in my experience the Snap-on ones ****, they rust almost instantly and their cutters are ****. I have a pair of their 12" side cutters, my third pair (They all break the tips off.) and they're ****. Tried to cut a handbrake cable with them, no dice. My NWS combo pliers cut through it like it was plastic.

I just shrug it off, my tools work just fine for me.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I think at least part of what your buddy is talking about is himself drinking a little bit too much Snap On kool aid. He is probably very proud of his tools and at those prices he darn well better be.

I would think a shop would not even know what kind of tools you had pre employment unless they asked. Why would they ask? Thats anybody's guess.

What they need to look at are qualifications and past experience. Call around to previous employers and see if this mechanic is worth his salt. If yes, then tools are irrelevant. Or at least you know the tools they have work well for them. The tech knows how to do his job. Since his job requires the use of tools you could reasonably assume the tech knows how to use them and does not break them all the time so they must be decent quality.

Heck, if everyone in a shop is loyal to Matco because that is the only truck that shows up to their shop, would you not hire someone with a Snap On tool box? Seems pretty thin to me. Everyone knows its all about the skills of the tech but there are still plenty who think the guy with the biggest tool box and most expensive tools can do better work. You may get a little ribbing around the shop about your HF pry bars or Makita drill but in my experience it is just friendly ribbing.

Your buddy is telling you line whether he believes it himself or not.

 

[philw]

20 years ago I started with raised panel Craftsman. I was a new tech so no one ever said anything except for the occasional helpful tips about if a different tool would make the job go faster. Most techs had Snap on or Mac. My first upgrade was actually to a set of long SK superchrome wrenches. I didn't have a ton of cash to spend on tool truck at the time and didn't want payments. I used the SK's for years and actually didn't replace them with Snap on until after I quit being an auto tech . I still have some SK and they work great.
I did notice that when I interviewed for a job they did ask me about tools and what brand. I think they did that to make sure techs had enough tools and a decent quality tool.
Most techs I worked with used tool trucks because of the ease of replacement and payment plan. Also, the tool trucks had a corner on the market because they produced many different tools, even basic hand tools, that either weren't available or hard to find from other manufacturers at the time.

 

[jamesc]

I think some tool discrimination is due to warranty purposes. I moved last year and now have no sears nearby for craftsman warranty, not that I have a lot of craftsman tools but when one does break I have to wait until I go out of town to get it replaced. I think it is very foolish to think that everyone needs to own the same brand of tools in a shop, the shop I am in when my wrench doesn't fit maybe one of my co worker's wrenches will. and cheap tools are important to have, maybe I need to weld a socket or bend a wrench, I don't want to do that to something I paid tool truck prices on.

 

[woody 73]

Years ago I remember walking through the service bay with the manager of a large car dealership and the manager pointed out all the large snap on boxes on wheels at each bay. He stopped and told me that he would never hire any mechcanic that (A) did not hve the "War wagon" and (B) did not come filled with all that "snap on chrome".

 

[Gtamazing]

Thats just the way it is

Electrians=Klien
Automotive=Snap-on
Industrial=Proto

My best friend is an electrician and is by no means a tool snob or anything. But he just can't fathom that there is a better tool for electrical work than his Klien pliers/cutter and Klien screwdrivers. I tried to tell him he has other options, but he just didn't get it.

Now on the other hand If I was a shop owner(machine shop cause I'm a machinist) and a fella came in with some dollar store calipers and some c-clamp accurate micrometers I would question his ability to put out quality product. But in turn just cause somebody has Starrett and Mitutoyo measuring tools doesn't me they can accurately produce parts.

 

[finley31]

I went out on a field call in a steel mill with another guy to troubleshoot a mechanical issue during an outage, and the lead maintenance guy that brought us in was very skeptical about some of the harbor freight stuff we had in our tool bags, (earthquake impacts, dead blows, and pry bars). He showed us his brand new dewalt cordless impact and told us how much better it was than our chinese impacts, and how he didn't need an air hose. Well he also forgot to charge it, so while he took the 20 minute trip back to the maintenance shed, we hooked up our air hoses and disassembled our project.

While most of my tools back at our shop are proto, I really am hesitant about taking anything I don't absolutely need out on a field job, because the rate of tools not returning is very high.

 

[kc-steve]

I would say to the guy who can't get a job because of the tools he uses, maybe he needs to market his resume a little better. Experience in HOW he uses his tools is what really counts. I suspect he hasn't done this and the hiring person is groping for clues as to whether he is any good or not.

Steve

 

[kythri]

I hire a number of different electrical contractors for both high-voltage and low-voltage work as part of my job, and what matters to me is the finished work, not what they have in their bags/belts.

I do see a lot of Klein drivers and DeWalt cordless tools, but, interestingly enough, the two individual electricians (from two different companies) who do what I judge to be the best/cleanest work, one uses Wera drivers, the other uses Wiha, and both use Ryobi cordless tools.

I kinda dig that.

 

[Danglerb]

Before the economy went into the toilet I could see the nothing but Snapon attitude especially at a dealership, but now I think they look for the guy with a beater little box and HF tools so they can pay less.

One of the new kids at a shop I visit had a cheaper Kenmore looking Sears box, and mostly Craftsman tools, and he did get some teasing about it, asking him if they could heat up their lunch in his microwave etc., but hierarchy in the shop was strictly who can do what how well, and he did OK.

There is a lot of pressure to fit in, do as I do etc.

These days its pretty odd not to see some non Snapon in anybody's box, Gearwrench or Craftsman. The box is still usually a truck brand.

 

[RAYJAY]

Right on this forum ................... I have mostly craftsmen , HF tools and considered lower class on this here forum

, but i get everything repaired with out a hitch in my newspaper job, and still have $$$$$ in my pockets..........

 

[ND400]

It's alot of BS really. I work in a high end Performance workshop in Sydney aus. I started there with a bunch of import stuff not one snap on tool. A Japanese air impact and just about Taiwanese everything else. I lasted 6 months before I bought snap on anything. I'm very proud of having a box full of snap on but I was head mechanic before I had stocked myself with snap on. It's the mechanic that makes the tools work not the other way round.

We had a new guy start, bring in a brand new KRA box full of snap on goodies. Had to let him go after 3 weeks. Reason, 3 days to do a timing belt and clutch on a 92 corolla.

I find it hilarious when people judge a tech by his tools.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

I've seen my tools sort themselves in the box, the craftsmans and Stanleys have sort of a feud going on over a certain red screwdriver with a long shaft that causes trouble in the box. Got so bad the one day that I had to send in the WD 40 to quell the disturbance. I had to put the Stanleys in a pouch to keep them under control. Those insurgent bastages.

 

[diesel research]

Fortunately, these days most interviewing/hiring process is performed BEFORE the box shows up.

Air conditioned shops are practically unheard of in the south (and not as much needed in the north) The one shop that is air conditioned (that I know of) does have an unwritten rule similar to that. Since it is unwritten, the explanation varies on the day. Some days it is explained that they cater to the affluent customer and want to present that image, other days it is the "we can't afford to have cman tools rounding fastners" speech. It's odd how cman is always mentioned specifically. Quite a few other places mention the same thing even if they don't "discriminate".

I have been told that decades ago your pay scale was set by your box dimensions/capacity.

Odd thing about harbor freight, most of it doesn't say HF and a lot of people don't recognize various "pittsburgh" type names anyways.

I don't like discussing tool prices at work because I always here "craftsman is just as good at half price" when someone asks about my armstrong maxx locking flex ratchet or SK sockets or various proto pieces. Or someone will ask "oh is that cheap POS from harbor freight?" I don't catch any flack about snap on, because they know I am very selective about which pieces I choose from the truck. Not a matching set builder. I just bought a new creeper from napa and paid $100 and was real hesitant when everyone asked about it and it's "bling bling" mag wheels. I didn't purchase it because of the mag wheels, rather the fact it isn't going to fall apart after 2 months of use like the standard $30 types.

_____________________________

For all the people clamoring "it's not the tool, it's how you use it", I have a different perspective. You are not entitled or have an inherent right to employment. You make a choice to play their game on their terms or go somewhere else who will play on your terms. If the compensation/benefits are worth it, I'll gladly conform to whatever tools THEY so desire. If it's not, I go somewhere else/do something else. Simple.

 

[wreckercologist]

This sounds like BS in my opinion.

85% of my work tools are Snap-on, but if I was looking for a job, and getting that job depended on what brand of tool I own, I'd look for better people to work for. The OP's, friend's boss needs to adjust what qualities he looks for in a new hire...........like can he show up everyday and make money for the business, and not be a total **** to everyone.

In this day and age of "mechanics that don't own any damned tools", I'm just glad when at work they hire someone that actually has a toolbox on wheels and basic hand/power tools. You would be surprised how many applicants to our shop claim to have "fixed/know everything automotive" but don't own tool #1.

I buy what I like, and I buy Snap-on. The other guys can buy what they like.

 

[zer0cell]

The problem with some brands such as Klein is that some of their products have actually become worse than they used to be... Klein still makes some great products but they are not as durable as they used to be from what I can tell. My 10 year old klein drivers which have seen a lot of use, some of which has been rough use, look better than a newer one i bought which looked heavily worn after only a few weeks... I don't get that mentality. I mean to me if it ain't broke don't 'fix' it. In other words, why change a product with a good reputation? Could they be doing this so that people have to 'replace' their tools more often? I think people instead will 'replace' the brand with another in their tool box. As far as tool discrimination... yeah I might have some initial reservations about someones ability if they show up with all dollar store items... but if they even use halfway decent brands maybe they are just trying to be a bit more frugal and possibly pass the savings on to the customer in some cases...

 

[Singlecut]

When reading the OP, I can "Kinda" see where the boss is standing - You don't want your techs doing a head job and having bits of tool break off into the cylinders.. or chrome flake ending up in the drain pan or something. Okay, I get it. But, if you are forcing your techs to BUY INTO a brand just for appearance or "status" of your shop then you are being absolutely ridiculous. IF you MUST have Snap On tools in the hands of your techs, then provide Snap On tools for them.

Me, as a weekend wrencher, I can't tell you how many times I've had buddies over saying "Oh man this F80 is NICE! How much did you get it for?"

And then they go "THAT MUCH?! My Craftsman does the same thing!"

 

[Grogan14]

Most folks just follow the herd.

 

[ChvyC10]

Your friend is full of it... I work in a shop with about 20 other techs and only a couple are all snapon. Most have a variety... Hell the guy next to me has the biggest POS box I've seen and doesn't even use socket holders... He cut the tops off of 1qt oil containers and throws them in there (the cheapest guy I've ever met). The dude even reuses gloves.. LOL

 

[slipjointed]

I've had it both ways, having a mixed bag of tools. It's either "That's cheap ****, it'll never work." or "You paid too much, my cheap one is just as good."

Like you, i won't give in to the "demands" of others on what brands i should own. Again, pliers for example; i've been told numerous times that mine won't work and i should buy Snap-on ones. Yet, in my experience the Snap-on ones ****, they rust almost instantly and their cutters are ****. I have a pair of their 12" side cutters, my third pair (They all break the tips off.) and they're ****. Tried to cut a handbrake cable with them, no dice. My NWS combo pliers cut through it like it was plastic.

I just shrug it off, my tools work just fine for me.

When I told my coworker that my $20 Knipex would out-cut his $40 Snap-on diagonals, he looked at me like I just told him the world was flat.

Evidently he was trying to prove their superiority to himself one day, and took a chip out of the jaw trying to shorten an extension spring. Then, to pour salt into the wound, the Snap-on truck won't come to our shop because we don't work on things with wheels, and he had to ask to borrow mine about a week later whilst still waiting for a replacement in the mail.

Some of these folks have "Brand X is the best" hammered so hard into their head, that they are permanently brain-damaged into believing it's true in every situation without exception... just like that guy that wouldn't let me calibrate a dat-aq panel because I had the wrong brand multimeter.

I think at least part of what your buddy is talking about is himself drinking a little bit too much Snap On kool aid. He is probably very proud of his tools and at those prices he darn well better be.

I would think a shop would not even know what kind of tools you had pre employment unless they asked. Why would they ask? Thats anybody's guess.

I do know that in some machine shops, you get a list of required tools, and if you don't have them, you're not even going to get an interview. That directly relates to the ability to perform a job, but rarely does that list include anything that mentions brand.

Years ago I remember walking through the service bay with the manager of a large car dealership and the manager pointed out all the large snap on boxes on wheels at each bay. He stopped and told me that he would never hire any mechcanic that (A) did not hve the "War wagon" and (B) did not come filled with all that "snap on chrome".

Translation: If you haven't spent enough on tools to pay off your mortgage, you aren't wanted here.

I hire a number of different electrical contractors for both high-voltage and low-voltage work as part of my job, and what matters to me is the finished work, not what they have in their bags/belts.

I do see a lot of Klein drivers and DeWalt cordless tools, but, interestingly enough, the two individual electricians (from two different companies) who do what I judge to be the best/cleanest work, one uses Wera drivers, the other uses Wiha, and both use Ryobi cordless tools.

I kinda dig that.

I find that more often than not, people that are able to think outside the box with their tools, are able to think outside the box on their jobs.

Of course, sometimes they're just plain crazy.

This sounds like BS in my opinion.

That was part of the reason I started this thread, but it looks like a couple of our members here have first hand experience with it.

When reading the OP, I can "Kinda" see where the boss is standing - You don't want your techs doing a head job and having bits of tool break off into the cylinders.. or chrome flake ending up in the drain pan or something. Okay, I get it. But, if you are forcing your techs to BUY INTO a brand just for appearance or "status" of your shop then you are being absolutely ridiculous. IF you MUST have Snap On tools in the hands of your techs, then provide Snap On tools for them.

Me, as a weekend wrencher, I can't tell you how many times I've had buddies over saying "Oh man this F80 is NICE! How much did you get it for?"

And then they go "THAT MUCH?! My Craftsman does the same thing!"

In his defense, it wasn't that he's totaly brainwashed into brand... I think he was actually sad that he was in a position that he was forced to use a certain brand because he felt that he'd be seen as unprofessional if he didn't.

Your friend is full of it... I work in a shop with about 20 other techs and only a couple are all snapon. Most have a variety... Hell the guy next to me has the biggest POS box I've seen and doesn't even use socket holders... He cut the tops off of 1qt oil containers and throws them in there (the cheapest guy I've ever met). The dude even reuses gloves.. LOL

I hate to sound rude, but did you ever consider that not all shops operate like yours? It sounds like it's a pretty "loose" environment.

I've worked in shops where the last thing you did every day was get out the floor buffer.

 

[diesel research]

I have heard of this a lot more in carpentry and electrician field, where a foreman might ask the interviewer if he had his tool pouch in his truck, and if he did, can he see it?


I suppose a lot of opinions could be formed even if they are incorrect

His all new tools might show that he has little experience
OR
That he constantly maintains and upkeeps them.

His old worn out tools may show that he is an experienced veteran
OR
That he is too cheap to maintain and upkeep them

His immaculately organized collection may indicate he is highly organized, efficient, and meticulous
OR
It may indicate he spends more time organizing and polishing than he does working

Guess it could go either way?

________________________

As for Rayjay and others who claim they are "discriminated" for not owning higher priced tools, just take a look at your own signature and bitterness. The cheap tools faction does just as much snide remarking.....Pot, meet kettle.

 

[american lockpicker]

I was talking tools with my stepgrandfather friday and when it got around to cost he was shocked what my powertools cost(luckily he has no idea what I spend on individual handtools lol) and suggested I buy used or a cheaper brand.

Also I discriminate on auto mechs based on what box they have and the tools(better be Snap On or Mac and Euro stuff would be fine) in it.

 

[slipjointed]

I have heard of this a lot more in carpentry and electrician field, where a foreman might ask the interviewer if he had his tool pouch in his truck, and if he did, can he see it?

I guess if I hired someone I wouldn't mind seeing their tools first either, but it would be more out of curiosity to see if they had good taste.

I was talking tools with my stepgrandfather friday and when it got around to cost he was shocked what my powertools cost(luckily he has no idea what I spend on individual handtools lol) and suggested I buy used or a cheaper brand.

Also I discriminate on auto mechs based on what box they have and the tools(better be Snap On or Mac and Euro stuff would be fine) in it.

Would that apply even if they didn't have "auto mechanic" brands such as Wright, Armstrong, or Proto?

I'm not on the attack here, just curious.

 

[cowboy73]

I don't work in the in the automotive field but my dad and grandfather did. Grandpa had a whole mix of various tool brands. He bought tools that he thought would do the job without breaking. I've seen his tools and they were worked pretty hard. No single brand makes the best of every tool. The rebadging of tools proves this. I personally wouldn't want to work for someone that was so short-sighted. It's kinda like one car manufacturer makes all the best cars, which we all know isn't true. Every company makes some duds. That's why there is more than one manufacturer out there.

 

[King Bojack]

The only tool discrimination I've had to deal with is guys giving me **** because my 20 buck 1/4 air rat from Harbor Freight is the loudest ******* thing in the shop. Other than that they haven't given me much **** because my 1500 bux worth of CMan and HF **** allows me to service 90% of **** that doesn't take special tools.

 

[Monte]

Luckily in germany the employer supplies the tools

 

[slip knot]

Kinda got the opposite problem where I'm at. We supply all the tools the techs need and annually we require them to inventory the tools for budgeting replacements. Iwould typically buy replacements at the local industrial supply store or at sears depending on availability.
The past two years my supervisors have requested that we get our replacements from Harbor Frieght. Both times I've refused and continued to purchase from my normal suppliers. I told supervision when they start filling out the accident reports then they can start buying cheaper tools.
I'm not necessarily discriminating against the tools as I am covering my ***. I can see an attorney trying to convince a jury that his client was injured because the company didn't provide an industry standard tool.

 

[slipjointed]

Kinda got the opposite problem where I'm at. We supply all the tools the techs need and annually we require them to inventory the tools for budgeting replacements. Iwould typically buy replacements at the local industrial supply store or at sears depending on availability.
The past two years my supervisors have requested that we get our replacements from Harbor Frieght. Both times I've refused and continued to purchase from my normal suppliers. I told supervision when they start filling out the accident reports then they can start buying cheaper tools.
I'm not necessarily discriminating against the tools as I am covering my ***. I can see an attorney trying to convince a jury that his client was injured because the company didn't provide an industry standard tool.

I can see that to some point.

Doesn't HF mark "Meets ANSI standards" on the packaging of their drive tools?

I swear I remember seeing that, but maybe I'm wrong.

If so, you'd pretty much be covered then. All liability for failure would then fall on HF.

 

[american lockpicker]

Would that apply even if they didn't have "auto mechanic" brands such as Wright, Armstrong, or Proto?

I'm not on the attack here, just curious.

Here in Parkersburg all I see is Craftsman, Harbor Freight, Snap On and Mac in mechs tool boxes. Those brands would be ok but I have yet to see any.

 

[ChvyC10]

I hate to sound rude, but did you ever consider that not all shops operate like yours? It sounds like it's a pretty "loose" environment.

I've worked in shops where the last thing you did every day was get out the floor buffer.

Not that loose... We just don't require our techs to go into years of debt because of the label on their tools. It is one of the biggest Ford dealers in FL btw.

 

[slipjointed]

Not that loose... We just don't require our techs to go into years of debt because of the label on their tools. It is one of the biggest Ford dealers in FL btw.

All I'm saying is that there are some shops that require the techs to all have the same color and brand of rollaway... food for thought.

FYI, I personally agree with the "let them do as they wish with their tools" philosophy.

 

[chewy7]

Most folks just follow the herd.

mooo! i have many different brands, like s-k, craftsman, snap-on, air cat, armstrong, pittsburgh pro, central pneumatic ,Chicago pneumatic,Stanley, us general, and maybe a few more. all of those manufacturers have are better in some areas and **** in others.
No single brand makes the best of every tool
all that matters is that the tools get the job done without breaking and a good mechanic that can use them properly, safely, the right way they are designed for.

 

[Displaced Hokie]

When I worked at a dealership in sales/mgt, what troubled me was all the **** the new shop guys got. Or, the guys that didn't make that much. They so wanted to fit in, that they would go on the tool truck and buy way more than they could afford.

Worst was when a guy bought a new $3,500 Cornwell chest just to have the biggest in the shop. Thing was a giant green monstrosity, that everyone had to tip-toe around and try not to hit with a forklift, tractor, etc. The kicker...this guy half the time couldn't afford lunch. It was no time at all and he was hiding from the tool guy every week as he couldn't make the payment. Sad.

 

[Ratchet.]

thankfully there is no mentality liek that in my workplace, most of the techs have matco/gearwrench/ks tools and tool marque or beta tools boxes as my work gives apprentices them, and they have a matco van that comes round to supply us throguh the company (never even seen a matco dealer in the uk till now)

id say 40% of the guys have snap on boxes, tools even less


that said, a lot of my stuff is snap on, mainly due to the fact i can get any breakages replaced quickly, the core lines anyway, spanners, ratchets etc rest of it is german and japanes made stuff (i started off with cheap halfords (a uk motor factor) tools, and stil have soem of them

most of my pliers are knipex nws, etc because they are superior imho (there's a good reason mac, matco and snap on often sell knipex in lieu of there own tools), and half the price

some stuff i just wouldn't buy snap on as its not 200% better then the rival brands (90% of my tools are of us or german manufacture, because that's the way i roll), had enough cheap **** break on me over the years to understand that you often pay for quality... thought country of origin is more telling

The first place i worked did have some guys who were discriminatory about brands, if it want snap on or mac, it was junk. funny that as some of them really were pretty poor mechanics imho, the tool doesn't make the tech though as we all know

 

[chewy7]

I would be broke if i bought all new tools, and the most expensive brands out there
No single brand makes the best of every tool

 

[acer66]

Your friend is full of it... I work in a shop with about 20 other techs and only a couple are all snapon. Most have a variety... Hell the guy next to me has the biggest POS box I've seen and doesn't even use socket holders... He cut the tops off of 1qt oil containers and throws them in there (the cheapest guy I've ever met). The dude even reuses gloves.. LOL

You could also call him resourceful

 

[BigAl62]

A lot of dealer techs are tool snobs. My old Snap On dealer had a few car dealers on his route and said most techs has either Snap On or Mac, no lower end stuff. Where I work it runs from ancient Craftsman tool boxes to brand new Snap On, Mac or Matco boxes and they are filled with what the tech is comfortable using, I don't really see any discrimination (there are 35 or so techs and 60 bays there).

 

[mtkst19]

would i discriminate against a tech over tools used-- no. but looking from an employers side, a tech who is investing his money into his trade via tools shows that they may be serious about what they do--or just like collecting things.

thus it can be a double edged sword. As i have co workers who do good work w/ the tool selection of a swiss army knife. I have had others w/ loaded boxes or the appearance of a loaded box do **** work.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

i see tool discrimination a little bit around these parts, but not to a great extent. my tools cover a lot of different brands and styles. some cover all SO and one cover all HF. they all get the job done. some maybe able to go a little faster than other but jobs still gets done.