Cman Pro wrenches have been around for years. Every bit as good as a SO. Cman has had their RHFT for decades, then the slim profiles, and of course most recently the premium grade. Not sure what era you're in, but there are tons of alternatives out there with or without Cman. SO is in no way unique.
Personally when it comes to hard line tools [sockets, extensions, basic wrenches etc], i feel ripped off when i buy SO. Even used the price difference is HUGE. I dont know how people can justify the $15-$25 single extension or $10-$40 socket. Going into 10 grand or more debt for a box? I think i'd start shaking from nerves. Just isnt for me.
c-pro wrenches are a wee bit thicker on the ends, trust me, I have sets of both. There is a difference. My Craftsman sockets wore out in 8 years...I obviously can't say how long the snap-on ones will last, but I bet a good bit longer. Now, I'm not putting Craftsman down...the $40 that 8 years of use cost me was more than fine, especially starting out and buying all my tools at once. However, now that I'm replacing things bit by bit, I wanted to get the Snap-On sets, and did.
I do have to say, I agree with you on the toolbox thing, I've just never understood it. My c-pro box does just fine for me.
snapon just say u can pay it off by instalments or whenever u can?, we know where you work and who you are.
This brand generally sells to the younger generation (the marketing strategy is...hype,nostalgia,history and the feelgood factor...thats if the s.o truck comes around that month to reinforce that? After making a sale) whom is starting of and thinks they have somfink to prove or just to have showing of in workshop to their girl etc.
There are brands like stahlwillie that are way superior and cheaper....why pay the equal of 7spanners for 1 snap-on?(u pay high prices for s.o to cover your future lifetime warranties /breakages which is a false warranty as u had to pay for it!)....im not in the business of cost recovery of tools, tools (like a spanner )got to pay off in the 1st hour on job not a week.
i worked for a company called "sulco" in mid 80,s we sold brands like ...Otc (owattonna tool co) now "SPX OTC", now that brand makes gear x times better,bigger,heavier than snapon and at lessor costs.
You have to keep in mind, things are way different for most of us, as we're in the U.S.
Stahlwihl, and many of the other good brands, are simply not readily available here. I live in a town of roughly 600k including suburbs and such...there still is no Mac, Matco, or Cornwell coverage, and I work in a place that employees over 300 mechanics.
Snap-On is the only game in town for truck brand tools, period. For me, Snap-On is the only way to go if I want a high-end tool. If I lived across the pond, I could easily be singing a different tune.
However, the Snap-On truck is at work 3x a week, and will show up when I call if it's a tool I need replaced ASAP. It would probably take me 3 weeks to replace Stahlwihl.
I do love, and buy OTC pullers, though. No argument there.
