How did the home guys find a Snap-On guy?

[customh]

I found mine on the way home from work. Dad had a Blue Point Compothane dead blow from the 80s that was drying out and cracking apart so we stopped in to ask if he would warranty it. Told us to bring it to his next stop and he would look at it. Went home, grabbed it, and went up the street. Here's the funny part: walking to the truck there was a concrete post and dad whacked it on the top of the post pretty hard, the end of the handle came off! Mike warrantied it for us and now we have a new Snap-On deadblow. I've made it a point to go back and BS and give him some business. Great guy, used to work at the office in management before they centralized.

 

[firebox40dash5]

I recommend calling a few shops, and asking how they like their SO guy. We've got 2 different ones servicing our building, Snap-On let our old guy stay with us even though we're technically out of his territory since we moved. The other guy... has a very strong vibe of high-pressure used car salesman. If you're meeting the guy on his route, territory doesn't apply, so why not pick who ya like better?

 

[Todd.Brock]

I used to call a shop and ask them what day the Snap on guy stops by. Last time I stopped by when the snap on guy was around he didn't want to mess with me... I just order stuff online now. I know someone still gets credit for the sale. I don't now if its my home address that falls within the dealers territory or what. I get what I want with out having to chase someone down. I deal with warranty stuff through the 800 number as well. What's funny is, I see the guy 3 out of 5 mornings at the gas station I drive past on my way to work.

 

[2mJps]

I havent saw a Snap On truck for a long time over a year. I dont have alot of snap on tools. I have left tools at a buddys shop to get fixed. I had a so ratchet i hauled around in my car so when i saw a truck i could get it fixed. The guy happened to be the one i got it from to start with. I have a Mac dead blow that is cracked but its been so long ago that i saw a truck that i thought they had gone out.

 

[zkling]

Being a home guy, it is kinda hard to get in touch with a truck driver, especially if you want to warranty an item. I went to a few local shops and asked for the number of their snap on driver. Called 3 different drivers. First one was real nasty and said that snap on was only for professionals and he didn't want to deal with me. Second guy was super nice. Ordered me a few warranty parts. He even called me when he was by a shop close to my house. I will definitely be purchasing something(s) from him in the future, just not sure what yet. I wish snap on had a rate your driver poll or the like. I would like to give him a few stars. And have the first guy see some stars

 

[Nitroinsane]

It's really easy goto your local repair shop and ask the techs

 

[blackz26]

There's a dealer locator on them website that will give you all the drivers that sell in your area along with his number or contact info. Someone correct me if I'm wrong

 

[BJ42LX]

I think the website is a better option for non-pros. All your purchases are stored in Snap-On's database so there's never be an issue with warranty. And you don't have to save/manage paper receipts.

 

[canuckian]

I was on the way home for lunch one day and passed the snappy guy going the other way. Did a u-turn and followed him to his next stop. Waited for him to park and get out and went up and introduced myself. He invited me onto the truck, gave me a catalog and we figured out good times/places on his route for me to meet him. Been meeting up with him a couple times a month for the past few years.
A friend of mine got in touch with a dealer in the next route over using the dealer locator link on the website. got a call within 15 min and he now meets the guy on his route a couple times a month.
The advice I was given by a few was to either meet with him on a stop or use the dealer locator but when you do go onto the truck the first time, don't bring a bucket of broken tools for warranty and don't go on asking for free hats and you'll have much better luck. Now, of course there's ******** dealers everywhere that won't sell to anyone but a shop on their route but as far as I've experienced, that's more the exception than the rule.

 

[ed_v]

I worked in an office that was next door to a repair shop. I had broke two craftsman ratchets in a couple of months time period. I saw his truck outside, I walked out and introduced myself, and spent $250 on a 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" ratchet right on the spot. Over the next year, I bought a box, air tools, and several other misc. items. He was a great sales guy. Never was pushy and gave me lots of freebee's.

Ed

 

[Jawn]

I saw a snap-on truck in a shopping center nearby at the same time a couple weeks in a row. Did not go check it out, would feel a little out of place accosting him without something in mind that I want to purchase. But if I think of something I need off the truck and he's still stopping by there, I'll see what's up.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Called the 800 number and a dealer got in touch with me. He stops at the city service garage 2 mins from my office. If I call him, I can usually meet up with him that same week. Have not needed anything in a while, though.

 

[atwageman]

I found out the name and number for the Snap On dealer in my area via the website. When I called, it was sent to voicemail after a few rings. I left a message stating I had a laundry list of some specific things I needed. Got a call back 10 minutes later. He asked if I could fax him my list, I did immediately. Told him I was paying cash, none of this financing BS. He called back an hour later with a price. I offered to meet him somewhere, but he insisted coming to my residence. Said it was the least he could do for such a large purchase and my residence was between stops.

I don't finance tools. Pay cash every time.

While on a business trip I came across a Cornwell dealer. When I approached the truck, he kind of gave me a negative look, until I waived a wad of cash in his face. All of a sudden, he treated me like I was the second coming.

My suggestion is to NOT bring anything onto the truck to warranty for the first couple of visits and don't ask for free ****. Just be humble, and you might get a decent discount, especially if paying cash.

 

[mrjaw14]

I don't find the SO guy, I've bought from their website when I have purchased a SO product.

 

[Galvonzo]

I had actually been seeing them around town quite a bit and on my day off I had to go to the DMV. As I left the house I told myself if I saw one again I'd get myself a ratcheting screwdriver I had been wanting for a while. Sure enough I saw one once I was done with the DMV, not even 5 blocks away. Got on, was going to get a hard handle at first, but then I held the soft grip. Gave him my card and he gave me his "good guy discount" Whatever that is, but that was nice of him for a first time customer. Soft handle ended up coming out to less than what the hard handle would have been. On and off the truck in a matter of minutes and kept the receipt with his number on it for future business.

 

[PT Doc]

There's a dealer locator on them website that will give you all the drivers that sell in your area along with his number or contact info. Someone correct me if I'm wrong

VERY inaccurate info for my area that is swamped its dealerships and many repair shops.

 

[BJ42LX]

Gave him my card and he gave me his "good guy discount" Whatever that is, but that was nice of him for a first time customer.

Good Guy Discount == You paid in full up front and I don't have to chase you down every week for a $20 bill...

It's been said before on this forum; being a truck tool guy is not so much about selling tools as it is about financing and managing your accounts. Same deal with so many car dealers today. It's all about the financing.

 

[mailpup]

I'm a DIYer and years ago I found my first Snap-on guy in the parking lot outside of the local Sears auto service center. Sears mechanics bought Snap-on tools too. Later I would call him whenever I needed something and he would order it if necessary and we would then meet at one of his stops, usually the Sears center. He even gave me a 10% discount, not a lot but I'll take it. When he moved away, he gave me a referral to a new dealer who also gave me a discount. This new dealer eventually came directly to my house whenever I called him for tools. At that time there was a Snap-on distribution center nearby (now closed) and he could will-call items that were outside of his regular weekly order. My house was on the way. He usually went on Saturdays and any tools he had to order for me, he could pick them up and drop them off at my home on his way back. A couple of times he even took me to the distribution warehouse so I could look around. That was quite fun.

Unfortunately, he eventually moved away and I found another dealer. He was a good dealer too but I went to his house for tools. But since we were at his house there were no other customers to worry about and I could spend more time looking at tools and talking about them.

 

[customh]

Cool to hear how different dealers are. I hope I'm buying a box someday from my guy before he retires.

 

[sgs236]

Newbie question here. For a cash paying customer, are the truck guys cheaper then buying online? I'm looking to upgrade from my craftsman ratchets to something like Matco BFR128LFTM.

 

[atwageman]

Newbie question here. For a cash paying customer, are the truck guys cheaper then buying online? I'm looking to upgrade from my craftsman ratchets to something like Matco BFR128LFTM.

It's entirely up to the dealer if they want to give you a discount. If paying in cash, your chances are good.

 

[mrborohachi]

I just had to deal with this problem last week. I needed a 24mm standard opening Crows Foot wrench. Went onto Snap-On's website got customer service's number and asked for a dealer in my down town's Zip code. There didn't happen to be a dealer that owned my town's route/franchise. The Natzi customer service lady would not give me the names or numbers to the dealers to the east or west of me in the next cities over.

I could not believe the way Snap-On handles business, as in they don't want my business. I would have understood if there was a dealer for my city and i was asking for one in another route.

 

[STGFordCrazy04]

Asked the service manager at my local Ford dealership to give me a call when my SO guy stopped in on his weekly route.

 

[cookefab]

I have to go through SO corporate now, thanks to there not being rep dumb enough to run where I live...anyway, corporate customer service has been great, I don't pay shipping for 2nd day service - even for warranty! - but the downside is no "specials" - father's day, Xmas, etc - no trials, no "browsing", and most importantly, no freebies. Yes, I like all my free tshirts, knives, lighters...well, some of the knives ****, but still...my rep in CO gave me the import terminal kit...$70ish...for Xmas last year...

Find a rep if you want the personal service that should go with what you pay a premium for...

 

[firebox40dash5]

It's entirely up to the dealer if they want to give you a discount. If paying in cash, your chances are good.

I would add to that... if you're paying cash on the barrel, buying any decent bit of stuff, and they're not willing to give a discount... start looking for someone else. It is entirely up to them, but if you're chasing them down at a stop they're already making, offering them cash (especially if you offer to pay up front if they have to order), and having to find them for warranty service, you're saving a lot of work/time/risk for the guy.

IMO the prices are obscene for a cash customer. For door-to-door warranty service and the driver being your personal "interest free" loan agent, well, at least there's a reason for the prices. They're loaning you their personal money, and hoping you're not a deadbeat, and that carries a premium. I can usually get 20-30% off if I pay up front with Matco or Snap-On, and when you'd be paying it off in ~1 month anyway, that's a lot of interest on that "interest-free" money.

 

[ChevyEFI]

When I worked around downtown Phoenix some time in the last 10 years, I called or looked up online the dealer nearest me and got a wrench I needed.

When I worked in another part of the valley 6 or 7 years ago, I happened to see a dealer at a cul-de-sac of shops and warrantied my ratchet with him.

When I got stuck in a bolt-removal situation on a trans., I took it to a shop about a mile from me and one of the techs told me when the SO guy comes by. He had a wrench I needed but didn't seem to care about the little **** like bit inserts I wanted. But, seems like a good guy; I'll buy from him when I need stuff in the future.

 

[Galvonzo]

Good Guy Discount == You paid in full up front and I don't have to chase you down every week for a $20 bill...

It's been said before on this forum; being a truck tool guy is not so much about selling tools as it is about financing and managing your accounts. Same deal with so many car dealers today. It's all about the financing.

Ahhh, okay. I was leaning towards the fact that I didn't play with every tool when all I was there for was one item. But, seeing it from the business view, 15 bucks off would be worth the paid in full no worry sale.

 

[WWIIjeep]

The Natzi customer service lady would not give me the names or numbers to the dealers to the east or west of me in the next cities over.

I could not believe the way Snap-On handles business, as in they don't want my business. I would have understood if there was a dealer for my city and i was asking for one in another route.

I've almost always had the opposite experience with Snap-On customer service--they've always been very helpful and responsive. I guess it depends on who answers the phone.

 

[firecracker]

I'm lucky as my pal has a garage and the Snap-on guy calls on a regular basis, so any new buy or repair/exchange, that wants doing I just drop them off at old Harry's. dont tell him I said old

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Seen the MAC Guy across the street from where I work...one day when I was looking into Tool Carts I walked over to get a price quote...walked off the truck with the Green Handled Macsmizer Screwdriver set. Now every wednesday when he's there for his normal stop he texts me to see if I need anything.

SnapOn...Submitted my info online a couple weeks back cause I wanted to get on the truck to warranty a socket (I know, its like a recovering addict walking into a bar)...no response. Called Snappy a couple days later...they said no dealers in my area, but were very nice about warrantying my socket....funny thing is i've seen a couple trucks around. Last Friday I'm out on my lunch break and who do I see...the Mythical SnapOn truck a buddy told me about...jammed the brakes and walked on the truck. Seems like a nice guy, look foward to doing business with him...in a few minutes I plan on calling him with a shopping list.

 

[Shootingdad2]

GJ member in my area suggested the S-O guy I use. He opens the truck on Saturdays at his home for the ones of us who like truck tools vs Sears etc!
By the way my S-O rep welcomed me on the truck with no problem! Care cash, works real well!

 

[Steevo]

Once you "retire" from working in shops, the value of having Snap-On, Mac, Matco tools really plummets, because it takes so much longer to get something replaced.
I have a bag each of broken Snap-On and Matco tools that need replacing, that I finally pulled out of my toolbox and they have been in the trunk of my car for over three years now. Still haven't seen either kind of dealer when I was in the car and could try to catch them.
Some day I may try calling the online folks to see what they can do.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Once you "retire" from working in shops, the value of having Snap-On, Mac, Matco tools really plummets, because it takes so much longer to get something replaced.
I have a bag each of broken Snap-On and Matco tools that need replacing, that I finally pulled out of my toolbox and they have been in the trunk of my car for over three years now. Still haven't seen either kind of dealer when I was in the car and could try to catch them.
Some day I may try calling the online folks to see what they can do.

Thats me, used to work at a dealership with all trucks coming to it, left that job for another one with no trucks, during which time I bought SnapOn stuff thru my brother or Craftsman stuff...tell you what, its worse trying to warranty a Craftsman around here.... Last fall I got so mad at Cman I said to myself...never again, back to the truck brands forever. One of these days I'll garbage all my Craftsman sockets and go with SnapOn or MAC.
IMO once you get a relationship started with a truck, its real nice. If I were in a pinch on a sunday afternoon I bet I could give him a call and drive over to get what I needed.