Lump
Well-known member
I first learned about tools and car repair by handing tools to my dad in the mid 1960’s, when I was about 10-12 years old. Dad had sets of Mac combo wrenches, sockets, and screwdrivers, and also had a mixed bag of other tools by Billings, Bonney, New Britain, Blackhawk, , etc. He constantly preached to me about the virtues and intrinsic value of top quality tools, and warned me against ever buying “Jap junk”. (there were no Chinese tools around here back then, that I know of). 
Naturally I soon fell in love with cars, while helping him with our various Hupmobiles, Model A Fords, etc… and I really dug our daily-driver 57 Chevy Bel Air convertible. I eventually got a job in a gas station, and later at a Goodyear tire store. I became a mechanic “trainee”, and remembering my Dad’s words about tool quality, began trying to stock my first tool box with purchases each week off the Snap On and Mac tool trucks. (Cornwell was the other big truck brand in our area, but that dealer rarely stopped in our shop, and his prices were much higher than the other two).
I learned from the dealers that, even though the Mac and Snap On tools were much more expensive than other choices available in those days, they were of vastly superior quality, and came with an unconditional LIFETIME WARRANTY…period.
Personally, I haven’t asked to have any tool OTHER than Craftsman replaced in about 20 years. I am just a hobbyist car collector and tool putter-er now, so I rarely ever break any premium tools. But for many years I have remained comfortable in the knowledge that, if I ever would break one of those tools I bought new so long ago, I can simply take it to the first Snap On or Mac truck dealer I see, and request a new replacement.
But now I am troubled to read on Garage Journal that those “lifetime” warranties are not always so easy to use when you need them. I have read on other posts that some dealers will not replace tools unless you bought that exact tool from that same dealer. Is this true?
Does that mean my tools are no longer covered under that wonderful warranty that I was promised all those years ago?
Do how do these warranties really work these days? Do the Snap On and Mac truck dealers actually have to pay for those warranties themselves now?
If not, why wouldn’t they cheerfully replace any broken tools of their own brands which are submitted to them, anticipating that they can develop a new lifetime customer by demonstrating such good service? On the other hand, if my warranty is solely at the discretion of an individual dealer…then what kind of warranty did I REALLY get from Mac and Snap On 30 years ago?
Naturally I soon fell in love with cars, while helping him with our various Hupmobiles, Model A Fords, etc… and I really dug our daily-driver 57 Chevy Bel Air convertible. I eventually got a job in a gas station, and later at a Goodyear tire store. I became a mechanic “trainee”, and remembering my Dad’s words about tool quality, began trying to stock my first tool box with purchases each week off the Snap On and Mac tool trucks. (Cornwell was the other big truck brand in our area, but that dealer rarely stopped in our shop, and his prices were much higher than the other two).
I learned from the dealers that, even though the Mac and Snap On tools were much more expensive than other choices available in those days, they were of vastly superior quality, and came with an unconditional LIFETIME WARRANTY…period.
Personally, I haven’t asked to have any tool OTHER than Craftsman replaced in about 20 years. I am just a hobbyist car collector and tool putter-er now, so I rarely ever break any premium tools. But for many years I have remained comfortable in the knowledge that, if I ever would break one of those tools I bought new so long ago, I can simply take it to the first Snap On or Mac truck dealer I see, and request a new replacement.
But now I am troubled to read on Garage Journal that those “lifetime” warranties are not always so easy to use when you need them. I have read on other posts that some dealers will not replace tools unless you bought that exact tool from that same dealer. Is this true?
Does that mean my tools are no longer covered under that wonderful warranty that I was promised all those years ago? Do how do these warranties really work these days? Do the Snap On and Mac truck dealers actually have to pay for those warranties themselves now?
If not, why wouldn’t they cheerfully replace any broken tools of their own brands which are submitted to them, anticipating that they can develop a new lifetime customer by demonstrating such good service? On the other hand, if my warranty is solely at the discretion of an individual dealer…then what kind of warranty did I REALLY get from Mac and Snap On 30 years ago?
I just want to know exactly "how it is" with SO and Mac warranties these days.
