More snap on pricing reasons

[Skin]

same goes for sockets, i use a cman set at work. i was pulling a starter from an accord and couldnt get my 3/8 14 mm to fit between the starter and bolt head. grabbed a snap on and it fit way better, had thinner walls on it.

Now see, statements like this i find strange [exaggerated?] as I have both, the Cman is not thicker [at least not the 14mm] and while there are some sizes that are "thicker" its by, at most, a couple tenths, most are within a couple hundreths of an inch. And yes i did measure and yes i was bored that day. Perhaps you have older sockets that are significantly different but then that wouldnt be a fair comparison.

 

[William Payne]

Personal preference is the key here.

That sentence really says everything. snap on versus everyone else is like saying lcd tv over plasma, samsung over sony or lg, mercedes over chevy or bmw or honda or toyota.

If everyone liked the same thing then there would be alot fewer companies making stuff.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I totally understand this, but its an ROI thing. if your tools cost you 6x what mine cost, how many jobs is it going to take to recoup that difference? How much faster are you with SO wrenches rather than GW? i really think that answer is, 'not at all.' there are certainly some tools that ARE objectively better - APEX 1/4" bits, people seem to swear by SO's gold torx bits (although my VIMs have held up great) - but the typical hardline stuff; sockets and wrenches, i just don't believe has any advantage over the competition and the pricing is ludicrous. like i said, i could keep spares of EVERY TOOL I OWN and still be into them for way less than 1/2 one set of SO.

at this point in our history, where we are manufacturing computer chips with 32 nanometer traces (that's BILLIONTHS of a meter), the technology, know-how, and cost to forge a socket is not cutting edge. there is no reason for the massive premium SO gets - the competition may not have a truck at your shop, but they'll warranty them through the mail or retail outlets.

if the convenience of having the truck there is enough to justify the price for you, ok, i don't see it, but not my money.




yes, their tools are excellent quality. its just that so are others who manage to make and sell them for a LOT less money.

ahm

I wore my Craftsman sockets out in 8 years. I doubt I'll do that to the Snap-On ones. I broke 3 Craftsman wrenches on one bolt, Snap-On one took it out.

A guy at work asked me to help take a nut off a generator, his 3/8" craftsman ate the teeth trying to get it off. I put a 9/16" socket on my 1/4" Snap-On, and got it loose.

Yes, there's a difference.

You can buy spares and still be ahead? Good for you. Do you have the money for a second and third toolbox? I don't. Do you have the space for a second or third toolbox? I don't at home, and we aren't allowed to at work.

but how long does it take for the truck to come to you?

Well, I work at nights, but if I call at the beginning of my shift, usually that same day. The Snap-On lady even dropped a tool off on the way to her daughters volleyball game.

Also, it's more than just the time-frame it's replaced in, it's the manner of it. I get the tenth degree trying to return something at sears from the snot-nosed kids behind the counter that think they're the tool gods. Snap-On, no questions asked.

Oh, and if I decide I want to trade in my tools on something else, I get a hell of a nice credit for my old tools. Go tell sears you want to trade in your 40 year old ratchets...see how loud they laugh.

Yes, there's a big difference in the tools, but it's also the service provided (at least with my rep).

 

[moronmountain]

I think another thing people don't think about is that the trucks offer guys interest free accounts. I personally know guys that buy stuff for this very reason that they would otherwise not. I'm not advocating for buying stuff on credit at all, but I do understand the allure of grabbing a shiny new tool off a truck without having to pay up front for it. In the end it's really just more enjoyable to use really nice tools when working on something. For me, it makes it more like fun than work. I'm always looking for a reason to use one of my tools.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I buy whatever the f**k i want and don't give a damn what anyone else thinks about it.

But more on-topic, i'd just cut them off.

 

[Toolhorder]

SNAP ON VS. (INSERT TOOL COMPANY HERE)

 

[TruckTech]

SNAP ON VS. (INSERT TOOL COMPANY HERE)

+1 This **** is getting old. Nobody gives a ****, really.

As for the op, gotta love those MBEs! Just call me biscuit because Ill soak up that gravy all day long! Are you heating those turbo nuts? Youll save yourself alot of pain.

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

I've never broken any of my Craftsman tools. I like Kobalt as well (at least their USA made stuff) I have a few snap on ratchets I like, but for the most part it's just way too over priced to justify the quality difference. The quality MAY be better, but not that much. You're paying for the name.

 

[amolaver]

I wore my Craftsman sockets out in 8 years. I doubt I'll do that to the Snap-On ones. I broke 3 Craftsman wrenches on one bolt, Snap-On one took it out.

as i stated before, craftsman isn't really what i would consider to be the 'good alternatives' categories. as a multitude of other pros have attested, genius/sunex/gp have all held up as well as SO/Mac. most of the race mechanics i know keep a fair bit of gearwrench in their crash cart too.

again, as i stated before, the few objective tests that have been done show SO wrenches to be no stronger than a number of much cheaper alternatives. hell, the toptul was markedly stronger.

Yes, there's a difference.

yes, as i've noted. the price.

You can buy spares and still be ahead? Good for you. Do you have the money for a second and third toolbox? I don't. Do you have the space for a second or third toolbox? I don't at home, and we aren't allowed to at work.

actually, yeah, i do have the space. but that's beside the point. i could have a spare set overnighted from amazon (for $4 in shipping) or any of the other tool vendors (tooltopia etc). and for the cost difference between SO and one of half a dozen alternatives, you'd come out way ahead.

Well, I work at nights, but if I call at the beginning of my shift, usually that same day. The Snap-On lady even dropped a tool off on the way to her daughters volleyball game.

and i get them delivered to my door by a brown truck the next day if needed. usually 2 day though since that's free as an amazon prime member.

Also, it's more than just the time-frame it's replaced in, it's the manner of it. I get the tenth degree trying to return something at sears from the snot-nosed kids behind the counter that think they're the tool gods. Snap-On, no questions asked.

Genius, Gearwrench, Sunex, and GP all seem to handle warranty stuff rather smoothly.

Oh, and if I decide I want to trade in my tools on something else, I get a hell of a nice credit for my old tools. Go tell sears you want to trade in your 40 year old ratchets...see how loud they laugh.

now that right there is funny. what does he give you, 50% of that ridiculous price you originally paid? yeah, huge upside there.

ahm

 

[ngk22r]

now that right there is funny. what does he give you, 50% of that ridiculous price you originally paid? yeah, huge upside there.

ahm

I could say the same about the tools you buy.. Why would I spend the money on gearwrench and sunnex when I can get it cheapier than the ridiculous price you pay for your tools when I go to harbor freight and it has a lifetime warranty as well???


I 'd like to sum up this whole thread, and thread like this....


WHO REALLY CARES???

 

[ngk22r]

...one more thing, this is directed to amolaver, if you dont mind me asking what car do you drive? Make and model is fine, just wondering...

Because I bet the car or truck you drive is just over priced and I could of found one better and costs alot less.

Just proving a point like I had made this statement:

Personal preference is the key here.

But there are some where matco, mac, or cornwell is their brand. And guess what, they will praise and stick behind their product and that is 100% perfectly fine.

Snap-on, matco, mac and cornwell is not for everyone, but for those it is the livelyhood of what makes them what they are.

Harbor freight, craftsman and what ever other brand for the DIY'r is perfect for them.


You cannot argue a person choice in tools, only how it works for you.

 

[sparky7]

Now see, statements like this i find strange [exaggerated?] as I have both, the Cman is not thicker [at least not the 14mm] and while there are some sizes that are "thicker" its by, at most, a couple tenths, most are within a couple hundreths of an inch. And yes i did measure and yes i was bored that day. Perhaps you have older sockets that are significantly different but then that wouldnt be a fair comparison.

Working on aircraft where spaces are tight this becomes extremely evident snap on, matco, etc are all much thinner walled. Craftsman sockets are only have one place in my box, that is to be ground down to make even thinner walled sockets and so i can leave the cman logo so when they split i can warranty

 

[amolaver]

I could say the same about the tools you buy.. Why would I spend the money on gearwrench and sunnex when I can get it cheapier than the ridiculous price you pay for your tools when I go to harbor freight and it has a lifetime warranty as well???


I 'd like to sum up this whole thread, and thread like this....


WHO REALLY CARES???

well you could say that, except i have quite a bit of HF as well.

The OP posited how his SO tools were price justified because they made a particular job easier. my point was and still is, there are much cheaper alternatives that are just as high quality. the little objective data that exists on how 'strong' a particular wrench is, says SO is certainly not the strongest. their FD+ is no longer anything special - every serious wrench mfr has the exact same thing (with a different TM'd name).

and, again, as i said earlier..

like i said, you can rationalize buying SO by implying they have some magic fastener dust that makes them 'better'. or you can just say, i like the way they feel in my hand and that makes them worth more to me. nothing wrong with that. but there just isn't any objective measure that makes them better at taking off and tightening fasteners.

i am largely amused by the 'convenience' argument that people make. while there are SO dealers who visit the same customers every day, they are the exception. most guys are lucky to see their truck once a week. my brown (or white) truck shows up every day if needed.

as far as what vehicle i drive.. lmao - i either drive a dually (when needed) an NB miata, or one of a couple motorcycles. you'll have a hard time finding a more complete sports car for less than a miata. never mind a used motorcycle (an '04 FZ1 or an '04 TW200, both bought used). the truck is an indulgence - an '08 chevy diesel. quiet and comfortable, and i bought it for those reasons; any of the modern duallies would have objectively done the task required and i'm not the least bit brand loyal. i have a problem, and i buy a truck (or tools) to solve that problem.

and i agree 100%, it is personal preference. exactly that as a matter of fact. there isn't an objective difference for buying SO at all, never mind their exorbitant pricing. what is hilarious to me is how almost no one just comes out and says, 'i like the way they feel and that makes it worth more to me.' nothing wrong with that at all. and yet, still people argue there is some magic to their tools that makes fasteners tell horror stories to each other late at night.

as far as the comment about GW being too thick at the box end. i think thats because you're unaware they make non-ratcheting wrenches as well, and those are comparable in thickness to the other brands. the ratcheting wrenches from all the brands are comparably thick so far as i've seen.

ahm

 

[Toolhorder]

That manifold picture the OP posted looks like it was leaking in the middle in the second picture.

And seriously buy whatever tools you want and be happy folks. It's not a ******* match.

 

[William Payne]

If you guys want to see expensive then you should see the prices on some Stahlwille stuff. I have a few stahlwille wrenches which arent priced to bad cheaper then snap on but more expensive then most others. But I would hate to be the guy buying their aerospace stuff, the stuff they sell specifically for aerospace makes snap-on look cheap. I will stick to their automotive range.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

If you guys want to see expensive then you should see the prices on some Stahlwille stuff. I have a few stahlwille wrenches which arent priced to bad cheaper then snap on but more expensive then most others. But I would hate to be the guy buying their aerospace stuff, the stuff they sell specifically for aerospace makes snap-on look cheap. I will stick to their automotive range.

Depends where you are. I've bought a fair bit of Stahlwille stuff and it's all been cheaper than the equivalent Snap-on. Sockets, wrenches, Torx/hex socket drivers, female Torx sockets, etc.

 

[ngk22r]

--->

and i agree 100%, it is personal preference. exactly that as a matter of fact. there isn't an objective difference for buying SO at all, never mind their exorbitant pricing. what is hilarious to me is how almost no one just comes out and says, 'i like the way they feel and that makes it worth more to me.' nothing wrong with that at all.

Traded in almost all the other name brand tools for snap-on when I became more and more devoted the snap-on, but why? Because it felt the best in my hand and worked the best for me.

 

[William Payne]

Depends where you are. I've bought a fair bit of Stahlwille stuff and it's all been cheaper than the equivalent Snap-on. Sockets, wrenches, Torx/hex socket drivers, female Torx sockets, etc.

Down here that is the case when it comes to stahlwilles automotive range like as you say sockets, wrenches and stuff like that I have found it to be cheaper to Snap-on not in all cases but some. I am only a hobbiest so thankfully that range is good enough for me but thankfully I don't need any of their HPQ stuff they make with the special alloy because down that stuff is super expensive.

 

[ngk22r]

You wanna talk about expensive tools, look at Hazet.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

You wanna talk about expensive tools, look at Hazet.

Cheaper than Snap-on for me.

 

[ngk22r]

Cheaper than Snap-on for me.

I wish it cost less here in the USA.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I wish it cost less here in the USA.

I could say the same for Snap-on over here, consider it a trade-off.