I received an E mail from SK advertising the new ratchets. I went on the shopping section to check out the 8" ratchet. Then I saw the price, yikes! for that price I can buy the comparable Snap On. I have been buying SK since the 60's and felt they were a good value for the money. The prices on their web site are outrageous. Don't try to sell me SK tools at Snap on prices!
sk's new ratchets
- Thread starter jim keris
- Start date
American Locomotive
Well-known member
Then don't buy them from their website then? They're half the cost at 3rd party retail stores.
Scroll back a bit on this thread to get part numbers:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=361226&page=21
Check Epsteins for pricing:
https://www.harryepstein.com/
Don’t worry about availability. They can get anything they don’t have in stock.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=361226&page=21
Check Epsteins for pricing:
https://www.harryepstein.com/
Don’t worry about availability. They can get anything they don’t have in stock.
Don't use epsteins for pricing. After shipping, they're advertising for more the SK is direct. Unless SK is enforcing MAP they're doing "club pricing" for some reason which you cant see without permission.
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I remember getting the regular 3/8 for like 54 bucks. Not sure what SK is doing but snubbing retailers such as HJE and Circle C to increase costs by 50% or more isn't my cup of tea. Their price increases caused Circle C to stop being a distributor
American Locomotive
Well-known member
Epstein has the 80200 for $40 less SK direct. They aren't going to charge $40 for shipping.Don't use epsteins for pricing. After shipping, they're advertising for more the SK is direct. Unless SK is enforcing MAP they're doing "club pricing" for some reason which you cant see without permission.
Professional Tool User
Well-known member
SK's list prices aren't that much better than Snap off. Unless you can find a grey market source for their newer tools at good prices, I wouldn't bother.
I assume that SK is charging a larger amount so that retailers can have an advantage of keeping stock. That make sense with SK's model of not being a tool truck. Why would a company want to sell SK when SK is selling SK at the same price? I would think that SK wants to sell volume to companies that distribute it's collection more than individual tools direct to consumers, but I could be wrong.
Retroman
Well-known member
I don't have time to fool around with super secret club pricing on tools at Harry Epstein's or anywhere else just post your price and shipping cost then I can decide to buy or not. Every business needs to make a decent margin to pay overhead. I don't expect them at cost, I need to click once and know the price.
I don't like it that SK is apparently drumming out the seller where I usually found the best price. With their stale lineup and dwindling over the counter outlets, I don't see them in the catbird seat at all. I think the end users have been very patient hoping to see Ideal reorganize. To be rewarded with Ideal drumming out the sellers with the best deals?
I expected more.
I expected more.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Stock sitting on a shelf instead of selling doesn't do anyone much good.
Have you visited the SK tools web site lately? before the holidays, they had 20% sales going on for direct user purchasing. There's also the SK Club which the free version provides lower cost flat rate shipping for members so, I'd say SK is trying to make their E Commerce site work direct to end users.
As for not being a truck brand, there is a small fleet of SK tool trucks across the country so, SK is continuing to expand that market as well.
Professional Tool User
Well-known member
In this day and age, nobody with a few brain cells pays full retail for anything. This is what online shopping and buying used tools is for. The only reason Snap off can do it to a certain extent is because it's extensive distribution channel is tightly controlled. The Snap on brand name is also another factor. But even then, there's a huge market for used Snap on tools.
SK doesn't have any of the advantages Snap on has as a business. Most DIYers have never heard of SK but may have heard of Snap on. SK in the past is nowhere as expensive as it is now. People buy lesser known USA made brands like Wright and SK to save money. If SK doesn't provide much of a value proposition compared to Snap on, let alone other USA made brands, it is going to go nowhere.
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I'm going to say it; I've never been impressed with SK enough to buy anything from them except a set of locking extensions (rebranded from another manufacturer). The last set of ratchets I bought from them were sold in favor of SnapOn's for a loss. There is nothing wrong with any of their products, but nothing they sell really excels compared to other manufacturer's offerings (I have no brand loyalty in tools). Their major issue in recent years seems to be quality control. Based on reviews, it sounds like these ratchets are inconsistent overall.
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8230236&postcount=302
Go to
Harry J. Epstein Co
Establish an account & send Jori a PM
jsackin
toplessHO
Well-known member
was there something wrong with the old style SK ratchet?
Just bought a used 1/2 and 1/4 for son for Xmas,should last him another 50 yrs
Just bought a used 1/2 and 1/4 for son for Xmas,should last him another 50 yrs
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
They don't fit well working on modern cars.
I love my dual-pawl upgraded 3/8. Favorite ratchet. But it simply will not fit many places due to head size.
EDIT:
VIA the HJE site - here's the page for the 3/8 90 tooth.
https://www.harryepstein.com/index....ooth-8-teardrop-low-profile-lp90-ratchet.html
See the pic which shows overall head height next to a round head.
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four.cycle
Well-known member
toplessHO said:
hell no.
the 45170 model gets overwhelmingly positive reviews on this site.
not every job requires a ratchet with 127 teeth in the mechanism.
for that matter, the three ratchets I just gave to the boy for Christmas (along with the appropriate mix of sockets to match) were all old Thorsen RHFT models.
he's a body builder with arms like Arnold Schwarzenegger. figured I'd start him out with something a bit more on the bulletproof side and then let him work his way up.
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I don't see how a box store could function without stock sitting on a shelf. Manufacturers depend on sales of large volume to keep afloat. I waited about a year for SK's set of 3 piece extra-long pliers. I don't think that SK has the ability to distribute without using a network of companies.
I look at it too frequently. 20% off of this example: 41654. At sktools.com it is currently at $117.79 (.8) = $94.23 v. harryepstein.com currently at $85.55. I am a $50 per year socket of the month club member which entitles me to free shipping, but if we are mentioning perks that I get with an order from SK for my membership, then I should mention that my purchase history with H.J.E.'s would probably allow me to ask for a discounted price.
Since it is a private company we'll never see the percentages between truck sales, on-line sales, and sales to companies. I'm guessing 2,5, and 93%, though.
And don't forget the SK Club (free version) offers I think a 30% discount during the user's birthday month. Mine is January, so you know I'll be buying stuff.
mudflap
Well-known member
SK Has always been more of an Industrial Maint brand. General Maint guys love them and they are generally loyal to the brand. They dont need to fit in too many tight spaces.
mrjaw14
Well-known member
I was in the market for 1/4 and 3/8 flex heads a month ago. I was going back and forth about Snap-On or waiting for SK when SK finally released the new flex heads. I saw the pricing was a stones thrown away from Snap-On. I bought the Snap-On ratchets. I am concerned about the value vs Snap-On. SK's been around half of Snap-On pricing for everything SK I've bought (complete socket sets, ratchets, etc) and if that value proposition changes I'm concerned about SK's ability to stay in business. Like it or not, Snap-on is king of the pile, and the closer they come to their prices the more business they'll drive away.
FWIW, I have 6-7 SK ratchets and love them
FWIW, I have 6-7 SK ratchets and love them