Snap on buying question

[brihvac]

Is it cheaper to buy off the truck than buy off the website? My friend works as a mechanic and he was showing me some stuff he got and told me what he paid. The website was a lot higher than what he said he paid. He may be BSing me. I want to get a wrench set and a swivel ratchet, and maybe more. I also want to get one of those spring loaded under the hood lights.

 

[M6erfan]

Maybe. Talk to your local Snap On guy and see what he says.

 

[bob15]

He probably wasn't BS-ing you. The truck/Snap On will runs periodic specials which can be really good deals. Also some drivers will give "deals" to those paying cash. Was everything brand new? Deals can be also made with buying used tools off the truck.

For yourself, do you need brand new? E-bay, GJ classifieds, flea markets, c-list, swap meets are all go places to find used Snappy tools at a much lower price.

 

[AA/FC]

The website is full retail. Individual truck dealers can charge whatever they want. My dealer charged full retail except for items that were on sale, or BOGO specials. BOGO specials are ONLY available on the truck. If you're just a private guy that walks onto the truck once or twice, then the dealer will probably charge you full retail. If you're a weekly customer who has established a good relationship with the dealer, then the dealer may decide to charge you less than full retail.

Bottom line, it all depends on the dealer.

 

[brihvac]

I only wrench for a hobby. I will have to find a truck in my neighborhood. I always pay cash. I get good tech ed discounts with Matco (teach HVAC night school) but Matco is so so.

 

[Daves69]

My dealer won't discount for cash. Most of the guys in the shop have had the Matco dealer pay off the Snap on accounts.

Ebay is cheaper by far.

 

[KM223]

My SO guy is always cheaper the the SO site. I do however spend thousands every year with him so.....

 

[davethorik]

My first trip onto a Snappy truck was also my last. Dude was a straight up ***, and I had cash in hand, no discount. Wanted to buy a TMR4 ratcheting 1/4 spinner. I'm glad I didn't, because I picked a new one up on ebay for $35.

 

[AA/FC]

My SO guy is always cheaper the the SO site. I do however spend thousands every year with him so.....

I also spent thousands per year with my dealer... I bought something EVERY week, and never carried more than a couple hundred dollar truck account balance...... and still, every normally priced item was full retail. Like I said before, it depends on the dealer.


My dealer also had brand new **** on the truck every week, the truck inventory was never lacking, and anything I ever ordered was in my hand the following week..... meaning my dealer did NOT have financial trouble, and was in good standing with corporate.

 

[94EG8]

My first trip onto a Snappy truck was also my last. Dude was a straight up ***, and I had cash in hand, no discount. Wanted to buy a TMR4 ratcheting 1/4 spinner. I'm glad I didn't, because I picked a new one up on ebay for $35.

I'm not sure if there's more to this or not, but they certainly don't have to give you a discount if you're paying cash, or at all. For a long time we didn't have a dealer where I am, and then for a year or two a dealer from a neighboring territory would stop in the parking lot of a local shop one Saturday a month, I only bought something from him once, but nice guy and gave me a small discount. Very shortly after that we ended up with a local Snap-On guy again, so that driver is obviously not allowed to sell here anymore. Current driver is really good, but I don't always get a discount, sometimes I do, sometimes I don't, sometimes I'll get a small freebie thrown in. The best discounts by far are the buy the metric set, get the standard set free deals Snap-On sometimes has.

 

[blown94conv]

On the truck will have the best deals, but if I have to special order a tool or something I know he won't stock I'll order off the website. It's usually the same price as what my guy would charge, but I have gotten some great deals based upon show specials he has had or some promo you won't find on the website. Just have to ask.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I don't spend thousands a year but my Snap On dealer still typically charges a good bit less than the list price on non promo items

He's fairly new. He started out not cutting much deals but he's gotten much friendlier on prices and much more reliable on stopping by on schedule.

 

[davethorik]

I'm not sure if there's more to this or not, but they certainly don't have to give you a discount if you're paying cash, or at all. For a long time we didn't have a dealer where I am, and then for a year or two a dealer from a neighboring territory would stop in the parking lot of a local shop one Saturday a month, I only bought something from him once, but nice guy and gave me a small discount. Very shortly after that we ended up with a local Snap-On guy again, so that driver is obviously not allowed to sell here anymore. Current driver is really good, but I don't always get a discount, sometimes I do, sometimes I don't, sometimes I'll get a small freebie thrown in. The best discounts by far are the buy the metric set, get the standard set free deals Snap-On sometimes has.

I'm not bitching about the price. I was going to pay msrp but, the guy was an ***, and I didn't want to give him my business. I know I'm a tool truck newb, but I've read on here about protocol on the truck. I wasn't just going to be a looky-loo. Then I happened to find a better deal on ebay.

I've had the polar opposite with local Cornwell tool truck. I walked onto the truck with a 1/4 ratchet needing a rebuild, was upfront about not being original owner, and walked off the truck with a rebuilt ratchet for free. Not only that, he was a decent human. I took that guy's business card, if I need more Cornwell in the future he will get my business.

 

[jo4gj]

i just want to say that dealers really make or break people. i told the snap on dealer straight up im the guy that look ten times buys once and its small. told him the place i work at no one will buy from his truck as we are just a towing company no mechanics. i brought him a old as ratchet f70 he said he would re=build it. he tried a second time and said **** it here is a new fr80. i stupidly said are you sure..... he said yeah


i am probably the cheapest guy out there and he is making it hard to not buy stuff from him. as of yet spend 0 in his truck

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Depends on the dealer, the customer, and the item being purchased.....
I usually get great deals on big stuff / large sets, but will sometime grab a pair of pliers or some other small single item and pay full list price without even asking for any discount because I'm in a hurry to get a job done.

 

[RedneckWelder]

FWIW none of the truck dealers I have dealt with so far give a damn whether you are paying cash up front or putting it on truck credit. I have gotten a couple of bucks off an item or two (literally a couple of bucks) but otherwise no difference

 

[Outnumbered76]

I've had 2 different snapper heads in the last few years. The one I have now is OK guy, but a bad salesman. He gives discounts from time to time to regular buyers. The other snapper head, ahh. Most the time he was full retail, then if he knew you where not watching your invoices. He would charge more then retail, sometimes a lot more. And if he didn't like you, look out, he would double prices just so he wouldn't have to deal with you.

Years ago I had a snap on guy getting ready to retire, cash only and everything on the truck was at a discount.

Sorry to say there are no other tool guys that come into my work.

 

[M6erfan]

I've had 2 different snapper heads in the last few years.

That made me laugh out loud

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

It all depends on the driver as the truck is their own business they can mark down if they want...

 

[Outnumbered76]

That made me laugh out loud

Yeah they ****** that money from your wallet, fast!