Snap-on.com new shipping policy?

[jeffmoss26]

I still see Australia pricing

 

[Skin]

I always thought it was a dumb policy. Not surprised it finally got changed. Do agree that they should be doing real rates or flat fees though. They're certainly profiting off the new shipping charges.

 

[MattT]

By small I mean 100-150 bucks. Not piecemeal bs like slides or a socket

OK Though if he's doing $200+ a week why is he pissed about the policy change? Having to cut back to 1 order a week isn't worth getting upset over IMO.

 

[mrjaw14]

I bet it’s not $200 every week. Why should we have to prolong ordering to meet some absurdly high minimum? What this says to me is under 200 we don’t want your money and go shop on amazon. My wife got me a 50 gift card for my birthday that effectively I can’t use because I don’t want to put another 170 with it...150 to hit the minimum and 20 for taxes. I’ll have to chase down a truck and hope they’ll deal with little ole me. What a hassle. I told my wife no more snap on gift cards for gifts for anyone.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Other large firms just charge shipping costs to your address, without adding handling charges.

 

[tym]

What this says to me is under 200 we don’t want your money and go shop on amazon.

Or order from S-K...

Let's see how long this silly new policy lasts...

 

[tool_scrounge]

Other large firms just charge shipping costs to your address, without adding handling charges.

I am sure that Snap-on gets great shipping discounts. An one company i worked with could ship FedEx Priority overnight AM delivery for less that I could ship FedEx ground.

 

[81turbota]

That was a bad move.

 

[jimmyin3D]

That was a bad move.

Ditto, really bad move. Now there’s no incentive to buying online.

 

[Ign]

{snip}
Can we negotiate rates with shipping providers so we don’t have to charge retail rates for shipping?

All I can say is good luck with that. Will I still order? Yes. But odds are, I will try alternatives for higher quality tools. Amazon is making it damn easy to order german or Japanese made tools. There is the 1-2 week wait time, but snap on is 2-3 days anyway, so neither fulfills the need it now issue.

This. Even RA has figured it out, offering USPS First Class on small things, usually a few bucks to ship a seal or clip/retainer, etc

 

[wxm]

While passing along the shipping cost might not be so unreasonable, over charging $20 for $9 (2oz) part is simply ridiculous. It is either sign of desperation or corporation greed.

 

[vssjim]

I think Snap On is more worried about growing it's monthly subscription Shop information and Management services as I see they own a lot of them. In this internet age I don't see the tool truck deal as a good long term business any more. I am sure some bean counter is saying like the tool pricing and the now new shipping policy it seems to be we will make lots of money or we won't do it deal.

 

[Ton ton]

Re: Snap-On shipping charge change?

You may want to deal with your local snap on rep. That's what I do.

 

[MattVette89]

Happened to me the other day. Needed a specialty piece for $44, they wanted $22 to ship it. Ordered through my dealer instead but it used to be so convenient to have items shipped to the house.

 

[Wamsutta]

I always thought that the financing charge was built into the price of the tool for the guys on the dealer route. For the DIY guys, I always thought the shipping cost was built into the price of the tool.

 

[nelstomlinson]

There isn't much Snap On makes that somebody else doesn't make an adequate version of.

 

[Wamsutta]

^
Adequate isn't good enough for some people; me included.

 

[81turbota]

I always thought that the financing charge was built into the price of the tool for the guys on the dealer route. For the DIY guys, I always thought the shipping cost was built into the price of the tool.

I’m a home shop DIY’er, but I stop by my old work to see the SO truck. He gives a very healthy discount and usually a few freebies every time I walk in with a fist full of cash.

FWIW his computer showed the same prices as the site. Cash discounts depending on driver, BOGOs, trade ins etc are always an advantage to the truck. Again, I’m a cash buyer and he knows never to mention credit to me.

The SO site was great for the little things here and there that didn’t warrant taking an extended lunch to drive across town to meet the truck. Even with the discount if I needed a $20 piece I went to the site.

 

[Wamsutta]

I’m a home shop DIY’er, but I stop by my old work to see the SO truck. He gives a very healthy discounts and usually a few freebies every time I walk in with a fist full of cash.

Does he charge you exact sales tax or just round off the number to the nearest dollar for the tax?

 

[Wamsutta]

Re: Snap-On shipping charge change?

I'll probably start chasing down the truck again in order to avoid shipping charges.

 

[81turbota]

Does he charge you exact sales tax or just round off the number to the nearest dollar for the tax?

He adjusts item prices to fit the tax. Last visit I went with $1000, got $1167 worth of items on his computer. He gave me a receipt for $999 tax included with a pair of 312CF cutters as I was walking out.

He’s definitely making money, but we’re both happy and I got it cheaper than online.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Not for nothing, but spending $200 on Snap-on tools really isn't that difficult.

 

[Wamsutta]

He adjusts item prices to fit the tax. Last visit I went with $1000, got $1167 worth of items on his computer. He gave me a receipt for $999 tax included with a pair of 312CF cutters as I was walking out.

That's an excellent dealer. They are few and far between.

 

[chrismenke]

That's an excellent dealer. They are few and far between.

I guess I've been very lucky with my dealers. Most know the value of cash in hand and their cost and can come up with a generous discount for a non flight risk buyer.

I used to jaw jack with my dealer about some of the sketchy things he had to do chasing deadbeat techs. At the end of our chat, I'd pay cash at a discount that probably cut his margin in half but he put cash in the bank.

He was never unhappy to see me, likely because when you factor the cost of the lost revolving accounts, repo costs, etc. I was paying more than the shady folks who stopped paying on their accounts.

I think I need to just chase down a driver nearby and meet them on their route.

 

[H.Franco]

Yes exactly that was not shipping free at all, the cost of all products can change low to high and show off for all costumers that are shipping free

 

[Parrothead]

Well...I got lucky!

Just a couple weeks ago I ordered a Snap-on rebuild kit, and while the price had gone up from $8 to $11 from the last time I checked, the shipping was free. And fast! I ordered at noon on a Monday and had it in my mailbox the next day.

I’ve purchased 2 Snap-on tools, with this new shipping policy there won’t be a third.

The “in order to maintain our everyday low prices” made me literally laugh out loud.

 

[lardy1]

How does Snap-On online prices compare to the dealer prices? I don't have experience with that brand (non professional). But I find that tool companies seem to vary in the way they head to head compete with their dealers. In my case, I have bought a lot of SK over the years and have also bought some Tekton, among others.

Those two particular companies seem to have opposite policy. SK online is stupid high, in my opinion. But you can easily purchase for considerably less through several sellers. Tekton sells online lower than anyone else I can find once you factor free shipping and 10% rewards.

I'm not shilling for either. Just pointing out the seemingly opposite marketing philosophies. Perhaps being or not being a manufacturer is a factor. And curious about how Snap-On competes with their dealers.

 

[Davefr]

I'm not shilling for either. Just pointing out the seemingly opposite marketing philosophies. Perhaps being or not being a manufacturer is a factor. And curious about how Snap-On competes with their dealers.

Nearly all manufacturers set their own direct pricing such that they don't undercut their distributer/retailer partners. There aren't too many examples of getting better deals buying direct from a manufacturer.

SO is no different. Their direct price is MSRP. Dealers pay dealer cost which I believe is about 60% of MSRP. They are independent businesses and can sell/markup at any price they want.

It appears that SO is too stupid to realize that their direct business is likely all incremental business above and beyond what they sell to their dealers. I would think they'd want to keep it alive vs. kill it off. (likely so would their dealers since they get a slice off all the online business). I can't believe too many customers served by route dealers order online.

 

[Shelbylex]

I do not think that will change too much for SO: for professional guys the trucks will continue coming. For large volume DIY shipping will be free but is included in pricing. The loss from small sales will be offset by letting go of some workers responsible for dealing with orders, shipping and handling.
The only change is for small volume DIY purchasers: they will either buy used off eBay or try alternatives (for example Koken for sockets - longer delivery, no warranty (but given price difference you do not care).
I love using SO tools, but I still have plenty of SK and other companies which worked great for me all my life (I am not professional mechanic - thus extra 10% quality rarely affects my projects...)

 

[toddmorr]

if you are buying low volume, list price off the SO website you are the very definition of a price insensitive buyer. SO believes the majority of these customers will pay the shipping charge, and I bet they are right.

 

[mrjaw14]

There are many of us who are very price sensitive but are tired of cheap tools. This will definitely change my buying habits to another company. Too much a pita to chase a dealer down.

 

[WittHay]

Snap-on business model always has been selling wholesale not to the general public. They have always had telephone and mail order for the few general public customers.

Somebody at Snap-on US thught it was good idea for free shipping. Thet had to pay people to walk around the warehouse an put a couple of sockets or thread restorers in a big box and ship it out by Fedex. While the other guys were making up pallets of tools to ship by full trailers to Canada or large orders to dealers in the US

Makes no sense if you are loosing money on each sale. It expensive to ship to individuals. Not just the packaging waste at Fedex or UPS but the labor cost required processi payment and picking. Nobody really buys online in Canada thats why are prices are cheaper

Frre shipping should never have happened but but I dont think trying to get lost money back by overcharging now is right either

 

[PugetDude]

It's all you GJ'ers ordering the lift cylinders and hinges for your HF boxes that drove this change.
The SnapOn guys were already hitting the $199 minimum with two screwdrivers and a socket.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

From my very dated experience, Snap-On doesn't really want to sell retail. I had a VW Rabbit and needed a ZNX, or something like that, 3/8" driver. So I went into their office and had to talk to receptionist . VW C-V joints were of poor quality. When I got into the engine, I needed larger ZNX driver, realizing I was working with a German car, I talked to a machine tool dealer that stocked Hazet. Not only was the tool much cheaper, it was much better quality too.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

That's really too bad, but can't be too shocked. Over the years I've ordered stuff like rebuild kits, hex bit cases, single sockets, thread chasers, tool box parts, etc.

Worked remotely out of a truck for years now without regular access to a dealer, so the only way to get what I needed from them.

I was happy my last couple of orders were finally showing up in regular sized packaging versus the giant boxes with a couple of single items bouncing around, and recently I noticed at checkout they wanted to confirm if there was a dealer at your work, so I guess the bean counters finally caught on.

 

[Davefr]

I was happy my last couple of orders were finally showing up in regular sized packaging versus the giant boxes with a couple of single items bouncing around, and recently I noticed at checkout they wanted to confirm if there was a dealer at your work, so I guess the bean counters finally caught on.

I think the beancounters just shot themselves in the foot.

If the former online customers go to a dealer, SO looses $$'s since their piece of the pie will be what the dealer paid SO vs MSRP (less the actual shipping cost they were subsidizing).

However I feel many of them will simply shop elsewhere where shipping costs are free or reasonable. (ex: Amazon, Zoro, etc) There's a plethora of high quality tool brands out there that are available online.

SO is delusional if they think online buyers will pay highly inflated tool prices AND highly inflated shipping costs. I always thought free shipping was a "bone" that SO threw us since we paid MSRP and didn't use any of the services provided by a dealer.

 

[nutjob]

Well, it did not take long for Icon tools to take a big bite out of SO profits! I guess SO figured exorbitant shipping charges will get them back to black!

 

[mrjaw14]

Snap on don’t make me do it!

 

[M6erfan]

Well, it did not take long for Icon tools to take a big bite out of SO profits! I guess SO figured exorbitant shipping charges will get them back to black!

Snap on don’t make me do it!

I can't see how Icon had anything to do with S-o's decision

 

[rijndael]

It was a joke.