Snap on now requires receipts to get warranty replacement

[jjjrmx5]

Yeesh, I wonder what the long term impact will be over this....

No immediate or even long term impact for those on a good route with a good driver as mrshaun points out and I agree.

ebay and flea market buyers will be the ones affected and any reseller or used tool broker over time. Service and rebuild kits for the ratchets, ratcheting screwdrivers.etc. are still so cheap that even having to buy the kit out of pocket should not dissuade a purchase.

Busted breaker bars and combo wrenches are another matter.

Abuse the system and you get treated like a 12 year old. Just like one of the local ghetto Taco Bells that rations the packet hot/mild/green sauces and condiments due to theft and abuse. You have to ask and you only get what they give you. Go to a nice honest one and those rules don't apply because the abuse is non-existant.

Ironically in this one, don't hate teh game, hate the playaz's.

 

[Toolhorder]

Haven't had any problems but I have a dealer and I wrench for a living. Weird cause even when I wasn't working I went through my box and got all the broken stuff and slides and called them up and shipped it to them and it was all replaced no reciept, no BS.
Then a little bit after my "home" toolbox needed a couple slides and the lady just sent them to me and told me to toss the old ones unless there was a note in my box to send them back.

 

[pipsters]

Service and rebuild kits for the ratchets, ratcheting screwdrivers.etc. are still so cheap that even having to buy the kit out of pocket should not dissuade a purchase.

That's a great point. Here is a rebuild kit for a $150 ratchet, it's $10:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/parts/pro_det.asp?Item_id=651220&group_ID=683655

Sears sells a rebuilt kit for the 1/2" thin profile and it's $15...

Buy a busted Snap-On for $50 and add another $10 and you're still miles ahead.

 

[Hiball]

That wasn't in there either.

All these restrictions were added.

Proof of purchase
Original purchaser
Purchased from authorized dealer etc. etc.

People go on the website and look up the current warranty language and think that is how it has allways been when the exact opposite is true.

I can't verify how long some of them restrictions have been in place, but original purchaser as been there for awhile. On a side note.... I don't see to many people clarifying when these changes did take affect.

I'll agree to that.

Ah well.. We have enough people here at Gj who have never made a mistake in there life, Who wants to be perfect? (Not a Dig at You)

 

[Brad54]

I'm 42. I don't have a lot of them, but I've got a decent handful of Snap-on tools I've bought since I was 17... ratcheting screwdriver, brake line flare kit, body hammers and dollies, screwdriver, chisels and holder, gasket scrapers, etc. etc. etc.

It's not a box with $10K in tools in it, but I've got some money invested, and it's been over the course of 25 years, and in Ohio, Michigan, Florida and Georgia... and I also bought something off the truck on business in Virginia.

I have not one single receipt.

Expecting people to keep receipts for 25 years or longer is idiotic.

-Brad

 

[OEXL16B]

Just don't break the tools and y'all will be alright.

 

[Provincial]

I once tried to warranty a SnapOn insert bit screwdriver because the cap on the handle has shrunk and would not engage the threads any more. I had bought it twenty years before, obviously from a different dealer. This dealer wouldn't help me at all.

The screwdriver cost me a lot of money when I was young and poor, and the "lifetime" warranty was a big part of the purchase decision. The failure to warranty the screwdriver is a large reason why I avoid paying SnapOn prices any more.

 

[Hiball]

I'm 42. I don't have a lot of them, but I've got a decent handful of Snap-on tools I've bought since I was 17... ratcheting screwdriver, brake line flare kit, body hammers and dollies, screwdriver, chisels and holder, gasket scrapers, etc. etc. etc.

It's not a box with $10K in tools in it, but I've got some money invested, and it's been over the course of 25 years, and in Ohio, Michigan, Florida and Georgia... and I also bought something off the truck on business in Virginia.

I have not one single receipt.

Expecting people to keep receipts for 25 years or longer is idiotic.

-Brad

Brad the Way i read the "Current" Warranty Statement is that as long as you are Dealing with a Franchise Dealer or Rep you dont need a Receipt. Undoubtedly its gonna make it hard for someone who doesnt have a Local dealer or someone like yourself and i suspect the majority who didnt keep receipts to get Service thru the mail. I say make it "hard" because i think if you actually do have a Issue and Contact Snap on they are gonna make it right, They simply added some more steps to prevent abuse and more than likely track claims.

 

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

This discussion makes me wonder if Snap On Customer service ever looks up the name of the person warrantying an item with their product registration information and use's that at their discretion with how they handle warranties in certain situations.

 

[Hiball]

I've got a slug of old catalogs, I'm not immune from being wrong but i will surely Check it out when I get home. It's possible that I got original purchaser and proof of purchase mixed up... I don't intend on putting out bad information.

FYI.. I didnt spend much time looking but from what i can tell up until late 80's Snap on Warranty varied from only 1 year when they first started to a Lifetime with No mention of Ownership etc into the 80's via there catalogs. I would be interested in Knowing when they did start to restrict there Warranty to "Original Purchaser" if someone has Newer Catalogs.

/Me No perfect...

 

[camaross]

I do not mind if Snapon termites their warranty program completely, if they have such a policy consistently from the beginning. The thing is I paid big bucks for my Snap on tools because of their excellent warranty. Now they decided to change their warranty policy overnight?

 

[4x4gearhead]

To be perfectly honest, I know a couple dudes that troll the local flea markets for used stuff just to unecessarily send it in to get new ones. This to me is just kind of sickening. Not only are the tools they are trading in probably of better quality than you would get from snap-on today. These people are ruining it for the rest of us. Like its been said in every thread on this subject, if you just use a local dealer for the most part you wont have any trouble. You dont always need to butter the guy up, just let him know that youd appreciate it, Im sure if hes going to take care of you than you will buy something from him somewhere along the line.

 

[xj31]

To be perfectly honest, I know a couple dudes that troll the local flea markets for used stuff just to unecessarily send it in to get new ones. This to me is just kind of sickening. Not only are the tools they are trading in probably of better quality than you would get from snap-on today. These people are ruining it for the rest of us. Like its been said in every thread on this subject, if you just use a local dealer for the most part you wont have any trouble. You dont always need to butter the guy up, just let him know that youd appreciate it, Im sure if hes going to take care of you than you will buy something from him somewhere along the line.

Thats exactly the problem. And I bet those are a good percentage of the guys whining about it. So we end up paying higher prices.

 

[ndoran]

I have been buying tools since I was 12 and I am now 52 I know for certain I do not have any receipts. Jut to add to it I moved from England to Montreal 22 years ago and now I am in Ontario, Before I left England I moved from the North East to the Isle of Wight and then to Portsmouth. I have bought Snap On and Mac in all these locations. When I was a kid I used to get my dad to buy stuff for me. Also I do not wrench for a living.

The point of all of this is I have bought lots of professional grade tools and there is not a chance I could ever comply with the request to provide receipts. Anyway the Industrial Snap On guy who I deal with and the MAC guy I meet when he is in the vicinity only give a receipt that says "Walk On" because I always pay cash. BTW I have never had a problem getting anything warrantied regardless of which dealer I purchased it from. Admittedly it is usually screwdrivers, I have only broken one wrench, a couple of sockets with flaking chrome, some loose flex heads and a long handked flex ratchet where the pin became loose in the joint through wear.

The guys on the truck have always been very helpful, when I wanted to repair my dad's 3/8 snappy ratchet I was offered a new one even though I explained I inherited it, I declined because of the sentimental value and the dealer took it away and it came back four weeks later, he had found good parts that would fit and it works perfectly - he would not take any payment for it.

Sometimes we fotget that part of the reason these tools are more expensive is because the support is part of the bargain. I may have been fortunate but I have always experienced excellant service from all the truck guys.

 

[plinker]

i will tell you guys what has caused this. One guy in the dallas area has about 100 ratchets and hundreds of repair kits for free. He kept calling in and complaining and snap on kept sending out new stuff to him.
This has been stopped but those that abuse the **** out of something have ruined it for the rest of you that are true and legit. So you can think the greedy bastards for messing stuff up for you. So next time before you say something bad about a company maybe you should ask why did this happen? also the guys that show up on the trucks with buckets of broken tools are generally the flea market and pawn shop kings. once again abuse of warranty. Those of you who do not have a good dealer, I am sorry and if i could take care of all of you I would without question.

In a way, it's Snap-on fault this happened. I remember several post's about ratchet's needing warranty for whatever reason and Snap-on would send you one and not want the old one back. (your supposed to destroy it or similar).
Now how many people read this and took advantage of it? Quite a few I imagine, as you point out one in particular. Every other tool mfg doing mail in warranty, that I know of, wants the broken one back, be it S-K, Sears or Matco.

I think what I'm going to do is E-mail Snap-on and find out what your supposed to do when you have not got a reciept as the tool was a gift or your dealer didnt give you one (or it was put on your Dads account and good luck finding a reciept).

 

[mayday0017]

No more snappy tools for me, not my problem you made a warranty policy that people took advantage of. Also not my problem that you allowed them to take advantage of it. I have snapon tools that were passed down to me that I have no proof of purchase on. I also have tools I bought off e-bay and though they are cheaper then buying new they still go for a decent chunck of change because of the lifetime warranty.

Snapon new warranty policy has made all of your tools worth 1/2 what they were because they are no longer covered for the next guy. Funny thing is there is sooooo much markup on these tools that they could send this guy who ruins it for the rest of us a new wrench every day for the rest of his life and still be in the green.

Sorry Snapon between County and Warranty I have no reason to own your product peddle your product elsewhere! Buying 3rd world junk with 3rd world warranty in a 1st world country is for fools....

 

[Creditor]

No more snappy tools for me, not my problem you made a warranty policy that people took advantage of. Also not my problem that you allowed them to take advantage of it. I have snapon tools that were passed down to me that I have no proof of purchase on. I also have tools I bought off e-bay and though they are cheaper then buying new they still go for a decent chunck of change because of the lifetime warranty.

Snapon new warranty policy has made all of your tools worth 1/2 what they were because they are no longer covered for the next guy. Funny thing is there is sooooo much markup on these tools that they could send this guy who ruins it for the rest of us a new wrench every day for the rest of his life and still be in the green.

Sorry Snapon between County and Warranty I have no reason to own your product peddle your product elsewhere! Buying 3rd world junk with 3rd world warranty in a 1st world country is for fools....

Sounds to me like you have not been buying directly from Snap-on anyway.

 

[blackhawkdriver]

Well I gotta say this whole thread is a bit disappointing. As a guy with no tool company affiliations/favorites (I just want good quality american tools) I can honestly say this thread is making me lean away from snap on. I use my tools at work and at home but I am not a professional mechanic. I am a helicopter test pilot so I do a good amount of wrenching just don't need a giant tool box full to get my job done. I was buying tools from ebay and used from other guys because face it they are effing expensive but that was when I thought snap on's warranty was like craftsmans. I consider tools an investment and figured when I didn't need them anymore i'd leave them to my kids but they'll be without a warranty on the snap on ones and I don't get any peace of mind there. Not gonna say snap on has totally lost a customer after this but i'm definitely looking elsewhere. Actually I'm kinda glad this came up because I was about to blow some serious cash on some tools, now i'll rethink who with, any ideas?

 

[wornoutoldman]

Buying 3rd world junk with 3rd world warranty in a 1st world country is for fools....

Do you live in Switzerland?

 

[Creditor]

Well I gotta say this whole thread is a bit disappointing. As a guy with no tool company affiliations/favorites (I just want good quality american tools) I can honestly say this thread is making me lean away from snap on. I use my tools at work and at home but I am not a professional mechanic. I am a helicopter test pilot so I do a good amount of wrenching just don't need a giant tool box full to get my job done. I was buying tools from ebay and used from other guys because face it they are effing expensive but that was when I thought snap on's warranty was like craftsmans. I consider tools an investment and figured when I didn't need them anymore i'd leave them to my kids but they'll be without a warranty on the snap on ones and I don't get any peace of mind there. Not gonna say snap on has totally lost a customer after this but i'm definitely looking elsewhere. Actually I'm kinda glad this came up because I was about to blow some serious cash on some tools, now i'll rethink who with, any ideas?

Considering the fact that by your own statements you were buying your tools from eBay, you never were a Snap-on customer.

 

[Roots]

Considering the fact that by your own statements you were buying your tools from eBay, you never were a Snap-on customer.

 

[xj31]

Considering the fact that by your own statements you were buying your tools from eBay, you never were a Snap-on customer.

 

[ajchien]

If a nonprofessional buys from a dealer, would I be entered into he SnapOn.com database?

Specifically, I am interested in picking up a few ratchets after the USA stamp returns. Not sure if I would be better off ordering online, or getting it from a truck dealer guy ( who lives 2 blocks down the street from me ). It seems like it would be better to have the online recordof transaction.

 

[Davefr]

If a nonprofessional buys from a dealer, would I be entered into he SnapOn.com database?

Specifically, I am interested in picking up a few ratchets after the USA stamp returns. Not sure if I would be better off ordering online, or getting it from a truck dealer guy ( who lives 2 blocks down the street from me ). It seems like it would be better to have the online recordof transaction.

It's been reported that sales from dealers do not get entered into a SO database. (unless SO Corp. Credit is involved).

I think the moral of the story is to save your receipt until the end of time whether you buy online or from the dealer.

 

[lennoxlennox]

My broken tools were sent back, and enclosed with a letter saying:
"Any warranty claim that does not include a proof of purchase may be denied and the tools will be returned to you.

Damn, I have been collecting tools for over 20 years. You want me to show you my receipts two decades ago?

The local Snap on representative is never helpful. I do not like his attitude and do not want to bribe him just to get my tools warrantied.

If Snap on is truly changing their warranty policy, no one would want to buy a used Snap on tool any more (because there will be no warranty for used tools). The resale value of Snap on tools will drop significantly.

To the OP,

Obviously you aren't happy with your letter you received on your warranty claim as you've been posting in several threads about it, wanting to start petitions, threatening not to buy etc.

OK, get the point you are disappointed with this letter.

So you also state you are:

1) a DIY'er and yet have spent $10k on Snapon in the last 5 years
2) Always toss out your receipts like potato chip bags
3) Don't like dealing with your truck guy because you feel you have to bribe him (you have a truck guy, yet you are a DIY'er)
4) You have stated you have found some of your online purchase receipts online


You know... call me suspicious, but something just doesn't pass the smell test here.

Anyone who is is DIY'er who spends $10k on Snapon tools would be exceptionally rare, if not exceptionally rich.

Anyone who spends $10k on tools would not only have a good relationship with their truck guy, probably gets a birthday card too.

Anyone who spends this amount online in the last 5 years would have 40% of those receipts (i.e. last two years online) and could print a statement to that effect to Snapon and say, you know what, I can't find THAT receipt, but hey look at my purchase history. I'm willing to bet you would get your product warrantied no questions asked.


It just doesn't add up.

What I do see is 5 or 6 common threads on the first page of this forum where you are stating how terrible Snapon is, blah blah blah.

You know, I think one thread will do.


I also think Snapon are very reasonable and if they made a mistake in your case, and you can demonstrate purchase history, shouldn't be an issue.

I also think if I bought significant amount of tools from my truck guy, I wouldn't be hesitating visiting him without feeling compelled to buy (or bribe) him to get my warranty.


On the other hand, I would feel the need to "bribe" my guy if I used my chrome sockets on my impact and they broke or some other obvious example of why the tool in question shouldn't be warrantied.


just saying

 

[glenmore]

If a nonprofessional buys from a dealer, would I be entered into he SnapOn.com database?

Specifically, I am interested in picking up a few ratchets after the USA stamp returns. Not sure if I would be better off ordering online, or getting it from a truck dealer guy ( who lives 2 blocks down the street from me ). It seems like it would be better to have the online recordof transaction.

I believe I was assigned a SO account when I sent in some tools for warranty. I have used the same account to purchase a few items online like drawer bumpers or when there is a promotion.

I have bought off the truck but those are always cash transactions so there is never a receipt. If you want a receipt then it is full price plus tax.

Don't buy anything off the truck unless it is some sort of promo deal!

 

[JackB]

With the prices Snap-On has they should be warrantied for life for any owner. Why in the world does it matter if the tool is sold ? Does the tool suddenly loose the quality if it is sold on ?
The no-questions asked warranty was the only thing Snap-On had going for it compared to other top brands. If they plan on keeping the prices up there they're going down. Hazet among others has better quality (as shown in Oltimer market tests).

 

[jjjrmx5]

I have bought off the truck but those are always cash transactions so there is never a receipt. If you want a receipt then it is full price plus tax.

No.

Since your dealer's records are only accessed by your dealer, the cost of your tool should not be the deciding factor in getting a receipt. You should get a receipt for no matter what you buy and how you paid for it.

I've bought new, bogo, promo and used and all came with a receipt. You get a weekely receipt if you have an active truck account that you pay weekly on.

I've got a ton of receipts over the last 10 years, all on std. copy paper output from my dealer's on-truck laser printer.

It's a professional business, not a corner farm stand selling fresh picked corn and peaches and pocketing the cash.

There are shady drivers out there just like shady customers though that like to get creative with the numbers.

 

[OEXL16B]

So next time before you say something bad about a company maybe you should ask why did this happen?

I agree. I wish people would stop and think a little bit before they start complaining.

 

[Creditor]

I still want to see pics of what the OP sent in.

 

[OEXL16B]

My advice to everyone is to take good care of your tools and get a portable file box for your receipts.

 

[glenmore]

No.


It's a professional business, not a corner farm stand selling fresh picked corn and peaches and pocketing the cash.

I kinda prefer it that way!

With my dealer, if I want a receipt, it is full price with tax. This has never been an issue for me because whatever I've bought from the truck, I've usually flipped. I've sold stuff to GJ members for just cost + shipping.

 

[otis66]

If a nonprofessional buys from a dealer, would I be entered into he SnapOn.com database?

Specifically, I am interested in picking up a few ratchets after the USA stamp returns. Not sure if I would be better off ordering online, or getting it from a truck dealer guy ( who lives 2 blocks down the street from me ). It seems like it would be better to have the online recordof transaction.

Walmart knows every store you have been to. Sears too. I'm sure Snap On has a record of you buying somthing. If you go to Shop Rite or food town you get a free turkey for Christmas because they know exactly what you buy( if you use one of those cards). I've been to Guitar Center in North Carolina and they knew everything I bought at Guitar Center in NJ. I bought somthing at Walmart in NJ drove to NC and tried to use my credit card and it was declined because the cridit card company thouht my card was stolen because I used my credit card at walmart and 8 hours later tried to use my credit card in NC, they told me what I bought and how much I charged. If the Snap On dealer gave you a recipte Snap On knows you bought it and who you bought it from....IF it was from a Snap On Dealer.

 

[otis66]

I kinda prefer it that way!

With my dealer, if I want a receipt, it is full price with tax. This has never been an issue for me because whatever I've bought from the truck, I've usually flipped. I've sold stuff to GJ members for just cost + shipping.

I would be leery of any tool dealer not wanting to give me a receipt. If you do not get a receipt you do not have a record of a sale and it will not be in the Snap On system. If the dealer decides to skip town you will be (LBS) stuck with no proof of any payment or sale.

 

[otis66]

My advice to everyone is to take good care of your tools and get a portable file box for your receipts.

I have 24 years of these.

 

[MrMark]

My advice to everyone is to take good care of your tools and get a portable file box for your receipts.

That's a nice looking box there. Can you recommend any screwdrivers for the DIY'er?

 

[Creditor]

My advice to everyone is to take good care of your tools and get a portable file box for your receipts.

You can get these used on craigslist for next to nothing.

 

[4x4gearhead]

As many of you might know from my thread a couple weeks ago, it is important to get and keep your receipts so when your dealer tries to **** you in some way (like I got bent over on my credit account) you can prove that you paid.

 

[glenmore]

If the dealer decides to skip town you will be (LBS) stuck with no proof of any payment or sale.

It is just "Cash and Carry", I don't have a credit account.

 

[Davefr]

My advice to everyone is to take good care of your tools and get a portable file box for your receipts.

If I saved ever receipt for every tool I purchased since coming out of the womb this is what I would need: