Snap on- Paper or Digital Catalog?

[metalhead212121]

First off I know I'm a dinosaur at the ripe age of 34. I'm really behind the curve when it comes to technology.

Anyway.. when you guys are looking for snap on tools do you go online to look for the part # and pricing or do you go to the paper catalog and work from there?

Back around 2000 or so I thought the website worked great. I could find what I wanted with ease. A few years later they revamped the site and I think it's been **** ever since. If I'm looking for part #'s and pricing I go straight to the paper catalog, get the part #, google it, and then just click on the link that will give me the pricing for what Im looking for. I find this way the quickest way to do it. Just wondering how others do it. I'm sure there's some guys out there with smart phones that prefer doing it the "new school" way.

 

[Wamsutta]

First of all, 34 is not even close to being a dinosaur. Some of us would love to be 34 again.

I still have the old site on bookmark. I use the old site to find something and then the site will automatically transfer me to the new site for the price. I don't go directly to the new site to find anything. A paper catalog would be nice but I don't have a current one.

 

[rlebroke51]

I use the paper catalog to find what I want then type in the item number to find the price

 

[bobbycos]

paper catalog for me

then to the site to order

 

[ahayes09]

I have the paper catalog as my..uhm...bathroom reading material. Along with the current bass pro and cabelas catalogs.

 

[metalhead212121]

First of all, 34 is not even close to being a dinosaur. Some of us would love to be 34 again.

You're not following me... I'm really clueless when it comes to tech stuff. I have a flip phone for starters. Don't make a lot of money to afford internet on my phone and even if I did I don't think I'd want to be like everybody constantly staring at their phone 24/7. I have no desire for blue tooth setups either. Texting.. I do text via my flip phone but I'm not one to have in-depth conversations. I've NEVER owned a flat screen TV. Last TV I got was used from a friend of a friend for practically nothing. Not into upgrading just for the hell of it. My daily driver is from the early 90's. Not really feeling taking a deprecation hit on a new car. Skype?? I've heard of it.. I know what it is. Have I used it.. no. I recently found about google hangout. That was pretty cool to see it for the first time. Can I set up a wireless router? Yeah right!

In some respects I'm really worried about when I turn 50. I may have it all together mentally at 50 but I really think I'm gonna be lost as far as technology goes.

I keep fighting with myself about starting a thread about technology and being behind the times. I don't think I wanna find out I'm the only guy in his 30's clueless about stuff like that.

BACK ON TOPIC!

Dan

 

[Wamsutta]

I think I got you beat. When I was 34, I had no idea how to use a computer. To this day, I still haven't got a cell phone and I don't know how to use one. I've never had a flat screen TV either; although when I get some time, I'm going to do some research and find out how internet TV works.

 

[metalhead212121]

Wamsutta- PM sent.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I go to the print catalog

I HATE digital catalogs with a passion. I have yet to see one implemented well. The ones where they pull up an online PDF for you to "flip through" a PDF version of the normal catalog are the absolute worst.

The toolmaker's websites generally **** great big donkey **** as far as usability.

 

[nieuport17]

Pdf catalog is way too slow.

 

[franzdom]

The new website format usually doesn't work for finding things. There is the old website format, as well as an online version of their paper catalog. Both of those are decent.

 

[BK13]

Heck, if you think the Snap On site is bad, try to find something on Matco's!

 

[PSDEng]

Yeah Mac and Matco have crappy sites. If you want the paper catalog and you don't have a local truck to get on, got to the website and search CAT1200. That's the latest catalog and they'll send it for free. My driver had a supplemental catalog, but last I talked to customer service they didn't have a line on an entire new catalog yet.

 

[KEH]

Part of SO's problem is that they go up on prices often and it's hard to keep printing current paper catalogs with current prices. Back in the day they would have a paper catalog with no prices and a separate paper price list. Now you get a paper catalog at more than yearly intervals and have to look up prices on the internet and it seems they are having trouble keeping the online catalog and prices current. Maybe they need better IT guys.

KEH

 

[Dust Devil]

I go to the print catalog

I HATE digital catalogs with a passion. I have yet to see one implemented well. The ones where they pull up an online PDF for you to "flip through" a PDF version of the normal catalog are the absolute worst.

The toolmaker's websites generally **** great big donkey **** as far as usability.

 

[metalhead212121]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that goes to the book for part #'s. As far as Mac and Matco websites go I've primary only dealt with Snap on for tools. Why? Purely based of my experiences with them. Matco guy came around a couple times and jerked me and my friend around and disappeared. Mac guy ROYALLY jerked me and my friend around. Snap on guy(s) I've dealt with have been pretty good for the most part. Periodically I've had Snap on reps make their rounds and ask if I'm happy with the current Snap on dealer. I live in a heavy populated area. There will ALWAYS be a Snap on tool dealer somewhere for me to deal with. Mac, Matco, and S&K trucks I don't see too often.

 

[burke753]

I've got the Matco and Snapon paper catalogs and use those for part numbers, then google the part number for the price. I can never find the tool I'm looking for on the website. Especially from my phone. So it's easier to turn paper pages.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pi_guy]

My Snap -on guy has been doing it for over 30 years, and I can text him a part number from an old catalog and some times he has it. My good Mac tools guy died a few years back and nobody competent has replaced him.
But I use paper and the web site and my dealer has let me roam through his repair draws looking for interesting stuff and that can be a trip back in time. & he is not a pressure type guy often I will ask for something new or different that I had just found out about, and he will say I knew you were going to want that.

 

[purplezr2]

I use paper for both snap on and matco, they are in the bathroom, I circle things I want/ need and buy stuff every few months.

 

[NorthSea92]

I love paper catalogues

Got the Snap On, Facom, MAC, Knipex and Stalwille ones

Its much better to sit and flick through the pages, writing down part numbers and checking prices online. The Facom and MAC websites are pretty poor in the UK.

 

[veks]

I use a paper catalog, along with post its an a pen. Computer is only used for price checking.

 

[rtole]

Something about paper to flip through for shopping. Takes me back to when I was a kid......the sears catalog. That was a big day for me! Then later as I got into cars, the jc whitney catalog. I still prefer that. Online shopping has no thrill for me. I use it to research.

 

[johninct]

I think I got you beat. When I was 34, I had no idea how to use a computer. To this day, I still haven't got a cell phone and I don't know how to use one. I've never had a flat screen TV either; although when I get some time, I'm going to do some research and find out how internet TV works.

I still use my Star Tec phone from the 90's, never sent a text and drove my 1981 car today. Got a few flat screen TV's but still use my 1983 TV every day.

 

[expfcwintergreen]

Before posting here about tools needed to work on Toyota Scions, I went to the Snap-on site to see if they had a list. I found a Toyota set for apprentices, but it only showed a picture of the set, no list of the tools. I thought it odd that Snap-on would expect anyone to pay $5100 for a set of tools they had only seen a small picture of. Back when I was buying tools off the truck, my paper catalog had a complete listing of the tools in the apprentice and master sets.

http://store.snapon.com/Toyota-Tool-Sets-Set-Toyota-Apprentice-P640772.aspx

I don't know if it makes a difference, but i looked it up on an iPad. The page may be different on a regular computer.

 

[APEowner]

I just get on the truck. If it's not on the truck then the dealer digs out his paper catalog and shows me.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Wow, they really use some OLD pictures for those sets!
http://store.snapon.com/U-S-Set-4-Complete-U-S-Set-4-P641698.aspx

 

[fatfillup]

I use Snap on's old site for pricing used tools. I know the site pretty well and can find most things quickly. When I do have to search by part number, it kicks me to the new site. The new site will search numbers better then the old site but finding anything on it is tough.

If I was shopping for new tools, I think I would like a paper catalog in the bathroom. Probably would find lots to buy.

 

[Vegas Painter]

The snap on website is one of the most un user friendly out there today. I have found the the only way I can find what I want is to find it in the paper catalog and input the numbers in the website.


Sent from fabulous Las Vegas

 

[redwrench60]

Paper, paper, paper catalog only! That new Snap On website is 100% complete horse ****. I can't find a damn thing in it. Hell, my dealer can't either! The old site and parts catalog were awesome.

I am also pretty tech simple. Me and computers have a nice 'you don't screw with me and I don't throw you out in the front yard and blast you with a scattergun' kind of relationship.

 

[victor22]

First of all, 34 is not even close to being a dinosaur. Some of us would love to be 34 again.

I still have the old site on bookmark. I use the old site to find something and then the site will automatically transfer me to the new site for the price. I don't go directly to the new site to find anything. A paper catalog would be nice but I don't have a current one.

For me, online catalog. A catalog acts as an important reference for your business. It allows potential customers to examine your products and services and reach a better understanding of what you can offer to them. I mostly use DCatalog software for creating online catalog for my e-commerce business.

 

[Htscheg]

Paper!!!! All the way, I hate digital media, call me old fashioned but I love books, magazines and newspapers to be printed, where I can feel them...

 

[pi_guy]

For me, online catalog. A catalog acts as an important reference for your business. It allows potential customers to examine your products and services and reach a better understanding of what you can offer to them. I mostly use DCatalog software for creating online catalog for my e-commerce business.

Think you will find out you need both.
The one issue that paper catalogs do is help you find what you don't know the name of or have never seen.
Also been round the ring with we put all our service manuals in video. Well guess what they re-released paper manuals too difficult to find a number or a setting. Where do you put notes when you find the process works better doing this way?

 

[oldwino]

Dealer always gives me paper catalog which I tell him its not necessary. Sits on shelf with my reference materials until the new one comes. Toss and repeat

 

[johninct]

I have the paper catalog as my..uhm...bathroom reading material. Along with the current bass pro and cabelas catalogs.

This!!!!!

 

[Lassen Forge]

If S/O had an awesome website catalog you could actually order from (even if that order went to a local dealer for drop off) they could not be beat, not at all, no way... they could even have a feature where if your dealer wanted to give you special pricing, you could order and the dealer could give you your "John Fritz Mechanic 7.3% further discount" special...

But their website pretty much *****, it's getting better, but NOTHING like their competition. Especially now, since people are working more as jobbers from remote locations (like out of their home shops) they could make a killing IF their website was anything like normal...

REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE - Their SEP cat. IF you call your S/O SEP rep, you can get the SEP on almost anything... but the corporate website gives you a VERY limited range of what you can order. And their organization of that website rather quite *****. And they're still focused on kids coming out of (or in) high school rather than the HUGE number of people who are going back to school learning a second trade to get back out in the workforce.

And if you think the paper cat is any better... well... it's not. Most of them (esp. for the students) are more like cheap advertising brochures and less like a catalog.

 

[B_Bimmer]

If you want to sell me something you better have literature I can hold in my hands.

 

[4xdog]

First off I know I'm a dinosaur at the ripe age of 34...

Back around 2000 or so I thought the website worked great. I could find what I wanted with ease...

You were buying Snap-on when you were thirteen? Very good taste, eh?

 

[justanengineer]

IMHO a lot of websites today are run by marketing folks trying to push you toward more expensive products, just like the old aisle end caps and middle-shelves at the store. I’m not a fan of paper but do find many websites painful, so I feel ya!

Personally I find the standard to beat for excellent websites is still McMaster - dead nuts simple, plain graphics/colors so it loads fast, no bs, and almost every bit of useful data imaginable on every item.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[metalhead212121]

You were buying Snap-on when you were thirteen? Very good taste, eh?

might wanna take a look at when I STARTED this thread and double check your math buddy.

 

[Wamsutta]

Here we are 7 years later and I still don't have a cell phone. Not because I can't afford one; I just don't see what all the hype is about them.