Snap on prices...

[pi_guy]

This is exactly what im getting at.. not everything on the truck is out to lunch, but im seeing more like this, like a 7 piece chrome 1/4 inch swivel set over 200 bucks on sale..

Just moaning about the price.
This is one of the better tools made by SO. If you used these tools regularly you might have a different approach. The swivels have saved me more time and money than any other tool.
The model that you dislike so much and claim is going to fail really is not for you. The model is designed for professional wrenches and the like.
Go and ask your HF, HD or Sears tool section guy a difficult question that needs a tool solution and see what you get for a response.
Plus they make several tools that others do not, but since your a DIY a pair of visegrips will work fine and you just care about getting the job done cheap and none about the quality of the work.

 

[canuckian]

I think the point of my original post is a little lost here, point was the more recent spike jn price. My box at work is a even mix of snap on, mac and box store tools. Never did say that im not happy with the company or the tools they sell, (all my ratchets are snap on for a reason..) nor was i trying to start a thread about bad reps. In perspective, my rep is great. She comes every week, never batts an eye at warranty, or complains that im not a volume buyer. Was only trying to see if others are noticing a notable increase in price.

I was more responding to the general theme of the responses before mine.

The easy answer to your OP is yes, Snap On's prices are steadily increasing. Their retail prices are posted on the Canadian Snap On site so you can compare those to what your rep is charging to determine if what she's charging is in line with that. I rarely worry about retail pricing anyways as most of my purchases are promos plus my guy gives me a break on anything that's not on promo. Mac and Matco 10-20% cheaper across the board? I don't have a rep for either so I can't compare to my area. I'm sure there are some directly comparable products (made in taiwan VS made in north america aren't direct comparisons) between the 3 where Snap On is more expensive but I don't think those few items are that far apart.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I'm a pro mechanic and I am a huge snap on fan. But in my opinion the warranty aspect is terrible.
If snap on day is Wednesday and you break your only ratchet on Thursday what do you do? Sure he would probably be glad to meet you at 7 when he gets back home 50 miles from you.
As opposed to breaking a harbor freight ratchet, getting through the day with your back up (because buying 2 is affordable) then after work driving 10 minutes to get a replacement. Now this has never happened to me, it's just a thought.

Reality for at least some of us working people is almost completely the opposite of your scenario.
I have more than one ratchet and, even when I do manage to explode the guts, I have a handful of others to work with 'till the following tool truck visit -- without ever interrupting my personal time over work tools.....Besides that, even if I did want to stop at the SO mans house on the way home, he's closer to my preferred route home than any store I could buy tool from...the few times in my life I attempted to warranty box store tools did not leave me thinking tool trucks where such a bad way to go as all the web makes it sound.

 

[pdxgearhead]

The prices are high with the tool truck brands because you're paying for the service and the credit. It seems to me that some folks on this forum who are not professional mechanics will never be able to grasp that concept.

 

[packet]

The prices are high with the tool truck brands because you're paying for the service and the credit. It seems to me that some folks on this forum who are not professional mechanics will never be able to grasp that concept.

You're paying for the credit with the 20% interest they charge you. You can also get a credit card for the same thing.

Snap on is expensive because the company has figured out people will pay the prices, and they're a for-profit company. Simple as that.

The Internet is seriously disrupting their business model though. The truck is a lot less convenient than a company that can overnight you any tool that breaks and costs 1/3 the price of SO.

 

[pi_guy]

And with the yearly price increase and the price I paid for the tool back in the day and considering they sell about 1/2 the price of retail I will get back about what I spent.
Then I add the 50 years of deriving profit from use of tools.

 

[Skin]

Yep... They are Stupid Expensive, It’s like every morning someone wakes up and discovers that for the first time around here, secondly there is No constitutional amendment that requires that you spend X amount of dollars with them. The Prices will always be dictated by the Free Market, not a bunch of kids crying on the iterwebs, for every one crying there is 5 standing in line to lease on truck credit at $20 a week, when that trend reverses, We will see changes.

Fixed.

I believe there to be too many other brands with comparable quality available today for people just to keep blindly paying their prices when it is so much easier to research and acquire said alternatives these days.

Impossible, if I go near a bolt with a Wright, SK, or Carlyle wrench it rounds itself before steel even touches steel. With Snap-On it just unscrews itself. That's why its clearly worth 4x the price to anyone who actually uses their tools. Get your facts straight.

Plus when my wrench snaps cleanly in half, as happens all the time when you actually use your tools daily, the Snap-On man appears out of thin air to hand me a replacement. Try that with any of your poor person brands. :tard:

 

[WhiffySpark]

You're paying for the credit with the 20% interest they charge you. You can also get a credit card for the same thing.

Snap on is expensive because the company has figured out people will pay the prices, and they're a for-profit company. Simple as that.

The Internet is seriously disrupting their business model though. The truck is a lot less convenient than a company that can overnight you any tool that breaks and costs 1/3 the price of SO.

Wrong again. Truck account is interest free.

Most professional mechanics don’t care about your mail order stuff. I know I didn’t. Would much rather buy off the truck

 

[packet]

And with the yearly price increase and the price I paid for the tool back in the day and considering they sell about 1/2 the price of retail I will get back about what I spent.
Then I add the 50 years of deriving profit from use of tools.

You're forgetting the time value of money in there. Even if you did get your money back, by that point in time, the value of a dollar will have dropped significantly.

Not to mention that you're still better off buying say a proto socket set for <1/4 the price and getting 50 years of use out of those.

 

[packet]

Most professional mechanics don’t care about your mail order stuff. I know I didn’t. Would much rather buy off the truck

All you're saying is that you're bad with money then. If you're really concerned about tools breaking, you're still better off buying two sets while you wait for the broken one to get repaired.

There's nothing wrong with splurging when you really want to, but claiming there's no alternative to tool trucks because you use them to make money is ludicrous. Someone making an entry level tech's income does not need a bunch of truck tools to do their job.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Snap-On or ****-On; hopefully everyone can choose what they spend their money on. Some people seem (claim) to have a super-natural power that enables them to make better choices FOR other people. There are endless opinions on the matter.

 

[pdxgearhead]

You're paying for the credit with the 20% interest they charge you. You can also get a credit card for the same thing.

Snap on is expensive because the company has figured out people will pay the prices, and they're a for-profit company. Simple as that.

The Internet is seriously disrupting their business model though. The truck is a lot less convenient than a company that can overnight you any tool that breaks and costs 1/3 the price of SO.

Technically truck credit is free, but I think one of the reasons why the tools as so high priced is that one is paying a de-facto interest rate, if you will.

And again, the service is worth the price to many. The last thing a lot of techs want to do is to buy or warranty tools on their free time after a long day. Yes, it's not necessarily difficult to do, but its still another thing to add to one's plate.

There are pros that do buy tools on the net, and I do think the net has cut into some of the tool truck's business, but not in a "serious" way. The trucks aren't going anywhere. They can provide the service and convenience that the net cannot.

 

[Hyster Gareth]

I think as the tech adverse generation retires from the trades, and that isn’t that far off, SO will have to rethink their model a bit. I don’t think the trucks will go anywhere, but if the grumblings here are any indication of the turnover amongst the franchisees, then you may see the trucks becoming company owned and operated at some point. I would guess that a lot of the price is overhead and margin to the dealer, remove that factor and there’s a chance that the prices will at least level off or even fall a little to be more competitive with other brands.

I believe there to be too many other brands with comparable quality available today for people just to keep blindly paying their prices when it is so much easier to research and acquire said alternatives these days.

Agree with your post.

I purchased Snap On as an apprentice and other good brands. Both my nephews are mechanics and they buy much of their stuff online. Brand loyalty and coo isn't important to them compared to me.

 

[Hiball]

Fixed.

I don’t wish to argue, but the same scenario can be said for just about every retail situation out there, Credit makes people do crazy things. I’m in no way shape or form trying to justify SO costs, I bought and sold enough tools to acquire my personal collection at a fraction of New price. If I woke up tomorrow and fell into a full time mechanic job, I probably wouldn’t step foot on any of the Tool trucks. With that said.... I’ve been listening to the grumbling from members saying the Tool truck is a outdated concept every since I joined, those stories appear to have had too much personal bias, versus real life insider information.

 

[joel63]

I don’t wish to argue, but the same scenario can be said for just about every retail situation out there, Credit makes people do crazy things. I’m in no way shape or form trying to justify SO costs, I bought and sold enough tools to acquire my personal collection at a fraction of New price. If I woke up tomorrow and fell into a full time mechanic job, I probably wouldn’t step foot on any of the Tool trucks. With that said.... I’ve been listening to the grumbling from members saying the Tool truck is a outdated concept every since I joined, those stories appear to have had too much personal bias, versus real life insider information.

Very well said.

Maybe the end of this thread is near?

 

[fordgasm]

Snap On has always been overpriced.

 

[packet]

There are pros that do buy tools on the net, and I do think the net has cut into some of the tool truck's business, but not in a "serious" way. The trucks aren't going anywhere. They can provide the service and convenience that the net cannot.

I've worked in several industries where people have said the exact same thing, only to have them get replaced by a significantly cheaper alternative in short order.

The truck model is really high cost to operate, and when it comes to actual service, doesn't really save much time. When the average tech is making $38k in the US, and a box full of Snap On tools costs $30k, there's a huge opportunity for the competition. Snap On can only keep raising their prices for so long before they reach the limit.

I mean really, a 15 pc Proto 1/2 deep set is $170. The 13 pc SO set is $491. Is the truck worth an extra 18 hours of work to pay for it? If it's really the convenience of the warranty that's the issue, you're still way better off putting up with the 5 minutes it takes to fill out a form on time.

It'll take some time, but a competitor that can offer easy warranty replacement with quick shipping is way easier than dealing with truck turnaround times.

 

[Fedwrench]

Arguing about snap on prices is like a pig looking at a wristwatch, it just doesn't make any sense.

non snap on users will never convince a die hard snap on user that their tools are not worth their prices, and a snap on user will never convince a non snap on user that their tools are worth the money they cost.

use the tools that serve you well and you like to use.

Move along, there's nothing to see here

 

[dsimatt]

Snap On has always been overpriced.

So is a $70k F250 but the people that can afford them buy them anyways.

 

[Jtels85]

Thoughts from a non-professional. Not trying to be a ****, just hoping someone can offer a legitimate response to this question...

Why has the Snap-On truck started selling Gearwrench? I know I’ve read that on here.

What irks me is that you can only buy Snap On, Mac and Matco from the tool truck. Sure, you could probably find most of what you want on eBay, but not always.

For someone like me who isn’t a pro, but spends a ridiculous amount of money on tools... I would gladly not spend another dime on Carlyle, Gearwrench or SK if I had access to a Mac or Snap On truck... or just access in general... But I don’t. There are people out there who would buy this stuff if it was more accessible.

Right now, I would love to buy an 8 Pc. set of Mac orange handle combination screwdrivers, but I can’t find any. There’s none on the secondary market and I’m not paying retail plus shipping by ordering directly from Mac. I just want the tools, not the warranty, convenience of a truck dropping by my home or a line of credit.

Perhaps I don’t understand. But you would think that these companies would like to have as much of everyone’s business as possible and make it easy for them to get what they want. But they don’t.... So I’ll take my $150 and go spend it elsewhere on a different, cheaper brand of screwdrivers that I’m not as happy with.

It’s like an exclusive little club that nobody else is allowed to join. This day and age when there are a **** ton of tool companies making quality tools and fairly reasonable prices... you would expect the big 3 to up their game.

I have friends who are techs, one for Chrysler and one for a Mercedes dealer. Neither of them have good things to say about their truck rep and the spotty service they get. My buddy gets the best bang for his buck buying and using Gearwrench and Harbor Freight. Something is wrong with the tool truck business model if tech’s are buying cheaper tools to do their job. It’s not just them.

 

[Sycan]

Thoughts from a non-professional. Not trying to be a ****, just hoping someone can offer a legitimate response to this question...

Why has the Snap-On truck started selling Gearwrench? I know I’ve read that on here.

What irks me is that you can only buy Snap On, Mac and Matco from the tool truck. Sure, you could probably find most of what you want on eBay, but not always.

For someone like me who isn’t a pro, but spends a ridiculous amount of money on tools... I would gladly not spend another dime on Carlyle, Gearwrench or SK if I had access to a Mac or Snap On truck... or just access in general... But I don’t. There are people out there who would buy this stuff if it was more accessible.

Right now, I would love to buy an 8 Pc. set of Mac orange handle combination screwdrivers, but I can’t find any. There’s none on the secondary market and I’m not paying retail plus shipping by ordering directly from Mac. I just want the tools, not the warranty, convenience of a truck dropping by my home or a line of credit.

Perhaps I don’t understand. But you would think that these companies would like to have as much of everyone’s business as possible and make it easy for them to get what they want. But they don’t.... So I’ll take my $150 and go spend it elsewhere on a different, cheaper brand of screwdrivers that I’m not as happy with.

It’s like an exclusive little club that nobody else is allowed to join. This day and age when there are a **** ton of tool companies making quality tools and fairly reasonable prices... you would expect the big 3 to up their game.

I have friends who are techs, one for Chrysler and one for a Mercedes dealer. Neither of them have good things to say about their truck rep and the spotty service they get. My buddy gets the best bang for his buck buying and using Gearwrench and Harbor Freight. Something is wrong with the tool truck business model if tech’s are buying cheaper tools to do their job. It’s not just them.

What do the truck brands do that my Carlyle, Craftsman, Gearwrench and Harbor Freight branded tools don’t do?

The answer: Not a ******** thing.

Another decade and tool trucks will be a memory just like the milk man. They need to find another way to market their tools.

Bi polar much??????

 

[Jtels85]

Bi polar much??????

A little

 

[ilovevocs]

Post #103. IBTL

 

[Tj-gord]

Just moaning about the price.
This is one of the better tools made by SO. If you used these tools regularly you might have a different approach. The swivels have saved me more time and money than any other tool.
The model that you dislike so much and claim is going to fail really is not for you. The model is designed for professional wrenches and the like.
Go and ask your HF, HD or Sears tool section guy a difficult question that needs a tool solution and see what you get for a response.
Plus they make several tools that others do not, but since your a DIY a pair of visegrips will work fine and you just care about getting the job done cheap and none about the quality of the work.

Your right i am moaning about the price, and your right again, that tool is not for me. I dont think its worth 200 bucks. I never claimed any of their tools where junk or will fail, no idea where u read that in my posts. Just for the record i guess, i am a journeyman tech, have been for a long time. One thing your wrong on is that the tools dont make quallity work, the tech does..good tools only make it easier. Never said i dont use good tools either bud.

 

[Snakebyt]

I own some snap on stuff, but i also own lots of other brands, Like my impact sockets for instance, i have 3/8 deep and shallow, and 1/2 deep and shallow from Grey Pneumatic, All 4 sets cost me about 200 total, where i would have spent more than that on just 1/2 deeps from snap on.
Dont own much matco or mac, simply because i have an account with snap on, and i really dont want to have accounts on the other trucks as well. Rather just have one payment. I work at a dealership and all 3 trucks stop by weekly and so far my SO dealer has been great, always goes out of his way to help out

 

[tripplejl]

Been noticing for a while in my neck of the woods, that snapon is almist pricing themselves out of the market. And im talking apples to apples here, always higher than the mac and matco trucks. Anybody else seeing this as well? Or is it just my area (alberta) or just my rep?.. i like snapon, but its really hard to buy when mac is 10 to 20% cheaper and the same quality..

Snap On prices are high but I think they are in a position that they get away with it. Many years of great marketing and marketing to the right audience have led them to a place where the can demand a spectacular premium. It's not for everyone and super expensive but there's no denying they are quality tools. I know I have a lot of SO tools, I know I spent to much money buying them and I know I will probably buy more. I'm ok with that. There are comp's out there for less money and great warranties. Buy what works for you.

 

[xin]

The same people who complain about Snap-On prices buy $800 cell phones. Also, spend $5 on a energy drink that is 12 ounces if it was 1 Gallon it would be $50.

I have Snap-On tools and would not change anything going back in time on buying them. As well as MAC/Matco/SK and other brands. Never had any problems with warranty for 'tools' I have always will prefer Made in USA.

Lastly, I would say the same people spend money on cigs and liquor without batting a lash...

 

[IMStuner]

I only like a few items from Snap-On and pay the premium price for them.

Tools Box
Wrenches
Ratchets

 

[lilscorpion]

Reality for at least some of us working people is almost completely the opposite of your scenario.
I have more than one ratchet and, even when I do manage to explode the guts, I have a handful of others to work with 'till the following tool truck visit -- without ever interrupting my personal time over work tools.....Besides that, even if I did want to stop at the SO mans house on the way home, he's closer to my preferred route home than any store I could buy tool from...the few times in my life I attempted to warranty box store tools did not leave me thinking tool trucks where such a bad way to go as all the web makes it sound.

Key here is the truck actually stops where you work. In busy markets, the truck favors the big shops (trust me I️ get why) and doesn’t have time to make the smaller shops but once every sometimes. IF your in a shop that gets frequent attention and IF your SO reps house is within a reasonable distance, the warranty process can be a good deal. Work remote, or not in a big shop, you may find that the warranty is a nice to have but not necessarily beneficial enough to justify the price over lesser tools that you could afford to buy 2 of.

I have a few friends that are career wrenches and they have a massive amounts of SO tools in their boxes. Reality is they rarely break tools and the truck drivers barely know them because they rarely purchase anymore and even more rarely warranty. When asked how often they hat to warranty tools one said - if you’re breaking tools, you’re doing it wrong. If you’re wearing them out you’re getting your monies worth which is gonna take some time when you buy good tools.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[lilscorpion]

The same people who complain about Snap-On prices buy $800 cell phones. Also, spend $5 on a energy drink that is 12 ounces if it was 1 Gallon it would be $50.

Lastly, I would say the same people spend money on cigs and liquor without batting a lash...

That’s some funny $hit and very true. No problem dropping $2k on fancy spinner wheels but $250 for a set of of 10 wrenches...



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Diy2fault]

For those of us diyers we don't have much of a leg to stand on when complaining about snap on pricing. Sure if they cut their prices by a third or more the product would fly out of their trucks. They make a lot of good tools, every day tools and once in a while tools. But much like other high end products buy once cry once. The wide variety of good quality non snap on tools makes it easy for us to tool up. The biggest gripe I have is mechanics have not received 1 to 5 percent raises over the last 25 plus years I have been out of the business and those who stayed or entered have had to learn more than 5 percent a year.

 

[L.Cheapo]

The Internet is seriously disrupting their business model though. The truck is a lot less convenient than a company that can overnight you any tool that breaks and costs 1/3 the price of SO.

Source?

The real world numbers contradict your statement. https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/sna/financials

 

[Sycan]

I like how people recommend two of something cheaper, I'd have to spend way more for a bigger service truck. Not everyone works in the garage and drives past tool retailers on the way home from work.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

When asked how often they hat to warranty tools one said - if you’re breaking tools, you’re doing it wrong. If you’re wearing them out you’re getting your monies worth which is gonna take some time when you buy good tools.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Agree 100%.
The chrome is wearing off my flank drive wrenches bought in 95 when I started, but are still 100% workable.
A couple of items I have broken where NLA when I Warrantied them out, so I got the current new/ improved version no questions asked.
I think I have actually grenaded ratchets 3 or 4 times in 22 years because I generally use the right tool for the job and have 3/4 and 1" drive stuff where needed.
We do get excellent service out of our SO guy inspite of being only 2 or 3 guys in my shop and often times I'm the only one spending money. Actually, the SO man has mentioned some issues of stuff like the county gov't fleet shop around the corner with 15 guys who all want to fondle everything on his truck and chat for 2 hours and hardly any of them spend more than 20 bucks a week.

 

[packet]

Source?

The real world numbers contradict your statement. https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/sna/financials

Snap-on Tools Group accounts for 44% of their revenue. They're a global company with a bunch of brands that have nothing to do with the tool trucks. Take a look at their annual report if you want to see what's actually going on.

If you dig in to the numbers a bit, volume is actually down YoY for tools. Sales are up 4.8% mostly due to price increases, but there's only so long you can do that. The majority of their growth comes from areas like financial services, and repair systems. FY16Q4, SOT was basically flat as well. It might be seasonality, but I haven't seen what their fiscal calendar is. Moreover, SOT growth is slowing. It was 7.8% 14-15, but 4.8% 15-16.

 

[IdahoMan]

I only like a few items from Snap-On and pay the premium price for them.

Tools Box
Wrenches
Ratchets

Have you checked out the Tools Box at Harbor Freight?

 

[-OSIS-]

You're paying for the credit with the 20% interest they charge you. You can also get a credit card for the same thing.

Snap on is expensive because the company has figured out people will pay the prices, and they're a for-profit company. Simple as that.

The Internet is seriously disrupting their business model though. The truck is a lot less convenient than a company that can overnight you any tool that breaks and costs 1/3 the price of SO.

The only interest you pay is on a box. On a revolving truck account there is no interest.

 

[bob15]

What irks me is that you can only buy Snap On, Mac and Matco from the tool truck. Sure, you could probably find most of what you want on eBay, but not always.

For someone like me who isn’t a pro, but spends a ridiculous amount of money on tools... I would gladly not spend another dime on Carlyle, Gearwrench or SK if I had access to a Mac or Snap On truck... or just access in general... But I don’t. There are people out there who would buy this stuff if it was more accessible.

There is a thing out there called the internet and online stores. Snap on has one and you can buy directly from them (no tool truck needed) and they have free shipping.

It is amazing to use.....you should try it yourself sometime

 

[WhiffySpark]

Have you checked out the Tools Box at Harbor Freight?

They don’t compare. Not even close.

 

[buffalobill]

There is a thing out there called the internet and online stores. Snap on has one and you can buy directly from them (no tool truck needed) and they have free shipping.

It is amazing to use.....you should try it yourself sometime

Also, have the guys complaining actually tried to go on a snap on, mac, or matco truck? I've never been treated bad or looked down on when I pull up to one and ask to buy. They are always happy to get more customers. I also don't bug them for free stuff, or a hat, and I don't waste their time with 1 10 dollar purchase.

There are about 8 tool trucks in this area, I've dealt with 2 mac guys who are great, and the snap on guy will come out and hook you up any time he is home and you pull into his driveway to buy stuff.

I honestly am not seeing a comparison between hf or gearwrench sales and service or snap on, at least in this area. If I need carlyle, the napa will run it out to me during work hours, so they are about on par with tool trucks...