Snap-On Pricing - What happened to me

[kdubaz]

I'm an office manager at a bus shop here in the Phoenix Area. We've got 5 mechanics, so we're a pretty small shop, but we get by ok. I've been here a year or so now, and when I first started, I inquired about prices on boxes. I've been looking to get a new toolbox for a long time now, but I've never been able to "buy off the truck" because, well, Snap-on doesn't like to stop at software companies.

Anyways, I don't buy a lot from the Snap-On guy because he's a ****. The guy literally makes fun of me when I just buy one thing. Since the Mac guy started coming along, I've been buying from him rather than Snappy because of the service. That said, I'm in a better financial situation now and I'm buying a box this summer.

Well since I hadn't seen the snappy guy in a long time, I went today to complete my ratchet collection and talk boxes. The Macsimizer 1350 and Snap-On 7023 are almost identical boxes in prices and size, so I wanted to get an idea of what I'd be able to get the 7023 for.

He's out of the 1/2" ratchet, and he sells me the 1/4" for $69, which seems high to me, but I do it. He then tells me the 1/2" is $129. I don't order it, just walk out with my 1/4" and go.

My late crew guys come in a few later, and they tell me that they priced the pair for me last night when he came for them. $160 for the pair. That's versus $200 for the pair my price. Follow the program here?

I understand that I'm an office guy, not the mechanic who needs it every day, but that doesn't mean I deserve to get the shaft.

Just means the Mac guy is getting my box business.

Any thoughts?

 

[george4]

I'm an office manager at a bus shop here in the Phoenix Area. We've got 5 mechanics, so we're a pretty small shop, but we get by ok. I've been here a year or so now, and when I first started, I inquired about prices on boxes. I've been looking to get a new toolbox for a long time now, but I've never been able to "buy off the truck" because, well, Snap-on doesn't like to stop at software companies.

Anyways, I don't buy a lot from the Snap-On guy because he's a ****. The guy literally makes fun of me when I just buy one thing. Since the Mac guy started coming along, I've been buying from him rather than Snappy because of the service. That said, I'm in a better financial situation now and I'm buying a box this summer.

Well since I hadn't seen the snappy guy in a long time, I went today to complete my ratchet collection and talk boxes. The Macsimizer 1350 and Snap-On 7023 are almost identical boxes in prices and size, so I wanted to get an idea of what I'd be able to get the 7023 for.

He's out of the 1/2" ratchet, and he sells me the 1/4" for $69, which seems high to me, but I do it. He then tells me the 1/2" is $129. I don't order it, just walk out with my 1/4" and go.

My late crew guys come in a few later, and they tell me that they priced the pair for me last night when he came for them. $160 for the pair. That's versus $200 for the pair my price. Follow the program here?

I understand that I'm an office guy, not the mechanic who needs it every day, but that doesn't mean I deserve to get the shaft.

Just means the Mac guy is getting my box business.

Any thoughts?

I just bought a new, still in the box, set of 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 Snap On (936) rachets on ebay for $119 including shipping.

 

[Jbullfrog]

He priced them at suggested retail. If you paid that shame on you. Do your homework and ask if that is the best he can do. Snap-On has a website with all of their products and prices listed.

 

[Deafautotech]

it is depend on how much of people will pay on tools from tool truck. my snap on guy give ma a discount price which my snap on guy try make business with me. but i did bought used tools from him which he sold me much cheap than buy new tools from other tool truck....

i paid a lot of money from him while he make a good deal with me. i always look at website for list price to make sure i am make good deal with tool like see my snap on guy and ask him for the tool that website said 100 dollar plus tax and my snap on guy offer me for 90 dollars plus tax. so i get 10 dollar off from list price. it is depend on which tools....

NEVER try get the credit on toolbox or you will need pay longer than you can go... it is high interest like 20 percents.

 

[kartracer55]

You got list price, the other techs got "regular customer" price. The trucks arnt like sears, these guys can set thier own prices and make deals left and right. Alot of it depends on when you catch them, or at leaast my dealer. Some stuff he sells to me at list, other items he will just rattle off a random price. I wanted to get a set of wobble extensions, and he said I should definetly have them, but not a full set. So I said, ok whatcha got. Handed me a 3 inch extension. I asked how much and he said, shouldnt be much more than 10. He looks it up, and its like 20$. He sells it for 10 anyway.

My guy will knock off tax sometimes for me, Not always with the other guys who ride a balance to make sure he keeps showing up. Different shops get different treatment as well. Its kinda BS, but it is what it is. Next time you want something, figure out which tech he likes the best and have him buy it in cash for you.

Jim

 

[Deafautotech]

You got list price, the other techs got "regular customer" price. The trucks arnt like sears, these guys can set thier own prices and make deals left and right. Alot of it depends on when you catch them, or at leaast my dealer. Some stuff he sells to me at list, other items he will just rattle off a random price. I wanted to get a set of wobble extensions, and he said I should definetly have them, but not a full set. So I said, ok whatcha got. Handed me a 3 inch extension. I asked how much and he said, shouldnt be much more than 10. He looks it up, and its like 20$. He sells it for 10 anyway.

My guy will knock off tax sometimes for me, Not always with the other guys who ride a balance to make sure he keeps showing up. Different shops get different treatment as well. Its kinda BS, but it is what it is. Next time you want something, figure out which tech he likes the best and have him buy it in cash for you.

Jim

I am agree with Jim too. it is same thing to me like no taxes, sell me at half price while he have it sit in tool truck long. even my snap on guy recommend me to buy set instead individual while i am not sure about it but he decided to gave me a discount price. so i did bought it. other tech paid the list price. i just wait for my snap on guy give me discount or sale price.....

 

[wythors]

It has been discussed here in the past that the tool truck guy of choice for most of us isn't a particular brand, but a particular salesman. I have had similar experiences with Snappy dudes before and, as such, own very few Snap-On tools. The vast majority of my tool truck tools are Mac, since the Mac guys have always treated me better at shops I've worked at and I don't see a noticable quality difference between the brands. I am but a lowly parts guy at the dealership, but the Mac guy stops by my desk and drops off the "specials" flyers every week and I get the big yearly catalog without having to ask. The Snap-On guy acts like it's a major inconvenience to talk to me.

 

[wilbilt]

I've noticed the dealer's attitude is often related to his credit standing with the company. If he's in good shape, he's happy, his truck is stocked, and deals abound.

If he is behind in his payments, he is stressed, the truck looks bare, and he needs to sell the stuff at list to try and catch up. He'll be reluctant to warranty, as those credits will go toward his balance rather than coming back as inventory to sell.

The tool companies promise these guys the world and then squeeze the life out of them.

 

[KingPerformance]

I've noticed the dealer's attitude is often related to his credit standing with the company. If he's in good shape, he's happy, his truck is stocked, and deals abound.

If he is behind in his payments, he is stressed, the truck looks bare, and he needs to sell the stuff at list to try and catch up. He'll be reluctant to warranty, as those credits will go toward his balance rather than coming back as inventory to sell.

The tool companies promise these guys the world and then squeeze the life out of them.

Exactly. Though, I would rather have purchased a nice waterloo box then a MAC box. Matco and Snap on Boxes are definatly top tier units.

 

[kdubaz]

Exactly. Though, I would rather have purchased a nice waterloo box then a MAC box. Matco and Snap on Boxes are definatly top tier units.

Funny you say that, because some of the guys I work with say Matco is ****. I've got another friend with $30k in Matco boxes and he loves it. I think it may just come down to preference.

Everything I've read so far seems to be what I figured it would be. I'm not preferred customer, so I'm not going to get preferred rates. He doesn't take me seriously as a customer, so that's that.

 

[1320stang]

I've got a guy that lives down the road from me that is a Mac dealer, down the street from my sister lives the Cromwell dealer. I've never really thought about seeing if I can deal with them at their house as opposed to them coming to me, but on the other hand, I can't really think of anything they'd have that I need (need, not want). I don't really need, but my next hand tool purchase will be a set of SAE and metric Gearwrench wrenches. I'm thinking of going double boxed instead of combos.

 

[Deafautotech]

my friend have matco toolbox (four bay) and he like it because matco tool offer tech a choice of color while my tech friend love Michigan football team so he got yellow toolbox with blue trims on drawers. but the big problem is it took him a 6 months to get everything what he want as hutch come with as free while it is offer in weekly flier.
my tech friend told me that he was work in GM dealership in few years ago and he saw one tech who work for GM long time own about 25,000 to 35,000 dollars toolboxes. it is bigger boxes.

i am owner of two used snap on toolboxes (chest KR1200 and bottom boxes KRL1001B) it cost me much less than new snap on chest KRL1201.

i do have snap on tools but i got discount price because i always paid full price on tools. but about 60 percent of hand tools are craftsman tools....

 

[kdubaz]

I've got a guy that lives down the road from me that is a Mac dealer, down the street from my sister lives the Cromwell dealer. I've never really thought about seeing if I can deal with them at their house as opposed to them coming to me, but on the other hand, I can't really think of anything they'd have that I need (need, not want). I don't really need, but my next hand tool purchase will be a set of SAE and metric Gearwrench wrenches. I'm thinking of going double boxed instead of combos.

And I agree for the most part. Here's what I do like:

My trusty CH airsaw gave up the ghost 6 months ago and I couldn't find a new one anywhere. Not even Harbor Freight had it in stock. I ended up going to Snap-On and I got one of the best tools I own.

Then there's the ratchets. I genuinely like working with Snap-on ratchets. Just feels better in the hand for me. Combine that with the Mac Edge sockets I'm getting and I just feel like I'm working with quality stuff.

See I'm just building custom cars and what-not in the garage, but I like using stuff that's quality. I've suffered with inferior **** for a long time now. Example: I was welding with a home depot special Lincoln welder for years. Yes, it did the job and got it done, but once I got my Miller 180, my world changed. It was like I had never really welded before. Same thing with the Edge sockets and ratchets.

So no, I'm not going to rebuy my tool collection off the trucks, but I do have a few things that I'd like to get. Mostly specialty stuff, some decent sockets, and a toolbox. Sure it's $10k worth of **** by the time I'm done, but it's stuff I won't have to rebuy in 20 years.

 

[Major Ramifications]

"No comment", says this Craftsman guy.

 

[Deafautotech]

Then there's the ratchets. I genuinely like working with Snap-on ratchets. Just feels better in the hand for me. Combine that with the Mac Edge sockets I'm getting and I just feel like I'm working with quality stuff.


i have question about mac tool EDGE sockets. is it good tool? i know it is made oversea. my mac tool guy show my the tools before and i found it was made by oversea as it is Chrome moly socket. it is for impact socket.

i have no problem with my snap on ratchets while i got from my high school automotive mechanic teacher while he try rid some of extra tools that he had in his toolboxes. i got two ratchets for cheap price than tool truck's price. he did used it a lot and it still service me really good. but i still own many craftsman ratchets too.

 

[strizzy]

I never buy much off the SO truck, but when I do it has always been list.

Am I correct to think that the inside of the MATCO boxes are not painted?

 

[kdubaz]

i have question about mac tool EDGE sockets. is it good tool? i know it is made oversea. my mac tool guy show my the tools before and i found it was made by oversea as it is Chrome moly socket. it is for impact socket.

i have no problem with my snap on ratchets while i got from my high school automotive mechanic teacher while he try rid some of extra tools that he had in his toolboxes. i got two ratchets for cheap price than tool truck's price. he did used it a lot and it still service me really good. but i still own many craftsman ratchets too.

I know this is going to come off as blasphemy here on this site, but I don't really care where my tools come from, as long as they work and work well. I do think that a lot of stuff from overseas is ****, but it's not like Sears isn't farming out their stuff nowadays.

I love my edge sockets. First, they fit. Sounds odd, but I put a craftsman socket on and it doesn't quite snug itself on there. It works, but I do get a lot of rounded out bolts and nuts. With the edge stuff, no problems. I haven't been using them long, but I like them.

Right now 90% of my tools are craftsman, but it comes down to quality. I don't need tool truck parts for everything, but what I do own I want to work. So far my experience with the Mac stuff and Snap On stuff that I do own tells me that it works excellently.

 

[TNToy]

I never buy much off the SO truck, but when I do it has always been list.

Am I correct to think that the inside of the MATCO boxes are not painted?

Where the heck did you get that idea?

In order of quality, I'd rate boxes like this...
Snap-On
Matco

Mac
Cornwell

Matco & Snap-On are in a very tight race for first place.


Around here, all the MAC guys were dicks. So they folded. ALL OF THEM. In the last 6 years, MAC has tried 3 times to re-establish their presence with a driver... none of them lasted more than a couple of months. They get flooded with warranties, and go under because everyone knows they're going to fold, and doesn't want to get stuck with more tools they can't warranty.

So we have 12 Snapon drivers, 12 matco drivers, and a couple of Cornwell trucks running around for good measure...

 

[strizzy]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8263&highlight=snap+on+box+video

Go to 1:35 on the video. *shrugs*

Our Snap On guy is an ***, no one really likes him, just his tools. The MAC guy is really nice, not very aggressive though...