Snap on replaces soft grip screwdriver set?

[chad s]

Someone brought this up in a recent thread (I think the buying snap on tools on ebay thread). I purchased 2 ratchets from a seller on ebay, a snap on 1/4 and 3/8 drive, both new, for $33, and $50 respectively. Both what I concidered good fair prices.

I am looking to buy the SGDX60 set:
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...d=2638&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all

I figured Id ask that seller if they have a truck, and if they can sell me that set at a better price than the retail at $107.

They told me they dont have a truck, but they buy out Government contracts (anyone have any idea exactly that that means?), and they gave me a price for the screwdriver set. I asked them if they have them available, and they got back to me today, to inform me that the SGDX60 set was now replaced with set #SHDX60R.

Now here is what that set looks like:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-...011QQitemZ320074170363QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Now, I surely hope that that seller is wrong. They said the price for me would be the same as the SGDX60 set, but that auctions lists a retail price of $13.70 less than the soft grip set. The new set isnt even on their site. I have no reason to suspect that this seller sells counterfiet items, as everything else they have listed on ebay, and the 2 ratchets I bought were certantly legit.

If they are replacing the soft grip with that new set, well, thats pretty weird. I have used soft grip, and old plastic handles snappy's, I dont think that new style handle would be nearly as nice as the soft grip.

 

[wilbilt]

It is strange. There was some speculation as to why the "new" set is all over ebay, but no one has seen them on the site or on a truck.

Maybe the "government contract" was for items different than those sold through the normal channels...although that's just a wild guess.

 

[bmwpower]

Very strange. I remember seeing that post and trying to find the new screwdrivers on the Snap-on site. You would think the Snap-on site would be up to the minute as far as new tools goes.

 

[chad s]

I dont really think that they are replacing them. the seller has those screwdrivers, and proably wants to move the inventory they have. For them to say they replaced the Soft Grips in the snap on line is im sure, not true. I dont think snappy is foolish enough to replace a great product with one that probably is not as good.

 

[wilbilt]

Maybe the "new" screwdrivers were intended for a different distribution, either overseas or for a specific retailer.

Ace Hardware sells Snap-On flashlights that aren't on the SO website, so those screwdrivers might have been going somewhere other than the tool truck.

 

[chad s]

Ace Hardware sells Snap-On flashlights that aren't on the SO website.

Do they say Snap On on the flashlights, or are they rebranded for Ace?

 

[wilbilt]

Do they say Snap On on the flashlights, or are they rebranded for Ace?

They say "Snap-On". They were on sale at $9.99 for the Black Friday sale.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/...geBucket=0&parentPage=family&searchId=1304383

 

[TNToy]

1. Snap-On rebadges all of it's lights, except the VersaVolt ones that take cordless impact/drill batteries. This goes for all the good, expensive ones they sell. They're all Inova, Surefire, or Streamlight products - all very high quality, but available cheaper elsewhere.

The ACE flashlights are just $3 plastic china-made POS's with the Snap-On logo on them.

2. Hold off on these screwdrivers. I'll get an answer later this week from my Snap-On man. The fact that I haven't seen these in any new-release fliers or even in PTEN magazine, make me pretty sure they're counterfeit china-made knockoffs. You know, like fake Rolex watches and Prada purses you can find on there?

 

[wilbilt]

The ACE flashlights are aluminum, but I'm sure they come from overseas. I was going to buy one on BF just to check it out, but never got over that way.

You may be right about the counterfeit thing. Every single hit on that set number from Google and Yahoo leads back to ebay. It seems like ebay is the only place they exist.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

It is strange. There was some speculation as to why the "new" set is all over ebay, but no one has seen them on the site or on a truck.

Maybe the "government contract" was for items different than those sold through the normal channels...although that's just a wild guess.

I would second the government contract stuff. If you have seen the Snap~On dating chart, you know they mark/marked government stuff, as it (at least used to be) sold with NO warranty. (Govt, buy's in bulk, gets a discount, and handles it's own warranty situation).

 

[chad s]

2. Hold off on these screwdrivers. I'll get an answer later this week from my Snap-On man. The fact that I haven't seen these in any new-release fliers or even in PTEN magazine, make me pretty sure they're counterfeit china-made knockoffs. You know, like fake Rolex watches and Prada purses you can find on there?

Im interested in knowing for sure what the deal is with those screwdrivers, but I am NOT buying them, the thought never crossed my mind. It was just ironic that the seller I have dealt with 2 times now offered them too me, after seeing the descussion of them last week.

I set out to buy the soft grip set thats on the Snap On website, and thats what Im definately going with.

 

[chad s]

I would second the government contract stuff. If you have seen the Snap~On dating chart, you know they mark/marked government stuff, as it (at least used to be) sold with NO warranty. (Govt, buy's in bulk, gets a discount, and handles it's own warranty situation).

Well interestingly, neithter of the ratchets I got from this guy has the Government date code as shown on the chart thats online. Here are the date code markings on the ratchets. The date chart online only goes up to 1999, these markings are not on there. Can anyone date these?

 

[-lecroix-]

Some of the government issue SnapOn stuff is also laser etched with gov issue/ D.O.D/asset/part numbers.

I have several NEW SnapOn pieces that were purchased at separate times thru gov/D.O.D. auction and all have these markings.

 

[wilbilt]

They look like a "5" and a"3". If they are not on the chart. I would assume they are 2005 and 2003.

 

[mike nelson]

called snap-on and they said they were not available yet, but will be a good part no. in the future, she also said the ones on eBay were possibly promo sets sent out to dealers.

 

[pl_silverado]

Snap-on is replacing their line-up of screwdrivers, saw them the other day. I can honestly say i like the old ones better.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Snap-on is replacing their line-up of screwdrivers, saw them the other day. I can honestly say i like the old ones better.

I much prefer the old semi-squre plastic hanles they had for years.

 

[pl_silverado]

I much prefer the old semi-squre plastic hanles they had for years.

I have a set of those and i use them all the time, the soft grips i've had for over 2 years and they have been barely used.

 

[dink]

What about the idea of these screwdrivers being conterfeits????

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

What about the idea of these screwdrivers being conterfeits????

If they are, they are very good counterfeits.

Been on two different trucks in the last month and both dealers had these (New) types. One dealer even opened up the box and let me feel one.

Quite honestly, I liked my old soft grips much better. These new ones felt like the Craftsman Professional Screwdriver models; not too bad, but not as squishy and ergonomic as my soft grips.

BWP

 

[bmwpower]

If they are, they are very good counterfeits.

Been on two different trucks in the last month and both dealers had these (New) types. One dealer even opened up the box and let me feel one.

Quite honestly, I liked my old soft grips much better. These new ones felt like the Craftsman Professional Screwdriver models; not too bad, but not as squishy and ergonomic as my soft grips.

BWP

I can feel the price of the old stock of screwdrivers going up in price...

 

[chad s]

I can feel the price of the old stock of screwdrivers going up in price...

Yea, well I baught my set of 6 softgrips today from the snap on man. Wanted to get them right ayway, assuming the currecnt soft grips are on their way out. Im glad I did.

 

[Fry]

I just bought my 8pc soft grip set from snap on. Glad I did the new ones look like ***

 

[wilbilt]

Counterfeit or not, it still seems like somebody jumped the gun and stole the fanfare.
For them to be all over ebay before they were officially announced is like next year's "secret" new car showing up on used car lots before the dealers get them.

I don't care for the new design, but I'm not a "soft grip" user anyway.

 

[ImportTuner]

Counterfeit or not, it still seems like somebody jumped the gun and stole the fanfare.
For them to be all over ebay before they were officially announced is like next year's "secret" new car showing up on used car lots before the dealers get them.

I don't care for the new design, but I'm not a "soft grip" user anyway.

Same here ... easier cleaning the hard handles ..

 

[wilbilt]

Same here ... easier cleaning the hard handles ..

Yeah, and they fit my callouses better...

 

[Milnor Man]

Thay amazes me that Ace is selling a Snap-on branded flashlight. Used to be that Snap-on would go after ANYONE that sold ANYTHING that said Snap-on on it. I once bought a hammer that said snap-on on it from a Fleetfarm store. They had a bunch of hammers with the name ground off and I happened to find one that they had missed. I showed it to the Snap-On tool truck guy. A couple days later a guy from the company showed up wanting to see the hammer and asked where I had bought it, Next time I was in Fleet Farm ALL the hammers were gone!

 

[tweety652]

well i just saw the new snapon flyer and it has this new"crapsman ripoff" style handle screwdriver pictured in it.

 

[toolfreak]

I got to see how well the new screwdrivers are and they do feel like a craftsman. The snap on man didnt like that comment but explained that they went to that new handle because they were having too many problems with the soft grips not holding up from people not wiping the oil or solvents off them. He said he had problems mainly with transmission shops.