What's funny is the non-professionals have such strong opinions of what professionals need. When you get paid for 18 minutes to do a job that takes 25, messing with loaded toolbox draws that don't open smoothly unless you pull it from directly in front is a time (and money) waster.
There is also an appearance, perception issue. What do you think the average customer thinks when he sees the same $100 toolbox he has at home sitting in the shop? "Oh look, he's frugal and understands that a tool box just holds tools, he must be good!"
Of course, the same goes for the expensive box that is beat up and filthy. It works both ways.
Self-righteousness is never pretty.
Rather presumptuous of you to think that everyone that disagrees with you is a rank amateur. Talk about self-righteousness.
Perhaps one's knowledge and work ethic in their trade are more important than the "perception" issue to them. Let your work speak for your abilities. Invest more in knowledge and skills than tool storage.
I have nothing against Snap-On. They make fine products as I own several myself. I made my living for 34 years as a heavy equipment/diesel truck mechanic and used a couple of tools in that time.
I still have and use to this day the Proto top box and Duplex bottom box I bought used for $125.00 total the day I started. What is a roller bearing drawer anyway? lol
Through the years I've seen many high end tool boxes that cost 3 times more than the tools they contained. What's inside the box should probably cost more than the box itself.
My boxes hold very heavy tools and have been moved many times by off-road fork lifts, hoists and such through the years. They never had the luxury of epoxy and checkerboard vinyl floors, and guess what, they're still alive.
Someone that has 10K to spend on tool storage because they feel they "deserve" it, perhaps might think of family, friends, or a charity that could put that extra cash to better use.
No matter how hard you try to justify it in your head, you know that tool box isn't worth what you're paying for it. 5 to 10 times the cost of a normal box, I think not. It's a wow, look at my box, I must really know what I'm doing thing. Most of the tools probably look like they did the day they came off the truck from light use. I have opened and closed those drawers in mine a lot of times in 34 years and haven't worn them out yet. Anyone that works in this business has probably worn out more Snap-On tools from everyday use than the wannabes that go gaga over them will ever dream of.
The original poster was just asking how everyone that buys one of these boxes can justify the cost and everybody jumped all over him assuming he's not a "pro" therefore he must not know what he's talking about. Remember, the cost can't be justified, been there, done that, other than by those living in a state of delirium.
</O
I've worn off enough SO chrome over the years - not much still has the "right of the tool truck" shine except what I bought recently.....And my retirement is in good order, the bills are paid, my hobbies are fairly cheap...so what if I bought a tool box that is expensive? Did I ask anyone else to pay for it? No. I feel it makes my work a little nicer / easier to deal with and I wanted it. So what?