jmscollinsiii
Well-known member
I just started buying from the local snap on truck. And iv bought a couple things in cash and both have been at www.snapon.com full retail. So my question is, is paying full retail off the truck normal?
Snap On Truck Prices?
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glenmore
Well-known member
Most trucks are 100% retail, but some give minor discounts to their regular customers.
I have bought stuff off the truck for cash to avoid sales tax and sometimes have gotten a "rounding down discount", i.e. $300 instead of retail $306.
But I don't think you should ever pay retail unless you really need the tool right then and there. The only things you should buy off the truck are the special deals like the "Buy one, get one", (BOGO).
The classifieds here are a bit slow lately but there is usually all sorts of Snap-On stuff for sale.
I have bought stuff off the truck for cash to avoid sales tax and sometimes have gotten a "rounding down discount", i.e. $300 instead of retail $306.
But I don't think you should ever pay retail unless you really need the tool right then and there. The only things you should buy off the truck are the special deals like the "Buy one, get one", (BOGO).
The classifieds here are a bit slow lately but there is usually all sorts of Snap-On stuff for sale.
canuckian
Well-known member
I find it it's not unlike a lot of businesses. If you buy only a couple small things every now and again, expect to pay full retail or really close to it. If you buy items regularly, most drivers will give a bit of a discount from time to time. nothing huge, maybe the tax or 10%. YMMV
chris142
Well-known member
I would expect the prices on the truck to be full retail. We used to have a SO guy that would mark stuff up above retail! You didn't know it unless you saw the price on his computer or looked on the SO site.
The new guy will work with you. Don't expect him to give the truck away but if you wanted a $300 tool and you had $275 cash he would probly let you have it for the $275.
The new guy will work with you. Don't expect him to give the truck away but if you wanted a $300 tool and you had $275 cash he would probly let you have it for the $275.
transittech
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Our current dealer won't budge. (you can roll dice for double or nothing though.) Our old dealer was one of the top in the nation, and he would deal on anything.
The only advantage I see buying off the truck as opposed to the website is being able to inspect the tools for defects ahead of time; otherwise if the truck is the same price as the website, where's the incentive? They should give you a 10% discount for paying with cash in full, or at least not charge you sales tax when paying with cash.
jjjrmx5
Well-known member
No.
Buying off the truck also, for the most part, ensures prompt service for tool warranty work as well as access to the Hot Deals flyer deals if you have a driver in that program.
Tools do break. Even Snap-On.
There are also bad dealers out there. That's not new news.
If on a big route or buying within a large stop on the route, deals are out there on the truck as well as awesome deals on used/traded-in tools and boxes.
It's far more than just MSRP and feeling the tools.
Far more.
I've even had a driver overnite from WI a tool I needed to my house on a Sat so I had it on Mon. morning for a job I was doing.
It's all about service. You pay for that, thus pining for cheap deals is not always the way it works.
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RatchetMan
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If only Snapon would offer their stuff in a retail store somewhere and expand beyond this whole franchisee model.......oh, the possibilities.....and oh, my wallet.
dankicksass
Well-known member
Everything Snap-On you see in a retail store (gloves at Autozone, lights at Sears, knives at Dollar General, etc) is a licensed product.
Murphy4570
Well-known member
They don't cater to DIY types, that was traditionally Sears' territory. Snap-On has always focused only on professionals. I honestly doubt they'd make any money by selling to the general public at outlet stores, their prices are MUCH higher than the DIY tool brands. Most regular people won't pay for that extra quality.
lll otto lll
Member
I have a mental image of Snap-On truck slowly driving down the street on a Saturday afternoon, with grown men running after it, dollar bills clutched in their sweaty little hands...
It's my understanding that the truck driver actually owns a Snap-on franchise and is assigned a route. He buys the tools at a 20%-35% discount from Snap-On and resells them at retail price. I believe Snap-On Corp. implements MAP (minimum advertised pricing). MAP is suppose to prevent dealers from undercutting each other.
If the truck driver gives you a discount...it's coming out of his own pocket.
It's my understanding that the truck driver actually owns a Snap-on franchise and is assigned a route. He buys the tools at a 20%-35% discount from Snap-On and resells them at retail price. I believe Snap-On Corp. implements MAP (minimum advertised pricing). MAP is suppose to prevent dealers from undercutting each other.
If the truck driver gives you a discount...it's coming out of his own pocket.
With as small as the margins are, it's hard to imagine how any dealer can have long term success, if they regularly discount anything remotely more than a token gesture.
Ive spent time on both the Matco and Snap on trucks, I Probably spend somewhere around 2K a Year more or less and the only discount ive ever received was being Tax Free.. My purchases are always Cash/Credit Card, Paid in Full.
About a Year ago, I found a Dealer that was getting out of the business and i scored about 4K Retail for around 2k Cash out the door with NO receipt. Id be willing to bet if you are a regular customer and have a good Track record with Payments there are some dealers who will give some deals, But its not been my experience outside of waiving the tax.
About a Year ago, I found a Dealer that was getting out of the business and i scored about 4K Retail for around 2k Cash out the door with NO receipt. Id be willing to bet if you are a regular customer and have a good Track record with Payments there are some dealers who will give some deals, But its not been my experience outside of waiving the tax.
OP
jmscollinsiii
Well-known member
I forgot to mention he did drop the tax which is 6% where i am. But i dropped $250 last week and $80 this week even if not a discount throw a guy a hat. I know there is not much mark up in tools but he could have thrown me a promo item and id be more than happy? I hope im not being greedy im new to the tool truck thing.
afazz
Well-known member
I'm a hobby user, I've had two dealers that I meet occasionally in the evening. The first guy had almost zero inventory, had to order everything I needed, didn't participate in the sales because his volumes were so low, and I paid list+tax after driving to his house on my own time. If I want that type of service, I can use snapon.com from my phone and have it in 2 days.
When I met the second guy, I made it very clear that I will never NEED anything he has to sell, I pay cash in full on the spot, I meet him at his convenience, and will only buy if it's discounted. In the rare occasion that I need something immediately, I don't have a problem paying full retail. Otherwise, it's either a discounted sale or no sale. Their margins are generally slim and different on every item, I pay between 5-20% off. I negotiate the price on everything.
If you're a hobby user, you have this power. There are probably several dealers in your area, and you can use whoever you want! You don't NEED any tools on the truck, you WANT them. As a professional user, in a shop with a weekly stop and a revolving credit account, you lose some of that bargaining power.
When I met the second guy, I made it very clear that I will never NEED anything he has to sell, I pay cash in full on the spot, I meet him at his convenience, and will only buy if it's discounted. In the rare occasion that I need something immediately, I don't have a problem paying full retail. Otherwise, it's either a discounted sale or no sale. Their margins are generally slim and different on every item, I pay between 5-20% off. I negotiate the price on everything.
If you're a hobby user, you have this power. There are probably several dealers in your area, and you can use whoever you want! You don't NEED any tools on the truck, you WANT them. As a professional user, in a shop with a weekly stop and a revolving credit account, you lose some of that bargaining power.
glenmore
Well-known member
It's all about service. You pay for that, thus pining for cheap deals is not always the way it works.
That retail price is a hell of a lot more than just service.
That retail price has everything but the kitchen sink rolled into it.
It has SnapOn profit, dealer profit, dealer financing costs, student discounts, BOGO discounts and promos all rolled into one.
lll otto lll
Member
A mobile franchise (or truck) only has a couple of hundred customers within it's territory. If you're a high volume buyer or buy regularly you can use this as leverage for a deeper discount.
Next time, ask the driver how many customers he has.
If your continued patronage is important, he'll offer a discount.
If not, then buy online....Snap-On INC. doesn't care. He stands to lose more than you do.
Next time, ask the driver how many customers he has.
If your continued patronage is important, he'll offer a discount.
If not, then buy online....Snap-On INC. doesn't care. He stands to lose more than you do.
To be honest that ain't really that much money spent for any hook ups. Just my opinion.
Thats the way it works with any retail business...
Bingo. Its a proven fact that "sale" and "discount" are words that get people to spend money they otherwise would not have. Plus there is much less incentive is there to drop cash if you can get it at X price anytime if it isnt something you need right that second.
Heck Snap-On themselves do it. Look at the buy one get ones where they stick a standard and metric socket set together. Most guys probably dont even care about the standard set but they tell themselves its "free" and thus worth purchasing, even if they wont use it.
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Eagle Point
Well-known member
I was a Snap-On dealer back in the 80/90's and can share how I went about business. I pretty much sold at list price. Everyone talks so as soon as you give one customer a deal on something then word gets out and it gets out of hand really fast. What I did was rather than discount the price I would throw something in, t-shirt, hat clock, jacket, mug, etc. I never sold any of that stuff, never. You would be amazed what some customers would buy just to get a certain freebie. I always said the more you ***** the less you get free from me. Those that never asked for anything but paid their bill and were civil I took care of with odds/ends. Back in the day, the only thing I as a dealer got free from the company was the catalog and price list. All of the "give aways" I had on the truck I paid for. Customers assumed that I got them free! Selling is easy, collecting your money was always a challenge and I will bet that has only gotten worse over the years and is what drives dealers out of business (along with other corporate changes). Plus, having Ebay, Craigslist, and forums to buy tools from at a serious discount makes it even tougher for dealers to make a sale and a living. The job looks great from the outside but it is not for everyone. My tool bill each week to the branch was due each week just like your payment to the dealer is due each week. When the dealer as a courtesy opens a truck accout @ zero interest for you and then has to beg/fight for the payment it gets old real fast. Giving a discount on everything and then having to chase customers down that quit or were fired and still owe you, can get out of hand quickly. My bill is still due. If you purchased on contract through the company (EC), that is my job to collect that payment and send it in each week. New dealers have more overhead at first. When I started I chose to buy a new truck, $50k. I did not get the 2% extra discount on my tool purchases each week until I was "full equity" (owned my inventory outright) which I paid off in 2 years. To me the the core of the business was providing great service and offering quality products, not trying to discount everything to match Sears or the other truck brands. I tried to sell the features and benefits of Snap-on over the competition which for the most part was easy. Just some thoughts to think about. 
I don't quite see it that way.
If I break a SO socket on Monday...then I have to wait until, say, Friday before I see the guy again.
If I break a Craftsman or GearWrench socket on Monday, I can stop at Sears or AdvanceAuto and get a new socket that evening and have it for Tuesday.
tkonetzke
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genevabuck
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I have gotten deals from Snap On guys, but there is no rhyme nor reason for it. I swear it is by what kind of a mood that they are in.
demonspeed
Well-known member
^ I agree. I probably have 10k in snap-on tools. The only promo stuff I ever get is a free pair of $5 socks at christmas. Spending $330 isn't much compared to what a lot of his customers are spending.
FlatHeads_Suck
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My dealer does certain things for sales. Anything sitting on top of the mro1022 is 20% off, and anything in the cardboard box on the dash is $100
NC-Fordguy
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The snappy guy I deal with will knock off sales tax (7% in NC) If I special order something he'll knock off 10%. This is of course cash sales. CC cards no breaks and usually no breaks on things under 100 dollars. (Can you buy something for less than 100 dollars from snappy 
)
He also will give me a freebee once in a while- Last thing he gave me was the ratchet repair tool thingy.
I like dealing with this snappy guy not so much because of the deals but because he takes care of his customers-- no limp **** stuff unlike the last couple of snappy guys I dealt with
)He also will give me a freebee once in a while- Last thing he gave me was the ratchet repair tool thingy.
I like dealing with this snappy guy not so much because of the deals but because he takes care of his customers-- no limp **** stuff unlike the last couple of snappy guys I dealt with
Man of Many Vices
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I was a Snap-On dealer back in the 80/90's and can share how I went about business. I pretty much sold at list price.
...
I tried to sell the features and benefits of Snap-on over the competition which for the most part was easy. Just some thoughts to think about.
Eagle Point tells it like it is. The question is, "Are you a Snap-on customer?"
In my 30s I sold my struggling newspaper publishing business to a large newspaper chain. Made a few bucks (it's all gone, now).
After driving a series of clunkers that were worth more dead than alive, it was time for a nice car. Went to the big city dealer to check out the Jaguar XJS V-12 convertible (which I could then easily pay cash for). A good friend had an XJ-6.
After being ignored by the salesmen, one finally drew the short straw, and marched over to me like I was a stray dog about to take a leak on the "tyre." "Sir, you don't look like a Jaguar customer to me." He did an abrupt about face, and left me standing at the tailpipe.
Of course, he was right. I drove to the lot in the latest clunker; I was wearing the clothing that "suited" me just fine unloaded newspapers from the truck. And my self-administered haircut needed a touch-up.
No Jaguar for me. Ever.
Are you a Snap-on customer? If so, pay the price, enjoy the tools. Demand the service to which you are entitled. Recognize that the guy in the truck is hustling just as hard as you are to survive. If he doesn't give you the service you are entitled to, go somewhere else -- or have them come to you.
What are the tools worth? Are they worth what is being asked? Does your immediate desire/need for the tool exceed the price difference from a cheaper tool you can acquire later?
We all know about the Snap-on Kool Aid: the non-verbal statement that is made to customers, employers, fellow mechanics and vendors who see your wonderful roll-away cabinets.
Forget the Kool Aid. Does the tool do its job? Does it help you do your job? If so, buy it. The difference in price between Snap-on (or other premium brand) and a tool you consider to be less desirable will be only a dollar a day (maybe more).
Downside on that 3/4 lb. cheeseburger; wait for the hit movie to arrive at the dollar theater (then sneak in your own snack); drink four, not six brewskies at the end of the day. If you do, the Snap-on man will let you have your tools today.
....What car did I buy? Paid cash for a top-of-the-line Dodge Grand Caravan LE with all the fixin's, including simulated wood grain exterior wallpaper. "A much more sensible car," I was told over and over again.
I wish I had the guts to buy the Jag.
Dan
Indio, CA
, I finally couldfter selling a business to a
Man of Many Vices
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I was a Snap-On dealer back in the 80/90's and can share how I went about business. I pretty much sold at list price.
...
I tried to sell the features and benefits of Snap-on over the competition which for the most part was easy. Just some thoughts to think about.
Eagle Point tells it like it is. The question is, "Are you a Snap-on customer?"
In my 30s I sold my struggling newspaper publishing business to a large newspaper chain. Made a few bucks (it's all gone, now).
After driving a series of clunkers that were worth more dead than alive, it was time for a nice car. Went to the big city dealer to check out the Jaguar XJS V-12 convertible (which I could then easily pay cash for). A good friend had an XJ-6.
After being ignored by the salesmen, one finally drew the short straw, and marched over to me like I was a stray dog about to take a leak on the "tyre." "Sir, you don't look like a Jaguar customer to me." He did an abrupt about face, and left me standing at the tailpipe.
Of course, he was right. I drove to the lot in the latest clunker; I was wearing the clothing that "suited" me just fine when I unloaded newspapers from the truck. And my self-administered haircut needed a touch-up.
No Jaguar for me. Ever.
Are you a Snap-on customer? If so, pay the price, enjoy the tools. Demand the service to which you are entitled. Recognize that the guy in the truck is hustling just as hard as you are to survive. If he doesn't give you the service you are entitled to, go somewhere else -- or have them come to you.
What are the tools worth? Are they worth what is being asked? Does your immediate desire/need for the tool exceed the price difference from a cheaper tool you can acquire later?
We all know about the Snap-on Kool Aid: the non-verbal statement that is made to customers, employers, fellow mechanics and vendors who see your wonderful roll-away cabinets.
Forget the Kool Aid. Does the tool do its job? Does it help you do your job? If so, buy it. The difference in price between Snap-on (or other premium brand) and a tool you consider to be less desirable will be only a dollar a day (maybe more).
Downside on that 3/4 lb. cheeseburger; wait for the hit movie to arrive at the dollar theater (then sneak in your own snack); drink four, not six brewskies at the end of the day. If you do, the Snap-on man will let you have your tools today.
....What car did I buy? Paid cash for a top-of-the-line Dodge Grand Caravan LE with all the fixin's, including simulated wood grain exterior wallpaper. "A much more sensible car," I was told over and over again.
I wish I had the guts to buy the Jag.
Dan
Indio, CA
red97k1500
Well-known member
With my dealer the only thing i have paid list price on was a 15 dollar tire valve core remover, the rest has been 10% off or more.
anndel
Well-known member
Depends on the driver. When I first bought from my current driver, he gave me 15% off retail right off the bat and he's still my driver after dealing with him for over 2 years.
finn
Well-known member
Corporate account manager used to give the engineers, technicians, and mechanics 20% off back in the 90s.
I still couldn’t justify the price at the time, although I did end up with a few items.
There were over 400 people at our facility in Engineering alone, plus another thousand plus in the manufacturing facility supported by millwrights, etc, so he had a pretty good base to draw from.
I still couldn’t justify the price at the time, although I did end up with a few items.
There were over 400 people at our facility in Engineering alone, plus another thousand plus in the manufacturing facility supported by millwrights, etc, so he had a pretty good base to draw from.
Bottom line is if you ain't getting A1 service from your truck man you wasting serious dollars.
You may have a great driver but when he gone what you got ?
Overpriced tools lol .
I personally prefer hand picking select worthwhile tools from truck brands only and handpick rest from select sources to my preferences of design quality and cost for self warranty, my self warranty can deal with issue instantly and is true life warranty, no receipt no phonecalls no drama no time wasted ...
Snapon warranty and trucks/drivers has changed a lot and will keep changing and not to your service and warranty benefit so consider that to value you putting into it .
You may have a great driver but when he gone what you got ?
Overpriced tools lol .
I personally prefer hand picking select worthwhile tools from truck brands only and handpick rest from select sources to my preferences of design quality and cost for self warranty, my self warranty can deal with issue instantly and is true life warranty, no receipt no phonecalls no drama no time wasted ...
Snapon warranty and trucks/drivers has changed a lot and will keep changing and not to your service and warranty benefit so consider that to value you putting into it .
Alpine4x4
Well-known member
My dealer runs some of the big corporate promos and also has other stuff on the truck on promo pricing. Unsure of what the rhyme or reason is to what is a promo item, but thats mainly what I buy. Bogo is nice too. I usually carry a small truck balance, make above minimum payments or pay it off before another purchase. I'm not sure if my dealer just has a lot of promo stuff or hes always cutting me a deal, but I rarely pick something up I need thats not somehow on promo pricing.
marineman
Well-known member
Our driver has been doing this on the same route for 20 years now. He has a few specials all the time but pretty much any tool is list price. Boxes are close to half of list which seems close to most. He makes up for price with service. I can text him any time and if he has it in stock he shows up same day to warranty or sell me a tool. Little things here and there are free, warranty on some things that shouldn't be etc
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Sent from my SM-G930R4 using The Garage Journal mobile app
Wamsutta
Well-known member
I hear guys saying they buy Snap-on tools for the service that the dealer or company provides. That's all fine and dandy, but if the tool isn't at least 10 times better than the competitor's offerings, I'd never pay the high price.