Snap On warranty for tools no longer made

[P51Boilermaker]

I got to thinking about this last night-

If you break a Snap On hand tool that they no longer make (like british standard sockets) how do they go about honoring the warranty? Or are you just **** outta luck?

 

[JUNK-MAN]

They should just replace them with a modern equivalent, if there is no modern version they'll just give you the closest thing to what you have.

 

[Jeepster425]

Exactly, pretty much just the newest model of what they have now

 

[Strouty]

That is my experience, I got the closest thing to what broke.

 

[jz43]

I jus returned a orange curved handle ratchet screwdriver. My dealer just took it and replaced with the new adjustable one he had on the truck. I had to settle for the red because I didn't want to wait. You shouldn't have any problems.

 

[P51Boilermaker]

I understand they replace them with the modern equivalent but my question is about what if there is no modern equivalent.

For example they don't make british standard sized sockets anymore but there are old BS sockets out there from Snap On. What do they do if they can't physically replace it because a metric or SAE socket definitely won't work..

 

[gdocktor3]

I understand they replace them with the modern equivalent but my question is about what if there is no modern equivalent.

For example they don't make british standard sized sockets anymore but there are old BS sockets out there from Snap On. What do they do if they can't physically replace it because a metric or SAE socket definitely won't work..

Only Snap On can answer that question. Why not shoot them an email and ask? Then let us know what they say. [email protected]

 

[logikal]

It's funny you ask this, I just broke an 11/16 B/S Snap on socket a couple weeks ago. Gave it to my Snap on guy and was told they will try to locate a NOS item in a warehouse. If that does not happen they will reimburse me the MSRP and my truck guy is willing to take back the whole set.

My opinion, get rid of the set and buy a set of Ko-Ken sockets if you use them enough to be worried about breaking them.

 

[Hiball]

I understand they replace them with the modern equivalent but my question is about what if there is no modern equivalent.

For example they don't make british standard sized sockets anymore but there are old BS sockets out there from Snap On. What do they do if they can't physically replace it because a metric or SAE socket definitely won't work..

In these cases, the owner of the defunk tooling needs to understand that the "tools lifetime warranty" has expired and move onto other avenues if such tool is still needed. My gut tells me that knowing SO like I do, they will try and appease the owner with as close of replacement as possible, regardless if whether it will work or not for there application.

 

[CJM8515]

Probably offer you credit towards something else Id assume.

 

[Junkman]

I have some ratchets that they no longer have repair parts for, and they just swapped them out for a similar ratchet. In one case, I have a 1/2" drive in a 3/8" handle, and the kit is no longer available. I like the ratchet, so I just put it into the search engine, and found a nos repair kit on eBay. Problem solved for me, and I didn't mind paying for it, since I have gotten a lot of service out of that ratchet.

 

[JJThrasher]

Sometimes if you type an old part number into SO's website it'll come up with list of possible warranty options. My dealer is usually chill enough to let me warranty stuff to other stuff. He swapped a damaged 21mm 3/8s swivel for a 1/2 drive version at no charge once.

 

[shockwave]

Usually they offer close to item that is broken

My experience is with my oh24 extra long round handle 3/4 socket end wrench broke at the open end on rusty tie rod the replacement was a extra long combination wrench not anywhere near the same wrench but as close as they currently offer

My next experience was with a fsum24 short chrome universal socket 3/8 drive my dealer credited me the last price it was available I had to find thru eBay a nos from elsewhere

 

[NedNorton]

I asked my driver about the same thing not too long ago. He said basically the same thing; That Snap-On keeps some things in reserve NOS, like BS sockets, and lists them NLA for regular sale. Once those are completely gone, he would give me truck credit for the broken tool. After I was made aware of that I retired my SO BS sockets and purchased some Koken replacements. Not that I could see me personally breaking one, I work on the motorcycles. Old Rovers is another thing all together. To be honest, the fit of the 6pt Koken is better on the old fasteners than the 12pt SO, especially in the smaller sizes, so it was an upgrade of sorts. Bottom line, they would do their best to make it right one way or the other.

 

[Richard Cranium]

When this happened at sears. They looked up the last price in their system and then offered me that amount off any other tool that I would like.
Kind of felt cheated, being the last price was a close out price.
And I didn't buy it at a close out price.

 

[P51Boilermaker]

It's funny you ask this, I just broke an 11/16 B/S Snap on socket a couple weeks ago. Gave it to my Snap on guy and was told they will try to locate a NOS item in a warehouse. If that does not happen they will reimburse me the MSRP and my truck guy is willing to take back the whole set.

My opinion, get rid of the set and buy a set of Ko-Ken sockets if you use them enough to be worried about breaking them.

That'd kind of what I figured would happen. Thanks for the info everyone!

 

[Al Borland]

Gotta ask, what is British Standard???

 

[hautpot]

It is another imperial size, mainly on vintage equipment. The way they measure it is different.

 

[Wamsutta]

They will replace it with the closest equivalent.

 

[reader2580]

I asked my driver about the same thing not too long ago. He said basically the same thing; That Snap-On keeps some things in reserve NOS, like BS sockets, and lists them NLA for regular sale. Once those are completely gone, he would give me truck credit for the broken tool. After I was made aware of that I retired my SO BS sockets and purchased some Koken replacements. Not that I could see me personally breaking one, I work on the

Why would you replace perfectly good sockets just because you couldn't get a warranty replacement if one broke?

 

[gdocktor3]

Why would you replace perfectly good sockets just because you couldn't get a warranty replacement if one broke?

Seriously....

 

[Davefr]

If it's that old, then how was it "defective in materials or workmanship"?

Metal fatigue and wear is not a defect.

The CM warranty is totally unique in that it's has nothing to do with defects. (only the customers satisfaction).

Owners often confuse the various warranties.

 

[NedNorton]

Why would you replace perfectly good sockets just because you couldn't get a warranty replacement if one broke?

I know in my situation I was thinking about 3 things:
1. I use my tools and need them to be there for me and if I should break one it needs to be replaced. Since my Driver couldn't guarantee that anymore on the BS sockets, I wanted to find a set that had backups readily available. I don't want to have to search eBay should something happen.

2. Those sockets have been in my box and in use since 1988. I purchased them used from a friend and mentor who exposed me to working on and riding old British bikes. They were his spare set that he sold to me for a song because I was a young kid with limited funds. They now have sentimental value and I would like to keep the set complete. Some of the sockets are showing their age, 1/4BS and 5/16 BS mostly, and would hate to get them to a point where they are just worn out.

3. The Koken replacements are 6pt, well made, and relatively inexpensive. I think I paid less than $100 for the new set and they should last me at least another 25 years.

So, that was my rational. I don't have many tools that fall into the "keeping them for sentimental value category" but the BS 12pt sockets and my old KR toolboxes defiantly fall into that category. Even though the Koken set replaced the old SO and the new KRL replaced the old KR both the old ones aren't going anywhere they just get to take it easy from now on.

As with everything under the sun, others may/will have much different ideas on the matter but those are mine. In fact, in typing this response I've spent way more time thinking about it than I did when I decided to buy the replacements.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[Hiball]

I know in my situation I was thinking about 3 things:
1. I use my tools and need them to be there for me and if I should break one it needs to be replaced. Since my Driver couldn't guarantee that anymore on the BS sockets, I wanted to find a set that had backups readily available. I don't want to have to search eBay should something happen.

2. Those sockets have been in my box and in use since 1988. I purchased them used from a friend and mentor who exposed me to working on and riding old British bikes. They were his spare set that he sold to me for a song because I was a young kid with limited funds. They now have sentimental value and I would like to keep the set complete. Some of the sockets are showing their age, 1/4BS and 5/16 BS mostly, and would hate to get them to a point where they are just worn out.

3. The Koken replacements are 6pt, well made, and relatively inexpensive. I think I paid less than $100 for the new set and they should last me at least another 25 years.

So, that was my rational. I don't have many tools that fall into the "keeping them for sentimental value category" but the BS 12pt sockets and my old KR toolboxes defiantly fall into that category. Even though the Koken set replaced the old SO and the new KRL replaced the old KR both the old ones aren't going anywhere they just get to take it easy from now on.

As with everything under the sun, others may/will have much different ideas on the matter but those are mine. In fact, in typing this response I've spent way more time thinking about it than I did when I decided to buy the replacements.

Cheers,
Chris

You could have just said you wanted to buy new tools... Lol, Unless you wife monitors you GJ Account.

 

[NedNorton]

You could have just said you wanted to buy new tools... Lol, Unless you wife monitors you GJ Account.

Thanks, Hiball. Glad someone read between the lines!

Makes it easy to just say I wanted them. So, disregard may last post.

I wanted new BS sockets.

Cheers,
Chris