a52-830
Well-known member
1) no one has the best pricing across the board. i have settled on three sites, one general merchandiser, one tool speciality site, and ebay, as the primary places i look.
1a) google the brand and model you are interested in, especially for more expensive things, and look at other sites occasionally. one of the sites you settled on might not be the best place to be regularly placing orders, or there might be somewhere that always has Frobnitz Tools at a better price, but nothing else.
2) shipping, shipping, shipping. you need to look at the total cost, including shipping. some places ship for free after a certain level, some have flat fees. always add this on before you compare prices.
3) when buying "used" either check the photos carefully, or use a vendor you trust.
3a) when using ebay, make sure to check to see if what you are buying is new, "like new", used, or whatever. make sure you understand what you are getting, and what you are not. "is the case included?", as an example.
3b) "not in original packaging" means that either the packaging got damaged, they bought a larger collection, and are breaking things out to sell separately, or they bought it through some "back channel". any of this might effect your ability to get warranty support.
4) the best companies will honor their warranties, but you need to check first. does it require a "receipt from an authorized retailer"? does it only apply to "the initial purchaser"? whose "lifetime" are they talking about, anyway? yours? the tools' expected lifetime? the worst companies will look for excuses not to honor their warranty. even if they haven't made that ratchet in 35 years, and dont stock parts anymore, they likely still make something similar (or better, that 35 year old ratchet was the top of the line when it was new, that is what they should replace it with now, eh?) they could offer you.
4a) when trying to warranty something, and you run into problems, remember the person on the other end of the line is your only hope. getting pissed off at them won't help your cause. telling them "i know this is not *your* policy, it is the *company*. i know you would help me if you could. i just am losing here, and i dont know what else to do." is a lot more likely to get them to bend some rules than "i know everyone on all the tool sites on the internet, and i will convince them never to buy anything from you ever again, you lousy excuse for a person!".
5) Snap-on offers a lifetime warranty to the initial purchaser of their products. period. if you have access to a driver, and they like you, they might warranty something you "picked up", but they are under no obligation to do so. if you find a driver at lunch somewhere, dont expect them to jump up to help you. they are only allowed to "service" their area, and why would they put effort into helping you replace a ratchet you bought on ebay knowing it was seized up when they dont have any relationship with you prior to this moment.
6) look for listings that people submit "deals" to. this site has one:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=36
nice people, who come across great deals, post them to a thread there. there are specific threads for various places you might go. but understand that you are supposed to be an informed customer. just because they think it is a great deal, doesn't mean that there isn't some corner of the internet where there is a lot better deal. and remember #2? if something is 5$ cheaper, but costs 10$ more to ship, it is really 5$ more expensive. if you find it cheaper, post a reply, telling people, but dont be a jerk about it.
mentioning that you got something, and offering a thanks is always good form. posting deals you find is another way to "pay it back", although remember to take advantage of it first, or you might miss out yourself.
7) compare apples to apples, not pears. use the manufactures site to figure out what is in kit 14NA695-23, and decide if the cheaper kit 14CA695-23 is similar enough for your needs. you might find that NA = 88 tooth ratcheting mechanisms, and CA is 32 tooth, or that the NA are full sized tools, and CA is jeweler sized.
and, finally . . . . .
8) the best deal in the world is not a great deal if you dont need it. a great tool box is only great if it fits in the space you have, and holds your tools. the best snap-on box made isn't worth a lot if you cant have the car in the garage and open the drawers at the same time. 3/4" drive pinless swivel deep impact sockets are not worth a lot when you dont own an impact wrench, or even anything larger than a 3/8" drive.
the days of going down to the hardware store, and getting the old guy to help you find what you need are dwindling. if you have access to this, go support them, even if it costs a little more. once it is gone, it is likely gone forever, and all the two day shipping in the world won't help you get something fixed this afternoon.
1a) google the brand and model you are interested in, especially for more expensive things, and look at other sites occasionally. one of the sites you settled on might not be the best place to be regularly placing orders, or there might be somewhere that always has Frobnitz Tools at a better price, but nothing else.
2) shipping, shipping, shipping. you need to look at the total cost, including shipping. some places ship for free after a certain level, some have flat fees. always add this on before you compare prices.
3) when buying "used" either check the photos carefully, or use a vendor you trust.
3a) when using ebay, make sure to check to see if what you are buying is new, "like new", used, or whatever. make sure you understand what you are getting, and what you are not. "is the case included?", as an example.
3b) "not in original packaging" means that either the packaging got damaged, they bought a larger collection, and are breaking things out to sell separately, or they bought it through some "back channel". any of this might effect your ability to get warranty support.
4) the best companies will honor their warranties, but you need to check first. does it require a "receipt from an authorized retailer"? does it only apply to "the initial purchaser"? whose "lifetime" are they talking about, anyway? yours? the tools' expected lifetime? the worst companies will look for excuses not to honor their warranty. even if they haven't made that ratchet in 35 years, and dont stock parts anymore, they likely still make something similar (or better, that 35 year old ratchet was the top of the line when it was new, that is what they should replace it with now, eh?) they could offer you.
4a) when trying to warranty something, and you run into problems, remember the person on the other end of the line is your only hope. getting pissed off at them won't help your cause. telling them "i know this is not *your* policy, it is the *company*. i know you would help me if you could. i just am losing here, and i dont know what else to do." is a lot more likely to get them to bend some rules than "i know everyone on all the tool sites on the internet, and i will convince them never to buy anything from you ever again, you lousy excuse for a person!".
5) Snap-on offers a lifetime warranty to the initial purchaser of their products. period. if you have access to a driver, and they like you, they might warranty something you "picked up", but they are under no obligation to do so. if you find a driver at lunch somewhere, dont expect them to jump up to help you. they are only allowed to "service" their area, and why would they put effort into helping you replace a ratchet you bought on ebay knowing it was seized up when they dont have any relationship with you prior to this moment.
6) look for listings that people submit "deals" to. this site has one:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=36
nice people, who come across great deals, post them to a thread there. there are specific threads for various places you might go. but understand that you are supposed to be an informed customer. just because they think it is a great deal, doesn't mean that there isn't some corner of the internet where there is a lot better deal. and remember #2? if something is 5$ cheaper, but costs 10$ more to ship, it is really 5$ more expensive. if you find it cheaper, post a reply, telling people, but dont be a jerk about it.
mentioning that you got something, and offering a thanks is always good form. posting deals you find is another way to "pay it back", although remember to take advantage of it first, or you might miss out yourself.
7) compare apples to apples, not pears. use the manufactures site to figure out what is in kit 14NA695-23, and decide if the cheaper kit 14CA695-23 is similar enough for your needs. you might find that NA = 88 tooth ratcheting mechanisms, and CA is 32 tooth, or that the NA are full sized tools, and CA is jeweler sized.
and, finally . . . . .
8) the best deal in the world is not a great deal if you dont need it. a great tool box is only great if it fits in the space you have, and holds your tools. the best snap-on box made isn't worth a lot if you cant have the car in the garage and open the drawers at the same time. 3/4" drive pinless swivel deep impact sockets are not worth a lot when you dont own an impact wrench, or even anything larger than a 3/8" drive.
the days of going down to the hardware store, and getting the old guy to help you find what you need are dwindling. if you have access to this, go support them, even if it costs a little more. once it is gone, it is likely gone forever, and all the two day shipping in the world won't help you get something fixed this afternoon.
