First let me say i own at least 1 piece of every Major Tool Manufacturer that is out there. My tools get used aprox a couple days a week ranging from my Hydraulic Jack repair bussiness to a couple frame off restos of some chevy trucks. I do own a alot of Snap on, Mac, Sk and quite a bit of Craftsman, Most of my Snap on tools are second hand picked up at auctions, ebay, Garage sales etc therefore i get the runaround on warranty work, And that is my dillema. Personally i cant afford to spend ten thousand dollars with my Local snap on dealer to get in his good graces, Secondly even Sears is starting to give me the runaround on exchanges for broken tools. There favorite quote is "We dont keep them loose in stock they only come in a set" What im looking for is a Tool company that i can afford, and is gonna stand behind there warranty, Is that too much to ask? I am thinking about dumping some of my snap on tools via ebay, cl and this website and investing in a company that "I" can afford and will take care of "ME". This isnt a knock against snap on, Mac, or Matco because they are proffesional tools and there quality is evident by there time in the bussiness, but they aren't for everyone letalone everybodys budget. Just curious to other peoples thoughts on some of the other major players. . Some of the ways im leaning is Sk, Wright and Maybe Toptul, My only problem with toptul is the warranty and with few distributors which goes back to my warranty problem. I must say the toptul tools look nice but havent actually held any in my hand. Thanks in advance.
Tools for the Average Mechanic with Warranty
- Thread starter Hiball
- Start date
Merkava_4
Banned
Every time I read about one of these warranty threads, I'm always left to wonder what it is the person is doing to these poor tools to warrant the warranty. 
Every time I read about one of these warranty threads, I'm always left to wonder what it is the person is doing to these poor tools to warrant the warranty.
My main tools that tend not to stand up are my impact tools, Punches, Impact driver bits etc. I have never broke a rachet, wrench (without a cheater) and or sockets used properly. I use Punches and Impact Driver bits everytime im in the shop. I have broke 2 Snap on impact driver sockets in the last 5 years and my snap on dealer makes me feel like im taking advantage of him when i try to get it replaced. Punches? A couple years of use and they are ready to be replaced if not sooner. I own every Snap on pin/hook Spanner wrench made and have put them thru hell and no complaints but i purchased them thru the website (and kept my reciept). Maybe im just unlucky but ive had some tools that didnt stand up and when i try and make the company honor there warranty im getting the runaround. Merkava you have never had to warranty a tool?
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The Muffin Man
Well-known member
Snap-on's warranty does not carry over when resold.
You need to buy Snap-on tools directly from their website or a dealer to be eligible for their warranty
Yeah i have realized that when i spent my first $1200 on there spanner wrench sets and read that on the reciept. I can understand that, but what i cant do is afford to fill my toolboxes with all snap on. There is some snap on items that i just prefer over other brands and im definitely gonna keep every tool that i have a reciept for but my question is aimed mainly for other general pourpose hand tools and there warranty.
Merkava_4
Banned
All the tools that I've had warranted were brand new tools that were not able to pass my extreme stringent scrutiny.
Now before I buy a tool, I look it over very carefully as if I EXPECT to find a defect ... usually the only people that behave that way are diamond merchants.
Joelfke
Well-known member
thats absolutely absurd to me....i have to buy directly from my snapon guy to be eligible for a warranty replacement?? thats pretty messed up in my personal opinion. especially if you change jobs and now have 20k+ in snapon tools from the truck guy now you deal with a new vender and he wont warranty your items because you didnt buy them from HIM!? thats messed up IMHO
Never bought anything off the truck but dont they give you a reciept? My website snap on reciepts give me proof of ownership and Lifetime warranty.
The Muffin Man
Well-known member
Joeelfke, you miss understood me and toke my words out of context; I said you need to buy Snap-on tools from A Snap-On dealer or Snap-on's site
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Merkava_4
Banned
That is their policy yes, but it's rarely enforced unless some guy shows up with a 5 gallon bucket full of sockets.
mattwgrizwald
Well-known member
seroiusly I was going to say thats a bunch of s**t . I guess I don;t read my receipts I've of bought snap on tools from garage sales that have been broken and have had no trouble from any tool dealer out there It does not cost the so dealer squat to send a broken tools in for warranty they get reimbursed for their shipping
Joelfke
Well-known member
Joeelfke, you miss understood me and toke my words out of context; I said you need to buy Snap-on tools from A Snap-On dealer or Snap-on's site
oh haha sorry musta read that too fast
Merkava_4
Banned
Hiball,
You gotta an Advanced Auto out there in your neck of the woods? They've got GearWrench brand tools in their stores and they're a decent tool with easy warranty exchange.
You gotta an Advanced Auto out there in your neck of the woods? They've got GearWrench brand tools in their stores and they're a decent tool with easy warranty exchange.
In resonse to the Sears hassles,when I'm aware that the tool I want to warranty is not sold separately,( like a 3/8 inch drive impact socket,or a mini file) I just bring in the whole set at once,and get another new complete set.I've had to do this several times,and part of me doesn't mind,since the whole set is fresh,but part of me feels bad for Sears,for having such a dumb policy that ends up costing them $ from having to warranty perfectly good tools.I save all of the set packaging stuff in a box up high out of the way.Maybe give that a try next time? My SO guy never questions what I warranty,although I've never bought any SO tools from anywhere but the truck.
Steve
The Muffin Man
Well-known member
I just wanted to point out that Snap-on's tool warranties do not carry over because many people seem to think they are entitled to warranty repair for tools they bought used. You didn't specify that the tools you tried to get a replacement for were bought within Snap-on's terms, or if they were part of your second hand picks (it did sound like the later was the case when I re/read your post.)
For those of your non second owner Snap-on tools, you can mail them to Snap-on's headquarters. If you run a search you can find the exact address and information that needs to be included. I'm pretty sure you do not need a receipt to be included with the package being sent in, but I would print a copy just in case.
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Nah Merk, I live in a fairly small town. The more ive been reading past posts i think im gonna lean towards SK or Wright Tools. They seem to be priced competively and i do have a SK Replacement center within a hour of me. Im gonna try and track down the local Snap on guy tomorrow and see about getting a Nice Pin punch set, and a roll pin punch set (along with a reciept). There will always be some snap on tools that i purchase for the warranty and abuse i put them thru. But for General useage tools such as wrenches and Socket sets i just cant afford the Snap on stuff currently. No disrespect to GearWrench i almost ordered a couple socket sets the other day via a link of this site but decided against it account not being aquainted with them.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
If your main issue is with punches and impact driver bits, you may be out of luck finding a decent replacement warranty. If you're getting a couple of years of hard use out of them, you may need to view them as expendable. Tools do wear out and worn tools usually aren't covered by anyone's warranty. As for sears, They may be able to order an individaul item from a set over the phone and it's mailed straight to your house. I've done that more than a couple of times. Unfortunately, Sears has about the easiest to use warranty. Sk provides decent warranty service but, they state in their catalog that abused tools aren't covered by their warranty. It would **** to pay to ship broken tools to SK only to not get them warrantied or returned.
Those are the tools that i seem to have most of my problems with, I currently dont own a complete set of Snap on Punches, Hopefully i can remedy that tomorrow, But i know alot of people who have bought junk snap on tools at auctions and have had them replaced for new snap on tools and in my mind thats wrong. My sitsuation is different i bought a 3/8 impact driver new and one of my standard screwdriver bits broke the other day and i get treated like criminal from my local dealer. In my mind i feel that if i give 26 dollars for 1 3/8 impact bit they should warrant it if it breaks. The punches that i had problems with sears are a different story, I bought the compete kit for like 12.99 on sale and those smaller pin punches are extremely weak and bend very easily then break. Like i said in my earlier post im gonna give my local truck a couple hundered dollars tomorrow for some new punches and we'll see how i get treated next time. If he balks, Ill contact the Main office with reciept in hand.
Huh? So if I bought a SO tool from a dealer 10 years ago and I don't have the receipt or the dealer is no longer around, then it will not warranteed?
The Muffin Man
Well-known member
No. If you bought it from A Snap-on dealer (or website) you can warranty it. You do not have to warranty it through the same dealer
tcheat
Well-known member
Steven,
I don't use my tools like you do, but I've been very happy with every Proto (and even Challenger) tool that I own. I've never had to warranty one, so I can't comment on that. But there are several Grainger locations not too far from Mexico. I've never had a problem with S-K, either, but most of my S-K tools were my father's and were made about 30 years ago.
Tim
I don't use my tools like you do, but I've been very happy with every Proto (and even Challenger) tool that I own. I've never had to warranty one, so I can't comment on that. But there are several Grainger locations not too far from Mexico. I've never had a problem with S-K, either, but most of my S-K tools were my father's and were made about 30 years ago.
Tim
Thanks for the info tim, My experience with Sk would be working mainly with my Grandfathers Sk tools from the 60's and 70's also and im sure in some aspects the newer Sk isnt as good as the older stuff but its considerably cheaper than Snap on also.
The word Snap-on on my tools is MY proof of ownership and Lifetime warranty
I have a feeling as times get tougher you are gonna find some dealers that are gonna balk on warranty replacement without proof of sole ownership but also if you are spending money on a regular basis you will still get good service. I dont have a local dealer that makes himself available to the little man account living in a small town so ive purchased all my snap on stuff via there website.
I sent an email to Snap-on about the grips falling off some pliers (that I bought on ebay) asking if I could buy replacements. The reply was basically "that item is a lifetime warranty item. Send us your address, we will send you a UPS label, you can send to tool back and we will repair or replace it."
Pretty sweet deal if you ask me! No dealer chasing or anything
The only caveat they gave me was that if a tool shows abuse it may not be replaced and they just send it back to you.I sent an email to Snap-on about the grips falling off some pliers (that I bought on ebay) asking if I could buy replacements. The reply was basically "that item is a lifetime warranty item. Send us your address, we will send you a UPS label, you can send to tool back and we will repair or replace it."
Pretty sweet deal if you ask me! No dealer chasing or anything
Thats Great... Im not bashing Snap-on or questioning yours or anyone elses experiences with Snap-on but lemme ask you a question, Did you tell them you bought it from Ebay? Or more importantly did they ask you if you was the original purchaser?
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Merkava_4
Banned
Hiball,
Do you have a part number for those impact driver sockets? I'd like to punch the number into the SO site and see what they look like.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=1714&group_ID=11449
I bought the 8pc Driver set including the impact driver and mainly use that specific bit for loosening the valve caps on Hydraulic Jacks.
Merkava_4
Banned
Thanks for the link. Are you using the driver socket with the impact driver that came with the set or are you using the driver socket with an impact gun?
And which part is breaking, the socket or the bit?
Yeah im using the impact driver, A impact gun would cause major problems not to mention tear up the Valve cap the first time it jumped out of the groove. The Bit is the culprit.
That previous link works good for the 2 ton and under lincoln jacks but when you step up too the bigger jacks the width of the groove gets a wee bit bigger and i expect that is where all the wear and tear is coming from. I wish they made a bit similar to this one but about 9/16 wide instead of 11/16, and when you step up to the 1/2 drive impact sockets you can get a 1/2 wide bit but its too thin and long.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=54361&group_ID=255
Anyway i didnt mean for this thread to get so long, Im going to bed so i can get rested so i can be on top of my game tomorrow when i talk to the Snap on man.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=54361&group_ID=255
Anyway i didnt mean for this thread to get so long, Im going to bed so i can get rested so i can be on top of my game tomorrow when i talk to the Snap on man.
wrenhandtools
Well-known member
Just FYI, if you're unhappy in any way with any thing....you get your money or a new tool.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
volvo420coupe
Well-known member
warranties are only as`good as the person with whom you warranty with, all the truck brands will bend over backwards to keep you happy, IF you are spending money with them. I like to keep a revolving money chute going to all of my dealers coming around, I dont rack up huge bills with them but I but just enough to keep them wanting to keep me happy, they all know I buy SOME stuff second hand, but I still keep putting money in their pockets too. If you want to be able to warranty something like a punch or chisel this is the only way you will make it happen with the big three. but with ratchets or wrenches, they dont have much choice. s-k and sears you dont have to work for warranties but with the truck brands I always grease the wheels before trying to warranty anything a little questionable.
volvo420coupe
Well-known member
oh wow, sorry about the spelling and sentence structure on the last post, I guess the beers are catching up.
Merkava_4
Banned
That tells me that you're using the tool as it was intended to be used and that the SO dealer doesn't have a leg to stand on.
WVU Tuba Dale
Well-known member
I would go to Napa for the impact sockets, bits etc. I broke an impact bit one day and called them. They didn't have the impact bit and driver set in stock, but got it in that afternoon, delivered it to us, and swapped them on the spot. Excellent service.
HandyManny
Well-known member
Every time I read about one of these warranty threads, I'm always left to wonder what it is the person is doing to these poor tools to warrant the warranty.
I always wonder that myself. True, tools do eventually wear out, and some do break. But, to be exercising a warranty very often makes me wonder what people are doing with their tools and how they are using them, if they are even using the right tool for the job.
I wrenched professionally for many years and never had to be constantly using the warranty on my tools. Sure I've broken a few, and some did wear to the point of retiring them to occasional home use. I know of and knew many guys who used Craftsman handtools in their job and they never had such issues either.
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