Used Snap-On box buyers guide

[Spudland_Dave]

Being a relative rookie to the world of big boy toolboxes aka SnapOn toolboxes, any guides or rules of thumb when buying used boxes? What I mean is aside from the obvious cosmetic items like rust or dents, any parts for any series which are NLA or other things I should look for?
Being a Chevy guy, the Corvette 40th Anniversary box appeals to me, the 50th is cool as well....I'd assume if the mural or other special decals/emblems are busted, I'm screwed? Same would apply to any of the special editions I'm guessing?

I'd just hate to buy that one "white elephant" with no parts available...

 

[str8axle55]

Some trim parts are NLA, depends on the box. If you get the info on the box, model #, you can search for parts on the Snap on site. I wouldn`t think the decals and emblems would still be avail, as they were prob a limited run.

 

[crewchief888]

i'd guess i've you're looking at limited edition boxes they'll be in good condition.

somebody really wanted them, and probably kept them out a working shop environment.

stuff like drawers and doors for some older boxes are NLA.

 

[Danglerb]

A guide might be nice, but what you will get are 100 opinions.

None of the special editions seem to have special value beyond original purchase, except maybe in the mind of the seller. OTOH if paint on your box is what matters to you, seek out the holy grail.

Good idea to make sure the box is paid for, somehow I think that "might" be possible according to a few threads here via the serial number, but not an issue I would guess for older boxes.

 

[crewchief888]

None of the special editions seem to have special value beyond original purchase, except maybe in the mind of the seller.

this sums it up.

the limited edition is worth the same depreciated amount (starting around 50% and going down from there) that a "regular" box is worth.

i have a set of 90th harley editions, (added a 3 drawer mid box), that i paid $4000 for brand new.
i've seen the top and bottom matched set fail to sell at a $1000 reserve on ebay.

guess who's keeping his boxes ?

 

[ken w.]

If you look at Craigslist every day you'll see good deals on SO tool boxes. I see a lot of folks getting out of the wrenching business. Either changing careers or just too old. Older boxes without the roller bearing drawer slides are abundant. If your looking at boxes, open every drawer to see if it opens and closed smoothly and that the don't pull out because of a bad slider.I have bought many boxes on CL.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

i'd guess i've you're looking at limited edition boxes they'll be in good condition.

somebody really wanted them, and probably kept them out a working shop environment.

stuff like drawers and doors for some older boxes are NLA.

LOL...in the past I'd say the ones I've seen were like that....Not long ago I saw a Dale Jr version listed once still wrapped in plastic. And the one that promted me to post quite the opposite:
http://maine.craigslist.org/tls/3540401081.html
I need/want a Tool cart...thought had crossed my mind to get a cheaper small lower and upgrade casters if needed. Butcher block top and voila. The upper would be nice in my basement workshop to organize my taps & dies.

A guide might be nice, but what you will get are 100 opinions.

None of the special editions seem to have special value beyond original purchase, except maybe in the mind of the seller. OTOH if paint on your box is what matters to you, seek out the holy grail.

Good idea to make sure the box is paid for, somehow I think that "might" be possible according to a few threads here via the serial number, but not an issue I would guess for older boxes.

Opinions are good sometimes too! I'm noticing the values are all over the place, some way high, some way low...what attracted me to the above one was the price and the fact it was a Vette box. BUT I'm not so in love with it that I'd pay 1k for Craftsman quality or something non-fixable.
Paint kinda matters, but I am more then happy to buy a Snappy box for bit less coin that needs TLC and shoot some PPG on it to make what I want..

Good point about the being paid for thing...There seems to be a rash of Brand New boxes on CL...

 

[CWP1616L]

Don't get one with friction slides. They don't have parts for them no more.

 

[str8axle55]

That Vette box looks like it was in a body shop, prob needs a lot of cleaning. Offer $800 and clean it up, maybe the dust protected the paint.

 

[Danglerb]

http://maine.craigslist.org/tls/3540401081.html

I don't see a lot of functional difference between than Snapon and my Sear box, except I bought my Craftsman bottom for $125 scratch and dent new, and added an $80 intermediate and $80 top chest. Where quality makes a difference is in the big boxes with the big drawers, 44" wide and 28" deep, not 28"x16".

Asking price and selling price on CL are often miles apart. People put up stuff with a dream price and after two or three weeks when it doesn't sell and the rent is due take the best of the low ball offers.

 

[ken w.]

There's defiantly a difference between the SO and CM boxes. Just pull the drawer back and forth and you will see it.

 

[Lurch67]

How do you check if the box is paid for?

 

[Spudland_Dave]

There's defiantly a difference between the SO and CM boxes. Just pull the drawer back and forth and you will see it.

Yup...To be fair, I currently have a C-Man ball bearing setup I got off the SnapOn truck...I was working at the dealership at the time and one of the techs traded it in on a nice new Snappy...SnapOn guy told me "Gimme 200.00 now and its yours...if it touches my liftgate, It will be 400...Promptly paid him 200.00 and got the whole thing...one of my Friends liked the top cabinet, so I sold it to him for 200....this was all while I was in college, so when I finally got a garage/house my Mom & Dad bought me the matching C-Man top for it. IMO, I'm glad I'm into it only 0.00 as thats approximately what its worth. Some of the deeper drawers have bottoms so bowed out that they rub on the next drawer down.....I would never buy another CMan again...I'll go Harbor Freight before I do that. If I hadnt gotten the top as a gift, I'd sell it today...I just feel guilty selling gifts.
I've completely sworn myself off CMan anything...Overpriced Junk. At least SnapOn is only Overpriced..

 

[kythri]

None of the special editions seem to have special value beyond original purchase, except maybe in the mind of the seller. OTOH if paint on your box is what matters to you, seek out the holy grail.

the limited edition is worth the same depreciated amount (starting around 50% and going down from there) that a "regular" box is worth.

I'd say that "limited" or "special" edition boxes are really worth less than a normal box, from the observation that they don't sell nearly as well.

A lot of that could be due to the first quote above, but even when I've seen them priced competitively, the single color boxes tend to move quicker.

Certainly, I wouldn't pay any kind of premium for any non-standard decor box, unless it was something I really really wanted.

I think 50% of retail is a good starting price for any good condition used box.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I'd say that "limited" or "special" edition boxes are really worth less than a normal box, from the observation that they don't sell nearly as well.

Agreed - I had a "Tempest" box that I only bought because the deal was good - brand new off the truck at a about 30% off list. Then when went to add on I found they no longer made that series of base box the same way, which meant dimensions had changed and a side locker would at the very least look funny. Add to the the color was a special one that they would not match - so I traded it on my next box without much thought to "special edition" status.

 

[crewchief888]

i agree, the limted edition boxes were targeted to a select group of buyers.

the "average" guy looking for a toolbox wouldnt look twice at a limited edition.

a lot of the owners of those limited editions think the boxes are made of gold.

i didnt buy my limited editions cuz i thought i'd make a killing on resale, i bought them cuz i wanted them

they'll be around even after i'm gone.

 

[bobcatdan]

Guys who buy limited editions should be the kind who plan on keep the box, not sell and upgrand in 5 years. I remember when the Dale Earnhart 1001 combo came out, my dealer had one and I really over it, noway a 18 year could afford that. The same box pops up on ebay all the time new in the package. I wonder if anybody bought that bo and actually used it?

 

[crewchief888]

Guys who buy limited editions should be the kind who plan on keep the box, not sell and upgrand in 5 years.

The same box pops up on ebay all the time new in the package. I wonder if anybody bought that bo and actually used it?

maybe in somebody's "shrine to dale sr." garage/shop/mancave

i didnt have any intention of buying my harley limited editions, i showed the flyer to my ex, couple days later she asked me where they were..

the following week they were sitting in my garage.