Why are Snap-On toolboxes so expensive?

[ATC]

thats a tradesman, lowest model they sell 80k buys you the middleof the range model that most want

I went from a 2007 Dodge 2500 SLT to a 2016 Ram 3500 Tradesman. It was a very nice upgrade. A 2024+ will be even better.

Too many people cannot fathom doing without something these days, which is why someone says "I need a new truck but can't bring myself to pay $80k+ for one!" Well...you don't HAVE to have every damn bell and whistle they offer. Maybe do without the massaging seats, TV screen, and giant glass roof

 

[NUTTSGT]

I went from a 2007 Dodge 2500 SLT to a 2016 Ram 3500 Tradesman. It was a very nice upgrade. A 2024+ will be even better.

Too many people cannot fathom doing without something these days, which is why someone says "I need a new truck but can't bring myself to pay $80k+ for one!" Well...you don't HAVE to have every damn bell and whistle they offer. Maybe do without the massaging seats, TV screen, and giant glass roof

Which is why I ordered my truck, what I wanted and what I was wiling to pay for, just like my new tool boxes, I just couldn't justify spending the larger $$ on what I didn't really need.

I could have bought a Lariat that I kind of liked for about $73K, but instead, I ordered the XLT with what I wanted and paid $65K. Come to think of it, that savings paid for the US General boxes($4800) that I bought. Heck, that's like FREE tool boxes and they match the truck too !!!


In the end, you buy what you want or can afford. If you decide to get cheap or frugal, you hope it doesn't bite you in the *** in the long run. If you save cash here, you can put the extra cash there, effectively getting more for your money.

 

[CV428]

I have a Husky Heavy Duty box and it is a very solid box.

I have a few myself. Nothing wrong with them whatsoever. At the end of the day, they hold tools. The tools don't know what "brand" sheet metal is surrounding them.

 

[Mikeske]

Reminds me of this:

Would you want to be near that if someone decided to try and move the boxes with the truck on top of the boxes.

 

[MarlynOC]

Still have my original top and bottom from 1964. Did sand and repaint once in '77

 

[rancherbill]

Similar pricing to Rousseau but no carriage system for the drawers.

I take it that you mean all the dividers are the carriage system. IMHO, they are only useful if you are storing parts or doing only one thing repetitively.

 

[fozzy]

Which is why I ordered my truck, what I wanted and what I was wiling to pay for, just like my new tool boxes, I just couldn't justify spending the larger $$ on what I didn't really need.

I could have bought a Lariat that I kind of liked for about $73K, but instead, I ordered the XLT with what I wanted and paid $65K. Come to think of it, that savings paid for the US General boxes($4800) that I bought. Heck, that's like FREE tool boxes and they match the truck too !!!


In the end, you buy what you want or can afford. If you decide to get cheap or frugal, you hope it doesn't bite you in the *** in the long run. If you save cash here, you can put the extra cash there, effectively getting more for your money.

Excellent comparison. Every time I shop for a new vehicle it is very hard to not want to click on the model displayed all the way to the right because it is the "best." So easy to just click-click-click and spend thousands.

I also like the way that you apply the math- saving $8k on your truck and spending $4800 on toolboxes = FREE tool boxes. That's the type of reasoning that keeps us all out of the doghouse when it comes to our tool/garage habits. Well done sir!

 

[Silver Lexus]

I take it that you mean all the dividers are the carriage system. IMHO, they are only useful if you are storing parts or doing only one thing repetitively.

No, I meant the the carriage under the drawer. It’s simply better than slides.

 

[whateg01]

No, I meant the the carriage under the drawer. It’s simply better than slides.

Similar to lista or vidmar?

 

[Silver Lexus]

Similar to lista or vidmar?

Much better. 440 lb weight capacity. Patents. Better finish/powdercoating.

 

[ATC]

Which is why I ordered my truck, what I wanted and what I was wiling to pay for, just like my new tool boxes, I just couldn't justify spending the larger $$ on what I didn't really need.

I could have bought a Lariat that I kind of liked for about $73K, but instead, I ordered the XLT with what I wanted and paid $65K. Come to think of it, that savings paid for the US General boxes($4800) that I bought. Heck, that's like FREE tool boxes and they match the truck too !!!


In the end, you buy what you want or can afford. If you decide to get cheap or frugal, you hope it doesn't bite you in the *** in the long run. If you save cash here, you can put the extra cash there, effectively getting more for your money.

I ordered my last two trucks as well.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Excellent comparison. Every time I shop for a new vehicle it is very hard to not want to click on the model displayed all the way to the right because it is the "best." So easy to just click-click-click and spend thousands.

I also like the way that you apply the math- saving $8k on your truck and spending $4800 on toolboxes = FREE tool boxes. That's the type of reasoning that keeps us all out of the doghouse when it comes to our tool/garage habits. Well done sir!

Maybe.... Maybe not. My wife has learned over the years that the tools I buy allow me to fix, repair or do things she wants done and have paid for themselves.


Sometimes, it's the presentation and how it's presented...if you need to show a cost amount vs repair savings, that's how you approach it.

 

[Wrench97]

Maybe.... Maybe not. My wife has learned over the years that the tools I buy allow me to fix, repair or do things she wants done and have paid for themselves.


Sometimes, it's the presentation and how it's presented...if you need to show a cost amount vs repair savings, that's how you approach it.

I had a boss in the early 80's that taught me that, tell him how much it cost, how we were going to use it and most important how much it was going to save the company over the life of the tool and he would go sell it to brass.

 

[Blackmarket]

I’m going to throw my two cents in here, take it for what it’s worth. I have a midsize box from the 80s. Can’t remember the model number off the top of my head.
I’m a millwright that works in a factory type setting and we move our boxes around all over the facility quite often. The detents in my drawers are wore out to the point of being nonexistent so the drawers come out on any uneven surface. So I really have to find a nice level surface position my box accordingly.
My box has tipped over six times completely full of tools. Mostly due to people that are unfamiliar with the box and move it when I’m not nearby. Only one time has it suffered any damage which was the lower drawer roller slides. Both slides were warranteed by Snap On as well as the wheels on the bottom when I had those replaced. I cannot think of any other toolbox brand that would make it through being tipped over six times and still usable.
This is my story and my opinion.

 

[whateg01]

I’m going to throw my two cents in here, take it for what it’s worth. I have a midsize box from the 80s. Can’t remember the model number off the top of my head.
I’m a millwright that works in a factory type setting and we move our boxes around all over the facility quite often. The detents in my drawers are wore out to the point of being nonexistent so the drawers come out on any uneven surface. So I really have to find a nice level surface position my box accordingly.
My box has tipped over six times completely full of tools. Mostly due to people that are unfamiliar with the box and move it when I’m not nearby. Only one time has it suffered any damage which was the lower drawer roller slides. Both slides were warranteed by Snap On as well as the wheels on the bottom when I had those replaced. I cannot think of any other toolbox brand that would make it through being tipped over six times and still usable.
This is my story and my opinion.

I just ordered a heavy duty husky. I tried to like the snap on but I just don't. The latching system with the sliding thing under the handle just doesn't feel right. It's better than the usg version but not by much, imo. The epic box latches feel better but I have heard from a couple of users that you have to really make sure they latch. All of the husky boxes in the store this morning just have the soft close slides but they have at least 1 heavy duty box with the grip latch style. That's the one I ordered. If there was a masterforce with the same drawer layout as the 56" portion of the 72", I would probably have ordered it because I like the under drawer support better.

 

[kngelv]

They are expensive because they are made here instead of China, generally use heavier gage steel and have much better slides. You are also paying for the name and the service that comes with it. I have a 56" USG V2 and had a Milwaukee box which is made by the same manufacturer as the nicer Husky boxes. Neither is as good as the Snap-On Krl or Kennedy Mechanic's series I have at work. I just picked up a Tekton by Rousseau for my newly built second garage and it's very well built.

James

 

[vrstcv]

because they are worth it

 

[finn]

thats a tradesman, lowest model they sell 80k buys you the middleof the range model that most want

If there’s a model at $55k that’s the functional equivalent of the hotsy totsy $80 k truck “most people want”, the extra $25k is on them, and I, for one don’t want to hear their whining about how life isn’t fair.

At some point you play the hand you’re dealt instead of crying about it.

Nothing wrong with someone picking the $80k version, as long as they accept the fact that that’s what they, as a responsible adult picked, over other rational models available to them.

 

[CJM8515]

If there’s a model at $55k that’s the functional equivalent of the hotsy totsy $80 k truck “most people want”, the extra $25k is on them, and I, for one don’t want to hear their whining about how life isn’t fair.

At some point you play the hand you’re dealt instead of crying about it.

Nothing wrong with someone picking the $80k version, as long as they accept the fact that that’s what they, as a responsible adult picked, over other rational models available to them.

remember-most people dont want barebones anything. thats why those trucks are marked at such a low cost vs other ones. thats my point.

this forum is a very small minority, we would happily buy said truck. the majority wouldnt

 

[finn]

remember-most people dont want barebones anything. thats why those trucks are marked at such a low cost vs other ones. thats my point.

this forum is a very small minority, we would happily buy said truck. the majority wouldnt

Yup: they willingly pay the premium price for the features.

Then they ***** and whine about how much things cost.

It’s the American Way.

Bunch of entitled crybabies, in my opinion. If you wanna play, you gotta pay.

 

[fozzy]

Maybe.... Maybe not. My wife has learned over the years that the tools I buy allow me to fix, repair or do things she wants done and have paid for themselves.


Sometimes, it's the presentation and how it's presented...if you need to show a cost amount vs repair savings, that's how you approach it.

Nutt, I meant it tongue-in-cheek and total praise only, no nefariousness intended. I'm fortunate to have a better half that supports and encourages my spending whether it be on tools or vehicles because she knows I'm not going to be stupid and I (try to) make good choices. But you are 100% correct, a LOT goes into the presentation!

It was more of a nod to the guys who post that they are afraid their better halves will sell their tools for what they said they spent on them, not what they are worth.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Nutt, I meant it tongue-in-cheek and total praise only, no nefariousness intended. I'm fortunate to have a better half that supports and encourages my spending whether it be on tools or vehicles because she knows I'm not going to be stupid and I (try to) make good choices. But you are 100% correct, a LOT goes into the presentation!

It was more of a nod to the guys who post that they are afraid their better halves will sell their tools for what they said they spent on them, not what they are worth.

No harm, no foul, nor was I offended.

I have no idea of your age nor how long you have been married. Sometimes, it takes a little "presentation of how" so young people or young couples can get farther with sweat equity. While a tool may seem expensive at the time, it can provide a life long ROI helping a person DIY. . . . save money here and use it for this or that.

When you're a young couple starting out, often times a lack of cash is the main instigator of arguments and other problems. If you can figure out a way to compromise and work together, more than likely, you'll be happier down the road.

 

[pi_guy]

Snap On takes a lot of heat over there market share. Most responses are similar to any sheet metal will hold tools. I have had Craftsman, Waterloo and few Huskey boxes they hold tools but they leave things like burrs on the metal cut myself a few times moving the boxes. The other item that comes up is drawer configuration have not seen any other manufactures that have the possible drawer combinations or toolbox sizes.
One question that I wonder about why does a Taco Box retain such value and desire if it just a bunch of sheetmetal. The only other company that seems to have collectable and desirable toolboxes is Kennedy.

They have also put out products not matched by others, such as the transmission cart. I have that cart so loaded with a 3in1 and tooling. The weight would crush any normal toolbox and I can get it to roll takes a bit of force but it moves with no issue. Never had a wheel failure not true with other boxes. One other item not produced by others is the collet based stud remover. The puller sets give you the ability to split or separate items with out damage, in many cases you are limited by your imagination. Then the flex sockets there is no comparison, they have been so much of a time saver. Exhaust header studs the semi deep flex sockets made short work out of that.

I did roll my Taco cart to a shop a few blocks away. I live at the top of a hill I rode the box down the hill and did 20 -25 which wasn't fast enough for a car behind me honking. Not many can claim they rode a toolbox down a big hill in traffic. We had a lift failure at shop with street car on it unable to be moved no diff. We used transmission jacks in the front and put the taco box in rear to support car while we fixed lift. We all breathed very lightly until lift was fixed.

I worked in racing and often worked on 100k plus race cars vintage and pro and image and quality make a difference. Showing up with a bucket of HF tools would not get me in the door. Have seen rounded nuts in the worst places and I have yet to round a nut with SO tools broke a few bolts but been able to get a higher percentage of rounded nuts with SO tooling. Having 6 and 12 point options in Std Metric or BS crowsfeet and flare means in odd places I can get a fit. In my possession is a SO top box that did ten years of travel in a trailer before I got it, did 15 years as a track box for me many of the other boxes non SO boxes would have issues after years in trailers nuts and bolts would vibrate free and other assorted ****. Image and the respect you have for your craft if your a professional helps in your career.

There was a race team a bunch of years ago that outfitted the team in HF tools. The allen keys either stripped the allen socket or rounded off the key the or other thing that happened the shaft would bend like a pretzel if the bolt was torqued high. I spent much of that weekend breaking and tightening allen bolts for that team. Proper heat treating and good quality control adds to the cost of the item but if your in the middle of nowhere on a Sunday morning that extra expense is worth it when you have no tool issues.

The proper tool to set crimps on Deutch connectors is 700$ which includes the needed different sized dies. Many will try to repair with other tools and the failure rate is high. So lots of aspects of the automotive world can seem out of whack.

Snap On fills a niche and sets a standard and has produced tools for manufacturers and has products others don't have. Back in the 70's I had a Trans Am and we caught a kid scratching it with a key gave him the option of telling me why or a beating. His response was why should you have something nice. So I often wonder about the motivation of SO haters.

Snap On may not be for everybody but they have sure helped me......

 

[vrstcv]

pi_guy that is the best answer yet . thanks for your time.

 

[hilldweller]

That may be true, but a new Tradesman likely has as much or more standard equipment than a 2007 Laramie did except maybe the leather seats and carpet. Yes new vehicle prices are out of control, but all this added tech in the past 10 years certainly hasn't helped keep the price down. We have almost new 2024 Ford XL Super Duty's at work that have as many gizmos and a larger screen in them than my 2020 Lariat Ultimate Super Duty

I have a 23 XL Super Duty with the STX package. Paid cash for it too, but not preaching, I just happened to be able to do that and wanted it free and clear. The truck has everything I need / want, and the electronics are definitely nice versus what you used to get on base models.

 

[hilldweller]

I have a 23 XL Super Duty with the STX package. Paid cash for it too, but not preaching, I just happened to be able to do that and wanted it free and clear. The truck has everything I need / want, and the electronics are definitely nice versus what you used to get on base models.

Since I went off topic of the thread, I'll chime in with my toolbox choices. I bought a couple of craftsman boxes when I bought my first house, and they have been fine, but definitely don't have a high quality vibe like a pro box. I also have a US General that probably is a step up from the Craftsman. I'm considering building a shop, and I thought I'll probably look for deals on SO, Mac, or other good boxes. But now that I know about Rousseau...

 

[Silver Lexus]

Since I went off topic of the thread, I'll chime in with my toolbox choices. I bought a couple of craftsman boxes when I bought my first house, and they have been fine, but definitely don't have a high quality vibe like a pro box. I also have a US General that probably is a step up from the Craftsman. I'm considering building a shop, and I thought I'll probably look for deals on SO, Mac, or other good boxes. But now that I know about Rousseau...

The thing I really liked about Rousseau was the ability to design my own drawer configuration. I wanted an 11 inch deep drawer for my detailing chemicals.

 

[Fordguy1964]

I have several rolling tool boxes, 7 as a matter of fact, mostly Craftsman. I used most of them working professionally. Now that I supervise and don't need a tool box as much I have moved them to my home shop where I have the boxes sorted out by categories. One box is standard with specialty cutting tools and screwdrivers. One box is metric with nut drivers and automotive specialty tools and AC repair stuff. Another rolling tool box is dedicated to drilling and drill bits. Another is reamers taps, Allen wrenches and torx drivers. It goes on and on.

Out of all of the boxes I have only one of them is SO and that is just the bottom base box. I still have a Craftsman to box sitting on it. I wouldn't really give the SO box any high marks for quality over the others.

I just recently went through my boxes and removed a LOT of my doubles, triples, etc. That made things more organized but I still have a lot. It may be time to start shopping around for a new BIG box. I'm pretty sure I won't buy SO unless I find a used one at a great price.

 

[Meursault74]

One Mechanic of my acquaintance told me he had previously been employed at a shop where all the Mechanics were required by the shop owner, as a condition of employment, to have Snap-On tool boxes; this was because the shop owner wanted to present a "Professional Image" to customers.

The shop owner did not concern himself with the tools the Mechanics paid for and used, it was all about "Image".

You think this one would pass on quick glimpse?

Talk about getting the shaft

 

[nadogail]

You think this one would pass on quick glimpse?

Talk about getting the shaft

It is not Coca-Cola Red

 

[pi_guy]

pi_guy that is the best answer yet . thanks for your time.

Thanks
Just reporting how it happened.

I should be teaching my welding class next week, I will move stuff and take a picture of loaded transmission cart and the brake found on the taco box.

 

[Restomod68]

Except if you bought a Rolex in 1995 it's very likely worth 3 to 5 or more times what you paid in 1995.

True, but it still comes down to marketing.

 

[logical]

True, but it still comes down to marketing.

I didn't suggest otherwise.

 

[Ilikeike]

I get a 45-47% discount with a .gov industrial account. And they still make a profit.
Great stuff but priced a bit high. lol.

 

[Firebrick43]

Similar to lista or vidmar?

Much better. 440 lb weight capacity. Patents. Better finish/powdercoating.

Vidmar and Lista are 440 lbs a drawer and Rousseau is 400 from what I have found.

I have used all three. We had hundreds of them in the plant. I didn’t see any advantage whatsoever of one over the other in durability, load capacity, or much difference in either the drawer chassis.

Only our newer listas had the underhandle drawer latches which I liked for moving a tool box around but newer Rousseau have a grip latch to now.

Note. I own 3 vidmars, 2 listas, and a Snap-On industrial storage box. I would be just as happy to own a Rousseau though as the listas. I don’t like the cosmetics of the vidmar drawer pulls in comparison but they are still great cabinets.

All three are better than the snap on except the snap on has very good spring suspension casters. The coulsons on my Lista, like every other Lista of the same age, are disintegrating.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Note. I own 3 vidmars, 2 listas, and a Snap-On industrial storage box. I would be just as happy to own a Rousseau though as the listas. I don’t like the cosmetics of the vidmar drawer pulls in comparison but they are still great cabinets.

All three are better than the snap on except the snap on has very good spring suspension casters. The coulsons on my Lista, like every other Lista of the same age, are disintegrating.

Are the Colson wheels falling apart or is the metal swivel? At my work we have had bad luck with the Colson casters that have a grey plastic hub with a red tread. The red tread falls apart in chunks after about 10 years. The Colson caters with phenolic wheels do not have the issue. It appears to be an age issue and not related to their minimal use.

I rarely see Rousseau around here. The used one I wanted to buy was a 7drawer, 40” wide unit that would have made a great bottom tool box. It was probably older but in mint condition in someone’s home garage. The main problem was every single roller was hard seized. The rollers looked to be sealed and I was concerned about how painful it would be to replace or relubricate. The seller completely dismissed my concerns so I passed. On that model, the metal feet were hard welded so conversion to caster would have also been an issue.

 

[Firebrick43]

Are the Colson wheels falling apart or is the metal swivel? At my work we have had bad luck with the Colson casters that have a grey plastic hub with a red tread. The red tread falls apart in chunks after about 10 years. The Colson caters with phenolic wheels do not have the issue. It appears to be an age issue and not related to their minimal use.

Exactly this. The red poly tread failing. The snap on caster are not hard phenolic wheels either, but have a rubber tread possibly. While long lasting if not to roughly treated, I dislike phenolic wheels for the noise and rough ride that give.

I rarely see Rousseau around here. The used one I wanted to buy was a 7drawer, 40” wide unit that would have made a great bottom tool box. It was probably older but in mint condition in someone’s home garage. The main problem was every single roller was hard seized. The rollers looked to be sealed and I was concerned about how painful it would be to replace or relubricate. The seller completely dismissed my concerns so I passed. On that model, the metal feet were hard welded so conversion to caster would have also been an issue.

I do not recall if the Rousseau rollers were sealed or not? We had a wall about 30’ long in the tool room, they were 90’s models? Some of the early 80’s Lista/vidmars had bearings that were stiff or locked up due to hardened grease.

We would use brake cleaner and compressed air to clean them out without letting them spin. Then use a needle on the grease gun to relube them. We always used SCH 100 Mobil grease but that was undoubtedly overkill.

 

[engineer2]

My former employer made stuff for Snap-On. We would double our money and Snap-0n would do 5X to 8X what we sold it to them for.
I was told it was so dealers could make a decent living. They also had to cover the lifetime warranty on some tools.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I'm assuming you pay cash for your house and cars?

 

[Silver Lexus]

Vidmar and Lista are 440 lbs a drawer and Rousseau is 400 from what I have found.

I have used all three. We had hundreds of them in the plant. I didn’t see any advantage whatsoever of one over the other in durability, load capacity, or much difference in either the drawer chassis.

Only our newer listas had the underhandle drawer latches which I liked for moving a tool box around but newer Rousseau have a grip latch to now.

Note. I own 3 vidmars, 2 listas, and a Snap-On industrial storage box. I would be just as happy to own a Rousseau though as the listas. I don’t like the cosmetics of the vidmar drawer pulls in comparison but they are still great cabinets.

All three are better than the snap on except the snap on has very good spring suspension casters. The coulsons on my Lista, like every other Lista of the same age, are disintegrating.

Thanks for the post and observations. Matt Moreman from Obsessed Garage and I find the Rousseau build quality to be higher than Lista and Vidmar but I do have less experience on the Vidmar.