To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Why Buy Snap-on?

Status
Not open for further replies.
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

BDT/NWMN

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 22, 2012
Messages
3,762
Location
Erskine, Mn
I haven't tried them... actually have a set but they're SAE and haven't had the opportunity to actually use them yet. My metrics are RP Cman and I can't wait for my new SK ones to arrive...


You made a definite upgrade..
 

Snap_cap

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 26, 2014
Messages
285
Location
The city of the broken bell.
Good catch!!


Looks like the Hanson ones are USA according to the amazon link that was posted earlier.

Despite the common complaint about S-O being unmarked for COO, their website clearly states COO under the specifications tab for every item.

Some BluePoint is USA made, like my magnetic socket holders for instance. :)
 

ez-duzit

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 24, 2013
Messages
5,094
Location
Marina del Rey
My mechanics tools are mostly ancient Craftsman and newer Snap-On. The reason I buy SO, when I do, is because I want the best for that particular tool (torque, ratchet, flex-head, ...).
 

shaggymutt1

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 10, 2013
Messages
124
Snap on tools fit better! For example the hex bits fit so tight it that there is no way they will round it out! The ratchets last longer than any other company for sure! I have a F80 from like the 70s and it never needed a head kit yet!
 

Automotive Man

Active member
Joined
Sep 17, 2014
Messages
26
I like snap on because of the jackets....Just kidding I use Snap On and Ko-Ken tools and both seem the same in quality. Snap-On is more covenant to get but a lot more expensive.
 

spoon671

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2014
Messages
403
Location
SFCA
There are some things that Snap-On just... does... better. Dual 80s and the hand impact drivers come to mind.


What's so much better about a 3/8" Snap-On Dual 80 and a Hazet 8816 72-tooth? (I have both, but just wanted to see how you would substantiate your claim)
 

shaggymutt1

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 10, 2013
Messages
124
What's so much better about a 3/8" Snap-On Dual 80 and a Hazet 8816 72-tooth? (I have both, but just wanted to see how you would substantiate your claim)

I rather have the hazet for sure! But finding good deals on Hazet tools is hard in the USA.

Deutschland uber alles!
 

shaggymutt1

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 10, 2013
Messages
124
Now for the tool boxes, I would rather build one out of wood than spend 10k plus on a tool box!
 

Hpozzuoli

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 11, 2013
Messages
3,428
Location
Rhode Island
So Snap-On tools are a status symbol?

I guess that explains the high prices.

Not sure I would say status symbol.....ok kinda a status symbol. Comes back to my original post. Why Mercedes instead of Kia or Hyundai.

Mercedes gives loners, picks up your car at work for service or detailing, picks you up if need be, and embraces luxury.

Kia and Hyundai might not do all these things, but they cost less and work well.

My box is mostly Snap On with a lot of SK mixed in. I bought what I wanted. Price really wasn't an issue on most things so I choose based on quality. I also bought based on some of those intangibles....warranty, good snap on guy, comes to my house etc. The tool itself is one percentage of the price. The other percentage is the image.
 

2oolhound

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Messages
5,918
Location
BC Canada
I was just wondering why my fellow mechanics all buy snap on and blue point. It Seems like a waste of money to me, because I have had the same set of Gray Canada wrenches for all the time I have been working, and even the chrome is still good on them. My mechanic friends complain about broken tools sometimes, yet I have only broken a few tools in my life. I have always used Gray, old craftsman, belzer, and old husky. The snap on tools that I own, in my opinion, don't exceed the quality of the others. I don't want people attacking me, I just want to know why you think they are better.

As I am 16 years old, maybe I'll buy them a pop.

Glad to hear the chrome has lasted that long on your Gray tools!

Shoulda picked up on this earlier, I'm outa here
 

n8n

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 11, 2014
Messages
3,607
Location
Curtis Bay, MD
What's so much better about a 3/8" Snap-On Dual 80 and a Hazet 8816 72-tooth? (I have both, but just wanted to see how you would substantiate your claim)

'Cause I've never used a Hazet ratchet nor am I likely to get the opportunity to do so? Full disclosure, I'm using an old Williams B-52 as my primary 3/8" ratchet, as I didn't feel like paying SO prices, but the SO feels subtly better than even the williams...

Sent from my XT897 using Tapatalk
 

spoon671

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2014
Messages
403
Location
SFCA
....warranty, good snap on guy, comes to my house etc. The tool itself is one percentage of the price. The other percentage is the image.


This has me wondering. If a Hazet truck were to exist, would people continue buying Snap-On? Or, would they buy the better tool?
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

ganymede

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2012
Messages
2,332
Location
New England
I was just wondering why my fellow mechanics all buy snap on and blue point. It Seems like a waste of money to me, because I have had the same set of Gray Canada wrenches for all the time I have been working, and even the chrome is still good on them. My mechanic friends complain about broken tools sometimes, yet I have only broken a few tools in my life. I have always used Gray, old craftsman, belzer, and old husky. The snap on tools that I own, in my opinion, don't exceed the quality of the others. I don't want people attacking me, I just want to know why you think they are better.

A+ trolling there!!
 

Monte

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 23, 2008
Messages
12,663
Location
Germany
If a Hazet truck were to exist

Hazet express tool delivery vehicle: ;)
Porscheweb.jpg
 

garfieldzzz

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 30, 2014
Messages
305
Location
BY
a Hazet truck exists, at least in Germany and we still buy Snap On for ratchets, ratchet spanners and torx sockets because they simply last longer (in the company I work)
 
Last edited:

Hpozzuoli

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 11, 2013
Messages
3,428
Location
Rhode Island
This has me wondering. If a Hazet truck were to exist, would people continue buying Snap-On? Or, would they buy the better tool?

I heard of an SK truck some where in the mid west, but never saw one first hand. If an SK truck were to infiltrate Rhode Island I would be in serious trouble.

Good point though. Mac, Cornwell, and Matco are not cheap and rebrand most of their stuff. Who says they can be so expensive? At least snap on can justify their pricing to some extent.

I will argue the extreme cost of snap on tool boxes just for fun, but I would never argue tool quality/price.
 

bassbone52

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2011
Messages
509
Location
Central Indiana
Looking at eBay prices for used Snap on, it's close to 50% of retail on a lot of the popular stuff. Name another manufacturer whose used tools bring that kind of coin.
 

Automotive Man

Active member
Joined
Sep 17, 2014
Messages
26
One thing we can all agree in is that Snap-on knows what they are doing. Quality, image, convenience, and other marketing tactics on their part that make us as consumers follow in (for good reason) I have not been doing this for a long time but Snap-On tools haven't failed to demonstrate quality in my opinion, I have used other tools (Ko-ken, Craftsman) which have demonstrated in the same quality (again in my opinion) but for lesser costs. However, snap-on trucks have made this world we are in easier to purchase and with good reason. I guess at the end of the day it comes down to personal preference and how many hours we have in our day.
 

BirdMobile

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 16, 2014
Messages
588
I don't think that anyone here would argue that Snap On are not quality tools.
I don't think anyone here would argue that Snap On doesn't have great customer service, warranty, and financing.
I seriously doubt that anyone here would argue that Snap On tools aren't rugged tools that hold their value.

The quality of the Snap On product is almost beyond reproach.

I think the main argument you will read here, on thread after thread, is that Snap On is NOT the only tool manufacturer making quality stuff, and that Snap On is just too costly for many people's budgets and requirements.

Boiling it down again: if it's worth it to you, then it's worth it. Snap On just plain isn't worth it for some people and the type of work they do. That doesn't make them idiots or incapable of recognizing a good thing, it just means they have made the determination that Brand X tools will fulfill their needs for less money. I've read posts on threads like this where people are praising Snap On as God's own tools... and implying that we're all broke/jealous or idiots if we don't agree and fill our boxes with Snap On. My reply is that Snap On is great stuff, but it's NOT the only stuff out there. I just feel extremely grateful we all have so many choices!
 
Last edited:

Ridge Runner

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2012
Messages
214
Location
East Tennessee
I will say that Snap-On markets hard. They give a lot of technical schools breaks to get their tools, boxes, and advertisement into their classrooms and aspiring mechanics hands then of course they hook them with the student discount before they leave.

Yeah. When I was at Wyotech in 2006, they had an exclusive deal where they only used Snap-On tools, had a very nice display next to the break room, and had a dealer come by once a week. He was also the only tool truck allowed on school grounds.

What turned me against SO for a few years was their sweetheart deal with Wyotech and they still only had a four or six page flyer with a handful of options for student discounts - mostly on large tool kits and no individual pieces that I recall. MATCO was a little better with a small pamphlet, but MAC gave a student discount on everything the offered. Half off of everything but electronics and a few other groups, but even those were 30% off.

While I've been buying a lot of Snap-On stuff lately, guess whose tools still primarily fill my box. Honestly, I'd probably still be a lot more loyal to MAC if their tool trucks weren't so hard to find in my area. SO is the only one that reliably has dealer coverage.

/rant
 

Exceller8

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 19, 2012
Messages
2,337
Location
Banning, CA
Personally, I buy whatever tool I think will best do the job. With that being said, I believe that Snap-On makes some fantastic tools. Some things are a little over priced new off the truck, but there are great deals to be had on the used market.

I really love the Snap-On screwdrivers. I have probably own 50 of them and I only bought a couple new. Most of them I paid $2-$5 each which is a no brainer. :D

To answer your question, I think Snap-On makes some of the best tools in the market and there are several tools that I would like to have but I simply can't afford to buy them new. I'm a DIY guy so good quality used Snappy works just fine for me.
 
Last edited:

espyking83

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 31, 2014
Messages
1,690
Location
Hell hole of a King Air 200
They would still buy the better tool on the Snap-On truck.

If you think that Snap On does the best at everything, then you're completely wrong. There's only 2 or 3 things they do better than the rest, and one of them is warranty, another one is convenience. Quality tools, yes. But the best? No. 99 out of 100 tools, another company can do just as good (if not better) for a hell of a lot less. They make great tools and excel at customer service, but that doesnt make them the best at tools.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom