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Why does Snap-On do this??

K5blazer83

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Just got a pair of 95BCP needle-nose pliers warrantied with my local Snap-On dealer and I'm very skeptical that these new ones are USA made....once again no USA stamp anywhere to be found. Chad and Shaun and others...comments??
 

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jon1996

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Its just like their old crescent wrenches, they were the best but a few years ago they were replaced with ones made in Sweden, they do not compare to the older one,
 

Art From De Leon

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Just got a pair of 95BCP needle-nose pliers warrantied with my local Snap-On dealer and I'm very skeptical that these new ones are USA made....once again no USA stamp anywhere to be found. Chad and Shaun and others...comments??

Why did yours need replacement? I had a pair replaced a few months ago because the joint was too loose.
 

rsieracki

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wow, didnt know snappy owned a factory in china.... but before the COO debate starts as its bound too, if SO owns the factory and is made to their specs who cares? im all about USA tools too but if the china ones are the same quality at a cheaper price who really cares? even if we consumers dont buy them it wont make snapon start making them there again. if anyone jumps on me (which im sure some will) for saying that, INCLUDE IN YOUR REPLY WEATHER YOU WOULD PAY DOUBLE FOR THE EXACT SAME TOOL MADE HERE IN THE USA
 

Flash21

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wow, didnt know snappy owned a factory in china.... but before the COO debate starts as its bound too, if SO owns the factory and is made to their specs who cares? im all about USA tools too but if the china ones are the same quality at a cheaper price who really cares? even if we consumers dont buy them it wont make snapon start making them there again. if anyone jumps on me (which im sure some will) for saying that, INCLUDE IN YOUR REPLY WEATHER YOU WOULD PAY DOUBLE FOR THE EXACT SAME TOOL MADE HERE IN THE USA

The issue is - The price will be the same and will continue to increase at the same rate. Do you really think Snap-On will pass the manufacturing savings on to the consumer?

Yeah right
 

WHT

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if SO owns the factory and is made to their specs who cares? im all about USA tools too but if the china ones are the same quality at a cheaper price who really cares?

You might care someday when there are no longer jobs in the USA.

"The 22 statistics detailed prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the middle class is being systematically wiped out of existence in America.

The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer at a staggering rate. Once upon a time, the United States had the largest and most prosperous middle class in the history of the world, but now that is changing at a blinding pace.

So why are we witnessing such fundamental changes? Well, the globalism and "free trade" that our politicians and business leaders insisted would be so good for us have had some rather nasty side effects. It turns out that they didn't tell us that the "global economy" would mean that middle class American workers would eventually have to directly compete for jobs with people on the other side of the world where there is no minimum wage and very few regulations. The big global corporations have greatly benefited by exploiting third world labor pools over the last several decades, but middle class American workers have increasingly found things to be very tough."
 

cowboy73

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If it doesn't say Made in the USA, chances are it isn't. By leaving off the COO, you can't be sued for lying like Stanley was. People just assume it's U.S. made. They have a disclaimer on the website "Image shown may not be actual product but represents product or set which includes product". That sounds like vague, lawyer speak to me...
 

kythri

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but before the COO debate starts as its bound too, if SO owns the factory and is made to their specs who cares? im all about USA tools too but if the china ones are the same quality at a cheaper price who really cares?

You can't really seperate that. The people that care are the people that care about COO.
 

rsieracki

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You might care someday when there are no longer jobs in the USA.

"The 22 statistics detailed prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the middle class is being systematically wiped out of existence in America.

The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer at a staggering rate. Once upon a time, the United States had the largest and most prosperous middle class in the history of the world, but now that is changing at a blinding pace.

So why are we witnessing such fundamental changes? Well, the globalism and "free trade" that our politicians and business leaders insisted would be so good for us have had some rather nasty side effects. It turns out that they didn't tell us that the "global economy" would mean that middle class American workers would eventually have to directly compete for jobs with people on the other side of the world where there is no minimum wage and very few regulations. The big global corporations have greatly benefited by exploiting third world labor pools over the last several decades, but middle class American workers have increasingly found things to be very tough."

you didnt follow the rules... at the end of my post i said if your going to reply to what i said you must say whether you willing to pay double $ for the COO being USA?

so are you?
 

rsieracki

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The issue is - The price will be the same and will continue to increase at the same rate. Do you really think Snap-On will pass the manufacturing savings on to the consumer?

Yeah right

oh not at all, going oversease is how the price stays where it is now. i for one am not willing to pay double for exactly the same quality pliers just becasue the say usa on them. its like anything else its smarter to pay for for better quality up front and buy it once, its foolish to pay more and get the same or less
 

Cumminst100

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you didnt follow the rules... at the end of my post i said if your going to reply to what i said you must say whether you willing to pay double $ for the COO being USA?

so are you?

I would gladly pay more I still believe in patriotism. I realise times are tough but if they could buy American in the 40's 50's and 60's we can do it now.
 

mrshaun

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well someone always has to have something to gripe about. same with my 8 year old little girl. man she gripes just like a few of you do about the same **** over and over. getting kind of old.
 

kythri

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well someone always has to have something to gripe about. same with my 8 year old little girl. man she gripes just like a few of you do about the same **** over and over. getting kind of old.

So your eight year old doesn't like Snap-On removing the USA marking either?
 

matthew

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Well, I wouldn't always look on the dark side of it... In many industries items are made in multiple factory locations. As tool companies have become more concentrated into global players, I wouldn't be surprised if that became more common with tools, as well. And in that case - where stock can come from various spots, or where perhaps dies are moved around rather than products, it may not be desirable to stamp COO on the product. With parts coming from various places for assembly or finishing, it is also understandable that made in USA is not as easy to determine, or that you don't want to stamp long explanations of where everything comes from...

There is also a tendency for companies to emphasize "branding" rather than other aspects of the product. To me what's important is that the product is good, and that the workers are paid decent wages (and COO is no guarantee of either of those). I'm no fan of the idea that SnapOn and most other big companies have that you should be absolutely loyal to their name, rather than actually judging their products on their merits.

There are many that talk about middle class jobs. Unfortunately manufacturing is not what it once was - a lot of the jobs in the sector are minimum wage and relatively low-skill. It's not a good thing, but it's the way the market is driving it to be. I'm for more craftsmanship, making less products that last longer...
 

WHT

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you didnt follow the rules... at the end of my post i said if your going to reply to what i said you must say whether you willing to pay double $ for the COO being USA?

so are you?

Not that I ever cared about following anyone's rules :); but yes, my tools are 99% American made (mostly Snap-on) and all have been purchased new. However, I do not buy Snap-on tools that are not marked USA. The rest of my tools are Wright, Armstrong, Proto and SK with a few British (King **** Whitworth for wife's old MGTD) and German (Knipex, Wera, Wiha, Felo and PB Swiss) gifts.

Look for sales and closeouts and you can find quality USA made tools for a fair price. Who knows, the job you save might belong to one of your children someday. :beer:
 
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K5blazer83

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Why did yours need replacement? I had a pair replaced a few months ago because the joint was too loose.

One of the jaws snapped right off while I was trying to pull a wiring harness coupler off. Clean break too.
 

mrshaun

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no she doesn't like it either.
I had a guy bring one that was broken like that to me the other day and he said he got it stuck and that is how he snapped it off at the tip. I am sure he wasn't using it properly.
 

Keep

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you didnt follow the rules... at the end of my post i said if your going to reply to what i said you must say whether you willing to pay double $ for the COO being USA?

so are you?

I think you have missed the boat here. Its not whether someone would pay double for something made in the USA. Its would someone pay the SAME price for something made in China.

The companies that are moving over seas are not passing any savings on to the customers, they are just pocketing the money.

Personally I am not a Snap-On fan, I am not a pro wrench, while I can appreciate a quality tool, I will stick to a smaller company that has not sold out to its share holders and started sticking its name on damn near everything to make a buck. Plus I do not need a truck to stop by my house.
 
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SocketDeviler

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Why do they do it? I suspect Snap-On and other companies are conditioning buyers on an incremental basis to accept items without COO markings. And as others have stated they won't be passing the imported savings on to the buyer. You'll pay for the "same great quality" and warranty you've come to "trust" but without the hassle of having the US working men and women behind it. It's entirely possible that COO marked tools will be a thing of the past that future generations will read about on forums like this. It's a global party, baby!
 

isr2kba

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Why do they do it? I suspect Snap-On and other companies are conditioning buyers on an incremental basis to accept items without COO markings. And as others have stated they won't be passing the imported savings on to the buyer. You'll pay for the "same great quality" and warranty you've come to "trust" but without the hassle of having the US working men and women behind it. It's entirely possible that COO marked tools will be a thing of the past that future generations will read about on forums like this. It's a global party, baby!

Two reasons as far as I can tell:

1. One word: California -- the place is a burning quakey primordial soup of feces. California prohibits a “Made in USA” label if the product, “or any article, unit, or part thereof,” is “entirely or substantially” made overseas. California courts have interpreted this strictly, to prohibit the label if any part of a product—perhaps even a single screw—is “substantially” made abroad.


2. "Made in USA" in other countries, doesn't carry anywhere near the clout it does here in the good ole' US.
 

MartinTech

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Not in my lifetime, I see them going down the same road as MAC just at a slower pace.

While I generally respect your views, Mr. Holeshot, I don't think you are on the right track this time. Pliers are still made in Milwaukee, Ratchets in Tenn., rumors on the inter-tube.

Snap-On rebrands of asian tools exist, to be sure, but their hard-line tools are still unique, US made products that set the standards in their respective areas.

I don't think Stanley or Danaher, or their ilk, will taking over SO at any time in the near or distant future. Neither of them would even be catering to the automotive sector had not SO paved a road for them to tread.

Coffee, anybody??

Austin has a new F1 track...it's in a town called 'Elroy'.
 

mrshaun

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they were talking about it on KVET 98.1 either today or thursday. I would go.
my kid loves race cars and that would give him and I something to do together. the dirt track is getting kind of junky and the fans blow cigarette smoke right in your face all night. so cant take the kids there anymore without a gas masks
 

mrshaun

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lol..... sky dancer cheap ****. But him and I both are pretty much allergic to smoke and it makes us both cough and makes the sinus' run..
 

MartinTech

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Whew... I only smoke American Spirits or homegrown. Must not have been me!

My SO dealer, Mike G, smokes on his truck. Doesn't bother me a bit, but some of my co-workers avoid buying from him because the smoke bothers their allergies. Maybe you could do some business in 78704!
 

JASTECH

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I am totally surprised reading SO has a factory in China! This sadens the sole for sure. The jobs for our grand and great grandchildren are at bay here in the USA as Corperate EO's are greedy and only care about their deep pockets. I will continue to buy USA made then Germany, Sweden ect. and I do pay the extra and it's worth it to this old disabled mech!

Thanks, JASTECH
 

joeswamp

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Clearly Snap on cannot afford to manufacture everything in the states, otherwise they might have to raise their rock bottom prices and possibly lose market share. ;^)

(My point is, if any company has got the margins to keep all manufacturering here, it's gotta be Snap on)
 

WHT

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Why do they do it? I suspect Snap-On and other companies are conditioning buyers on an incremental basis to accept items without COO markings. And as others have stated they won't be passing the imported savings on to the buyer. You'll pay for the "same great quality" and warranty you've come to "trust" but without the hassle of having the US working men and women behind it. It's entirely possible that COO marked tools will be a thing of the past that future generations will read about on forums like this. It's a global party, baby!

I think you are correct and Snap-on is using a "boil the frog" business strategy. As you say:

They condition buyers by (i) removing the USA stamp while most of their tools are still made in the States. Then, they (ii) quietly shift production to the overseas factories they have built. Snap-on is "training" buyers to pay higher "Made in the USA" prices for tools that will eventually be made in China and India. After all, it's only the Snap-on quality that counts.
 
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