I’ve told multiple apprentices to stay off the tool trucks as much as possible (snap on, matco, mac) as much as possible. When I started my career I bought sears and lowes, northern tool for almost everything, and then replaced the ones that broke with a higher quality tool. 20 years later I’m still using majority of my 1/2 drive deep impact sockets, and axle nut sockets. I feel it’s a far better measure to find out what you’re using the most as those tools will wear and break first, instead of buying a whole set of expensive bits and then realize your only using 4 or 5 bits of a $500 set
I give the same advice to new guys when I meet them. Stay off of the tool trucks -- including mine -- until your career has developed to the point where you find value in the prices and service.
This is pretty much how I worked my entire career... started with Craftsman (which at the time was made BY snap on) for me, it was good, Sears was 5 minutes away if something broke. They had ratchet rebuild kits for a penny (I bought 5 of each at the time, only used one or two in 30 years) if something was breaking often, I'd buy 2... it always made better sense than the trucks. There are some exceptions of course like the matco carb tool that no other compared to...
SNAP-ON is in the process of pricing themselves out of the tool business! I used to love SNAP-ON but if your not at a shop you have to chase them down for a warranty issue! I can get the set at HD with lifetime warranty and swap it out at my convenience. I don't have to wait a week. Plus I pass HD, Lowes, and others on the way home!
Some things I will buy cheap. Others I will buy off the truck. It all depends on the tool. For example, I do a LOT of stuff with 1/4 sockets that I really shouldn't. Which means I tend to break them. Not so much the sockets themselves, but extensions, swivels, and occasionally ratchets. Also, I HATE cheap pliers.
As a kid, I was impressed that the Snap-On truck came right to my Uncle's house. My dad explained that if my uncle owed me as much money as he owed Snap-On, I'd be showing up at his place a few times a week too.
30+ year wrench turner here . Yes , I have a huge Masters Series box combo full . Sadly it only took me 25 years in the business to realize I got the Strap-On not the Snap-On . Sure I have acquired an impressive set of tools , but for the money I spent over 25 years I could have bought a house and Lamborghini
I bought Snap-on through my school . Only way it made any since was you bought the boxes retail , and the tool set was 1$ a tool . In 1991 the boxes were not THAT bad price wise .
Back in the day, Dave Thomas of Wendy’s Hamburgers introduced a Double pattie hamburger. It did not sell well. So he added a TRIPLE burger to the menu. The absurd triple burger made the double look “reasonable” and sales of the double increased dramatically.
I do all of my automotive work with pretty much only hobo freight tools a 3/8 ratchet is only 11$ and has a lifetime warranty so for 11$ I will have a decent ratchet for years and I don’t have to wait for the snap on truck to come around to claim the warranty HarborFreight got a bad reputation in the past but at this point most of their products are on par with tool truck tools
When you’re earning a living with tools, some tools are worth the extra money the premium brands offer. Having said that, if you’re starting out, buy cheap tools first and replace you commonly used items when they break, like sockets, ratchets and driver bits. I found that the wobble extensions offered by Snap-On were well worth the money I spent on them, but depending on the work you do, it may be different for you
yup. I buy nice or vintage stuff for critical tools (wrenches, pliers, ratchets, etc)... however any kind of bit or socket is a consumable and is eventually going to wear, break, or f*ck right off into the grass. Just go with Husky, harbor freight, etc for consumables. If you use a star bit on enough 30 year old rusted, red LT seatbelt bolts, a socket bit *will* eventually break no matter how delicate you are with it and how much you heat and beat.
I'm annoyed how every company uses "Post Covid" and/or "supply chain shortages" as an excuse to double prices. Even if not affected, so many are hopping on.
Great reset baby, its all on purpose. Instead of fixing inflation the right way they are going to try and fix it the "fast" way and by destroying the middle class and small business entirely
It's is very frustrating. I just have to add that not all of it is BS. Shipping a can from overseas was around $2500 pre-covid......now it's close to $40K. The freight companies are soooooo insane right now.
Years ago when I was a mechanic I have to admit I was a tool snob. Snap On was the only tool I would buy. Some time ago,i bought a 1"drive socket set from Harbor Freight. It's a chrome set but I've used it on my 1"drive impact gun, I've heated nuts cheery red and put the sockets on them, they've never failed. Unless you need a tool only Snap On sells, you're crazy to spend the money.
Good illustration of a good point, Douglas. Each tool brand its own exclusive products. The rest, mostly, is third-party branded or contracted out to other manufacturers. Snap-On does have its own manufacturing, but not for everything.
Snappy increases their prices 10% every December. They have inflated the price of their old tool lines year after year to the point that they are no longer competitive. I feel for the Snap On franchise holders. They pay A LOT of money in franchise fees but corporate greed devalues the brand every year by driving more customers to lower priced competitors. What’s even worse is when the competitors like Matco take notice of Snap-On prices and decide, for example, that they can price their ratchets at $150 because that’s the going (ie. Snap-On) rate. Meanwhile techs are making $20-40/hr and are leaving the industry because the price of tools is ridiculous. Thanks for providing those guys an affordable alternative.
Excellent insight. You're right on all counts. And when I look at what Matco's pricing has done lately, I'm shocked. There is an ever-decreasing value for those franchisees.
I brought snap-on for many years and thru that time I recall 7 snap-on reps came close to losing their business and or their house because the company does not negotiate for tool arrears. A bunch of pricks, BUT tools are good.
yeah that's why I got out of being a mechanic after a few months. tool prices were insane and I was getting like $12 an hour years and years ago. went back to construction as it pays about triple and no tools needed besides boots and a hammer really.
matco is parts store tools with a matco logo laser etched into it imo, snap on even with its crazy prices which I normally dont pay just feels like its own product idk how to properly explain it. matco stuff feels like outsourced tools with a logo slapped on it. An yall are totally correct they charge the same prices as snap on. Our last matco truck dealer lasted 2 months an went out of business edit: bought a $200 matco drive belt tool on his first month doing our route, used it 3 times an bought a gearwrench drive belt tool off snap on for $150 an threw the matco one in my box at home. I'd probably sell it for $40 if someone asked me LMFAO
Let me add this, a few years back I acquired a broken in half Snap On 1/2" breaker bar, I only got the end with the drive on it and it was still a useful tool, anyway one day the Snap On van was outside and my friend was spunking all his wages as usual when I had the idea to see if the much mentioned 'lifetime warranty' would apply to this very old broken bar I had, well the man changed it without a murmur and I had a brand new shiny Snap On breaker bar which was probably the most expensive tool in my toolbox at that time and I have to say my whole perspective on those expensive tools changed. The man was actually very smart changing that bar as I did buy tools from his van occasionally after that.
We have two snap-on trucks and i dunno how the one guy is cuz they each have there territory ut the one I am familiar with is a bit of a dick when it comes to the warranty part of some stuff. My buddy had a snap-on box full of snap-on tools and when the electric impacts were taking off our one mechanic got a Milwaukee but the snap on kid got there product and the drill brole right away and it was almost a yearbeforehe saw it again and it broke the first week he had it back lol The snap-on guy had it for quite awhile the second time and was quite rude every timehe asked when it was gonna be fixed, then buddy ended up selling it when he got it back and got a Milwaukee set.
I've had the opposite experiences, places I've worked have stopped spending much on the tool trucks and I've had broken tools. The "lifetime warranty" is a courtesy I found out as buddy just kept giving me the run around saying I abused it and it was my fault that it broke and they wouldn't replace the items. Tool trucks for me now are a specialty tool only shop, if I can find it somewhere else that's where I'm getting it.
You do know almost every tool brand would carry lifetime warranty on a breaker bar …but oh snap on comes to you, ok so you have to wait for them to come when you drive to and from work everyday and can absolutely bring a broken tool to the store you bought it at and have a new one the same day….snap on is a rip off everyone knows this
Good and honest info much appreciated. I sold junk tools throughput the US vis auctions and straight sales for 20+ years. Some imports were ok others simply junk. I was in my twenties and didn’t like the low quality products we often had to sell. My boss who died a multi multi millionaire once told me there’s two kinds of tools. Some tools were made to be used and others were simply made to be sold. Never forgot that statement.
I know a young guy he’s an apprentice mechanic that got sucked into buying $25 grand worth of snap on tool’s, he had to take out a personal loan through snap on to pay for them, after all his work mate’s tried telling him not to do it he went ahead anyway, he even bought a motorised trolley to drag it around. The tool box was that big it looked like a block of apartments. The tools cost more than his car not to mention the fact that he had to insure the tool’s otherwise he couldn’t get the loan, by the way he’s or was paying off his car as well. I remember the old saying a fool and his money are soon parted
This reminds me of how much I miss Sears. Back in the day, they had good quality at a fair price and a pretty amazing selection of stuff. They came out with a professional line a while back, I bought a few of those, they seem pretty good. I have to say that I have actually bought Mac and snap on, but not very often. The service from the Snapon guy was unreal. But the prices were difficult to deal with.
I actually stayed away from SnapOn at least 51% because of horrible service. Back in my short sales career, one of the big points they pushed was "nobody will buy somthing from someone they dont like"- and all the SnapOn dealers Ive had were either arrogant and unwilling to make a deal, or horrendously unreliable...
I also miss the original craftsman tools and loved their warranty! I once had a 1/4" ratchet from back in the 70s and it finally wore out and they warrantied it even though it was approaching 25 years old. Granted it was not the same model but no questions asked swapped it out.
@@jodemit655 The only sad part about that is the 25 year old one was very likely MUCH better. Almost all my Craftsmans are about 40 years old. Got a lot of them back in the 80's and haven't bought many since. I exchanged a ratchet and the one they gave me was quite a bit worse than the one I had, but I have so many that I didn't care that much.
I worked in advertising sales for over 25 years and this is one of the most super-intelligent presentations of a concept that was never explained to me in any of my college education or 27 years in advertising (and all the on the job training I received). I know this concept exists, but it has never even been broached before (in my past) nor have I ever had it explained so clearly and concisely before. You have won my subscription and Kudo's to you for an EXCELLENT marketing educational video!
@@CoyleTools You are very welcome... please make sure you read the very end of this comment. FYI, It randomly came to me after my last comment that, in laymans terms, this is simply called "high-balling" and is a common trick in the car business. Suggest a high priced vehicle (that almost no one will buy) to achieve 2-3 goals... 1) See the max a buyer can spend & 2) Scare off buyers that are have bad credit or are simply wasting the sellers time. or 3) Seller decides that buyer is a jerk or not serious so they simply offer the option as the ONLY option (so the buyer will then "fire" them and leave them alone / go waste another seller's time). OK This is the part that I want to make sure you stayed tuned for. I was watching a Mid Atlantic Tools Video he published yesterday and the first thing he talked about was what he called a Gearwrench 86541-06 (I think, but not absolutely sure, that this is REALLY supposed to be referred to as simply 86541). Anyway, he referred me to you after saying he did "not want to sell anything over the internet". I am pasting my original comment here (to save us both time)... "Assuming that they are metric, I would be interested if you wanted to sell me those Mid length GWrench sockets. I literally just ordered these from another source and they have not shipped them out yet. If you want to match their price, please let me know and I will cancel the other order I speak of to buy from you instead. Just so I don't forget, I am talking about GWrench #86541 which I THINK is the same thing you show (but you said that yours was 86541-06). Please advise (either way) if you are interested or not." To be very clear, this set is all mid length chrome in 1/4 & 3/8. I told him I would just call him and give him my CCard & shipping info, but he was not comfortable with that and (like I said) referred me to you. So (assuming you have these already IN STOCK) I want to reach out to you (Coyle Tools) and see if you might be interested in selling me this set. Please advise (either way) if you want to sell me a set of these... yes or no. I would greatly appreciate your fast reply on this matter.
@@jotu173 Thank you for asking. I'm happy to help. Currently, this set is not in stock but I can special order it, which will take longer, and I have no indication when they would ship. This is probably why you haven't had much luck getting them in a timely manner, since it looks like most retailers and distributors are waiting on availability. The set that Mid Atlantic had may have been a promotional set sent to him by Gearwrench as a way to show a new product. Your price would be $94.99 plus tax. Shipping is included. I doubt I can match pricing from online retailers since they're larger and sell much higher volume than I do. When I searched other sites, many are selling this for much less than my cost.
@@CoyleTools thanks for the fast reply. Basically you are spot on with all of your comment. I already have these back ordered for much less (but understand why your price is higher). Not crucial that I have these, so for now, I will pass. Thanks again for the reply back.
Coyle Tools.. Great video. I am somewhat of a Snap-on fan but there is no way I buy either of those sets.. Showing your customers what other options cost is not tricking them to buy your product like Snap-on is doing with that ad. Thanks for sharing it.
I ordered a jet drill set from our local snap-on guy. When it came in it was $80 and not even snap-on brand. I looked it up online and the exact same set was $4 and some change everywhere. I of course didn't take the one from the snap-on guy and knew with out a doubt that man was my enemy.
I am now retired for the past 5 years but in 1976 I went in the Air Force and for the following 7 years I was a vehicle mechanic in the service. After I separated and before I went in the Air Force reserves and retrained as a aircraft mechanic I worked in the dealership as heavy line mechanic. When I separated I needed a full set of basic hand tools and a rollaway. In the final 6 months of my service I gather bids for tools needed and I was demanding that the price be fair. Of course Snap-on did the high bid even then and immediately was taken off the list. Mac, Matco and Bonney were the ones left and I decided on Bonney as being the best value. The only thing was Bonney was sold at Grainger and not on the truck. It was actually very good for me as the Grainger store was only 2 blocks from the dealership I worked at. I break a tool which was rare but on lunch that day or the next I hop over to store get a new tool and be back in a short time. Options from the crazy over pricing that Snap-on does is going to be either they stop the escalator upward but I doubt that. I do have Snap-on ratchets as I think they are best on the market but I never bought off the truck. I just go to the pawn shops and bargain out a reasonable price normally around 50-70% less then the list price. Since I am not a tool snob if the tools work and earned me money that is all I care about. By the way I still used that Bonney set I got almost 40 years ago in my personal shop. I did get adept at ignoring the Snappy fanboys as I was known as a grumpy mechanic all through my time as a flat rate and then working in aviation mechanic for thirty years.
The most unfortunate thing is, just two years ago (pre-pandemic) that Blue Point set was less than $299. And could be had "on sale" for even less than $199 pretty regularly. At that price point, it's a fantastic deal. I sold SO MANY. However, the price increase on imported tools has just become nuts. Secondly, the 37pc is in fact a terrible option. Those exact tools could be purchased without the blow molded case, as individual sets of hex and torx for weekly/monthly sales prices totalling less than $450-500. Sure ya don't get the fancy box, but who cares. The snap-on branded "large kits" have always had absolutely trash pricing.
That when i bought my blue point set, around 5 years ago. To be honest it's my favorite allen bits, definitely the toughest of all the brands I've owned. I have the Snap-On as well but I would keep the blue point over them.
Plus who has space for all the organizer boxes that are way too big, very few things I buy stay in the case they came in, they're either sitting flat in a drawer or in a better organizer to maximize what box space I have
@@jodemit655 what the hell does name vanity have anything to do with getting repossessed?? Even more so, what does ANYTHING in this video got to do with getting repoed by Snap-on? Whether it's over priced or not, people shouldn't buy shit on credit if you can't afford it. No one's trapping anyone into getting repoed except ignorant people who try to convince themselves that they can afford a payment that they in fact can't.
It's called the "Value Lead-In". I used to sell home theater equipment in Circuit City back in the 1990s and we were taught this tactic. You show the customer the most expensive thing in the store in the product category they're shopping for, wait for their sticker shock, and then show them something that's "90% as good for 50% the price". Worked every time.
Psychology is used against us in marketing every day, in every product category. Thanks for showing this example. It’s a good reminder to be aware of this pervasive tactic!
The most complete set I've bought was at home depot. I saw the set on clearance sale for three dollars, I bought every set and used them for gifts. Everyone who got one was very happy ( including me). None of the bits have failed yet I use some for impact tools and for that price I wouldn't complain if half had failed. I gave up on snap on in the eighties. My Mac tool and Matco tool men had great quality tools at a much better price. The " Mac Man" would even warranty S&K as well as Craftsman tools. He lived close to their warehouse stores and would do that warranty for free. I bought mostly Mac in appreciation to him.
Of course he would warranty Craftsman. They guts are the same as the Matco ratchet. So he had the parts on his truck. Hopefully you paid the Craftsman price and not the Matco (same tool, different price??)
I have the same set, sort of. Years ago I ordered the blow molded case from Snap-On for about $30 and filled it with bits. It is nice for the portability.
Snap On has always been insane ! Thier tools are grossly overpriced! I'm 60yrs old, I can honestly say that I have only bought one tool and it was only because the truck showed up at my neighbor's house after we'd had a FEW beers ! I paid around $30 for a battery terminal cleaner because I thought it would be better? My terminals were no cleaner than a .99¢ cleaner from Harbor Freight! Never again !
Unfortunately so many people out there buy tools that cost way more than their worth what’s crazy is I had seen a basic tool set from Snap-on and it was $4,000 I about fell out of my chair laughing you can buy a bunch of DeWalt Craftsman and Milwaukee power tools for a lot less than that basic tool set from Snap-on Snap-on loves ripping people off and a lot of people fall into their trap for whatever reason.
There are definitely things I prefer getting off the tool truck. As a diesel mechanic for a garbage company, I appreciate a good, quality tool. However.. I think there are only specific tools you buy from them. Anything that ratchets or anything you use everyday. All of my ratchets are snap on and I also did buy the 3/8 matco stubby impact because I use these almost everyday and I want to make sure that when I grab that tool, that tool will work. The accessories are things you definitely should go somewhere else for. Why buy one small socket set off the truck for 299 when I can go to harbor freight and buy every size of 3/8 socket they have for only 120. Also, your big wrenches. I need everything from a 1/4" wrench up to a 2" wrench. I'd rather go to harbor freight and buy they're wrench sets and have every wrench I need for 200 maybe vs snap on where one wrench could be 200
I got some harbor freight ball end Allan sockets and the ball snapped off so easily. I returned them and bought home depots brand, they have held up nicely.
Eh well, Harbor Freight is a little extreme in the opposite direction. I call them disposable. But, there are MANY alternatives in-between, priced well, and function great. Wright Tool comes to mind. I believe they actually make Snap-On, if not, Blue Point tools.
I learned more here than I did in any business marketing class in college. It's a concept I think we know innately, yet still fall for occasionally. I bought that 87 piece Blue-Point set when it was $287 on sale, just four years ago. At that time I remember a Snap-On T 10-60, standard Torx only set was around $380. Prices have gone bonkers. It feels like money has become worthless. If I had to buy a new set now, it'd be that Gearwrench set all day. Great video, Lindsay! Great idea!
As a mechanic working in the late seventies I found that Snap-on were really good tools. I however only bought them when I couldn't get from other brands. When I did buy I always asked the dealer first can you take say 25 bucks a week. If they agreed I bought. Snap-on wants every mechanic to agree to buy with their financing plan which sucked. I recently looked at prices and was floored when I saw my screwdriver set for over 200$. I always bought Craftsman, Matco, SK, MAC and Snap-on in that order. If I were starting out today I would steer clear of Snap-on. There are many options now. Buying Snap-on is not necessary.
Buying options are so much more plentiful now than they were before online shopping and the prevalence of third-party branding. Tool truck dealers must be much better and offer more attractive options in order to earn their customers' business these days.
A Snap On dealer told me I voided my warranty by engraving my name in my tools. Why? "Because you never actually own a Snap On tool." If you finance anything from Snap On and fail to pay, they take everything you have that is Snap On. Even tools you paid cash for.
@@CoyleTools I'm sure it is wrong but he thought that telling me that would justify not honoring the warranty on my tools. I just retired from a career as a mechanic. I have bought a few Snap On tools but the dealers were such turds I was not inclined to buy much.
I think this happens more often than we are able to readily identify like this. I've pointed these things out to my wife for years. I bet if you order the $1000 set, it's backordered indefinitely.
@@fraidykat that $1000 set is not only in stock but in your hands that day already on the truck about 15 of them to be exact tucked away the $500 set is not only on backorder but won't see it for another 2 to 3 months been there done that!!!!!!!
I worked at a large company for 20 years about 100 feet from where the Snapon truck parked. The truck was full almost all the time. The worst mechanics wasted hours of work time in the truck talking. The manager was a fan boy and thought they were his best mechanics due to all their large Snapon tool collections and they never got fired.
I worked in a lift truck shop with one fanboy who had an $8K Snap-On box filled exclusively Snap-On everything. His tool payments were over $800/month. I little doubt that they make excellent tools, but my opinion is that much of what motivated him to sink well over half of his paycheck each month into his payment plan, was status.
I was a Cornwell dealer for a few years. I could sell a larger and more complete set like these for under $250.00. I had many customers say my sets were much better than Snap On or Mac or Matco. I will say as also being a heavy equipment mechanic for years that Snap On does make some of the best hand tool but yes they way overcharge for their tools.
Well I will.say this as far as torx and Allen's go ive broke all others easier than snapons do ford drive shafts in front 4wd front differentials when rusted and ford escape rear drive shaft bolts sorry to say but I own cornwell master bit set mac usa and.mac rbrt and.matco bits in torx and the snapons definitely stronger and inwork on alot of euro diesels and use torx alot in rusted corroded applications
I agree with you Coyle on the value you have to watch for when snapon does Bogos like buy the torx full set and get full metric Allen's free deals things like that and it will save you a bunch
@@CoyleTools That's what I've always said about Snap-on tools. There is not doubt that in terms of quality they are best tools out there in general. However they are probably the worst value for money tools. They cost 5-10 times the price of a 'store' brand but they ain't 5-10 times better.
Well the simple fact is the majority of these tools are made by only a hand full of manufactures and are rebranded. As a former tech and distributor, do your due diligence and look outside of the tool trucks. While the convenience factor is there, it no longer out weighs the price. No tool company is king because they all share manufacturers.
My neighbor was a Snap on dealer. In 1979 he wanted $75.00 for a nutdriver set. Xcelite wanted $15.00. I still have my Xcelite set. SK, Wright, Proto, Klein, Knipex, Hazet, Beta. Who needs a Rolls-Royce...not me. I work too hard for my money. I am proud to say I own one 1/4" snap on ratchet...and it was given to me.
I've been turning wrenches my whole life. I have no snap-on tools. When I was out of trade school they were doing the half-off snap on hand tools deal. I was holding off on snap on so that I might work for a while and buy everything i thiught i would truly need in one shot. But i did fine with my Craftsman, Sunex, SK, and various used pawn shop tools. I endured a lot of bad attitude and nastiness from those snap on fan boys.
I think the operative question is: who needs a _new_ Rolls Royce? My toolbox is filled with Proto, Gray, and Snap-On stuff that I bought for pennies on the dollar because they were used or simply "old".
Where was you around when I was turning wrenches, man? I would have bought a lot from you because of your honesty and great service. Every time I’d go on a Snap-On truck and be sticker-shocked by their insane prices, I’d go to HarborFreight or Sears, see what they have and buy them. They only time I would buy a product from Snappy is like an impact gun or something that I could not find from my usual places and I need one at the moment.
A friend of mine is a plant manager at snapon. He told me that they brought in ratchets to test against theirs in a stress test. One from Lowes, one from Walmart (Stanley), and several others. During the test, all of them flew apart, including theirs. However, only the Stanley ratchet worked again. All it needed was to put the snap ring on it, it worked like new. Theirs, the snap on ratchet, was destroyed. Having him tell me that, makes me happy I do not own snap on products. Their prices are ridiculous, and Stanley tools outlast theirs.
There are a few RUclips channels that break test tools; Project Farm and Torque Test Channel for example. Nearly every time they test something, Snap-On tools only match the performance of mid range tools but cost far more. Ingersoll Rand is even worse though, their tools are usually the most expensive in the test and perform the same as budget tools.
This pains me as I'm sure I've fallen victim to this before. I want to buy american made tools as much as possible, but seeing stuff like this makes me sick. I still have a classic series 73" box on order that I slightly regret more as each day passes. It feels like us mechanics are being prayed upon for our hard earned money.
I find pretty good deals on new SK tools on eBay sometimes, not always. I to am a sucker for made in USA and SK are good tools. Not in every case as good as snap but always better than the old USA craftsmen.
Old American made sure, that meant something. Modern American made stuff is usually crap, every company wants to post record profits, products get corners cut and penny pinched to death, but man you can make alot more profit by slapping a "Made in USA" sticker on something, get those stupid Americans shelling out the freedom bucks then. Doesn't matter anymore where it's made, what matters is the company behind it and their quality control. What I mean is look at Apple, their shit says "Designed by Apple in California", it doesn't say made in America, it's only designed here, they are built by Foxcon in China, but they have to uphold Apples quality standards. As for SnapOn, $400 for a 87pc TorX and Hex bit set, and a blow molded case? No, never, not a single tool they make is worth anything near what they ask. You are paying for 5 to 10 of that tool so they can offer a lifetime warranty, building the warranty into the price, and then banking on you not needing to replace it quite that many times and making the warranty non-transferable if you sell your tools to someone else. Buy affordable tools from wherever and just buy a bit higher quality if those ever break. Only expensive tools worth it are measuring tools, like micrometers, buy a good Mitutoyo or whatever right from the get go.
What you have showed me is there is always a cheaper alternative even when shopping on your truck there’s still cheaper options like you stated it’s all your choice
LOL...35 years ago when I started working as an Aircraft Mechanic I didn't have choice as Snap-On and Matco were the only tools we were permitted to use on the airplanes, if we got caught with anything else in our boxes it was grounds for termination. I had little choice in the matter the day the Snap-On truck rolled up to the shop my supervisor walked me out there and told the driver to set me up. One automatic deduction sheet later I walked out with an order for $60K worth of tools and boxes. Took me 4 years to pay it all off but it was either buy the tools or find another job.
I will say...I only use Snap On Allen, Torx and ball Allens. I almost never break them outside of willful abuse. When I work with other guys I often see at least a few carcasses in their bit sets. They're trying to find time to send em back or find this tool truck dealer or that dealer. I've witnessed guys who are busy go weeks, months and even years with a ever growing collection of broken cheaper bits clogging up their junk drawer. As a HD mechanic working in the field you can sorta justify Snap On...note that I said "sorta".
You spend your money in the right places. A nice quality set of screwdrivers is worth the money to me, cheap ones have no integrity. But ratchets, wrenches, etc I just don't understand paying top dollar
There’s a wrench set they sell that they split into even and odd sizes in two sets. They are 500 each, so 1k for a full set. I’ve noticed snap on scams getting more brazen
One marketing scheme I found kinda funny but very effective, Auto Finnesse detailing in the UK, released an anniversary product which included a carnauba wax and bottle of shampoo in a wooden case for a crazy amount of money! Surely they knew no one would buy it, but in every detailing forum in the UK and Ireland, it was being talked about that it was a crazy amount of money, people would view it on there website, and then buy other products which caught there eye whilst checking out the anniversary kit. Pure Genuis!!
I totally agree ! I've used craftsman and harbor freight tools for over 40 years and am totally satisfied ! My socket sets from Sears and harbor freight have done the job so why pay the excessive price snap-on charges ? Doesn't make any sense ,right ?
Im a Professional Mechanic/Technician for the last 45 years. I have bought all brands of tools designed for the so called Professional. Snap on holds up the best 90% of the time. Yes they are expensive but the no question warranty on broken sockets is worth it. No I would not buy that set either lol
In high school and right after I was working in a tire / mechanic shop, changing tires I didn't need tools. But I would see the Snap-On truck ever other week, and the mechanics always had 3-4 things to warranty. For the price I never understood what was so great about them, what I love are the people that think they need a $100 wrench for around the house. And will defend buying said wrench because it will last forever, you know for the 2-3 times they use it.
I’ve been doing this for years on eBay, Craig’s List and Marketplace. I buy and sell things, but offer several similar items at a ridiculously high price and mark down the one I want to sell. After I sell the one, I mark down the others and the stragglers have to pay more.
When I started out in the trade about 18 years ago the only decent tools were snap on. Now most other brands have picked up there game and are of a good quality..
I'm perfectly happy with my blue point 87 bit set but with a few caveats ( I know big world for me) 1st I wish it was USA made product being USA made dose count for something even a % increase price, 2nd I have at least one if not more of 90% of the items in the kit already so I absolutely didn't need it, 3rd would not have picked up the set off Snap-on truck at Snap-on prices but for $150 couldn't pass it up. Thanks for the info you bring out in your videos.
I have bought a fair remount of snap on tools over the years. I can say they definitely break and wear all the same as other cheaper brands. The difference is you can replace your other tool by driving to the store, with snap on you may need to wait up to 3 months for a replacement one to come. Also gear wrench is super under rated. One of my preferred tool brands.
Growing up in Chicago, a friend of mine went to school in Southern Illinois. He got a job doing die forging and showed some of us around, all the blanks for the different brand tools were out of the same molds and forging dies, with different final dies for the name brand and final shape. I continued in "craftsman" because of lifetime warranty and ease of exchange when they failed.
Tekton tools are great quality and a awesome value! My dad was a pro mechanic with all fool truck tools. Snap off takes advantage of poor mechanics that don’t have a clue!
With 20 years in the industry I don’t regret all my purchases with Snap-On. I’ve made loads of money with their tools and it’s a sense of pride using them. It’s about image too, when I started it was only Snap-On tool boxes in shops. The new guy usually had the off brand box and it was a sense of achievement to step up to a Snap-On box. Yes now days there are better alternatives. But my tool dude always takes care of me, warranties are never a hassle and cash deals make their tools way more affordable. “Flyer deals” are always hilarious to see tho. I think the flyers are targeted at inexperienced techs or those looking to just buy things they don’t need.
I've worked on farm equipment with my grandpa for most of my young life. We've broken our fair share of tools but never gone broke buying them. The setback on snap-on prices rarely outweigh getting the job done in timely manner and cheaper. Especially on toolboxes
I can never understand people buying a 10K toolbox when the 1000 dollar one from Harbor Freight or Craftsman has the same features and stores the tools just as well. If having a radio in your toolbox and a logo is important, buy the Snap-On
Guy at a shop I used to work at was addicted to buying tools. The rest of us poked a little fun at him for always goin in and out of the truck with fancy new tool sets for this and that, even though he never used them. Our concerns grew when when years passed and he didn't start stepping up and getting certs that could take advantage of his outrageous assortment. When he got his fourth box, we had to have a sit-down with him in the breakroom. Didn't stop him. I sure hope he's doing ok. His cordless impact had INSANE breakaway power, though.
It's a true addiction for some guys. I get nervous for guys who buy and have no use for their purchases. I don't have any customers like that anymore since I revamped the types of shops I service.
I do my own wrenching, and I bought some basics, and then keep slowly adding over time as I need them. If I know it's going to be a one-time use, I rent or buy the cheap tool. For things that get a lot of use (ratchets, impacts, etc.) that I need to work every time, I'll spend for the quality because it's worth it. A lot of these guys get hooked on the convenience and the ease of weekly payments that conceal the cost.
I've been a autobody tech for about a decade now. when I was 19 I thought the tool truck brands were the holy grail in tools. I was spending more on tools every month than I paid in rent. I found Amazon and other online tool outlets to be the best place to buy tools. sure snap on has some great products but why would I ever buy an agle grinder for 400 bucks when I can buy a Chicago pneumatic grinder off Amazon for literally a quarter of the price with the same warranty and it's still gonna last several years before it needs repair or replacement. I tell every apprentice I come across to go to harbor freight to buy thier first hands tools, go to Amazon to buy any pneumatic tools they need and buy milwaukee or Dewalt from home depot for drills and electric ratchets ect. it is insane the amount of money tool trucks want for tools. I quit buying tools off the trucks about 5 years ago and it has saved me soooo much money. i have just as many quality tools as all the strap on fan boys I know and I get all the same types of work done in the same amount of time. I have 30 dollar grinders that I've had for 3+ years that I've used for hundreds of hours at this point and their still going strong. all my tool trucks dealers tell us their biggest competition these days is online retailers. I think it comes as no surprise when I can pay a qaurter the price and have the tools in two or three days.
I figure if I buy a snap on tool for $300 and it might last my whole life, but if I buy a similar craftsman for $50 and it could last my whole life or I could lose it, break it or whatever six times over to cost as much as the snap on.
It's crazy that this tactic works, I wouldn't buy the bluepoint set, and I hope that I wouldn't buy the 37 piece set but time will tell, lol Good video dude
I worked for Snap-on for 35 years in manufacturing. I was always amazed about their pricing structure. I will add, that employees were not given any great deals. I only bought what I would actually needed. I never did any 5 finger discounts and as I rose in the ranks I was given product, some of which was personalized. After retirement, I donated allot of product and sets to charity. I always took the tax write off at full list price with a smile. SO's mark-up ranged from 200-1000%. I will never bad mouth SO. The product is excellent over the competition, yet I own competitive product do to the price. The tool consumer should always look at price, function and warrantee when buying.
When I started my mechanic tool collection I was able to buy a KRL snap on box in the color I wanted (orange) because the dealer bought it cheap and I was able to get it for $5000. One year later the same box cost $11,000. I later added a side locker I found on marketplace for $750 using a signing bonus I received from my new job at the time. I bought snap on hand tools and ratchets. Stayed away from air tools from the truck. There are some snap on tools worth the money such as the seal spoon kit for like $40 has re-packed countless hydraulic cylinders over the years. Bit sockets are a given to NOT buy from the truck! It's a matter of knowing what you need to do your job and doing the best with what you have
I'm a mechanic at Honda and the Snappy guy is a real cool dude but damn his prices are freakin insane! I buy most my stuff from Cornwell and Matco but still have couple Snappy bits 🤷
Something I noticed about snap-on. Their "complete sets" stop short of being complete. Like 1/2 drive socket sets that stop at 3/4" or 19mm. I bought the 24" HF breaker bar when it was on sale for $15. Few weeks later I had my 350 pound ass bouncing on the handle getting a bolt broke loose. And it held.
Many of Harbor Freight's tools are made by reputable, quality companies that manufacture for the "premium" brands. Take, for example, their Chief air hammer. Made by the same company and to the same spec as the Mac air hammer. Even the part numbers are identical on the schematics.
I love my harbor freight breaker bar!! I let a friend borrow it and he got the locking ball jammed up, then left it outside to get a little rusty on the screw. I was able to take it apart, clean and oil everything, reassemble it, and its worked flawlessly for years since then
In the 1980s, A&W attempted to capitalize on the success of the Quarter Pounder by introducing a third-pound burger. The bigger burger gave consumers more bang for their collective buck. It was priced the same as the Quarter Pounder but delivered more meat. It even outperformed McDonald’s in blind taste tests, with consumers preferring the flavor of A&W’s burger. But when it came down to actually purchasing the third-pound burgers, most Americans simply would not do it. Baffled, A&W ordered more tests and focus groups. After chatting with people who snubbed the A&W burger for the smaller Quarter Pounder, the reason became clear: Americans suck at fractions. Alfred Taubman, who owned A&W at the time, wrote about the confusion in his book Threshold Resistance: More than half of the participants in the Yankelovich focus groups questioned the price of our burger. "Why," they asked, "should we pay the same amount for a third of a pound of meat as we do for a quarter-pound of meat at McDonald's? You're overcharging us." Honestly. People thought a third of a pound was less than a quarter of a pound. After all, three is less than four! Not understanding that a fourth is actually smaller than a third, many consumers eschewed the better-tasting burger in favor of the one they thought was the better deal. According to Taubman, A&W recalibrated their marketing, saying, “The customer, regardless of his or her proficiency with fractions, is always right.” Apparently undaunted by the average American’s less-than-average math skills, McDonald’s tried their own version of the bigger burger, the “Angus Third-Pounder,” in 2007. It didn’t last, but they gave it another shot with the “Sirloin Third Pounder” . That one is gone now, too, but the mighty Quarter Pounder remains a mainstay.
Ignorance can be cured, sometimes, but simple math is always a problem, as described in the A&W hamburger vs. McDonald hamburger discussion, and the cans of peas example. I could say more, but I want to be civil.
Honestly, for non-power hand tools, Pittsburgh (Harbour Freight) is almost the new Craftsman. There are some things that Craftsman just made nicer but for the cost, they work fine and have lifetime replacement warranty. I'm actually impressed: the Pittsburgh ratchet has much finer teeth than my old Craftsman stuff, can make smaller rotations. If I'm trying to find something a little nicer, Husky (Home Depot) has nice hand tools with a pretty good warranty, too.
That's actually our home office. Our living room is on the other end of the house. Her workstation is in the office, too, so it's where all the receiving, unboxing and shipping takes place. There's always a ton of tools there.
Much different bits work.well asoon as the flutes wear a little their bite on stripped torx Allen decreases so if you warranty them their awesome rbrt but their hard to get in all.the way without a hit from a hammer as they are tight as I already stated though the steel in them not as good as the snapons I own them all and used them all for a living
@@doctordiesel5467 Agree - I got lot of Snapon and the METAL quality is superior to everything else. I suspect being the rbrt could be made from recycled metal so might lot of impurities in it (not sure). I work on Yamaha/Kawi/Suzuki so everything I got is metric (but I do not like any of them Torx) fittings I wish they would get rid of them all. Real pain and fill full of dirt and always the Torx bits break/strip something. Allen heads ain't as bad as them.
My team uses more tools out of Harbor Freight with “Lifetime warranty” than any extremely overpriced Snap on. I like Snap on. They make good tools, but an average blue collar worker who performs the type of work that requires hand tools just simply can’t afford to pay snap on prices. A shame too, I think most would be proud to represent USA made tool companies like Snap on.
@@Heywoodthepeckerwood There's plenty of them. Many people are making a good living. It's not good jobs that are scarce, it's people with a willingness to work hard every day that's scarce.
In general, Snap On uses a marketing/pricing strategy called "perceived value". Back in college we studied a case where the owner of a souvenir shop out west was going away on vacation. Her turquoise jewelry wasn't selling, so she left a note for her manager to mark it all down half price. Well the manager couldn't read the hand writing, so he doubled the price instead. Well by the time the owner got back from her vacation, to her surprise most of the turquoise jewelry had sold. The psychology behind it is that when people see a higher price tag, they believe that they're seeing an appropriately high quality product. Don't fall for that s**t, bc it's not always true.
I miss Sears. I never purchased Snap-On, Matco, or Mac. No offense to anyone that has, or likes them. I have Craftsman tools my grandfather and dad used. I have abused my Craftsman stuff. I miss being able to walk into the store and just exchange it for a new one. The only time I buy expensive tools, are when they are specialty tools. For instance, Rigid makes the best pipe cutters.
Great expression of the psychology of sales on a very basic level.Makes me want to dig deeper into the subject. Options for the customer greatly increase the likelihood of a sale.
I bought the old one of these for I think $300 off my Snap On truck in 2015. I'm probably gonna sell it for the Mac RBRT that I'm in love with. Funny is the Snap On bit set was about that price new back in 15 but that Blue Point one was like low $300 retail. Honestly Snap On bread and butter is their Government contracts and super specialty tools that nobody other than Proto makes. I go on the truck for specialty tools and stay for the occasion killer promos.
They really rely on their government contracts. Their franchisees are also a significant revenue stream for them, because I think they have about 4,000 of them. Every time I think Snap-On is pricing themselves out of the market, I'm proven wrong.
@@CoyleTools I worked aviation and them and proto(more hand tools) were the main names on any crazy or bizarre specialty tool. Even if it wasn't the Snap On name it came from one of their owned companies. I do like they say made in USA on them though. I feel like one of the very few companies that still has USA on most of their tools.
I'm fairly new to the industry and spent money on some great cheap tools as well as some really terrible cheap ones. It's such a random thing to navigate. Each company seems to fail at arbitrary things. My Maximum (Canadian Tire brand) cordless impact drivers are terrible and noisy as hell, but their drill and angle grinder have worked better than the Milwaukees I bought to replace my set in the shop. Sure, the Milwaukee drill is quieter and easier to manage, but the Maximum one just plows through tires like butter when I'm doing repairs. So now I have two chargers on top of my shop computer and a pile of batteries. lol Still avoiding the Snap-On truck, though, even though I have a $500 gift card from when I did some on the job training. You almost can't even buy a simple socket set with that money. I'll probably just use it to grab a nice long prybar for peeling off stuck wheels. It's one of the few basic hand tools I'm missing.
I use to think they were worth paying the price for when I started as a mechanic and the selling point was also the service. However now a days I feel it’s no different than gettin sets at the store or online with a decent warranty. Most the times they’re good quality and a lot or overpricing rebrand stuff just doesn’t make sense to me
I've got a lot of Snap-Off that I've purchased over the years. Most from Fan Boys trying to make their tool truck payments, the balance from Pawn Shops, rummage sales, flea markets etc. and in all the years of buying them second hand I've got half what that Snap-Off set cost in out of pocket spent in the 25+ years I've been turning wrenches. I've never climbed on a tool truck other than to make a warranty claim and I never will. I'd much rather keep my overhead low and my pricing competitive than charge more for a brand specific toolbox filled with matching Skittles. Those Snap-Off Fanboys can keep chasing the rainbow because they'll need it to get out of debt.
I own 90% Snap-On, and they are 100% paid for. I’m not a “fan boy”, I’m a trade professional who knows the value of a professional grade tool with a lifetime warranty.
I own a complete set of Snap On tools about 95% of all my tools are Snap On and they are all paid for. All you have to do is be disciplined with your purchases. Before you know it you will have a full set of Snap On tools all paid for that will last you your life time. I started out in 1980 so I have tools that are over 40 years old that still work as good today as they did the day I bought them. The biggest key is choose one brand and stick with that brand for all your major tool purchases, don't get caught up in buying from each tool truck because that will bury you quickly. The trick is set a dollar amount and purchase up to that dollar amount but then pay it off before you purchase again, that way you are never buried in debt, you can pay it off quickly and your tool inventory will fill out in no time be paid for and you will own quality tools. There are times when you will have to find a certain tool that you may have to purchase from another tool truck, just keep it to the one tool and pay it off and stick with the brand you originally decided on. Don't get caught up in the buy the cheap tool from Harbor Freight, Lowe's, Home Depot and even Northern Tool & Equipment. You will find you will be on the never ending train ride of finding the next cheap brand that comes out and is the flavor of the week. Before you know it you will have spent enough money on cheap tools because RUclipsrs said this is the one man you have to buy this set that you could have bought and paid for a Snap On set. I have seen it so many times. Another issue is warranty when you break those cheap tools and you will break them you have to spend your personal time running around to Harbor Freight, Lowe's, Home Depot and other places getting them replaced. Not how I want to spend my time after work or my days off. There are always sales and deals going on with the tool trucks, just wait until the sales for big ticket items, for example my Snap On tool boxes would cost you $15,575 if you just go on the truck and ordered them, I paid a fraction of that price for them brand new off the Snap On tool truck, they are always having deals on tool boxes.
@@mustangecoboosthpp3869 If all mechanics could learn a single lesson it's the one you described here HPP. I don't disagree with you at all. Being frugal is the only way to go. I help with a lot of Estate clean out jobs where I often will purchase the whole toolbox, tools and all, then hold the better brands for myself and pass on the remainder to help recuperate my expenses. I have a great assortment of tools with a full compliment in both of my trucks, two full boxes in my shop plus a fully loaded tool cart (7 drawer) and one full box in the garage. I hang onto S&K, Williams, Proto, Snap On, MAC, Matco, USA Made Craftsman, Knipex, etc. and yes, some of the higher end Harbor Freight line. I wrench daily and have been since the 1980's as well and I still have 99% of the tools I purchased. (Sans one replacement 11/16" 6 point deep well USA Made Craftsman that split on me and was replaced for .50 cents from a pawn shop.) So, the brands I hoard are high quality and I have multiple complete sets that I have acquired over the years with most being second hand purchases and always paid in full at the time of purchase. Even my tool boxes were mostly acquired second hand. My point is, we're cut from the same cloth in a way. Being responsible and not living outside our means. But this is rarely the case with recent grads from trade schools which is where most of the Snap On I own have come from. All aspiring and existing mechanics should read your comment HPP. Wise words! Cheers! Zip~
There is a Matco guy in Las Vegas that literally started stamping a page inside a percentage of his monthly flyers because of me. He'd ask where I wanted him to put his little catalog each month and I kept telling him to save me the trouble and throw it in the trash for me. Now if you get a catalog with stamp in it you get 5 percent off. I've bought 3 things from Snap On in 20 years. A mini DA, a dead blow hammer and one 1/4 inch t30 torx when we were doing VWs all the time. I love the guys who run the trucks but their kids will need scholarships if everyone was like me.. I ain't paying their tuition
I learned some of this stuff back in high-school when they actually taught you things other than how to become transgendered. I had a Social Studies teacher who was into consumer protection and taught us smart shopping like watching for "sales" where a 32oz product was on sale for $3 dollars, yet two regular priced 16oz products were priced at $1.25 each. Also, subliminal messages and color schemes on packaging. Thank you Mr. Kaczyinski. Literally saved me thousands of dollars over the years.
Christ man, keep thinking the transgendered boogie-man is gonna come get you, hahaha. Right after antifa attacks. Must be miserable being scared of things don't even affect you while probably voting against things that could actually help you.
I got my first set of wrenches at about seven, the standard "craftsman combination wrench set" of the early 1960's. I've worked as a mechanic ever since, and have acquired pretty much a "full set" over the years. That said, unless one is going to do it for a living, for a lifetime, simply going to Sears or Lowes and buying the tools one needs, "in the moment" is probably all anyone other than the professional needs. Tool companies do their utmost to suggest "everyone needs every tool" mainly because there is only the incremental sales for "the new tech" to drive annual sales. I own probably twice the tools I need, in large because "the new tool" has always had special appeal, and we love our tools.
They need to charge that much to the fan bois, because the rest of us told them to eff off. Especially when they give me the stank eye for expecting warranty on overpriced lifetime warranty tools.
From my perspective, both of those sets are extraordinarily overpriced and I would ignore them on principle. There has never been a better time in which one may buy high quality tools which are affordable.
Air Force will be all over this. The molded case is the best part for accountability. But the problem with the set is it's likely a single bit per box in the 37 pc set.
I'm a retired mechanic and have lots of snap on ,mac,ect but I always kept my bill to what I bought never used their credit just bought what I needed. I have the same used snap on tool box I bought back in 80 something for 300 bucks it still does the job and every tool salesman has tried to get me to trade up and I just laugh and laugh. It's not the tool box it's what you can do with what you have.
I've always liked snapon tools but hated their prices I still have a ratcheting screw drive that I bought in 1990 and it works great. Most mechanics finance their purchases also so that $999 item will be $3k with interest when finally paid off. I've seen the kind of houses the snapon drivers live in compared to mechanics. Compounded interest is what the rich don't want the poor to figure out.
I am a *HUGE* fan of Project Farm and his hardcore testing procedures. It's come to the point where I won't buy or suggest a tool until I see if he has reviewed it. For example, here is a test of hex-bit socket sets--which use the same tech as the sets talked about here, where the GearWrench did fairly well: ruclips.net/video/5GTJMhJuL68/видео.html
You are selling tools, that’s your motive. However, that’s cool. It’s how you make your living and your NOT being deceptive, you are offering a good deal and proving it by illustrating how much of a rip-off Snap on is. That’s a good business practice to guide a customer to the much, much better deal, even if you’re the one offering it. Great video! 👍🏻
I'm a forklift technician & the only Snap On kit I have in my tool box is some punches, 4 X hex bits & a brake adjusting tool. All my other tools are Halfords Professional, Laser, Sealey, Beta, Draper Expert, Makita for battery tools & even a coupe of Silverline ratchet spanners 24mm & 30mm for adjusting forklift lift chains - no one tool company makes a perfect range of tools, go for what suits your needs best so you can get the job done.
Snap on won't warranty my tools anymore. I no longer work at a commercial shop so without receipts corporate won't warranty my tools. Like I have receipts from 25 years ago. Don't fall for it fellas, the service is only with your dealer, corporate does not honor the lifetime warranty. You better be sure you have a good relationship with a dealer that is never going to quit or lose his route.
I spent many years as a line mechanic in the motorcycle industry, I started with Craftsman and used them because I just couldn’t afford. Years later I’m making more money and debt free so I treated myself, I don’t regret spending on Snap On, the tools are great and the weekly tool guy stop is handy which was the justification “I spend more because the truck is here every week”. Now retired I piddle in my shop, I’ve since been buying a lower price brand from one of those tool store chains and have had good luck. $70 vs $10 for a 1/4 drive racket is a big difference with a lot less anxiety. I do work out of my shop now, tractors, farm trucks and what else folks drag up. I’m missing my #2 Phillips (snap on), it’s probably laying in a frame rail or something and it’s aggravating, where if It was a $10 unit ..oh well, it will show up.
According to internet and other research I’ve done I have close to $90,000 in craftsman tools. I have only bought a torque wrench brand new. Everything else, EVERYTHING has been gotten from garage sales and deals on FaceBook marketplace, Craigslist. I have a whole wall in my shop that is lined with their cabinets and drawers that I got for pennies on the dollar.
I always am so glad I decided to go craftsman with my tools for college. I took automotive tech and obviously you need alot of tools with that. I got absolutely everything on the list, toolbox included for a little over $900. My fellow classmates were typically looking at $8000 for the tool box and almost as much for the tools. I never noticed a huge jump in quality personally, and they seem to break just as much as craftsman. The big difference was the price and the fact that I could just go to Sears and replace basically any tool I needed while the snap on and mac kids were stuck waiting for whenever the truck came back. Just seemed like a complete scam to me, and seeing as how I've only work as a mechanic for half a year before deciding its not what I wanted to do, I'm really glad not to be $16,000 in debt. Still have all the tools, still use them whenever I need to perform a repair on my car. Be practical, don't pay extra just to pay extra 🤷🏼♂️
@@annyer262 I mean I definately agree, i still work on my car all the time but really learned i hated doing it as a career. So I'm super thankful I never fell for that scam, couldn't imagine all that debt following me around. I still have the majority of those tools as well, and I don't treat them nice or anything but a decent amount of snap on and mac stuff broke while I was at college so that's always been my impression of those tools 🤷🏼♂️
I started working on cars with my dad since I was 12. We almost always went to sears in those days during the fathers day sale and got whatever craftsmen tools we needed. Nowadays with all the impact tools we just go to harbor freight and those impact sockets last forever. Any specialty tool either amazon or Northern Tools works for us. And all impact drivers are Milwaukee. Its so much cheaper than these tool trucks. We had a friend with a snap on impact driver that just couldn’t hold up at all to our Milwaukee drivers.
Trucks are known to do deals sometimes, I wonder if someone who’d use them a lot like a European car dealer/specialty shop would be able to get a good deal and make their money back pretty well
I’ve bought some older tool bits at antique malls and have gotten enough of a “Made in America” tool set to avoid overpaying. Some stuff is pricey but I try to reuse tools before I get brand new tools.
It is really difficult to find quality hand tools these days. I used to be a big Craftsmen fan, but that was due to tools I had from the early 80's. None of the tool manufacturers match the quality you could get 40 years ago.
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I’ve told multiple apprentices to stay off the tool trucks as much as possible (snap on, matco, mac) as much as possible. When I started my career I bought sears and lowes, northern tool for almost everything, and then replaced the ones that broke with a higher quality tool. 20 years later I’m still using majority of my 1/2 drive deep impact sockets, and axle nut sockets. I feel it’s a far better measure to find out what you’re using the most as those tools will wear and break first, instead of buying a whole set of expensive bits and then realize your only using 4 or 5 bits of a $500 set
I give the same advice to new guys when I meet them. Stay off of the tool trucks -- including mine -- until your career has developed to the point where you find value in the prices and service.
It's called a rape wagon for that reason. haha
This is pretty much how I worked my entire career... started with Craftsman (which at the time was made BY snap on) for me, it was good, Sears was 5 minutes away if something broke. They had ratchet rebuild kits for a penny (I bought 5 of each at the time, only used one or two in 30 years) if something was breaking often, I'd buy 2... it always made better sense than the trucks. There are some exceptions of course like the matco carb tool that no other compared to...
SNAP-ON is in the process of pricing themselves out of the tool business! I used to love SNAP-ON but if your not at a shop you have to chase them down for a warranty issue! I can get the set at HD with lifetime warranty and swap it out at my convenience. I don't have to wait a week. Plus I pass HD, Lowes, and others on the way home!
Some things I will buy cheap. Others I will buy off the truck. It all depends on the tool. For example, I do a LOT of stuff with 1/4 sockets that I really shouldn't. Which means I tend to break them. Not so much the sockets themselves, but extensions, swivels, and occasionally ratchets. Also, I HATE cheap pliers.
As a kid, I was impressed that the Snap-On truck came right to my Uncle's house. My dad explained that if my uncle owed me as much money as he owed Snap-On, I'd be showing up at his place a few times a week too.
🤣🤣🤣
True That!
30+ year wrench turner here . Yes , I have a huge Masters Series box combo full . Sadly it only took me 25 years in the business to realize I got the Strap-On not the Snap-On . Sure I have acquired an impressive set of tools , but for the money I spent over 25 years I could have bought a house and Lamborghini
🤣
I bought Snap-on through my school . Only way it made any since was you bought the boxes retail , and the tool set was 1$ a tool . In 1991 the boxes were not THAT bad price wise .
Back in the day, Dave Thomas of Wendy’s Hamburgers introduced a Double pattie hamburger. It did not sell well. So he added a TRIPLE burger to the menu. The absurd triple burger made the double look “reasonable” and sales of the double increased dramatically.
A set like this runs about $25 at Home Depot.
and lifetime warranty too. That's why I get Husky.
I do all of my automotive work with pretty much only hobo freight tools a 3/8 ratchet is only 11$ and has a lifetime warranty so for 11$ I will have a decent ratchet for years and I don’t have to wait for the snap on truck to come around to claim the warranty HarborFreight got a bad reputation in the past but at this point most of their products are on par with tool truck tools
@@novalover1223334444 hobo freight haha. I like that.
When you’re earning a living with tools, some tools are worth the extra money the premium brands offer. Having said that, if you’re starting out, buy cheap tools first and replace you commonly used items when they break, like sockets, ratchets and driver bits. I found that the wobble extensions offered by Snap-On were well worth the money I spent on them, but depending on the work you do, it may be different for you
yup. I buy nice or vintage stuff for critical tools (wrenches, pliers, ratchets, etc)... however any kind of bit or socket is a consumable and is eventually going to wear, break, or f*ck right off into the grass.
Just go with Husky, harbor freight, etc for consumables. If you use a star bit on enough 30 year old rusted, red LT seatbelt bolts, a socket bit *will* eventually break no matter how delicate you are with it and how much you heat and beat.
I'm annoyed how every company uses "Post Covid" and/or "supply chain shortages" as an excuse to double prices. Even if not affected, so many are hopping on.
Great post
Great reset baby, its all on purpose. Instead of fixing inflation the right way they are going to try and fix it the "fast" way and by destroying the middle class and small business entirely
Yeah, and they blame covid for items back ordered for months and months.
It's is very frustrating. I just have to add that not all of it is BS. Shipping a can from overseas was around $2500 pre-covid......now it's close to $40K. The freight companies are soooooo insane right now.
@@Masi22isaM I blame Pete Butigeig.
Years ago when I was a mechanic I have to admit I was a tool snob. Snap On was the only tool I would buy. Some time ago,i bought a 1"drive socket set from Harbor Freight. It's a chrome set but I've used it on my 1"drive impact gun, I've heated nuts cheery red and put the sockets on them, they've never failed. Unless you need a tool only Snap On sells, you're crazy to spend the money.
Good illustration of a good point, Douglas. Each tool brand its own exclusive products. The rest, mostly, is third-party branded or contracted out to other manufacturers. Snap-On does have its own manufacturing, but not for everything.
Only Snap-on tools I own are things only they make. And even then I'll hit ebay for a used version.
Do your research When making your tool purchases.
Sounds like you earned your wisdom at the local university College rate.
At least you finally saw the light. ;)
Indeed, and without doubt the snap on tool might last forever, the replacement cost for a chinese socket when it breaks, still is a bargain.
Snappy increases their prices 10% every December. They have inflated the price of their old tool lines year after year to the point that they are no longer competitive. I feel for the Snap On franchise holders. They pay A LOT of money in franchise fees but corporate greed devalues the brand every year by driving more customers to lower priced competitors. What’s even worse is when the competitors like Matco take notice of Snap-On prices and decide, for example, that they can price their ratchets at $150 because that’s the going (ie. Snap-On) rate. Meanwhile techs are making $20-40/hr and are leaving the industry because the price of tools is ridiculous. Thanks for providing those guys an affordable alternative.
Excellent insight. You're right on all counts. And when I look at what Matco's pricing has done lately, I'm shocked. There is an ever-decreasing value for those franchisees.
I brought snap-on for many years and thru that time I recall 7 snap-on reps came close to losing their business and or their house because the company does not negotiate for tool arrears. A bunch of pricks, BUT tools are good.
yeah that's why I got out of being a mechanic after a few months. tool prices were insane and I was getting like $12 an hour years and years ago. went back to construction as it pays about triple and no tools needed besides boots and a hammer really.
Actually the truth is 3% - 6% price increases each year.
matco is parts store tools with a matco logo laser etched into it imo, snap on even with its crazy prices which I normally dont pay just feels like its own product idk how to properly explain it. matco stuff feels like outsourced tools with a logo slapped on it. An yall are totally correct they charge the same prices as snap on. Our last matco truck dealer lasted 2 months an went out of business
edit: bought a $200 matco drive belt tool on his first month doing our route, used it 3 times an bought a gearwrench drive belt tool off snap on for $150 an threw the matco one in my box at home. I'd probably sell it for $40 if someone asked me LMFAO
Let me add this, a few years back I acquired a broken in half Snap On 1/2" breaker bar, I only got the end with the drive on it and it was still a useful tool, anyway one day the Snap On van was outside and my friend was spunking all his wages as usual when I had the idea to see if the much mentioned 'lifetime warranty' would apply to this very old broken bar I had, well the man changed it without a murmur and I had a brand new shiny Snap On breaker bar which was probably the most expensive tool in my toolbox at that time and I have to say my whole perspective on those expensive tools changed. The man was actually very smart changing that bar as I did buy tools from his van occasionally after that.
We have two snap-on trucks and i dunno how the one guy is cuz they each have there territory ut the one I am familiar with is a bit of a dick when it comes to the warranty part of some stuff. My buddy had a snap-on box full of snap-on tools and when the electric impacts were taking off our one mechanic got a Milwaukee but the snap on kid got there product and the drill brole right away and it was almost a yearbeforehe saw it again and it broke the first week he had it back lol
The snap-on guy had it for quite awhile the second time and was quite rude every timehe asked when it was gonna be fixed, then buddy ended up selling it when he got it back and got a Milwaukee set.
Harbor freight Home Depot ect will do the same
I've had the opposite experiences, places I've worked have stopped spending much on the tool trucks and I've had broken tools. The "lifetime warranty" is a courtesy I found out as buddy just kept giving me the run around saying I abused it and it was my fault that it broke and they wouldn't replace the items. Tool trucks for me now are a specialty tool only shop, if I can find it somewhere else that's where I'm getting it.
You do know almost every tool brand would carry lifetime warranty on a breaker bar …but oh snap on comes to you, ok so you have to wait for them to come when you drive to and from work everyday and can absolutely bring a broken tool to the store you bought it at and have a new one the same day….snap on is a rip off everyone knows this
Please bear in mind that every single big box store will do the same thing. I miss claiming warranty on 1950's Craftsmen tools I found at auction.
Good and honest info much appreciated. I sold junk tools throughput the US vis auctions and straight sales for 20+ years. Some imports were ok others simply junk. I was in my twenties and didn’t like the low quality products we often had to sell. My boss who died a multi multi millionaire once told me there’s two kinds of tools. Some tools were made to be used and others were simply made to be sold. Never forgot that statement.
Words of true wisdom.
And some tools are the customers!
I know a young guy he’s an apprentice mechanic that got sucked into buying $25 grand worth of snap on tool’s, he had to take out a personal loan through snap on to pay for them, after all his work mate’s tried telling him not to do it he went ahead anyway, he even bought a motorised trolley to drag it around. The tool box was that big it looked like a block of apartments. The tools cost more than his car not to mention the fact that he had to insure the tool’s otherwise he couldn’t get the loan, by the way he’s or was paying off his car as well. I remember the old saying a fool and his money are soon parted
Wow! It's not as if he wasn't getting good advice!
I forgive him.. The sales rep was Alyssa's Milano... Hahaha
So he got a set of spanners and screwdrivers and a box to put them in ? Wow, what a deal ! Not !
@@scottrich976 What do they say about a fool and his money
@@kevinrandall8327 gone in 60 bits ?
This reminds me of how much I miss Sears. Back in the day, they had good quality at a fair price and a pretty amazing selection of stuff. They came out with a professional line a while back, I bought a few of those, they seem pretty good.
I have to say that I have actually bought Mac and snap on, but not very often. The service from the Snapon guy was unreal. But the prices were difficult to deal with.
ace hardware and a few others still have craftsman, yes i kiss the brick and motor stores also
I actually stayed away from SnapOn at least 51% because of horrible service.
Back in my short sales career, one of the big points they pushed was "nobody will buy somthing from someone they dont like"- and all the SnapOn dealers Ive had were either arrogant and unwilling to make a deal, or horrendously unreliable...
I also miss the original craftsman tools and loved their warranty! I once had a 1/4" ratchet from back in the 70s and it finally wore out and they warrantied it even though it was approaching 25 years old. Granted it was not the same model but no questions asked swapped it out.
I think the 'Husky' brand is stealth taking over now.
@@jodemit655 The only sad part about that is the 25 year old one was very likely MUCH better. Almost all my Craftsmans are about 40 years old. Got a lot of them back in the 80's and haven't bought many since. I exchanged a ratchet and the one they gave me was quite a bit worse than the one I had, but I have so many that I didn't care that much.
You’ve convinced me. I’m buying the Snap-on set. 😆
😂
I worked in advertising sales for over 25 years and this is one of the most super-intelligent presentations of a concept that was never explained to me in any of my college education or 27 years in advertising (and all the on the job training I received). I know this concept exists, but it has never even been broached before (in my past) nor have I ever had it explained so clearly and concisely before. You have won my subscription and Kudo's to you for an EXCELLENT marketing educational video!
Wow, thank you so much for the compliment and thank you for the sub!!
@@CoyleTools You are very welcome... please make sure you read the very end of this comment. FYI, It randomly came to me after my last comment that, in laymans terms, this is simply called "high-balling" and is a common trick in the car business. Suggest a high priced vehicle (that almost no one will buy) to achieve 2-3 goals... 1) See the max a buyer can spend & 2) Scare off buyers that are have bad credit or are simply wasting the sellers time. or 3) Seller decides that buyer is a jerk or not serious so they simply offer the option as the ONLY option (so the buyer will then "fire" them and leave them alone / go waste another seller's time). OK This is the part that I want to make sure you stayed tuned for. I was watching a Mid Atlantic Tools Video he published yesterday and the first thing he talked about was what he called a Gearwrench 86541-06 (I think, but not absolutely sure, that this is REALLY supposed to be referred to as simply 86541). Anyway, he referred me to you after saying he did "not want to sell anything over the internet". I am pasting my original comment here (to save us both time)... "Assuming that they are metric, I would be interested if you wanted to sell me those Mid length GWrench sockets. I literally just ordered these from another source and they have not shipped them out yet. If you want to match their price, please let me know and I will cancel the other order I speak of to buy from you instead. Just so I don't forget, I am talking about GWrench #86541 which I THINK is the same thing you show (but you said that yours was 86541-06). Please advise (either way) if you are interested or not." To be very clear, this set is all mid length chrome in 1/4 & 3/8. I told him I would just call him and give him my CCard & shipping info, but he was not comfortable with that and (like I said) referred me to you. So (assuming you have these already IN STOCK) I want to reach out to you (Coyle Tools) and see if you might be interested in selling me this set. Please advise (either way) if you want to sell me a set of these... yes or no. I would greatly appreciate your fast reply on this matter.
@@jotu173 Thank you for asking. I'm happy to help. Currently, this set is not in stock but I can special order it, which will take longer, and I have no indication when they would ship. This is probably why you haven't had much luck getting them in a timely manner, since it looks like most retailers and distributors are waiting on availability. The set that Mid Atlantic had may have been a promotional set sent to him by Gearwrench as a way to show a new product. Your price would be $94.99 plus tax. Shipping is included. I doubt I can match pricing from online retailers since they're larger and sell much higher volume than I do. When I searched other sites, many are selling this for much less than my cost.
@@CoyleTools thanks for the fast reply. Basically you are spot on with all of your comment. I already have these back ordered for much less (but understand why your price is higher). Not crucial that I have these, so for now, I will pass. Thanks again for the reply back.
Coyle Tools.. Great video. I am somewhat of a Snap-on fan but there is no way I buy either of those sets.. Showing your customers what other options cost is not tricking them to buy your product like Snap-on is doing with that ad. Thanks for sharing it.
I ordered a jet drill set from our local snap-on guy. When it came in it was $80 and not even snap-on brand. I looked it up online and the exact same set was $4 and some change everywhere. I of course didn't take the one from the snap-on guy and knew with out a doubt that man was my enemy.
I am now retired for the past 5 years but in 1976 I went in the Air Force and for the following 7 years I was a vehicle mechanic in the service. After I separated and before I went in the Air Force reserves and retrained as a aircraft mechanic I worked in the dealership as heavy line mechanic. When I separated I needed a full set of basic hand tools and a rollaway. In the final 6 months of my service I gather bids for tools needed and I was demanding that the price be fair. Of course Snap-on did the high bid even then and immediately was taken off the list. Mac, Matco and Bonney were the ones left and I decided on Bonney as being the best value. The only thing was Bonney was sold at Grainger and not on the truck. It was actually very good for me as the Grainger store was only 2 blocks from the dealership I worked at. I break a tool which was rare but on lunch that day or the next I hop over to store get a new tool and be back in a short time.
Options from the crazy over pricing that Snap-on does is going to be either they stop the escalator upward but I doubt that. I do have Snap-on ratchets as I think they are best on the market but I never bought off the truck. I just go to the pawn shops and bargain out a reasonable price normally around 50-70% less then the list price.
Since I am not a tool snob if the tools work and earned me money that is all I care about. By the way I still used that Bonney set I got almost 40 years ago in my personal shop. I did get adept at ignoring the Snappy fanboys as I was known as a grumpy mechanic all through my time as a flat rate and then working in aviation mechanic for thirty years.
The most unfortunate thing is, just two years ago (pre-pandemic) that Blue Point set was less than $299. And could be had "on sale" for even less than $199 pretty regularly. At that price point, it's a fantastic deal. I sold SO MANY. However, the price increase on imported tools has just become nuts.
Secondly, the 37pc is in fact a terrible option. Those exact tools could be purchased without the blow molded case, as individual sets of hex and torx for weekly/monthly sales prices totalling less than $450-500. Sure ya don't get the fancy box, but who cares. The snap-on branded "large kits" have always had absolutely trash pricing.
That when i bought my blue point set, around 5 years ago. To be honest it's my favorite allen bits, definitely the toughest of all the brands I've owned. I have the Snap-On as well but I would keep the blue point over them.
Plus who has space for all the organizer boxes that are way too big, very few things I buy stay in the case they came in, they're either sitting flat in a drawer or in a better organizer to maximize what box space I have
Let's go Brandon! Just watch and you'll see what it looks like when a civilization collapses.
It's all about the Name vanity! Seen it way too many times, people falling for this trap only to have snatch on repo their tools and boxes.
@@jodemit655 what the hell does name vanity have anything to do with getting repossessed?? Even more so, what does ANYTHING in this video got to do with getting repoed by Snap-on? Whether it's over priced or not, people shouldn't buy shit on credit if you can't afford it. No one's trapping anyone into getting repoed except ignorant people who try to convince themselves that they can afford a payment that they in fact can't.
It's called the "Value Lead-In". I used to sell home theater equipment in Circuit City back in the 1990s and we were taught this tactic.
You show the customer the most expensive thing in the store in the product category they're shopping for, wait for their sticker shock, and then show them something that's "90% as good for 50% the price". Worked every time.
Psychology is used against us in marketing every day, in every product category. Thanks for showing this example. It’s a good reminder to be aware of this pervasive tactic!
The most complete set I've bought was at home depot. I saw the set on clearance sale for three dollars, I bought every set and used them for gifts. Everyone who got one was very happy ( including me). None of the bits have failed yet I use some for impact tools and for that price I wouldn't complain if half had failed. I gave up on snap on in the eighties. My Mac tool and Matco tool men had great quality tools at a much better price. The " Mac Man" would even warranty S&K as well as Craftsman tools. He lived close to their warehouse stores and would do that warranty for free. I bought mostly Mac in appreciation to him.
It really pays to have at least one great tool guy. He knew what it was all about!
Have you been on a matco truck lately? Their prices are sky high too.
Of course he would warranty Craftsman. They guts are the same as the Matco ratchet. So he had the parts on his truck. Hopefully you paid the Craftsman price and not the Matco (same tool, different price??)
I have the same set, sort of. Years ago I ordered the blow molded case from Snap-On for about $30 and filled it with bits. It is nice for the portability.
Snap On has always been insane ! Thier tools are grossly overpriced! I'm 60yrs old, I can honestly say that I have only bought one tool and it was only because the truck showed up at my neighbor's house after we'd had a FEW beers ! I paid around $30 for a battery terminal cleaner because I thought it would be better? My terminals were no cleaner than a .99¢ cleaner from Harbor Freight! Never again !
Unfortunately so many people out there buy tools that cost way more than their worth what’s crazy is I had seen a basic tool set from Snap-on and it was $4,000 I about fell out of my chair laughing you can buy a bunch of DeWalt Craftsman and Milwaukee power tools for a lot less than that basic tool set from Snap-on Snap-on loves ripping people off and a lot of people fall into their trap for whatever reason.
I love your vocabulary, educational, awakening. What snap on does is like an old saying: painting a chicken and sale it as a Pikok . Cheers.
There are definitely things I prefer getting off the tool truck. As a diesel mechanic for a garbage company, I appreciate a good, quality tool. However.. I think there are only specific tools you buy from them. Anything that ratchets or anything you use everyday. All of my ratchets are snap on and I also did buy the 3/8 matco stubby impact because I use these almost everyday and I want to make sure that when I grab that tool, that tool will work. The accessories are things you definitely should go somewhere else for. Why buy one small socket set off the truck for 299 when I can go to harbor freight and buy every size of 3/8 socket they have for only 120. Also, your big wrenches. I need everything from a 1/4" wrench up to a 2" wrench. I'd rather go to harbor freight and buy they're wrench sets and have every wrench I need for 200 maybe vs snap on where one wrench could be 200
I got some harbor freight ball end Allan sockets and the ball snapped off so easily. I returned them and bought home depots brand, they have held up nicely.
Eh well, Harbor Freight is a little extreme in the opposite direction. I call them disposable. But, there are MANY alternatives in-between, priced well, and function great. Wright Tool comes to mind. I believe they actually make Snap-On, if not, Blue Point tools.
I learned more here than I did in any business marketing class in college. It's a concept I think we know innately, yet still fall for occasionally.
I bought that 87 piece Blue-Point set when it was $287 on sale, just four years ago. At that time I remember a Snap-On T 10-60, standard Torx only set was around $380. Prices have gone bonkers. It feels like money has become worthless.
If I had to buy a new set now, it'd be that Gearwrench set all day. Great video, Lindsay! Great idea!
Thanks, Nathan! I'm glad you found it useful!
I was just going to say I thought I got this set for 250 3 4 years ago. Went and checked and sure did get it for 250. Absolutely crazy.
As a mechanic working in the late seventies I found that Snap-on were really good tools. I however only bought them when I couldn't get from other brands. When I did buy I always asked the dealer first can you take say 25 bucks a week. If they agreed I bought. Snap-on wants every mechanic to agree to buy with their financing plan which sucked. I recently looked at prices and was floored when I saw my screwdriver set for over 200$. I always bought Craftsman, Matco, SK, MAC and Snap-on in that order. If I were starting out today I would steer clear of Snap-on. There are many options now. Buying Snap-on is not necessary.
Buying options are so much more plentiful now than they were before online shopping and the prevalence of third-party branding. Tool truck dealers must be much better and offer more attractive options in order to earn their customers' business these days.
A Snap On dealer told me I voided my warranty by engraving my name in my tools. Why? "Because you never actually own a Snap On tool." If you finance anything from Snap On and fail to pay, they take everything you have that is Snap On. Even tools you paid cash for.
@@phlodel That sounds wrong at every level! 😲
@@CoyleTools I'm sure it is wrong but he thought that telling me that would justify not honoring the warranty on my tools. I just retired from a career as a mechanic. I have bought a few Snap On tools but the dealers were such turds I was not inclined to buy much.
@@phlodel Bad dealers will harm the brand for sure.
I think this happens more often than we are able to readily identify like this. I've pointed these things out to my wife for years.
I bet if you order the $1000 set, it's backordered indefinitely.
I won't take that bet!
The $1000 is in stock.
The $500 kit is on back order indefinately.
@@fraidykat that $1000 set is not only in stock but in your hands that day already on the truck about 15 of them to be exact tucked away the $500 set is not only on backorder but won't see it for another 2 to 3 months been there done that!!!!!!!
@@robertm6595 My Ace Hardware has bins with bits for $1.00 each. :)
@@fraidykat thats why i like harbor freight
The use of a commercial placement so succinctly warrants a subscribe. Nice one.
I definitely appreciate the upfront honesty and would have alot more faith buying from you.
I worked at a large company for 20 years about 100 feet from where the Snapon truck parked. The truck was full almost all the time. The worst mechanics wasted hours of work time in the truck talking. The manager was a fan boy and thought they were his best mechanics due to all their large Snapon tool collections and they never got fired.
I worked in a lift truck shop with one fanboy who had an $8K Snap-On box filled exclusively Snap-On everything.
His tool payments were over $800/month.
I little doubt that they make excellent tools, but my opinion is that much of what motivated him to sink well over half of his paycheck each month into his payment plan, was status.
I was a Cornwell dealer for a few years. I could sell a larger and more complete set like these for under $250.00. I had many customers say my sets were much better than Snap On or Mac or Matco. I will say as also being a heavy equipment mechanic for years that Snap On does make some of the best hand tool but yes they way overcharge for their tools.
Agreed. I'll never say anything bad about their quality, because it is excellent. The value, however, is lacking in many areas for many people.
Well I will.say this as far as torx and Allen's go ive broke all others easier than snapons do ford drive shafts in front 4wd front differentials when rusted and ford escape rear drive shaft bolts sorry to say but I own cornwell master bit set mac usa and.mac rbrt and.matco bits in torx and the snapons definitely stronger and inwork on alot of euro diesels and use torx alot in rusted corroded applications
I agree with you Coyle on the value you have to watch for when snapon does Bogos like buy the torx full set and get full metric Allen's free deals things like that and it will save you a bunch
@@CoyleTools That's what I've always said about Snap-on tools.
There is not doubt that in terms of quality they are best tools out there in general.
However they are probably the worst value for money tools.
They cost 5-10 times the price of a 'store' brand but they ain't 5-10 times better.
Well the simple fact is the majority of these tools are made by only a hand full of manufactures and are rebranded. As a former tech and distributor, do your due diligence and look outside of the tool trucks. While the convenience factor is there, it no longer out weighs the price. No tool company is king because they all share manufacturers.
My neighbor was a Snap on dealer. In 1979 he wanted $75.00 for a nutdriver set. Xcelite wanted $15.00. I still have my Xcelite set. SK, Wright, Proto, Klein, Knipex, Hazet, Beta. Who needs a Rolls-Royce...not me. I work too hard for my money. I am proud to say I own one 1/4" snap on ratchet...and it was given to me.
I've been turning wrenches my whole life. I have no snap-on tools. When I was out of trade school they were doing the half-off snap on hand tools deal. I was holding off on snap on so that I might work for a while and buy everything i thiught i would truly need in one shot.
But i did fine with my Craftsman, Sunex, SK, and various used pawn shop tools. I endured a lot of bad attitude and nastiness from those snap on fan boys.
I think the operative question is: who needs a _new_ Rolls Royce? My toolbox is filled with Proto, Gray, and Snap-On stuff that I bought for pennies on the dollar because they were used or simply "old".
Where was you around when I was turning wrenches, man? I would have bought a lot from you because of your honesty and great service. Every time I’d go on a Snap-On truck and be sticker-shocked by their insane prices, I’d go to HarborFreight or Sears, see what they have and buy them. They only time I would buy a product from Snappy is like an impact gun or something that I could not find from my usual places and I need one at the moment.
A friend of mine is a plant manager at snapon. He told me that they brought in ratchets to test against theirs in a stress test. One from Lowes, one from Walmart (Stanley), and several others. During the test, all of them flew apart, including theirs. However, only the Stanley ratchet worked again. All it needed was to put the snap ring on it, it worked like new. Theirs, the snap on ratchet, was destroyed. Having him tell me that, makes me happy I do not own snap on products. Their prices are ridiculous, and Stanley tools outlast theirs.
There are a few RUclips channels that break test tools; Project Farm and Torque Test Channel for example. Nearly every time they test something, Snap-On tools only match the performance of mid range tools but cost far more. Ingersoll Rand is even worse though, their tools are usually the most expensive in the test and perform the same as budget tools.
This pains me as I'm sure I've fallen victim to this before. I want to buy american made tools as much as possible, but seeing stuff like this makes me sick. I still have a classic series 73" box on order that I slightly regret more as each day passes. It feels like us mechanics are being prayed upon for our hard earned money.
You want to buy American-made. I want to sell American-made. But man... it's not easy or affordable.
I find pretty good deals on new SK tools on eBay sometimes, not always. I to am a sucker for made in USA and SK are good tools. Not in every case as good as snap but always better than the old USA craftsmen.
Old American made sure, that meant something. Modern American made stuff is usually crap, every company wants to post record profits, products get corners cut and penny pinched to death, but man you can make alot more profit by slapping a "Made in USA" sticker on something, get those stupid Americans shelling out the freedom bucks then. Doesn't matter anymore where it's made, what matters is the company behind it and their quality control. What I mean is look at Apple, their shit says "Designed by Apple in California", it doesn't say made in America, it's only designed here, they are built by Foxcon in China, but they have to uphold Apples quality standards. As for SnapOn, $400 for a 87pc TorX and Hex bit set, and a blow molded case? No, never, not a single tool they make is worth anything near what they ask. You are paying for 5 to 10 of that tool so they can offer a lifetime warranty, building the warranty into the price, and then banking on you not needing to replace it quite that many times and making the warranty non-transferable if you sell your tools to someone else. Buy affordable tools from wherever and just buy a bit higher quality if those ever break. Only expensive tools worth it are measuring tools, like micrometers, buy a good Mitutoyo or whatever right from the get go.
Because you are.
What you have showed me is there is always a cheaper alternative even when shopping on your truck there’s still cheaper options like you stated it’s all your choice
My Duralast set works just fine in the field.
LOL...35 years ago when I started working as an Aircraft Mechanic I didn't have choice as Snap-On and Matco were the only tools we were permitted to use on the airplanes, if we got caught with anything else in our boxes it was grounds for termination. I had little choice in the matter the day the Snap-On truck rolled up to the shop my supervisor walked me out there and told the driver to set me up. One automatic deduction sheet later I walked out with an order for $60K worth of tools and boxes. Took me 4 years to pay it all off but it was either buy the tools or find another job.
Your old boss was a snap on Fan Boy!! The bolts still get tight no matter what brand of wrench you use. Getting them loose is another story though.
That's nuts.
You nailed it for 1000 percent! I use Craftsman, etc. Many of all tools are made in the same Chinese factory!!!!!
I will say...I only use Snap On Allen, Torx and ball Allens. I almost never break them outside of willful abuse. When I work with other guys I often see at least a few carcasses in their bit sets. They're trying to find time to send em back or find this tool truck dealer or that dealer. I've witnessed guys who are busy go weeks, months and even years with a ever growing collection of broken cheaper bits clogging up their junk drawer. As a HD mechanic working in the field you can sorta justify Snap On...note that I said "sorta".
You spend your money in the right places. A nice quality set of screwdrivers is worth the money to me, cheap ones have no integrity. But ratchets, wrenches, etc I just don't understand paying top dollar
There’s a wrench set they sell that they split into even and odd sizes in two sets. They are 500 each, so 1k for a full set. I’ve noticed snap on scams getting more brazen
One marketing scheme I found kinda funny but very effective, Auto Finnesse detailing in the UK, released an anniversary product which included a carnauba wax and bottle of shampoo in a wooden case for a crazy amount of money! Surely they knew no one would buy it, but in every detailing forum in the UK and Ireland, it was being talked about that it was a crazy amount of money, people would view it on there website, and then buy other products which caught there eye whilst checking out the anniversary kit. Pure Genuis!!
When it works, it works! Just be careful!
I totally agree ! I've used craftsman and harbor freight tools for over 40 years and am totally satisfied ! My socket sets from Sears and harbor freight have done the job so why pay the excessive price snap-on charges ? Doesn't make any sense ,right ?
Same here buddy. I've fixed, maintained, raced, all the above. I just don't understand
Im a Professional Mechanic/Technician for the last 45 years. I have bought all brands of tools designed for the so called Professional. Snap on holds up the best 90% of the time. Yes they are expensive but the no question warranty on broken sockets is worth it. No I would not buy that set either lol
I got that blue point 87 pcs set and love it. It was well under 400 when I got it. Yes still cheaper options but was my first purchase.
Its a great set
Blue point comes from snap-on
In Australia snap on is charging $2132 for that bit set..... About $1490 USD
Yikes.
Krikey!
Whoa! :D that is rather steep :D
In high school and right after I was working in a tire / mechanic shop, changing tires I didn't need tools. But I would see the Snap-On truck ever other week, and the mechanics always had 3-4 things to warranty. For the price I never understood what was so great about them, what I love are the people that think they need a $100 wrench for around the house. And will defend buying said wrench because it will last forever, you know for the 2-3 times they use it.
I’ve been doing this for years on eBay, Craig’s List and Marketplace. I buy and sell things, but offer several similar items at a ridiculously high price and mark down the one I want to sell. After I sell the one, I mark down the others and the stragglers have to pay more.
When I started out in the trade about 18 years ago the only decent tools were snap on. Now most other brands have picked up there game and are of a good quality..
I'm perfectly happy with my blue point 87 bit set but with a few caveats ( I know big world for me) 1st I wish it was USA made product being USA made dose count for something even a % increase price, 2nd I have at least one if not more of 90% of the items in the kit already so I absolutely didn't need it, 3rd would not have picked up the set off Snap-on truck at Snap-on prices but for $150 couldn't pass it up. Thanks for the info you bring out in your videos.
Blue point comes from snap-on as well
@@facebooksux18 blue point is a sub brand of Snap-on in most cases NOT made in USA and rebranded Taiwan manufacturer.
@@itsatoolthing6323 yeah ik lol. I've received them
I have bought a fair remount of snap on tools over the years. I can say they definitely break and wear all the same as other cheaper brands.
The difference is you can replace your other tool by driving to the store, with snap on you may need to wait up to 3 months for a replacement one to come.
Also gear wrench is super under rated. One of my preferred tool brands.
Can't go wrong with Gearwrench. Thank you for watching!
Growing up in Chicago, a friend of mine went to school in Southern Illinois. He got a job doing die forging and showed some of us around, all the blanks for the different brand tools were out of the same molds and forging dies, with different final dies for the name brand and final shape. I continued in "craftsman" because of lifetime warranty and ease of exchange when they failed.
Tekton tools are great quality and a awesome value! My dad was a pro mechanic with all fool truck tools. Snap off takes advantage of poor mechanics that don’t have a clue!
I 100% agree with you. Tekton is what is in my toolbox now.
With 20 years in the industry I don’t regret all my purchases with Snap-On. I’ve made loads of money with their tools and it’s a sense of pride using them. It’s about image too, when I started it was only Snap-On tool boxes in shops. The new guy usually had the off brand box and it was a sense of achievement to step up to a Snap-On box.
Yes now days there are better alternatives. But my tool dude always takes care of me, warranties are never a hassle and cash deals make their tools way more affordable. “Flyer deals” are always hilarious to see tho. I think the flyers are targeted at inexperienced techs or those looking to just buy things they don’t need.
Good point!
I've worked on farm equipment with my grandpa for most of my young life. We've broken our fair share of tools but never gone broke buying them. The setback on snap-on prices rarely outweigh getting the job done in timely manner and cheaper. Especially on toolboxes
I can never understand people buying a 10K toolbox when the 1000 dollar one from Harbor Freight or Craftsman has the same features and stores the tools just as well. If having a radio in your toolbox and a logo is important, buy the Snap-On
Guy at a shop I used to work at was addicted to buying tools. The rest of us poked a little fun at him for always goin in and out of the truck with fancy new tool sets for this and that, even though he never used them. Our concerns grew when when years passed and he didn't start stepping up and getting certs that could take advantage of his outrageous assortment. When he got his fourth box, we had to have a sit-down with him in the breakroom. Didn't stop him. I sure hope he's doing ok.
His cordless impact had INSANE breakaway power, though.
It's a true addiction for some guys. I get nervous for guys who buy and have no use for their purchases. I don't have any customers like that anymore since I revamped the types of shops I service.
I do my own wrenching, and I bought some basics, and then keep slowly adding over time as I need them. If I know it's going to be a one-time use, I rent or buy the cheap tool. For things that get a lot of use (ratchets, impacts, etc.) that I need to work every time, I'll spend for the quality because it's worth it. A lot of these guys get hooked on the convenience and the ease of weekly payments that conceal the cost.
I've been a autobody tech for about a decade now. when I was 19 I thought the tool truck brands were the holy grail in tools. I was spending more on tools every month than I paid in rent. I found Amazon and other online tool outlets to be the best place to buy tools. sure snap on has some great products but why would I ever buy an agle grinder for 400 bucks when I can buy a Chicago pneumatic grinder off Amazon for literally a quarter of the price with the same warranty and it's still gonna last several years before it needs repair or replacement. I tell every apprentice I come across to go to harbor freight to buy thier first hands tools, go to Amazon to buy any pneumatic tools they need and buy milwaukee or Dewalt from home depot for drills and electric ratchets ect. it is insane the amount of money tool trucks want for tools. I quit buying tools off the trucks about 5 years ago and it has saved me soooo much money. i have just as many quality tools as all the strap on fan boys I know and I get all the same types of work done in the same amount of time. I have 30 dollar grinders that I've had for 3+ years that I've used for hundreds of hours at this point and their still going strong. all my tool trucks dealers tell us their biggest competition these days is online retailers. I think it comes as no surprise when I can pay a qaurter the price and have the tools in two or three days.
I figure if I buy a snap on tool for $300 and it might last my whole life, but if I buy a similar craftsman for $50 and it could last my whole life or I could lose it, break it or whatever six times over to cost as much as the snap on.
It's crazy that this tactic works, I wouldn't buy the bluepoint set, and I hope that I wouldn't buy the 37 piece set but time will tell, lol
Good video dude
Thanks, brother! Good stream last night. You've got a great crew and they're always fun to hang out with.
I worked for Snap-on for 35 years in manufacturing. I was always amazed about their pricing structure. I will add, that employees were not given any great deals. I only bought what I would actually needed. I never did any 5 finger discounts and as I rose in the ranks I was given product, some of which was personalized. After retirement, I donated allot of product and sets to charity. I always took the tax write off at full list price with a smile. SO's mark-up ranged from 200-1000%. I will never bad mouth SO. The product is excellent over the competition, yet I own competitive product do to the price. The tool consumer should always look at price, function and warrantee when buying.
Great first-hand experience, great advice! Thank you!
When I started my mechanic tool collection I was able to buy a KRL snap on box in the color I wanted (orange) because the dealer bought it cheap and I was able to get it for $5000. One year later the same box cost $11,000. I later added a side locker I found on marketplace for $750 using a signing bonus I received from my new job at the time. I bought snap on hand tools and ratchets. Stayed away from air tools from the truck. There are some snap on tools worth the money such as the seal spoon kit for like $40 has re-packed countless hydraulic cylinders over the years. Bit sockets are a given to NOT buy from the truck! It's a matter of knowing what you need to do your job and doing the best with what you have
$5000 is a great deal for a tool box. For $11000 I will buy a van and put my tools in it.
I'm a mechanic at Honda and the Snappy guy is a real cool dude but damn his prices are freakin insane! I buy most my stuff from Cornwell and Matco but still have couple Snappy bits 🤷
Something I noticed about snap-on. Their "complete sets" stop short of being complete. Like 1/2 drive socket sets that stop at 3/4" or 19mm.
I bought the 24" HF breaker bar when it was on sale for $15. Few weeks later I had my 350 pound ass bouncing on the handle getting a bolt broke loose. And it held.
Many of Harbor Freight's tools are made by reputable, quality companies that manufacture for the "premium" brands. Take, for example, their Chief air hammer. Made by the same company and to the same spec as the Mac air hammer. Even the part numbers are identical on the schematics.
I love my harbor freight breaker bar!! I let a friend borrow it and he got the locking ball jammed up, then left it outside to get a little rusty on the screw. I was able to take it apart, clean and oil everything, reassemble it, and its worked flawlessly for years since then
Had a sister-in-law who insisted three cans of peas for a dollar were cheaper than four 25 cent cans.
I can't even get my head around that one.
In the 1980s, A&W attempted to capitalize on the success of the Quarter Pounder by introducing a third-pound burger. The bigger burger gave consumers more bang for their collective buck. It was priced the same as the Quarter Pounder but delivered more meat. It even outperformed McDonald’s in blind taste tests, with consumers preferring the flavor of A&W’s burger.
But when it came down to actually purchasing the third-pound burgers, most Americans simply would not do it. Baffled, A&W ordered more tests and focus groups. After chatting with people who snubbed the A&W burger for the smaller Quarter Pounder, the reason became clear: Americans suck at fractions. Alfred Taubman, who owned A&W at the time, wrote about the confusion in his book Threshold Resistance:
More than half of the participants in the Yankelovich focus groups questioned the price of our burger. "Why," they asked, "should we pay the same amount for a third of a pound of meat as we do for a quarter-pound of meat at McDonald's? You're overcharging us." Honestly. People thought a third of a pound was less than a quarter of a pound. After all, three is less than four!
Not understanding that a fourth is actually smaller than a third, many consumers eschewed the better-tasting burger in favor of the one they thought was the better deal. According to Taubman, A&W recalibrated their marketing, saying, “The customer, regardless of his or her proficiency with fractions, is always right.”
Apparently undaunted by the average American’s less-than-average math skills, McDonald’s tried their own version of the bigger burger, the “Angus Third-Pounder,” in 2007.
It didn’t last, but they gave it another shot with the “Sirloin Third Pounder” . That one is gone now, too, but the mighty Quarter Pounder remains a mainstay.
Ignorance can be cured, sometimes, but simple math is always a problem, as described in the A&W hamburger vs. McDonald hamburger discussion, and the cans of peas example. I could say more, but I want to be civil.
Honestly, for non-power hand tools, Pittsburgh (Harbour Freight) is almost the new Craftsman. There are some things that Craftsman just made nicer but for the cost, they work fine and have lifetime replacement warranty. I'm actually impressed: the Pittsburgh ratchet has much finer teeth than my old Craftsman stuff, can make smaller rotations.
If I'm trying to find something a little nicer, Husky (Home Depot) has nice hand tools with a pretty good warranty, too.
Great info on advertisement. Just can't get over the fact your living room is decorated with tools, your wife must love you.
That's actually our home office. Our living room is on the other end of the house. Her workstation is in the office, too, so it's where all the receiving, unboxing and shipping takes place. There's always a ton of tools there.
I just looked at a 37 piece set of MAC RBRT bits for right around $380. I love Snap On but that price on those bits is crazy.
I like to get them as well, that seems like the best ones by design.
The rbrt is way better
Much different bits work.well asoon as the flutes wear a little their bite on stripped torx Allen decreases so if you warranty them their awesome rbrt but their hard to get in all.the way without a hit from a hammer as they are tight as I already stated though the steel in them not as good as the snapons I own them all and used them all for a living
@@doctordiesel5467 Agree - I got lot of Snapon and the METAL quality is superior to everything else. I suspect being the rbrt could be made from recycled metal so might lot of impurities in it (not sure). I work on Yamaha/Kawi/Suzuki so everything I got is metric (but I do not like any of them Torx) fittings I wish they would get rid of them all. Real pain and fill full of dirt and always the Torx bits break/strip something. Allen heads ain't as bad as them.
My team uses more tools out of Harbor Freight with “Lifetime warranty” than any extremely overpriced Snap on. I like Snap on. They make good tools, but an average blue collar worker who performs the type of work that requires hand tools just simply can’t afford to pay snap on prices. A shame too, I think most would be proud to represent USA made tool companies like Snap on.
Excellent statement. I agree!
Why aren’t there any good living wage jobs in America??? Oh I see…
@@Heywoodthepeckerwood There's plenty of them. Many people are making a good living. It's not good jobs that are scarce, it's people with a willingness to work hard every day that's scarce.
@@CoyleTools yeah. It’s the same people.
Want cheap crap and want an easy job.
They make it harder on the rest of us.
Eh, I’ve had a few myself and definitely weren’t head and shoulders above any affordable tools currently available.
In general, Snap On uses a marketing/pricing strategy called "perceived value". Back in college we studied a case where the owner of a souvenir shop out west was going away on vacation. Her turquoise jewelry wasn't selling, so she left a note for her manager to mark it all down half price. Well the manager couldn't read the hand writing, so he doubled the price instead. Well by the time the owner got back from her vacation, to her surprise most of the turquoise jewelry had sold.
The psychology behind it is that when people see a higher price tag, they believe that they're seeing an appropriately high quality product. Don't fall for that s**t, bc it's not always true.
That goes for overpriced university tuition, too
I miss Sears. I never purchased Snap-On, Matco, or Mac. No offense to anyone that has, or likes them. I have Craftsman tools my grandfather and dad used. I have abused my Craftsman stuff. I miss being able to walk into the store and just exchange it for a new one. The only time I buy expensive tools, are when they are specialty tools. For instance, Rigid makes the best pipe cutters.
Great expression of the psychology of sales on a very basic level.Makes me want to dig deeper into the subject. Options for the customer greatly increase the likelihood of a sale.
I bought the old one of these for I think $300 off my Snap On truck in 2015. I'm probably gonna sell it for the Mac RBRT that I'm in love with. Funny is the Snap On bit set was about that price new back in 15 but that Blue Point one was like low $300 retail. Honestly Snap On bread and butter is their Government contracts and super specialty tools that nobody other than Proto makes. I go on the truck for specialty tools and stay for the occasion killer promos.
They really rely on their government contracts. Their franchisees are also a significant revenue stream for them, because I think they have about 4,000 of them. Every time I think Snap-On is pricing themselves out of the market, I'm proven wrong.
@@CoyleTools I worked aviation and them and proto(more hand tools) were the main names on any crazy or bizarre specialty tool. Even if it wasn't the Snap On name it came from one of their owned companies. I do like they say made in USA on them though. I feel like one of the very few companies that still has USA on most of their tools.
@@kota3233 That's true. Lang, Mayhew, SK and a few others still manufacture in the US, but there's not many.
@@CoyleTools I have bought some wright tools wrenches and was blown away on their quality. How they're not more well known is crazy to me.
I'm fairly new to the industry and spent money on some great cheap tools as well as some really terrible cheap ones. It's such a random thing to navigate. Each company seems to fail at arbitrary things. My Maximum (Canadian Tire brand) cordless impact drivers are terrible and noisy as hell, but their drill and angle grinder have worked better than the Milwaukees I bought to replace my set in the shop. Sure, the Milwaukee drill is quieter and easier to manage, but the Maximum one just plows through tires like butter when I'm doing repairs. So now I have two chargers on top of my shop computer and a pile of batteries. lol
Still avoiding the Snap-On truck, though, even though I have a $500 gift card from when I did some on the job training. You almost can't even buy a simple socket set with that money. I'll probably just use it to grab a nice long prybar for peeling off stuck wheels. It's one of the few basic hand tools I'm missing.
needle nose pliers. I feel like since those get abused and misused more than any other tool, it might be worth getting the snapons on those
@@rudyardganuelas6254 the snap-on pliers are alright, but you can get two pairs of knipex for the price of one pair of the snap-ons.
I use to think they were worth paying the price for when I started as a mechanic and the selling point was also the service. However now a days I feel it’s no different than gettin sets at the store or online with a decent warranty. Most the times they’re good quality and a lot or overpricing rebrand stuff just doesn’t make sense to me
I own a few very specific tools from Snap-On. Because sometimes certain tools work better than others.
Very true, especially when a company like Snap-On either manufactures it themselves or owns some exclusive rights to it.
I've got a lot of Snap-Off that I've purchased over the years. Most from Fan Boys trying to make their tool truck payments, the balance from Pawn Shops, rummage sales, flea markets etc. and in all the years of buying them second hand I've got half what that Snap-Off set cost in out of pocket spent in the 25+ years I've been turning wrenches. I've never climbed on a tool truck other than to make a warranty claim and I never will. I'd much rather keep my overhead low and my pricing competitive than charge more for a brand specific toolbox filled with matching Skittles. Those Snap-Off Fanboys can keep chasing the rainbow because they'll need it to get out of debt.
I own 90% Snap-On, and they are 100% paid for.
I’m not a “fan boy”, I’m a trade professional who knows the value of a professional grade tool with a lifetime warranty.
I own a complete set of Snap On tools about 95% of all my tools are Snap On and they are all paid for. All you have to do is be disciplined with your purchases. Before you know it you will have a full set of Snap On tools all paid for that will last you your life time. I started out in 1980 so I have tools that are over 40 years old that still work as good today as they did the day I bought them. The biggest key is choose one brand and stick with that brand for all your major tool purchases, don't get caught up in buying from each tool truck because that will bury you quickly. The trick is set a dollar amount and purchase up to that dollar amount but then pay it off before you purchase again, that way you are never buried in debt, you can pay it off quickly and your tool inventory will fill out in no time be paid for and you will own quality tools. There are times when you will have to find a certain tool that you may have to purchase from another tool truck, just keep it to the one tool and pay it off and stick with the brand you originally decided on.
Don't get caught up in the buy the cheap tool from Harbor Freight, Lowe's, Home Depot and even Northern Tool & Equipment. You will find you will be on the never ending train ride of finding the next cheap brand that comes out and is the flavor of the week. Before you know it you will have spent enough money on cheap tools because RUclipsrs said this is the one man you have to buy this set that you could have bought and paid for a Snap On set. I have seen it so many times.
Another issue is warranty when you break those cheap tools and you will break them you have to spend your personal time running around to Harbor Freight, Lowe's, Home Depot and other places getting them replaced. Not how I want to spend my time after work or my days off.
There are always sales and deals going on with the tool trucks, just wait until the sales for big ticket items, for example my Snap On tool boxes would cost you $15,575 if you just go on the truck and ordered them, I paid a fraction of that price for them brand new off the Snap On tool truck, they are always having deals on tool boxes.
@@mustangecoboosthpp3869 If all mechanics could learn a single lesson it's the one you described here HPP. I don't disagree with you at all. Being frugal is the only way to go. I help with a lot of Estate clean out jobs where I often will purchase the whole toolbox, tools and all, then hold the better brands for myself and pass on the remainder to help recuperate my expenses. I have a great assortment of tools with a full compliment in both of my trucks, two full boxes in my shop plus a fully loaded tool cart (7 drawer) and one full box in the garage. I hang onto S&K, Williams, Proto, Snap On, MAC, Matco, USA Made Craftsman, Knipex, etc. and yes, some of the higher end Harbor Freight line.
I wrench daily and have been since the 1980's as well and I still have 99% of the tools I purchased. (Sans one replacement 11/16" 6 point deep well USA Made Craftsman that split on me and was replaced for .50 cents from a pawn shop.)
So, the brands I hoard are high quality and I have multiple complete sets that I have acquired over the years with most being second hand purchases and always paid in full at the time of purchase. Even my tool boxes were mostly acquired second hand. My point is, we're cut from the same cloth in a way. Being responsible and not living outside our means. But this is rarely the case with recent grads from trade schools which is where most of the Snap On I own have come from. All aspiring and existing mechanics should read your comment HPP. Wise words! Cheers! Zip~
There is a Matco guy in Las Vegas that literally started stamping a page inside a percentage of his monthly flyers because of me. He'd ask where I wanted him to put his little catalog each month and I kept telling him to save me the trouble and throw it in the trash for me.
Now if you get a catalog with stamp in it you get 5 percent off.
I've bought 3 things from Snap On in 20 years. A mini DA, a dead blow hammer and one 1/4 inch t30 torx when we were doing VWs all the time.
I love the guys who run the trucks but their kids will need scholarships if everyone was like me.. I ain't paying their tuition
I learned some of this stuff back in high-school when they actually taught you things other than how to become transgendered. I had a Social Studies teacher who was into consumer protection and taught us smart shopping like watching for "sales" where a 32oz product was on sale for $3 dollars, yet two regular priced 16oz products were priced at $1.25 each. Also, subliminal messages and color schemes on packaging. Thank you Mr. Kaczyinski. Literally saved me thousands of dollars over the years.
Christ man, keep thinking the transgendered boogie-man is gonna come get you, hahaha. Right after antifa attacks. Must be miserable being scared of things don't even affect you while probably voting against things that could actually help you.
I got my first set of wrenches at about seven, the standard "craftsman combination wrench set" of the early 1960's. I've worked as a mechanic ever since, and have acquired pretty much a "full set" over the years. That said, unless one is going to do it for a living, for a lifetime, simply going to Sears or Lowes and buying the tools one needs, "in the moment" is probably all anyone other than the professional needs. Tool companies do their utmost to suggest "everyone needs every tool" mainly because there is only the incremental sales for "the new tech" to drive annual sales. I own probably twice the tools I need, in large because "the new tool" has always had special appeal, and we love our tools.
i got my first set of wrenches at age 6, and have been a master tech since age 6.66
They need to charge that much to the fan bois, because the rest of us told them to eff off. Especially when they give me the stank eye for expecting warranty on overpriced lifetime warranty tools.
From my perspective, both of those sets are extraordinarily overpriced and I would ignore them on principle.
There has never been a better time in which one may buy high quality tools which are affordable.
Air Force will be all over this.
The molded case is the best part for accountability.
But the problem with the set is it's likely a single bit per box in the 37 pc set.
I love Snap on tools yet my azzhole isn’t big enough to handle that bargain..
Not to worry. With the right tool, we can get your hole where it needs to be.
Capri, Powerbuilt, Gearwrench, Performance Tool, even Horusdy are good budget options.
I'm a retired mechanic and have lots of snap on ,mac,ect but I always kept my bill to what I bought never used their credit just bought what I needed. I have the same used snap on tool box I bought back in 80 something for 300 bucks it still does the job and every tool salesman has tried to get me to trade up and I just laugh and laugh. It's not the tool box it's what you can do with what you have.
I've always liked snapon tools but hated their prices I still have a ratcheting screw drive that I bought in 1990 and it works great. Most mechanics finance their purchases also so that $999 item will be $3k with interest when finally paid off. I've seen the kind of houses the snapon drivers live in compared to mechanics. Compounded interest is what the rich don't want the poor to figure out.
I am a *HUGE* fan of Project Farm and his hardcore testing procedures. It's come to the point where I won't buy or suggest a tool until I see if he has reviewed it. For example, here is a test of hex-bit socket sets--which use the same tech as the sets talked about here, where the GearWrench did fairly well: ruclips.net/video/5GTJMhJuL68/видео.html
Todd is a good guy and I appreciate his tests.
Project Farm is awesome!!!!!
Project farm does an outstanding job testing stuff. I loved the knife sharper vids he did
@@Zaku186 Yup. I just spent almost $200CAD on a complete Lansky diamond setup.
@@KeithOlson Project Farm has definitely been guiding my purchases for a few years now.
You are selling tools, that’s your motive. However, that’s cool. It’s how you make your living and your NOT being deceptive, you are offering a good deal and proving it by illustrating how much of a rip-off Snap on is. That’s a good business practice to guide a customer to the much, much better deal, even if you’re the one offering it. Great video! 👍🏻
I'm a forklift technician & the only Snap On kit I have in my tool box is some punches, 4 X hex bits & a brake adjusting tool. All my other tools are Halfords Professional, Laser, Sealey, Beta, Draper Expert, Makita for battery tools & even a coupe of Silverline ratchet spanners 24mm & 30mm for adjusting forklift lift chains - no one tool company makes a perfect range of tools, go for what suits your needs best so you can get the job done.
Yes!! Preach it!
Snap on won't warranty my tools anymore. I no longer work at a commercial shop so without receipts corporate won't warranty my tools. Like I have receipts from 25 years ago. Don't fall for it fellas, the service is only with your dealer, corporate does not honor the lifetime warranty. You better be sure you have a good relationship with a dealer that is never going to quit or lose his route.
same here. thank god i do not own much of their junk
Great info thanks and there's a ghost or something at 8:06 goes right behind you or a puff of smoke to me
Canadian tire does the same thing. I saw a pots and pans set "on sale" from $2000 down to $400, I actually laughed when I saw it
I spent many years as a line mechanic in the motorcycle industry, I started with Craftsman and used them because I just couldn’t afford. Years later I’m making more money and debt free so I treated myself, I don’t regret spending on Snap On, the tools are great and the weekly tool guy stop is handy which was the justification “I spend more because the truck is here every week”. Now retired I piddle in my shop, I’ve since been buying a lower price brand from one of those tool store chains and have had good luck. $70 vs $10 for a 1/4 drive racket is a big difference with a lot less anxiety. I do work out of my shop now, tractors, farm trucks and what else folks drag up. I’m missing my #2 Phillips (snap on), it’s probably laying in a frame rail or something and it’s aggravating, where if It was a $10 unit ..oh well, it will show up.
Those prices absurd. I like Snap-On but would never pay that much for either set. Thank you for opening my eyes to this style of marketing tactic.
According to internet and other research I’ve done I have close to $90,000 in craftsman tools. I have only bought a torque wrench brand new. Everything else, EVERYTHING has been gotten from garage sales and deals on FaceBook marketplace, Craigslist. I have a whole wall in my shop that is lined with their cabinets and drawers that I got for pennies on the dollar.
I always am so glad I decided to go craftsman with my tools for college. I took automotive tech and obviously you need alot of tools with that. I got absolutely everything on the list, toolbox included for a little over $900. My fellow classmates were typically looking at $8000 for the tool box and almost as much for the tools. I never noticed a huge jump in quality personally, and they seem to break just as much as craftsman. The big difference was the price and the fact that I could just go to Sears and replace basically any tool I needed while the snap on and mac kids were stuck waiting for whenever the truck came back. Just seemed like a complete scam to me, and seeing as how I've only work as a mechanic for half a year before deciding its not what I wanted to do, I'm really glad not to be $16,000 in debt. Still have all the tools, still use them whenever I need to perform a repair on my car. Be practical, don't pay extra just to pay extra 🤷🏼♂️
Getting young people into a bunch of debt for an education in something that they really do not know what they want to do is a big scam in my opinion!
@@annyer262 I mean I definately agree, i still work on my car all the time but really learned i hated doing it as a career. So I'm super thankful I never fell for that scam, couldn't imagine all that debt following me around. I still have the majority of those tools as well, and I don't treat them nice or anything but a decent amount of snap on and mac stuff broke while I was at college so that's always been my impression of those tools 🤷🏼♂️
@@dannyshroyer5770 harbor freight even warranty their tools. I have got stuff swapped out there
I started working on cars with my dad since I was 12. We almost always went to sears in those days during the fathers day sale and got whatever craftsmen tools we needed. Nowadays with all the impact tools we just go to harbor freight and those impact sockets last forever. Any specialty tool either amazon or Northern Tools works for us. And all impact drivers are Milwaukee. Its so much cheaper than these tool trucks. We had a friend with a snap on impact driver that just couldn’t hold up at all to our Milwaukee drivers.
I am glad I am not the only one with a tool box and a bench grinder at my front door.
I bought that BluePoint set 7 years ago for just under $200. I definitely wouldn't buy it now for $450 after tax. Shits ridiculous.
Trucks are known to do deals sometimes, I wonder if someone who’d use them a lot like a European car dealer/specialty shop would be able to get a good deal and make their money back pretty well
I’ve bought some older tool bits at antique malls and have gotten enough of a “Made in America” tool set to avoid overpaying. Some stuff is pricey but I try to reuse tools before I get brand new tools.
It is really difficult to find quality hand tools these days. I used to be a big Craftsmen fan, but that was due to tools I had from the early 80's. None of the tool manufacturers match the quality you could get 40 years ago.