Snap On Sucks But Their Tools Are The Best! This is a discussion, not a rant. YMMV!

[@JoelRaabis]

I’ll say this Doc, I started getting into Snap-On because I seen a video of yours a year or so ago now. Love the tools, love the experience and I deal with a couple great franchisees. I’m fine paying the extra price… usually.

[@robh3267]

Pre judging someone's work based on their tool inventory is many things of which none are good, I worked in the automotive industry and was a shop owner for over 20 years and never once did I find my productivity any less because I wasn't using Snap-on tools, good quality tools are essential for any professional tradesman but Snap-on would sell a lot more tools if they were priced competitively with brands of similar quality, the ridiculous high cost of Snap-on tools far out weighs the benefits.

[@russellpottenger8584]

A good automotive technician should be making 100 to 150k a year which is more than I make owning and operating a high performance and racing engine shop, I but I over a 40 year. Have managed to buy and pay for 500 to 600k in equipment. I don’t think it’s a stretch to assume that over a small period of time somebody is willing to invest 60 to 80k in their trade. My .02

[@zachroberts1988]

@@russellpottenger8584 Times change man... Tool trucks and Sears arent your only options anymore! Every trade has seen major competition for tools and equipment, the big players need to adapt but for whatever reason the tool truck brands dont seem to care about it.

[@russellpottenger8584]

@@zachroberts1988 Every purchase for a tool is met with pros and cons. Although my most commonly used tools are typically at a higher cost and higher quality, i’m not above going to make visits at Harbor freight or using Amazon prime for some of my tool purchases. It’s your money and you could spend it however you want. My point is if you’re a professional, it would be reasonable for you to want to invest in your trade with quality tools, which in the long run will pay for themselves. For example. Recently my Snap on dealer picked up my 14.4 Snap on CT761 for flat rate repair that has worked flawlessly for 10 years. For $125.00 it came back with all new internals, including a new outer case. Most likely a representative from Home Depot isn’t going to drive out to my shop and hand me over a newly refurbished 10 year Milwaukee tool for the same money and quality tool. With that said, I do own a dozen or so 12 and 18v Milwaukee tools.

[@russellpottenger8584]

@@zachroberts1988 I am fully aware of all of the options. Not to be misunderstood, I don’t exclusively buy off of the tool truck. As a professional, I do pick and choose and fully aware of rebranding. You should also be aware that sometimes premium tools with premium service come at a premium price. To be fair, some people can’t tell the difference or recognize the difference between a Tekton socket and a Snap on (I own both) If you can’t tell the difference or not willing to pay for the difference, then of course by what you want, and what you can afford.

[@zachroberts1988]

@@russellpottenger8584 If money were no object id own exclusively tool truck tools but my point in saying what i did was purely to suggest there are some things not worth paying the extreme premium for when they dont get used often enough to justify the premium.

[@hlpang1075]

Snap on to me is like jewelry. Beautiful to look at, nice to hold, bragging rights. Generally will be good quality. Do you need it? No. There are tons of reasonably priced Japanese & German tools out there. And I cannot remember any Snap On product has ranked number 1 in independent tests among competitors.

[@russellpottenger8584]

Chrome sockets, and pliers come to mind.

[@svn5994]

​@@russellpottenger8584Nope and definitely nope. Knipex pliers are just better and cheaper.

[@sp-vt4je]

Is it though? Would you say Snap-on is the Prada, Gucci (what have you) of tools? I think not.

[@hlpang1075]

@@sp-vt4je what would you say it is? 😂

[@unregistereduser1088]

There's just as many reasonably priced USA tools. Why does everyone think it's Gucci or overseas?

[@mrnonofyourbusiness2281]

The biggest problem for me here in Australia is back orders taking 3 months, the second biggest problem I’ve had is tool quality, I treat my tools with respect, and yet I have had to warranty multiple pairs of pliers, one pair simply snapped in half the second time I used them, now I had no problem with getting them replaced but for the price I really expected them to last me a long time, also I have had chrome chip off my wrenches, incorrectly hardened centre punch that went flat after one hit, as well as misalignment on pliers and so on, I think for the money snap on need to step up their quality control.

[@Usul]

For me, Snap-On is an imaginary tool company. As a regular consumer, I cannot access what they sell or take advantage of anything they offer. On the other side of the educated consumer, when I walk in and see a shop full of Snap-On, my first thought is: "Whoa! How much is this gonna cost me!?" I actually like seeing a US General roller in the corner.

[@andrewscott8892]

Anybody can buy from the snap on website

[@bradl2636]

You can access exactly the same SnapOn tools… they just aren’t branded as SnapOn…

[@andrewscott8892]

@@bradl2636 some not all, under caterpillar. You can also find some nos and used Harley-Davidson and Bahco USA.. but if you are going to say Williams they most likely aren't the exact same, they use a slightly lower quality steel, the heat treating process may not be the same, the bar for finish and quality control are lower. It's the same thing that Armstrong did for KD, Allen, napa branded tools

[@bodegaconnoisseur2548]

@@bradl2636not sockets, wrenches or ratchets, maybe the olsa ratchets but those aren’t USA made. You can find plenty of their (and Matco and Mac) rebranded stuff (lisle, Malco, lang etc) for cheaper tho

[@MPD90]

@@bradl2636 for some tools, not the majority

[@shumy-wi2nx]

we in Romania have a saying: "the one who sells is not stupid, the one who buys is stupid". It cannot be translated mot-a-mot, exactly as we Romanians understand, but you get the idea. Do you know that the tool you bought gets stuck or seized, I understand that it should be a mistake only once for a piece, but always more and more expensive, and you keep buying from the same company? Just because you're a Snap On fan? I'm a Knipex fan, because this company has never disappointed me, and it never will, and their prices are really accessible to everyone, to those who know what Knipex is and what it can do. This was just one example, there are hundreds more to give....., Anyway, it's good that you explain to the world how things are.

[@markm0000]

Hah, I’m a Romanian American that barely understands my parents old culture and I’ve never heard that saying. So much has been lost and I can see the Americanization of my small local Romanian community progressing every year. I try and collect as many quotes and saying as I can. It has helped me get through hardships much easier and cherish the good times. If you want to chat or have any questions just send them my way.

[@tunesquadauto]

@@markm0000 Another one for you then. "Suntem prea saraci pentru lucruri ieftine" or "we're too poor for cheap things". An english analog is something like "buy it nice or buy it twice". I think it's this kind of (usually sound) logic that drives people to Snap On, but when it falls down is when they start charging like a luxury brand rather than a quality product.

[@markm0000]

@@tunesquadauto Yep I live by that saying. I’ve learned off the skin on my back. Buy once, cry once. Buy twice, pay the price.

[@shumy-wi2nx]

@@markm0000 unde pot sa-ti scriu, ca vad ca nu am nicio optiune la tine pe site, adica la contul tau?!

[@puterg0d]

Knipex makes great tools - especially pliers. But Snap-on also makes great tools - mostly across the board. Can't "go wrong" with either brand, but with Snap-on you do need to watch out for the price. I got a lot of my Snap-on tools from a dealer in the UK that sells on eBay. The prices have been nearly half of retail for brand new product.

[@ecleveland1]

Snap On sells franchises and requires them to sell tools made by Snap On’s manufacturing division. These tools come with a lifetime warranty for the most part and that is included in the price of the tool. Snap On also has a financial division that sells customers of their franchise owners credit so that they can use to purchase the tools, toolboxes and other equipment that they cannot pay for up front. The franchise owner that rents the route or territory from Snap On usually follows Snap On’s guidelines for pricing the tools he purchases from Snap On to sell directly to his customers on his route. There are a lot of hands in this pie all grasping for your dollars. There’s more to it than just what I ve said here and would take much longer to explain.

[@ks-hg5vo]

I've noticed as time goes on more and more of there tools are not made by them . I see stuff that I've had for years now with the snapon stamp and a triple the price tag to boot.😊

[@MrCheezeus]

lots of hands sure, but other companies are providing the same lifetime warranty , at a lower price , on better or similar quality tools

[@littlejack59]

@@MrCheezeus to be fair some of those companies either bank on selling their tools to people who will never use them, like Harbor Freight, and some of those companies rely lifetime warranties to encourage immediate growth only to not honor them later or to sell out to another company when the times get tuff and it's time to pay up. Like Harbor freight (immediate growth) and craftsman (sell out and not honor). No but seriously I wish Harbor freight didn't do lifetime warranty on everything because some stuff is obviously trash that should only be used once. I wish they gave longer warranties on their jacks and other hand tools and more so followed the Hercules model for warranties where they give it a warranty for however long they think it will last with serious use. So the icon stuff can still be lifetime but those Pittsburgh screwdrivers should maybe only get 1 year at most.

[@salty5402]

As a DIYer and homeowner, I buy mainly German tools online, and if in store at Ace or Home Depot look for US, Mexican, or Taiwanese tool options. My main focus is quality and utility to help make tasks and projects easier. Examples would be the Knipex Twin Grip, Hazet Silent Drive ratcheting screw driver (with bits in the handle), and Stahlwille or Wera ratchet/socket sets.

[@thesneak281]

What's the name of this pawn shop...

[@rschreck876]

Man, it’s 30% about the tools, 70% about the dealer. My Snap On dealer and my Matco dealer are great people. And they show up every week even though 90% of the people in the shop don’t go on the truck. Because of those two things, and because I can, I’ll pay whatever they are asking for what I need.

[@aussiehardwood6196]

SnapOn truly is a brand for industry professionals. They have the access and relationships with the dealers, they can easily utilise warranty and can expect a higher level of service than I can using online or retail stores. Professionals use their tools more in a week than the average guy does in a year. Of coarse regular folks won't grasp the value of a service designed and set up to support industry, but speak to many professional mechanics & they actually prefer to pay more for a product as they warranty tools on a regular basis. Their dealers will go way beyond what a retail store will offer for service. Are the prices shocking to the average Jo...YES, but talk to a tech who has owned a SnapOn product for decades, who has warrantied the product a few times. He does not regret one but what he paid all those years ago.

[@aaadamt964]

The "service" everyone brags about and uses to justify paying the tool truck premium is really hit or miss. In my area, the Mac truck was excellent for decades. You couldn't ask for a better rep. He had a ton of inventory at home so we wouldn't have to wait for something to be shipped or worry about it being out of stock. We all know where he lives because if you needed something on the weekend he would have you stop out. He retired and the new rep absolutely sucks. He's difficult on all warranty stuff. We're basically stuck with a bunch of Mac stuff. During that time the snap on truck was hit or miss. You might not see one for months. If you had a tool break, everyone in the shop had the same answer every time "good luck!" Well, now the snap on rep is great. I used to have a matco rep that was excellent. The one in my area now is a cool guy, super friendly but getting him on the ball with anything other than conversation is like pulling teeth. We would make bets if he was going to show up every week too. Some stuff has to come from the trucks but I've started buying other brands with great luck. Personally, I like gearwrench ratchets more than any of my truck brands and the sockets are just as good.

[@ohiopipper3956]

I just bought a 5 piece Mayhew air hammer bit set. snap on sell the same one with the snap- on name stamped on them. Snap on wanted $350 and and I bought Mayhew set for $100 so I saved $250 dollars for American product. The $250 would have been for the franchisee. But I received it quicker than waiting for the franchisee to show up. So with online ordering it is a no brainer the only downside is warranty but how often will I need a warranty for it ?

[@shark61111]

That's not the same set at all. Snap On makes their air hammer bits, they aren't rebranded Mayhew, it should be obvious to anyone just by looking at them. The Snap On bits are better. Mayhew makes good stuff too but the Snap On is better. For a professional mechanic you may warranty those many times over a career, especially the chisels and punch's, which is factored into the price of the Snap On bits.

[@Pippy1]

Will snapon even warranty air hammer bits? I know our mac guy wouldnt and ive yet to break one of my cornwell bits

[@roninbushito]

They ain’t the same quit misleading people obviously you’re not a pro

[@ohiopipper3956]

@@roninbushito I am on the snap-on truck every week I would know a little bit my friend

[@Just_Putzin_Around]

That Hammer in the thumbnail has got to be a Vaughan rebrand

[@mugga5590]

It is. mrpete222 went to the Vaughan factory and the guy in the video says they make hammers for Snap-on.

[@sparks2429]

In the modern day, snap on is not worth it. So many companies make tools on par with snap on but only charge 1/4 of the price. People who pretend that any non snap on tool will break on you is just coping.

[@scottaddison8071]

I’m a Snap-on fan, because they have earned my business & Loyalty along with MAC Tools. Each has strengths & weaknesses that you should realize & understand. Last week I shopped for Malco “Eagle Grip” Locking pliers and found most all sizes on sale @ Harry J Epstein for $29/each & ACME Tool had the 11” and 8” Malco C-clamp locking pliers for $24/each. Snap-on wants $85-$120 for these same pliers, so be smart and do your homework.

[@djtecthreat]

Not a shop mechanic, but I worked in one when I was 18-19. I bought a few Snap-On pieces back then because the truck was there and I knew it was the best. After leaving that job I broke a few of the tools. I had a small pile of Snap-On in my truck's door pocket rattling around waiting to see a truck. The few times I did see a truck, I got an attitude that I wasn't a customer and he didn't have the screwdrivers and ratchets I was trying to swap. Long story short, I thought Craftsman was the way, but now Sears is gone. Lifetime warranties only mean something if you can access them. Now I buy tools and I assume if it breaks in 3,5,20,etc years I'm on my own. HF has some decent stuff these days, I buy it for way less than Snap-On. if it breaks and they're no longer there, whatever no big deal.

[@SniperKingz]

Tekton has one of the best warranties. The owner of the company will warranty any of their tools no questions asked. Even if you found it in the bottom of a lake or on the side of the road.

[@mustangecoboosthpp3869]

All you had to do was contact Snap On directly and they would take care of you, it is your own ignorance that you failed to do that.

[@djtecthreat]

@mustangecoboosthpp3869 Yeah I'm not paying round-trip shipping to swap tools. You gotta be ignorant if you think that's fair.

[@gtcam723]

Something I realized recently is that even Proto isn’t significantly cheaper than Snap On and it isn’t a truck brand.

[@HiFiInsider]

their corporate customer service has been First Class for me recently. I will continue to buy Snap-on products. Buy better, buy less.

[@billyhighfill]

Also. You don’t need expensive tools to do good work. If someone judged my ability to repair a vehicle based on the tool brand I purchase, I wouldn’t wanna work on their vehicle anyways. Plenty of repair jobs. Buddy can go find someone else to work on his truck. I’ve used harbor freight for years to repair vehicles. It’s worked wonderfully. I would put my repair work up against anyone. Any brand tools. Let’s wrench 🛠️

[@mn4a15]

Yeah, DOC made this argument. I didn’t think it was a good one either. You always hear this cliché. The best mechanic always worked out of a bucket of tools, and the guy who had the toolbox and all the means couldn’t tell North from south.

[@mn4a15]

Also, if they all had snap on Tools , it’s probably just a pissing contest. Anyways, they’re going to charge you up to the eyeballs in order to pay for their tool bill

[@1MiketheMechanic]

I bought Snap-On over the last 30 years because when I started in this business the tool trucks were it for professional tools. You had Craftsman and everybody else. Now there are so many great choices and better choices than Snap-On. After repeat failures to get tools that are covered under warranty repaired or replaced from Snap-On I have started to move on. Also tool boxes never make you money.

[@jeremydoblinger3609]

Ive got to get one of the ratcheting screw drivers from snap-on.. also im still trying to find some 3/8 drive extensions with the hard handle spinnner on..looks like a driver but you can put ratchet on the end

[@heypeteyj]

Grab a Williams WRS-1 (made in the USA by the Snap-on corp) There’s no knurling on the blade, but other than that, it’s basically identical to the Snap-on plastic handle version. Silky smooth ratcheting mech and same bits

[@tanman7627]

I got the reverse ratcheting wrenches and red handle screwdriver set I have old craftsman and SK sockets. Looking at KNIPEX sets for pliers now

[@martinmang1]

To me most tools that snap on sells don’t make sense do to price unless you are rich. I was a tech for a few years and I would visit the snap on truck when they show up but I would look around and ask how much something is and I would gasp and say oh thanks see ya later. Most of the time I would get my stuff from Cornwall truck or a Lowe’s for less than 1/2 or even a 1/3 for good quality tools that I can warranty. I did buy a few things. My biggest purchase was a $200 2ft ratcheting wrench with a flex head because I worked on minis and you had to have 1 of those to remove the oil filter cap from the back of the engine.

[@colt5189]

What do you think of the ICON brand at Harbor Freight who knocks off Snap-On tools? Many seem to think the Icon brand gets 90% of the way there for 25% the price.

[@lastbesttool]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmLPepxulKeKjMU

[@rosieotis]

I bought one new Snap On ratchet back in the 90’s. I am a DIY’r and enjoy my old Williams, Craftsman, SK, and Klein tools. However, I grab for that SO 3/8 every single time I can use it. I have since purchased two 1/4 and one more 3/8 drive ratchets on the used market. Yes, they are still expensive. However, they are fantastic and I thoroughly enjoy working with them.

[@donwendling7800]

Doc, do you want to sell a couple of S-O ratchets?

[@robertroberts721]

Expensive or trendy tools don’t equate to a good mechanic or tradesman. I could care less what brand a mechanic uses to work on my vehicles. Expensive tools won’t mean that the job is somehow superior. In my trade there are tons of guys with expensive tools that have high name recognition. It definitely doesn’t mean that their work is top notch. There are tradesman out here that can do A+ work with average costing tools.

[@andystoolbox]

I use them because my Daddy used them. And mainly because his neighbor shop had the sickest set up with all the truck brands just like you see on youtube except this was back in the 90's. I remember thinking how great a mechanic he must be. I imagine that is what everyone thimks.

[@ChopxAnkx]

Snap on is not for techs making 30$ a hour

[@bmck-ss3zb]

As long as someone buys the tools,they'll charge those prices for them.

[@michaellindsay8934]

I've never purchased any Snap-on tools from a truck so I can't say anything negative or positive about them. I've been in the automation industry for 50 years. I have been in tons of plants around the country and have seen one Snap-on tool box and it was literally falling apart. The majority of the tool boxes I see are Craftsman, Kennedy and now US GENERAL. I have 6 Kennedy boxes that are close to 50 years old they all still work great. The tools I bought back then where middle of the road and still work today I mostly buy from HF and Amazon now that Sears is gone. There's a lot of great ratchets out there Tone, Gearwrench, Icon, Pittsburgh Pro I've never broken one. There's so many brands with lifetime warranties nowadays that it doesn't make sense to pay 3 times as much for a tool.

[@nickwagner2284]

Their tools have gotten so expensive that you’re actually better off enrolling in a semester of community college auto program and buying through SEP for the student discount. I did this and the discount reduces about 50%. You can also just buy online for this discount. No need to talk to anyone or order through some rep.

[@ElectroAtletico]

Broke down, went to the truck and got me a Talon plier (awesome) and slipped $25 cash to the dealer in exchange for one of those Snap-on shaving razors. That's was my one and only Snap-On experience.

[@daydreaminfaze33]

Shots fired. But I agree. I usually buy the middle of the road for work. I was gifted a few 3/8 allen hex bits from Snap on. An apprentice destroyed said hex bit on one screw. Those were my intro to Snap on. After that incident, I decided I'd never buy any Snap on. That price is outrageous for someone, an apprentice, to destroy a tool on one screw.

[@shark61111]

Might want to teach your apprentice how to use them. The Snap On allen bit sockets are the best. This is generally recognized by professional mechanics. They get the job done when others fail. Your apprentice likely didn't have the bits fully seated into the fastener. With a Snap On bit the fit is tighter, much tighter, which is a plus. It's important to clean any debris from the fastener and then tap the socket/bit into the fastener to seat it fully. You did teach this to your apprentice, right?

[@bodegaconnoisseur2548]

I had a snap on dealer on the east coast. He was awesome, he gave me deals from day one, gave me a truck account immediately and always warranties whatever I had, he had been in business for 20 years. I moved out west (to The same state this guy is in) and finally got a dealer. He won’t work on the prices (full retail only) no deals and no truck account until “you order something big” forget it I’ll just order online or get snapon stuff in pawnshops

[@mlieser1230]

Snap on tools are the gold standard by which all other tools are compared to. They are the most expensive of the tool manufacturers. I started with Craftsman in technical high school auto shop. When I went to work at the dealer we had a Snap on truck. Since I was an apprentice my duties were limited to oil changes, basic services and PDIs. The Snap on man set a $300 maximum truck credit limit as I was a teenager. I bought a ratchet, 3 extensions, and a 3/8 shallow metric socket set. Since the manufacturer only had two models I didn't need many tools. I bought just the impact sockets that I needed. Going from a Craftsman to Snap on ratchet was like going from a Chevy Chevette to a Ferrari! When on the tool truck you buy what you need to work efficiently. Not every tool needs to be Snap on. I had Craftsman, Mac and Matco as well.

[@fookorf]

No they're not the gold standard. Better Euro and Japanese stuff out there now.

[@russellpottenger8584]

I agree with you 100% Your car analogy is one I always use. Last weekend we just purchased an all Wheel Dr Chevy for 30k. It has most of all of the bells and whistles like heated seats and steering wheel, but you can’t compare it to the fit and finish of a 100k of a higher end European car

[@roninbushito]

Yup I only buy what I need such as sockets and wrenches. Ratchets are a must from snap-on they are the best and most commonly used. Just get the most common used tools and buy the original equivalent manufacturer tools made for snapon

[@The-Fat-Kid]

As an aircraft mechanic working for the government I am supplied with a full tool box of Snap-on tools. Personal tools are not allowed. Many times I find myself wishing I had one of my personal tools that are mostly old Craftsman to get something done better and faster. The government never makes Snap-On honer a warranty they just buy more. I have never had a Snap-On dealer honer a warranty on my personal tools but I found I could sell a broken Snap-On hammer on eBay for much more than I needed to buy a new tool somewhere else. I found I can wack something just as good with a Harbor Freight hammer as a Snap-On Hammer.

[@shark61111]

The Snap On tools sold to the government don't have a warranty. The Snap On dead blow hammers and dead blow ball pein hammers actually do hit a lot harder due to their through head design, the shot moves all the way through the head, unlike other dead blow hammers.

[@markm0000]

Those slightly spongy grips on Snappy pliers are so irritating after they get a little oil underneath and start slipping around. It makes it 10x harder to squeeze and I get cramps all the time. I had a pair of strip and crimpers for a few months and ended up trading them in for Mac ones and I’m very happy.

[@deceptionsdemise]

Just subbed. No non-sense and straightforward. This video and the video about the USA locking pliers really made sense to me.

[@ausservice]

I have dozen Blanco adjustable wrenches the only difference is no colour hand grip for a 1/4 of the price. But the lifetime warranty on the tools dose make it worth it like the ratcheting screw had mine fixed about 5 times in the last 10 years. There quality is still very high.

[@BigChillingGoingDown]

First off, they're called Bahco. Second of all, the finish is completely different, and the Snap on has the Flank Drive Plus system in the jaws. I own the Bahco myself and love it, but to claim it's the same wrench is just wrong. I'm not a Snap on fanboy but this kind of assertively wrong information is everywhere anytime the word Snap on is mentioned. A lot of folks get very upset that they cannot afford the best and start inventing all kinds of crazy stories and imaginary facts.

[@tonyrulez69]

They cost so much because you are essentially buying the warranty replacement too. If you look at some tools which are not manufactured by Snap-On, but only put their name on it, and find out its price is double than the original, that's why. I've also seen several warranty repair videos, where they replace the blade of a screwdriver, and putting the old 50 cent plastic handle back on. Like WTF? For that price, give me a whole new replacement. Yeah, tool quality is superior, but Snap-On business model is a joke.

[@chrxx4327]

Snap on is a bank first and foremost. The tools are just a means to get those sweat sweat compounding interest dollars.

[@mn4a15]

Snap on that’s funny a finance company masquerading as a tool company

[@JoeyB7615]

Snap on for everyday heavy use items ..save your money on most other things but there are always exceptions case in point flare nut wrenches SO or nothing..but i was taught the tool doesnt do the job also buy the best you can afford

[@michealrobinson]

I haven't had really any bad experiences with Snap-On other than when I had to warranty out an impact driver bit and all they sent me was the bit and expected me to press the old one out and the new one in. I had left the automotive field a few years before this so I had to mail it off. But they did end up just sending me the whole bit. I also had to have a few others warrantied, a 3/8 comfort grip flex head ratchet, a couple ratchet wrenches and sockets. All taken care of relatively hassle free. That was still several years ago now, so I don't know how that is today. I'll have to find out because I have another ratchet wrench giving my trouble and needs to be warrantied

[@shark61111]

They don't have to be pressed in, you can just tap them in with a hammer. That's all the Snap On dealers do.

[@michealrobinson]

@@shark61111 I didn't have the means to get the old broken one out. Also it really can't be much more for the whole bit. You pay a lot for Snap-On quality and their warranty

[@shark61111]

All you need is a punch and a hammer. You didn't have a punch and a hammer? @@michealrobinson

[@valenzaplumbing]

I’m not a professional mechanic, but I am a professional plumber/HVAC tech. The Snap On thing has never made sense to me. In my industry, you can buy tools made for the professional, that are excellent quality and will last you for most if not your entire career. A lot of which you can buy right at the box stores. And none of those tools are prohibitively expensive. I have my entire technicians bag outfitted with Klein, Knipex, Fieldpiece, Milwauke, Wera and other high end brands. All of those tools housed in a Veto bag. Add all of that stuff up, and I might not even get a complete set of snap on open-end wrenches. It actually blows my mind.

[@davidbere000]

Worked at a diesel bus shop, all the guys had snapon boxes. Inside was a lot of empty space for the few small on tools they could afford. Twice a week the tool truck would show up and the guy running that was friendly but not so humble. I don't buy snap on products but I do try to support tool manufacturers that uphold my beliefs. I've found you can typically buy better quality tools from other brands that specialize in more specific tools for significantly less cash than snap on.

[@lesslighter]

niche tool for the niche job usually... sometime you will never know when you have to "destroy" a tool just to make it work for your needs hey least I can understand why Anex produces low form factor hex wrenches which I honestly think they should also apply it on the torx side as well

[@zarajoe1]

Got some snapon toolsand I generally quite like what I have of theirs but definitely don't feel obsessed to buy more. I see them as more of a treat myself tool then a must have brand. Some of their pricing though is just insane

[@leightonlawrence8832]

The most ironic part is where they try to brow-beat you into buying american tools so we can work on imported vehicles with nowhere near the QC as the tools were using and also shaft american workers for those tools at the same time.

[@Fjfjjdckdk]

Recently purchased 1st order from SO using the web store. The browsing and shopping experience is pretty awful. Many of the tools show out of stock with long wait times. After placing the order it shipped fast and many of the out of stock items magically became available earlier. Still waiting on others. They will keep the funds for the out of stock items "pending" in your bank instead of charging when it ships, so it can tie up your cash for months. The item packaging also left a lot to be desired, mostly they are thrown in or maybe get a bag but the handles and surfaces arrive pretty dirty. Almost all of the pliers and nippers are very stuck and been working them for a while now with some improving slightly and some not at all. Overall happy with the tools and knowing what I do now I will still order SO but there's a lot of room for improvement.

[@shark61111]

You can blame the democrat governors that shut the country down over the back orders. Snap On is still having trouble getting steel. No one buys American made anymore and most of our steel mills have shut down, most steel comes from chyna now. Snap On still uses virgin USA made steel. Snap On doesn't charge until the item ships, period. They do an authorization on the card. Would you rather have them charge you at the time you place the order? That's what most companies do while Snap On doesn't charge until the item ships. Snap On doesn't sell packaging they sell tools, they don't need to put expensive packaging on their tools because they don't sell retail, leave that to Harbor Fright, they spend more on packaging than they do on the steel they use.

[@Myrrapen]

Depending on the situation, I would rather save the money by buying the OM tool rather than the rebrand. That way I can buy more tools!! :) I've got a mix of SO and Matco. I gravitate to my Matco ratchets more often because I prefer the lock system. I like my tool guy and will get most of my core tools from from him, but for a one off job or a rarely seen situation Gearwrench or Sunex will do just fine. HF is close and will warranty the tool... when it breaks :)

[@44thala49]

I’m mainly a Proto guy but I’ll buy Snap On tools used if the condition and price is right. They are generally the best quality as far as finish etc., but the gap between other professional tools and theirs is unjustified in my estimation.

[@GerardoVw1]

Snap on to me is like driving a Toyota, it just works when you need it, it starts every day, doesn’t let you down. But is also the luxury brand so you can say it a Lexus I suppose.

[@garyp.7501]

I have a few bits and pieces of Snap On stuff. A long time ago I bought some 1/4 drive sockets that were not available any other way for my bicycle kit. Now adays, I have only bought a few used things that are only available via Snap on. But yeah, it's tough to justify the price.

[@colt5189]

As far as tools go, I think I'm going to start going with Gearwrench or ICON. Unless it's a specialty tool or something.

[@xj31]

I started buying Snap on tools in 1987. Probably 95% of my tools are Snap on, even the stuff at home. If I had to do it today, probably 5% would be Snap on. People say stuff like, "You're paying for the warranty, you're paying for the service". No. The truth is you're paying the shareholders.

[@deanperkins2091]

9:43 This might be a stretch but, I think there is some survivor bias. If I call a guy with >4 Stars and he shows up with Ryobi, he presumably earned those 4 stars using Ryobi. I might honestly assume they are more skilled, they are practical and use what works, sounds like a good tradesman to me. Kinda like an Old Timer sticking with antiquated or obsolete tools.

[@littlejack59]

"the limited amount of tool exposure I have" ahahah oh doc your so funny

[@FlatRateTech]

i have a snap on truck that comes by the shop that i work at once a week and he first started coming here almost 2 years now. mind you its the first snap on truck ive ever been on along with the fact that i live in a semi smaller town and tool truck owners dont really see the point in coming because they think there isnt any money to be made to make it worth it for them. which they are completely wrong. we have 3 or 4 dealer shops in my town a few other little indenpedet shops as well as the one i work at. but back to the point. i didnt like my dealer the minute i met him and here is why. ive gained a few snap on tools like any other mechanic wouldve over the years that ive bought from just random people. so i had a few tools i wanted to get repaired/ replace. for instance an older snap on ratchet like the before the 80 tooth came out. the gears in it was stripped and i would only do it while busting a bolt lose. i showed it to the dealer he twisted the anvil a few times and said it seems fine and handed it back to me... so right then and there to me thats all i needed to know about this guy. so over the course of almost 2 years of him coming here sure, ive bought a few things from him of course.. about 5 ratches maybe 3 or 4 sockets. and the snap on triton d10 scanner along with the 1/2 & 3/8s tech angle torque wrench kit. which in my opipion are a must have with out a doubt. other than that i want buy anythin else from him anymore. i just simply do not at all like the guy. now had i had a better/ cooler dealer id probably be in alot more debt lol. in closing, i think alot of snap on tools are 100 percent great, they feel good in your hand they work very well. but people. things like the cresent wrench, the allen keys and even the double boxed in ratching wrench shown in this video. frankly to me are not worth the money not one bit. id say over half or maybe more of what is sold from snap on isnt worth the price. espically with how high it is to even live these days. just try and be realistic about buying from them now days. hey nothing at all wrong with going to amazon and getting tools. the main main thing that keeps the tool trucks even in business is the fact that you dont have to pay for it all right then. cause to be honest if i had to pay 6500 dollars out right all at one time on my triton d10!! trust me fellas. it would not be in my tool box right now lol. by the way man awesome video! check out my channel if you get the chance as well. im doing my best to make it on youtube. nothing major. but just want a pretty decent amout of follwers/ subscibers and such. would just be kinda cool to be known one day i guess ill say. yall have a great day! and keep wrenching!

[@HeroinesHeroH]

This is some stupid stuff. I don't judge people or services by the tools they have. It is the end result that matters. I've worked with a bunch of people in automotive and consruction who do not have the most expensive tools but more than make up for it by their skills. This being said I'd love to have some key tools like ratchets with snap-on warranty.

[@philchristmas4071]

After craftsman sold out and went overseas I went to snap on. By far the best tools I own.

[@tye331]

As someone who works in industry, around a lot of concrete, and a lot of ways to never see a tool again snapon is at best a decoration piece, I've gotten more in to Icon as of late because they hold up well to abuse and they're not so expensive that I'm afraid to make a custom tool out of them. For anyone looking to get in to professional grade tools at a reasonable price I heartily recommend brands like Tekton, Gearwrench, Icon, and Knipex. Snap-on, Mac, Matco, and Cornwell are just unreasonable nowadays, especially when you can get tools like Ko-ken that blow them out of the water for half the price.

[@roninbushito]

Rubbish those aren’t professional grade

[@tye331]

@@roninbushito I've been in the field for about 20 years, they are absolutely professional grade. CrV and CrMo steel are available at very reasonable prices and allow for the manufacturing of better tools at lower prices. You have a bias and that's fine.

[@billyhighfill]

I agree. I’ve always hated snap on. But the more I get around tools. The more things I repair. The more I use different tools. Ya. Snap on makes the best product in almost every line. Most electric goes to Milwaukee, but for ratchets and sockets and everything hand tool. Ya. Snap on makes a premium product. But goodness. Goodness. They are expensive!! So it’s rare that I’ll be open to purchasing snap on. It has to be something like a indexing ratchet to make me wanna spend my mortgage on a tool 😂😂😂

[@adaptor-acdc]

sadly not the best anymore... in this day and age, i really do think snap on is overpriced 😬

[@KRich408]

When I still worked in the field I remember guys saying their box and the contents cost 2-3 x what they paid for their house!!😮😮😮 I didn't buy many snap on tool's because I wanted to own a house before going into that kind of debt, the guy running the truck always said he had a payment plan. I said I have a newborn so no! I only have one snap on tool sitting on My desk as a memento a ratching screwdriver still in the box it has to be 35-40 years old now., it's red I don't think they make the red anymore? Nothing wrong with the brand except the price .

[@SniperKingz]

No idea why people love them so much when you have other options like Koken, Nepros, Stahlwille,. Knipex, Wera, etc. etc. that are just as good, if not better, and are usually half the price or a third of the price in some cases. The only thing I really see them being useful for now is a really specific tool that you can't find in stores that often, and is required for a task that you need to do at that moment and don't want to waste hours driving around to find it.

[@HeebzMedia]

I’m all about the deals. If you wait for the right promos, then you don’t need to spend as much on those tools. I just got a set of half-inch impact wobble sockets for almost half the price because my dealer got it on promo. $400 vs $700. Harbor freight Icon is almost $200 for their set. I’m willing to spend double that for USA made tools of a higher quality level. But it’s not even 80 or $90 an hour, I’m in Southern California and my shops rate is 175 per hour. There are local dealerships that charge upwards of $300 per hour out here.

[@pedaltheglobe419]

Snap On needs to create more consistency with franchisees warrantying tools even if they have to go as far as penalizing or forcing buybacks of routes from those who are non-compliant. Many are starting to find it hard to justify Snap-On prices over Icon that they previously justified by warranty and service.

[@kiralypeter88]

It's impossible to conclude this answer into 1 or 0. For example we have 15,000 dollar drill sets and as low as 15 dollar crimping pliers. Don't see the reason to spend more if they do their job. Most of our stuff is good quality german tools with medium price tags.

[@deceptionsdemise]

I've used Snap-on for over 17 years and including the box, 90% of what I own/have owned is and was Snap-on. I bought into the idea of someone not being a serious professional tech if they didn't own this brand. I have to admit, there's a tendency towards arrogance or bragging rights because of the status of having these tools. The prices to me in the beginning were justified but after putting down the kool-aid so to speak, I realized how ridiculously over priced their products can be. With that said... The quality is excellent for most of their stuff and I still use a lot of it today. At this point though, the prices are getting out of hand. Sometimes, for some items, the grass is greener on the other side.

[@robertomilanecky]

I’ve worked in the heavy equipment world for around 13 years, I’ve never once had an issue with a customer coming up to me and seeing I have Pittsburg tools working on their millions of dollars worth of fleet equipment. I do not judge so I have snap on to diehard tools. What matters is can this tech get the job done efficiently and fixed the first time. I work with guys that only have snap on that I can run circles around, it’s not always the tools, it’s the mostly whose holding that tool. And about charging money to fix your vehicles, do you really think all that money is going into their pockets? Ha. My friend owns a auto shop right across the street where a snap on dealer stores his trucks, he tried to get some stuff warranted, always dodging him even though if he just warranted that tool, that snap on dealer would have had a life long customer of ac machines, alignment racks all of that. in my eyes snap on is turning into a joke. Ratchets are the best around no doubt, but other than that they’re pushing me away from them, but they’ll always will be better than MATCO.

[@zPardalz]

It's good to know that this is an hobby for you, because you spend way more than me and what I spend makes me feel bad sometimes... xD

[@seawalkarrg]

So Doc uses Snap On for his Orthopedic Surgery practice?

[@mrweisu]

I bought and sold several SO tools and turned a nice profit. I kept a few as souvenirs because they are pretty much free to me. As far as I can tell, the only thing that SO contributes heavily is the image and the feeling of being successful. Tool wise, they don't have many tools that are superior to other brands. The image was easier to maintain when people don't have the chance to do actual comparison in the old days. But with the popularity of KZbin influencers doing actual tests, that facade is being tearing down quickly. YTD all sorts of stocks went up 10% or more. But snap on lost 2%. It's very hard to explain the reason. With both Trump and Biden blaring for made in USA, I was shocked to see SNA did so poorly. I would have thought it's had a blast in 2024

[@justinvanburen8259]

I have a lot of snap on tools and love them all, but I only buy it if it’s on sale and plan ahead.

[@Fred_the_Head]

Snap-On tools are better than average, but their prices are extravagant for the value. For this reason I choose other brands that perform just as well or better with equal of better warranties that cost less.

[@user-bq2py9tl5l]

You may have already done a video on Blue point that’s more affordable for most people but no lifetime warranty like Snappy.

[@MattLitkeRacing]

I do buy Snap-on but not everything. Ratchets, screwdrivers, picks and some pliers. But I also have plenty of other brands Knipex, old Craftsman, Wera, Wiha, etc

[@erasamus1057]

i just watched a video where a guy found a part on snap on truck that listed for like 49k he called his dealer to look up the part number and even the rep gasped and started laughing. i think there some weird things that they just say you know what? just charge this random price they will pay it

[@darrenporsch]

Snap-on's lifetime warranty is lifetime of the original purchaser doesn't matter if they stop making the tool. I've called them in the last few months and gave them to a models they didn't make any more They just gave me the new equivalent replacement. In a lifetime warranty on hand tools is no big deal anymore every company pretty much lifetime warranties their hand tool They all had to compete with Sia's craftsman when she did it like 60 or 70 years ago

[@branned]

That is NOT my experience. I have a small collection of Snap-on tools that they will not warranty with a new equivalent replacement. BOTH ways they use to limit warranty.

[@skygreen5939]

I have very limited experience with Snap-on, but from the handful of recent purchases i've made from them, I've felt like the tools were good, but underwhelming, & overpriced. I've generally had better experiences with PB Swiss, Knipex, & Wera. I have, however, stumbled across some vintage Snap-on tools where the quality was immediately evident - and impressive. My understanding is that the larger of the two slipjoint longnoses (LN47ACF) will have some competition from HF/Icon within the next two or three months. After how favorably the Icon flushcutters compared to the Snap-ons (excellent video, there, btw!), I'll be interested to see how well the LN47ACF holds up against that next Icon offering.

[@megafatshady]

So that we are comparing apples to apples, yes I was a little irked at the whole judgement on what tools are brought to a job and while thinking on it before a knee jerk reaction... The same thing happens in the photography industry. You don't want to pay 4-5K for a wedding photographer and they show up with an iphone or a 20 year old digital camera with a limited amount of lenses. So its kind of fair... I say this as someone with a LOT of cheaper tools that I am happy with. I restore antique tools so I really don't need a lot of Snap On stuff to make a good restoration.

[@CPthetooladdict]

Any good machinist will tell you making quality tools and machinery should be tight and work themselves into a smooth operation. Snap-on still follows this and its a lost art I would never buy a new pew that didn't have a considerable amount of break in my tools are no different. I agree snap-on is hard to swallow but its not a diyer tool its a professional tool and its a investment.

[@metricdeep8856]

I'm not against paying a premium....but if the price is high....the product should blow away the competition. However, it's a shareholder's market....not a customer's, not an employee's. You're buying for investors' pockets and stock value...not tool value. This isn't news either.

[@georgeferlazzo7936]

Hello again, Doc Thank you for another Great Video 👍 I finally get some time to catch up watching your videos. I do have some experience with Snap-on Tools. While active duty in the Air Force. Long story short, I first worked with absolute junk. It would injured you more than actual work. All of it at the time was from Asia countries. Today's the game has changed. Then we moved to Craftsman Tools, the injuries stopped and things got fixed. The Final change came when the Air Force went with Snap-on Tools 100%, boxes etc. As you said Doc, some of it is great. But you what I found out. There tools will break, there not perfect. And I haven't been on a Snap-on truck to buy tools. I have looked at all the trucks for tools. To date, I brought only one tool ftom Mac tools, a Hy-lok Ratchet for a job I was working. And I still have it. Sorry for the book, Doc. Again thank you 👍

[@Mgoblue2486]

I have a Snap On box with literally one Snap On tool in it...😂

[@TheRealBrockRoberts]

I am glad I have not nor will ever be sucked into the Snap-on cult. There is help out there! Wish you all the best...

[@zygmuntthecacaokakistocrat6589]

As my dad says, you don't buy a 9/16" drill, you buy a finite number of 9/16" holes. The number of them that you can drill, and their straightness and lack of burr, and the downtime you spend sharpening the drill bit, governs the $ you are willing to part with for the drill. So cheap drills, up to a certain point, are a false economy. Unless you have careless &/or thieving employees &/or customers &/or students. Then you buy the bare minimum, or mid-market, knowing that they will have a hard &/or short life in your enterprise. Extrapolate this across the whole of your toolkit, and you will see what I mean. That is why only the tools that I use in my own workshop, that I don't ever lend to anyone, that stay at my workstation, or travel with me in my own toolbox, are Snap-On or Matco or Wera or Knipex or Wiha or Stahlwille. That way, if I lose them, or damage them in use, I have only myself to blame. Employees/apprentices/students who want better than average tools can bring their own to work, in their own toolbox.

[@NPOAfterMidnight-ft9zj]

The only Snap-On tool I own (and I own a considerable amount) is the LN47ACF and reach for them all the time. They are fantastic pliers. That being said, I own a large amount of Knipex tools and all of my sockets sets (by and large) are Sunex. These are both top-notch in both build quality and engineering prowess. I have also fallen in love with all things Japanese, especially Vessel. I prefer WERA for my screwdrivers as well. What I am getting at is I can get the utmost quality from well regarded brands for fractions of the cost of Snap-On which is why I don’t tend to buy their brand.

[@kris-english]

I suppose the plus side of Snap On Tools is, when you retire the tools will still be worth good money. I think that’s why it’s a kind of investment. They’re defo overpriced though IMO.

[@KRich408]

Snap On is the Avon for mechanics I would say for men but today that might offend someone.

[@davidasdasd4666]

Avon is not quality at all

[@ToolinAroundTools]

I am getting such a good deal on new tools from Japan, you could even get all Nepros and come out better, it just makes me laugh. I only buy used Snap-On items

[@greedygringoprospecting6941]

milwaukee rover light. ,2 AA batteries. , lasts for hours on low power. (100 lumens). and magnetic.

[@CorvetteTrev]

Its Gucci in handbags 👜 i got the icon double box end, i didn't think they were "cheap" $200 , they seem really nice. Enough money that i appreciate them, use them, and have that awesome warranty with HF. Snap on for $850! That's like show and tell. It's a bad economy, it's sad our oil is off and our leaders in gov have sold us out. Take me back to the 90's

[@authalic]

I have a lot of tools and I don't mind paying for quality. I'll go out of my way to avoid buying anything made in China. I would love to support a US-based manufacturer, but I own exactly zero Snap-on tools. I don't work in a shop, so you're telling me I need to track down some guy in a truck to buy a 5-inch long 1/4" ratchet in 2024? Where is the truck? How do I find it? When is it open? I can order it off the Snap-on website and pay $22.90 to have that $127 ratchet shipped within 3 days through UPS ground delivery. No free shipping? They only ship on weekdays? With sales tax, that totals nearly $160. That's insulting. Keep it.

[@someguy4476]

They do treat their dealers like shit. My family has been running trucks for over 40 years and it has slowly slid downhill how they F the dealer on a regular basis. But most people don’t understand the other side of running the business, so most people just complain about it.

[@berningsandwiches2662]

The tool truck business model is severely flawed. The lifetime warranty is only as good as your ability to have it honored. If you aren't paying that weekly tool truck account payment, good luck getting that truck to keep showing up, and there goes your no hassle warranty. Not to mention the 5X cost of tools just because they say Snapon. On most tools, I can pay much less and still get comparable quality.

[@MrCheezeus]

I honestly don't think snap-no is as good as they used to be , It used to be you'd only need to go to snap-no now with brands like ko-ken, knipex, vessle, and engineer/vamplier ... I'm not really seeing the value in snap-on anymore and I've used them for over 20 years for work/school.

[@ptstouring49]

Snap-on is a bank …. Regardless, at some point I will find a snap-on truck and buy a few sockets, wrenches, two screwdrivers, and a ratchet. Oh and that cute little flip screwdriver.