Snap On Tools: Luxury or Premium? It depends on the thickness of your wallet. And Fauxstige anyone?

A recent livestream from CP the Tool Addict got me thinking about Snap On's place in the brand marketplace. Often the difference between a premium brand and a luxury brand is a pretty simple and Snap On is a premium, not a luxury. At least not the way I think about it. Yet Snap On still attracts the anger and passions usually reserved for luxury brands. But there is a third choice some tool companies are going after its what I call a fauxstige, a play on masstige or mass produced prestige.

[@HiFiInsider]

i’ve been buying Snap On since the early 90s and they are still working great today. Buy better, buy less is my buying model.

[@colemanbonner]

I’ve been working in the auto diagnostics and repair field for 16 years. As I’m getting older (and I’m finding myself at the top of my field in my area and my market sector) I’m buying more and more snap-on simply because it’s satisfying to use. Not everything snap-on, I’m all-in with Milwaukee for cordless, IR for air and my toolboxes are a mixture. But the hand tools? Yeah. When I open my ratchet drawer and see one of every single configuration of comfort-grip ratchet, it’s satisfying. I have a whole drawer that’s just extensions, and I have nearly every locking extension or swivel that snap-on offers. Again, I could get the job done with cheaper, but it’s satisfying. I also have no kids and a really small house so it works lol.

[@BreadsticksReef]

Are we just not going to talk about the Yeti dog bowl? Lol

[@andygilbert1877]

I thought that too! :)

[@guacamoleweiner69]

Harbor freight does not belong in the heavy duty industry

[@PrimeToolbox]

I think Snap-On can illustrate what diminishing returns look like, you pay triple the price for a little bit more quality. I'm not criticizing Snap-On, they have many tools that I want to buy. What I'm saying is just a mathematical observation about their prices when compared to some other high quality brands. Bahco is a perfect example, they make that adjustable for Snap-On and while Bahco sells their model for about 30 USD or so, Snap On sells it for 88 USD, with perfectly refined finishing details. We pay triple the price, for a little bit more. That's diminishing returns.

[@chiparooo]

Excellent observations and discussion. Thanks for sharing!

[@guyconnell2250]

LOL, so the elephant in the living room, more or less, is "fauxstige"=Icon.

[@avernvrey7422]

Many luxury brands, including Prada, are also premium brands. Hermes and Prada have, for longer than Snap-On, made premium goods, in their cases, leather goods.

[@berenzable]

Us Snap On actually that good? I'm in Europe, and quite happy with Wera, Knipex, Wiha, CK, Japanese manufacturers, and quite a few American mid-range brands including Milwaukee, Dewalt, Erwin, Stanley, etc. But no Snap On

[@guacamoleweiner69]

Yes snap on is good for hand tools. Its stupidly expensive but the tools will not disappoint you. Im a heavy duty mechanic and i have alot of snap on tools that have to be of high quality

[@edwardkramer8738]

I think at the end of the day there are going to be people that just flat out can't afford snap-on, and will do what ever it takes to make people feel guilty for it 🤷 I have lots of different tools snap-on, Pittsburgh, master force and so on, I can feel the difference from using my snap on tools and cheap ones so I prefer to spend more money on my snap on truck 🤷 not to mention let's actually see how many of the haters have ever even had a snap-on tool in there hands, I feel that's part of the problem.

[@UnhumanNewman]

Maybe it’s just because the price difference between Snap-On and tools you can get at a big box store is absolutely not justified unless your justification is “I like it”. You can rant and rave all day about the way the tool “feels” or that “buy once, cry once” bs, but at the end of the day Snap-On is just a luxury brand pretending to be a premium brand.

[@edwardkramer8738]

@@UnhumanNewmanI don't have an argument really lol I buy snap-on bc I can afford it 🤷🤷

[@georgecroney6168]

@@UnhumanNewman Google Norris London tools. They're luxury. Hand planes that were never even marketed to a professional woodworker. Snap On are just pro grade. My dad used to trade in antique tools, only reason I know that luxury tools actually exist. He once had a folding rule usually made from wood but from ivory with silver hinges and gold inlayed markings. Now that's luxury!

[@poonbandit9924]

I’ve put a tool truck brand ratchet into someone’s hand and they immediately went and bought one. I work with guys that don’t have a ton of snap on or tool truck brand stuff but do have a 3 bay snap on box. I also love an old SK 1/2” ratchet I’m not loyal to any brand in specific but yeah some people say snap on is a waste of money, but they don’t have the money to spend on snap on. Also some guys love snap on because they don’t have the money to buy a $1500 autel scan tool up front but will pay $50 a week for a $10,000 snap on scan tool.

[@RedShiftedDollar]

Most people think of snap on tools as a product, but a decent chunk of the cost is the tool truck service. The tool store comes to you which adds convenience and time saving value. This service can be worth a lot because time on the job is worth a lot. For a company, it can easily cost 100 bucks to send someone to the store to buy a 5 dollar tool. You have to pay the employee and you lose time working which is a double whammy. So that 5 dollar tools becomes a 105 dollar tool. If this is the case then a 100 dollar snap on tool isn’t so bad. It’s a different story for home use though because you don’t get the value of the truck service.

[@MrCheezeus]

snap-on will mark up tool prices for an identical tool take PWCS7ACF vs the carlile version

[@strongandco]

It's mostly Snap On owners that bring the hate on themselves with their snobbish elitism. >"I used to buy other brands until I got fed up with them breaking. Now I will only buy Snap On"

[@AV84USA]

I have heard the “snobbish elitism” angle in every single brand skirmish, and usually by the same people. Like everything else, it’s a product. If not owning it makes you emotional or feel less-than, it’s not really the fault of brand owners. Everyone wants to feel like they have a lock on making wise choices, whether it’s being vegan, raising a kid, or buying a product, and some are snobbish about their choices, especially vegans! ;)

[@strongandco]

@@AV84USA I mean you know how to tell if someone is a vegan...just wait a while and they'll tell you soon enough ;-)

[@georgecroney6168]

Growing up tinkering with things I found tools in the shed, around the house etc and they worked but sucked and broke a lot. Pliers that had no grip, hammers that the heads snapped off of, screwdrivers that just rounded off either the screw or snapped etc. Etc. Then years later I tried different snap on tools and they did everything that I wished inferior tools could do. They make great tools. Whether they're worth the price is like anything in life, its relative. A fiat driver loves their fiat, a Porsche driver loves his Porsche. But only a Porsche driver knows why he drives one when he could have 5 fiats. A fiat guys opinion of a Porsche is worth about as much as his fiat, not much. When all I knew was cheap tools I scoffed at snap on. You have to go out and earn your money, invest in something and experience it first hand to actually know if it was worth it. I think 90% of people who leave comments haven't bought snap on, and haven't used snap on tools. If you had, you'd most likely be happy. And the best thing is the warranty. You don't need to buy again and again.

[@philipbohlinger4150]

When your ratchet breaks so do your knuckles. Anyone who's never earned a living turning wrenches will never understand this.

[@FusionBoost2.0]

Snap on IMO makes some of the best hand tools around... The ratchets, screwdrivers, wrenches sockets are all what I've been buying since I got back into the trade... Well I be going into huge debt with a toolbox, Nope.... Big bill with high interest snap on credit... Nope. Will I be buying hand tools, yup! Open a truck account with no interest, buy what you need and stick with it

[@AV84USA]

13 of your last 20 videos are about Snap-on. It gets people’s attention. There is an entire industry based on opining, emoting, philosophizing, and bitching about Snap-on. I’ve seen the exact same thing with endless bickering about Harley-Davidson, Goldwing, Rolex, Gibson, Steinway, Nikon, Profoto, Citation Jet, Porsche, and on and on. Most arguments pro and con could be lifted word for word from other brand skirmishes with simply substituting XXXX for Snap-on.

[@ChadSr0690]

I continue to biy Snap-On because of the high quality, customer service and warranty. Sure, I pay $150 for a ratchet but I will never have to buy another and my distributor always shows up on the same weekday to repair or replace.

[@felixf5211]

My most expensive hand tool is a Starrett 91C tap handle. Must have used it at least 1500 times since the purchase. Is there a product that does exactly the same thing as the Starrett? No, it's a completely different design. Is the Starrett's performance noticeably better than its competitors? Yes, very much so. Noticeable immediately. Is the Starrett's build quality similar to other companies? When it comes to tap handles, Starrett is in its own league. Can the same be said about, say, a Snap-on ratchet? No, not at all. Does the ratchet's design set it apart? No, other than cosmetics. Are there products that do exactly the same thing? Yes, there are many. Is the performance better than all of its competitors? No, many daily users prefer brands other than Snap-on that cost equally as much. It's not a matter of price. Can a SO ratchet be seen as a singular entity? Absolutely not. OTOH, the Starrett is precisely such a tool. See the difference?

[@andygilbert1877]

Agreed 100% on the Starrett tap wrenches, there’s nothing else like them. Disagree a bit on Snap-on ratchets though, I think overall it’s the best thing they make. The main plus being the choice. Handle material, length, flex head or not, quick release, swivel head etc.

[@kylesonsalla7620]

I have ratchets from a lot of manufacturers, Dual 80's are head and shoulders above the other tool trucks and other ratchets I've tried. There's a performance advantage in the strength and function of the ratchet. My Matco and Pittsburgh ratchets just can't take off certain bolts because their swing arc and back lash is too large, and they can't get the next tooth.

[@scottyee707]

drill taps are amazing

[@patrickcallahan2210]

Something to consider is that many people think the share of wallet available is larger than it actually is and the downstream effects of that can be amplified with credit availability. When you start talking about people taking on debt to buy premium/luxury tools when they don't fundamentally understand the actual cost (in both time and money) it can lead to some unfortunate outcomes. Also, when people start talking about how the chrome may be thicker or some other very minor justifications it looks like a sunk cost fallacy explanation rather than fact. Caveat emptor is in play at some level, but there is enough marketing speak flying around that it is worrisome especially with how many people put brands up on a pedestal and use phrasing like "investing" when talking about tools and things.

[@patrickcallahan2210]

BTW, I really like your take and insight on things and have been enjoying your reviews :)

[@pauldarling7625]

I agree with what you say with one exception snap on Allen and torc sockets fit and vastly refuse the odds of rounding the bolts. This came from experience from working with so many of these. Buy what you can afford until you can afford to upgrade. Wera torques and Allen’s fit very well as well and are a cheaper version that work.

[@thefogisgone3662]

I mean if you buy a specialty tool off the snap on truck that literally makes it possible for you to finish say a $4,000 transmission job.. and the tool cost $150.. the next time that job rolls around you're gonna have the tool already. So for the rest of your life you have the ability to make $4,000 as many times as you want.. so it kinda is an investment.

[@christiansmith8529]

@@thefogisgone3662super late but all tools are a consumable not an investment.

[@gtxguy]

You can't look at tools over the short time,my snap on tools are over 50 years old,my dad's snap on tools are almost a 100 years old...50 years ago there was not the choice that the young guys have today.Snap on tools are very pricey,even when I go and replace a lost tool I just shake my head when I hear the new price...The long and the short of it is that Snap on tools last!

[@MarcM143]

I would also love to have a Mercedes jeep but I spend too much money on tools lol

[@jackhenry290]

Very well put

[@henslee]

Great video

[@mikee5246]

FYI. I buy Case IH tools and they are made by Snap On. Google Case tools and it will take you to Snap On site. About 1/4 the cost. Seems to be same quality. You even warranty back through Snap On

[@mikee5246]

www.snapon.com/CNH

[@drengskap]

Interesting - I've never heard of Case IH. How do they stack up against other Snap-On related brands like Williams and Blue Point?

[@mn4a15]

@@drengskap neither have I please do tell

[@robertcasey3528]

Snap on is definitely a luxury brand. The hand tools at Lowe's and Home Depot can accomplish the same jobs as Snap On at a quarter of the price.

[@SH0CKxWAVES]

Sounds like a personal problem

[@leealtmansr.3811]

Interesting...

[@thefogisgone3662]

I love it. I know this kid who hates snap on and doesnt even know why. He's obviously been around someone who hated them therefore he hates them. But he loves craftsman and swears up and down craftsman is better than snap on. Yet his brand new 3/8 craftsman ratchet broke the other day on something it definitely shouldn't have. And my snap on 1/4 ratchet could've taken that bolt off without even thinking about breaking. I've broken snap on ratchets and sockets but not near as many as i have crapsman. Plus until you've had to remove the top starter bolt or torque converter bolts out of a 2012 nissan sentra you have no idea why you would need an indexing head snap on ratchet.. or their special application ratchet. They're expensive but certain things will save you time and money in the long run. My snap on ratchets beat the shit out of my old craftsman in situations like that any day. Tight quarters? Give me snap on. Strength needed? Snap on. Not rounding the shit out of every bolt on a vehicle? Give me snap on.

[@TylerSnyder305]

KRA-149, Google it. They used to do things nobody else was doing, they still have a lot to offer but don't exactly corner the market the same way they used to. Like you said without actually saying it, Icon and Carlysle have done a good job at offering the appearance many people drool over. I don't need premium tools myself , but cannot hate on snapon. I won't be buying their tools, but that little snapon kra-149 " electronics toolbox " from the 60's is a grail of mine and I will own one someday. Mark my words, I will own one.

[@felixf5211]

*KRA-149, Google it.* Very cool. I'd love one. Similar to some of Kennedy's offerings at the time. They sold a series of small boxes in various sizes -16"-22" IIRC - in a drawer and a tackle box configurations. I use one of their 16" 2-drawer boxes and a 16" three layer tackle box style to this day. I refurbished the 2-drawer box, but the tackle box style is completely original. Near perfect paint. It was made in the '50s.