Snap-on tools, too expensive?
Discussion
I've worked in many different types of engineering over the years and never really had a thing for Snap-on tools.
Today I had the (dis) pleasure of visiting a Snap-on mobile trader in his van to buy a spanner (6mm).
Firstly I was struck by the display inside the van, the walls and ceiling are literally covered in shiny tools of all shapes and sizes, which no doubt is part of the marketing process.
It really was like an Aladdin's cave in there!
I chose a small (6mm) combination spanner from the wall and enquired about how much it was, after some prolonged tapping on his lap-top the guy reeled off the price...........
Including VAT....... £27.48! I was gobsmacked
, I simply couldn't believe a small spanner could cost that much.
Now I know they are supposed to be the best quality but really, is it worth it?
Incidentally I was offered an account to pay it off on the weekly/monthly etc which no doubt tempts people in but it didn't tempt me at all.
I went back to work and, via a well known internet based auction site
bought a "Britool"
one for £5.20 (inc delivery and VAT).
What do you lot think, is the guaranteed and supposed quality really worth 5 times the price?
I guess there are no right or wrong answers, but I'm genuinely interested in what people think.
Discuss:
Today I had the (dis) pleasure of visiting a Snap-on mobile trader in his van to buy a spanner (6mm).
Firstly I was struck by the display inside the van, the walls and ceiling are literally covered in shiny tools of all shapes and sizes, which no doubt is part of the marketing process.
It really was like an Aladdin's cave in there!
I chose a small (6mm) combination spanner from the wall and enquired about how much it was, after some prolonged tapping on his lap-top the guy reeled off the price...........
Including VAT....... £27.48! I was gobsmacked
, I simply couldn't believe a small spanner could cost that much.Now I know they are supposed to be the best quality but really, is it worth it?
Incidentally I was offered an account to pay it off on the weekly/monthly etc which no doubt tempts people in but it didn't tempt me at all.
I went back to work and, via a well known internet based auction site
bought a "Britool"one for £5.20 (inc delivery and VAT).
What do you lot think, is the guaranteed and supposed quality really worth 5 times the price?
I guess there are no right or wrong answers, but I'm genuinely interested in what people think.
Discuss:
Edited by Filton-flyer on Monday 7th January 20:03
I have amassed quite a lot of snap on gear, for a few reasons.
Generally it is MUCH better quality than your average stuff, this includes the design, simple little things like clever little cams in the rings and open jaws of the spanner’s make a massive real world difference.
They often run offers on sets of tools which make them more appealing price wise.
The convenience of the van coming round once a week meaning that I didn’t have to go shopping for tools in my own time was a massive consideration, add to that fact that they used to sort any warranty claims whilst they were there without me having to chase up receipts and drive around/post things off made my life much easier, when I was fitting I was averaging sixty to seventy hours a week, I really couldn’t be arsed using my own time shopping for tools.
The warranty offered is very good, if you have a good relationship with your rep you have no trouble replacing tools, even if you may have abused them.
The residuals are amazing, I don’t use my tools very much these days but keeping hold of them gives me quite a nice rainy day emergency fund, because they are expensive new and the reps generally honour the warranty on goods you have bought second hand the second hand value is very healthy.
And last but not least the most important reason! Because shiny! It’s very materialistic but I really enjoy opening up my toolbox these days to see racks of shiny, high quality tools, it makes using them a pleasure these days!
Generally it is MUCH better quality than your average stuff, this includes the design, simple little things like clever little cams in the rings and open jaws of the spanner’s make a massive real world difference.
They often run offers on sets of tools which make them more appealing price wise.
The convenience of the van coming round once a week meaning that I didn’t have to go shopping for tools in my own time was a massive consideration, add to that fact that they used to sort any warranty claims whilst they were there without me having to chase up receipts and drive around/post things off made my life much easier, when I was fitting I was averaging sixty to seventy hours a week, I really couldn’t be arsed using my own time shopping for tools.
The warranty offered is very good, if you have a good relationship with your rep you have no trouble replacing tools, even if you may have abused them.
The residuals are amazing, I don’t use my tools very much these days but keeping hold of them gives me quite a nice rainy day emergency fund, because they are expensive new and the reps generally honour the warranty on goods you have bought second hand the second hand value is very healthy.
And last but not least the most important reason! Because shiny! It’s very materialistic but I really enjoy opening up my toolbox these days to see racks of shiny, high quality tools, it makes using them a pleasure these days!
When I used to buy my own tools at Stansted I just took the sensible route of setting myself up with reasonable quality spanners and socket sets using recommendations from workmates. Then, as I used them I’d decide if I’d be better off replacing any with Snap On.
If you’re in a hydraulic test cell all week using 9/16” and 11/16” combination spanners all day every day, for example, you want them to feel comfortable and to fit precisely, even after years of use.
Just as a cheap suit does the job, you feel much better about yourself if you spend a lot more.
If you’re in a hydraulic test cell all week using 9/16” and 11/16” combination spanners all day every day, for example, you want them to feel comfortable and to fit precisely, even after years of use.
Just as a cheap suit does the job, you feel much better about yourself if you spend a lot more.
All fair comments I guess, however I still can't bring myself to part with over £27 for one small spanner.
It probably doesn't help either that the rep is a bit odd, can't really put my finger on why, but I just don't jell with him.
Incidentally I saw the latest Snap-on flyer today and it's advertising "start you own franchise for only £12K" which is apparently half what it normally costs. I wonder how much stock that gets you? Maybe 2 spanners and a torch!
It probably doesn't help either that the rep is a bit odd, can't really put my finger on why, but I just don't jell with him.
Incidentally I saw the latest Snap-on flyer today and it's advertising "start you own franchise for only £12K" which is apparently half what it normally costs. I wonder how much stock that gets you? Maybe 2 spanners and a torch!
steveo3002 said:
someone will be along anytime now to big up their halfords kit and tell you its just as good made at the same factory
snap on is some good stuff , maybe worth it for stuff that you really depend on , i stopped buying it as the rep was a wierdo
Maybe it's a requirement of the job! snap on is some good stuff , maybe worth it for stuff that you really depend on , i stopped buying it as the rep was a wierdo
ETA: I wouldn't leave the one I know alone with my kids.......or the dog!
I used to own a car repair business.
When I first started the joke was that my mechanics Snap-On tool chest cost more than my first house. When I retired the same tool chest cost more than my second house.
I had to have a special section in my Motor Traders Insurance for "employees hand tools" because they are so expensive to insure . These tool chests are a number one target for thieves and had to be chained or padlocked to work benches.
Yes,Snap-On tools are very very expensive,but the quality is probably the best you can get. Also they are guaranteed for life,show a broken one to a Snap-On trader and he will replace it immediately without any questions.
I still have my Snap-On tool kit and use it regularly on my classic cars. Some of it must be 40 years old and is still in perfect condition.
When I first started the joke was that my mechanics Snap-On tool chest cost more than my first house. When I retired the same tool chest cost more than my second house.
I had to have a special section in my Motor Traders Insurance for "employees hand tools" because they are so expensive to insure . These tool chests are a number one target for thieves and had to be chained or padlocked to work benches.
Yes,Snap-On tools are very very expensive,but the quality is probably the best you can get. Also they are guaranteed for life,show a broken one to a Snap-On trader and he will replace it immediately without any questions.
I still have my Snap-On tool kit and use it regularly on my classic cars. Some of it must be 40 years old and is still in perfect condition.
Edited by Old Merc on Wednesday 9th January 11:11
Tony1963 said:
When I used to buy my own tools at Stansted I just took the sensible route of setting myself up with reasonable quality spanners and socket sets using recommendations from workmates. Then, as I used them I’d decide if I’d be better off replacing any with Snap On.
If you’re in a hydraulic test cell all week using 9/16” and 11/16” combination spanners all day every day, for example, you want them to feel comfortable and to fit precisely, even after years of use.
Just as a cheap suit does the job, you feel much better about yourself if you spend a lot more.
I agree with this, I have Halfords pro spanners etc and they are fine for what I need, however my dad has snap on stuff from when he was in the trade ~35 years ago and you can just tell the difference much nicer to use etc.If you’re in a hydraulic test cell all week using 9/16” and 11/16” combination spanners all day every day, for example, you want them to feel comfortable and to fit precisely, even after years of use.
Just as a cheap suit does the job, you feel much better about yourself if you spend a lot more.
I'm starting to replace some of my stuff with Snap On now,, not that I need to but ... well shiny!
I can recommend the Wera Joker range of spanners, they cost quite a bit but grip the bolt heads so much better than cheaper ones.
https://www-de.wera.de/en/great-tools/joker/
https://www-de.wera.de/en/great-tools/joker/
untakenname said:
I can recommend the Wera Joker range of spanners, they cost quite a bit but grip the bolt heads so much better than cheaper ones.
https://www-de.wera.de/en/great-tools/joker/
Typically, spanners of that design are almost useless in situations where space is at a premium. Those heads are just too large. https://www-de.wera.de/en/great-tools/joker/
Old Merc said:
It's simple, Snap-On dealers target professionals. Halfords target DIY. Both products are perfect for both customers.
Yep, I use Halfords stuff myself, and it's excellent value for up to about "serious hobbiest" level work - but it's not paying my mortgage to get jobs done.An extra £20 for a tiny spanner may seem daylight robbery, but if it's the one that doesn't round off a distinctly borderline old fastener, and gets a car off your lift and out the door half an hour earlier than if you needed to get another tool or fit another part, it's probably paid for itself.
There’s a bloke on my road who runs a Snap-On concession (nice guy and he’s a bit of a petrolhead).
We’ve had a cup of coffee and a tab when I’ve been on a break from working on my car and have discussed the whole Snap-On phenomena: he’s been honest enough to tell me that his gear is not aimed at weekend mechanics like me. And I totally agree.
If you’re earning you living through your tools then you’ll naturally buy the best, coupled with the no quibble exchange/guarantee and the on-site visits from dealers it’s a total no brainer to me.
I’ve built up my tool kit over 25 years or so of working on cars. My stuff is not the best (Halfords, Teng, Sealey, Facom, Britool) but neither is it cheap crap which breaks after the second use… got a Sealey half inch drive socket set which is still going strong after 12 years of heavy use. No broken sockets and the ratchet is in good order. Can’t complain about that (although some of the paint has worn of the metal case!).
I have borrowed Snap-On tools from mates in the past. Whilst I believe that there is an element on ‘Emperor’s new clothes’ around the brand, it does feel like damn good quality and is a pleasure to use.
If money was no object (come on Euro-Millions!) then I’d buy a f
k off great Snap-On kit with all the trimmings. Until this happens, I’ll just crack on with the gear I’ve got and buy reasonable quality tools on and as-and-when basis.
We’ve had a cup of coffee and a tab when I’ve been on a break from working on my car and have discussed the whole Snap-On phenomena: he’s been honest enough to tell me that his gear is not aimed at weekend mechanics like me. And I totally agree.
If you’re earning you living through your tools then you’ll naturally buy the best, coupled with the no quibble exchange/guarantee and the on-site visits from dealers it’s a total no brainer to me.
I’ve built up my tool kit over 25 years or so of working on cars. My stuff is not the best (Halfords, Teng, Sealey, Facom, Britool) but neither is it cheap crap which breaks after the second use… got a Sealey half inch drive socket set which is still going strong after 12 years of heavy use. No broken sockets and the ratchet is in good order. Can’t complain about that (although some of the paint has worn of the metal case!).
I have borrowed Snap-On tools from mates in the past. Whilst I believe that there is an element on ‘Emperor’s new clothes’ around the brand, it does feel like damn good quality and is a pleasure to use.
If money was no object (come on Euro-Millions!) then I’d buy a f
k off great Snap-On kit with all the trimmings. Until this happens, I’ll just crack on with the gear I’ve got and buy reasonable quality tools on and as-and-when basis.Snap On spanners are probably the best and thats why there more expensive, its much cheaper to buy complete sets than individual spanners, the quality of some Snap On stuff has fallen over the years but not there spanners. Ive worn out a lot of Britool spanners over the years but never a Snap On one
Not what it was to be fair, but definitely a name tax. The original Halfords professional range (late 90's I think ), was superb, and was actually made by facom. Snap on is just too damn expensive for most younger techs. I recently inherited some 80's tools, and the quality is second to none , bahco, Britool, some snap on , dormer drill bits etc, no Chinese junk. (Chinese stuff has its place though). Most techs seem to use mac now, huge range, readily available at a reasonable price. But as we all know, it's the bloke using them that makes the difference.
I'm not a mechanic, but do some repairs and maintenance at work and have tried to set myself up with decent tools. I've recently been looking at some Snap On bits and pieces like upgrading my spanners some something nicer than the Draper ones I have. Even used, they are eye wateringly expensive. I've no doubt they're nicer, but to what benefit I don't know. A brand new set of Teng (which are really nice) can be had for less than a used set of Snap On with chipped chrome.
I've got quite a bit of Teng, sockets in particular and have had no issues at all. Thy're not getting used all day, but, for example changing the points on the drill means undoing 100 nuts all of which have soil on them and doing them back up again. Same with the knife sections on the combine head, there's dozens of bolts to undo. I've had to replace the guts out of my 3/8ths Teng ratchet once in 16 years. The sockets have been used to press things out of tight places and hammer the replacements back on and never slipped or cracked once and are nice to use and very reasonably priced.
I had a bearing to change on a roller which was held on the a circlip that was too big for my pliers, so a contractor kindly lent me his Snap on adjustable circlip pliers which he proudly informed me were 180 quid. Well, they were useless. I ended up buying a bigger pair of Knipex circlip pliers off amazon and had the recalcitrant circlip off in seconds.
One of the tractor dealers mechanics showed my his Snap On tool chest which was 4 times the price of my Clarke box and while it was nice, was only worth to me another couple of hundred quid. It would or at least could cost me over 6 grand to buy Snap On versions of my Clarke boxes, which would be relly nice I'm sure, but also a target for thieves. We've just ordered this store bench for work https://www.grant-engineering.com/store-benches/ god alone knows what a Snap On version would cost.
I get the delivery van thing, but what if he comes around on a Tuesday and you needed something on a Wednesday morning? You can get a lot of things the next day off the internet.
A problem I have is finding the sweet spot for cost v quality. I'd like to look in the big white van of dreams, but don't want them calling around weekly and would never buy enough off them to get much discount. Recently bought a set of 4 Gearwrench 120XP ratchets which compared favourably against Snap On for 140 quid, about what one 1/2 inch drive version would have cost me on the van.
I've got quite a bit of Teng, sockets in particular and have had no issues at all. Thy're not getting used all day, but, for example changing the points on the drill means undoing 100 nuts all of which have soil on them and doing them back up again. Same with the knife sections on the combine head, there's dozens of bolts to undo. I've had to replace the guts out of my 3/8ths Teng ratchet once in 16 years. The sockets have been used to press things out of tight places and hammer the replacements back on and never slipped or cracked once and are nice to use and very reasonably priced.
I had a bearing to change on a roller which was held on the a circlip that was too big for my pliers, so a contractor kindly lent me his Snap on adjustable circlip pliers which he proudly informed me were 180 quid. Well, they were useless. I ended up buying a bigger pair of Knipex circlip pliers off amazon and had the recalcitrant circlip off in seconds.
One of the tractor dealers mechanics showed my his Snap On tool chest which was 4 times the price of my Clarke box and while it was nice, was only worth to me another couple of hundred quid. It would or at least could cost me over 6 grand to buy Snap On versions of my Clarke boxes, which would be relly nice I'm sure, but also a target for thieves. We've just ordered this store bench for work https://www.grant-engineering.com/store-benches/ god alone knows what a Snap On version would cost.
I get the delivery van thing, but what if he comes around on a Tuesday and you needed something on a Wednesday morning? You can get a lot of things the next day off the internet.
A problem I have is finding the sweet spot for cost v quality. I'd like to look in the big white van of dreams, but don't want them calling around weekly and would never buy enough off them to get much discount. Recently bought a set of 4 Gearwrench 120XP ratchets which compared favourably against Snap On for 140 quid, about what one 1/2 inch drive version would have cost me on the van.
cant say a bad word about the halfords professional range. dont mix up the halfords advanced and professional ranges they are completely different, Mac are decent as is a lot of facom stuff.
Snap on is the market leader in terms of quality but quality does come at a price. its wheterh or not you can justify the difference in cost for the small improvement, i car terms think bentley to Rolls royce, both fantastic and more than capable but ones a notch above the other.
in regards to air/battery tools i do like the chicago pneumatic stuff over snap on and the snap on boxes really are the emperors new clothes their nothing special but by god they are eye wateringly priced
Snap on is the market leader in terms of quality but quality does come at a price. its wheterh or not you can justify the difference in cost for the small improvement, i car terms think bentley to Rolls royce, both fantastic and more than capable but ones a notch above the other.
in regards to air/battery tools i do like the chicago pneumatic stuff over snap on and the snap on boxes really are the emperors new clothes their nothing special but by god they are eye wateringly priced
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