[Studebaker]

I have a large assortment of Snap on tools that I have acquired over 30 years. They do make very nice tools but customer service is severely lacking. The Craftsman brand has come a long way since the 70's. They are very fine tools now. I recently received a set of Stanley brand wrenches as a Gift for fixing a friends hotrod. I was amazed by how nice the Stanley brand was. Probably will buy more Stanley hand tools. I have great luck with Snap on torque wrenches. I have had one since 1982 and it stills works great! Yea, It was expensive back then, but 27 years of service has paid for itself many times over. With that said, I will end up only buying Craftsman and Stanley from now on. Even if money/cost is not an issue, why waste it.

[oldred]

Originally Posted by Studebaker

I have great luck with Snap on torque wrenches. With that said, I will end up only buying Craftsman and Stanley from now

I think if you buy a Craftsman torque wrench you may just rethink the part about them being nice! Craftsman torque wrenches are junk, mine fell apart while hanging on a peg board garage wall! I think the exact same thing happened to someone else here and when I took the stinking thing back to Sears they said they would send it out for repair but it cost within $10 of the price of a new one! The guy working there also told me what I already figured, that this was a common problem with them. Also when those Craftsman sockets crack and/or slip and round off a fastener head you will remember why you bought Snap-On in the first place. It is not just brand loyalty that I am talking about I have seen Craftsman side by side with Snap-On, S-K, etc for many years and there simply is no comparison. Craftsman is just fine for home shops or hobby work but they are not near the quality of the real pro tools and they will let you down more often than you might think, that is the kind of thing that gets expensive in a hurry for the pro. Craftsman sockets will sometimes ruin a fastener that a Snap-On flank drive would have no problem with, I have SEEN this! Snap-On will take abuse that Craftsman would never take and it is these kinds of things that make the difference. I have said it before, it makes no sense for the home or small shop mechanic to spend the kind of money that the pro tools cost but there is a quality difference that makes extra expense more than worth it for the true pro. Craftsman is very good for what they are meant for but anyone who says they are as good a Snap-On is kidding themselves, they are not as good, not even close!

[oldschoolrods]

Originally Posted by oldred

I think if you buy a Craftsman torque wrench you may just rethink the part about them being nice! Craftsman torque wrenches are junk, mine fell apart while hanging on a peg board garage wall! I think the exact same thing happened to someone else here

Yep that was me, threw mine in the dumpster and bought a snap on

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by oldred

I think if you buy a Craftsman torque wrench you may just rethink the part about them being nice! Craftsman torque wrenches are junk, mine fell apart while hanging on a peg board garage wall! I think the exact same thing happened to someone else here and when I took the stinking thing back to Sears they said they would send it out for repair but it cost within $10 of the price of a new one! The guy working there also told me what I already figured, that this was a common problem with them. Also when those Craftsman sockets crack and/or slip and round off a fastener head you will remember why you bought Snap-On in the first place. It is not just brand loyalty that I am talking about I have seen Craftsman side by side with Snap-On, S-K, etc for many years and there simply is no comparison. Craftsman is just fine for home shops or hobby work but they are not near the quality of the real pro tools and they will let you down more often than you might think, that is the kind of thing that gets expensive in a hurry for the pro. Craftsman sockets will sometimes ruin a fastener that a Snap-On flank drive would have no problem with, I have SEEN this! Snap-On will take abuse that Craftsman would never take and it is these kinds of things that make the difference. I have said it before, it makes no sense for the home or small shop mechanic to spend the kind of money that the pro tools cost but there is a quality difference that makes extra expense more than worth it for the true pro. Craftsman is very good for what they are meant for but anyone who says they are as good a Snap-On is kidding themselves, they are not as good, not even close!

As a bodyman working on smaller bolts, I have used Craftsmen 1/4" sockets exclusivly for a number of years without a problem.

This is both with a Matco air ratchet, nut drivers and ratchets. I haven't broke a single one but it is nice to only have to spend a few dollars when I loose them.

Brian

[Ray Bell]

I'm not using tools as a pro, but I get a fair bit of use out of what I have...

I like Fuller. They've only let me down once, a 10mm socket split when I put way too much force on it.

But I have to say that I have a set of impact sockets, a cheap set too. If I have a nut I think will round off, or if it's rounded, I get these hexagonal impact sockets out and use them instead.

We have a lot of Chinese stuff here. Buying it is a lottery.

[RLT]

Considering that in 30 plus years of working on equipment I've broken more Snap-on and messed up more bolts with Snap-on I would have to say that my experience differs from yours.

I was working on a s10 blazer a couple of days ago and I broke not one but three 10mm Snap-on sockets. This was the bolts holding the fan shroud in place. Of course I also have to say that two MAC sockets failed on the same bolt.

Finally dug out an old Bonney 10mm and removed the shroud with no further problems.

Final scorw tool truck sockets -5 shroud for the win.

[palmers ss]

Originally Posted by woodz428

This is the first post( I will be posting the same on all the forums I am a member of as well as running a local ad indefinetly) of my press on Snap -On tools (trolls??) to get me some dealer service. I have been a Tech since 1969 and have app.$40-$60K in Snap-On tools( that is at the purchase price, not current costs) I have purchased in the last 30 years. I have been unable to get a Snap-On rep to visit my shop in over 5 years. Warrantees are worthless if there is no service. I have contacted Snap-On corp at least a dozen times in the last 5 years by phone and e-mail. Their position is that dealers are independent business owners and they can't make them do anything. Pretty much what I was told a decade ago when one of the dealers overcharged me for an impact wrench. Keep that in mind when you look at the tool prices. I now have to contact a shop that is 15 miles away and then make time to leave my business in order to give that shop a tool and wait until the Sanp -On dealer gets it replaced. Oddly when I owed them for the tools I saw them every week.
If you are a new Tech and looking at buying tools, let me give you some info. Snap-on, like most tool companies, don't make their tools they subcontract out just like Sears,Matco or Mac ( as well as all others). They pride themselves on their quality and service. That only exists while you owe them money, it doesn't seem to apply when you own everything.
Let's see, if I had not chosen Snap-On tools..how would things be different?? I would still possesss the same knowledge, they didn't supply any of it. I would have saved more than enough money to allow me to waste my time trying to get a tool warranteed. The credit that Snap-On extended to purchase tools doesn't go toward your home loan application...or really any credit score...the Sears one does. After buying tools for 40 years from Sears, I would have had some credit to go on my home loan or other loans, plus if I needed a tool replaced..Sears is in the same place as it had been for 35 years. I wouldn't have had to make some of the decisions about what I could get for my children because I wouldn't have been financially leveraged to Snap-Off. I also wouldn't have put my dealers kids through college while I was couldn't afford to put my kids through. BUT, I did it because they SAID that they would always service me...BULL*****.
If you are a starting Tech DO NOT buy into the Snap-OFF propaganda. Save yourself a lot of money and buy from someone that will be there even when you have paid them off. It will help your credit rating as well as cut down some of the spats with your spouse over the amount you spend on tools. I hope they go the route of the Tupperware party, they have a similar business model.
As a final note, although I wouldn't neccesarily do it( I already bought my tools form the charlatans that represent Snap-on)...BUT...for the amount you would spend on virtually any Snap-OFF tool you could buy a dozen at Harbor Freight and never even need to see a dealer. As they break you pick up a new one and throw the other in the trash, pretty much what I am going to be doing with my Snap-OFF tools over the next bunch of years.
I contacted, for the final time, Snap-OFF corporation with my intentions to run this as well as the local ads and gave them more than 2 weeks to respond and they apparently thought I was bluffing...I am not.

I know I am really late but I could not help but see this article off of Google.
I am a dealer out of Georgia and that is very unusual that has happened because anytime you contact Snap On about a new stop they email the nearest franchise in your area. Now if the dealer does not contact or service you shame on him. I pride myself on selling the best tools in the world because I know they are the best. As far as subcontracting tools out, that is not true, I have personally been to every warehouse where WE build our OWN wrenches, ratchets, sockets, tool boxes, etc... Our tools may be pricey but they are worth it. Matco and Mac and Cornhole in 2-4 years from now will be more expensive than Snap On because of the fact they cannot control their inventory they are all caught by the balls of their tool makers. You can go and buy a matco ratchet and a craftsman, gearwrench and kobalt ratchet and open them up and see that they are exactly the same thing. They are all owned by a company named Danaheur (spelling?) your paying for a name when buying the following tools and it pisses people off when i show them on my truck that can swap parts out of a matco ratchet into a craftsman because they just spent 80 dollars on a 14 dollar ratchet.

[Ray Bell]

Are they also the ones that make Fuller?

I know I've seen some other brands with identical items to Fuller. But I also know there are two levels in Fuller.

They're not bottom-level price tools, but not overly expensive, I've never had any problems with them.

[Hwyhogg]

My dad was a professional mechanic for about 15 yrs. at a Buick dealer and he had mostly Snap-On. He never complained about the service or tool quality, but I imagine with the turn over at auto dealerships the Snap On truck was there weekly. Until 2 weeks ago, I would never have believed the Peg board incident in the previous posts (craftsman torque wrench)....My wife bought me a brand new digi-torq Craftsman torque wrench about 4 yrs. ago when I was finishing some bolt torquing on my new engine. I used it ONCE to torque down the flex plate bolts to ~75 ft/lbs...NO problem, no drama....HOWEVER, long story short, It got shelved for the past 4 yrs. I put a socket on it, went to turn the socket to check direction and it spun freely BOTH ways....took it to Sears and they said they had a 12 month warranty only....Even the salesman remarked that it looked like it never had a socket put on it. He then proceeded to show me the new ones I could buy...I laughed and left. I then went about 45 minutes away to a service center and explained. They told me the same thing, but one older tech took me aside and said to leave it with him and he would replace the rachet mechanism...two hours later he called me and I picked it up free of charge. Ask me if I would buy another one....no way....it was supposed to be one of their better ones....I'm a home diy hack, but service is nearly as important as the quality, so I will heed the Original Posters advice and scratch Snap On from my list....because I had some questions about their Saber II compliant paint gun I bought NEW, and the tech seemed almost bothered by my novice questions...tip availablility,etc....I finally found out they didn't even make the gun themselves, I bought it BECAUSE it was Snap ON....Once I got in touch with the manufacturer, they were extemely helpful, unlike the Snap ON guy.

I'm just sayin'.....

[oldred]

Originally Posted by Hwyhogg

Until 2 weeks ago, I would never have believed the Peg board incident in the previous posts (craftsman torque wrench).......

Yep that one was mine, Now in addition to the other fellow here who had the same thing happen I have now heard about another one with the exact same failure so it must be a common weakness. Honestly the last time I used that thing I wiped it off and set it back to zero then placed it on the peg board where I kept it, a couple of weeks later I went use it and it literally fell apart when I picked it up-the handle end (adjustment knob?) fell off and parts fell out of the handle. Just as in your case when I took it back they told me they couldn't replace it because it was out of warranty BUT they just happened to be on sale right now would I like to buy a new one? Duh, yeah right!

[SuthnCustoms]

Originally Posted by palmers ss

I know I am really late but I could not help but see this article off of Google.
I am a dealer out of Georgia and that is very unusual that has happened because anytime you contact Snap On about a new stop they email the nearest franchise in your area. Now if the dealer does not contact or service you shame on him. I pride myself on selling the best tools in the world because I know they are the best. As far as subcontracting tools out, that is not true, I have personally been to every warehouse where WE build our OWN wrenches, ratchets, sockets, tool boxes, etc... Our tools may be pricey but they are worth it. Matco and Mac and Cornhole in 2-4 years from now will be more expensive than Snap On because of the fact they cannot control their inventory they are all caught by the balls of their tool makers. You can go and buy a matco ratchet and a craftsman, gearwrench and kobalt ratchet and open them up and see that they are exactly the same thing. They are all owned by a company named Danaheur (spelling?) your paying for a name when buying the following tools and it pisses people off when i show them on my truck that can swap parts out of a matco ratchet into a craftsman because they just spent 80 dollars on a 14 dollar ratchet.

So just a question since you are in Savannah area and a dealer,did you supply Plant Vogtle and Plant Hatch nuclear plants when they were still buying snap ons?

They have both quit buying snap-on for the fact the quality of them was failing anymore,i have used those tools,along with several other crafts and they are breaking consitantly,we used to have to turn them back into the tool room te be replaced,but in the past years what snap on tools are left in the plants the tool guys just throw them in the trash when brought back broke.

The ratchets would fail consitantly,sockets snap under torque,the new torque wrenches they had would only last a short time,every time we have a QC hold point(Quality Control),which means before that work is signed off in the package as completed,we would have to go to the tool room,sign out a torque wrench that was tested to be accurate right there before it was allowed to be signed out and have a QC guy physicly watch us torque the work,it was getting to point most of the snap-ons were so far off base when tested,they would ditched them as junk.

I always loved snap-on tools,but from using them regularly,i could see the downfall of the quality in them in time....,are they taking shortcuts now in the process of making them to compensate the price difference in those and the cheaper brands that are flooding the market?

And I also have a best freind here in Ga who is an auto-mechanic for chevy dealers for years,but has his own biz now and he says the same thing,the quailty of snap-on has gone severely downhill,he never buys them anymore.He actualy buys Craftsmen and Kobalt at lowes for the fact if they break,no headaches waiting on a snap-on truck to show up whenever he feels like it or worry if the guy is going to say he used the tool beyond its capability..is this not what the high price for them is all about?,the no questions asked warranty?..
It's really ashame for an american made tool to be compared to all the chinese,japan,maylasia..etc tools for the price,but those tools are always replaced without question,i've NEVER had a sears salesman ask how i broke it,he just looked and seen it was broke,told me to go a get new one,then walked out the door with a smile.
Snap-On really needs to get their act back together,they are looking REALLY bad right now....

[K and K]

To touch on the last post, I just bought a Snap On F80 ratchet. It has 80 teeth on the gear, 7 teeth in contact with the locking cam, is supposed to require the least amount of travel needed to reset the ratchet. This is almost true, because even brand new on day one it is skipping teeth like crazy!

[car2shirt]

I have been buying tools from sears/lowes and have very minimal complaints. The Sears by me is going out of buisness so on top of their low prices it is half off of that. So I have been buying up on it. As far as snap on goes I only buy them from ebay and pawn shops, their is no way I would cough up the money to buy them from the truck.

[cobalt327]

Originally Posted by K and K

To touch on the last post, I just bought a Snap On F80 ratchet. It has 80 teeth on the gear, 7 teeth in contact with the locking cam, is supposed to require the least amount of travel needed to reset the ratchet. This is almost true, because even brand new on day one it is skipping teeth like crazy!

Sounds slick- if/when it works. But I will throw away a ratchet the very first time it skips (unless it can be returned, that is). Too many busted knuckles through my lifetime to put up w/that crap.

I got a Craftsman thin profile 3/8 ratchet #44995 awhile ago (10 years?) and like it fine- it has 60 'clicks' to a full rotation, so isn't super fine-toothed, but better than most in that regard. It feels good in the hand. And hasn't skipped- yet.

I haven't counted how many ratchets I actually own- but it must be going on 3 dozen. Maybe more. It's a disease.

[LATECH]

I have not had problems with my tool dealer like woods428 has described. I believe what he is saying though. Pretty heavy criticism but i have heard it from guys at other shops. Personally i have not had problems like this .
I do own a few other brands like Fluke Meters and such(actually says MATCO on it) .
I own mostly snap on tools ( 90 % or better )
I have owned a Snap on FAR 25 1/4 air ratchet for about 10 years and it is still going strong.The only time it has been oiled is when its been dropped in oil.
I have broken very few ratchets or sockets and i dont recall ever breaking a snap on wrench.I have bent a few but never broken one.
I make my living with my tools and I dont buy MAC tools and I have very few Matco tools. I live in a small town and the MAC guy never comes around and he is not worth the mention.
I havent seen a matco truck since I left florida.
I got rid of ALL my MAC tools because I could never get service in most of the places I have lived.
Snap On tools are the best out there as far as I am concerned. Bad customer service doesnt make a bad tool it just makes for bad business and hard feelings.If all I had to do all day was to ride around in a truck and talk to mechanics and sell tools and collect money,I wouldnt have much to complain about.Sounds like a pretty good rap if you ask me.