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We all know it, the tool trucks push it and technicians with exclusively Snap-on tools, coats, hats etc who bash anyone who uses anything but. This…to me is unacceptable. These people who push Snap-on they are more elitist than any other. I cannot say I have encountered a MAC, Matco, Cornwell or Craftsman elitist to the same degree. The Snap-on guys make it seem like their tools are forged of divine steel by Hephaestus himself. Look, Snap-on is no better than any other top tier tool brand out there. In fact, Snap-on is just as guilty of outsourcing and re-branding just like any other tool maker. At my previous workplace, the Snap-On truck guy was cool sure but I didn’t really buy much from him. Mainly bought from the SK truck. When you charge premium prices for a brand name that you can get with MAC, Matco, or Cornwell for much cheaper, I feel obliged to go to the “underdogs”. Elitism is not a good thing. I know some people on here prefer Snap-On and that’s fine but being exclusive to one brand because it is “the best” is not healthy for you or your wallet. I have Snap-On tools, MAC tools, Gearwrench, Craftsman Pro, Craftsman and Dewalt. Being brand loyal is one thing, being a brand Elitist is another.
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I got Pittsburgh, Garant, Myahew, Nicholson, Craftsman, Mac, Matco, Expert, Milwaukee, Mikita, Great Neck, KD Tools, OTC, Vaughan, Harbor Freight, Scotchbrite, Actron, Rigid, JC Penny, JH Williams, Blackhawk, Husky, Starrett, Grey Pnuematic, Ingersol Rand, Chicago Pnuematic, Mity Vac, Streamlight, O’Reilly, Gojo, Neiko, Armstrong, VIM, Campbell Hausfeld, CenTech, EXTech, Bluepoint, Crescent, Channel Lock, Vise Grip, Irwin, Knipex, Klien, Bernzomatic, Oates, Radioshack, 3m, Sctoch, Duck, Silikroil, Permatex, PB Blaster, Brakleen, Dawn, Simple Green, Wilde, Jeeper’s Creeper, etc, etc.
Brands don’t make the tool. The tool makes the brand. Remember that.
You make the best tool for me or the best tool for the price that will work well you earn my money. Otherwise you get nothing.
Snap-On elitism comes more from how much money is spent on the tools than anything else. Arguing that one’s ratchet is a better because it’s a Snap-On doesn’t sound nearly as dumb as saying it’s better because $200 was paid for it as opposed to $40. I’ve spent 27 grand with my Snap-On guy since 2009, and you can bet he loves me and gives me all the free hats, jackets, etc I want. But I still love going onto his truck wearing my Mac freebies and busting his balls about all the good stuff Mac sells that he doesn’t have. I love to spend for the best, but I’ve never told anybody that the best is always Snap-On. You’ll find almost every brand MDK22 listed in my boxes as well, even though they are Snap-On boxes. A very simple reason I spend with Snap-On, that is huge, is that he allows me a massive amount of RA/Truck Account credit interest-free and I can afford to just keep paying because it’s been part of my budget for so long.
On another side of this discussion is a guy I work with, who is a solid A tech. He has a truly minimal tool investment for how far he’s come professionally, and it’s because he has talent/skill/patience that I lack. I cannot stand to abuse tools or try to do jobs without the right tool, and that has caused me to justify spending absurd amounts of money on tools. I can’t even really identify what it is he’s got in him that I don’t, but he can do high-quality A work in reasonable time with a tiny slice of the tools I would “need” to do the same thing. He’s a really smart, calm, and practical guy who I’ve at least learned a few tricks from.
Maybe 12 years ago, I was a parts guy at an Audi dealer. I befriended a tech there who had been the #1 Audi tech in the country for a few years at that time (Audi has a technician’s challenge program to determine this). He was so smart, he could barely stand to interact with other people and I felt very lucky that he was willing to deal with me. He had, by far, the smallest and most unimpressive tool collection in that dealer and I’ve never seen anybody be more successful with less tools since. Tool brand elitism is for assholes. I could choose to be an tool elitist with all that I have, but it seems like I have so much largely because of some kind of inherent weakness I have as a tech.
MDK, Fopeano… you both make excellent points and you understand what I’m getting at. It’s not the brand that makes the tool and it’s not the tool that makes the mechanic/tech. You can have an A tech with harbor freight stuff only that is really good and can make the tools work for him and then you can have a spoiled kid with all Snap-On stuff who can’t even do an oil change without stripping the drain plug. On the other side of the coin, a good tool in the hands of a good mechanic does make the job much easier and boosts efficiency. My main problem with tool trucks is credit lines. I don’t believe in going into debt and tool trucks make it easy for people to get over their heads in debt. If I go onto a tool truck, I have cash/card in hand with money in the bank. I drive an old truck that I actually own and being the frugal person that I am, only have minimal student loans to pay(I got alot of grants that helped pay for school that I don’t have to pay back) alongside the typical bills. I would rather not open a line of credit with a truck. In any case tool Elitism…it’s a mentality some people develop mostly about Snap-On. It’s almost like a pack mentality. Whatever tool gets the job done and is of good quality is the one I will chose.
I have no interest in what make a tool is if it does the job and it does it well then I’m not sure why it matters I buy snap on I like snap on Dual 80 ratchets picks sockets etc they’re great but buying extra long torx bits or stubby torx semi deep sockets etc it’s just makes no sense to me to buy snap on If I dont use the tool on a weekly basis chances are it’s not snap on.
Love to try mac cornwell etc but Over the pond are choices are a little more limited we have a mac guy but he doesn’t visit my shop So it’s either Snap or try and source it online And seeing as mac dont sell online here they really dont make it easy to buy from them.
I love going on the Snap on truck, (man bling)… just hate paying the bill…
I understand about the elitism thing… (A dealer starting a my box is bigger than your box war in a shop)….or my box is better than your box…
I hate seeing young guys go too far into hock on a Snap on truck… True they make great tools, but not all are required…
I tell beginners the only Snap on tools you NEED is a dual 80 ratchet and their Line wrenches (two tools that I believe Snap on makes the best of)…. The rest you can acquire through flea markets, pawn shoppes, or guys leaving the biz…
Bling is nice, but doesn’t necessarily make things faster or better….
I have a lot of Snap on stuff literally because he (used to) show up on friday when I had a list made from the week of stuff I really really needed. Then on monday the Cornwell guy showed up and I couldn’t think of anything I needed yet. If the situation were reversed I’d 100% have a huge box of stuff from Cornwell
Trust me when I tell you I’m just like Fopeano, MDK22 and have plenty of Sears and harbor freight stuff in my box.
I knew this guy named Mark. His tools looked like they came from WWII. Seriously. But that man could out wrench a Nascar pit crew. I am not ashamed to admit I idolized him. He always had the right tool for the job, but his stuff looked so beat up man it was funny. But he had 0 come backs, was handed literally things our field service tech couldn’t figure out
Snapon does a lot of stuff for racing also I believe. So maybe techs feels like they are “real” techs if they have snap on. LIke the guys I used to box with felt like they were “real” boxers if they had fairtex. Even though they couldn’t box oranges at a sunkist plant.
I too have known some older techs who use whatever worx. Made livings, put kids through college, all of that with junk tools. Way it should be. However here is where Snap-on eliteism comes from. Google the tool list from Snap-on for the some of the technical training programs, outrageous amount of stuff but students are required to finance this stuff or whatever to get in the program. Of course an old geezer like myself who never went to a trade school wasn’t in that game is not involved in that stuff, but as mentioned, young dealership techs get in that toolbox war stuff, when it reality it has very little relevance in the long run. I love my Snap-on stuff, but thats just due to the quality of the product. Dual 80 ratchets, well they are simply beyond comparison. Think about this, I have been wrenching on stuff since the 70s and for decades I made whatever junk tools work, built cars from the ground up with those tools, done lots of things, but if I were to magically get job at a dealership and compete in the toolbox war with young techs, they would laugh at those same tools that have gone to hell and back with me,
[quote=”Fmxvxx” post=128918]I have no interest in what make a tool is if it does the job and it does it well then I’m not sure why it matters I buy snap on I like snap on Dual 80 ratchets picks sockets etc they’re great but buying extra long torx bits or stubby torx semi deep sockets etc it’s just makes no sense to me to buy snap on If I dont use the tool on a weekly basis chances are it’s not snap on.
Love to try mac cornwell etc but Over the pond are choices are a little more limited we have a mac guy but he doesn’t visit my shop So it’s either Snap or try and source it online And seeing as mac dont sell online here they really dont make it easy to buy from them.[/quote]
Ya for some reason MAC only does USA/Canada online.@Everyone else: The thing is, I see Snap-On trucks everywhere! MAC trucks are far and few in between. I haven’t worked anywhere where there is a MAC truck that comes to the shop. I am forced to buy MAC online for this reason. For some reason, whatever the reason, MAC trucks have been pushed out by Snap-On. I doubt it’s due to a better product. In the 90s and before, MAC trucks were more commonplace. Having SK and Cornwell come around is great but they don’t come around as often as SO. It’s almost to the point where SO has a monopoly of shops. Service from MAC and SK are better, so why is Snap-On so prominent? It leads me to theorize it is the elitism that keeps it going so strongly.
seems to be the case here Most of the half decent stuff cant be found online so you’re stuck going through trade catalogues and direct ordering the SO man comes right to your door and you can actually see the products before you buy I Think the other tool trucks would make money but they need to actually show up I’d buy from Mac if I was able to but without a dealer in the area and no option online I can Pay them so they send me a catalogue -_- or I can Scroll through a tedious 500 page pdf looking for what i want then call them up on my lunch hour as that’s the only time i’m free to make calls then wait 1-2 weeks for my product to arrive, way to much hassle.
The reason Snap-on pushed Mac out is because the prices are not that much different. So if it comes down to that, wouldn’t you rather have tools that your shop foreman isn’t going to throw in the trash. (as you know, that happend to me) I have seen some Mac tools that made my mouth water they were so nice, but I would worry about the wrath of the Snap-on fanboys. Cornwell is nice stuff far as I know, and its American made, the problem is that their network is smaller. My other problem is that I like Red tools better than blue, and I really have a personal problem with Corn in the name. Sure, Corn is great for dinner, but for tools, no thanks. Notice nobody talks about Matco. Its nice stuff and I have a few of their things. The Matco Air hammer I have that’s a rebadged IR makes a Snap-on look like a toy. Why wouldn’t I buy an IR instead ? I like the Eagle logo on the tool Ir doesn’t have that. Plus being off a truck I know it carries more toolbox Cache, than say a Chicago Pneumonia, which as tough as they are are boring and don’t have any image, no eagles, no calendars, nothing.
[quote=”andrewbutton442″ post=129120]The reason Snap-on pushed Mac out is because the prices are not that much different. So if it comes down to that, wouldn’t you rather have tools that your shop foreman isn’t going to throw in the trash. (as you know, that happend to me) I have seen some Mac tools that made my mouth water they were so nice, but I would worry about the wrath of the Snap-on fanboys. Cornwell is nice stuff far as I know, and its American made, the problem is that their network is smaller. My other problem is that I like Red tools better than blue, and I really have a personal problem with Corn in the name. Sure, Corn is great for dinner, but for tools, no thanks. Notice nobody talks about Matco. Its nice stuff and I have a few of their things. The Matco Air hammer I have that’s a rebadged IR makes a Snap-on look like a toy. Why wouldn’t I buy an IR instead ? I like the Eagle logo on the tool Ir doesn’t have that. Plus being off a truck I know it carries more toolbox Cache, than say a Chicago Pneumonia, which as tough as they are are boring and don’t have any image, no eagles, no calendars, nothing.[/quote] Exactly my point…elitism. Ingersoll Rand is far superior to any SO impact. You made me crack up bad on the “Corn” thing though lol.
I don’t think every IR tool is better than every Snap-on. Depends I have an MG325 3/8 impact that is so nice it brings tears to my eyes. I have the Black metallic commemorative edition (not gonna throw that on the floor,), the mufflers been taken out, its wonderful to use, like pneumatic heaven. nobody makes a nicer impact gun than the MG series, nobody. Its like the SO dual 80 ratchet, there is nothing even to compare it with. I actually like truck tools, all the 4 brands, and I like Harbor Freight for the prices. What makes no sense to me is expensive china made tools from Sears sold two aisles down from the sweaters and lawnmowers. For China tools Harbor Freight makes more sense, at least they only sell tools and not other household items. Craftsman was good back in the day, but its an embarrasment to all humanity now. I think its like tool pollution, and their boxes, expensive, and for what ?. Harbor Freight boxes are nicer than Craftsman, and cheaper tool. Us General is not all that bad. I don’t have one (I have a wall cabinet, not terrible.), but wouldn’t mind if I did.
[quote=”Fmxvxx” post=129119]seems to be the case here Most of the half decent stuff cant be found online so you’re stuck going through trade catalogues and direct ordering the SO man comes right to your door and you can actually see the products before you buy I Think the other tool trucks would make money but they need to actually show up I’d buy from Mac if I was able to but without a dealer in the area and no option online I can Pay them so they send me a catalogue -_- or I can Scroll through a tedious 500 page pdf looking for what i want then call them up on my lunch hour as that’s the only time i’m free to make calls then wait 1-2 weeks for my product to arrive, way to much hassle.[/quote] Ya, not having options or limited options must be rough. See, the problem with limited options or only one option is that they can raise prices to crazy heights. There is a reason monopolies are illegal…one company sets the prices. So let’s use your across the pond example. I’m sure you already pay inflated prices due to where you live, now let’s take into account that your only option is SO for a top tier brand(unless the UK has a brand I don’t know about). This allows SO to almost rob you of your money. Since SO here has become more prominent in more recent years pushing the MAC trucks out, the prices have gone up for SO stuff. This is one of the reasons the elitism is a bad thing. MAC, Matco, and Cornwell are just as good if not better than SO yet because of elitism, SO thrives while the others get pushed aside.
[quote=”andrewbutton442″ post=129126]I don’t think every IR tool is better than every Snap-on. Depends I have an MG325 3/8 impact that is so nice it brings tears to my eyes. I have the Black metallic commemorative edition (not gonna throw that on the floor,), the mufflers been taken out, its wonderful to use, like pneumatic heaven. nobody makes a nicer impact gun than the MG series, nobody. Its like the SO dual 80 ratchet, there is nothing even to compare it with. I actually like truck tools, all the 4 brands, and I like Harbor Freight for the prices. What makes no sense to me is expensive china made tools from Sears sold two aisles down from the sweaters and lawnmowers. For China tools Harbor Freight makes more sense, at least they only sell tools and not other household items. Craftsman was good back in the day, but its an embarrasment to all humanity now. I think its like tool pollution, and their boxes, expensive, and for what ?. Harbor Freight boxes are nicer than Craftsman, and cheaper tool. Us General is not all that bad. I don’t have one (I have a wall cabinet, not terrible.), but wouldn’t mind if I did.[/quote] No disrespect, but why does appearance matter so much? Performance will always triumph appearance in my book. I’ll admit the MG series is nice, but IR has been around far longer than SO and when my dad worked in pneumatics and industrial, he used IR quite a bit. Anything air powered is best done by IR. Heh I almost sound like an IR elitist when it comes to air tools…dang. The way I view it though, you wouldn’t have your brain operated on by a plastic surgeon would you? IR specializes in pneumatics. When there is a specialist, I always go with the specialist.
[quote=”Chevyman21″ post=129127][quote=”Fmxvxx” post=129119]seems to be the case here Most of the half decent stuff cant be found online so you’re stuck going through trade catalogues and direct ordering the SO man comes right to your door and you can actually see the products before you buy I Think the other tool trucks would make money but they need to actually show up I’d buy from Mac if I was able to but without a dealer in the area and no option online I can Pay them so they send me a catalogue -_- or I can Scroll through a tedious 500 page pdf looking for what i want then call them up on my lunch hour as that’s the only time i’m free to make calls then wait 1-2 weeks for my product to arrive, way to much hassle.[/quote] Ya, not having options or limited options must be rough. See, the problem with limited options or only one option is that they can raise prices to crazy heights. There is a reason monopolies are illegal…one company sets the prices. So let’s use your across the pond example. I’m sure you already pay inflated prices due to where you live, now let’s take into account that your only option is SO for a top tier brand(unless the UK has a brand I don’t know about). This allows SO to almost rob you of your money. Since SO here has become more prominent in more recent years pushing the MAC trucks out, the prices have gone up for SO stuff. This is one of the reasons the elitism is a bad thing. MAC, Matco, and Cornwell are just as good if not better than SO yet because of elitism, SO thrives while the others get pushed aside.[/quote
The prices of things not on special can get stupid on average It’s about 40% more direct from snap on but Tool trucks have there own mark ups on tools and they can put upto 30% mark up on items if they wish.
Unfortunately it’s this way with all tools coming from the US here IR 2235 is $560 from most uk stores Can import it from the US myself even after paying import taxes etc still works out a chunk cheaper Just issues with Warranty then.
But Yeah I’d love to see some more choice around here, I’d think a tool truck offering some decent tools at some more reasonable prices could do very well.
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