Anyone had dealings with Mac tools?

[PhillipM]

Doesn’t change the fact if he’s out of area.
Self employed doesn’t mean you’re everyone’s Bitch and should run around ruining your day on off chance jobs
I brt you wouldn’t

You'd lose that bet, I've been doing that **** for years, including overnight runs for emergency jobs.

 

[m_c]

You'd lose that bet, I've been doing that **** for years, including overnight runs for emergency jobs.

But I'm guessing you'll be getting suitably paid for those overnight runs, and not just doing it in the hope you might sell something

 

[Trevorleach]

Halfords

 

[PhillipM]

But I'm guessing you'll be getting suitably paid for those overnight runs, and not just doing it in the hope you might sell something

No, they're often a run out to see if I can pick up another customer even if it's only selling them something that makes me nothing to start with.

 

[roblane65]

Got a few bits of Mac and snap on , inc a set of old mac knuckle saver spanners ( long ones ) mostly s/h but some bits new , overall I prefer the mac stuff .

 

[MetalMonkey]

Mac is a Stanley Black & Decker subsidiary, so there is crossover with sister brands such as Facom.
If you aren't getting the benefit of the man with the van coming to you then I'm not sure what advantage you would get buying Mac with that extra tool truck tax over just getting the equivalent item cheaper on-line.

 

[James1979]

You can buy strap on from their HQ now online which is naughty I think as it shafts the van men. Good to see their business model of bending folk over still applies to their own

Wonder if you can buy direct from Mac in the same way?

 

[Trevorleach]

You can buy strap on from their HQ now online which is naughty I think as it shafts the van men. Good to see their business model of bending folk over still applies to their own

Wonder if you can buy direct from Mac in the same way?

Prices on their site are silly, and anyone buying at them prices has to be mad!

 

[James1979]

Prices on their site are silly, and anyone buying at them prices has to be mad!

Last time I looked it was a bit more than van price but there a lot of specials. That was a good few months back kind.

 

[PhillipM]

You can buy strap on from their HQ now online which is naughty I think as it shafts the van men. Good to see their business model of bending folk over still applies to their own

Wonder if you can buy direct from Mac in the same way?

You always could they just didn't advertise it as much, the spanners and stuff we have are straight from HQ shipping, saved travelling for a van and cheaper.

 

[Trevorleach]

Last time I looked it was a bit more than van price but there a lot of specials. That was a good few months back kind.

To be honest I did not realise they did specials on the snap on website I will have to have a look

 

[stuvy]

To be honest I did not realise they did specials on the snap on website I will have to have a look

This is going to be a costly mistake for all of us

 

[Trevorleach]

This is going to be a costly mistake for all of us

Sadly for them I am at that age where I have all the tools I need.
Still need to buy stuff but most is one off kit, so ebay cheapies it is.

 

[armalites]

You can buy strap on from their HQ now online which is naughty I think as it shafts the van men. Good to see their business model of bending folk over still applies to their own

Wonder if you can buy direct from Mac in the same way?

You have been able to buy direct from the Snap On website for a long time, the service is very good if you need something quickly as you can get it next day. You won't get the discounted prices that show on the flyers though. I have always found the customer service team to be very good, they will send you parts break downs and tell you availability of parts and arrival times of stuff on back order.

Buying online doesn't shaft the franchisees though as the rep who looks after the postcode the item goes to(probably the billing address) still gets commission on the sale. I remember chatting to the Swindon rep and he had a customer who got the **** and said he would buy online, he had no idea the rep still got the commission and actually did better out of it because the chap paid full price.

They do get a slating but there are very few places these days where you can order an OEM part for something 25+ years old.

 

[armalites]

To be honest I did not realise they did specials on the snap on website I will have to have a look

They list new flyers every couple of weeks, the deals are only available on the van but you can view the flyers online. Sometimes there are really good deals where you buy something and get something free. You do need to do your research because the fact something is one the flyer does not mean it's on special.

It all depends on what you are after, with some things the prices are so high to start with even a discount doesn't make it any more exciting but when they do deals like "Buy the semi deep sockets and get the shallows free" then it can be worthwhile. Obviously if you are expecting to buy and a set of sockets for £40 then you'll be disappointed as although technically you may be getting the sockets half price it may still be £150.

If you check the flyers regularly every now and then something stands out as a real bargain, if you spot them then you need to get the dealer to hold one for you as they are always the ones that sell out quickly.

If you aren't used to buying Snap On stuff then even the stuff on the flyers may still look massively expensive.

Generally I only buy stuff when it's on a deal.

 

[James1979]

To be honest I did not realise they did specials on the snap on website I will have to have a look

The specials they have had online when I’ve looked in the past aren’t that special but it’s more the online convinence of it.

May have been some one on here that told me but you can do returns online as well which is handy if you don’t have a van anymore. I suppose you always could, they don’t really advertise it.

Glad the money goes to the franchisee. That makes it a bit better.

Edit. Just looked and there’s no hint of a deal online. That said the prices aren’t bad for snap on stuff.

 

[doobin]

Snap-On and Mac are overpriced rubbish IMHO, especially the powertools. Ten years behind something like Milwaukee and just trading on the name.

 

[Keithmac]

I've had some of my Snap-on tools in daily use for 25 years or more, honestly can't recall last time I had to return anything.

I'm a big Milwaukee fan and own quite a few but they are in for a bit of a rough time with their redesigned M18 HI Torque impact guns, they are failing left/ right and centre.

My old Snap-on 18v 1/2 inch and 14v 3/4 inch are still in use at 20 years old, can't say fairer than that.

 

[Trevorleach]

I've had some of my Snap-on tools in daily use for 25 years or more, honestly can't recall last time I had to return anything.

I'm a big Milwaukee fan and own quite a few but they are in for a bit of a rough time with their redesigned M18 HI Torque impact guns, they are failing left/ right and centre.

My old Snap-on 18v 1/2 inch and 14v 3/4 inch are still in use at 20 years old, can't say fairer than that.

35 years here, dont break much even though I am pretty rough on my tools, but they do wear out, especially spanners being used to hold the other side of the bolt being gunned up.
MG725 1/2 air guns need a rebuild every decade or so, MG1250 ones are good for about 5 years, have two of each so all things are covered.
The other guys have quite a few snap on cordless between them, and they are always being repaired, all my milwaukee are still going strong so far!

 

[PhillipM]

Snap-On and Mac are overpriced rubbish IMHO, especially the powertools. Ten years behind something like Milwaukee and just trading on the name.

yeah, the old snap on electric impacts, drills, welders are all rebadged scrap tbfh. The newer ones are sorta okay but nothing special. I'd take Makita, etc, over them any day.