Is the hype/price over tool-truck brands justified?

[julianf]

I was cursing that I'd lost my 13mm the other day. Was looking all over for it for some time.

When I finally found it, I took a snap for my friend who had had to suffer my moaning when we were working -

It's shameful but I also believe that you mislay more expensive tools less frequently.


(that's a Georde ratchet, and there's some draper in there that I've had for 30 years also, but the sockets and box are snapon)

 

[Olderisbetter]

Most of my stuff is old british with a sprinkle of snap on left overs, but if I had the budget for snap on I would happily start a collection

 

[Dozzer]

Good percentage of my tool kit is either snap-on (blue point) or Mac, with a large smattering of Stanley, King dick & Snail for the larger spanners and some Facom the odd SKF specialist tool.
When i started my City & Guilds apprenticeship, (1982) there was not the wide variety of choice there is now. even Sealey and Draper made good tools. not quite as sexy, but reliable.
Nowadays i make do with Halford's pro. Knipex and Bahco. would love to find a decent UK supplier of Craftsman tools, they are so spoilt in the US.

To the OP think there is so much more tool choice and even some of the chinesium tools are not bad for the odd job. so yes, the tool trucks overpriced compared to some competitors. but the calenders used to be a treat each year, and they did 2 sorts, one for the office and one for the workshop

 

[hermetic]

Snap-on
Has a global franchise network of more than 4,600 franchisees. In the UK, Snap-on Tools franchise owners earn an average gross salary of £48,000 to £52,000 per year.

• Mac Tools
  Part of Stanley Black & Decker, a global organization that also owns DeWALT, Facom, Britool Expert, and STANLEY.
  
  Franchises where you buy the truck and the stock up front and then try to make a living for as long as you can stand it! You are self employed franchise operator.
  
• 
  
• The cost of a Snap-on Tools franchise in the UK can range from £15,000 to over £500,000, depending on the level of investment. The initial franchise fee is between £8,000 and £16,000, but there are also other costs to consider, including:
  Working capital
  You'll need to have some working capital in addition to the initial franchise fee
  
  Financing
  Snap-on offers in-house financing for the remaining investment, usually in the form of a ten-year interest-bearing loan
  
  
  Ongoing fees
  After opening, you'll need to pay ongoing fees, such as a monthly license fee, computer software and development fees, and web page maintenance fees
  
  
  Mobile store
  You'll need to purchase or lease a mobile store vehicle
  
  
  Snap-on offers support to franchisees, including training, a dedicated franchise developer, and monthly and quarterly franchisee forums. They also offer a £20,000 inventory gift to military veterans.
• 
  
• I hear the lifetime warranty is now only applies if you have the original reciept and are exchanging with the franchisee who sold you the tool"
• Facebook marketplace is full of ex mechanics trying to get silly money for tool van purchases.
• As mentioned earlier in the thread much equipment and many tools are made by outside contractors.
• MAC and Facom being part of the same group with B&D and Stanley says it all really, cornering the market.
• On the rare occasion I break a tool, I chuck it in the tool steel box and buy another, I wonder how many times I would have to repeat this process before I got to spend the same amount of money as buying one from a toolvan!
• Merry Cristmas!!
• Phil
  
  The average Snap-on Tools franchise generates revenues of around £750,000, which is more than double the typical investment cost. However, net profits in this industry are usually between 10% and 20%.

 

[arther dailey]

I was cursing that I'd lost my 13mm the other day. Was looking all over for it for some time.

When I finally found it, I took a snap for my friend who had had to suffer my moaning when we were working -

View attachment 477845


It's shameful but I also believe that you mislay more expensive tools less frequently.


(that's a Georde ratchet, and there's some draper in there that I've had for 30 years also, but the sockets and box are snapon)

I have a draper T bar,3/4", with half inch converter living on it , together with a 18 " galv tube that also virtually lives on it, chromes given way but that has had more abuse than most and still straight as a die, I have broken many previous 1/2" t bars , bent one and smashed knuckes on the long Spring bars, long and short nothing wrong with any brand that Can and does take full punishment.

 

[Robbie260]

Snap-on
Has a global franchise network of more than 4,600 franchisees. In the UK, Snap-on Tools franchise owners earn an average gross salary of £48,000 to £52,000 per year.

• 
  
• Mac Tools
  Part of Stanley Black & Decker, a global organization that also owns DeWALT, Facom, Britool Expert, and STANLEY.
  
  Franchises where you buy the truck and the stock up front and then try to make a living for as long as you can stand it! You are self employed franchise operator.
• 
  
• The cost of a Snap-on Tools franchise in the UK can range from £15,000 to over £500,000, depending on the level of investment. The initial franchise fee is between £8,000 and £16,000, but there are also other costs to consider, including:
  Working capital
  You'll need to have some working capital in addition to the initial franchise fee
  
  Financing
  Snap-on offers in-house financing for the remaining investment, usually in the form of a ten-year interest-bearing loan
  
  
  Ongoing fees
  After opening, you'll need to pay ongoing fees, such as a monthly license fee, computer software and development fees, and web page maintenance fees
  
  
  Mobile store
  You'll need to purchase or lease a mobile store vehicle
  
  
  Snap-on offers support to franchisees, including training, a dedicated franchise developer, and monthly and quarterly franchisee forums. They also offer a £20,000 inventory gift to military veterans.
• 
  
• I hear the lifetime warranty is now only applies if you have the original reciept and are exchanging with the franchisee who sold you the tool"
• Facebook marketplace is full of ex mechanics trying to get silly money for tool van purchases.
• As mentioned earlier in the thread much equipment and many tools are made by outside contractors.
• MAC and Facom being part of the same group with B&D and Stanley says it all really, cornering the market.
• On the rare occasion I break a tool, I chuck it in the tool steel box and buy another, I wonder how many times I would have to repeat this process before I got to spend the same amount of money as buying one from a toolvan!
• Merry Cristmas!!
• Phil
  
  The average Snap-on Tools franchise generates revenues of around £750,000, which is more than double the typical investment cost. However, net profits in this industry are usually between 10% and 20%.

Yes that’s a thing buy the big deal kits super cheap with 2, 3 or 4 sets of tools in them for peanuts then flog them on eBay broken down for close to what the website price is with only a minor discount still get good money for them. Sold Snapon tools on eBay used for more than what I have payed for them new occasionally. You can as much as quadruple your investment quite easily sometimes.

Part of the reason again I buy them is if I ever went travelling and did mechanical work as I went I should be able to find a Snapon dealer somewhere to exchange stuff for me they usually don’t follow that rule if you buy something else from them.

 

[northwest]

Well, I have found what I think is the ultimate decadence:

nepros 3/8"sq. URUSHI Ratchet Handle (源氏軁EGENJI-GURUMA)

The wheels of the oxcart were made of wood, which could dry out and crack or split if not used for several days. Therefore, the wheels were removed and soaked in the river. This scene from those days is patterned in what is also known as the "katakuruma pattern". It is a metaphor for life itself...

neprostools.com

Makes spanners for the space station look cheap. On a more down_to_earth note, Facom side cutters are the best, in my opinion anyway.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

Well, I have found what I think is the ultimate decadence:

nepros 3/8"sq. URUSHI Ratchet Handle (源氏軁EGENJI-GURUMA)

The wheels of the oxcart were made of wood, which could dry out and crack or split if not used for several days. Therefore, the wheels were removed and soaked in the river. This scene from those days is patterned in what is also known as the "katakuruma pattern". It is a metaphor for life itself...

neprostools.com

Makes spanners for the space station look cheap. On a more down_to_earth note, Facom side cutters are the best, in my opinion anyway.

You mean you don't have all your tools inlaid with gold filigree and mother of pearl?

 

[northwest]

You mean you don't have all your tools inlaid with gold filigree and mother of pearl?

I am just off to the shed to start now!

 

[cheb]

I don't have any 3/8" drive socketry, I'll have to buy the boxed set.

 

[arther dailey]

Well, I have found what I think is the ultimate decadence:

nepros 3/8"sq. URUSHI Ratchet Handle (源氏軁EGENJI-GURUMA)

The wheels of the oxcart were made of wood, which could dry out and crack or split if not used for several days. Therefore, the wheels were removed and soaked in the river. This scene from those days is patterned in what is also known as the "katakuruma pattern". It is a metaphor for life itself...

neprostools.com

Makes spanners for the space station look cheap. On a more down_to_earth note, Facom side cutters are the best, in my opinion anyway.

and some one who is nt driving with the full load will buy that ..

 

[Keithmac]

The majority of my tools are Snap-on, very good quality and nice to use.

When you're using them 5+ days a week might as well get some enjoyment out of it!.

Their ratchets are 2nd to none as well (for my usage anyway), Techangle torque wrench is a great bit of kit too.

I don't mind paying for quality, and you get that with Snap-on.

Saying that, I have gone over to Milwaukee for all my battery power tools, still a very high quality tool and half the price of equivalent Snap-on kit.

I see it banded around all the time that if you own Snap-on you're a bit of a "fan boy" etc.

I can't get my head around that personally. If someone is paying premium price for a premium tool then what difference does that make to anyone else?.

A lot of my tools are knocking on 30 years old now and still good as new.

I have a lot of Snap-on at home too so must be a double fan boy lol...

 

[angellonewolf]

i think the op ask is are they worth it

this would depend on a few things as far as i can see

what you use them for if your every day job and the job allows/covers the cost of your tools its your choise

it would be a bit of a boring world if we all wanted the same stuff lets face it there would be no expensive cars if all you need is some thing to get you to a to b we would all be driving round in ford fistias or what ever cheap cars are about these days

same as snap on lets face it they are the royles royce of mechanic tools if you dont use it for your every day work and you got the money well if thats the way youed want to spend your moneys thats up to you

i use maintance tools for every day use but only use dewalt and makita possably not the best but do what they say on the tin so i see it as i dont need to spend any more

ive just recived as a xmas pressent a eastwing roofing hammer its a very nice tool but im not sure its going in my day in and day out tool kit as i use a hammer to dismantle stud walls knock apart this and that about my tools now and again get wet as if i need to repair somethiong i dont have the opition of waiting untill good weather i was on a roof only the last week helping finshing off a new tiled roof putting on dry roof system any had 3 more tiles to go it started raing and then hail but stayed up there and finshed the job then had a coffee to warm up

if was me ive sold most of my limited snap on stuff as i can use the extra money to buy the same tools in lower makes that do the same job and have extra money in my pocket to buy other stuff if thats other tools or a day out but thats my choise

 

[roofman]

nepros Tools

THE WORLD’S FINEST TACTILE TOOLS, created by generations of master craftsmen drawing upon generations of traditional skills and techniques.

neprostools.com

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

I am just off to the shed to start now!

I would have thought gold damascene to be more your scene tbh.

 

[northwest]

I see it banded around all the time that if you own Snap-on you're a bit of a "fan boy" etc.

I can't get my head around that personally. If someone is paying premium price for a premium tool then what difference does that make to anyone else?.

I can't understand it either and I just crack on the way I have always done. If I like it and I want it AND can afford it, then I am buying it. As has been mentioned Snap-On are nice to use. Except their new design screwdrivers, bloody awful. Much prefer their traditional hard handled drivers.

I would have thought gold damascene to be more your scene tbh.

Now who wouldn't buy one if they had the sort of money they demand? We all would. I wouldn't hesitate, nor would I find it necessary to tell anyone either. If for no other reason that I do most things for me, not for everyone else.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

Now who wouldn't buy one if they had the sort of money they demand? We all would. I wouldn't hesitate, nor would I find it necessary to tell anyone either. If for no other reason that I do most things for me, not for everyone else.

If I had the skills to do that kind of decorative work, I would happily adorn my various tools with that level of decoration.

I think that NEpros ratchet is a work of art, I wouldn't use one in the workshop, but I'd happily own one in the same ways I have paintings or carvings.

 

[8ob]

The majority of my tools are Snap-on, very good quality and nice to use.

I have got a fair bit of Snapon gear and have always had good service/backup from the man in a van. Its a lot less grief than sending something back or having to go into town. Some of my ratchets have had three or four changes of internal parts foc over the last forty years, that makes them the cheapest ratchets on the market.

Bob