Snap-on.. its been two weeks

pfarber

pfarber

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pfarber
Snap-on ratcheting screwdriver broke. Since I work at the worlds busiest airport with about 1000 AMTs employed there you think I would be tripping over Snap-On, MAC, and every other tool truck.

NOPE.

Two weeks no truck. Now I'm reduced to hunting one down by asking random shops if/when their Snap-on guy rolls in.

This is warranty service?

Yes I emailed Snap On support for a local franchise... that's a two day wait. Seriously. Who is raving about Snap On warranty?
 
Honestly, NEVER found ANY “warranty” worth a crap.

Harris torches, snap-on, MAC, Craftsman comes close…, ACE-CFI, there are others.

Honda once fixed something for me NOT ON WARRANTY and I didn’t even ask. That impressed me.

Well… to be fair Harbor Freight hasn’t ticked me off yet, but haven’t used it much.
 
I told the snap on guy to never come back to the property after he refused a warranty claim on a rathet.
 
Tools said:
Honestly, NEVER found ANY “warranty” worth a crap.

Harris torches, snap-on, MAC, Craftsman comes close
Click to expand...
Lowes return desk, me: "Hey, this decades old Craftsman ratchet broke."
Cashier: "OK, go pick out your replacement. Tool aisle is that way."

A few minutes later...
Cashier: <tap tap tap, scan, beep> "There you go. Have a nice day."

Tools said:
Well… to be fair Harbor Freight hasn’t ticked me off yet, but haven’t used it much.
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Me: "Breaker bar broke."
Cashier: "How old is it? Also, give me your phone number."

...so slightly less seamless than Craftsman. And I had to wait in line twice. Lowes, there was no line. The breaker bar was only a couple months old, too.
 
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pfarber said:
Snap-on ratcheting screwdriver broke. Since I work at the worlds busiest airport with about 1000 AMTs employed there you think I would be tripping over Snap-On, MAC, and every other tool truck.

NOPE.

Two weeks no truck. Now I'm reduced to hunting one down by asking random shops if/when their Snap-on guy rolls in.

This is warranty service?

Yes I emailed Snap On support for a local franchise... that's a two day wait. Seriously. Who is raving about Snap On warranty?
Click to expand...
You work in a shop with 1000 professional techs and you don't have the number for your local Snap-On guy? Someone has really dropped the ball there. Frankly I'm surprised there's not a truck at ATL every day of the week.
 
Tools said:
Well… to be fair Harbor Freight hasn’t ticked me off yet, but haven’t used it much.
Click to expand...

asicer said:
Me: "Breaker bar broke."
Cashier: "How old is it? Also, give me your phone number."
Click to expand...

Me: "This torque wrench broke." (Handing it to cashier.)
HF Cashier: "Sorry you had a problem. Go grab a new one, aisle 8."
Me: "Thanks!"

Much the way Sears was 30 years ago (except Sears wouldn't warranty a torque wrench as it wasn't a "hand tool"). When I took a broken Craftsman ratchet back to Lowe's a couple of years ago, they gave me a replacement but I had to show ID and give them some info.
 
pfarber said:
Snap-on ratcheting screwdriver broke. Since I work at the worlds busiest airport with about 1000 AMTs employed there you think I would be tripping over Snap-On, MAC, and every other tool truck.

NOPE.

Two weeks no truck. Now I'm reduced to hunting one down by asking random shops if/when their Snap-on guy rolls in.

This is warranty service?

Yes I emailed Snap On support for a local franchise... that's a two day wait. Seriously. Who is raving about Snap On warranty?
Click to expand...


You're going to learn to like your local Harbor Freight. Get one of their ball caps so you can wear it if the SnapOn truck ever shows up.
 
I always had the phone number of my local snap-on guy. Any problems just a phone call got it sorted.
 
pfarber said:
Seriously. Who is raving about Snap On warranty?
Click to expand...
About 40-42 years ago I bought a Snap On screw driver set. A couple years ago a flat and a phillips were just worn out. I saw a Snap On truck, so I pulled in. I asked if he could could replace the blades. He looked at them, then threw them into his worn out tool bucket and handed me two brand new screw drivers.

I tried to argue that they have aged out, but he said no, we're good.

Who am I to argue.??
 
asicer said:
Me: "Breaker bar broke."
Cashier: "How old is it? Also, give me your phone number."
Click to expand...
Half Fast said:
Me: "This torque wrench broke." (Handing it to cashier.)
HF Cashier: "Sorry you had a problem. Go grab a new one, aisle 8."
Me: "Thanks!"
Click to expand...
It could be she asked the age because she might have been thinking "how do you bust a fresh-looking 1/2" breaker bar?" Also, I gave my friend's phone number. :)
 
asicer said:
Lowes return desk, me: "Hey, this decades old Craftsman ratchet broke."
Cashier: "OK, go pick out your replacement. Tool aisle is that way."

A few minutes later...
Cashier: <tap tap tap, scan, beep> "There you go. Have a nice day."


Me: "Breaker bar broke."
Cashier: "How old is it? Also, give me your phone number."

...so slightly less seamless than Craftsman. And I had to wait in line twice. Lowes, there was no line. The breaker bar was only a couple months old, too.
Click to expand...
the garbage Lowes sells may be branded Craftsman but it has lost the quality of the original. Also cs reps don't care... its not thier money.

HF is valid. I've never had a return issue on tools but also thier selection is so narrow that i simply don't buy much there.
 
pfarber said:
I need a X becusee mine broke. So my replacement is only a phone call and a fews days wait away? For the cost of snap on?
Click to expand...

Maybe the Snap-on guy should park his truck in your employers parking lot and remain there just in case you need warranty service. :rolleyes:
 
Harbor Freight...some good, some bad.

Bought a set of magnetic trailer lights, one fixture was wired to turn on the bright for marker, and the dim for brake and turn signal.

I took it back to the store, they gave me a new set, and put the return back on the shelf (I had carefully repackaged them).
 
in high school I landed a job in a motorcycle repair shop... I had no $ and was paid as a helper than a mechanic.... I was given bigger jobs to do but only had a cheap kmart tool set and was borrowed tools from other techs when needed but that wore thin. most of these guys had their own brand name chest full of matching tools and even wore hats with the logo....I thought these guys were the real pros.

every week the snap on and a mac truck stoped in, rarely replacing anything but pitching a new tool or gaget. but always collecting payments on fridays

the driver said he understand the guys are not loaning me anymore tools. ., let me show you what I can set u up with , and no money due now and u just pay me a little each paycheck.....

I was 15-16 and that sounded great. he lead me into the hallow rolling showroom and showed me all I could get today as a starter kit. not going to lie, I was in hook line and sinker ....until one of the older tech pulled me aside telling me these guys are like drug dealers. they will give you the first one seemingly free but will be back every pay day to give you more and ask for what you owe before you spend your pay.

he said this stuff is overpriced simply because the "free financing" is built in. go to sears on holiday sales for craftsman or jc penny....same warranty and you won't notice the difference. which I did. I do have accumulated snap on and some Cornwell from over the years and I had same experience last year not getting truck to come out for replacement.

HF is close to hanger and started using some of their better lines and find them to be just as good.... haven't broke any yet, so I'm not sure how great their exchange policy is. but for the price it's cheaper enough just to replace as needed.

I know a number of guys still paying off all their snap-on and other brand tools after years. I'm glad I did not find myself in that predicament. if snap-on won't even come out to replace a tool, it might be time to move on, but I get having everything snap on.
 
My dad gave me a craftsman 400 piece toolset for high school graduation in 1982. Still using it!

CVG2YMj.jpeg
 
pfarber said:
the garbage Lowes sells may be branded Craftsman but it has lost the quality of the original.
Click to expand...
Oh, I dunno. The polished fine-toothed ratchet I picked out sure looks and feels nicer than the one I turned in (she said to pick out a replacement, she didn't say whether any were off limits).
 
I had a 40 year old Craftsman (from the Sears era) fail. I hit the website and they sent me a new one. Didn't have to do anything. I suppose I could have brought the broken one to Lowes and got a second, but I'm not that kind of guy.

Lowes gives a lot of discretion to the local store managers (though I kept missing the guy). DeWalt was having a promotion if you bought a set of cordless tools, they'd throw in an additional tool if you sent in your receipts, etc... Did so. They told me the promotion had expired. Went back to the store and they still had the sign up. Complained to both Lowes and DeWalt and Lowes corporate sent me to the local store manager and DeWalt told me to pound sand.

Go to the store and gave my story. He says which tool did I want. I told him the Jigsaw. He didn't have any. I noted he had the vacuum cleaners (one of the other options) and I said I'd take that. He just handed it to me and told me to have a nice day. A month later I get a post card form Young America (DeWalts rebate processor) telling me my tool was on backorder. WTF? Sure enough a month later a Jigsaw showed up. Good thing they were out of stock at the local store.
 
Doc Holliday said:
Maybe the Snap-on guy should park his truck in your employers parking lot and remain there just in case you need warranty service. :rolleyes:
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Yes, EXACTLY.

Well there are, every night, at least a few hundred AMTs working... so yeah, maths would say that:

1. we need tools
2. we need broke tools fixed

Lets add in the AMTs at AA, United, UPS, FedEx, Southwest, Alaska, Endeavor, SkyWest and GSE, airport mechanics, vendors and support staff.

You must not know how to business if you think that putting a truck when the AMTs are working (aka nights) is not a good decision.

Oh, wait, you don't know how to business... nevermind.
 
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asicer said:
Oh, I dunno. The polished fine-toothed ratchet I picked out sure looks and feels nicer than the one I turned in (she said to pick out a replacement, she didn't say whether any were off limits).
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The wrenches are the biggest issue. They changed the metal (IMO) and now they have giant lobster claws whereas before they were much thinner. Also the tooth count isn't the issue, its the swing required to get the pawl to advance. Project Farm on YT did a few ratchet videos and even 90 tooth ratchets performed poorly simply due to the swing.

I do own some Kobalt stuff (I sold my 300 piece craftsman kit I bought at ERAU in the 80s.... yes I hate myself for that) and its been ok, mostly metric sockets for car work.
 
pfarber said:
Well there are, every night, at least 300 AMTs working... so yeah, maths would say that:

1. we need tools
2. we need broke tools fixed

At ATL there are at least 1000 AMT at Delta alone, not to mention AA, United, UPS, FedEx, Southwest, Alaska, Endeavor, SkyWest and GSE, airport mechanics, vendors and support staff. Oh and don't forget the Cargo facility at the South Ramp and all the contractors.

You must not know how to business if you think that putting a truck when the AMTs are working (aka nights) is not a good decision.

Oh, wait, you don't know how to business... nevermind.
Click to expand...

I know how to use a phone and I always had the number of the Snap On guy. Typically a phone call and everything was solved.

But glad to see you have a new business opportunity. Give Snap On a call and tell them you want the Atlanta Hartsfield area and you plan on keeping your truck there active 24/7. ;)
 
Half Fast said:
Selling the tools or attending ERAU?
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ERAU was an excellent experience. Where else can you test run a turbine engine you worked on? I don't know what they are like 30+ years later, but ERAU is still considered a top aviation university.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach is a private institution that was founded in 1926. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach is ranked No. #4 in Regional Universities South. It's also ranked No. #1 in Most Innovative Schools.

The people that seem to dislike ERAU most likely never went there.
 
Doc Holliday said:
I know how to use a phone and I always had the number of the Snap On guy. Typically a phone call and everything was solved.

But glad to see you have a new business opportunity. Give Snap On a call and tell them you want the Atlanta Hartsfield area and you plan on keeping your truck there active 24/7. ;)
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So the worlds best warranty requires a phone call, a scheduled meet up and time out of your day? Do I need a special knock or handshake? Are there SnapOn gang signs I need to throw from across the parking lot before I approach?

Tekton is an email and a photograph and a new tool 2 days later.
HF is walk into any store, at any time, and get a replacement.
Lowes/Craftsman/Kobalt "" ""
Heart/Walmart "" ""

I'm gonna go with the 300+ AMTs I work with every day's opinion over a fanboi who probably doens't even own snap on tools. No, the hats and jackets don't count.

Snap On warranty is a joke, requires to many steps, and is wickedly inconvenient.

FWIW I did email SnapOn and 2 days later got a phone call, I used my work email do they knew I was not a rando and was told there are no franchisees in my area that could help me and my only option was wait for an email and submit proof for warranty service. Well, ok, that's not horrible but the tools I would like to purchase are OOS online (a van most likely has them) but what do you know, the Worlds busiest airport doesn't have a van that shows up at anything close to a reasonable time when I and the other 299+ AMTs are either going to or coming from work.
 
I miss sears and the craftsman professional series wrenches from the 1990’s. Zero question replacement, higher quality metals and heat treating (I assume because they were thinner, fit into tight spaces better, weighed less, had a smoother “feel” and seem stronger than anything modern I’ve found). To be fair to the companies I have heard more than one person over the decades bragging about finding a tool box of old “lifetime warranty” tools at garage sales or thrift shops then slowly intentionally damaging them to get brand new tools for pennies on the dollar. I despise the practice but appreciate how it easily identifies people I absolutely want nothing to do with in my life and would advise against ever doing any business with.
 
I had a couple of Stanley pro series rachets go bad, replaced in 4-5 days with a call. no questions.
 
I get a lot of tools from HF and IMO their more 'premium' lines are filling the void left by Craftsman when their quality went downhill. I'm seeing more and more of that stuff in the toolboxes of professionals as well.

Snap-on is better sure but I don't think the difference is remotely big enough to justify the price premium. If their customer service is really that bad on top of that, man... that company is in trouble.
 
the last time I tried to use the Craftsman warranty back when Sears was still a thing
I had this old double box-end...3/8 and 7/16 if I recall correctly. Dad gave it to me. It's really thin-walled and has a very nice thin offset shape. It was a nice and handy tool but the points had worn out.
Anyway, they were more than willing to swap it out with a box end..... but sadly that was some long-ago discontinued model and the only thing they had was a standard thick-walled clunky thing. I already have some of those so I refused the offer. I kept that thing for years, even though it was unusable.... I really don't know why. Because it's a gift from Dad I suppose. I thought I still had it but I can't put my hands on it now...maybe I finally cleared it out a while back.
 
i got a reply from the Snap On mail in warranty rep. Expect a replacement in 7-10 days.

What a freaking joke. You pay for a warranty and then face the possibility of not being able to complete a job for 10 days because of the mail.

What a freaking joke. Ok fanbois... explain this to me. Tekton has an online form, send in a photo and a new tool in two days.

Snap on is pathetic.
 
pfarber said:
i got a reply from the Snap On mail in warranty rep. Expect a replacement in 7-10 days.

What a freaking joke. You pay for a warranty and then face the possibility of not being able to complete a job for 10 days because of the mail.

What a freaking joke. Ok fanbois... explain this to me. Tekton has an online form, send in a photo and a new tool in two days.

Snap on is pathetic.
Click to expand...

Wow, can't complete a job because you don't have a ratcheting screw driver?

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pfarber said:
The people that seem to dislike ERAU most likely never went there.
Click to expand...
Conversely the only ones that think it's worth the squeeze are the ones who who went there. Their maintenance history on their Arrows leaves me skeptical
 
pfarber said:
i got a reply from the Snap On mail in warranty rep. Expect a replacement in 7-10 days.

What a freaking joke. You pay for a warranty and then face the possibility of not being able to complete a job for 10 days because of the mail.

What a freaking joke. Ok fanbois... explain this to me. Tekton has an online form, send in a photo and a new tool in two days.

Snap on is pathetic.
Click to expand...
What is wrong with you?
Most of us have a local Snap On dealer that is only a phone call away.
Why do you have to bad mouth everything?
 
pfarber said:
Snap on is pathetic.
Click to expand...

You're focusing on a problem but ignoring an opportunity. You wrote:

pfarber said:
Well there are, every night, at least a few hundred AMTs working... so yeah, maths would say that:

1. we need tools
2. we need broke tools fixed
Click to expand...

You've identified a market, so meet it. Buy a van, go to your local HF and fill it up, then be at the airport every night. You'll sell hand over fist at a 2:1 markup and still be waaaay below SO. Do quick & easy warranty swap-outs on the spot and take the busted tools back to the store for replacement. You'll be able to retire in a year.
 
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