As we discussed in a recent thread, I will sometimes splurge on stuff from the Snap On man. I've noticed that he charges me the same prices given on the Snap On website. Is that what real mechanics pay? I'm a small customer and he's a really helpful guy, so I have no intention of dickering with him. His tools and advice are well worth the price for me. I was just wondering whether the pros get a discount.

Snap On prices are in the stratosphere, but they always have been. In the early seventies I bought a good bit of Snap On tools at probably the same prices adjusted for inflation.

The problem I have with Snap On today is the fact that they no longer honor the warranty that they expressed when I bought them almost forty years ago. For this reason I no longer buy Snap On. Of course, since I've had about 50 years to collect tools, I rarely ever buy ANY tools anymore.

The fact remains that they make the best tools money can buy IMHO.

Unless there has been some radical change in their business philosophy beyond decreasing their warranty effectiveness, they will NOT dicker!

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Since I'm not a pro mechanic, I won't waste my money on them. S-K seems to do me fine, as does Great Neck from AutoZone. both offer a good lifetime warranty for much cheaper than Snap-On.

Lemme put it this way...I see no sense in buy custom made Ping clubs when I don't play enough golf to worry about it.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

i used to buy lots of em as he stopped every week and yep the mechanics pay the same price as joe off the street.and their quality has gone down considerably.back in the 80's when i was wrenching they would warrenty wrenches if the chrome was flaking off.well my dad had mostly snap on stuff from the 60's and alot of the wrenches had flaking chrome so i turned em in.what did i get that crap flank drive stuff that either stripped nuts or broke.i still have a few of my dads old wrenches and will be damned if i'm gonna turn them in.i'll grind the chrome off first.

Go over to garage journal and check out the classifieds. A lot better deals there. Surprise your dealer doesnt give you a small break. A walk on customer that isn't a pro is awesome.

I'd like to go on the snappy truck but I may leave poor. I want a dual 80 3/8 ratchet with flex head.

I stick to craftsman. I did pick up a 3/8 and the 1/2 drive composite ratchets from harbor freight. They are built very well 72 tooth gear, incredibly smooth and strong too.

Now I have not purchased Snap On in years (been in management for 10yrs) but all of Snap On Dealers would deal. Now I was a really good consistent customer so that may have been the difference. I would have to say that if your income is dependent on your hand tools Snap On, Mac, or Matco are worth the bucks. Like others on this thread I have 30+ year old tools from all of them and all working fine when I have time to use them.

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Keith Schuster
2006 E350 98K miles
2013 Ford Explorer 15K miles