# How big a ripoff is Snap-On, Mac, etc? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 3, 2011, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-ripoff-is-snap-on-mac-etc/604917 "2011-12-03T02:29:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-ripoff-is-snap-on-mac-etc/604917/21 "2011-12-03T19:11:31Z")
Is it possible for an individual to buy these kinds of tools? If so, how? Or do they only sell to shops? I’d like to get my dad a really good socket set for Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-ripoff-is-snap-on-mac-etc/604917/22 "2011-12-03T19:48:59Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Speaking from experience…when the company shuts down, you’re stuck with thousands of dollars of tools that you’re not using. > > Craftsman’s good enough. Good enough for a weekend warrior. Not good enough for a professional. Disposable cameras are good enough for the table at a wedding, but not for the pro photog. Every profession uses tools that are the best. That is part of what being a professional is: providing the best service. You cannot do that with crappy tools that round bolts, etc. > [@Lucretia](#): > > So, wait…there are tool trucks? Are they like ice cream trucks, that come cruising through your neighborhood? I have a mental image of one slowly driving down a suburban street on a Saturday afternoon, with with all the men running after it, dollar bills clutched in their sweaty little hands… Exactly like that. Before TSS went to law school, he worked in a Caddy dealership service department. The catering truck came by every day at 10:30, noon and 3:00 or thereabouts. The Snap On truck once a week. As the shop boy (and I was a boy back then) I preferred the catering truck. Mechanics own their own tools. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-ripoff-is-snap-on-mac-etc/604917/23 "2011-12-03T19:57:07Z")
> [@Lucretia](#): > > I have a mental image of one slowly driving down a suburban street on a Saturday afternoon, with with all the men running after it, dollar bills clutched in their sweaty little hands… Years ago, Snap-On used to give out as freebies some rather provocative calenders with really lovely gals posing with some pretty shiny equipment. When the word went out that the dealers had gotten that years consignment of calenders, a lot of them got mobbed when they visited their customers. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-ripoff-is-snap-on-mac-etc/604917/24 "2011-12-03T19:58:45Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Is it possible for an individual to buy these kinds of tools? If so, how? Or do they only sell to shops? I’d like to get my dad a really good socket set for Christmas. [http://buy1.snapon.com/customerselfservice/default.aspx](http://buy1.snapon.com/customerselfservice/default.aspx) [http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/giftideas.asp](http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/giftideas.asp) ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-ripoff-is-snap-on-mac-etc/604917/25 "2011-12-03T21:21:03Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.;14526543 Maybe the manufacturer just turns a blind eye to one-off deals. I don’t know. But ISTM there are ways of getting around a discount ban without actually breaking the rulese method of payment.[/QUOTE] There are ways to get around the MAP policy. But you can’t advertise your discount, so you miss out on so many customers that might come to you because of price. The problem is, even if you are crafty and find a way around the MAP, there is a risk of someone discovering what you are doing. My business was cut throat and it wasn’t unusual for another dealer to call you pretending to be a customer asking for your lowest price on x item. If he were to discover you were selling lower than the MAP, he can report you to the manufacturer. Get enough of these and the manufacturer will tell your distributor to cut you off. If you can’t buy product, you find yourself out of business. Very frustrating. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-ripoff-is-snap-on-mac-etc/604917/26 "2011-12-03T21:40:58Z")
> [@MikeG](#): > > It’s more like “Oh crap Snappy’s here, gotta go run and do a test drive so I don’t have to pay my tool bill!” 🙂 > The “truck” brands like Snap On, Matco, Mac, Cornwell have trucks that drive a weekly route. Here’s how it works: I stop at Mike’s Garage every Tuesday around 11am. He knows I’ll be there to show the new tools etc. Say Mike wants to buy a $500 tool. Since I am there every Tuesday at 11, instead of requiring the whole 500 up front, I give him the tool and collect 10-15% each week so it’s paid off in ten weeks or less. 7 weeks is best because it ensures I get the full price collected right about the time I have to pay Snap On for the tools I ordered for the guy. > > In addition, because he knows I will be there each week, if a tool breaks, he will call me and I will have the warranty replacement ready for him when I show up. This saves the mechanics from having to drive around looking for replacement tools. > > You do pay a premium for that service but if you are working full time book rate, it’s well worth it to not have to take off a couple hours to go tool shopping. I’ve worked with the o crap Snap-on is here guys. On the other hand I always paid my bill. The difference was when a tool broke my tool guy would make a special visit if I was in a bind. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-ripoff-is-snap-on-mac-etc/604917/27 "2011-12-04T01:31:53Z")
> [@Lucretia](#): > > So, wait…there are tool trucks? Are they like ice cream trucks, that come cruising through your neighborhood? I have a mental image of one slowly driving down a suburban street on a Saturday afternoon, with with all the men running after it, \*\*HUNDRED \*\*dollar bills clutched in their sweaty little hands… FTFY! ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-ripoff-is-snap-on-mac-etc/604917/28 "2011-12-04T03:47:24Z")
You laugh **ducati** , but one of the best promos I had on the truck were special deals at $99 each. We called them “payment replacers.” The idea is, a guy buys something and makes regular payments, say 40 bucks. a payment replacer will keep the money stream going. And what **Rick** says is true, I had a guy who was a steady $100/week customer. He called me on a Saturday with a crisis; I went to my truck, got the tool he needed, and met him at his customers’ house so he could finish the job. I’m still friends with a bunch of my old customers, good people mostly. out of ~300 customers I had less than 5 who would actively hide or try to screw me over. **filmore** , pm me what you are looking for, I have some tools left over and might have what you need. **Qadgop** , if you have an extra set of std. sockets lying around you don’t need, I am looking for a set of 3/8 std, shallow 6 pts. I’d like an older set to go with the older deeps and ratchet I have. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-ripoff-is-snap-on-mac-etc/604917/29 "2011-12-05T14:50:00Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Years ago, Snap-On used to give out as freebies some rather provocative calenders with really lovely gals posing with some pretty shiny equipment. When the word went out that the dealers had gotten that years consignment of calenders, a lot of them got mobbed when they visited their customers. The Ridgid Tool calendars were (maybe still are?) pretty saucy too. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-ripoff-is-snap-on-mac-etc/604917/30 "2011-12-06T04:56:00Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > Not letting independent businesses set their own prices, > {snip} > I am all for a free market and survival of the fittest. As long as the playing field is level. Everything you mention is about the free market. Free market is **absolutely** about our rights to enter into willing contracts (and having the rule of law to protect the parties entering into contracts). ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2011, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-ripoff-is-snap-on-mac-etc/604917/31 "2011-12-06T06:13:58Z")
Independent Snap On franchisees can sell at any point they want. However, if they sell at less than retail, they will be out of business as their break even point is hard enough to meet at 32%, every discount they offer makes that all the worse. The SO guys have a protected list of calls. That means they have a list of shops that is their “territory” which only they are allowed to sell into. I had a guy who came into my route and wanted to buy a box but hated his Snap On guy. I sold the box, called my business manager and had the sale transferred to the selling dealer. It would have been my job if I had tried to keep the sale. All the blather about free markets and stuff is just academic posturing. This is about making money. You give your product away you will be out of business. You come to me and tell me to give you a “good price”? It’ll be good all right…good for me! ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-ripoff-is-snap-on-mac-etc/604917/32 "2011-12-07T23:09:32Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Is it possible for an individual to buy these kinds of tools? If so, how? Or do they only sell to shops? I’d like to get my dad a really good socket set for Christmas. Surely you or a friend know someone who is a mechanic or tool-user (?) When I was in college, I worked in an industrial park where the guys in the unit at the end of the row did warranty repairs for Ingersoll Rand equipment and the Snap-On guy used to come by once a week. I needed an 18mm spark plug socket; Sears had no idea such a thing existed while the Snap-On guy knew what I needed just from my vague description – but wouldn’t deal with me because I wasn’t a regular customer (and, lets face it, it wasn’t worth the credit check and paperwork to create an account just for a single socket). I gave the money to the guy at the end of the row; he bought an 18mm spark plug socket; everybody was happy. —G “I’m you’re Snap-On Man Stop me when I pass you by…” –[Yeah, so that’s ripped off, I know.] ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-ripoff-is-snap-on-mac-etc/604917/33 "2011-12-08T03:41:11Z")
I’ve never met a tool guy that wouldn’t do a cash deal for a walk up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-a-ripoff-is-snap-on-mac-etc/604917.md?page=1)