He loses’s nothing by buying them and reselling them to people who may not might have access to the drive up service. Plus, he get’s to look like a generous guy with connections.
I only have a few Snap-On tools in my box at work but I can tell you they are noticeably better than most other brands. They’re sturdy, comfortable to use, reliable. FWIW, I’ve also found USAG tools to be very high quality.
OK, assuming that Snap-On Tools really are so much better, I’m wondering what the difference in cost is. Anyone know how the prices compare to similar tools from Craftsman? Or does anyone know the price of a common tool?
Everybody talks about Snap-on and Craftsman. Historically, one of the best brands of tool out there is Proto (bought by Stanley in 1984). I have no idea if it is still the case but it used to be that every garage at the Indy 500 was stocked with Proto tools.
Here’s a brief history:
http://www.stanleyproto.com/default.asp?TYPE=STATICLEFT&PAGE=history.htm&LEFT=left_history.htm
1/2" combination wrench, 12 point:
Craftsman - 7.19 >Look up other Craftsman tools here.
Snap-on - 25.25 >Look up other Snap-on tools here.
Like I said, probably not worth it to the occasional user. But there are other things to consider in understanding why the pros are willing to pay the price. I’d venture that Craftsman offers maybe three variations on the above wrench (e.g. 6 point drive) while Snap-on offers a dozen (e.g. short, standard, and long). Snap-on is a major innovator - they invented “Flank Drive,” where even a 12 point wrench engages a hex fastener on the sides rather than at the corners, and for many years were the only manufacturer that had it. Having the best in quality and design can save a lot of time and effort (partly from greatly reducing the chance of the tool breaking, or of the tool damaging the work).
Thirty years ago when there were still full service gas stations with repair bays doing oil changes and light repair, I worked at one. The station supplied the tools, which was a random mixture of mostly Snap-on and Craftsman. IMHO, there’s no question that Snap-on was better than Craftsman. Were the Snap-ons worth the extra money for the gas station? I don’t know.
I’m just an occasional user now. I agree with Gary T, Snap-on is probably not worth it for occasional users. I no longer think Craftsman is worth the money though. I’ve had problems several times trying to exchange Craftsman on warranty. (“Did you use a cheater-bar on that?” “I can’t exchange it since you engraved your I.D. on it.”) Now I buy whatever is on sale at Harbor Freight, and just buy a new one when one breaks.
This was my understanding of the Craftsman warranty as well. Abuse will void the warranty. That’s why you look for Suzy Newhire when you have to take a tool back.
As for comfort, I always thought that Craftsman tools fit in my hand better. Snap-On wrenches always felt “sharp” to me. But I’m probably just a wuss.
One thing I don’t think has been mentioned yet is the feel of a Snap-on wrench in your hand. The rounded edges are much more comfortable on the hands when using a lot of pressure as compared to a Craftsman when loosening/tightening a nut/bolt. Same with their ratchets. Even when not using a lot of pressure they just feel so much nicer.
What Gary T (among others) said.
Snap-On used to advertise “There is a difference” True fact.
When you make your living, and support your family with tools, you need tools that don’t fail. If the tool fails you are out of business until it is repaired or replaced.
If a craftsman tool fails, I would have to take off from work drive to a Sears and exchange it. If a Snap-On tool were to break, I drop a dime on the rep and tell him I need it ASAP, and he brings it to me. Guess which is more profitable?
As far as tool boxes go, a Snap-On box is built like a battleship. It will hold up to a lifetime of heavy industrial use.
Or Mr Nice Oldhire. When I was a teen I bent my Dad’s long socket bar, by using a cheater on it, natch. It had a lifetime guarantee but I knew that I’d voided it. I went to the tool place to buy a replacement and told the guy I was looking for an exact replacement for my Dad’s because I’d bent it. He said they’d replace it under warranty as long as it didn’t have any pipe marks on it:
Mr Oldhire: “It doesn’t have any pipemarks on it, does it?”
Me: “Weeeellll, ummm…”
Mr Oldhire: “Hmm, well when you bring it back, make sure you bring it to me, not any of the other guys here. My eyesight’s pretty bad, and I doubt I’d be able to any pipe marks on it even if they were there, mmkay?”
Me: “Thanks”.
The drive from the shop home and back with the old one has never been completed in a faster time.
As a part time bookkeeper at an auto shop, I occasionally browse thru the Snap-On truck. One day last year I broke down and bought a set of three Phillips screwdrivers (for around $67). An extravagance, but boy are those drivers nice to use! Never slip in the screws and the handles fit perfectly and comfortably in the hand. You can really reef on them.
I try to stay out of the trucks as they are way too much like a candy store.
For a premium-brand line of professional tools, they sure have a lame name. They really must be good to get away with a name conveying images of cheap Chinese, infomercial plastic miracle multi-purpose tools that can’t take the strain a tender weekend hobbyist puts on them. Snap-on! And there’s more…for just 99.95!
At my shop I have both Craftsman and a Snap On impact wrenches. The Snap On has a lot more power. I love it.
As far as the OP asked the special paint jobs and editions are overpriced but have a certain “look at me” cachet.
Or 
Where the trucks at today? I need a new tool!
It’s tradition. Snap-On’s originating innovation, which launched the company, was a set of 10 sockets able to be snapped on to 5 different-shaped handles. Noone else made anything like it back in 1920. It was a big hit. (I’ve got a replica set in my toolroom)
True, the company has had to suffer thru jokes about Billie Jean King, etc. But they’ll change their name about the same time as the NAACP does, I suppose.
This is not a fair comparison. Basic Craftsman tools are designed for the home owner, Snap On are not. You can buy a Craftsman Professional 1/2" wrench which is closer to the Snap On for $14.19. Craftsman also has the Cross Force wrenches ($14.98 for the 1/2") which are also professional quality. The upper level Craftsman tool boxes are also comparable to Snap On, my almost 30 year old 42" Craftsman chest and rollaway still work like new, at the time of purchase I saved about $200 over Snap On ($1400 vs. $1600). The equivilent today would cost a lot more. My tools are a hodge podge of various better brands, Snap On, Craftsman, Mac, Proto, etc.
Craftsman also does not honor it’s lifetome warranty on older tools. I took some older tools to a Sears and 4 of the items were no longer made. I was instead given a store gift card in the amount of comparable items sold today.
I also have a couple of tools that I have not gotten explanations for yet. One is a 3/4" Craftsman combination wrench made in Japan. The folks at Sears deny ever making tools in Japan. The other is a Snap On 19 mm 1/2" drive standard socket made in Brazil. Snap On said it’s a phony, other that the country of manufacture, it is exactly the same as the US made socket.