What the hell is the world coming to, when Snap On isn't made in the USA anymore!?!?

[ARAMP1]

WTF!?! And, I'm not talking about a sweatshirt with the Snap On logo that's made in Taiwan, I'm talking about their hand tools. I picked up a brand new FL80, 80 tooth 3/8" drive ratchet and I was admiring the fine-toothness of it's action, when before I even turned a socket, I noticed that there was something distinctly missing...the "USA" on it. Is nothing sacred anymore? Of all the ratchets in my drawer, why is the only one that isn't made in the USA a Snap On?

rant\

 

[sweetk30]

made cheeper. . . . . . but still charge full price.

 

[TexasSilhouette]

Snap-On, the company - SUCKS. Bunch of scum bags. I fell on some hard times when I was much younger, Snap-On Snapped it off (you get the idea). They left me in a bad way. MAC Tools on the other hand, saved my butt. I liked most Snap-On tools but have never bought another tool from them (got some from other sources) since the "incident". Now I have another reason to hate them.

 

[Philly87]

I'd return it. If everyone would refuse to buy this maybe US companies would wake up.

 

[onetonbb74]

That ratchet would not be allowed inside my toolbox. Id return it too.

 

[ARAMP1]

Well, I'm going to try it out. From what I've read, they are made in the USA, just not from all USA sourced material. I think they could have put "assembled in the USA" on it, but just not "USA".

For me, it's the principle of it. It's like buying a Ferrari that wasn't made in Maranello. It still says Ferrari on it and it's probably fast, but there is something that just isn't right about it. It kind of makes me wonder about things though. Take the SR71 for example...a pinnacle of American achievement. The titanium was sourced from North Baikal area in the USSR. Is the SR71 still made in America?

 

[ryoken]

just a general late night rant...

the funny thing about this thread is everybody getting all high on the horse about beating on Snappie... Guess it helps people justify buying cheap tools like HF.. every single one of the "oh Craftsmen are great, just return it if it breaks, etc, etc" type posts...

Snap On quality has always been pretty set in stone... for all the badmouthing, expensive, blah, blah lines, NO other hand tool company has come close over the decades... any pro wrench turner knows it... sure Mac has had some good offerings, and a few others, but Snap On has ALWAYS been the leader... end of story.. king of the hill, people like to dis that.. hmmm, kinda like America...

my understanding of how Snappie always worked was that Snap On was in house, and Blue Point was vendor provided to Snap On specs.. well, if the tool has outstanding specs, what's the dif? I'm sure things have changed in the last decade, and more stuff is being sourced from overseas, but if the quality is there, I'm not gonna b*tch...

don't blame Snappie for using overseas vendors, they've been a long holdout against it... the majority of companies have been doing it for decades... blame the gubment, unions, american consumer must have ultra cheap shop at Wallyworld products, etc...

 

[63chevyll]

Although I have my feelings about the not made in USA part, I agree with Ryoken.

So if that pisses you off, just me ask you what computer did you type this on and what tires are on your car, truck, trailer....ect.

Daymn, I'm not trying to start crap just saying

 

[4X4HIGH]

just a general late night rant...

the funny thing about this thread is everybody getting all high on the horse about beating on Snappie... Guess it helps people justify buying cheap tools like HF.. every single one of the "oh Craftsmen are great, just return it if it breaks, etc, etc" type posts...

Snap On quality has always been pretty set in stone... for all the badmouthing, expensive, blah, blah lines, NO other hand tool company has come close over the decades... any pro wrench turner knows it... sure Mac has had some good offerings, and a few others, but Snap On has ALWAYS been the leader... end of story.. king of the hill, people like to dis that.. hmmm, kinda like America...

my understanding of how Snappie always worked was that Snap On was in house, and Blue Point was vendor provided to Snap On specs.. well, if the tool has outstanding specs, what's the dif? I'm sure things have changed in the last decade, and more stuff is being sourced from overseas, but if the quality is there, I'm not gonna b*tch...

don't blame Snappie for using overseas vendors, they've been a long holdout against it... the majority of companies have been doing it for decades... blame the gubment, unions, american consumer must have ultra cheap shop at Wallyworld products, etc...

This reason ALONE is why many companies are outsourcing overseas these days. The average american person has become too DAMN CHEAP to realize that QUALITY has a price.

Personally, I would rather pay a slightly higher price for a quality product versus a little less to just have to spend the money again for the quality iproduct because the slightly cheaper one broke or wore out quickly.

EDIT: Also, just because a product doesn't say "made in the USA" on it doesn't mean that it wasn't made here. The company might have saved $1.00 each by not having it on there and we all know that if they sell a million then they just saved a million dollars.

 

[bp71k5]

This reason ALONE is why many companies are outsourcing overseas these days. The average american person has become too DAMN CHEAP to realize that QUALITY has a price.

In addition, it costs a ton less money to make stuff in almost any place other than the US. Compare people in the US making $25/hour with people making $7.00/day in Mexico or China, along with all the taxes, and it's almost impossible to make anything here that's close to the same cost anywhere else. If people can't tell the difference in quality, then they aren't going to pay 500% more for the better item.

 

[FOR MUD]

This reason ALONE is why many companies are outsourcing overseas these days. The average american person has become too DAMN CHEAP to realize that QUALITY has a price.

Personally, I would rather pay a slightly higher price for a quality product versus a little less to just have to spend the money again for the quality iproduct because the slightly cheaper one broke or wore out quickly.

EDIT: Also, just because a product doesn't say "made in the USA" on it doesn't mean that it wasn't made here. The company might have saved $1.00 each by not having it on there and we all know that if they sell a million then they just saved a million dollars.

If only it was "slightly" higher......Double or triple is the norm.

 

[Big Ray]

In addition, it costs a ton less money to make stuff in almost any place other than the US. Compare people in the US making $25/hour with people making $7.00/day in Mexico or China, along with all the taxes, and it's almost impossible to make anything here that's close to the same cost anywhere else. If people can't tell the difference in quality, then they aren't going to pay 500% more for the better item.

don't forget enviromental regs, workers rights/comp issues, taxes, more f'n taxes,


I don't like it, but I do understand it.

 

[bigjbear]

I know MAC has been doing it for several years. Of course I found out the same way you did- after I bought it. It is going to be a tough sell to keep the prices up if forign content goes up.

 

[82355]

Meh, the Snap On is still better than every other ratchet.

Martin

 

[cuervo]

This reason ALONE is why many companies are outsourcing overseas these days. The average american person has become too DAMN CHEAP to realize that QUALITY has a price.

I agree, to a point.

I just can't see how 9 wrenches cost $600 bucks.

 

[TexasSilhouette]

I agree, to a point.

I just can't see how 9 wrenches cost $600 bucks.

People pay it, if they didn’t the price would come down.

Snap-On holds some kind of almost mystic persona in the service world, almost as mystical as the never breaking Toyota in the automotive industry. Having made plenty of money working on Toyotas and having had to exchange many the broken Snap-On tool – I can tell you from personal experience that neither is as deserved as it is touted.

Snap-On is good stuff, mostly. But not worth what they ask for it. I did my job just as well without Snap-On tools as I did with. If the measure of value is the value they add to your work then I argue they add nothing. If the measure is your ability to boast, and pat yourself on the back, then perhaps there is some. There is a measure of pride in having a peer drool over your tool cart but I believe my ability to provide more capabilities by expanding my selection was a better choice, at least for me. I’m not trying to say you can make a living with Harbor Freight tools, don’t even try. But there are good tools to be had at as little as a tenth the cost.

My tool box was the single best equipped box in the shop, in every shop I worked in. While other guys were paying off $600 wrench sets I was expanding my specialty tools.
I guess in a way, you could say Snap-On schooled me in what their tools are really worth.

Its your money and if you’re an honest automotive technician you earn it – spend it how you want. As for me, my Snap-On comes from a pawn shop if at all.

 

[ryoken]

sounds like sour grapes to me.... perhaps someone failed to live up to obligations and had stuff reposessed... gee, blame Snap On...

if you think you can justify "I did my job just as well with Craftsman, etc" I call bs.... not in my line of work you wouldn't... tighter clearances on a Snappie box end alone prove that daily in my job... flank drive, etc.... I constantly get it from my one boss, "gee, my Husky, Craftsman, whatever wont fit on this, can I borrow.............. "

and for the record.. Mac costs just about the same as Snappie on pretty much everything... tho Mac at least runs specials much more often than Snappie....

You can say, it's expensive, my tool guys a d*ck, etc.... but if you try to tell me any hand tool is as good as Snappie, your full of it... from screwdrivers to wrenches to sockets to chisels, etc, their quality can't be matched...

 

[ARAMP1]

You can say, it's expensive, my tool guys a d*ck, etc.... but if you try to tell me any hand tool is as good as Snappie, your full of it... from screwdrivers to wrenches to sockets to chisels, etc, their quality can't be matched...

Quoted because it's true.

For the record, in my humble experience of turning wrenches, this Snappy is just as good as any of the other 30-40 ratchets I have in my box. My gripe is not about quality, but about USA being left off the tool. Either it be because it's made in china and shipped over here or made in the states by an American yet they use materials from other countries. Would I pay more for them to be able to legaly put USA on it? You bet ya. Is it necessary? Definitely not.

I've actually started scouring evilbay and tool forums and found some old-school USA quality tools (Plomb, Proto, Huskey-before they were Home Depot's brand, SK, Armstrong) and I've been buying them up. Hell, some of the stuff is NOS/close to mint condition. Is any of it as good as Snap On? It's subjective, but I prefer Snap On.

 

[ryoken]

Would I pay more for them to be able to legaly put USA on it? You bet ya. Is it necessary? Definitely not.

I agree, I'm the same way... I don't like the trend of things infiltrating my toolbox... I've always relied on Snappie, and to a lesser extent Mac, to continue providing me with excellent homegrown tools.. in 10yrs, we may be very saddened, but i hope not...






here's a little something for ya, one I'm always bemused at.. an ignored tool subject...




"oh, I just buy cheap chisels and punches cuz I'm just gonna bash them up"

huh?

why buy a center punch thats gonna be useless after the first shot?

my Snappie roll pin punches freakin rock..


here.. I just went and grabbed one of my smokin ebay deals out of my bag... it's like a 15" Snappie cold chisel that I got on eghey for $14 shipped... one of them deals that just slips by..

I beat the ever living snot out of that thing.. it's main use is usually shearing bolts with a 3lb mini sledge down in some slimey bilge... I've had it about 6 yrs now... probably use it a couple times a week...

it'd be WELL worth the $58 or whatever it lists for...

 

[KirsL]

Upwards of 90% of my tools are snap-on, including the box . The other 10% are tools that they either don't make are or I needed for just one use and a cheapy one was good enough. My biggest gripe with any tool you buy off a truck, whether snapon, mac, matco, ect, is getting a hold of the guy for warranting stuff. Were I work I'm the only guy with snap-on tools mainly because I'm the only former mechanic, I'm a welder/fabricator now, so the tool guy wont stop by the shop and my boss probably wouldn't let him even if he wanted to . Plus some tool guys are just plain hard to get a hold of. The snap-on guy I bought most of my stuff from was an awesome salesman, did whatever he could to make sure you were a satisfied customer, even if just meeting up to warranty something, he would make it happen . Sadly he does run a truck anymore, he become a regional guy for snap-on.

Oh and I agree 100% that there is a huge difference between snap-on and cheaper brands. I've done things with snap-on wrenches/sockets that would shatter cheaper tools.