Let's talk about buying tools

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by LudwigMiles

Professional mechanics buy from the tool truck not only for the tool, but for the service. When a tool breaks, a pro does not have time to order things online. The tool truck delivers a new tool, for free, that same day. That is why they pay insane Snap On prices. When time is money.

Oh, my, has this been your experience ... ??

I find it difficult to believe that if mechanic (even a regular customer) breaks a tool and calls Snap On, they will send a truck to that location, that day, to replace the tool .......


humfrz

[Syche]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Oh, my, has this been your experience ... ??

I find it difficult to believe that if mechanic (even a regular customer) breaks a tool and calls Snap On, they will send a truck to that location, that day, to replace the tool .......


humfrz

my guy is usually pretty good, shoot him a text and he is there same day or the very next day. with tool in hand if he has it in stock of course. It was my first question to him when he came by and introduced him self to me after he explained what he does.

I dont know about you guys south of the border, but our trucks arent owned by snapon they are franchises here.

[Capt Spaulding]

That's been my experience down South.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by Syche

I dont know about you guys south of the border, but our trucks arent owned by snapon they are franchises here.

Most of them are franchises.

As is the case with most "full-service" anything, they work with the mechanic to identify what tools they need for their job and proactively work on giving them the latest/greatest to replace/replenish the mechanic's chest. Some even manage tools based on the type of jobs the mechanics have.

Snap-On (and other tool trucks) are like the automotive world's version of a pharmaceutical/medical sales rep. They narrow down the needs of the professional and provide them with the tools/drugs/machinery the professional needs to accomplish the job.

Snap-On has very high markups and the pricing sold is entirely at the discretion of the dealer. If you want to know what the markup is, look up the prices they provide for bidding purposes to the Federal Government. About 50% off list price...

[LudwigMiles]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Oh, my, has this been your experience ... ??

I find it difficult to believe that if mechanic (even a regular customer) breaks a tool and calls Snap On, they will send a truck to that location, that day, to replace the tool .......

humfrz

Yes, since you find something difficult to believe, or have never experienced it yourself, that means it can't possibly be true.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by LudwigMiles

Yes, since you find something difficult to believe, or have never experienced it yourself, that means it can't possibly be true.

I didn't say it wasn't possibly true, I just find it difficult to believe.


humfrz

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Oh, my, has this been your experience ... ??

I find it difficult to believe that if mechanic (even a regular customer) breaks a tool and calls Snap On, they will send a truck to that location, that day, to replace the tool .......


humfrz

The version I heard is the dude who owns/runs the truck/franchise makes the rounds regularly, he's not on call per se but he'll hit up auto mall X every other Tuesday and the town over on Wednesdays or something to that effect.

So if a mechanic breaks a tool he knows he'll have a replacement in his hand in the next week or so, and can probably arrange for faster delivery/pickup if necessary.

Originally Posted by LudwigMiles

Yes, since you find something difficult to believe, or have never experienced it yourself, that means it can't possibly be true.

Man you just take every opportunity don't you?

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

The version I heard is the dude who owns/runs the truck/franchise makes the rounds regularly, he's not on call per se but he'll hit up auto mall X every other Tuesday and the town over on Wednesdays or something to that effect.

So if a mechanic breaks a tool he knows he'll have a replacement in his hand in the next week or so, and can probably arrange for faster delivery/pickup if necessary.

Now, that sounds more reasonable to me ......

The way things are going (I swear mrs humfrz can get something for the granddaughters, next day delivery ...... FROM CHINA ! ......), I thought maybe ol Snap-On would deliver, by drone, within hours and have the replacement tool set down on your shop bench .......

Ahhh, yes, the old days, decide what you want from the catalog, then you make the money (@$1.00/hr), save up, go to the catalog store in town, on the next trip to the feed mill, place the order, wait a few weeks for delivery, hop in the truck, on the next feed mill run, stop at the catalog store and pick up your item.

No wonder we didn't buy much ...... stuff!


humfrz

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by humfrz

I didn't say it wasn't possibly true, I just find it difficult to believe.


humfrz

Originally Posted by humfrz

Oh, my, has this been your experience ... ??

I find it difficult to believe that if mechanic (even a regular customer) breaks a tool and calls Snap On, they will send a truck to that location, that day, to replace the tool .......


humfrz

Originally Posted by strat61caster

The version I heard is the dude who owns/runs the truck/franchise makes the rounds regularly, he's not on call per se but he'll hit up auto mall X every other Tuesday and the town over on Wednesdays or something to that effect.

So if a mechanic breaks a tool he knows he'll have a replacement in his hand in the next week or so, and can probably arrange for faster delivery/pickup if necessary.



Man you just take every opportunity don't you?

We have one that services our one plant. He comes by every Tuesday between 2 and 3 so that he can catch two shifts.
If somebody needs something they can call and depending on where he is on his route he will be there anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours later. In those cases he drops what was needed and try's to make up the time to get back on his schedule. He jokes that he liked the pre cell phone days when nobody could find him but I am pretty sure he would rather have the guaranteed sale from the call in over sitting in a parking lot.

[Kiske]

Shit, when I break or need a tool. It isn't on the tool truck but, they can order in and get to me next week.

...Then it shows up 3 weeks later when it is no longer needed.

Tool truck is always on time every week you owe them money to. You can tell when nobody in the shop owes anything because he is late or skips that week.

[guybo]

1) get extensions for your sockets. Lots and lots of extensions. And adapters for different size wrenches- i.e. 1/2 to 3/8 to 1/4

2) get wobble extensions to get to those odd bolts that are just off center or not quite flat to you

3) don't over-buy. If you are using your tools only once a month, get cheap tools, you don't need snap-on. As long as the sizes are correct and they work, don't break the bank if you're not a pro.

4) a breaker bar is almost always better to have than an impact gun

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by guybo

1) get extensions for your sockets. Lots and lots of extensions. And adapters for different size wrenches- i.e. 1/2 to 3/8 to 1/4

2) get wobble extensions to get to those odd bolts that are just off center or not quite flat to you

3) don't over-buy. If you are using your tools only once a month, get cheap tools, you don't need snap-on. As long as the sizes are correct and they work, don't break the bank if you're not a pro.

4) a breaker bar is almost always better to have than an impact gun

And... A breaker bar or impact gun are NOT compatible with cheap sockets. Try to use a $1 socket even once with either of those and during the trip back from the hospital you can pick up a quality socket that will stay in one piece.

[guybo]

1) you don't use a socket with an impact gun- you use an impact socket

2) if you manage to hurt yourself with a breaker bar, you're doing it all wrong.

[krayzie]

Phillips vs Pozidrive