Tools cost too much

Man oh Man. $1800 for a nice tool box, and that is EMPTY. Then I need a second mortgage to fill the darn thing. the tool truck guys are raking us mechanics over the coals. I am no longer buying off the truck. I found a web-retailer and he is getting all my business. I don't care if I have to wait 3 days for the tool, heck, the tooltruck guy mostly says that he'll have it next week anyway, so now I'll get it sooner and cheaper. The major brands off the truck used to be worth their weight in gold, but the quality has gone down so much, that it's just not worth it. the Snap-on guy just showed me a box end wrench set, 7 pieces for $366.00 Last I checked there were no words across my face that said," I wanna go broke" I started in the field in 1982, and if I thought it would come to this, I would have run in the other direction. Is anyone else sick of the high price for tools?

i loose tools faster than i brake them...so a high quality set would od me no good. :P

yea, the price is rising so high, i was lookin at the snap-on website an the prices are unreal, who can afford what they're asking ?

umm......why's this in the joke forum ? (no offense)

Yes, the tools off the Mac and the Snap-On trucks have prices so high that it makes my nose bleed!!!! MAC kinda went to hell years ago when Stanley bought them out. Snap-On are probably the best tools in the world, but even giving them that, the prices cannot be justified. The only tool truck that I have gotten some good deals on, or even fair pricing is the Cornwell Tools truck, which is not available in all areas. I haven't been on a tool truck in about a year, but for a comparision, when wanting to buy the extra deep 3/4" socket-1/2" drive from Snap-On the price was $40 and change, yet the Cornwell price for the same thing,[ Made in USA also] was $28, heck of a drop for off the truck prices. And another thing that kills me is these big tool boxes. I guy I worked with purchased a two piece Snap-On box, about 54 inches wide, for $8000!!!!!! Are you kidding me? These tool truck guys had better get their act together, because I am hearing the same thing from lots of mechanics that used to purchase off the truck exclusively, but now will not bother to even go out to the truck when it comes to the shop. Remember to BUY AMERICAN tools, but don't get scammed by a dealer that will justify their prices by hiding behind the "MADE IN USA" stamp on the tool. Instead of Snap-On wrenches for $400 a set, that goes up to about an inch, check out Wright tools{made in Ohio}, or S-K{which used to be S-K Wayne}, and I am sure that there are other good USA made, tools that will save tons of cash, and you still get a good quality tool...

I do have some snap on tools, but like you said, Cornwell offers the same thing for less. I about fell over when I looked at a KD tool that was the same as a (snap-on) Blue Point. They even had the same casting marks, but the KD tool was 30% cheaper. Found an SK retailer (on the web) and these big tool companies can go look for my tailights. If I need a tool, I'll goto my PC, not the truck.

I put this in the Joke forum be casue the prices of tools is a big joke, and the biggest joke is on me for doling out so much of my cash for my tools. I've got about $35,000 worth of tools, and I wonder what they are really worth.

sign up for some classes at your local community or technical college. Matco and Snap on offer DEEP discounts to students. you cant get this through your tool truck, you deal with industrail sales. Snap On offers about 60% off to students.

they won't offer the deal to part time students. Ya gotta be a full time student, in a degree program.

Screw Snap-On tools, they're a rip-off. I use Craftsman tools and the prices are fairly cheap at my local Sears or hardware store. Tools are tools, you're just paying for the name.

http://www.metrinch-tools.com/

http://www2.westfalia.de/shops/werkzeug/handwerkzeuge/schraubwerkzeuge/steckschluesselsaetze/

http://www.yatego.com/fritzbertheim/p,4362235bb69f9,4353661dca7ca3_2,150-tlg-steckschl%C3%BCsselsatz-1-4-1-2-3-8-cv-knarrenkasten

http://www.diytools.co.uk/diy/Main/DIY.asp

http://www.luepertz-shop.business.t-online.de/de/dept_4.html

http://www.hazet.de/eng/index.htm

http://www.carolus.de/

http://www.stahlwille.de/index_engl.php

http://www.tooled-up.com/default.asp

http://www.toolmix.com/browse/range.asp?gid=129

WOW, thanks for the links. I will add them to my collection. I have been using www.aktoolsandequipment.com for stuff, but now I have more options. Thanks a bunch a bunch a bunch.

WOW, thanks for the links. I will add them to my collection. I have been using www.aktoolsandequipment.com for stuff, but now I have more options. Thanks a bunch a bunch a bunch.

:smile:

Snap on is definitely worth the price... Once you buy a set you will see the difference.

I get 60% off through my votech program!! :iceslolan

And as soon as I get a job at a dealership I plan on getting a GM Apprentice Set (http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=53976&group_ID=12729&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog) full of stuff for about $375( the dealership pays for the rest and it is considered "their" box until I've been there like 4 years or I give them $900 to compensate their fee).

I just hate paying $30 for a simple wrench at the local autozone. Jusst seems to me the lesser priced stuff would easily break, so what can I do.

I enjoy the conveince of a truck but I hate waiting and paying the price for delivery, so sears wrenches are great for the price, and work as great back up set. hand tools only that are life time garanteed. All other tools shop around for the best price. Its also nice to keep a drawer for broken tools to be replaced under warranty. So when you make the trip to Sears you have everything you need to replace at once. And yes they break, just like all the others, its just depends on the situation. Sorry vendors!!!!!!! And if you are just starting as a mechanic, buy impact sockets first instead of chrome, saves later when to find the love of a impact wrench!!!!!!

I use craftsman because they're cheap, decent and have a lifetime warranty. But I heard that they dont offer the warranty if you're professional. But they suit my general maintenance needs.

they won't offer the deal to part time students. Ya gotta be a full time student, in a degree program.

When I was going to school, we had a couple guys in my class that took vacation time to go to the first week of class, bought several thousand dollars worth of tools (half price), droped out, and then got a partial refund on tuition.

For me, I essentially got free school. I bought so many tools at the discount price that the discount I got was more than the tuition was.

I use craftsman because they're cheap, decent and have a lifetime warranty. But I heard that they dont offer the warranty if you're professional. But they suit my general maintenance needs.

They say they won't warranty them, but the kids behind the counter don't seem to know what's going on. I've stoped by on the way home from work still wearing my mechanics uniform and warranteed tools. A friend of mine broke a ratchet using a 3' pipe as a cheater bar. He took the handle to one sears store and told them he was working on his boat and the rest fell in the lake. He took the ratchet part to anohter store and told them the same story.

hey , im new to this forum. its a special place

hope im welcome :)