About five years ago I broke down and was able to get to a shop with the truck to grab some stuff for the trailer. One thing I needed was a hammer. The USA made one was real nice, but 53 bucks. I got a cheap one that day. Oddly I often think about how I messed up that day as that hammer would’ve been good to have.

If you want a snap on torque wrench, get a CDI off Amazon. They make those. You can also get a nice Armstrong USA one on eBay. I picked up one for inch pounds on there.

I’d call snappy to complain if you are declined on the truck. Would think the too old routine should still net out a new model for free, though torque wrenches might not apply.

About a dozen years ago my best friend broke a ratchet of mine, snap on guy refused to honor it when he stepped on the truck. Luckily one of my friends buddies worked at the shop where he caught the truck and told the dealer he wasn’t impressed. Ratchet got fixed as that guy had a monster box of stuff from that truck.

20 years ago I bought a new Snap On 3/8"D deep metric socket set. 160.00! That was the last time I wasted money on new Snap on tools. Most Craftsman stuff is just as Snap on at a 1/4 of the price and a better warranty. .
I do buy Snap On at pawn shops pretty cheap.

Mac Tools ?

Is there evidence Mac is either better, worse, or the same?

Adds new meaning to BFH, BF on a H.

I was a dealer 15 + years ago ....... IMO ..... It has gotten worse as EVERYTHING is from "Off-shore" .......

I bought my last tool truck ( Snap-On and MATCO were my preferences) tool 25+ years ago when I was a Line tech. I still have and use 99% of them daily. At that time and even now I feel they were the best choice for the professional Tech because of design and durability. But times have changed and have seen some of the recent Truck offerings and when you can buy multiples of the "off brand" tools for every re-badge name brand tools why not.

they USED to be a quality tool company, but like the others their exec's have gone for the offshore profit margins over American jobs and quality. I think what snap on is hanging on is their servicing of shops like dealerships etc. Some o ftheir stuff is still good quality but some can be bought under another name for much less
There are a few American companies left and some are resurfacing. Time will tell

Paid 3K for my 4 piece snapon box back in like 88 Still works like thge day I bought it.Have lots of Snapon tools in it plus SK and some inports and NAPA also.I will say lots of the Snaps I have were cheap from my brother getting them at garage sales years ago.As for like my Torque wrenchs used them more than most here ever would Never a problem in over 30 years and at times they were used almost every day multiple time .But I did make a living with them.Oh yeah the hammer is a ball peen dead blow typr with a plasctis insulated handel.Now to see if my sosn buddy gets my brass hammer warranted as after like 35 years the handle fell apart on it.Oh yeah never had a probleb with warranty on my tools when I was working or even when I retired a few years after that.Just have not seen a dealer when I have stuff to warranty.Rocky

I wonder about the business connection between shop owners and management and techs.

My nephew is a tech at a diesel shop and makes killer money, more then most could grasp but its one of those glass walled shops where the truck drivers can watch and hes "expected" to have the best of the best tools (at least in name) weather a lesser tool would do the job.

Remember each snap on guy has to make a living.

Someone has to pay for this part...

Snap-on employees earn $61,000 annually on average, or $29 per hour, which is 8% lower than the national salary average of $66,000 per year. According to our data, the highest paying job at Snap-on is a Senior Technical Architect at $122,000 annually while the lowest paying job at Snap-on is a Warehouse Associate at $30,000 annually.

Snap-on has 12,300 employees across 54 locations and $3.94 B in annual revenue in FY 2020.

Good quality tools aren't cheap but you have to be smart about it. Cheaper tools are sometimes fine while other times they are not, especially if you make your living with them. Sockets wear out when you are hammering on them everyday for ten hours a day. Worse if you work for a particular car line as they tend to use the same size bolts. Asian cars use 8, 10, 12, 14, & 17mm bolts. American companies tend to use 8, 10, 13, 15, &18mm bolts. I can wear out a cheap 10mm in a month, they won't warranty them as it's not broke and some won't warranty them at all without proof of purchase. Snap On and MAC tools, never a problem. I've had Snap On tool boxes for over 40 years, the ball bearing slides are warrantied forever and they will take them in on trade towards new ones. Try that with your flimsy Craftsman box. The trick is to buy them when they are on sale, scratch and dent. I bought my last roll cab, list price over $14k for $7500 OTD. It had a small dent and scratch on the back and they gave me $2500 for my old Snap On box that I had bought in the early 80's, also scratch and dent. I don't think it cost me more than $2500 at the time.

Chrysler’s use of a 15 mm hex on the serpentine belt tensioner bolt caused me quite a headache years ago.

The history of hex sizes and thread /gear dimensions
is quite an interesting read,
with sexy & smart mistresses,
vast alcohol consumption,
‘digital’ computers with all mechanical parts
life or death warfare,
and over the top human ego
all mixed in.

There should be a “Yellowstone” like series.
I suggest the title:
Gettin Screwed

Who is "our" data... I guarantee there's a bunch of management, directors, sales guys etc making a heck of alot more than 122k

I've been buying tools and making a living with them for 40+ years. 90% of it Snap on. Still used every day.

Don't need much new stuff now. When I do I get it from ebay or from Snap on online. I will buy mint, used Snap on before new anything else, all day long. I don't have a dealer stop here and when I've had a warranty issue I deal direct with them. Never an issue. Taken care of quickly with no hassle.

Spent a lot of money over the years. But I don't think about that when I have good tools to work with years later instead of a bunch of cheap crap.

Can anyone comment on the quality of “vintage Snap On” tools
to today’s available German made tools?

Most of my Snapon stuff is at least 30 years old usually no problems.As for Mac air tools Ive had poor luck with them.Oh yeah my son just had my old brass hammer warranted.Dont know the cost of that It was at least 35 years old and the plastic handle fell apart.It did have some burn holes for decades etc from burning stuff ahd slag melting the handle.New one has nice handle and soft grips to absorn shock.As for people saying Craftsman is as good I say bull.Wrenching in a shop for 30 years Ive used them all.Cheaper stuff is OK at times but Ive had stuff that my Snapon worked on that others did not.Their bleeder wrenchs are worth their weight in gold for me.Rocky

A mechanic at our county fleet garage catches it from the other mechanics for not having a huge Snap On chest. He owns what was Craftman professional grade units and is very happy keeping the difference in his pocket.

Snap on hammer: https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/tls/d/new-haven-snap-on-hammer/7443056332.html

Cool for 50 bucks you can get. Mr. Norm hammer..............

HA ! i missed that. "ask for Norm"..............
it is indeed a "Mr. Norm's" hammer ! so that price would be a BARGAIN indeed !