Snap On Pricing? Discount?

[Merkava_4]

I used to buy tools tax free from the dealer when I was just a straggler, but when I joined a shop and got my name put into the computer, I had to start paying tax.

[Moose-LandTran]

My dealer will let me buy without paying tax, regardless of being an employee or a shop or not. as long as i pay cash and pay it all in one hit, it's all good.

worth asking.

[SteveG]

Newbi chimming in here. I get a 10-12% discount and dont pay tax from my dealer. I've been getting much better deals (40-60%) on new & slightly used SO tools from ebay.

[Danglerb]

Snapon is lifetime warranty, so is Craftsman, so I have no issue with buying used, and the snapon used seller I go to at the swap meet charges 25% of catalog for most of his stuff, which would be about $750 instead of $3000.

[unsung]

I just ordered the BRA7180V and I got over $1000 off online price plus a credit for $300 for any tools I want.

[eschoendorff]

My dealer's cool, and he gets me what I need in quick order even though I am just a DIY guy. I never ask for a discount and go in prepared to pay the website price + tax- same as Sears. I don't expect Sears to give me a cash discount either. I'm not a dick to him and he's not a dick to me. He has a product at a given price and if i am willing to pay that price for that product, it all works out.

if not, I can take my chances with yard sales, pawn shops and ebay. My choice. But he's a good guy and rebuilds ratchets for me that I have bought through other channels... I really cannot complain.

I don't understand why everyone thinks that the Snap On truck driver owes them a discount... these are the same people who pay retail at Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, etc. without batting an eye. What gives????

[Tom R]

Originally Posted by eschoendorff

My dealer's cool, and he gets me what I need in quick order even though I am just a DIY guy. I never ask for a discount and go in prepared to pay the website price + tax- same as Sears. I don't expect Sears to give me a cash discount either. I'm not a dick to him and he's not a dick to me. He has a product at a given price and if i am willing to pay that price for that product, it all works out.

if not, I can take my chances with yard sales, pawn shops and ebay. My choice. But he's a good guy and rebuilds ratchets for me that I have bought through other channels... I really cannot complain.

I don't understand why everyone thinks that the Snap On truck driver owes them a discount... these are the same people who pay retail at Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, etc. without batting an eye. What gives????

"What gives???"

When I go to buy a new car I do research to determine what the "normal" market expectation s/b for that particular car...ie; what discount from mfg MSRP is "acceptable" to the dealer. As an informed buyer I pay what I should pay. I guess others go into a dealer and pay MSRP.

My post was an effort to become an "informed" buyer...nothing more...nothing less. I assume that a Snap On distributor will only sell at a level that is "accepetable" to him. I also assume that some customers pay "list" and other pay at some level of "acceptable" discount.

BTW...I certainly don't think "that a Snap On truck driver owes" me a discount. Just want to be an informed buyer...FWIW Tom R

[eschoendorff]

Originally Posted by Tom R

Just want to be an informed buyer...FWIW Tom R

That I can respect. But, having been on this board for a little while, I have seen my share of threads where people get all upset over Snap Ons prices. Granted, I don't want to pay more than I have to either, but sometimes it seems that some people feel that they are somehow entitled to discounts from every Snap On man that they meet.

Others have had just plain crappy service though. In that regard, I am one of the lucky ones.


If you want to be a truly informed buyer, start watching ebay auctions... and check on Snap On prices at pawn shops in your area. In a few months, you'll have a good understanding of teh true monetary value of Snap On tools.

[Danglerb]

A discount is something you have to ask for, and its not like begging for a cookie, its business.

[eschoendorff]

Originally Posted by Danglerb

A discount is something you have to ask for, and its not like begging for a cookie, its business.

Ya, I see you're point.

[SteveV]

Originally Posted by eschoendorff

My dealer's cool, and he gets me what I need in quick order even though I am just a DIY guy. I never ask for a discount and go in prepared to pay the website price + tax- same as Sears. I don't expect Sears to give me a cash discount either. I'm not a dick to him and he's not a dick to me. He has a product at a given price and if i am willing to pay that price for that product, it all works out.

if not, I can take my chances with yard sales, pawn shops and ebay. My choice. But he's a good guy and rebuilds ratchets for me that I have bought through other channels... I really cannot complain.

I don't understand why everyone thinks that the Snap On truck driver owes them a discount... these are the same people who pay retail at Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, etc. without batting an eye. What gives????

Snap On has a unique business model, they're in a sense individual, independent business owners, so I don't think haggling is out of bounds at all.

A store like Sears is a completely different animal, the sales people have no authority to make decisions like reducing the price of product that they have no ownership. And Sears does give discounts, but it's in the form of sales promotions and clearance deals.

A Snap-On truck should give you some sort of discount for paying cash. Their listed retail prices are really a reflection of a "no interest" financing price for buyers who go that route, not a cash price.

These Snap-On drivers that don't go a penny below the retail price listed on Snap On's website for cash customers are being greedy. I would instead find other dealers that sell new Snap-On tools through Ebay. You can usually beat list price by 10-20%. You also don't have to pay sales tax by buying through the internet.

What would be a great idea for this forum would be to compile a list of reputable Ebay sellers that are Snap-On dealers.

[Moose-LandTran]

Originally Posted by eschoendorff

I don't understand why everyone thinks that the Snap On truck driver owes them a discount... these are the same people who pay retail at Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, etc. without batting an eye. What gives????

i don't feel they should give a discount, but if there's no difference in price between a dealer and the website, other than them having it there and then when you need it, i can't see a reason for not buying it online.

if i buy it online, i get what i want, i get it delivered to work or home in a short space of time. there's no contacting the dealer, telling them what you want, waiting for them to get it and then waiting for them to come to you.

[Coach James]

This is kind of like buying guns. Gun companies have suggested retail prices on their websites, but I know of no dealer that actually puts that price on the guns they sell.

Coach

[chad s]

Originally Posted by Coach James

This is kind of like buying guns. Gun companies have suggested retail prices on their websites, but I know of no dealer that actually puts that price on the guns they sell.

Coach

Good point, snap on (and all truck brands) are one of the only tool dealers that sell at list price.

My guy always gives me 10% off, and I pay cash.

[unsung]

I'll pay extra for my SO tools because I know what I'm getting. I choose not to shop at Sears and I choose not to buy their Made in China junk. To me the extra money is well worth it, plus if something breaks it gets taken care of without questions.

I don't understand the fascination with Craftsmen/Sears, to me what they sell is 85% garbage.

[eschoendorff]

Originally Posted by Coach James

This is kind of like buying guns. Gun companies have suggested retail prices on their websites, but I know of no dealer that actually puts that price on the guns they sell.

Coach

Or MESA/Boogie amplifiers. Dealers actually get checked up on (or used to) and get into serious hot water if they are selling those amps below retail...

I buy from my dealer even though he charges the same price as the website because then he gets credit for the sale an is there to warranty a tool or otherwise help me out when I need it. It's a two-way street.

[eschoendorff]

Originally Posted by unsung

I'll pay extra for my SO tools because I know what I'm getting. I choose not to shop at Sears and I choose not to buy their Made in China junk. To me the extra money is well worth it, plus if something breaks it gets taken care of without questions.

I don't understand the fascination with Craftsmen/Sears, to me what they sell is 85% garbage.

Two years ago I would have argues with you well into the night over this comment. Today, I couldn't agree more....


Funny how things change. I have noticed that I have become more quality-driven in the recent past... in every aspect of my life, from tools and toys to my work, teaching and performance.