Overpriced.
At some point, people should realize that they’re being bled dry by these tool trucks. This is especially true for the younger people just starting out. They look at it as a status symbol, much like some people with their cars that they can’t afford.
If I want to pay a little, but still far less than Snap-On, I have been pleasantly surprised with Icon from Harbor Freight. They seem to last, and I drive by a Harbor Freight daily that’ll swap one out if it breaks. (Not that I’ve had to swap any out.) There’s so many tools out there that will give better returns on investment.
I think there's a reason the tool truck business model is failing.
I know someone who broke a Tekton tool. Took a picture, texted it to them, had a new tool in a couple days-- as fast (if not faster) than waiting for the truck to arrive.
There's just no need to have "A guy" for these things anymore. Tech and fast shipping have obsoleted that. So the business model is essentially on life support.
The tools themselves are good, but are they double or triple as good as the next best Taiwanese offering? Heck, how do they compare to another premium AMerican-made offering?
Consider a short comparison of a bread-and-butter-tool set: a set of combination wrenches.
You can get a set of WrightGrip 2.0 full polish combination wrenches-- 7mm through 19mm (skipping 16 and 18mm) for $176 from Epstein's. You can buy a snap-on 10-19mm set (no skips) for $550. If you add the missing 16 and 18mm wrenches from Epsteins (necessary for GM ASME metric), you will add $16.40 for the 18mm wrench and $14.50 for the 16mm wrench.
Thus, you can get a 7mm-19mm no skips set of premium American-made combination wrenches for $210 plus shipping.
Or you can buy Snap-on and get 3 fewer wenches for $550.
We didn't even need to drop down to excellent Taiwanese tools to save over 60% off the price of a Snap-on combination wrench set. My own experience with the Wrights is that they are the equal of S/O and in some ways surpass (I prefer the satin finish on my Wright that SO doesn't offer). The Wrights are superb, lifetime-grade tools that last and do not disappoint. Heck, the open ends are so good I never need my flare nut wrenches now for brake bleed screws.
Now if you are making a living with your tools, I suppose you could justify the Snap-on expense in the sense that over 30 or 40 years of wrenching, the extra $10k on tool costs won't matter. But you are getting essentially NOTHING in return for paying the Snap-on premium. You get cool kid points with the cantankerous old guy and that's it.
If that doesn't make Snap-ons overpriced, I don't know what does. We didn't even delve into the Taiwanese made tools that are superbly made tools at a tiny fraction of the Snap-on premium. Let's see-- excellent Icon or Tekton long ratchet for $60 or the Dual 80 for $180?
A 30" Capri 1/2" drive breaker bar for $35 from Amazon, or the Snap On 36" 1/2"-drive breaker bar for $250 or the shorter 24" for $176?
FIVE TIMES the cost for the S/O breaker. IN the highly unlikely situation the Capri ever breaks, I can replace it 5x before I even get the purchase price of the Snap-on.
At some point, it's just luxury and ego, not practicality. I always joke that SnapOn tools are the man's version of a Coach purse or a Prada sunglasses.
