High Dollar tool boxes

RHSCTJ said:
I have two snap on boxes. The one at work was $12000. The one at home was $800 repo box. If you are a good flat rate mechanic the time you save by having a huge organized box and not having to dig through you "metric" drawer or "plier drawer" should easily cover the $50 a week.
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I don't mean to split hairs here, but $50/week for $12k is still > 9 years worth of payments. It's hard to believe that you're going to continue to "save" that much time consistently, every week for so long.
Basically you're telling me that this tool box increases your income by at least $1300 annually for almost a decade?
 
RHSCTJ said:
And my snap-on rachet has 100 teeth
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Why do they call this a south carolina ratchet?
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Because it has no teeth!:gitrdun:
 
RatLabGuy said:
I don't mean to split hairs here, but $50/week for $12k is still > 9 years worth of payments. It's hard to believe that you're going to continue to "save" that much time consistently, every week for so long.
Basically you're telling me that this tool box increases your income by at least $1300 annually for almost a decade?
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Since we're splitting hairs, the reality is that he would spend at least $5k on a toolbox because its the number 1 rule of working in a shop. So $12k-5k=7k, which is still waaay too much, but I could see it making life easier if you have enough tools to justify the space.
 
jeepinmatt said:
Since we're splitting hairs, the reality is that he would spend at least $5k on a toolbox because its the number 1 rule of working in a shop. So $12k-5k=7k, which is still waaay too much, but I could see it making life easier if you have enough tools to justify the space.
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OK then Mr. Hair Splitter, how much is the loss in interest payments? I have no idea what the typical rate is on these payment plans but I'm sure it adds up.

Also, how often does the tool guy come around? I really don't know, I'm just curious. Once a week?
When I break a Craftsman tool, it's annoying, and I cuss, and I throw the POS against the wall. And say, Damnit, wish I had a better tool. And I go get my spare to use the rest of the day.
Then, the next day I swing by Sears on my way home from work. At worst, over the next weekend. i have a replacement tool in a few days at most. Then I think to myself, hey that wasn't so bad, and I didn't pay much for that tool.
Yes it's kind of a pain. But I can get it when I want. I could get it right then if I wanted to.

I realize the value of the products and the way this system is set up. I guess it's just not for me.
 
I can't justify the expense, I have a Craftsman toolbox at home in my shop that I have had for about 12 years now. Been through several moves, tons of projects, etc. Still feels brand new. When I moved to the new shop I bought a new box, but went with a Husky one because I can't justify the cost of an expensive one. Plus it works just fine. If I wear it out I'll just go buy another one for $500. So what. Almost all my tools are Craftsman, some are cheapo ones, but when you scrap a lot of vehicles tools tend to disappear. I have no issues with my Craftsman stuff, occasionally I'll break something but it is free replacement and I have multiple spares for the cost of one expensive name brand tool.

Maybe if it was just a job and not my business it might be different, but in keeping my overhead low means using the tools that work for me and not taking on any additional expenses.
 
I was actually paying $400 a month. You have to understand how flat rate works. I get paid 5 hours to do a timing belt and water pump on a 2003 honda accord v6. I can do it in about 50 minutes. I don't spend anytime looking for tools. If i did 6 a day and spent 10 minutes on each one looking for tools it essentially cost me $125. Im not fortunate enough to do 6 everyday but you see my reasoning.
 
RHSCTJ said:
I was actually paying $400 a month. You have to understand how flat rate works. I get paid 5 hours to do a timing belt and water pump on a 2003 honda accord v6. I can do it in about 50 minutes. I don't spend anytime looking for tools. If i did 6 a day and spent 10 minutes on each one looking for tools it essentially cost me $125. Im not fortunate enough to do 6 everyday but you see my reasoning.
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I do see your point, but how does the Snap on box acheive this? Are there specific features that help with organization, or is it just the sheer size? The size can be acheived with less expensive boxes.
 
If I break something like a 17mm 1/2" swivel socket the time it takes me to do certain jobs just went way up. I can try to get to a fastener with a different socket but i can't do it efficiently. I could drive to sears and replace it but that's going to take even more time. If I pay $50 or a snap-on socket it's probably not ever going to break and I keep working and making $$$
 
RHSCTJ said:
I was actually paying $400 a month. You have to understand how flat rate works. I get paid 5 hours to do a timing belt and water pump on a 2003 honda accord v6. I can do it in about 50 minutes. I don't spend anytime looking for tools. If i did 6 a day and spent 10 minutes on each one looking for tools it essentially cost me $125. Im not fortunate enough to do 6 everyday but you see my reasoning.
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I understand that reasoning.
What I don't understand is, how $7000 extra makes you more organized than a box of similar size, shape, # of drawers etc that is "lesser quality".

This also verifies to me what a complete crock of shit "flat rate" is to the customer who is charged 6 hours for that job. But please lets not get off into that tangent.
 
zuke said:
I do see your point, but how does the Snap on box acheive this? Are there specific features that help with organization, or is it just the sheer size? The size can be acheived with less expensive boxes.
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You're right. Any tool box can be organized. Mine can't be broken in to with a Kobalt screwdriver.
 
RHSCTJ said:
You're right. Any tool box can be organized. Mine can't be broken in to with a Kobalt screwdriver.
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But it can with a Snap on screwdriver! (if the handle doesn't fall apart)
 
I feel like this is the same argument people make about buying cheap LED's for their rigs. For myself, I don't use my box enough to spend that kind of money, I'll buy Husky or Harbor Freight ones, and if they wear out, I'll buy another one, but my craftsman has been through hell, and over 4 moves, and still is fine. Just wish it was bigger.
 
i could argue all day long on this. good tools are worth the price you pay. (as well as tool boxes) i have around $18,000 in my tool box that holds probably around $100,000 worth of tools. i bet you can't easily get in my box, but you can get into a cheap box easily. here is something chris posted the other day that is one example of why we pay for good tools.
Facebook

the biggest downfall to my box is the wrecker bill i just paid to have it brought to ECGS.
 
Unless you make a living off your tools there is absolutely no need for a nice box. Try putting 100lbs of sockets in a us general drawer and opening it several times a day 5 days a week. How long do you think it would last?
 
RatLabGuy said:
This also verifies to me what a complete crock of shit "flat rate" is to the customer who is charged 6 hours for that job. But please lets not get off into that tangent.
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And this is the failure in your college educated logic. I will do a repair that will take me less than an hour next week. I'll charge $200. Anyone else (as the previous repair shows) other than a pro will fuck it up or will take all day and 2 trips to Lowes (for junk material). You are paying for my knowledge.

The tool that I will use can be purchased at Harbor Freight for less than $20 with a coupon but mine cost $500! Mine can change blades in seconds, has variable speed, and didn't power out after 8 years of ABUSE.

Why do you government people need that expensive microscope? You can't convince me the job couldn't be done with a cheaper one.
 
Recap of recent forum threads:
You pay too much for a (insert house/car/tools/other items here).
Don't like how much it is, great.
Don't want those options on your item, great.
Someone else does, who cares?
 
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RHSCTJ said:
Unless you make a living off your tools there is absolutely no need for a nice box. Try putting 100lbs of sockets in a us general drawer and opening it several times a day 5 days a week. How long do you think it would last?
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But it holds 12# of sockets like a champ:flipoff2:
 
RatLabGuy said:
OK then Mr. Hair Splitter, how much is the loss in interest payments? I have no idea what the typical rate is on these payment plans but I'm sure it adds up.

Also, how often does the tool guy come around? I really don't know, I'm just curious. Once a week?
When I break a Craftsman tool, it's annoying, and I cuss, and I throw the POS against the wall. And say, Damnit, wish I had a better tool. And I go get my spare to use the rest of the day.
Then, the next day I swing by Sears on my way home from work. At worst, over the next weekend. i have a replacement tool in a few days at most. Then I think to myself, hey that wasn't so bad, and I didn't pay much for that tool.
Yes it's kind of a pain. But I can get it when I want. I could get it right then if I wanted to.

I realize the value of the products and the way this system is set up. I guess it's just not for me.
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Whats your time worth? How far did you drive to get to sears. Even at min wage and living next door your warranty time the first time it breaks covers the cost difference.

If you are serviced then there is a huge difference, if not then the tool truck is not for you. I tell people all the time that you a better buying this or that because the return is not there for you. As far as the box debate goes i warranted a box for a customer made in 1961 because the caster had finally give out. The guys had said all the high lights in the differences already. For the weekend guy that uses it once a week, there is no need for it. For the flat rate guy that turns and burns, the math is there for a ROI.

Btw way this comes from a dealer that was #3 last year in tool storage. I have found that being honest and upfront gets you far in life. The big secret is very few pay $12,000 for a box, between sale prices and trade in the difference is 30-40% difference.
 
@snappy what does Snap-On do with trade in boxes, destroy them to keep new sales up? Seems like it wouldn't be in their best interest to sell used boxes.
 
I forgot about that @snappy I traded in my $5000 box for my $12000 and got $5000 in trade even though it was 3 years old. Plus there was i think $1000 credit for tools
 
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