[rant] snap-on tools

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81
long story short, working on my car this past weekend and snapped the head off my torque wrench.

the wrench can be dailed in to 100ft/lbs and was set to 95, and had not even reached the 'click' point yet... and the head just broke right off. (flex type head)

so i call snap-on, they get me in touch with local dealer. He says this happens often, snap-on won't replace or repair snapped off flex heads. The best he can do is give me a new one at half price. (about $130).

this has got to be B.S., this wrench broke within it's operating specs and should be replaced under warranty in my opinion. Or am I asking too much?

ebay link to same model wrench
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI...em&rd=1&category=43994&item=4561857627
 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
11
81
That is BS... the Snap On guys where I went to college would replace ANYTHING. Of course they probably wanted the buisiness of the 2000 students attending the automotive school.

But yeah... I own all Craftsman tools... I don't care if they're "inferior." If I cut a wrench in half with a plasma cutter, Sears replaces it.
 

Optimus

Diamond Member
Aug 23, 2000
3,618
0
0
I would have thought so! Even Sear's Craftsman tools have Lifetime warranties, and they are no Snap-On for rep and quality...

Snap On Warranty Info from http://www.snapon.com/legal/Terms_of_Sale.asp

(EDIT/ mikeyis4dcats beat me to this)

"3. Warranty ? Professional Use for Products. Snap-on warrants to Customers who purchase Product from authorized Snap-on distribution channels for use in their profession that Snap-on® brand Products and Blue-Point® brand Products will be free from defects in workmanship and materials for a duration described in each Product?s warranty code. The warranty duration depends upon the nature of the Product. If the Product information for purchased Product does not include a warranty statement with the applicable duration or prior to a Product purchase, Customer can obtain the Product warranty code and warranty duration from a selling Snap-on dealer or representative or by writing Snap-on at the address provided at the end of this warranty statement. Consumable Products are warranted, at the time of sale, only against defects in workmanship or materials that prevent their use. Consumable products are goods reasonably expected to be used up or damaged during use, including but not limited to drill bits, saw blades, grinding discs, sanding discs, knife blades, files, O2 sensors and batteries. This warranty only extends to the original Customer and cannot be transferred or assigned.

During the applicable duration of the warranty, at its option, Snap-on will repair or replace its Products which fail to give satisfactory service due to defective workmanship or materials, or provide a refund by repaying or crediting Customer with an amount equal to the purchase price of such Products. Repair, replacement or refund shall be at the election and expense of Snap-on, and is Customer?s exclusive remedy in place of all other rights and remedies. To obtain warranty service, please call Snap-on at 1-877-762-7664 or write to eorders@snapon.com. By repairing or replacing a Product, or providing a refund, Snap-on does not waive a claim that a Product nevertheless has been subject to abnormal use.

In addition to any limitations outlined in warranty statements provided with the Product, Snap-on does NOT provide any warranty for (1) products labeled other than Snap-on or Blue-Point or (2) products subjected to ?abnormal use?. Products that are not labeled Snap-on or Blue-Point are subject to the warranty provided by the manufacturers of those products and Snap-on will pass along any such warranties. "Abnormal use" includes misuse, accident, modification, unreasonable use, abuse, neglect, lack of maintenance, use in product-related service, or use after the product is significantly worn. Abnormal use of tool storage units also includes, without limitation, situations when a unit is pulled using a mechanical vehicle, rolled over large drops, used in a highly corrosive environment, used as a step stool, modified with non-Snap-on parts, overloaded or modified in any way."

Here's the product you describe, but I can't find its warranty length:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp...supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all
 

AnyMal

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
15,780
0
76
Originally posted by: cjgallen
Originally posted by: Medicine Bear
Never ever buy anything out of a van

I got some speakers REAL CHEAP y0!

Pfffft I bought a brand new Dell XPS for $50.00 and they threw a brand new iPod for free!
 

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
Warranty (sort of)

that phone number is the same one i called earlier, who put me in touch with the local guy who said they wont replace it.... just tried the email listed and will see what kind of response i get.

probably will stick to sears and craftsman from now on, becuase like you said -- it's just so easy to get replcaments under thier lifetime warranty.
 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
11
81
Originally posted by: V00DOO
FYI, craftsman torque wrench doesn't have life time warranty.

Nobody at the store questions it though because none of them work on comission. ;)
 

CVSiN

Diamond Member
Jul 19, 2004
9,289
1
0
Originally posted by: Rallispec
long story short, working on my car this past weekend and snapped the head off my torque wrench.

the wrench can be dailed in to 100ft/lbs and was set to 95, and had not even reached the 'click' point yet... and the head just broke right off. (flex type head)

so i call snap-on, they get me in touch with local dealer. He says this happens often, snap-on won't replace or repair snapped off flex heads. The best he can do is give me a new one at half price. (about $130).

this has got to be B.S., this wrench broke within it's operating specs and should be replaced under warranty in my opinion. Or am I asking too much?

ebay link to same model wrench
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI...em&rd=1&category=43994&item=4561857627

this is BS.. Snap on is supposed to 100% warranty any item that fails within its operating range..

call the district
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
31,169
12,700
136
Most tool companies don't warranty torque wrenches for more than 1 year.

After that you are on your own, including recalibration.

My Craftsman torque wrench is in the same boat. It even states this in the store.
 

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,055
18,410
146
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Most tools companies don't warranty torque wrenches for more than 1 year.

After that you are on your own, including recalibration.

My Craftsman torque wrench is in the same boat. It even states this in the store.

Well, the Craftsmen has a 2 year warranty. So that's a plus.
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
31,169
12,700
136
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
Most tools companies don't warranty torque wrenches for more than 1 year.

After that you are on your own, including recalibration.

My Craftsman torque wrench is in the same boat. It even states this in the store.

Well, the Craftsmen has a 2 year warranty. So that's a plus.
OMG, I just realized mine is 15 years old!!!

It still works great. LOL.

:D
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,544
924
126
Craftsman warranties all their sockets and wrenches for lifetime but not their torque wrenches. I suspect that if you snapped a Craftsman torque wrench you'd be equally stuck. Of course, a Craftman torque wrench costs half what a Snap-On one will cost so you could just buy two of them.

I don't think I'd buy a torque wrench off ebay. Did you have it calibrated after you bought it? Sounds like it might have been out of calibration and instead of 95 ft lbs you could have been over the limit. No way should it snap if within spec.
 

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81
just got this response from snap-on

Good morning, the TQFR100 like all of our precision measuring instruments carries a 1 year materials and workmanship warranty.
The tool(s) would need to be replaced/repaired by a local dealer/sales office. Field evaluation must be done on the item(s) to determine the warranty. I?ve also provided a link below for you to view our warranty policy. http://www.snapon.com/legal/Terms_of_Sale.asp


looks like i'm SOL because its over a year old