A word on warranties. My brother hated warrantying stuff and having to stop and fix a tool. He told me that most of the time it was because a mechanic abused a tool beyond what it was intended for or it was ancient and legitimately worn out, but he'd still replace them. I once broke a 3/8ths ratchet handle. He gave me no problems on that, as there was clearly a flaw in the steel. Another time, he wouldn't. I gave him a 3/8ths military ratchet that needed a new gear. I found it in the trash, aboard ship. I fixed it myself, on board ship [took it apart and oiled it] and brought it home with me. Years later, the gear broke. I brought it to him and asked for the replacement kit to fix it. The jerk said, " This is military issue. You stole this from the navy. I won't warrantee it. I get you guys all the time bringing me military tools that they took while in the service, and they expect me to warrantee it when it breaks" I explained to him that I didn't steal it, but he still would not fix it. I got really pissed off at him. We argued. We were at my parent's house. His Snap on truck was in the drive, he had the part and he wouldn't give it to his own brother. He finally gave in. I was really pissed. I mean, I'm your brother, not some guy off the street. Jeez! But, that was how he was. His birthday was yesterday. He'd be 80. Really miss the old grouch. I once bought a nice Craftsman top chest from him for 20 bucks. I've had it almost fifty years now. It was like new, and the biggest Sears made at the time. He had gotten it on a repossession. One of the nice things Snap On had was interest free payments on their tools. Most of his customers owed him money. Some of them quite a bit. Every so often, a mechanic would "disappear," still owing him money. All the Snap-On dealers knew each other and when this would happen, they would send the other dealers names of mechanics that stiffed them, knowing that they would show up at another dealership, far out of their territory. I recall my brother telling me, "These guys think they can skip out on payments when they quit a dealer, but sooner or later, we find them. If they're not at work when I get there, I'll take everything, with me, whatever brands they are. I'm not about to pick through looking for my stuff." He took the Craftsman top chest with "all" the man's tools. Yeah, I do miss my brother. Visited his grave this week.
