"Snap On isn't really great quality anymore. The Chinese have closed the gap" That doesn't mean Snap On isn't 'buy it for life' though. That means the Chinese a

"Snap On isn't really great quality anymore. The Chinese have closed the gap" That doesn't mean Snap On isn't 'buy it for life' though. That means the Chinese are too. You raise a good point though. Its very hard to evaluate a product that's supposed to last a life time, until you've had it a lifetime. So the benefits to a manufacturer are slow to accrue, but they're also slow to dispel, so there's massive temptation to cut corners and rely on that reputation, while lowering costs. It'll be interesting to see how the EV market works out. You have a product that could last for life (with battery replacements). I suspect they'll be viewed, by the manufacturer at least, as disposable when the battery goes.