[paralyse]

The main reason I buy snap-on (or Mac, or Cornwell, or Matco) is that they come to the shop where I work -- I don't have to drive to a Sears. They also tend to offer a MUCH wider range of tools, especially for special applications like timing belts and transmission rebuilding. If I bust a 1/2" drive impact socket, I get a new one either way -- the only difference is whether I get one Monday off the tool truck or have to drive 20 miles to the nearest Sears store. Also, I can finance the purchases off the Snap-on truck, whereas with Sears I would probably have to get a Sears credit card, which doesn't allow weekly payments and charges outrageous interest.

For general purpose tools (impact sockets, wobblies, extensions, hand wrenches) Craftsman is more than sufficient. Especially if you're not hard on your tools. For anything that gets abused on a regular basis (3/8" and 1/2" drive impact guns) Snap-on and the like seem to have a better quality product that is completely rebuildable if parts wear out, not a use-and-toss like most of the Craftsman/IR stuff. In particular, Snap-on's 380 cordless impact is an absolute beast, and it beats the heck out of having to hook up to shop air every time you want to take a wheel off, dragging the hose around the car, etc.