buying tools with initials

[Danglerb]

Maybe I am being petty, but I am kind of irked that the snapon 6mm universal driver I just bought on ebay has engraved initials on it. No mention of the engraving in the listing, 5 pictures nice and close, none of them include the side with the initials. 5 close up shots, but only showing 2/3 of the rotation.

I left positive feedback, but griped in the comment about the non disclosed engraving.

[nissan_crawler]

it doesn't bug me IF they disclose it. Since they didn't, and obviously avoided pictures of it, I think that's pretty shabby.

[lbgradwell]

I hate initials on my tools & won't buy a tool that is engraved.

The Seller obviously realized engravings diminish a tool's value, and took pains to hide the fact your driver was marked. That is dishonest.

[eschoendorff]

The Seller obviously realized engravings diminish a tool's value, and took pains to hide the fact your driver was marked. That is dishonest.

Yup. Sad but true. :(

[Jey]

eh. I buy so much used shit, my box looks like a classroom set. everyone's name is accounted for, even "DoD" (Department of Defense)...

[DavidtheDuke]

Maybe I am being petty, but I am kind of irked that the snapon 6mm universal driver I just bought on ebay

I'm going to get SO's universal hex driver socket joint.. so I can't put MM hex in there I want ;)

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?search=true&item_ID=55557&PartNo=tmubs8&group_id=713&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all

I would've left him at least neutral feedback, anyone selling SO tools know the purchasers want to know that.

[l_bilyk]

Yup. Thats dishonest. I would complain. I have a stanley plane with someone's initials on it, but it's a pre WWI plane so it doesn't bother me that much.

[Red Green]

If the listing does not say no initials or engraving I assume the tool has markings on it.

[chad s]

I'm going to get SO's universal hex driver socket joint.. so I can't put MM hex in there I want ;)

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?search=true&item_ID=55557&PartNo=tmubs8&group_id=713&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all

I would've left him at least neutral feedback, anyone selling SO tools know the purchasers want to know that.

I have that one, its very nice, however I havnt had a use for it yet!

[milkovich]

Sounds like it was on purpose. The guy went out of his way to hide the initials.

Are you allowed to have a buying profile on Ebay (where seller's negative feedback doesn't matter) and a selling profile (where you want feedback to be mostly positive?) I hate how bad sellers will hit you with a negative if you even chirp about a bad transaction.

[ImportTuner]

Personally, I would never buy a tool with initials on it ...

[Danglerb]

Seller left me a positive on payment, only charged $3 to ship, the working condition of the tool is fine, and while it does look to me like they intentionally hid the initials they didn't make any claims about marking, so they get a positive from me, 2 stars on accurate description, and I put my gripe into the comment so maybe future bidders will ask.

The bit end of the universal that has the initials looks like a grinder was used on it, maybe wire wheel. Its "smooth" but I can see little marks, brushed looking, is that going to hose any warranty later on, or can I go ahead and give it another pass to get rid of the initials?

[l_bilyk]

Sounds like it was on purpose. The guy went out of his way to hide the initials.

Are you allowed to have a buying profile on Ebay (where seller's negative feedback doesn't matter) and a selling profile (where you want feedback to be mostly positive?) I hate how bad sellers will hit you with a negative if you even chirp about a bad transaction.

I think that's going to change in feb. AFAIK sellers will no longer be able to leave a negative for the buyer.

[wrenchr]

I would have left a few negative feedback's if that were the case. I have been burned a few time's on ebay.

[Jey]

I think that's going to change in feb. AFAIK sellers will no longer be able to leave a negative for the buyer.

Thank god.

[Sticky]

Hate to say it but the fact that you left positive feedback only encourages this practice in the future. I would have left negative feedback unless they returned the $. Then again, if the pics only show 2/3 of the wrench, I would have assumed something was wrong with the other 1/3 and never bid.

[Danglerb]

Before leaving a negative I will always try to rectify the situation, and here the remedy would be to ship it back, net result I am out shipping cost of $3 each way and I don't have the somewhat rare tool that I need.

In the future I will ask about any marks.

[Uncle Buck]

eh. I buy so much used shit, my box looks like a classroom set. everyone's name is accounted for, even "DoD" (Department of Defense)...

Yup, me too! :thumbup:

[Merkava_4]

I hate initials on my tools & won't buy a tool that is engraved.

Ditto Ditto.

[swgray]

Do any of you mark your own tools? Ever had any stolen? How do you prove they are yours instead of someone elses? I've found some of mine.

I do engrave my tools at work. Some at home are marked. Those with serial numbers are recorded somewhere safe.

If marked tools diminish their value, so what? The thief won't get as much.

[gotmud13613]

I also mark my tools, The main reason I do is bcause sometimes friends or relatives come over to work on something and sometimes they bring there socket set or whatever with them. When the project is done I know what tools are mine. I don't care if they loose there value, they will just get handed down anyways.

[dxdexter]

I would never purchase tools with previous owners markings. When I worked in the mechanical trade I always stamped my initials into my own tools, but have since given up the practice when my tools were stolen in 1990 and I never saw them again. It only helps to distinguish yours from the same tools owned by a co-worker.

I bought a Snap-On ratchet from a lady in California, around two years ago, which was advertised as unmarked. When I received it, I noticed initials engraved and immediately notified her. She paid to have it shipped back from Canada and refunded my money and gave me positive feedback. I returned the positive feedback.

[Rickster]

I had a Snapon wrench that had the initials "MAC" on it. I thought I still had it but a quick search didn't turn it up. I really don't care about markings or initials, or even rust sometimes.

[wilbilt]

I actually did stamp a few of my SO wrenches with my SS# way back when. I only did a few, because after those, the number stamps were useless. They were US-made, too.

I never attempted to mark/engrave any more of my tools.

I have put distinguishing marks on ladders, or DL# on a rolled up piece of paper inside a lower rung. I just don't trust some people.

I do believe less than full disclosure of such markings on eBay is intentionally deceptive.

[johnny1290]

I've been buying some SO tools off the Bay and my socckets have initials on them. I hate to admit it does kinda bother me, but maybe less so as I use them more.


That's pretty funny you used to put your social on your tools, I remember those days! That or the DL number. Back before identity theft hehe.

yeahh the seller was obviously being deceptive, that sucks. At least when I bought the tools with engraving the seller mentioned it.

[78fj40]

I would have to disagree with you guys here....If the item is marked 'USED', then the item is used. So all bets are off. Now if someone says like new condition, then maybe you have a gripe.

Most people don't have the time or money to list a single item with multiple pictures...it gets expensive. If you have a question about the item, ASK!

...or don't bid on it. I don't think the seller was being deceptive. Buyer beware.

[johnny1290]

I dunno, I mean in my mind the best, honest sellers show an items flaws so there are no surprises when you get it. I know I do just because I don't want someone to complain after the sale. If someone with any ebay experience at all didn't show the initials, it seems really shady to me.

I see what y'all are saying though, used is used. When I get stuff that's not what I thought it was I don't sweat it, I just throw it back up on the Bay and hopefullly don't loose too much on it.

[PAToyota]

Guess it depends. I have some of my grandfather's tools with his initials on them and I always sort of smile when I grab one and see them there. I also have some old woodworking tools with several sets of initials stamped into them and I always think about the line of craftsmen that have used them through the years and what they have possibly built with them. But if it was something like a Craftsman wrench with someone's name scrawled on it with an engraver I'd probably pass if I knew it was there...

[Jononon]

I'd be pretty pissed if I discovered a tool wasn't as described for any reason. If it was described as being marked, and if I was getting a great discount on a high quality tool, I'd suck it up, and a clean stamp wouldn't bother me too much, but I'm not ecstatic about hand engraving on any tool.

I have some of my grandfather's tools with his initials on them and I always sort of smile when I grab one and see them there. I also have some old woodworking tools with several sets of initials stamped into them and I always think about the line of craftsmen that have used them through the years and what they have possibly built with them.

I'm the same, it's a nice tie to someone who died, in my grandfather's case, a few years before I was born and, in the case of some of my father's tools, a century before I was born. Back then, though, a lot of people either stamped tools or engraved them in a neat hand, rather than some child-like scrawl.

I have access to a laser engraver, and I do wonder if it would be a good idea to mark my tools, but I'm never going to go at them with an engraving pen :wtf:

[64merc]

You know, when I inherited my grandfather's tools (mechanic) I noticed that he did not engrave any of them. That kinda explains why he had no complete sets of anything. He was such a good guy so some bastard probably took advantage of him. He was one of those easier to walk away than argue kind of guys. I do remember him telling me to stamp my first set of tools back in the day. I guess he didn't want me to get ripped off like he did.

[milkovich]

I think that's going to change in feb. AFAIK sellers will no longer be able to leave a negative for the buyer.

That's a mixed blessing but it was about time that buyers could control SOMETHING about being ripped off.

The downside is the crabby buyers that are never pleased with anything even if you do mention the flaws.

[Jey]

That's a mixed blessing but it was about time that buyers could control SOMETHING about being ripped off.

The downside is the crabby buyers that are never pleased with anything even if you do mention the flaws.

I only have negatives from when I left a seller a negative. I had paid quickly and on time and everything, but the item sucks is broken, the seller lied etc... i leave a negative, and poof, i get one back just 'because'. I really hate that.

The seller can only leave positive feedback is great only for that simple factoid.

I think the real fix should have been the buyer can only leave feedback after the seller did, then after 30 days the sell can't leave feedback, and only the buyer can for another 60. So if the buyer gets jacked he can still leave the feedback... etc etc.

[Zeroek]

I bought a Mac tools air ratchet once and when I got it it had PIMP engraved on it. It works great so I didn't complain much and at least I know for sure it's mine lol.

[wilbilt]

That's pretty funny you used to put your social on your tools, I remember those days! That or the DL number. Back before identity theft hehe.


Yeah, times were different back then. Now, if someone steals one of those wrenches, they will have my "REAL ID" LOL. Seriously, if someone steals my identity, they will probably wish they hadn't.:lol_hitti

Speaking of that, I recently posted a "Want it now" for an item. I just got a legitimate eBay email response from someone stating they have the item, and they posted a googlepages URL to view the description.

When I went to the page, it was a fake eBay login page. An obvious attempt to hijack my account. Beware.

[jay50]

Maybe I am being petty, but I am kind of irked that the snapon 6mm universal driver I just bought on ebay has engraved initials on it. No mention of the engraving in the listing, 5 pictures nice and close, none of them include the side with the initials. 5 close up shots, but only showing 2/3 of the rotation.

I left positive feedback, but griped in the comment about the non disclosed engraving.

Sounds like you are getting all worked up over something as insignificant as intials on used tools. Does the intitals interfer with function? Are you a tool collector that polishes his tools and puts them on display for others to admire?

All mine are engraved with my initials and along with that, they show the signs of heavy wear from wrenching over the years. The intials are to help identify and protect my property.:bounce:

[eschoendorff]

Sounds like you are getting all worked up over something as insignificant as intials on used tools. Does the intitals interfer with function? Are you a tool collector that polishes his tools and puts them on display for others to admire?


I don't think that this is the issue at all. The simple fact that the seller was not completely forthcoming here is more of an issue *to me* than some initials. It is deceptive and dishonest.

That being said, I also frequent another small tool board and bought some Snap On wrenches from a member who disclosed before the sale that his initials were on them. Most of the members are of the same mindset and are upstanding gentlemen. I bought the wrenches anyway. They work great... but I knew I was getting someone's extra wrenches that they had already put their initials in to....

[Danglerb]

Tools with initials sell at lower prices, end of story.

I also have some concern that the engraving and grinding may cause problems if I ever need to warranty the item. Some people might break a tool with engraving just to get a new one.