Is the tool recession over?

[Blacknwhitepit]

For sellers like myself, this is a question I have been asking myself.

Here are the indicators I am seeing.

The Flea markets and pawn shops I frequent are no longer selling good tools at a deal (Actually, the good tools are hard to find)

Craigslist deals have dried up...

Prices for quality tools remain lower than they were a year or two ago on Ebay. (Lagging indicator?)


But there has been a shift that I have noticed. MAC tools resale values are down, but Cornwell's is up.

Or maybe everyone who is going to sell their tools for extra money in these hard times has done it, or all their tools are "gone"

I have not done a great deal of selling recently (Buying Umbrellas when the sun is shining and selling when it is raining) Hopefully, the market will bounce back for the sellers, but one thing is for sure... For good quality tools, now is the time to get them if you can.


JMHO

-BWP

[wreckercologist]

For sellers like myself, this is a question I have been asking myself.

Here are the indicators I am seeing.

The Flea markets and pawn shops I frequent are no longer selling good tools at a deal (Actually, the good tools are hard to find)

Prices for quality tools remain lower than they were a year or two ago on Ebay. (Lagging indicator?)


But there has been a shift that I have noticed. MAC tools resale values are down, but Cornwell's is up.

Or maybe everyone who is going to sell their tools for extra money in these hard times has done it, or all their tools are "gone"

I have not done a great deal of selling recently (Buying Umbrellas when the sun is shining and selling when it is raining) Hopefully, the market will bounce back for the sellers, but one thing is for sure... For good quality tools, now is the time to get them if you can.


JMHO

-BWP

BWP, your thoughts almost mirror my own. I have not sold anything lately either. I've been stocking up on good deals, and occasionally trade in a few things with my truck dealers.

My work is beginning to pick up and the dealers I talk to(Snap-on, Mac, Matco, Cornwell) say things are slowly beginning to come back.

Right now is the time to buy!

[rhandwor]

I've noticed prices going up at the flea market.

[Merkava_4]

MAC tools resale values are down, but Cornwell's is up.


That's gotta be a direct result of this forum. :D

[Da Bull]

I also have noticed flea market prices way up! Always had good luck selling my stuff on Kijiji, but lately I have been shut out. Prices on Kijiji are way up too. :canada2:

[daveblank]

Mine & a few other distributors that I talk to are seeing an increase in sales. The shops are getting a little busier every week.

IMHO this would lead to less tools in the used marketplace & therefore prices will change.

[pjcforpres2020]

Looking at this in terms of macro economics, typically 6 months after the stock markets start coming back the regular economy starts coming back.

6 months ago we started seeing the stock market truly stablize and start growing again, now we are starting to see the same in the real world... By the end of the year we will be seeing more signs and more real growth and recovery, and by this time next year we will be seeing a lot of people back on their feet and the economy will be entering a boom of sorts... hopefully their will be an industry around that the boom can focus on, like alternative engergy industry, or the rebirth of high end high quality USA made consumer goods, and so forth.

[Merkava_4]

Always had good luck selling my stuff on Kijiji, but lately I have been shut out. Prices on Kijiji are way up too. :canada2:

Does Kijiji have better stuff for sale? The stuff I see on craigslist is junk most of the time. :wtf:

[autoace]

I sold tools once, not ever again. I think alot of guys onloaded there "undesireables" during hard times. I unloaded Snap-on because of my lack of dealer, and unreliable service, and knew I wanted to replace alot of what I had with Cornwell USA hardline.

Now when folks are doing somewhat better, we need to buy our desired replacements, for tools sold earlier at the lowest of the low times. Just a thought.

[Da Bull]

Does Kijiji have better stuff for sale? The stuff I see on craigslist is junk most of the time. :wtf:

Kijiji is more popular than Craiglist around here in Ontario. I guess it depends what you are looking for. Remeber one mans garbage is another mans treasure!
For the most part they are both junk! :canada2:

[Blacknwhitepit]

That's gotta be a direct result of this forum. :D

As recent as three and a half years ago, Cornwell was the best tool truck, USA made, value/steal on Ebay.... Times sure have changed.... Don't see it changing back anytime soon.

-BWP

[Chris Adams]

You are not seeing the recession end, you are seeing inflation starting.
Prices on lots of things are starting up, tools just one of them. Paint supplies are shooting up, as are some foods.
This is so reminiscent of 1978 it's scary.

I have a bunch of boxes for sale, not going to sell them. Going to wait till the dollar slides a little more.
A hedge against inflation is having your tools.

[stevejh82]

I've got a boat load of tools, I hope you are right...

[Packard V8]

Lot of stuff still for sale here. In fact, I'd say it is increasing, rather than decreasing. Sellers are regular guys out of work who just can't accept the huge depreciation of their expensive truck tools, drywall tools, framing tools. They need the money, but are just pissed having to take pennies on the dollar for used tools. I'm picking up odds and ends, but haven't made any real scores for the past couple of months.

thnx, jack vines

[jkeyser14]

I don't know if the recession is over or not, but I feel like I'm single handedly fighting the depression with all the money I've spent in the past few months...

[Danglerb]

I think this fall we will see a second wave of selling, businesses folding, people selling off items for xmas money etc.

Ebay and craigslist are a warped view, more buyers than sellers know and follow both of them, but my guess is that fewer than 1% of total sales of used tools goes through them.