Brownsfan
Well-known member
Now that tooltopia is no more. Where is the mechanics of garage journal now buying tools online? Is it just Amazon now or is there a recommended site for automotive tools.
Tooltopia replacement
- Thread starter Brownsfan
- Start date
Chris_Hamilton
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2012
- Messages
- 1,023
This place is pretty good.
www.jbtools.com
JB Tools | Auto Diagnostic, Air & Power Tools, Shop Equipment
Shop at JB Tools for the lowest prices on auto diagnostic tools, mechanic equipment, and more. Quality guaranteed.
www.jbtools.com
plinker
Well-known member
I've bought from JB tools since probably '09 or so, no real issues to speak of. They do sell on Amazon & ebay as well.
WWheeler
Well-known member
And interestingly enough, there is usually a price difference between JB Tools offerings on theirs and their ebay and Amazon pages. Often I find it's cheaper to order the same item from them off ebay or Amazon than from their site, and sometimes the other way around.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The only thing I don't like about JB Tools is that it seems to take forever for new products to show up on their website. 
Pontiac787
Well-known member
Zoro sometimes has very competitive prices and sometimes not. You tend to need to go to their website and search because search engines don’t seem to pick them up. They have fast shipping and free returns.
JB tools typically has very good prices, but you also have to spend enough to qualify for the free shipping. Saying that, their shipping is very reasonable, at least for smaller items, so it's often cheaper to pay it than to buy on Amazon; especially if it's multiple items. Looks like I've placed 14 orders with them since 2017. I had an issue with an order about a year ago where they shipped the wrong Milton coupler; I sent an email with a photo and they sent out a new one right away. When a new item comes out, they're often out of stock on it, because they typically have about the best price; and then it takes what seems like months to get more- so then I just spend the extra $ and buy it on Amazon. They're a good source for Lisle and many of the larger brands.
Zoro is also good, but hit and miss on pricing as said. They're typically competitive on Knipex and Wiha, and you can usually score a coupon from someone here if you don't have one. Their search engine is horrible, so have the PN to search with.
National Tool Warehouse has been pretty good for me. They have good prices, but once or twice an item was out of stock, and I had to wait a few weeks.
Looks like that's about it for "general" tool vendors that I've used that are still in business.
Zoro is also good, but hit and miss on pricing as said. They're typically competitive on Knipex and Wiha, and you can usually score a coupon from someone here if you don't have one. Their search engine is horrible, so have the PN to search with.
National Tool Warehouse has been pretty good for me. They have good prices, but once or twice an item was out of stock, and I had to wait a few weeks.
Looks like that's about it for "general" tool vendors that I've used that are still in business.
Thanks for the recommendations. I'm looking for a place to buy things more automotive related. Seems like zoro is more industrial. But still good for hand tools. I've ordered from national tool warehouse before with no issues. I'm looking for a couple power probe items and I used to get them from tooltopia.
rust in the eye
Well-known member
I see JB Tools inflate "list" prices to offer artificial discounts. Any vendor that pulls this sort of ******** is automatically off my list.
Plenty of on-line sellers that are offering fair prices without insulting the customer's intelligence.
Hey, JB Tools! Are you listening? I've spent a grand or so recently on hand tools, elsewhere. # NaCl
I’ve had great experiences with Suncoast Precision tools and pretty good with Palmac.
Suncoast is my go to for Williams, and they have been amazing every time I’ve ordered. Sometimes they have better pricing on eBay, so it’s worth checking both places.
Palmac is who I’ve ordered Wright from. They are a great company and fantastic to deal with, but their live inventory is a bit off the bubble, resulting in back orders without notification.
Suncoast is my go to for Williams, and they have been amazing every time I’ve ordered. Sometimes they have better pricing on eBay, so it’s worth checking both places.
Palmac is who I’ve ordered Wright from. They are a great company and fantastic to deal with, but their live inventory is a bit off the bubble, resulting in back orders without notification.
I've had a few orders from JB tools, and they don't seem to like to include packing slips that tells what's in the box. So if your order is split across a couple shipments and there are small and easy to lose parts in there, there is nothing that tells which box it comes in so some stuff can just vanish with no way to know if it even shipped or not.
They made stuff right eventually, but it was an unnecessary added nuisance.
They made stuff right eventually, but it was an unnecessary added nuisance.
swsman
Well-known member
A lot of the online outfits do that, as well as brick and mortar.
I will typically research the item across multiple retailers and go from there.
I have used JBTools, Tool Lady, Ebay, Amazon, Tooltopia, CPO Outlets and likely some others.
To date the only issue that stands out to me was with Northern Tool, my order was stolen while in UPS possession, and it took extra time/emails flowing for me to get reimbursed for something I never received through no fault of my own.
Not once did they offer to send a replacement while this was all taking place.
I will never do business with them again.
They shut down in January.
Tooltopia closing down their ecommerce website January 22, 2025
Received a email from Tooltopia that they are closing down their ecommerce website on 1/22/25. Seems they are concentrating on their shop equipment "Atlas Auto Equipment". No clue if they are totally getting out of hand tools. While I have not ordered from them of late, they were always one of...
www.garagejournal.com
NHtoolguy
Well-known member
I too have a good impression of Palmac after buying some Koken items from them.
mikebaker1129
Well-known member
I recently made a purchase of some Williams on Suncoast precision and everything went smoothly.
woody 73
Well-known member
I know Zoro is on the expensive side, but they have sent me a 20% coupon which helps me out from time to time. Shipping is supper fast, very friendly staff that goes above and beyond to help me out and they are very nice on the phone. I never had a bad experience with them in all these many years.
Tooltopia was the best deal on Williams a few years ago. I don’t, really, consider the other sites to be an equal to them in that regard.
I have a lot less needs, as far as hardline tools, so I haven’t spent the time to research this.
I want to replace my Tekton stubbies with something USA, but I am not in any hurry to do so.
I still love all of the Williams and CAT that I bought at the beginning of COVID.
I have a lot less needs, as far as hardline tools, so I haven’t spent the time to research this.
I want to replace my Tekton stubbies with something USA, but I am not in any hurry to do so.
I still love all of the Williams and CAT that I bought at the beginning of COVID.