Group Buy on Underhood Light?

[Certified Drunk]

I'm interested...

 

[ilovevocs]

I'm interested...

Your user name is priceless.

 

[Toolgarage]

i would be interested on a light

 

[Ign]

I've been using the Central Tools light for about 7 years in my home shop.
It is very well made and the power cord is very long......

Note: There is no "ON/OFF" switch. You plug it in a power outlet, and it comes on....

The long cord is awesome! I can leave it on a vehicle hood and take it all the way up on my 2 post lift. Smart move for Central Tools!!

It's still $110 at Tooltopia with free shipping, I'm wondering if all of Bull's work will net much better.

 

[cbrxfr67]

I'm a noob. Never posted before, pretty much lurking so far and been reading other people's experiences, and of course checking out all the pictures.
Always interested in tool threads (work for a wholesale tool distributor) and saw the idea for the buy in on underhood lights. The atd is made in china, central says 'made in usa,' national electric says 'assembled in usa with foreign & domestic parts.'
Problem with National Electric are those dinky rubber straps. Customers need them and they are about impossible to get from National Electric. Central, I have really good luck on. The simplicity of the design is likely why.
Atd I sell the most of, which of course makes them the most problematic. I've popped open a few to figure out why they don't work and find typically a loose connection, occasionally wiring is fried. The good thing about them: warranty is a swap and customers are happy to get a new one (within a year). Oh, and the atd 30w bulb is a tiny bit brighter than the Central or National 25w.
I agree with the anti-led choice. Low lighting and run time is short. I see plenty of those come back defective or from disappointed customers.
Not sure how many you'd have to get on a group order. I can say that we buy them from Central at around $86 big ones on our stock orders.

This is a great forum! Really enjoying reading all the threads and pictures!

 

[MAYOR28]

Interested.

 

[Ign]

{snip}
Not sure how many you'd have to get on a group order. I can say that we buy them from Central at around $86 big ones on our stock orders.

This is a great forum! Really enjoying reading all the threads and pictures!

I was also wondering how much mark-up there really is at $110 from Tooltopia shipped, only because last I checked this was the lowest price on the web, even less than Amazon or anywhere else. (I'm not generally a Tooltopia fan but in this case they've got very competitive pricing).

Soooo....say TT has a bit more buying power than you........maybe they're getting them at $60 to $70 per light (guessing of course)....they're still gonna want to make SOME money on a group buy, and then don't know how they'd approach shipping...........in the end might save $20 over just ordering from the website sans any special group buy. I understand Bull said TT is likely not an option, just using them as an example of a large retailer.

I respect what Bull's trying to do, but may have chosen the wrong item; I think something with a larger price tag but more common tool (an underhood light is sort of "specialty") would have more wiggle room on price, esp at volume. Maybe something like a pnuematic 1/2" impact would be an example.

edit: and I'm just thinking out loud; don't mean to be negative - - I hope this works for Bull and the others who want one!!!

 

[jeep450]

With you guys comparing prices to tool topia or amazon, tool topia buy from warehouse distributors and ONE particular warehouse distributor (that i know of) sells to amazon.

Those two examples are selling at or below wholesale pricing already. Amazon may be making 20% on a particular item and tool topia may be making 10-20% on a item in my opinion. I got those numbers from looking at my cost from buying from warehouse distributors.

I have found several things online that are cheaper than my wholesale pricing from my sources.

I think your going to find that there is not enough "meat" left for those guys to cut the price much, if any at all. I don't think anybody else can get close enough to those guys to make it worth their while after they spend the time to ship the stuff out not counting something happening in shipping.

Good luck either way.

I will add that the rubber straps on the national brand that hold the light on the bar is not a very good design IMHO. The ones I have sold, the guys have replaced them with heavy duty zip ties.

 

[jsackin]

I can say that we buy them from Central at around $86 big ones on our stock orders.

I wasn't going to chime in, but since the dealer price has been made public, I can confirm that this is the correct bottom dollar price. Tooltopia or anyone else is not getting a better deal on these. Most likely they are hoping to make their margin in a multiple item order, but if someone only orders one light , it isn't going to keep their lights on.

This is a great example of how the competition of online shopping has already driven the price down to the slimmest margins imaginable. Ten, fifteen years ago, it was unheard of to sell a retail item like this at such a low markup, but today this is the strange new reality.

I think this "group buy" idea is a good one, and it still could work on an under the hood light, but just not with this particular item.

My two cents.

Jori
Harry J. Epstein Co.

 

[jeep450]

I wasn't going to chime in, but since the dealer price has been made public, I can confirm that this is the correct bottom dollar price. Tooltopia or anyone else is not getting a better deal on these. Most likely they are hoping to make their margin in a multiple item order, but if someone only orders one light , it isn't going to keep their lights on.

This is a great example of how the competition of online shopping has already driven the price down to the slimmest margins imaginable. Ten, fifteen years ago, it was unheard of to sell a retail item like this at such a low markup, but today this is the strange new reality.

I think this "group buy" idea is a good one, and it still could work on an under the hood light, but just not with this particular item.

My two cents.

Jori
Harry J. Epstein Co.

The Internet is the modern day Walmart.

 

[Ign]

The Internet is the modern day Walmart.

It's actually better 'cause it comes to my door and I don't have to deal with the Walmart clientele!!

 

[Bull]

Well, my cursory research had me leaning towards the Central light; hearing that the National is only assembled here makes me even more in the Central camp.

So, if the margins are so slim on this particular light that a group buy just cannot yield us anything, then I guess we are on our own. This is unfortunate; there seems to have been good interest in this venture.

I still believe that we ought to flex our group-buying muscle more often. We are ALWAYS talking about our tool purchases on here; we are obsessed. I'm sure that we could identify a number of items of common interest that we might find a distributor to work with us on.

For example, another thing I need is an air hose reel. I am sick and tired of coiling up my Goodyear hose after each use. It doesn't coil well and hangs sloppily. But quality cord reels are expensive. So...how about a group buy?

 

[kythri]

I think your going to find that there is not enough "meat" left for those guys to cut the price much, if any at all. I don't think anybody else can get close enough to those guys to make it worth their while after they spend the time to ship the stuff out not counting something happening in shipping.

If expecting just the vendor to slash pricing, this is accurate, but, quite commonly in other group buys that I have taken part in, the manufacturer is involved, providing special pricing to the vendor, who can then provide a better deal for the group buy.

 

[signcrafter]

Well, my cursory research had me leaning towards the Central light; hearing that the National is only assembled here makes me even more in the Central camp.

So, if the margins are so slim on this particular light that a group buy just cannot yield us anything, then I guess we are on our own. This is unfortunate; there seems to have been good interest in this venture.

I still believe that we ought to flex our group-buying muscle more often. We are ALWAYS talking about our tool purchases on here; we are obsessed. I'm sure that we could identify a number of items of common interest that we might find a distributor to work with us on.

For example, another thing I need is an air hose reel. I am sick and tired of coiling up my Goodyear hose after each use. It doesn't coil well and hangs sloppily. But quality cord reels are expensive. So...how about a group buy?

Bull, I think in order to get the best discount on a group buy we would need to be in touch with the distributor AND manufacturer. I believe one member stated the cost of the light was 86 or so dollars. So about a 20 dollar markup for the distributor. Now if the manufacturer has a similar 30 dollar or so markup the cost of the light would be around 56 dollars. Now if the manufacturer and the distributor each took a 10 dollar profit then the group buy could come in at 76 bucks. I am just throwing numbers out there but you get the idea. I think just going to the distributor like tooltopia or whoever might get a few bucks off but nothing spectacular. But a small discount from each player in the game might yield a decent discount.

 

[Bull]

If expecting just the vendor to slash pricing, this is accurate, but, quite commonly in other group buys that I have taken part in, the manufacturer is involved, providing special pricing to the vendor, who can then provide a better deal for the group buy.

In these instances, has the vendor contacted the manufacturer to explore the idea, or has the layman board member done the legwork with the manufacturer directly?

Bull, I think in order to get the best discount on a group buy we would need to be in touch with the distributor AND manufacturer. I believe one member stated the cost of the light was 86 or so dollars. So about a 20 dollar markup for the distributor. Now if the manufacturer has a similar 30 dollar or so markup the cost of the light would be around 56 dollars. Now if the manufacturer and the distributor each took a 10 dollar profit then the group buy could come in at 76 bucks. I am just throwing numbers out there but you get the idea. I think just going to the distributor like tooltopia or whoever might get a few bucks off but nothing spectacular. But a small discount from each player in the game might yield a decent discount.

Great points. I should mention that in this case with the Central light, the manufacturer was contacted directly for me by someone on here.

 

[kythri]

In these instances, has the vendor contacted the manufacturer to explore the idea, or has the layman board member done the legwork with the manufacturer directly?

Both.

In the latter case, the manufacturer put the layman member in contact with a vendor who could process the order.

 

[Ign]

ToolWarehouse is acting like $80.95 is a good deal for the ATD 80050, but from previous posts in the thread it sounds like this is normal online retail. Free shipping tho since it's over $75.

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-2...k-Off&utm_content=09-18-13-Fall-Tool-Kick-Off

 

[victhebum]

Several people in my shop own this light an man is it BRIGHT!
http://monsterautotools.blogspot.com/2012/04/mst8005-30-watt-underhood-lite.html

 

[kythri]

Both appear to be the same light under different labels, and made overseas.

 

[Bull]

I've been working on my car every day this week, both in the engine bay and underneath. And, every day I wish that this deal had not fallen apart.

 

[TwoInch]

bull, ill tell ya one thing... those goodyear hoses coil absolutely great. the trick is to not introduce twist into the hose as you wind it up. if there is twist, it will coil sloppy as hell.

use your free hand to counter-act the twist as you coil it up if you are coiling by hand. you must hand twist each coil as you place it in your other hand. if you just man handle it and coil it up with no regard, you will get a terrible uneven mess. i will drag mine out after use to remove any excess twist, and coil it with a little technique and they will lay perfect, and unroll like butter next time you use it.

i use GY rubber, red and yellow, and the last couple years have been using the flexzillas and love em. they all must be coiled properly or will be a pain in your ***, like you are finding out.

i also refuse to allow anyone else coil my hoses for me, thats how much i hate a twisted up mess if a hose.

 

[BK13]

Just a thought, in case a group buy thing might happen again, maybe see if we can get a GJ logo etched or silk screened on whatever is decided on...

 

[e-tek]

a group buy is a great idea. take tridents work thus far. i have participated with good luck but here is where it goes south.

this group is notoriously picky, fussy and **** and holding mfg. and reps to a much higher standard than the general population. even the most diligent folks sometimes make a mistake they cannot correct and this bunch will never let them forget it.

any vendor who does a mass deal here better have his ducks in a row and a bunch of luck because the unhappy 3-5% will drown out the majority of satisfied.

Agreed - I'm in so long as the overly picky stay out of it: Ya gets what ya pays for!

 

[bimmerTEK]

CEN130003 price went up in tool topia.

 

[illmatyk]

Group buys are a pretty awesome idea!

Just a suggestion, as I've seen this on another forum I frequent that has group buys.

1) Make a section strictly for group buys where we can check periodically to see what is coming up.

2) Have a minimum number of interests( people wanting to buy ) and present that number to the company, that way when they see the numbers they can calculate the discount.( the higher number of participants, the higher the discount ).


Just my .02cents. I've been wanting a underhood light but cant justify the price that is here locally( almost $300 ). When I saw this, I was interested then saw it didn't go thru.


Hopefully next time around something can be worked out.

 

[bry@n]

I have been going crazy trying to decide on one of these lights. I bought an older jeep grand cherokee and have been doing a lot of work on it. I need a good light. I can go either way as far as corded or not. I think I would prefer the corded.

can't seem to decide between the Central Tool 13003, the ADT or the Bayco. Very hard choice.

 

[bcradio]

I just got an ATD underhood because of this thread. That thing works great. Can't believe I waited so long to get one.

 

[bimmerTEK]

http://www.tooltopia.com/mountain-ul39.aspx I think I'm going to pull the trigger for the mountainUL39 as it is 1 inch wider that ATD , 5 watts stronger and $10 dollars cheaper. Will keep updated with a review not much reviews for this light

 

[Bull]

A member here contacted me today to ask how may folks were in the "yes" or "yes, depending on price" categories for a group buy on the Central Tools 13003. If you haven't responded to this thread, please do so now so I can get a count.

If your interest is price dependent, it would help to know what your "yes" price would be.

I for one still want one of these damn lights; every time I am under the hood or, even worse, under the jack stands I feel like Gronk fumbling in the primeval darkness.

 

[kythri]

Yes.

 

[neonnblack]

Yes.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Yes, depending on price

 

[lightning02]

yes, depending on price.

 

[bry@n]

Thanks for organizing Bull. I'm out. I was able to score a nice light for $85. Does the trick for what I need.

 

[BK13]

Yes, depending on price

 

[jdcompman]

Yes, depending on price

 

[signcrafter]

I'd like to say yes depending on price but I have a feeling my budget is too low to agree to a realistic price. Looks like they're 124 at tooltopia with free shipping. I think my budget would be around 75 shipped which is probably a *********.

I think I'll have to stick to my 4 ft fluorescent light with shatter proof bulb protectors.

 

[OxJaw]

Yes, depending on price.

 

[Bull]

Hey, all you "price dependers," lemme know what your threshhold is so I can tell the fellow who contacted me!

Or would you rather just keep that on the DL and see what offer we are given?

 

[signcrafter]

Hey, all you "price dependers," lemme know what your threshhold is so I can tell the fellow who contacted me!

Or would you rather just keep that on the DL and see what offer we are given?

Bull, do you have any idea as to what price you may be looking at if we get "X" amount of people to buy in? Just wondering what kind of discount you think you might be able to talk them into.