Why are single wrenches so much?

[Haveblue]

Im sure this has been brought up before, but a search turned up nothing for me. My question is, why does it cost so much for an open stock (as an example Gearwrench) When you can buy a set for a few dollars more? Are they trying to get us to upgrade to a larger set? I realize they want to sell sets, but why such a mark up?

 

[zkling]

I know what you mean, especially on the larger wrenches. I would venture a guess is that is is based on volume of sales. Although they make a little less per sale, the sheer volume makes up for it. Shipping and convenience may also be a factor. Actually I feel this applies to all different hand tools, sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc. Just my 2¢ Especially if you look at companies that market to DIY folks, such as craftsman, gearwrench, kobalt, etc. The sales price on the sets can be VERY good. I was in sears the otherday and they had 9 piece combo sets for <$20, yet if you pieced one together you end up with way more than $20.

 

[Farmall450]

Maybe because if you have a set, you break/lose one, then you're held hostage for another, unless you want a mismatched set...

 

[oldldh]

1.) Because they can...

2. )OCD...

3. )Why not???

Those are the three best answers, that I can think of....

 

[firebox40dash5]

Maybe because if you have a set, you break/lose one, then you're held hostage for another, unless you want a mismatched set...

That's my guess too. Sets are priced to move and make a little profit, in the hopes that you'll expand and/or replace what you lose, and they make more.

I know I've bought a few RP sets in the past because hell if I was paying almost $10 for a single wrench when I could buy a bunch for $15-20.

 

[Farmall450]

That's my guess too. Sets are priced to move and make a little profit, in the hopes that you'll expand and/or replace what you lose, and they make more.

I know I've bought a few RP sets in the past because hell if I was paying almost $10 for a single wrench when I could buy a bunch for $15-20.

Precisely

 

[Steevo]

All sets seem to be cheaper than the individual items in the set.
Last week, I needed a 2-1/8" firstner bit to put finger cups in closet doors.
At Lowes, they had all the sizes (Porter-Cable brand), including the one I needed, hanging on the rack.
They wanted $26 for the one bit I needed.
Down below them, laying on the shelf, was a 14-piece set of the same bits, for $52, which included the one I needed.
I now own the 14-piece set. Sure it duplicates a lot of sizes I already have, but I couldn't pay $26 for one bit, when they were $3.71 apiece in the set.

 

[jakemac]

Why are single wrenches so much?

Oh, wrenches not wenches.


Nevermind

 

[Haveblue]

Single wenches arent cheap (to own), and definately not cheaper as a set!

 

[larry_g]

Think about what all happens to the part number your buying between the foundry and the cash register where you buy the item. packaging, inventory, shipping and receiving, stocking on the shelf, overhead for the retail space, and maybe a few others. It probably costs $.50 - $1.00 to make the item. All the other things listed above cost the same whether the package contains one tool or ten. So what your paying for is everything above, not the raw cost of the item.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[retDAC]

In addition to the above reasons be valid in at least some instances, there is another reason. It costs a lot more to catalog and maintain so many different singles than just the sets. The Gov't, mainly the military, started doing this with lower cost wrench sets many years ago.

This is also why HF especially, Sears and others will break sets to warrant singles rather stock singles on some items.

Larry g beat me to it.

 

[dittle fart around]

Business have costs. Leasing space is one, you need to make money per square ft. You also need to have each size available. Individual wrenches are just one of the items hardware stores have to stock. Think of the space that that row of fasteners takes up, the home depot by where I live has like 100 lineal feet of fasteners. We used to have hex bolts up to 3/4 by 12 inches long. Didn't sell many, but the guy who needed one sure appreciated having it in stock. Did we stick it to the guy who needed the 3/4 by 12, not as much as the guy who needed the 1/4-20 x 1-1/2 bolt.

 

[BajaBound]

It ***** and as mentioned before it makes my odd go crazy.

 

[stage20]

tractor supply has a great price on single wrenches. autozone used to, but they dont carry the great neck brand anymore. HF always has a sale and a coupon makes it that much better. i hate buying the china stuff, but when a snap on kit is 3-400 bucks vs 39.99.

 

[Bill Ramsey]

All sets seem to be cheaper than the individual items in the set.
Last week, I needed a 2-1/8" firstner bit to put finger cups in closet doors.
At Lowes, they had all the sizes (Porter-Cable brand), including the one I needed, hanging on the rack.
They wanted $26 for the one bit I needed.
Down below them, laying on the shelf, was a 14-piece set of the same bits, for $52, which included the one I needed.
I now own the 14-piece set. Sure it duplicates a lot of sizes I already have, but I couldn't pay $26 for one bit, when they were $3.71 apiece in the set.

This is a good argument if you'll eventually use the others (bits, wrenches, etc.), as the ones you have wear out/break. You'll not only have spares/replacements for yourself, but you can potentially help out a buddy or relative in the same spot.

But, funny story here. I remember in 1988 moving two states away from my Dad & Grandpa (big tool collections) and having to replace a broken timing belt. The pulleys I needed to remove were external torx, and I had no sockets for that. I could buy the one socket I needed or a set of six for less than three times the price of the single. I thought, "I'll need those other sockets eventually, a set is the best deal." You guessed it...that little socket rail is still in one of my boxes, and I don't think I've ever used one since. But I'll never get rid of them, because you know what would happen the next day.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Im sure this has been brought up before, but a search turned up nothing for me. My question is, why does it cost so much for an open stock (as an example Gearwrench) When you can buy a set for a few dollars more? Are they trying to get us to upgrade to a larger set? I realize they want to sell sets, but why such a mark up?

Well, it varies but...I think for the in-store warranty stuff its so they don't sell so they have them in stock for warranty purposes (at least with craftsman) so they don't have to take a complete set back and give you a new one. I don't know a whole lot about the gearwrench stuff, I have a couple of their newer sockets and I'm not impressed enough to consider them when I need something.

With other stuff it's probably just because the sets are more popular so they're on sale. Sometimes the sets are made in different places so they might be cheaper. I don't think it's a conspiracy.

Doesn't really make sense to buy a single wrench unless you're using it for something special, though. I've done that once. That's why I've got one of those dot duralast wrenches in some obscure metric size. It's nice though.

 

[shamrock12]

This does not apply to Snap-on. Their wrench sets cost exactly the same as if you bought each wrench individually to complete the set. The only bonus of buying a Snap-on set is the tray or roll-up to store them.

 

[Danglerb]

If you are buying ONE wrench you need it. I always figured the idea was to encourage people to buy the whole set instead of one wrench.

 

[Deskmechanic]

This does not apply to Snap-on. Their wrench sets cost exactly the same as if you bought each wrench individually to complete the set. The only bonus of buying a Snap-on set is the tray or roll-up to store them.

At list price for sure, but it seems like there are always specials running on full sets on the truck.

 

[ADSR]

1.) Because they can...

2. )OCD...

3. )Why not???

Those are the three best answers, that I can think of....

Agreed.