Buying new vs used tools?

[BryanB]

How do you guys determine if it's worth it to buy used vs new? I've been watching ebay and I'm struggling a bit with if it's worth it. I see a lot of pawn shops listing sets of tools for damn near what they go for new? Also, I'm not interested in supporting the resale of stolen tools, which I gotta think is some of where they get their stuff.

Warranty issues with buying used? I see a lot of threads with people talking about keeping receipts for warranty claims?

Garage sales haven't started up here in the frozen tundra yet so ebay/craigslist has been my outlet for "used" searches......

 

[Parrothead]

I just buy what I find if it's a good price. Mostly power tools as I like complete sets for hand tools.

 

[CobraChevelle]

I bought some nice used snap on tools for fraction of the price..

edit:

on ebay, I notice CM usa is nuts for price, I been watching snap on, williams, mac and matco. So far bought all snap on. just compare prices to there website vs new and what was sold in the past even on this forum. Those pawn stores are on crack. selling Harbor freight **** for more than going to harbor.

 

[rsanter]

First I look at condition. Wether it's mine or I am looking to buy I don't want POS condition tools
Next I look at price. Is the discount from new enough to get me to buy.

Like new or excellent I will pay 50-60%

Price drops very quick with condion after that

Bob

 

[Jure]

How do you guys determine if it's worth it to buy used vs new? I've been watching ebay and I'm struggling a bit with if it's worth it. I see a lot of pawn shops listing sets of tools for damn near what they go for new? Also, I'm not interested in supporting the resale of stolen tools, which I gotta think is some of where they get their stuff.

Warranty issues with buying used? I see a lot of threads with people talking about keeping receipts for warranty claims?

Garage sales haven't started up here in the frozen tundra yet so ebay/craigslist has been my outlet for "used" searches......

i'm OK with used tools (even marked) as far as the price and condition are good
and i dont give a single f__k if they are stolen tools or not,i will pay the price for them anyway.

 

[DonPowers]

Depends on the tool, condition, vintage & price.

There are a lot of older tools that I would rather have than their newer counterparts, like 70's - 80's vintage Milwaukee, Miller Falls or Porter Cable.

Lots of older large power tools like table saws and drill presses can be had for a fraction of the cost of a new one. The good ones are also better built. Condition is key. I bought a 70's vintage Delta Unisaw with tons of accessories, 8 foot table, mobile base and very nice fence for around half the price of a new basic model Unisaw.

If someone is asking 80 - 90% of new cost for small tools, I would rather buy new.

If its something hard to find, then its a sellers market.

 

[zkling]

Only tools I'm hesitant about buying used are portable power tools, especially battery powered. The time and parts to repair them can add up very fast. Thus they need to be in very good condition and/or very cheap.

 

[slow]

Power tools, always new.

I search the pawn shops and stuff for used on occasion, do not be afraid to make an offer, I have purchased things for near 50% of asking price. Bring paper cash, and I have had the best luck on fridays as people are there trying to get cash for the weekend, vs buying stuff. Your results may vary.

I need to save 50% of the cost to consider used, unless the used is better than the new due to changes in the part.

Ryan

 

[abvw]

Anything with a serial number and limited warranty, buy new.

 

[Strouty]

I really think the appropriate answer depends on a few things. What is the intended use, home, hobby, commercial, or industrial? Will the tool make you money or save you time? How deep are your pockets or how much debt do you want to go into? Do you live in or above the rust belt?

I buy new tools when they have a relatively short lifespan, like cordless tools.

I would buy used hand tools as long as they were about 50% below what I can buy new ones for and were in like new condition.

Air tools are hit or miss, but I like to buy used only when they are a good brand that has parts available.

As far as larger power tools, I would prefer used so I can buy a much higher quality than what I could get if buying new.

Corded tools hand held tools I would buy used if they are in good condition, most of the older milwaukee stuff is USA made and can be rebuilt.

If a tool will make me money tomorrow, I will buy it new in a second, some of my jobs I actually figure the cost of new tools into the price.

 

[enrare]

What's your thoughts on pricing for new tools from Ebay that obviously are minus the manufacture warranty? At what point is it worthwhile??

 

[BryanB]

What's your thoughts on pricing for new tools from Ebay that obviously are minus the manufacture warranty? At what point is it worthwhile??

Exactly, I think a lot of people find value not only in the quality of the tool, but the fact that it's lifetime warranty. Now, I suppose you could argue that the money you save on the set of tools far outweighs the cost of new, so even if you cant warranty it you just buy a new one and you're still better off.

 

[CobraChevelle]

What's your thoughts on pricing for new tools from Ebay that obviously are minus the manufacture warranty? At what point is it worthwhile??

Me, I bought alot of "new" tools and ebay ( I even sell news tools still in box on there) for what I save and for what people buy from me vs from a store. you could almost buy 2. It all depends on the extra $ you have.. Me I don't have the extra $ so I go for the best deal.

 

[sberry]

When I need it I need it and its not a hobby, I usually buy new power and air tools. I stick close to channelock and vise grip, can live with Cman level for most the rest of it and tend to buy new for convenience.

 

[Cope]

Most of my Snap on is 1965-68 vintage, and I have been slowly filling in by box end wrenches with vintage off eBay. Same with my socket sets.

 

[dpaton]

I but used usually. I stick to brands that have lifetime warranties, and are high quality, well built, and usually USA COO.

Minus a warranty, the tool either needs to have specific value to a need I have, or it needs to be built like a brick ********* and will never break. If it does, it needs to be cheap enough to be considered disposable at some point in the future.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

I personally like to buy used, you can save alot of money on name brand tools(Snap-On, Mac, Matco, etc.) and I only ever buy USA tools so that's what I like to do but I buy new stuff too but its hard to come by USA stuff so I don't buy new often. It's up were you get your stuff but its all comes down to if you'll settle for china or if your like me and prefer USA, if you like USA then used is usually the way to go but if you like imports then new is best.

 

[Bruce57]

I have bought a fair amount of like new Snap On tools off eBay. I generally look for items that are at least 50% or more below retail.

 

[ChrisPace]

Snap on is actually a pretty good buy on eBay sometimes. Recently I've been thinking more and more about switching a lot of my tools to used snap on deals if I can find the right stuff.

The discontinued craftsman professional screwdrivers are in sane on eBay. I bought a set a few years ago, but I've lost a couple and I thought I would replace them but they're selling for more than snap on. They are good screwdrivers and I believe they are made by SK


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[crewchief888]

First I look at condition. Wether it's mine or I am looking to buy I don't want POS condition tools
Next I look at price. Is the discount from new enough to get me to buy.

Like new or excellent I will pay 50-60%

Price drops very quick with condion after that

Bob

Only tools I'm hesitant about buying used are portable power tools, especially battery powered. The time and parts to repair them can add up very fast. Thus they need to be in very good condition and/or very cheap.

most of my powered tools i buy new, especially cordless.

i buy a few assorted hand tools used,
all depends on what it is, condition ( rust, paint, grease or owners marks dont bother me) and price.

especially price

i'm cheap, and i probably really dont NEED it anyway.

 

[woody 73]

Funny thing but not to long ago I did a post about this topic in the Free parking section and the answers I got were all very good. If you are ever at a party it is a good question to break the ice as they say.

 

[coleman10]

Funny thing but not to long ago I did a post about this topic in the Free parking section and the answers I got were all very good. If you are ever at a party it is a good question to break the ice as they say.

Funny. At the parties I'd go to, if I spoke about tools, all the guys I know would be like deer in headlights. Anything more advanced than twisting a screw and I'll be talking to myself.

 

[manioso]

Over the years, I have bought all of my floor jacks used. Been able to upgrade by buying and selling and make a few bucks in the process. Personally, I only buy American made and those that are rebuildable.

Currently have a Hein Werner OS 1 1/4 ton, a HW WS 1 1/2 ton, a Milwaukee Mdl 20 2 ton, and a Walker 93657 4 ton. All were purchased used, and the HW's have been out of production for decades.

Would love to find a clean used Milw Mdl 40 at a reasonable price. I've got an F350 which I use the Walker. Milw 4 ton is nice because it's lighter and more compact.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

If I look at a tool, and see that it is durable, is an acceptable brand, and fits a particular need; that is the tool I target... This is where the price shopping comes in.. With sellers like Zoro, Epsteins, and Cripe,,,, the used tool sellers on eBay will be passed over unless their tools have not been engraved, ground, cheater bared, or badly worn... If the used tools appear acceptable to me; I look at their other offerings for savings on combined shipping.
Good quality used tools are ok with me..... The new tools that I bought a month ago are now used ..... Whether it was me or another responsible owner who first used them means little.

 

[pauls_workshop]

I buy used all the time, used USA mainly. Wife and I like garage sales, and I'll pick up stuff I find dirt cheap there if good quality. Only tools to get new would be things with features or designs better than in the past, or things you just won't find often at sales, or a really great deal. Things like sockets or wrenches or pliers I'd rather have older US made stuff than new foreign COO. - Paul

 

[stovebolt6]

Buying used is the only way I can afford nice tools hahah.

But that's fine. Usually with hand tools, they either work or they don't (are broken). Cosmetics aren't huge to me because they're just going to get beat up anyways. I used to really hate owner's marks, but I'm starting not to care anymore. When I'm using my tools, I tend to be focused on the work piece, not staring at the imperfection on the wrench I'm using.

 

[sailah]

I prefer used tools, mainly because I like vintage American tools and they are available super cheap by being in the right place at the right time. Often I find the quality, even used, is superlative to anything new.

Things like larger drill bits are very cheap used and with a little sharpening are ready to rock n roll in my home shop.

I find I typically buy "lots" of tools, enough I can sell off half of what I bought and I get my half for free. Nothing better than free tools! Of course I immediately respend what "I saved", wife's logic, so I can buy more tools...

I also like used tools, especially older Industrial Age machines, because I feel they tell a story. I like to reflect on the usage they had, the parts they made, the men who turned the handles. It makes me feel good that I can bring a tool back to its former glory and I'll help tell part of it's story too. It's hard to not want to save everything though, have to pick your battles.

 

[MG11068]

I don't buy used tools very often but I did buy a used, mismatched 3/8 drive set off ebay the other day. Don't really need any of it but figured why not since it was less than $10.

 

[MattVette89]

It depends on the tools. I've bought some automotive diagnostic tools online because they are obsolete and I had to buy used. Usually I was happy to get them for a fraction of the original dealer cost/price. I don't see buying used cordless tools since the battery life might be iffy. For hand tools as long as the condition is good and the price is good, I think it's a great way to save money.

 

[2oolhound]

I prefer used tools over new. I buy good euro or north american made tools and some japanese too. The replicas being made by the asian conglomerates seem to me like fakes that are mass produced after the patents expired so I own very few of them. I break very few tools and when I do it's usually from abuse so I don't even think about warranty, I just buck up and buy another and use my back up till I find another.

The stolen tool thing is grossly over exaggerated imo. I've been to enough garage and estate sales, flea markets and swap meets to realize there are tons of legitimate used tools out there and a low percentage of stolen ones. I've been on ebay for 16 years and know how stringent I am over stolen tools and know there are many other sellers with the same principals. If there is a hint a tool is stolen I walk away. Buying them supports criminals and makes their thievery profitable so they keep doing it. When will you be the next victim?

Pretty well everything I've ever owned I got used, most my tools, vehicles, dogs, cats, the house, girlfriends, even though I've been accused of stealing some of those I swear I paid dearly for every one.

 

[BryanB]

Thanks everyone for your opinions....im headed in the right direction now. The hardest part about buying is not getting too emotional and overpaying. Gotta know when to pass vs pull the trigger.

 

[nicksnothereman]

How do you guys determine if it's worth it to buy used vs new? I've been watching ebay and I'm struggling a bit with if it's worth it. I see a lot of pawn shops listing sets of tools for damn near what they go for new? Also, I'm not interested in supporting the resale of stolen tools, which I gotta think is some of where they get their stuff.

Warranty issues with buying used? I see a lot of threads with people talking about keeping receipts for warranty claims?

Garage sales haven't started up here in the frozen tundra yet so ebay/craigslist has been my outlet for "used" searches......

You could technically get better stuff cheaper than new if you pick right, the problem is that warranty service will be iffy unless you're already a customer with the driver (and they don't really keep track of what you buy).

I don't really buy used hand tools unless I get a good deal; sometimes I do. I won't warranty them though (on principle alone).