My first and probably last Tool Truck purchase

[glenmore]

Due to poor planning on my part, I was in a rush to replace a leaky water pump over the long weekend. I had the parts shipped 2 day and I reluctantly bought one tool from the Matco truck Thursday afternoon. In preparing for the repair, I had read that a 6mm flex allen socket would come in handy and I noticed that Matco had a nice one. Ordinarily I would shop ebay for a bargain but I needed it right away. The truck happened to have the exact one I needed, 6mm. Odd coincidence that it was the only flex allen he had on the entire truck. $18! Yikes!

 

[Danglerb]

I have some of those by Snapon, when you need it, you need it.

 

[boogerboy72]

I have some of those by Snapon, when you need it, you need it.

quoted for truth.

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

That's not really that bad a price IMO.

 

[Fubar]

That's not really that bad a price IMO.

That was my first thought. How much cheaper could it possibly be off Ebay after figuring percentages lost from PayPal, original price, and shipping??

 

[tank4114]

over in aus a sidchrome joint costs about $40 and that's our middle of the line brand

 

[philw]

$18 is a deal! Snap-on wants $40.75 for the 1/4 version.

Why is it your last tool truck purchase? Because of price?

 

[selohssa]

I like buying stuff used to save a buck, so don't get me wrong. It cost you $18 to get the job done right. What time and aggrivation would it cost you if you did not have that tool?
I buy a lot of stuff for work new off of the truck even though I can get it cheaper used if I wait around for it. If I need it, I need it. I am in no rush to fill out my home collection. If it takes me 20 years to find all of the goodies used, so be it.

 

[hedjhawg]

30 minutes lost f'ing around with the wrong tool... $25
Rounded fasteners from the wrong tool... $5
30 minutes going to the parts store for replacement fasteners... $25
First aid for the busted knuckles of trying to use the wrong tool... $15
Very fairly-priced, lifetime-warrantied proper $18 Matco socket for doing-it-right-the-first-time... Priceless.

Send your Matco guy a Thank You note...

 

[Fedwrench]

Yes, the $18 seems like a bargain but, that black band at the base screams Silver Eagle which isn't real Matco. However, it will probably get the job done. On the other hand, you can't put a price on specialty tools needed to get a job done. After all, how much money did you save by doing the water pump yourself?
Lastly, for those people that squeek when they walk and think $18 is absurd for one tool, don't try being a mechanic. Leave that skill to the professionals and don't try it at home because, you'll hurt the car you're working on, yourself or any combination there of.

 

[Hank McMauser]

I would tend to agree, $18.00 isn't too bad for a somewhat specialty tool, you're not gonna find six of those everytime you browse through a flea market. Figure your time spent browsing/searching on e-bay you'll never get back,& remember time is money.

 

[Scout Driver]

I agree with the rest of the posters.. Your purchase was wise. And in the end, even a frugal one. Just imagine the satisfaction you find when you get to use the same tool again.

Scott

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

That's not really that bad a price IMO.

Doesn't seem bad to me, and I've never even been on a tool truck.

 

[chad s]

That was my first thought. How much cheaper could it possibly be off Ebay after figuring percentages lost from PayPal, original price, and shipping??

Paypal takes it's percentage from the seller, not the buyer.

 

[1984GMC]

yup, Now you have a 18.00 tool you will never have to use again.

 

[pacmktg]

1984GMC, Man you need some happy pills.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

that not that bad price.....

 

[Stick Figure]

Paypal takes it's percentage from the seller, not the buyer.

but sellers know this and will usually inflate the price accordingly.

 

[turrican]

yup, Now you have a 18.00 tool you will never have to use again.

On the other hand, he also has a repaired water pump.

Cost of the job...

 

[t100]

I'll take that $18 against sitting out a whole weekend all pissed off by looking at all the $$$ worth of parts and a broken down truck, there's nothing I could do about it just because that 1 tiny tool I needed wasn't there.

been there, done that. $18 is a small price to pay when you get shits done.

 

[walrus]

Never seen a flex hex before, if you needed it to do the job it was well worth it

 

[Junkman]

I spent more than $18 on a tool back in 1965 to do a repair, and haven't used that tool since. If spending $18 on a tool once to do a job bothers you, then I suggest that you might consider a good pair of shoes and forget about driving a car. It cost more than $18 just to put gas into the beast to drive it for a weekend. Some people have their life's priorities in all the wrong places...

 

[chad s]

but sellers know this and will usually inflate the price accordingly.

A standard eBay auction goes to the highest bidder, the bidders dictate the market price, not the seller. So the seller loses the pay pal fees, but it's the cost of doing business.

 

[Hank McMauser]

if you're not going to use the tool ever again, quit complainin' about the price and put it up on E-bay yourself, recoup some,if not all of your money. Put in the description the make & model car it's used on for the water pump repair so someone else will reallize what tools they'd need for the repairs.
Then use that money on the Matco truck next time he's at the shop on something you'll use more often,and have more pleasure having the $18.00 invested in.
Remember the Matco man might just be reinvesting some of his money into your local community,by supporting the local athletic teams/h.s. bands etc. What's the e-bay seller 1500 miles away doing for you & your community?

 

[Zrexxer]

Yes, the $18 seems like a bargain but, that black band at the base screams Silver Eagle which isn't real Matco.

That's the first thing I noticed - that's Silver Eagle which is Matco's "Blue Point" line - Taiwanese made. Now, all that being said, if it gets the job done it's priceless - but I hate seeing the tooltrucks charge premiums for imported stuff.

 

[Stick Figure]

A standard eBay auction goes to the highest bidder, the bidders dictate the market price, not the seller. So the seller loses the pay pal fees, but it's the cost of doing business.

Which would be the case if it wasn't for things like buy it now, reserves, or letting the buyer determine the opening bid. I miss the old days on ebay where i could list 20 items all starting at a $1 and just let the bidding deciding what was going to happen.

 

[chad s]

Which would be the case if it wasn't for things like buy it now, reserves, or letting the buyer determine the opening bid. I miss the old days on ebay where i could list 20 items all starting at a $1 and just let the bidding deciding what was going to happen.

Well you still can, and in many cases low opening bids encourages more bidding, and often results in a higher final sale price.

 

[MarcSeattle]

Have you seen the pivot head hex key wrenches?

I think they're really handy. I don't use regular L-keys any more, or my t-handles, or my hex screwdrivers. Just my SO hex sockets and these. A company called Hex Pro patented these, but Gearwrench makes them:

http://www.gearwrench.com/catalog/bit_sockets/hex/setdetails.jsp?part=82410

I found them at Sears on a screaming deal sale for $25, I think they're normally about $45.

 

[crewchief888]

I have some of those by Snapon, when you need it, you need it.

quoted for truth.

$18 is a deal! Snap-on wants $40.75 for the 1/4 version.

Why is it your last tool truck purchase? Because of price?

if this driver was the saving grace, and avoided a f*cked up bolt, bleeding knuckles, and having to chase the ratchet/socket/allen wrench across the garage 14 times after getting pissed and throwing it....

maybe the $18 was worth it.

like many members here, i have $1000's of tool that i rarely use, but that one time you need it, it's worth having.

 

[glenmore]

After all, how much money did you save by doing the water pump yourself?

This is about a $700 job. The pump cost me $165, belt $25.

Lastly, for those people that squeek when they walk and think $18 is absurd for one tool, don't try being a mechanic.

Hey, I resemble that remark!

Thanks guys, I agree with all of you, more or less! I love the tools but just hate paying retail. If I could go back in time, a 13mm "S" 12pt box wrench would have been the thing to have.

 

[crewchief888]

This is about a $700 job. The pump cost me $165, belt $25.



Hey, I resemble that remark!

Thanks guys, I agree with all of you, more or less! I love the tools but just hate paying retail. If I could go back in time, a 13mm "S" 12pt box wrench would have been the thing to have.

find the wrench on ebay, buy it, then you'll have it for the next time
or you could specialize on those WP jobs, you'll have alla the right tools.

 

[nato]

$18 for a Silver Eagle product isn't too bad. I bet the actual 'Matco' is $30'ish (?).
I bet it'll last you forever though.