Price difference in Used hand tool Market?

[Ton ton]

I noticed for a 19 mm single wrench the price difference was $10 between smooth open end versus anti - slip. The pawnshop had both versions in stock - same brand. Just curious what the rest of you see in the used hand tool market?

 

[finn]

Haven’t been in a pawn shop in ten years. Rightly or wrongly, I still associate them with tweezers and stolen merchandise.

To each his own, though.

 

[Ton ton]

Haven’t been in a pawn shop in ten years. Rightly or wrongly, I still associate them with tweezers and stolen merchandise.

To each his own, though.

Thank you for the reply.

 

[ecotec]

Haven’t been in a pawn shop in ten years. Rightly or wrongly, I still associate them with tweezers and stolen merchandise.

To each his own, though.

I feel the same way. If you are buying from a pawn shop… there is a good chance that you are buying stolen goods.

 

[Stobal]

Haven’t been in a pawn shop in ten years. Rightly or wrongly, I still associate them with tweezers and stolen merchandise.

To each his own, though.

I assume you mean tweekers? I spent way too long trying to figure out why people were pawning tweezers en masse.

 

[username2]

Just curious what the rest of you see in the used hand tool market?

Aside from the occasional ReStore treasure hunt, I just use eBay.

Mostly what I've noticed is that prices have jumped to ridiculous levels. No bargains anymore. You might as well just buy new and be judicious about brand (ie. German over Snap-on for the better stuff). I could probably get a 300% mark-up on the Snap-on tools I bought on eBay a decade ago.

 

[JradM]

Mostly what I've noticed is that prices have jumped to ridiculous levels. No bargains anymore.

That's been my experience too. I haven't done much pawnshop hunting, but the prices they ask make me wonder how anything ever sells. Presumably you can make an offer - but when the asking price is nearly the same as new I take that as a sign it isn't the place to score a bargain. I don't bother anymore.

In fact, I've often seen power tools with prices that are higher than sales prices for new. That just seems ridiculous. don't know how hard those tools have been used or what condition the batteries are in - but you want more for them than if I just wait for a sale? Maybe I'm a crank.

 

[finn]

I assume you mean tweekers? I spent way too long trying to figure out why people were pawning tweezers en masse.

Yea. Damn Apple autocorrect!

Don’t think I ever saw tweezers in a pawn shop, come to think about it!

 

[uncwstudent]

I buy tools from pawn shops a lot and I've noticed weird pricing on a variety of tools. I have a pawn shop here who sells Craftsman tools like they are gold but thinks little of Matco tools and etc. I've seen others where they want regular retail prices. Others discount things heavily. I think that it differs with each pawn shop and what the manager (or their beloved EBay) thinks that they are worth.

I buy and sell a lot of tools and certain tools just demand more money. You will always get dumb money for Snap On/MAC/and somewhat Matco but other high quality brands demand far less (i.e. Icon, etc.), even though they are phenomenal tools.

As for pawn shops being respositories for stolen merchandise, that is somewhat true. I've seen a ton of people literally bring in their work tools (from their own business) and pawn them to get by until the end of the month. Others are definitely tweekers who are just trying to get a few bucks. One sure way of knowing that something is probably stolen is if it has the name and phone number of the individual on the item. I usually just avoid those. Other times, people get stuff as gifts and don't want them and take them off to the pawn shop to get their $20 rather than sell them online for far more money (which I will never understand).

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

I had to google tweekers. Now I know.

 

[GeoBruin]

I've never been in a pawn shop but I buy a fair amount of tools/machines second hand from Craigslist, OfferUp, etc. as well as ebay.

I think these days eBay has become a lot more legit but there is still a lot of stolen merchandise on Craigslist. I think as far as tools, that is mostly limited to power tools. I don't even know where one would steel hand tools from?

As for pricing, I think you just develop a sense for about what things should cost after a while, and similarly you start to be able to recognize the dreamers and the scammers. Using my intuition filter alone, I've yet to be scammed on a used tool transaction and I've actually made friends with the people I'm transacting with.

 

[dnschmidt]

I've never been in a pawn shop but I do know one guy that owned a pawn shop and he's about as clean as the driven soot so I don't consider that a sign of propriety.

 

[Professional Tool User]

At the end of the day, it depends on how knowledgeable the seller is, how quickly the seller wants to unload the tools, and local market conditions. There was this estate sale I went to where the 3 large Proto wrenches I bought were listed at next to nothing compared to the Westward wrenches they were trying to get rid of. The pawn shop at the end of the day is a middleman with overhead expenses. I wouldn't automatically write all of them off as vendors of stolen goods. Some of them actually follow the rules and are under police monitoring. Depending on the pawnshop, sometimes you can get a good deal while other times they are a waste of time. The same applies to private sellers that don't set realistic prices.

 

[woody 73]

I am not sure about all the items being stolen at least in my area, oh sure it happens but I think they police themselves better in Central Ohio. As far as deals go that is another story, maybe in the last 10 years I have had only a handful of perhaps 3 or 4 good deals; the rest of the time they want close to retail.

I cannot for the life of me figure it out? I am guessing they must make their money on pawn shop loans, and they don't care much if the tools never sell at their asking prices?

Over the many years of reading some of the GJ stories about pawn shops it seems to be a hit and miss, either you have some luck, or they yell and say do not let the door hit you on the way out of my store. Just my observation...

 

[woody 73]

Just this afternoon I walked into three different antique stores, (not pawn shops) and in the first one I found a Starrett Guage in a wooden box and I bought it for $14.95 cents plus state tax and credit card fees which was still a great deal.

Then I walked next door and picked up an old three drawer Kennedy toolbox for $60.00 dollars, because the man was moving his antiques to another store, and he wanted to not move it with him, so another good deal for me.

Lastly at stop number three I found a well-used but in nice shape Brown & Sharp Micrometer in the original box for $25.00 dollars and I thought that was a good deal. I am not sure about price differences, but you still can find good deals by passing the pawn shops for other types of stores if you just look around.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I have a friend, since retired, who owned a pawn shop within fifty feet of a Harbor Freight. He told me that people come in his store literally pulling tools out of their sleeves and jackets with the price tags still on them wanting to pawn. He always turned them down. He knew what I liked and sometimes saved things for me, but usually he sold the good stuff on eBay. Pawn shop buyers like a deal.

 

[Ton ton]

I honestly wasn't expecting this many replies. I will have to look more closely for tweezers next time I go to the pawnshop.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I honestly wasn't expecting this many replies. I will have to look more closely for tweezers next time I go to the pawnshop.

I actually do keep several sizes and styles of tweezers in my box.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Seems about all that is around here is Cashland instead of pawnshops. Nothing more than organized loansharking.

We watch people bring TVs and laptops in about the 20th of the month and back to pick it up on the first of the next month.

Tools, nothing but over priced well used power tools.

 

[ecotec]

I actually do keep several sizes and styles of tweezers in my box.

I love tweezers I have been buying USA, Germany and Switzerland tweezers at estate sales and garage sales. They have so many uses.
I have lots of kitchen tweezers, too… (cooking, plating, fish bone, Korean BBQ…) but I would never buy them used. Gross.

Tweekers, on the other hand… I do not allow near my life or house. I can’t tell you how many stories I have heard from coworkers whose garages and homes have been robbed by tweekers… often their own family members…

 

[tez929rr]

Seems about all that is around here is Cashland instead of pawnshops. Nothing more than organized loansharking.

We watch people bring TVs and laptops in about the 20th of the month and back to pick it up on the first of the next month.

Tools, nothing but over priced well used power tools.

I had to stop in a place next to a lawn shop a couple of weeks ago, so out of curiosity I took a look. Almost no hand tools and nothing worth buying. Lots of power tools.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I see deals. I’ve been a regular at a local pawn shop since 2019. They see me come in and we talk for a bit and I fill up my box with whatever hand tools I want and throw a $20 on the counter. If there is any power or air tools or anything I want we negotiate a price. I’ve never paid anything close to retail and would not in a pawn shop. I’ve gotten several USA Craftsman, Snap-on, Matco, Mac, SK, Proto, USA Husky, USA Kobalt and many other brands in those boxes I fill up. And at Christmas time and 4th of July etc they say give me $10 so I usually hand the guy a $20 and say keep the change. I will only deal with that guy the rest of them do want crazy prices me and him are cool though he don’t care anything about tools he likes guns and gold and video game systems. I don’t think tools are a big seller for them because I see some of them that are the same as when I started going in there lol. Probably because people hear prices from those other dudes and say no. I got a Craftsman gunmetal tool set in there I asked him how much he said put it in your box and I asked about the large Husky mechanics set he said let’s see it’s got all the pieces $50 for that and you can have the box today and I was like heck yeah man. It was a large set too like 100 something pieces. I’ve also walked out of there with vintage toolboxes fill of tools too for great prices too many great finds to list. That pawn shop is how I’ve gotten majority of my sockets that also how I ended up with over 2,000 sockets now lol.

There used to be one here right next to a Harbor Freight that guy would not negotiate with me one bit his prices were high in my opinion so I never really got much from him. There is another in the area too wants $1 per socket that’s crazy especially when it’s a Chinese socket or something. I don’t even want to pay that much for a Craftsman or Snap-on because when I come to a pawn shop I’m looking for a deal plus it’s used.

 

[Ricky Joe]

I see deals. I’ve been a regular at a local pawn shop since 2019. They see me come in and we talk for a bit and I fill up my box with whatever hand tools I want and throw a $20 on the counter. If there is any power or air tools or anything I want we negotiate a price. I’ve never paid anything close to retail and would not in a pawn shop. I’ve gotten several USA Craftsman, Snap-on, Matco, Mac, SK, Proto, USA Husky, USA Kobalt and many other brands in those boxes I fill up. And at Christmas time and 4th of July etc they say give me $10 so I usually hand the guy a $20 and say keep the change. I will only deal with that guy the rest of them do want crazy prices me and him are cool though he don’t care anything about tools he likes guns and gold and video game systems. I don’t think tools are a big seller for them because I see some of them that are the same as when I started going in there lol. Probably because people hear prices from those other dudes and say no. I got a Craftsman gunmetal tool set in there I asked him how much he said put it in your box and I asked about the large Husky mechanics set he said let’s see it’s got all the pieces $50 for that and you can have the box today and I was like heck yeah man. It was a large set too like 100 something pieces. I’ve also walked out of there with vintage toolboxes fill of tools too for great prices too many great finds to list. That pawn shop is how I’ve gotten majority of my sockets that also how I ended up with over 2,000 sockets now lol.

There used to be one here right next to a Harbor Freight that guy would not negotiate with me one bit his prices were high in my opinion so I never really got much from him. There is another in the area too wants $1 per socket that’s crazy especially when it’s a Chinese socket or something. I don’t even want to pay that much for a Craftsman or Snap-on because when I come to a pawn shop I’m looking for a deal plus it’s used.

That was Jeff next to the Harbor Freight. He retired, closed shop, and moved back to Florida to be near his grandkids. He was a really good guy. Some of his prices were high if you were looking for a stone deal, but he knew what he could get on eBay, so I don’t fault him. Victor over on ninth street is reasonable to deal with. I grew up with his brother, and have known him since he was about five years old. I stop in to see him on the rare occasion I get over that way. There is seldom anything I want there, but sometimes. Also a good guy on Peter’s Creek Road. Not the easiest to talk a deal out of, but not stupid.

 

[theoldwizard1]

People selling old "Made in the USA" tools are insane ! They want more than brand new ones !

15+ years ago, you could buy of them on eBay cheap. I have been shopping for metric DBE for a couple but I am not going to pay rediculos prices. Sadly, SBD has decided not to make DBE wrenches anymore!

 

[Professional Tool User]

People selling old "Made in the USA" tools are insane ! They want more than brand new ones !

15+ years ago, you could buy of them on eBay cheap. I have been shopping for metric DBE for a couple but I am not going to pay rediculos prices. Sadly, SBD has decided not to make DBE wrenches anymore!

EBay in general is a waste of time. It's often simply not worth shipping tools due to weight, let alone the prices. If you live in a big enough urban area to support a decent sized used market, it's usually cheaper and easier to buy off classifieds.

 

[Ricky Joe]

EBay in general is a waste of time. It's often simply not worth shipping tools due to weight, let alone the prices. If you live in a big enough urban area to support a decent sized used market, it's usually cheaper and easier to buy off classifieds.

The secret to eBay value is books! Especially if, like me, the I information is more important than the medium. Cheapest education you can get!

 

[ecotec]

The secret to eBay value is books! Especially if, like me, the I information is more important than the medium. Cheapest education you can get!

Does or did the usps give a pretty good deal on shipping books and media and such? I thought that I heard such a thing.

 

[Professional Tool User]

The secret to eBay value is books! Especially if, like me, the I information is more important than the medium. Cheapest education you can get!

There's something that's free called your local public library. I only buy books if I want a reference copy or the library doesn't happen to have it - almost never. There's also access to other resources like newspaper and magazine subscriptions so you don't have to pay.

 

[Ton ton]

Ricky Joe, don't you have a local library? We have a pretty decent one where I live.

 

[bonneyman]

I've had really good luck with pawn shops. In 15 years of looking I've only turned done one quote for a lot of tools.

I have found so many good and solid tools I can't imagine not returning to the pawnies. Prices have gone up this past year - but so has everything. I just snagged a Mountain double flex ratcheting wrench for $9 and change. Was a bit rough, so tried cleaning it. The flat coil spring popped out of the one end! Had to finagle it out, but couldn't reuse it. Fashioned another spring out of a suitable piece of stainless wire and got it back in the groove. Seems to work fine. Just the latest in my pawnie finds.

 

[Ricky Joe]

Ricky Joe, don't you have a local library? We have a pretty decent one where I live.

Library is two miles from where I live. Many of the books I read are somewhat esoteric. Currently reading “Woodrow Wilson As I Know Him”, by Joseph Tumulty, his personal secretary, written in 1921. Probably out of rotation at the library, $1.99 on eBay, about what gas would cost me round trip to the library and I will always have it for reference.

There's something that's free called your local public library. I only buy books if I want a reference copy or the library doesn't happen to have it - almost never. There's also access to other resources like newspaper and magazine subscriptions so you don't have to pay.

ok, not cheapest, but not too expensive, either, and certainly not as expensive as a college education!

 

[nadogail]

Does or did the usps give a pretty good deal on shipping books and media and such? I thought that I heard such a thing.

I shipped several hundred pounds of books using the USPS Book Rate, in 1981.

 

[nadogail]

Used hand are priced like used cars they are bought for the least possible price and sold for as much as the Seller can get from a willing buyer.

If you need a wrench when all the other sources are closed; you can expect to pay well for the opportunity to buy it when you want it.

 

[Ton ton]

Library is two miles from where I live. Many of the books I read are somewhat esoteric. Currently reading “Woodrow Wilson As I Know Him”, by Joseph Tumulty, his personal secretary, written in 1921. Probably out of rotation at the library, $1.99 on eBay, about what gas would cost me round trip to the library and I will always have it for reference.

ok, not cheapest, but not too expensive, either, and certainly not as expensive as a college education!

Thank you for the reply , Ricky Joe. It makes sense.

 

[Allpurpose]

Back when I operated a body shop out of my dad's garage WAY BACK when I had to pawn my sanders and other tools, go next door to the automotive paint supply house, buy the paint, paint the car, get paid then go back to the pawn shop 3 days later and get my tools plus whatever else I could afford at the time.. I did that for about 4 years. The guy at the pawn always gave me great deals on my tools, enough to buy the paint and anything else I needed. I grabbed a GREAT old Binks gun there.. Ugly as sin, but man..It laid down a perfect finish.. Later alcoholism did me in, but that's another body shop horror story..

 

[Ton ton]

Back when I operated a body shop out of my dad's garage WAY BACK when I had to pawn my sanders and other tools, go next door to the automotive paint supply house, buy the paint, paint the car, get paid then go back to the pawn shop 3 days later and get my tools plus whatever else I could afford at the time.. I did that for about 4 years. The guy at the pawn always gave me great deals on my tools, enough to buy the paint and anything else I needed. I grabbed a GREAT old Binks gun there.. Ugly as sin, but man..It laid down a perfect finish.. Later alcoholism did me in, but that's another body shop horror story..

Thank you for the pawn shop story.

 

[johninct]

I noticed for a 19 mm single wrench the price difference was $10 between smooth open end versus anti - slip. The pawnshop had both versions in stock - same brand. Just curious what the rest of you see in the used hand tool market?

You know that those wrenches are for different applications and not always interchangeable.

 

[Ton ton]

You know that those wrenches are for different applications and not always interchangeable.

Do you care to explain further? I know my question could come across as ignorant but it's not my intention.

 

[johninct]

Do you care to explain further? I know my question could come across as ignorant but it's not my intention.

Wrenches that have grooves cut in them like Snap-On Flank Drive Plus are to be used on a bolt that is really tight or rusted where you need to put as much force into it as you can and can't get a box end on it. The grooves help put the turning force into the bolt where it does the most good and also prevent slipping. The bad part is, it will dig in and mar up the bolt head. If you like bolts that are marred use the grooved style. To prevent it, use a regular open end wrench. I read that one guy used the wrenches with the grooves on a customer's aluminum fittings, I am sure that they were really happy. You need both types.

 

[Ton ton]

Wrenches that have grooves cut in them like Snap-On Flank Drive Plus are to be used on a bolt that is really tight or rusted where you need to put as much force into it as you can and can't get a box end on it. The grooves help put the turning force into the bolt where it does the most good and also prevent slipping. The bad part is, it will dig in and mar up the bolt head. If you like bolts that are marred use the grooved style. To prevent it, use a regular open end wrench. I read that one guy used the wrenches with the grooves on a customer's aluminum fittings, I am sure that they were really happy. You need both types.

Thank you for the explanation, johninct.