10 Things Not to Buy on Black Friday

[Straightgrain]

For what it's worth, I just saw this posted on Marketwatch.com today, the link follows:

Tools

Although there are some credible savings on specific tool sets and tool storage items in Black Friday advertisements, there are bigger savings in late spring, particularly around Father’s Day in June, says Brent Shelton, spokesman for deal site FatWallet.com. Specialty brands like Craftsman dominate the majority of tool deals on Black Friday, but there is a wider selection of deals for some of the higher end brands like DeWalt and Milwaukee tools around Memorial Day and Father’s Day. In fact, Father’s Day sales were ranked the best time of the year to find tool deals by a ratio of more than 2-to-1 over Black Friday, according to FatWallet’s “2014 Tools Buying Survey.”

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-things-not-to-buy-on-black-friday-2014-11-21

 

[panknuckshovel]

The last 2 years the few things I was interested in as a black friday deal were even less expensive 2 weeks later. The whole day is nothing but a marketing scam toward the lowest common denominator.

 

[Jason280]

When you buy tools from pawn shops 365 days a year, gimmicky holiday "sales" become pretty much pointless...

 

[Straightgrain]

Speaking of pawn shop buys, today I picked up a 1/4" drive Proto Los Angeles ratchet for $1.50 which cleaned up nicely.

 

[Jarhead0408]

When you buy tools from pawn shops 365 days a year, gimmicky holiday "sales" become pretty much pointless...

Annnnnnd you nailed it man. That's how I have gotten 80% of my tools. That includes woodworking, automotive, electrical, plumbing, etc. etc. etc.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I just picked up a 3/8" Napa impact gun ($199 retail) for $39 shipped from a pawn shop. My best deals on tools usually come from pawn shops on ebay.

 

[nicksnothereman]

When you buy tools from pawn shops 365 days a year, gimmicky holiday "sales" become pretty much pointless...

Some of the stuff is useful. Gimmicks can be useful. Plus...I don't see a whole lot of hand tools at pawn shops (honestly don't look all the time but still). I saw one sk set (80s maybe?) for like 150 bucks and assorted other stuff I wouldn't touch (torque wrenches). Maybe it's my area I don't know.

 

[Banjorear]

I just picked up a 3/8" Napa impact gun ($199 retail) for $39 shipped from a pawn shop. My best deals on tools usually come from pawn shops on ebay.

Curious, can you vet out pawn shops on the Ebay filter or you just need to look for the tool and the then check out the seller?

 

[devoncoolman]

I always check out the clearence section at my local sears everytime i go in there. Ive gotten smokin deals on open items, returned items with no packaging, discontinued or just now non-stocking items. Same with my local farmers market get great deals on good used and sometimes brandnew for a fraction of new.

 

[bcradio]

When you buy tools from pawn shops 365 days a year, gimmicky holiday "sales" become pretty much pointless...

Annnnnnd you nailed it man. That's how I have gotten 80% of my tools. That includes woodworking, automotive, electrical, plumbing, etc. etc. etc.

Wish we had pawn shops worth a damn here. They want $6 each for Craftsman RP wrenches here... and have terrible selection. My time is much too valuable to waste chasing down the rare pawn shop score here. Spending $40 in gas and multiple days time to save $40 is not really worth it.

I just picked up a 3/8" Napa impact gun ($199 retail) for $39 shipped from a pawn shop. My best deals on tools usually come from pawn shops on ebay.

I do find good deals on Ebay pawn shops here and there

PS Jason280 - it's time for an updated Avatar I think.

 

[SMKS]

Many (not all) shop vacs are an especially bad deal on BF. Lowe's and HD offer special, cut-rate, low quality shop vacs they bring in just to discount on BF. They're low-end models with few accessories that look like a good deal on first blush, but really aren't.

If you're shopping for a vac on BF, there are some good deals. Just make sure the one you're getting is a normal model, not a de-contented BF special.

 

[Mpower5266]

I used to sell tools at Sears. Almost everything listed in the black friday ad was available for the black friday price 5 or 6 days later. It was about 7 or 8 years ago but I would always laugh at the people camped out to get a $19 drill at 4am when we had stacks of them coming in on the next truck to be sold at $19.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Curious, can you vet out pawn shops on the Ebay filter or you just need to look for the tool and the then check out the seller?

No, you can't, but usually their auctions have a really low starting bid or "buy it now". When I come across a pawn shop item I will always check out their other items for sale as they will typically only pawn high quality stuff.

 

[wild cowboy]

Curious, can you vet out pawn shops on the Ebay filter or you just need to look for the tool and the then check out the seller?

just find them by the tool, but stick with pawn shops that have 99.5% positive feedback or higher

ebay is weird, 98% positive is a BAD score for an ebay seller! - I know, that seems illogical, but it's a fact!

Source: on ebay for 17 years!

 

[espyking83]

I've never seen quality tools on sale during Bkack Friday. Usually just electronics.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I've never seen quality tools on sale during Bkack Friday. Usually just electronics.

I never see anything of quality on Black Friday, just lost leader **** that people can't seem to live without. It amazes me that people literally camp out for weeks to save a few hundred bucks on stuff they don't need. If you can't afford an item at a normal sale price, you probably should be at work and not in line to buy a flat screen TV.

We don't see quality tools for sale because even at drastically reduced prices, they won't interest a Black Friday shopper. For example, HD knows they won't attract customers with $12 Channellock pliers, but a 4 pack of *********** pliers for $10 will bring them in. Luckily, online tool retailers still put on sales that interest enthusiasts and professionals.

 

[abk241]

....


I do find good deals on Ebay pawn shops here and there

PS Jason280 - it's time for an updated Avatar I think.

I thought 'good deals' on fleabay were a thing of the past.
Maybe I'm just interested in all the wrong things.

OTOH....what's wrong with Jason280s avatar?

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

OTOH....what's wrong with Jason280s avatar?

Not a thing! We just want an updated avatar!

 

[espyking83]

I never see anything of quality on Black Friday, just lost leader **** that people can't seem to live without. It amazes me that people literally camp out for weeks to save a few hundred bucks on stuff they don't need. If you can't afford an item at a normal sale price, you probably should be at work and not in line to buy a flat screen TV.

We don't see quality tools for sale because even at drastically reduced prices, they won't interest a Black Friday shopper. For example, HD knows they won't attract customers with $12 Channellock pliers, but a 4 pack of *********** pliers for $10 will bring them in. Luckily, online tool retailers still put on sales that interest enthusiasts and professionals.

There's huge sales on quality tablets, pc's, etc