Aw hell.... The Cummins tool gypsy parade

[eschoendorff]

I got a flyer in the mail saying that the Cummins tool extravaganza is coming to my area. Usually They show up one town over... but this time they are setting up shop - get this - two blocks from my house! I wasn't gonna go, but I think I will this time. I'll just leave ALL forms of payment at home.

Maybe I'll take my dad with me and we'll go and look at ****. They have an awful lot of reconditioned Ryobi and Ridgid power tools that they're hawking. You know, the Home Depot rejects. This should be fun.

 

[wythors]

They came to my town a few months ago. They filled up the Yacht Club hall with a huge pile of ****. Not one thing worth buying. I still regret using up those 15 minutes of my life on that waste.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I live within 5 miles of a store, and I visit them occassionally. I have bought some good tools, like calvan and KD that they aquired from an out of business auto parts distributor, but those are local only. Their Ridgid stuff, is rarely a bargin (no lifetime warranty, cost the same as the Home Depot sale prices about 2 miles away), the Ryobi stuff is mixed. More no then yes, but they have had a couple of bargins. Then there is the common false advertising, that they did for years. They posted a BT3100 for sale (looks quite different) then posted the BT20's sale price and number. They also had an argument in front of me (between a manager and a cashier) that they were supposed to push Cummins stuff (normally under the quality of Harbor Freights, which is 4 miles away) as they made bonuses on that (managers, tent sales, etc, but not cashiers).

 

[justinmc]

There are 6 cummins tools in the greater Kansas City area... I've visited 2 or 3 of them as their inventory changes from store to store. There isn't much consistency at all. At one store the engine hoists will be blue/yellow (their "colors") and then at the other store they are maroon, etc. Its like whatever paint the boys in China had on hand that day. I've got one of their engine hoists simply because it was so cheap I could sell it once I was done and still be cheaper than renting one or buying one from the local independent tool dealer.

Their hand tools... ****.. other than the occasional luck of the draw find of Proto (which they overprice), KD or some older made in USA stanley items its all made in taiwan stuff that just isn't up to snuff. I remember being in their store one day when a guy came in and had a handful of broken wrenches and sockets. I guess he had purchased all of it within the last couple of weeks and managed to break it all on the 1st or 2nd try. The manager was explaining they couldn't refund his money they would replace the stuff that was less than 30 days old or issue him store credit. Ugh...

Seriously... if your gonna leave the stuff laying in your garage and never use it.. yeah its a hell of a deal. If you plan on needing it ever.. STAY AWAY.

Most of their factory refurbs stink of being NOS factory units that are long since discontinued, etc. I guess if you like buying tools that are 3 or 4 years ago models and factory refurbs then sometimes you can get a deal.

 

[eschoendorff]

Oh I'm not looking for any deals... that's why I'm gonna leave my wallet at home. I'm just going to see the old "dog and pony show."

 

[OldOneEye]

I went to one of these after seeing a flier in the paper. It was like 10 miles off the beaten path, but the place was PACKED with people. For some of the stuff, you have to pay for it and then go to the truck to get it. The guys working the show in some cases were scarier than the carnies you see at the county fairs. Needless to say, even my wife thought the whole thing was ****.

Juan

 

[the intimidator]

you can find some decent deals at these sale's for instance I picked up a 1 pound and a 2 pound sledge hammer for 10 buck's they had fibreglass handles and they have yet to break. I have also found other thing's that have yet to break a 2 foot breaker bar I have used this with a 4 foot pipe and it cost 2$ Lol look around i'm sure you can find something semi-usfull

 

[Ign]

I like 'em, from what I can tell it's all Harbor Freight stuff under a different name. Since I don't have a local HF it's like a traveling HF that comes to me once or twice a year. And just like HF, not everything is worthwhile but some of it is decent for the price

I will say, I got one of their Hi-Lift jack knock-offs, and it doesn't operate all that smoothly, but it works. I wouldn't buy hand tools from them, but things like engine hoists (and please don't post the thread about the failed Pep Boys hoist which has been all over the 'net), engine stands, rubber mallets, impact sockets, cheap die grinders are all fine for the hobbyist

 

[Paradise Ridge]

I use my Harbor Freight theory when ever I go see the Cummins truck sale.

If it has moving parts, forget it.

Scott

 

[Jay H 237]

They set up every year a mile from my house at the local VFW hall.

I've gone there every time and there's only 2 things I've bought from them that seemed decent. I got a 20 gallon parts washer and a 4 ton Porta-Power. Both have worked fine with no problems yet. 70% of the stuff there I outright ignored while the last 30% deserved a look with only 5% worth buying.

 

[TorqueWrench]

I use HF stuff and Cummins tools. KC has both at multiple locations. Both stores are good about returns if your stuff breaks.
If you use your head when you buy their stuff, you will be fine. I have engines on at least 6 of their Chinese stands that I have bought for $29-39ea (depending on the sale) and you cant build a better one for the $.
I also use alot of the air tools from these stores. If there is a tool that you need to finish a job that you don't do all the time, why not buy the china stuff?
Maybe I am more of a hobbiest and not a real mechanic, but I have around 30 outboard motors that get wrenched on in my collection.

 

[wilbilt]

I wasn't gonna go, but I think I will this time. I'll just leave ALL forms of payment at home.

Yeah, right. Your gonna go in there with your pockets full of cash and a gleam in your eye...

 

[mulepackin]

Its fun to just go and watch people that don't know any better slobber and drool all over the stuff and back slap each other on what great deals they are getting.

 

[Larz]

Its fun to just go and watch people that don't know any better slobber and drool all over the stuff and back slap each other on what great deals they are getting.

What he said

 

[ba614]

There are some good deals at these sales.

I bought a set of welding set up magnites that hold the material for tack up. It had about 8 different magnites in it for 10 bucks. Just 1 anywhwere else is about 9 bucks.

i got a creeper seat for about 15 bucks that I've used a couple of years. No problems with it and I weigh 375lbs. That thing is strong. I bought a craftsman once and it bent the first time I sat on it.

I got a 20 gal parts washer. No problems with it.

Bought a cheap-o porta-band saw for 60 bucks. It's not something I use alot but so far no problem. Throw away the blade that comes with it and put a good Lenox or Milwaukee blade on it then you've got a good saw.

Brass drift pins and brass punches. Good as any I guess. No problem with mine.

I bought the large size jack stands {truck size} and use them for car work. I don't even have to extend them they are so tall at the minium height. They work great!

Hand tools? forget about it!!! you only have to look to see they are junk ... I had hoped to pick up a set of 3/8 extensions on the cheap ... one look was all it took

 

[Deafautotech]

my father bought some once tools from harbor frieght as it is cheap and he dont want spend on good tools if only use once time a year.... but for me, i prefer buy good quality to keep service me long. i never buy hand tool or impact sockets from harbor frieght.... as it will be crack up or break. i dont want make a trip to harbor frieght many time for tool replacement.