Buying box w/ tools

[bry@n]

Anybody ever do this?

I have an opportunity to pick up two boxes, loaded with tools. The guy was a deisel mechanic. I am assuming the deal would be in the $3k range for two boxes with tools but I am hoping I can get it lower.

Any ideas or any advice?

Thanks in advance

 

[bmwpower]

Hmmm. Anyway to go through the boxes beforehand?

 

[Danglerb]

Don't pay more than 15% of new prices.

 

[bry@n]

I can go through them. I will be going by tomorrow to look at the whole lot.

15%...thanks. Gonna be hard to tell while I am there I bet. Have to look at everything really well.

 

[rsanter]

I used to do that and then sell off some of the pieces so I could keek other stuff for free.
it has been harder to do this with the edvent of EBAY as people can sell the pieces off one by one and get more money
you need to be able to look at the stuff and estimate the condition and the value. generally you will want to pay 10-30 cents on the dollar if you expect to make any money doing it

example
last deal I made
paid $300 for the box with some stuff. not full.
estimated what I kept to be about $600 (new)
what I am selling is worth about $800 (new)
the box has sold for (top and bottom seperatly) for $275
I have sold about $90 worth of stuff and the is still stuff left (even though I do not expect to get a bunch out of the stuff)

bob

 

[bry@n]

Thats what I intend on doing. Generally, I think I need to be on the cheap side and sell cheap to be able to move the stuff quickly.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[bmwpower]

First in line for the good stuff.

 

[Bull]

Thats what I intend on doing. Generally, I think I need to be on the cheap side and sell cheap to be able to move the stuff quickly.

Thanks for the advice.

Bryan, if the guy has any vintage "oddball" brands and you buy the lot, please let me know. You know...the old non-truck brands...Herbrand, Blackhawk, Indestro, Bonney etc.

 

[justinmc]

I've bought 6-8 boxes "full" in deals like this... 15% of list is a good rule of thumb but keep in mind craftsman and other oddball stuff are "give aways".. I always tend to ebay or post off here all the good stuff (Snap On, Matco, Mac, Cornwell) and if its something people want and the price is right it moves. If its an oddball brand its a hard sell unless you are giving it away. So make sure its full of top shelf tools and don't pay for broken old unwarrantiable/sellable stuff. Best rule of thumb is not to buy anything that isn't worth you yourself keeping. If you don't want it for your own collection its worth even less because you could get stuck with it.. and thats your $$/investment. Also air tools are worth about nothing used. A $400 Snap On gun brings $50-75 on ebay, etc. So generally I don't pay for air tools. If that makes sense? Either way.. try to base any calculations on complete matched sets and not loose misc ****. If you roll up and the guys box looks like a tornado hit it, RUN AWAY because there is a 99% chance you will end up with a bunch of broken up, mismatched, missing pieces, etc sets. I've learned the hard way sometimes. Also don't be afraid to make an offer.. cash talks.. have a truck/trailer ready to load the stuff and not have to "come back later" that gives the guy too much time to hem n haw about it and then you come back to find stuff cherry picked because "my brother wants that or I decided to keep that, etc" I've walked away from some boxes after viewing them only to be called back by the seller and saying "I'll take your offer" then you show up and 1/2 of everything is gone. Offers changed dude. Either way.. don't get caught up in the excitement. Its like buying an old crappy car.. do your research and take your time.

 

[sk farmer]

i am looking for proto pebble line wrenches and bonney wrenches behind bull. good luck

 

[Sloper0204]

you guy obviously live in the prime areas to be buying used tools.

The same Taco Wagon keeps getting posted on Craigslist up here, and the price isn't dropping. Have seen a few sets of used tools for near new prices, but no deals.

Here's hoping you get a good haul.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Anybody ever do this?

I have an opportunity to pick up two boxes, loaded with tools. The guy was a deisel mechanic. I am assuming the deal would be in the $3k range for two boxes with tools but I am hoping I can get it lower.

Any ideas or any advice?

Thanks in advance

Bryan, what's your main goal if you do this? Do you want to keep the boxes and sell the tools? Do you want to keep the tools and sell the boxes? Keep a little that interests you and sell the rest?

If you're not planning on keeping much of anything, heed Justin's advice and buy very at a very low cost. It's going to take a lot of work to sell stuff to get the money out of it that you want. It's easy to be overwhelmed when you're buying a lot of tools....and when you throw a box in the deal, easy to lose perspective of what it's really worth. Unless you're getting an absolute steal on the boxes and tools, tread lightly, figure out what you'll likely keep if you buy it, and make your offer with all this in mind.

 

[rsanter]

one tip I do is that I do not actually 'value' everything.
I pick out the good stuff I see and base my value on that stuff.
all the 'misc' stuff that just blends into the background does not get counted.
that is how I can look at a box and estimate a value in 10 min

when it comes to Cman tools, I figure you can buy the stuff on sale as a rule of thumb for $1 a piece so that is the value (list value) I assign the stuff. look in a drawer if it looks like there are 20 cman wrenches...that drawer is worth $20 (list)

much easier than actually counting all the pieces and if you work from this basis then all the stuff you didnt value is gravy money

bob

 

[bry@n]

Thanks guys for all the advice.

Lookin4'67Galaxieconv,
I am just looking at it as a transaction. I will keep what interests me and get rid of the rest. I have no use for the boxes at all. I already have 2 double banks and a cart.

I can't wait to see what I find. Had a nice talk with the owner, so I am looking forward to the meet.

 

[Flash21]

bryan - If I were you, I would try and get a hold of Skyline and get some advice. He and his sons do this all of the time.

 

[bry@n]

Thanks! .........

 

[Toolhorder]

I do this as well. My best deal I found was a Mac tool box upper/lower combo for $300. I put an ad on CL looking for tools and he replied to me saying he had a Mac box for $300. He didn't tell me it was full of tools. I estimate about $1500 worth at least of Snap-on and Mac came out of it and some C-man stuff too. It really filled out some of the stuff I wanted to get eventually but couldn't afford to at this time. I never added it up but when I was looking at it I opened a top drawer and found a metric set of SO wrenches, SAE SO set, MAC SAE set, MAC shorty metric set, SO socket ended SAE set and a bunch of C-man wrenches. Right there in one drawer I figured I would make my money back so I bought it. I sold the box for $300 with no tools in it later after cleaning it up.
Those deals are super hard to find though. I think it's better to have $5K and go around to guys that have 20K worth of stuff willing to sell it for 5K. It seems like 5K is a good number to have around if you want to do this for real. If I was just starting out I would do this. From the CL ads I see I think you could make a great business out of buying and selling tools if you have enough start up cash.

 

[bry@n]

Those deals are super hard to find though. I think it's better to have $5K and go around to guys that have 20K worth of stuff willing to sell it for 5K. It seems like 5K is a good number to have around if you want to do this for real. If I was just starting out I would do this. From the CL ads I see I think you could make a great business out of buying and selling tools if you have enough start up cash.

$5k is only good if they have a better or bigger box than you. $5k get's you a lot of tools. I have guys come by alot looking to sell stuff. I take what I want and sell the rest. Sometimes, I sell it all and pass the deals on.

 

[Mickey O]

Some great advice here. I know I've looked at a few of those deals, it's usually a so-so to crappy box with a few Mac or Snap On ratchets or wrenches, a few Mac or Snap On screwdrivers and the rest Craftsman or some import **** and the guy thinks he's sitting on a goldmine. I have bought some small boxes full of stuff, I usually will buy if I want the tool box or the contents and can sell the other for enough to almost cover my cost or more if I'm lucky.

Currently there's a large Matco top (identical to the one I have) and a larger bottom full of tools for $1200, the boxes are pretty rough (dropped the top one), but some of the tools were sweet, looked like about every Matco (made by Bonney) wrench ever made, I was tempted

 

[Toolhorder]

Some great advice here. I know I've looked at a few of those deals, it's usually a so-so to crappy box with a few Mac or Snap On ratchets or wrenches, a few Mac or Snap On screwdrivers and the rest Craftsman or some import **** and the guy thinks he's sitting on a goldmine. I have bought some small boxes full of stuff, I usually will buy if I want the tool box or the contents and can sell the other for enough to almost cover my cost or more if I'm lucky.

Currently there's a large Matco top (identical to the one I have) and a larger bottom full of tools for $1200, the boxes are pretty rough (dropped the top one), but some of the tools were sweet, looked like about every Matco (made by Bonney) wrench ever made, I was tempted

Funny that you mention a few truck brand tools and a the rest cman and it's a goldmine.
This same situation happened to me a couple weeks ago. I answer an ad on CL and he says he has to sell off is dad's old tools that passed on earlier this year. It's all SO in every drive size. I'm over there in a couple hours looking a two metal carry boxes with maybe 10 SO pieces and the rest Cman. He wanted $300. Granted the Cman stuff was awesome vintage stuff but still I had to let him down soft as I could because they were his dead father's tools. I'm glad I did tell him though because he shows me a box of Starrett tools probably worth $1500 new and I have him throw that in with the tools and we had a deal. Never hurts to tell them it ain't worth what they want.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Dibs on the Snap-on hard handles!

 

[bry@n]

Gonna be heading over there shortly. We'll see what they have.

 

[selohssa]

I too am curious as to what works best.

-Have you guys been making your offers over the net prior to viewing or do you show up with cash and hope for the best?

-Do you bring an extra set of hands for loading or does an extra person intimidate the seller?

-What % of list do you sell the unwanted tools for?

I am new to this and have done the same thing 3 times in the last month. I am trying to collect a full set of vintage Snap-On. I do not have a system yet but I am learning a lot from this thread.

 

[bry@n]

Well it didn't work out for me today. I was on my way, saw a few pics but nothing that could let me see what I wanted.

On my way and halfway there..phone rings. Caller: Bry@n? Me: yeah Caller, I dunno if you wanna come. there is a man here and he has a huge pile of tools he wants to buy and he is still here and the pile is getting bigger......Me: Okay, call me when he leaves and I turned around and went home.

I will be hitting a pawn shop tomorrow. Will see what they have.

 

[justinmc]

Well it didn't work out for me today. I was on my way, saw a few pics but nothing that could let me see what I wanted.

On my way and halfway there..phone rings. Caller: Bry@n? Me: yeah Caller, I dunno if you wanna come. there is a man here and he has a huge pile of tools he wants to buy and he is still here and the pile is getting bigger......Me: Okay, call me when he leaves and I turned around and went home.

I will be hitting a pawn shop tomorrow. Will see what they have.

Yup.. thats how it goes. Some guy gets there and cherry picks through all the good stuff and then the guy wants to knock a couple $ off his asking price. No thanks. Better luck next time man.

 

[Bull]

Sorry it didn't work out for you, man.

This is why I like dealing with the oddball brands. The used Snap On is too damn competitive.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I too am curious as to what works best.

-Have you guys been making your offers over the net prior to viewing or do you show up with cash and hope for the best?

Offers over email don't mean sh/t. In fact, they mean less than sh/t IMO. Any idiot with a computer can make an offer over email.

Now, you make an offer standing in front of someone with cash in hand....that means you're serious.

 

[justinmc]

Now, you make an offer standing in front of someone with cash in hand....that means you're serious.

Yup.. if its a CL ad and they have a phone #.. I call and show up. I might ask a few questions then show up with cash ready to buy. If no # is listed I'll email with my # saying.. call me or email me.

 

[Danglerb]

Can be fun, say the guy wants $500, other guy makes his pile of tools and offers say $100, and you then offer the seller $250 for whats left.

Top the other guys offer, change your mind and leave after he does.

Tell the guy the truth, if some of the tools are going to be sold, you aren't bothering to come.

 

[justinmc]

I'll relate this.. awhile back I went and looked at a box. The guy kept putting me off because he was too busy to be home and show it, etc. So I said ok no problem. Well we finally work out a time (3 days after I contacted him) and I go out to look. Supposed to be a cornwell box full of snap on, matco, mac stuff. Roll up and the drawers are all picked over and everything "good" is gone. Its all a bunch of C-man sockets, etc. I was like. Ummm where's the tools? "Oh some guy came out earlier and bought a bunch".. Mmm ok.. so how much do you want for whats left? He quotes me like $200 under what he was asking before. I literally laughed at him. I told him.. the guy earlier.. if he took all the stuff I hope he gave you more than $200 for all of it. He kinda looks at me like.. huh? I was like.. dude he took all the tools!! The box isn't worth much in todays market. The guy was floored. That other guy swindled him pretty hard. He said it was FULL of wrench sets, etc (when I got there there were a few loose Cman's a couple of bluepoint ratcheting wrenches (not sets), etc). So I guess he let that guy have it all for $200.. dude told him "oh the box is whats worth all the money you'll make all your $$ on the box". I just walked and said.. sorry man I came to buy a package and you sold most of it before hand so not interested. You could tell the guy was figuring out how bad he'd just been screwed.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I'll relate this.. awhile back I went and looked at a box. The guy kept putting me off because he was too busy to be home and show it, etc. So I said ok no problem. Well we finally work out a time (3 days after I contacted him) and I go out to look. Supposed to be a cornwell box full of snap on, matco, mac stuff. Roll up and the drawers are all picked over and everything "good" is gone. Its all a bunch of C-man sockets, etc. I was like. Ummm where's the tools? "Oh some guy came out earlier and bought a bunch".. Mmm ok.. so how much do you want for whats left? He quotes me like $200 under what he was asking before. I literally laughed at him. I told him.. the guy earlier.. if he took all the stuff I hope he gave you more than $200 for all of it. He kinda looks at me like.. huh? I was like.. dude he took all the tools!! The box isn't worth much in todays market. The guy was floored. That other guy swindled him pretty hard. He said it was FULL of wrench sets, etc (when I got there there were a few loose Cman's a couple of bluepoint ratcheting wrenches (not sets), etc). So I guess he let that guy have it all for $200.. dude told him "oh the box is whats worth all the money you'll make all your $$ on the box". I just walked and said.. sorry man I came to buy a package and you sold most of it before hand so not interested. You could tell the guy was figuring out how bad he'd just been screwed.

That would piss me off on the one hand b/c he was saying he couldn't show it to you, but here he is selling all the tools out from under you.

On the other hand, I'm sure you consoled yourself with the knowledge that he had gotten screwed!

 

[bry@n]

I didn't get upset. These things happen. I am a believer that if it was meant to be, it would be. On top of it all, I didn't have an enclosed trailer and the weather wasn't great this morning, kinda drizzly on and off. So I would of had to make a second trip later on to get the stuff. I will call her and ask how it went.

 

[Bull]

Bryan, out of curiosity, how close are you to Sussex, NJ?

 

[bry@n]

Hey Bull,

I am not close to Sussex. Sussex is really north and I am in the Central NJ area. I make may way up there almost everyday though, what do you need?

also, congrats on the Mod status, didn't notice till today.

 

[Bull]

Hey Bull,

I am not close to Sussex. Sussex is really north and I am in the Central NJ area. I make may way up there almost everyday though, what do you need?

also, congrats on the Mod status, didn't notice till today.

Thank you

My wife's grandmother lives in Sussex, and we visit her once a month or so. I was just wondering if you were close for the sake of being able to buy something from you, should you get something that I want. Like, a vintage toolbox, for example. If you are a CL wheeler-dealer, I figure you might get old boxes from time to time. That's all.

 

[traction]

I buy boxes all the time. I always ask what they would take for just the tools and usually come away with a bargain.

Also, I have found that I can use these transactions to obtain what I really want. I keep extra stock of tools to use as trade material. I have no problem trading snap on tools using their full retail value.

For example I traded 6500 retail price of tools for repair on a car that had 6500 in damage. I had less than 200 invested in the tools. Granted that was a pretty unique purchase that netted those tools, but do not underestimate the power of trading in this economy.

 

[Bull]

For example I traded 6500 retail price of tools for repair on a car that had 6500 in damage. I had less than 200 invested in the tools. Granted that was a pretty unique purchase that netted those tools, but do not underestimate the power of trading in this economy.

Come on, open up. How the heck do you net $6500 of SO tools for $200?

Seriously? How desperate or stupid was the seller?

 

[Danglerb]

Key thing to buying and selling is never to take or make the deal personal, its a business transaction and some work out and some don't. Sometimes you can turn lemons into lemonade, and end up buying the box cheap. Other times its best to let the mud settle and not let yourself be associated with the bad deal the seller just got from the cherry picker.

Johnny Depp plays a rare book buyer in the Ninth Gate, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142688/ and in the opening scams a family at an estate sale. He offers to help them, and points out half a dozen books and gives them very high values, but says it will take time to find suitable buyers. Then he cherry picks the most valuable book and says while it isn't worth nearly as much as the others, that he knows someone that wants it and that he is willing to pay cash for it now if some money would be useful to them while waiting for buyers on the other books. Cherry picks and poisons the well for the next buyer.

 

[traction]

Bull, it was one of my best deals....the contents of a fully loaded snap-on cab and chest plus a brand new Miller 140 autoset with the whole get up including two new jackson helmets. Even a full tank of co2 mix. Total was under a grand.

 

[bry@n]

Bull,

That would be great, but it would cost us both more than the shipping..Not that I would mind meeting and grabbin a cup of joe.