Buying collections is getting harder than ever.
- Thread starter Toolhorder
- Start date
The deals are out there. You just have to know where to look. Unfortunately for you, CL and eBay are NOT the places to find them. Yes, maybe once in a blue moon you will find a CL one. Never on eBay, because you want to see and touch them before you buy them. I buy site unseen. But, that is only from reputable establishments that I have been buying from for over 10 yrs. Estate sales and pawn shops are gonna be your best bets probably I am guessing. Storage sheds are another option. You just have to do some deep researching to find them. They are out there I promise you. I do it day after day for a living.
ckadams00
Well-known member
Patience. Great deals come up all the time, whether it is a $25 bandsaw on CList or new tools on GJ. Clearly, there are also tons of people selling items that are priced the same (or more) as retail. I've been guilty of same - not intentionally - selling a new item that is slightly less than I paid, and finding out that it can be had at some online tool site I didn't know about for $10 less.
Sometimes not intentional, sometimes intentional - you need to be informed about what you are buying and shop around.
The biggest issues I have seen are people who want something SPECIFIC and then expect to find it on sale at whatever site they happen to be on. Hell I purchased about $4K worth of CMan power tools in Cl for $800 but I wasn't LOOKING for that specifically - and it took me a rental truck and a day of busting my *** to go get them.
I guess the best comparison is hunting - sometimes you get the buck, sometimes you don't. But you don't expect to climb into a tree stand and see it standing below you 5 minutes later.
Be informed, and be patient. Great deals are out there, all over, but they are usually not what you're looking for!
Sometimes not intentional, sometimes intentional - you need to be informed about what you are buying and shop around.
The biggest issues I have seen are people who want something SPECIFIC and then expect to find it on sale at whatever site they happen to be on. Hell I purchased about $4K worth of CMan power tools in Cl for $800 but I wasn't LOOKING for that specifically - and it took me a rental truck and a day of busting my *** to go get them.
I guess the best comparison is hunting - sometimes you get the buck, sometimes you don't. But you don't expect to climb into a tree stand and see it standing below you 5 minutes later.
Be informed, and be patient. Great deals are out there, all over, but they are usually not what you're looking for!
rsieracki
Well-known member
my personal favorite are the lowlifes at the flea markets sell **** from HF for 2-3 times the retail and the idiots lined up to buy it..
better yet the guy on CL sell a bunch of snap on "like new" stuff who once you meet up you see its a bunch of beat up rusted sockets and corse tooth ratchets who tell you how easy it is to "flag down a snap on truck and the swap out rusty sockets for free" when i ask why they havent done that they have a deer in the headlights look.
better yet the guy on CL sell a bunch of snap on "like new" stuff who once you meet up you see its a bunch of beat up rusted sockets and corse tooth ratchets who tell you how easy it is to "flag down a snap on truck and the swap out rusty sockets for free" when i ask why they havent done that they have a deer in the headlights look.
Friggen priceless! That is the best comment of the thread right there!!!!!!
Probably piss off a few here but all this thread is about is people whining about things they cannot control or wishing to control to their advantage.
Everybody is a socialist when it comes to what other people should be selling their property for and a capitalist when it comes to their property.
Who really flipping cares what someone is selling overpriced above a perceived market? If cheaper is always around the corner or somewhere else, then go there.
Not enough time in the day to protect the uninformed. If you are not an educated consumer then you are an idiot. Not a sellers place to make sure you are getting a deal, it is the buyers responsibility. Unless the seller has the only cure for cancer, he is not under some moral obligation to price cheap and sell for the common good.
Plenty of members here selling their Snappy Crappy stuff for close to retail but we do not **** in their post here but seem to take joy in whining about what some anonymous Ebayer is selling new and double MSRP.
Everybody is a socialist when it comes to what other people should be selling their property for and a capitalist when it comes to their property.
Who really flipping cares what someone is selling overpriced above a perceived market? If cheaper is always around the corner or somewhere else, then go there.
Not enough time in the day to protect the uninformed. If you are not an educated consumer then you are an idiot. Not a sellers place to make sure you are getting a deal, it is the buyers responsibility. Unless the seller has the only cure for cancer, he is not under some moral obligation to price cheap and sell for the common good.
Plenty of members here selling their Snappy Crappy stuff for close to retail but we do not **** in their post here but seem to take joy in whining about what some anonymous Ebayer is selling new and double MSRP.
Need4racin
Banned
You guys are just as bad. I remember one time I wanted to buy a drain plug socket on here and someone wanted $14, when it was $19 shipped off snap on's website. I just ended up paying msrp on snap on's website.
Last edited:
Speaking of Snap-on...
I occasionally hit flea markets and such looking for old SK and Plomb. I've found a piece or two here and there but nothing to write home about. One time I spent the better part of 20 minutes searching through boxes of rusted miscellaneous junk tools / broken tools / pieces of tools / etc. I stumbled across a couple of S-K WAYNE marked wrenches, and picked them out. They aren't anything special, but they're of *known* quality, unlike a bunch of the Craftsman **** floating around.
Most of the guy's stuff had a dollar or two on it, so I thought silently to myself that a buck for SK - sure beats retail. Once I pulled them out, I went to pay him. He grabbed the wrenches, and started squinting at them. His wife says "What are you doing?" to which he replied "Just checking to see if it says Snap-on."
REALLY? REALLY? ARE YOU #$@#$ SERIOUS?
Afterwards, he said "These are SK. These are good." before trying to raise the price. Don't mark your boxes of junk $1 or $2 per item if you're going to wait until someone takes the time sort through them before you decide you want more money. When he wanted more, I went to walk away and his wife offered them to me for half the original price after tearing her knucklehead a new one.
I occasionally hit flea markets and such looking for old SK and Plomb. I've found a piece or two here and there but nothing to write home about. One time I spent the better part of 20 minutes searching through boxes of rusted miscellaneous junk tools / broken tools / pieces of tools / etc. I stumbled across a couple of S-K WAYNE marked wrenches, and picked them out. They aren't anything special, but they're of *known* quality, unlike a bunch of the Craftsman **** floating around.
Most of the guy's stuff had a dollar or two on it, so I thought silently to myself that a buck for SK - sure beats retail. Once I pulled them out, I went to pay him. He grabbed the wrenches, and started squinting at them. His wife says "What are you doing?" to which he replied "Just checking to see if it says Snap-on."
REALLY? REALLY? ARE YOU #$@#$ SERIOUS?
Afterwards, he said "These are SK. These are good." before trying to raise the price. Don't mark your boxes of junk $1 or $2 per item if you're going to wait until someone takes the time sort through them before you decide you want more money. When he wanted more, I went to walk away and his wife offered them to me for half the original price after tearing her knucklehead a new one.
shampoop
Well-known member
was it 20-30 years old and well used, or in like new condition?
Need4racin
Banned
claimed to be new but had no pic.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=128303
Yea I'm splitting hairs here, but I figured I would find one for like $5-6 shipped.
Last edited:
Not sure some of the pricing has much to do with the economy, perhaps people just being greedy? Theres a snap-on torque wrench on ebay listed at a BIN [no offer option] for more than list, i was interested so i shot him a message asking if he would be willing to deal since hes charging MORE than snap-on direct. Replied, "not at this time". Not sure what the hell the malfunction is in peoples heads but to me that makes no sense. Didnt even ask what i would of offered. I guess these people like tying up thousands of dollars in tools dreaming that their get rich quick scheme is going to pay off.
I was looking for some Diamond Horseshoe adjustables to fill in a set I'm building - and a couple of people PM'd me wanting a mint.
OP
Toolhorder
Well-known member
If you are in Sacramento PM me and I'll let you in on some of my secrets. I didn't post it here but about 8-9 months ago I went to one and grabbed up a bunch of vintage Snappy and Cornwell stuff at a local estate sale company I follow on an email list and made out bigtime. I paid $300 for about 2K worth of stuff. It's old, vintage though but a lot of it was diesel or big truck stuff and worth bank if bought new. Many of the sockets (2" and up go for $200 a piece)
I was buying from this particular company awhile though and I was first in line the day of the sale. You just have to on the ball sometimes. This particular company is more into antiques and BS than tools so it's not uncommon for the owner of the company to tell me just fill a hand box with whatever for $5-10.
I got a vintage Reed vise for $10 once just had to remove it from the bench in the garage. Happily I did for $10! Sold lots of cool US tools from those sales and sold them off here. I'm a truck tool guy but if I find something cool I buy to pass onto a GJ member later.
OP
Toolhorder
Well-known member
There was one a few years ago for $100 that was HUGE like a boat anchor. It was from the Oakland shipyards and I passed on it. Wish I grabbed it now though
I think it was a pentiss.
OP
Toolhorder
Well-known member
The storage auctions were another way I used to buy and resell stuff. I was doing it maybe 2000ish on and off until these stupid shows started and all the gravy is gone now....
I mean completely wiped off the map gone. Used to go to auctions with a dozen or so bidders and now it's 200 bidders. I don't even bother now it's so ridiculous. Here in my area there is also a group of Koreans that frequent the auctions and will "team up" and pool their money when tools are in the unit.
I've seen them just up to like 9 grand on a unit with tools and then they bring them to the weekly flea markets and anything with Snap-on they want twice the price as the truck.
shampoop
Well-known member
If it's in near new condition SO tool that's not outdated (i.e. something like metric combo wrenches) that's not unreasonable.
Need4racin
Banned
Hmm. I just don't think buying something for 75% of msrp off an individual person is worth it.
Need4racin
Banned
Plus there are guys on here like Rickster selling stuff for what it goes for in the used premium priced retail market, and he sells the tools too. I guess guys that don't know any better buy it. It's no deal to me. If I'm going to buy something I want it for a deal. lol
Last edited:
OP
Toolhorder
Well-known member
I can say the same about when I sell something. It's funny my stuff is junk when I sell it but when I want to buy another person's stuff it's priceless.
Need4racin
Banned
Read what I wrote in my wtb thread on here. Figured I'd lay it out how I think right off the bat.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=146582
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=146582
OP
Toolhorder
Well-known member
Need4racin
Banned
That's not a good way to find a deal I'm afraid...
It might offend, but it's worth it if I don't have to deal with the 80%ers.
Awww yoiu say to dem pork frie rice on sale next dor they leave your auction and head for the food
Happens to me all the time. Some stuff I get cheap I can sell cheap. Other stuff not so cheap so I ask higher price than I normally would.I can say the same about when I sell something. It's funny my stuff is junk when I sell it but when I want to buy another person's stuff it's priceless.
75% retail. Let's just talk about that for a second. I bought a set of flank drive plus metric wrenches. SOEXM710 10-19 mm. I paid 109 for them. I used them for about a year in my home non pro shop. In other words light work on my rig kind of stuff. I do not like the teeth on the open ends. I work on a lot of aluminum. Just about 2 hrs ago, I sold the set on eBay for 217. Now does that make me a bad guy for making profit? Oh, and they retail new for 331. So I guess the person who bought them from me should have paid more or less???? I get those sets all the time for about the same price. I won't sell them for less than 217. Why? Because I am not into giving away profit, and I need that profit to continue to do my business.
Forgot to add this question. Some are upset at sellers for asking too much. So answer me this riddle. What is a seller supposed to sell a brand new shrink wrapped set of $331 wrenches for? SOEXM710 new. Any takers on answering that?
I sell those for 265. I do see people asking more and less. But what would you think?
I sell those for 265. I do see people asking more and less. But what would you think?
OP
Toolhorder
Well-known member
I try to buy no more than 45% of retail..If I really need it 50-55%
metalhead212121
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2010
- Messages
- 2,898
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-On-Too..._Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr&hash=item43ae81104a
Im sure you guys have been seeing this one on ebay for a while.... he's a member here who tried to sell his box and tools. End result of him trying to sell on here... not pretty.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-tool-b..._Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr&hash=item3a732eda97
This guy I think is truly crazy.
We recently had one member on here asking STUPID money for his box and tools. I wont "out" him. I PM'ed him and nicely told him what it was REALLY worth. Basically he told me I was a *****.... he finally got the hint and dropped his price A LOT. Still has the box for sale though.... I'll be looking forward to seeing his price drop for the box as well.
As far as swap meets go... its always needle in a haystack type deals. Ive learned that when I go its just gonna be a lot of games back and forth.. they scream at me I scream back... At the end of the day I do get some sick joy out of it. I always say swap meets are not for the faint of heart. If you don't like yelling, screaming, swearing, fighting, trailor trash rejects, hill billys, alcoholics, drug addicts ect ect DO NOT GO TO THEM!
Im sure you guys have been seeing this one on ebay for a while.... he's a member here who tried to sell his box and tools. End result of him trying to sell on here... not pretty.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-tool-b..._Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr&hash=item3a732eda97
This guy I think is truly crazy.
We recently had one member on here asking STUPID money for his box and tools. I wont "out" him. I PM'ed him and nicely told him what it was REALLY worth. Basically he told me I was a *****.... he finally got the hint and dropped his price A LOT. Still has the box for sale though.... I'll be looking forward to seeing his price drop for the box as well.
As far as swap meets go... its always needle in a haystack type deals. Ive learned that when I go its just gonna be a lot of games back and forth.. they scream at me I scream back... At the end of the day I do get some sick joy out of it. I always say swap meets are not for the faint of heart. If you don't like yelling, screaming, swearing, fighting, trailor trash rejects, hill billys, alcoholics, drug addicts ect ect DO NOT GO TO THEM!
OP
Toolhorder
Well-known member
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-On-Too..._Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr&hash=item43ae81104a
Im sure you guys have been seeing this one on ebay for a while.... he's a member here who tried to sell his box and tools. End result of him trying to sell on here... not pretty.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-tool-b..._Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr&hash=item3a732eda97
This guy I think is truly crazy.
We recently had one member on here asking STUPID money for his box and tools. I wont "out" him. I PM'ed him and nicely told him what it was REALLY worth. Basically he told me I was a *****.... he finally got the hint and dropped his price A LOT. Still has the box for sale though.... I'll be looking forward to seeing his price drop for the box as well.
As far as swap meets go... its always needle in a haystack type deals. Ive learned that when I go its just gonna be a lot of games back and forth.. they scream at me I scream back... At the end of the day I do get some sick joy out of it. I always say swap meets are not for the faint of heart. If you don't like yelling, screaming, swearing, fighting, trailor trash rejects, hill billys, alcoholics, drug addicts ect ect DO NOT GO TO THEM!
That's the truth about swap meets. I feel like I need a TB shot after I got to the local weekend one in my area. It's really not a joke either. The place is like Tijuana without the drug cartels.
I took a Vietnamese friend of mine and found out that they don't get along with Koreans too well after one started shouting at my friend after he didn't like his lowball offer on some tools.
I noticed Koreans from other spaces quickly running over to ratpack my buddy while him and the seller were yelling at each other or whatever and I quickly had to defuse that situation.
What's funny was the Korean said he had no problem with me but "no like you friend"
I told him he was my Vietnamese brother and he better back up before something bad happened to him and his buddies.
One of these clowns even followed us about 2-3 minutes after we walked away still wanted to get at my buddy.
I don't know what the hell that was about but it was a little odd.
No worth a fight over a broken screwdriver and snappy test light.
vintagefan
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2012
- Messages
- 613
My general rule of thumb is:
-New in unopened package 75-85% of retail
-Like new with opened package or no package (May be used, but so close to new it doesn't matter) 65-75% of retail
-Excellent condition used (used, has some very light wear but overall close to new) 55-65% of retail
-Good condition used (has wear, but well cared for and functions similar to new) 45-55% of retail
-Used condition (Worn, either well used and cared for, or less used and not well cared for) 35-45% of retail
-Well worn but still usable <35% of retail
edit: My problem is when people try to sell items that belong in the bottom two categories, at prices that belong in the top two categories. People selling Snap-on are by far some of the worst offenders. Some of these folks would literally take a twisted lump of metal with a barely visible Snap-on logo and part number, and try to sell it for 95% of retail. It's insane.
Last edited:
osborn.ozzy
Banned
I used to make decent money doing this until all these TV shows came out. Like you said there used to be maybe a dozen people, but now there is 200 with the thought in mind that no matter how much they pay that they will still make a profit. Im sorry it doesnt work that way, even before shows came out it was still a hit and miss. Now its just a miss / waste of time.
warmpancakes
Well-known member
been doing them for 10 years and i agree the shows ruined the buisness, units that used to be 50.00 are now 250 only good part is the new people who pay 1500 for a unit dont usually come back
Yeah, then you get the stuffy face blow hard that get all offended if you are not within 95% of what they were asking for.
Me personally, I do not care if anybody gets offended by any offer I make, low ball or not. I am out to make a deal and not a friendship.
What I laugh at is the sellers that put sentimental value into what they are selling. I could care less if your Granddaddy stormed Iowa Jima with that Snap On ratchet in his hand.
Last edited:
osborn.ozzy
Banned
I would love to be an auctioneer, they are probably making the big bucks right now. But I already stutter as it and Im not even trying to talk fast.
Packard V8
Well-known member
Yeah, we're pretty much preachin' to the choir here.
As to the increased competition at flea markets, craigslist, storage auctions and estate/garage sales, FWIW, I've noticed the same process happening here on our own classifieds. In the beginning it was just a few guys swapping extras. Over the years, more and more of us seem to be trying to make the rent by running a small retail business there. Nothing wrong with that. Just tends to push up the prices.
Random thoughts:
1. Professional estate sale companies opening the sale on Thursday. What's with that?
2. Local auction houses trying to go national with web sites attracting on line bidders.
3. If it is on craigslist locally for more than a couple of days, it's overpriced. The steal deals are gone within an hour.
4. Always easy to tell the newbie at an estate sale or craigslist. "I'm definitely gonna take it, but you've got to hold it for me til I get off work/run to the cash machine/get paid tomorrow/find my wife/borrow it from my dad."
5. When I make an offer, I begin with, "Now, I hope you get your asking price. I can't pay that much, but here's what I've got here, now, in cash." If the seller says no, I write down my name, phone number and the offer amount. "Call me if you want to sell it."
6. Be out and about often enough, make enough offers and everything imaginable happens:
A. Had them do what they swore they'd never do, like break up a box full
B. Sell it to someone else for less
C. Sell it to someone I knew from the next town over and then call the cops and file a theft report with a cop I knew and an insurance claim with an agent I knew.
D. Rather than accept my offer, he rents a booth at a flea market, wastes a weekend and ends up taking half of it back home. End result, after booth, food, gas, time - no profit.
E. Put it on eBay and get less than I'd offered. Sometimes get more than I offered.
F. See a few truck tools in the first drawer, get excited pay too much, find most of the stuff in the box is chicom ****.
G. Show up at a garage sale at the posted opening hour and be told they sold most of it yesterday or earlier today or to a neighbor next door.
H. Once in a great while, I've had guys take the offer they swore they'd never go that low
I. And the perennial favorite, rush out forty miles for a great craigslist deal and find the item in the fuzzy cell phone photo is not even remotely as described. Sometimes not even the brand/manufacturer, never in the like-new condition. "Don't know what's wrong with it. Worked the last time I used it."
Never a dull moment.
jack vines
As to the increased competition at flea markets, craigslist, storage auctions and estate/garage sales, FWIW, I've noticed the same process happening here on our own classifieds. In the beginning it was just a few guys swapping extras. Over the years, more and more of us seem to be trying to make the rent by running a small retail business there. Nothing wrong with that. Just tends to push up the prices.
Random thoughts:
1. Professional estate sale companies opening the sale on Thursday. What's with that?
2. Local auction houses trying to go national with web sites attracting on line bidders.
3. If it is on craigslist locally for more than a couple of days, it's overpriced. The steal deals are gone within an hour.
4. Always easy to tell the newbie at an estate sale or craigslist. "I'm definitely gonna take it, but you've got to hold it for me til I get off work/run to the cash machine/get paid tomorrow/find my wife/borrow it from my dad."
5. When I make an offer, I begin with, "Now, I hope you get your asking price. I can't pay that much, but here's what I've got here, now, in cash." If the seller says no, I write down my name, phone number and the offer amount. "Call me if you want to sell it."
6. Be out and about often enough, make enough offers and everything imaginable happens:
A. Had them do what they swore they'd never do, like break up a box full
B. Sell it to someone else for less
C. Sell it to someone I knew from the next town over and then call the cops and file a theft report with a cop I knew and an insurance claim with an agent I knew.
D. Rather than accept my offer, he rents a booth at a flea market, wastes a weekend and ends up taking half of it back home. End result, after booth, food, gas, time - no profit.
E. Put it on eBay and get less than I'd offered. Sometimes get more than I offered.
F. See a few truck tools in the first drawer, get excited pay too much, find most of the stuff in the box is chicom ****.
G. Show up at a garage sale at the posted opening hour and be told they sold most of it yesterday or earlier today or to a neighbor next door.
H. Once in a great while, I've had guys take the offer they swore they'd never go that low
I. And the perennial favorite, rush out forty miles for a great craigslist deal and find the item in the fuzzy cell phone photo is not even remotely as described. Sometimes not even the brand/manufacturer, never in the like-new condition. "Don't know what's wrong with it. Worked the last time I used it."
Never a dull moment.
jack vines
Last edited:
OP
Toolhorder
Well-known member
In my defense today I snagged a nice used KRL722 and didn't even haggle with the guy. I picked it up within a couple hours of his post.
Toolhorder - I'm hunting for tools in Norcal too. All the people on CL are usually crazy. They want way too much for stuff that is way too used. I've had luck once on CL and that's for a BNIB 1/4" torque wrench for $130. Beats ebay pricing.
byoungblood
Well-known member
Lemme guess, Rickster was the first to reply on your last WTB thread asking 75-80% of retail.
4x4gearhead
Well-known member
There is a consignment shop a few towns over that I was frequenting for awhile, until they started charging 75-80% the retail price for brands like SK and GW. I tried to explain to the dude one night that in the real world even snap on stuff sells for about 50% of retail and lesser brands should be just that...less. He laughed at me and told me Im just trying to get a better deal. I reminded him that in the past month I had spent somewhere in the neighborhood of $800 in that shop on some of the decent deals he had going. He still maintained his attitude so I have been back there only once, only to see all the **** that he had there last time still there. I knew it all would be. An S-K set of superkromes from 10-22 just isnt worth $150 used lol. I completely agree that a lot of people are just out of their tree on this ****. Dont even get me started on ebay.