Craftsman USA Tool Prices

[Jtels85]

With the soon to be released Craftsman USA mechanics tools coming out of Texas, I thought for sure the eBay sellers and buyers would cool their jets a bit and prices would begin to fall back down to earth. I was wrong.

Has anyone else noticed more people asking astronomical prices for their Craftsman USA stuff? One guy has a few 3/8” drive Impact socket sets for $799 Buy It Now. $1,600 for some metric Craftsman Professional wrenches. Another seller has basic G2 socket sets for a few hundred a piece. That’s beyond SnapOn prices! What is going on!?!

I’m sitting on piles of this stuff. I might as well sell my collection as a whole lot for $250k or trade for a nice ranch with a swimming pool.

 

[M635_Guy]

I doubt the new stuff will impact the value of the old stuff very much, if at all.

The old stuff you're looking at is being sold by meth heads apparently.

It seems like older MiUSA Craftsman sells for around what Proto new does.

 

[Ton ton]

Check out the classifieds on garage journal. I agree with the op.

 

[jonshonda]

People have money to spend, deals are few and far between regardless of the subject. The perk is you spend less time buying and more time looking, which helps the wallet. And when that deal comes along it is more satisfying imho.

 

[m6z]

So, you've got a bunch of Craftsman USA stuff to sell, but you seem to be upset that they are bringing top dollar?

If people are asking absurd prices and the stuff is selling, than that's just the current market price and if they're really that inflated I guess it's time for me to sell my old raised panel wrenches.

 

[Steve_P]

I haven't followed the pricing of USA Craftsman on Ebay. But the listing price and a selling price there are two very different things- look for the prices of sold items. When Ebay first started, you had to pay to list an item- this kept people from asking 10X what something was worth because you had to pay to relist it if it didn't sell in the 7-10 day period. Now that it's free, you can list a rusty bolt for $100 forever and hope someone will buy it. For many items, it's basically become a "I don't really want to sell this, but if someone will pay me 5X what it's really worth, then I will". For me, Ebay has become a place to buy oil drain plug washers, a new jacket that was last year's model, etc. I used to buy a lot of NOS vintage car parts on Ebay 10+ years ago. But now the stuff that's listed follows the ridiculous pricing I mentioned above.

 

[Jtels85]

There’s a fine line between asking a lot and being downright absurd.

I’ve made a profit in recent months selling off some of my collection, but my prices are a lot more reasonable. If something doesn’t sell in a couple of weeks, it gets marked down. I like to sell my items, not sit on them.

It’s your item, ask whatever you want for it. Just don’t get upset when someone calls you out. People do it all the time with the jokers on Marketplace asking $5,000 for a twenty year old, V6 Camaro with 180k miles, wires hanging underneath the dash and it looks like someone hooked a chain to it and dragged it out from the mud pit behind their Uncle Mearl’s trailer.

 

[lardy1]

It has been over a year now but I offed a considerable amount of vintage Craftsman. The eBay thing didn't work well for me. I had things in very good condition and was asking what was then around the going rate on eBay but couldn't get bites. Maybe my listings were obnoxious. Not sure. But in my case the good money for Craftsman on eBay didn't pan out. I put it in the local auction and it sold for low prices. I wanted rid of it though and that was accomplished.

 

[ike]

Most of those listings with insane prices have been listed for several years. Someone needs to tell those sellers to wish in one hand and **** in the other and see which one fills up first.

 

[Jtels85]

It has been over a year now but I offed a considerable amount of vintage Craftsman. The eBay thing didn't work well for me. I had things in very good condition and was asking what was then around the going rate on eBay but couldn't get bites. Maybe my listings were obnoxious. Not sure. But in my case the good money for Craftsman on eBay didn't pan out. I put it in the local auction and it sold for low prices. I wanted rid of it though and that was accomplished.

Same experience. I’ve had some Craftsman items for sale at what was considered the going rate… I have even undercut other sellers by five or ten dollars and was still unable to get any bites. It depends who is in the market for it at that time.

Another example on marketplace that I frequently run into is someone selling something like a used and beat up, 3 tier Craftsman tool box filled with rusty, dirty Harbor Freight and other Chinese off-brand tools just thrown into the drawers and want something ridiculous like $1,500/OBO.

 

[qqzj]

Depends on what you sell. I sold a tool set costing about $100 in 2008 recently on eBay for $350 with $50 shipping. To get top dollar, you need to have nos or close. Don't expect to get it with beaten up tools

 

[four.cycle]

Ebay asking and selling prices of older US-made Craftsman has been a recurrent topic of conversation here. There is nothing new under the sun.
Used US-made Craftsman commands a higher price because of brand recognition, and because those are the tools your father used.
Ebay's fees have forced sellers to raise their prices in order to clear an acceptable profit margin.
Other platforms have made inroads into Ebay's market share, but Ebay is still the 800-pound gorilla in the world of online tool sales.
Clearly, from the comments here, the "Facebook Marketplace" platform doesn't work for everybody, and not everybody uses Facebook.
Ergo: Ebay still steers the market.

As noted above, asking prices and selling prices are not always the same. The option for sellers to send prospective buyers a "best offer" is possibly a factor in sellers setting prices higher: the seller has more wiggle room to send the prospective buyer (who puts an item on the "watch list") a "best offer" and still clear an acceptable profit margin.

 

[Old Donn]

Interesting. As I've mentioned elsewhere in these pages, back when I first joined GJ, you couldn't give Craftsman tools away, standard issue or professional. Mention the name and people spit it out like sour milk. Now this.

 

[FMB4]

What shocks me is that some 'vintage' US Craftsman tools are selling for slightly more than similar era Proto stuff (on eB*ay). Guess it's a 'relive your youth' kind of thing.

 

[four.cycle]

^ One of many things I learned over the course of many years of selling stuff is that Perception is reality for the buyer.

People will rationalize inside their heads purchases which another person might view as irrational (see confirmation bias.) We all do it, whether or not we are willing to admit it even to ourselves.

A point I did not mention in my post above - in regard to the "best offer" option that Ebay allowed sellers to use beginning about a year ago:
It's quite possible Ebay sellers are "gaming the system" by asking a higher selling price than they would have otherwise (without the option of making a "special offer"), creating the illusion for the prospective buyer that they're getting some kind of "special deal".
If I were selling on Ebay, that is exactly how I would do it.

 

[reader2580]

Is any of that high priced Craftsman USA stuff actually selling at those prices?

 

[Jtels85]

Is any of that high priced Craftsman USA stuff actually selling at those prices?

Not at the prices I’ve seen. Not even close.

The listings I’ve seen do have a “Make Offer” option, but the prices are so out of touch, I wouldn’t bother making a reasonable, high dollar offer because it still wouldn’t be anywhere close to the listing price.

$1,600 for Craftsman Pro wrenches that maybe might go for $600-700.

$399.99 for a 23 Piece G2, 1/4” socket set that can be bought from other sellers in new condition for around $50 for the standard depths and $75 for the deeps. This nonsense has me shaking my head. Some of the well known eBay Craftsman dealers who normally have high prices are nowhere near this ignorant.

While I’m here, I have a 2017 Acura TLX with 52k miles. I’ll sell it for $45k. No low ballerz, I no what I got yo.

 

[Wakefield]

So, you've got a bunch of Craftsman USA stuff to sell, but you seem to be upset that they are bringing top dollar?

If people are asking absurd prices and the stuff is selling, than that's just the current market price and if they're really that inflated I guess it's time for me to sell my old raised panel wrenches.

It's nostalgia.

 

[visionguru]

It's nostalgia.

You mean older people longing for the good old days? I doubt any of the younger generation tool users would consider buying used, old Craftsman tools.

 

[Wakefield]

You mean older people longing for the good old days? I doubt any of the younger generation tool users would consider buying used, old Craftsman tools.

For the most part the people buying up these things are not using them,may even be buying them up in the hope of selling them to someone else for even more. There are a few people who actually believe these are very good tools rather than the entry level tools they were,but most of those people don't use tools to make a living. "The tools that Father used to have" "collectors" or speculators maybe some older people with some money to play with
We will see whether a mania of increasing willingness to pay more in the hope that someone else will even pay more,sort of the way bitcoin took off. Might not happen if these people fail to realize that the new craftsman that will probably soon flood the tool market is not related to the Sears Craftsman in much of any way.
As for myself,would rather be Wright than craftsman,or maybe even a bit of Snap On. The Haagen-Daz of tools,or maybe that is Nepros?

(I mean entry level as in serious mechanics' tools that can be used in work,not grocery store tools that are mainly for putting together a kitchen stool or table once or twice)
I guess a few of the Craftsman tools were better such as the "Pro" tools that were made by S K and maybe some of the very early ones(when compared to other tools of the same age)

 

[Jim C.]

Some of the high prices for older/vintage Craftsman tools might be driven by collectors. I think if one were to look long enough, he/she would find someone who collects even the most obscure brand of tools. If there’s more than one collector of a brand, then a particular tool from that brand might have an inflated value that the rest of us don’t see or care about until we go to buy it. I know there are plenty of Snap On collectors and others that actually go after Oxwall stuff. Craftsman tools fall somewhere between those two in terms of quality and price.


Over the last few years, I’m aware of at least two Craftsman ratchet type studies and a video series that pull together a lot of information. I also know of a Craftsman Professional Wrench type study. Those things have a tendency to appeal to the collector market and like it or not, start to influence prices. Having created one of those ratchet type studies, I found several rarities. Items that are scare appeal to collectors. The type study I wrote has over 56,000 hits. Someone is reading it and I don’t believe it‘s necessarily people who are just using the ratchets. It’s people who want to learn more about the tool they inherited from their grandfather, etc. and people who are collecting them for whatever reason. I get an email about once every ten days from people asking me about their Cman ratchets, their value, rarity, age……. After a while, the documentation adds to the legitimacy of the tools as collectibles and the prices go up.

Jim C.

 

[Ton ton]

I have a hard time getting over how much people are trying to get out of their craftsman USA tools. It does make me look a bit differently @ some of my craftsman ratchets. Just curious if the western forge craftsman screwdrivers are picking up in price?

 

[qqzj]

No. Screwdriver is consumable. Last in line for appreciation

 

[woody 73]

Funny but true story.

Some time back at the end of fall I went to a garage sale and several of the buyers (men) were going ape **** over buying up all the craftsman tools; (no snap on or Mac to be found at this sale). But yet they did not want any of the other great names to be had that day and I went home with Herbrand, Bonney, new Britan, Proto, etc.

I figure because the craftsman had nice chrome and the tools, I bought had a lot of chrome loss was the difference, but I overheard one of the men talking and he said he was going to get a king's ransom for all that craftsman.

Who knows? Maybe he did but I was still very happy with the tools that I bought that day.

 

[Ton ton]

No. Screwdriver is consumable. Last in line for appreciation

Thank you.

 

[Sneezer]

I haven't been following ebay, but a couple years ago (pre-covid) I was in the market for a rolling tool chest. Started looking locally on FB, CL and Offerup. At the time there was a bunch of USA Craftsman tools being sold, along with a pretty decent variety of tool chests from all makes. I found stuff that worked for me at a price that worked for me - cheaper than I expected at the time. Also picked up a couple portable boxes that were cheap and in good condition. Since then I will still browse the locals, but the selection has significantly slimmed, and the prices have gone up. Wondering if the big uptick in remote work during covid resulted in more people fleshing out their tools in order to fix stuff, and now the used market has responded to the increased demand.

I do have some USA stuff, but it was from my first kit that my dad bought me back in HS, and some stuff from his toolbox. I don't collect, and my boxes are pretty well stocked now so it is more specialty stuff that I will pick up these days, or something neat/cheap at a flea market I might find that could replace an import tool I already own.

I generally stay off ebay these days except to sell **** I don't need or want anymore.

 

[MarkH]

It is historic. I do not just pay for Craftsman or a couple other brands randomly it is for a rare piece that will complete a set my dad, grandfather , uncle, etc had. I will ignore common sense to complete it. That includes buying the other 3 pieces in the lot and fighting against multiple other bidders who with my luck are looking for the pieces I do not want.

So expect it to continue for a few more years.

 

[Here2Learn]

People are almost never paying high dollar for normally used Sears Craftsman. It is for new. Craftsman Professional screwdrivers are selling for a fair amount. These are collectibles, that will be kept as collectibles, not tools used as tools.

 

[Ton ton]

People are almost never paying high dollar for normally used Sears Craftsman. It is for new. Craftsman Professional screwdrivers are selling for a fair amount. These are collectibles, that will be kept as collectibles, not tools used as tools.

Thank you.

 

[d42jeep]

I’ve been selling average Craftsman stuff for a while at reasonable prices and it moves along. I listed large lots of regular screwdrivers and they have gone for a little more than I expected. I’m happy to get rid of them.
-Don

 

[3baygarage]

Haha. I just glanced at the screen and had to do a double take. Thought I saw a thread on “Sagging Craftsman USA Tool Prices”.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I think the old Craftsman USA stuff is awesome but I agree what everyone is asking is outrageous. I get all my Craftsman at the pawn shop for cheap. Only one pawn shop around here asks outrageous prices like I had found a 36mm shallow Craftsman socket he said $20 and I said no way he is like dude the Craftsman stuff isn’t made anymore so it’s worth a lot of money. Then he said he sells stuff on eBay too so wouldn’t surprise me if some of the listings were his

 

[89MustangGX]

I have a lot of CM USA and I do follow eBay for it - mostly because I know it's good quality stuff and I did have a few holes to fill. There used to be a couple sellers that had NOS stuff that asked a decent price and I actually picked up a couple things - that was when I started following it and looking for deals. Recently, there are more guys popping up with NOS stuff and they ask a TON as seen in the OP. I haven't and wouldn't pay as much as these guys are asking - at this point I follow it to see how high it will go. I also want to know where this NOS stuff comes from??? I mean, at this point we are talking unopened sets that are 15-20+ years old. At the time, CM wasn't cheap. Who bought all this stuff and just stuck it away in a closet waiting for Sears to close and eBay to get popular with collectors???

 

[dsh]

I have a box full of Craftsman USA tools. Sockets, wrenches, pliers, etc.

Anyone paying big bucks for this stuff should only do it for either 1) "collecting" or 2) nostalgia. In my experience, they're just about on par with the mid-range Taiwanese stuff (Tekton, etc.). I find it crazy that used Craftsman stuff can go for as much (sometimes more) than used Proto of the same vintage.

The professional wrenches are excellent though, I love mine.

 

[dnschmidt]

I always thought they were below average homeowner grade tools 40 years ago so I didn't buy them when they were cheap and I sure as hell am not going to buy them now. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?

 

[qqzj]

Don't fight with market. Old Craftsman stands for old American culture. If you fight it, you will just lose opportunity to make some money.

 

[Jtels85]

I always thought they were below average homeowner grade tools 40 years ago so I didn't buy them when they were cheap and I sure as hell am not going to buy them now. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?

I guess not everyone has been enlightened like you.

I made a note to take my tool advice from you going forward. I wouldn’t want to be criticized for buying “below-average, homeowner grade tools”.

 

[Ton ton]

I always thought they were below average homeowner grade tools 40 years ago so I didn't buy them when they were cheap and I sure as hell am not going to buy them now. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?

I agree with you on the quality of craftsman. But it is fun to own USA Craftsman tools just for kicks. As far as actually using tools , I prefer something better as well. I can still find USA Craftsman screwdrivers @ an ACE hardware so I am following this thread to see if it's worth my time to buy more or not.

 

[dnschmidt]

Well Ton ton just don't buy Craftsman Phillips screwdrivers especially if you own Japanese motorcycles or cars. They never adopted the DIN/JIS standard that enables them to be used with JIS screws. More Jap motorcycles have been buggered up by Craftsman Phillips screwdrivers than can be counted.

 

[qqzj]

On the quality of old USA craftsman tools, they can be crappy, like my 1/4 ratchet and a 14mm 1/2 socket. Or, they can be really good, like this video below. In general, judging tools by brand is simply as inappropriate as judging them by county of origin. I have learned to be less vocal about tools' quality than others.

However, when talking about old craftsman tools, especially Nos tools, it's not about tools anymore. It's all about collection value. I rate them just about higher than anything. $100 in nos Craftsman is better than any other tools.

And yes, I have a package of three such pliers brand new in original plastic wrap!