Do you buy new or used?

[Craftsman_88]

Okay So I am new here and have tried to search to no avail. So here I am. If this has been beaten to death I apologize and please delete. Otherwise....


Tools(hand, air, power), boxes, carts, lift equipment, and anything else ya'll use. Where do you purchase from (store, pawn, yard sale, inviduals)? Is your box full of new or second hand tools?

 

[davesnothere]

Both.
When snappy has great bogo deals and whatnot, I get on it.
When I see things at pawn shops, here, wherever, I get on that too.
Seems like stuff I need, I get new.
Stuff I want, I'm cool with used.

 

[wafrederick]

Both,I have two Snap On 3/8 drive air ratchets on Ebay from pawnshops.It includes a Mac socket set from a pawn shop bought on Ebay.Don't be afraid to bid on broken tool lots on Ebay and I did good on two broken Cornwell tool lots.One was $300.00 worth of tools and the other was $500.00 worth of tools.

 

[treasureseeker]

In general I buy new but some tools from the past don't have an equal today, so I have few from the past.

 

[Joe B.]

I have a buddy from high school that sells tools to support his drug habit. He is always parting out someones tool collection at great prices.

 

[greasemonkey44]

both, truck brands i buy used from ebay or friends or clist cant afford off the truck
other wise i buy new danaher for most things, or HF thier products are alot better and if i use it enough to break it then i get a better version

 

[lauver]

I buy mostly used tools and shop equipment. I find most of the stuff at pawn shops, flea markets, swap meets, and garage sales. I have also found it handy to buy stuff from the folks here in the GJ classified section. A lot of tools trade hands here... quickly!

 

[Danglerb]

Used tools with a lifetime easy warranty, but I avoided anything with batteries used unless the price is VERY good. I bend the battery item rule on new condition store returns, but too many electrical and battery items have great warranties that ONLY apply to the original purchaser.

OTOH corded tools that are pretty easy to test before buying often are great purchased used.

 

[Borrego]

I do not turn wrenches for a living, but 99.5% of my purchases are used. I have a great swap meet a mile from me, but have also bought at garage and estate sales. Occassionally, a pawn shop......For larger stuff like tool boxes, Craig'slist is the place for me.

 

[Gregg33]

Hand tools I often buy used my favs are SO and Gray, although sometimes when I want complete sets I buy new.

Power tools, mine are all new Makita, though I am getting a yearning to buy some old school stuff.

Air tools I bought new, they are all off-shore though and slowly I'd like to replace them with used SO.

Tool boxes I usually buy new, I find used ones are often over priced, although I did pick up a solid, but fairly rough looking SPG road box for $30.

New I buy from Sears, Lowe's, RONA, Cdn Tire, Princess Auto (only get domestic made products if possible from those sources), from my Gray dealer or on occasion from the SO truck.

Used, I buy most of my stuff from Kijiji (Craigslist isn't big in Canada), but I keep my eyes open from other sources too, the GJ classifieds are good.

 

[Weps]

it really depends on the item. i try to buy used as often as i can. however, complex or precision items are not worth the risk of being used and abused unless i trust the source or have some economical way to repair/rebuild. even when i buy new though, it's usually a clearance or heavy discount item...usually 60-75% off.

only in a desperation situation will i pay full price. that does not happen often. i try to anticipate my needs and plan for projects well in advance so i have plenty of time to wait for a deal to show up.

 

[not-required]

Almost always new, but thats because I can get great prices on most tools using my student discount.

 

[Rickster]

I try to avoid the cost of new at every tool purchase. Used is the way I go. Same tool for 1/2 the price, just not as shiny.

 

[billybudge]

Okay So I am new here and have tried to search to no avail. So here I am. If this has been beaten to death I apologize and please delete. Otherwise....


Tools(hand, air, power), boxes, carts, lift equipment, and anything else ya'll use. Where do you purchase from (store, pawn, yard sale, inviduals)? Is your box full of new or second hand tools?

Hi buddy:
I have a hugh selection of tools, mainly because I am greedy.
and I work ( have worked) in a lot of different mechanical / engineering trades,
when I first started out I bought new,and some cheap brands but over the years I will buy second hand, you can pick up some fantastic bargains,
and I am always on the look out for them, ebay / ebid is a good place, in the UK with have a thing called car boot sales, which is similer to a yard sale but on a bigger scale, and you will always get a bargain there, as long as you know what your looking for, I have paid as little as 25p for a snap on spanner,snap on brand in the UK is extremly expensive, up to 20 times the price for an equvilant quality for a brand such as Draper expert, so again depending on your needs and the urgentcy of buying,
I have no problems in buying old / second hand gear, as long as it is in usable condition,
Nowadays I look for more beat up tools to restore as a hobby,
cheers

 

[bamackc]

I buy mostly used, but I like for it to be in next to new condition.

 

[diesel research]

I try to avoid buying most used tools if at all possible.

I find they are typically beat beyond recognition and still selling for too close to new.

I'm not paying $85 for 8 3/8 drive SAE snap on sockets, don't care what the guy at flea market keeps telling me. Not paying $55 for his worn out ratcheting screw driver with busted selector either.

 

[Fordman7795]

When i first started in the sheet metal trade i got 80% of my tools new, 20% were hand me downs from grandpa. (mostly speciality stuff). My home tools are about 50/50

 

[Lightfoot]

yes.

 

[american lockpicker]

I buy new for use and if I come across something interesting for here I buy it cheap but don't use it.

 

[Grogan14]

I have a buddy from high school that sells tools to support his drug habit. He is always parting out someones tool collection at great prices.

Is that, with their full knowledge and consent?

 

[ptschram]

Almost always new.

I've decided that supporting my local businesses and tool truck vendors is more important than the few dollars I might save.

I don't like buying something used and finding it to be worn out or otherwise less than safe to use or will damage fasteners, etc.

Last year saw me spend less on tools than the past ten, only $4500 or so.

 

[honcho]

New when:
1. Something I have to have to complete a job and a used item isn't available
2. Stumble across a great deal
3. When readily available used items are more than about 75 percent of the new price, it just doesn't make sense to me to buy used

Used when:
1. Great deals, especially for brands I would not normally buy new (truck brands) and high quality USA/European made tools.
2. One off jobs where I can buy a used item and usually resale it for close to what I paid--effectively free rental
3. Cool stuff I want but can't possibly justify new, usually falls under the "Great Deal" category (ex. exhaust gas analyzer, scope, etc...)

 

[crewchief888]

over the past 35 years ive been buying tools, most of them were bought new, as were my largeer "working" boxes.

i buy used hand tools, truck brands, SK, a few new hand tools, (when the price is right), or for home garage, off road box, or junkyard box.

i stay away from used battery operated stuff, and usually shy away from used corded tools as well, only for the fact that they usually want near new price.

i have bought several used boxes over the years, mainly SO side boxes,for work use. the vintage CM top box, and a kennedy cantilever just for price and portability.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Pre eBay and CL, it was all new.

Now, if I can find the tool I'm looking for, for a good price (getting more difficult on eBay), and it is non-power Craftsman, I'll jump on it.

I don't trust used power tools. Refurb, yes. Used, no.

Anyone selling a 15" Craftsman adjustable wrench, cheap ?

 

[DrkMtnDew]

i go for as much good and descently priced used stuff as i can. everything else i get new.

 

[scottg1952]

Buy it new. Line up with plastic in hand and support the economy.

Otherwise, if you want the exact same thing for 10 cent on the dollar or less?
Be the first one through the gate at the swap meet or the first on scene at the yard sale. The best stuff will sell instantly to the very first person to lay eyes on it.
If you want to sleep in, might as well go back to retail.
The cream is gone sleepyhead, and I got it.
yours Scott

 

[american lockpicker]

I have a buddy from high school that sells tools to support his drug habit. He is always parting out someones tool collection at great prices.

That would make a funny signature...

 

[clouseau]

I think a lot depends of whether the tools are essential to make a living, in which case you would need to buy the best you can new and with the back-ups and warranties that goes with that investment, because you can't afford to wait.

You can also pick up 2nd hand stuff along the way on ebay, clist, at a yard or estate sale that is either nice to have or you figure you will need at some point.

A bit like me with my big feet that take a size 14 US..... (rare over here in Europe). I need to buy top quality shoes that fit comfortably for full price and new because I can't afford to wait until someone with my size feet dies and the shoes end up cheap at a boot sale or vide grenier!

The enthusiastic hobbyists amongst us, of which I consider myself one, can usually just pick up good stuff cheap and wait for something to use it on.

 

[american lockpicker]

I think a lot depends of whether the tools are essential to make a living, in which case you would need to buy the best you can new and with the back-ups and warranties that goes with that investment, because you can't afford to wait.

You can also pick up 2nd hand stuff along the way on ebay, clist, at a yard or estate sale that is either nice to have or you figure you will need at some point.

A bit like me with my big feet that take a size 14 US..... (rare over here in Europe). I need to buy top quality shoes that fit comfortably for full price and new because I can't afford to wait until someone with my size feet dies and the shoes end up cheap at a boot sale or vide grenier!

The enthusiastic hobbyists amongst us, of which I consider myself one, can usually just pick up good stuff cheap and wait for something to use it on.

Big shoes are hard to find I wear 13 EEEE US but 12 W German fits fine.

 

[Ritter4.0]

Right now I am buying used, and upgrading with better used as I go. I have spent about $150 at my local pawn shop on used tools. Their new equivalents (if they were the same brand) would be well into $600+. A used tool can do the job just as well as a new one, and if it has a warranty, I intend to use it.

 

[ajchien]

I just thought about this yesterday. When it comes down to total numbers, about 1/3 used and 2/3 new. New tends to come in sets of things and items I need today/this week; used tend to come in individual pieces and on items that I will use someday.

 

[ibedayank]

Depends on what i am looking for and what deals i find used new does not matter to me as long as it gets the job done
USA made stuff is getting harder to find new...so if i find a good deal i will buy it used

 

[bobcatdan]

When I need something now, I buy new. I'm always looking for used, and buy way too much of it when it comes along. My ratchet assortment has just exploded in the last few years thanks to all the old 36 tooth SO tradeded off for dual 80's.

 

[catfish]

with hand tools i usually buy new , with power tools i usually buy second hand

 

[jim m]

All most 99.8 % used for me I'm not a pro wencher and Its a money thing for me Ive raised 3 kids had house car and all the other payments that go along with it to make now I have a 6 year old son and my 3 grand kids 2 4 and 8 years old so there hasn't been alto of extra money. I also use it as a escape its relaxing to go out and hunt for the tools Me and some Friends meet up at the dough net shop have coffee and then hit the swap meet and some sales together its the thrill of finding some thing cool. The kids love going to they always find stuff they want. If I was to have bought new I would not have half of what I do. There are so many good to brands out there IE dro Indira SK craftsman proto Armstrong etc etc that do just as good of a job some that are no longer around but not being a pro I dint have to worry about warranty's to much.

http://s1085.photobucket.com/albums/j424/mikeysdad1/

Jim