So I’ve been going to a lot of estate sales lately and I noticed that almost every one would strangely have one or two snap on or Mac sockets or wrenches buried at the bottom of a drawer as if it was the last potato chip in an empty bag. The estate sale people really don’t know much about tools so I doubted that they were doing it. I finally figured out why today. Apparently the tool truck guys have a relationship with all the estate sale companies near me and they buy used snap on/mac/matco stuff at a premium so they can warranty it out. Some of them drive from hours away. Is this common where you guys live?
Estate sales
- Thread starter DoggyDan
- Start date
Interesting question. I go to a lot of estate sales as my fiance resells china and related stuff, so I always look at the tools. Around here, it's mostly Craftsman and other stuff, rarely any Snap on or Matco/Mac.
Maybe??
Maybe??
bmwrd0
Well-known member
Not around here. Tool truck guys never mess with estate sales as far as I know, they have too much to do on their routes. Also, they would need to have relationships with every estate sale company in any given area, not an easy thing to do. More likely, in my eyes, is that family knows some of the major brands and makes off with the stuff before estate sales companies are even called to make an offer.
Some of the estate sales I go to have folks who you can just tell are looking for specific items they can flip for profit. Not collectors at all.
But lately sales have been more just everyday folks looking for deals.
But lately sales have been more just everyday folks looking for deals.
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Most of the sales are from baby boomers living in multi-million dollar houses passing away or moving and all their stuff is up for sale. Most of the estate sale people here are pretty clueless about tools. A lot of their children are well off and probably don't care enough about selling some tools for a little extra money either. I talked to a guy today who was selling off his tool collection and he had a snap on truck driver come from 2 hours away to buy his entire collection of older truck brand tools before the sale happened. Just like with the other sales there was a few pieces left behind here and there. The cost of living here is insane and many working class people have to go to great lengths to make ends meet. I also see a lot of Hispanic guys buying tools and other things to sell at the flea market, they come in older cargo vans.
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rustyzman
Well-known member
I have historically gone to a ton of estate sales over many years. I try to choose ones that will have a decent chance of having things that we may have interest in. My unspoken goal on each day we chose to go is to find at least one Snap on, Mac, Matco or Cornwell tool. I too find that even in a sea of other brands at a particular sale, there are orphan individual tools of those brands.
Today's trip consisted of three sales and in the course of two of the sales I found a 3/4" wide Blue Point chisel and two PAR-X screwdrivers. This was not first day and I did review pictures before choosing to go, not seeing any of them or others in those pictures. The chisel was in a back garden shed that had almost no hand tools. Odd.
Even my next door neighbor growing up had a reasonable collection of craftsman and hardware store brand tools, but had one single Snap on screwdriver. Totally random and no idea how he acquired it.
I am guessing that a lot of the one-offs are obtained through places of work, but I could be completely wrong.
I will say that the first sale today had a nearly perfect Grey and Red craftsman top and bottom chest set too, along with a lot of Xcelite/Vaco, General, etc., some NIB. But that chest set looked almost new and was the nicest one in that style/era I have ever seen.
lots of articulating lamps too.
If you are into older professional level video stuff plus some other electronic service items, this is a good one to go to tomorrow. I didn't see the price on the craftsman, but that grey cabinet in the background was $300, and I think will be discounted tomorrow. No affiliation, just an FYI
Lake Geneva WI area.
www.estatesales.net
Today's trip consisted of three sales and in the course of two of the sales I found a 3/4" wide Blue Point chisel and two PAR-X screwdrivers. This was not first day and I did review pictures before choosing to go, not seeing any of them or others in those pictures. The chisel was in a back garden shed that had almost no hand tools. Odd.
Even my next door neighbor growing up had a reasonable collection of craftsman and hardware store brand tools, but had one single Snap on screwdriver. Totally random and no idea how he acquired it.
I am guessing that a lot of the one-offs are obtained through places of work, but I could be completely wrong.
I will say that the first sale today had a nearly perfect Grey and Red craftsman top and bottom chest set too, along with a lot of Xcelite/Vaco, General, etc., some NIB. But that chest set looked almost new and was the nicest one in that style/era I have ever seen.
lots of articulating lamps too.
If you are into older professional level video stuff plus some other electronic service items, this is a good one to go to tomorrow. I didn't see the price on the craftsman, but that grey cabinet in the background was $300, and I think will be discounted tomorrow. No affiliation, just an FYI
Lake Geneva WI area.
Vintage electronics And more!!! in Williams Bay, WI starts on 9/13/2024
View information about this sale in Williams Bay, WI. The sale starts Friday, September 13 and runs through Sunday, September 15. It is being run by Compton Estates.
www.estatesales.net
Shiftless
Well-known member
Get there when they open and buy that gray cabinet. Even at full price $300 it’s a steal.
rustyzman
Well-known member
Yes it certainly is. If I had even a tiny bit of space, I would have bought it, but alas I do not. All the stuff in that room was in excellent condition.
ArmyVW_GuyInTX
ALLIANCE MEMBER
As an estate sale enthusiast - I appreciate the fact that estate sale owners are not tool fans.
I was at a sale years ago where they had the "name brand" Snap on, Mac and Craftsman sets up near the register. I bought every Hazet tool they had for dollar each.
Scored a factory Matra (VW & Porsche) floor mounted engine/ transaxle stand & yoke for $50
I was at a sale years ago where they had the "name brand" Snap on, Mac and Craftsman sets up near the register. I bought every Hazet tool they had for dollar each.
Scored a factory Matra (VW & Porsche) floor mounted engine/ transaxle stand & yoke for $50
Shiftless
Well-known member
I’ve seen sales where sockets were a buck each except the craftsman ones were $2.00
So good condition tool truck brands went home with me.
At one sale, a rusty little 2 inch Prentiss jewelers vise was laying in the dirt. The guy running the sale wouldn’t sell it to me unless I bought this ordinary run of the mill clamp on vise that was on the table. Price for both… $35.00. SOLD !!
(If you don’t know collectible vises too well, let me just say that the baby Prentiss is worth maybe 10 times what I paid)
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A few weeks ago a bought a tool cabinet similar to the one in your picture but slightly smaller. It has the fork lift points on the bottom and locking individual drawers with huge roller wheels under the drawers for $100. I don't have room for more stuff. I passed up on mid sized Cornwell box today for $100 just because I don't have more room. I don't know if its the area but there are pretty crazy sales going on every weekend near me. Lots of vintage usa made tools for practically nothing. I can fill an entire tool bag of sockets and wrenches for $40-60 but sadly very few tool truck brands.
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pelletman
Well-known member
That gray cabinet is a Stanley Vidmar I think, excellent cabinet and a very good deal at 300 and a steal at 150
This is most of the haul from the last month. I'm trying to put together a full tool set of usa made tools from estate sales. I haven't had time to organize it yet which is why it looks like that. I do have some extras but sometimes when I'm there I can't help myself.
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d42jeep
Well-known member
I’ve been going to flea markets, garage sales and estate sales in the Bay Area since 2015. Most sales have a variety of brands. Snap-on tools are rarely the most prolific brand although there have been exceptions. I think that many estates have family members cherry picking the best tools before the estate sale companies even show up.
We went to three Nevada estate sales today and same home with these three Snap-on related tools.
As found.
Cleaned up.
-Don
We went to three Nevada estate sales today and same home with these three Snap-on related tools.
As found.
Cleaned up.
-Don
Nice, yeah I once found a full set of those double flex head wrenches, all snap on except for one which was New Britain. That was the most SO I’ve found in one sale so far. This was also a sale run by family, not an estate company. There were a few other sales run directly by the owner or family that had SO but I got there too late.I’ve been going to flea markets, garage sales and estate sales in the Bay Area since 2015. Most sales have a variety of brands. Snap-on tools are rarely the most prolific brand although there have been exceptions. I think that many estates have family members cherry picking the best tools before the estate sale companies even show up.
We went to three Nevada estate sales today and same home with these three Snap-on related tools.
As found.
Cleaned up.
-Don
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bmwrd0
Well-known member
I lived in the bay area for a long time, and I regularly found SO, MAC, Cornwell, whathaveyou at sales all up and down the east bay and out the Delta. Are there resellers out there who snap up tools? Yes. Are there estate companies who know these people and use them to clear out estates? Yes. Does this always happen? No.
BombShelter
Well-known member
I've been buying from thrifts/garage sales/flea market for years, once ebay starting getting big around 2003 a lot of people identified profitable old stuff and started getting an inside edge at the sales through connections or being there early. Stories of the van's pulling in first thing in the morning and all the stereo equipment getting sold before hitting the floor have been around forever.
In this day, with the ability to look up value much more easily, I can't see estate sales companies doing this unless it's a buddy and they get a kickback. It always seems like the first guys in the estate sales are Tools, Audio, Toys and every other high-end product, I'm not sure how you'd benefit from getting rid of one of the items that gets people in your sale early.
It's probably more like they scooped up all the good tools and didn't see the last few nuggets.
By the way did anybody see the McIntosh Stereo and assorted other stuff from that sale?
In this day, with the ability to look up value much more easily, I can't see estate sales companies doing this unless it's a buddy and they get a kickback. It always seems like the first guys in the estate sales are Tools, Audio, Toys and every other high-end product, I'm not sure how you'd benefit from getting rid of one of the items that gets people in your sale early.
It's probably more like they scooped up all the good tools and didn't see the last few nuggets.
By the way did anybody see the McIntosh Stereo and assorted other stuff from that sale?
toolmiser
Well-known member
I was at a "estate sale" the other day with nothing but a couple tables of old tools. It was run by a couple of older ladies (I'm guessing deceased person's wife). A guy picks up about 6 tools and pays for them, the sales person says "what are you going to do with all those tools?" He replies "sell them". I thought that was kind of disrespectful to the seller. Not that he was going to sell them, but he should have said something nice like "use them" or "put them to work". I think it made him look like he was pulling a fast one on the seller. I guess I am a little more respectful to my elders.
Cruzan80
Well-known member
Why was that disrespectful? The estate sale company is there for one reason: "Get the most money for the client WHILE TRYING TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING LEAVES DURING THE SALE". If someone can make more money by having a longer runway to sell an item, good for them. The company should be glad someone is buying and helping them make more money for the client, while not having to get rid of other stuff.
I don't rub their faces in it, but also don't lie about what I am doing with them.
I don't rub their faces in it, but also don't lie about what I am doing with them.
Cruzan80
Well-known member
I do try and be understanding, but most of the time they want stuff gone. Not going to lie about my intentions. I don't low-ball them, break up sets, etc.
Usually I am not buying for resale, so that helps. But if I know the market, and where to find buyers, and am willing to hold onto something longer to get a better price, that is part of buying/selling. Most sellers want stuff to leave, as they didn't have any interest in keeping it in the first place. They are happy it left.
Would lying about your intentions to make them feel better be more respectful? I disagree. But if I say I am going to resell, I usually provide more background into the "Why" I can make something off the sale, that usually they can't/won't.
Usually I am not buying for resale, so that helps. But if I know the market, and where to find buyers, and am willing to hold onto something longer to get a better price, that is part of buying/selling. Most sellers want stuff to leave, as they didn't have any interest in keeping it in the first place. They are happy it left.
Would lying about your intentions to make them feel better be more respectful? I disagree. But if I say I am going to resell, I usually provide more background into the "Why" I can make something off the sale, that usually they can't/won't.
Cruzan80
Well-known member
If he is going to sell them, but says "something nice like 'use them' or 'put them to work', how is that not lying?
Shiftless
Well-known member
Not a tool story but related to this conversation…
Many years ago I answered an ad for a nice ‘65 Galaxie 2 door hardtop with a 352 4bbl.
I was second in line. A widow was selling her husband‘s car. She was asking only $500. She told me this story.
The first guy showed up and she asked him what he was going to do with the car. He said that he was going to pull the motor and put it in his boat.
Big mistake. No sale.
(Maybe he should have said that he would do some work on it, drive it around, and decide later.)
After she finished the story I immediately said that I would give her $600 and told her that it was too nice for that and I would NOT part out the car.
I drove it away.
A automotive machinist buddy of mine and fellow old Ford guy pulled the heads and did a complete valve job and got it running almost as good as new. I gave him the car in exchange for a lot of engine work he did on another car of mine.
Many years ago I answered an ad for a nice ‘65 Galaxie 2 door hardtop with a 352 4bbl.
I was second in line. A widow was selling her husband‘s car. She was asking only $500. She told me this story.
The first guy showed up and she asked him what he was going to do with the car. He said that he was going to pull the motor and put it in his boat.
Big mistake. No sale.
(Maybe he should have said that he would do some work on it, drive it around, and decide later.)
After she finished the story I immediately said that I would give her $600 and told her that it was too nice for that and I would NOT part out the car.
I drove it away.
A automotive machinist buddy of mine and fellow old Ford guy pulled the heads and did a complete valve job and got it running almost as good as new. I gave him the car in exchange for a lot of engine work he did on another car of mine.
toolmiser
Well-known member
It wasn't a company doing the selling, I suspect the wife of tool owner. Who cares if you lie, my point is why not have a little grace and make the person feel good about selling someones prized possessions? It sounded like her prices were too cheap and he was going to make a buck off of a little old lady.
Cruzan80
Well-known member
Got @toolmiser and @DoggyDan confused.
Sorry, not going to lie to someone, maybe just to make them feel better. As I have said, lots of people just want the stuff gone, and if I am re-selling (something I don't do a ton of), it usually means I have an understanding of a niche market, and how to get it to them. not buying to resell SnapOn on eBay...
I have definitely also told family members when something was worth more, and paid up for it, and passed along other things I didn't buy but are worth more than they are asking.
But at the end of the day, they are selling it because they don't have a use for it. Most of this isn't "prized possessions" to remaining family members. Maybe there was more to the story than is mentioned, but at its surface, you are reading too much into it.
Sorry, not going to lie to someone, maybe just to make them feel better. As I have said, lots of people just want the stuff gone, and if I am re-selling (something I don't do a ton of), it usually means I have an understanding of a niche market, and how to get it to them. not buying to resell SnapOn on eBay...
I have definitely also told family members when something was worth more, and paid up for it, and passed along other things I didn't buy but are worth more than they are asking.
But at the end of the day, they are selling it because they don't have a use for it. Most of this isn't "prized possessions" to remaining family members. Maybe there was more to the story than is mentioned, but at its surface, you are reading too much into it.
d42jeep
Well-known member
If anyone happens to ask me, I just say that I collect vintage tools and leave it at that. I see no reason to lie or to hurt anyone’s feelings particularly when it’s a family run sale. Most estate sale companies could care less about the future of the items they are selling.
-Don
-Don
RTM
Well-known member
Some people ask, and I always reply "Put them to use.". Occasionally it's "Give them to a friend". These two cover 95% of where my purchases go. Their faces usually light up, "Dad would like that they are going to be used".
Companies almost never ask, occasionally one of their garage based people will, especially if I grab something odd.
Companies almost never ask, occasionally one of their garage based people will, especially if I grab something odd.
elidas
Well-known member
Most of the time around here (Connecticut) the lone tool truck tool at the bottom of the pile is a dead common wrench/socket/screwdriver. I have a stack of 1/2 SnapOn wrenches.
You guys sure have better garage/estate sales than I do.
Between the poor people trying to make a living by flipping, the tendency for people to not buy good stuff in the first place, and the pre-scouring by relatives and the like, I just run into junk.
At least with library book sales, the things I want aren't of any interest to the irritating people with scanners.
You'd think by now that the Amazon used book dealers and eBay tool people would have faded away. There doesn't look to be enough juice in the squeeze.
Between the poor people trying to make a living by flipping, the tendency for people to not buy good stuff in the first place, and the pre-scouring by relatives and the like, I just run into junk.
At least with library book sales, the things I want aren't of any interest to the irritating people with scanners.
You'd think by now that the Amazon used book dealers and eBay tool people would have faded away. There doesn't look to be enough juice in the squeeze.
Did he put the engine into his boat?
Honestly, I think it goes deeper than that.
People, especially old guys, will remember 'that time they overpaid for a thing' for the rest of their lives. By the same token, selling something that you found out was worth a lot more and resold by someone hits humans at a basic level. There's probably some brain chemistry monkey thing at work here.
Ray-CA
Well-known member
Last thing I picked up was a cedar chest. I just wanted the wood since I'm not able to find anything expect cedar fencing. When asked who it was for, I explained I was going to be disassembling it for the wood and if they'd rather sell it to someone who would use it a chest, I'd leave it.
d42jeep
Well-known member
These tools came from a family run estate sale in Marin County in 2019. A sister was selling her late brother’s tools and he had quite a bit of Snap-on. I think I bought most everything of value. 
Cleaned them up.
-Don
Cleaned them up.
-Don
You can’t have a brittle spirit if you collect.
You are going to overpay, you are going to buy things that are not in as good of condition as thought they were in… you are not always going to pick winners…
You offset that with the things you underpay for and things that were in way better condition than you thought…
You win some, you lose some…
crguy
Well-known member
As long as you win more than you lose, it's all good. I have made some great finds. On my way today for a private look at an estate.
Mike'smeatshop
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2023
- Messages
- 1,273
If you collect. Now if you buy to resale, it's different ball game. I am like the Amish, I buy I don't sell. Most my stuff. I got into buying for what I thought people would want for their collections. That don't work.
grannyknot
Well-known member
Too true, dump multiple hours and money into the restoration of a neglected but otherwise quality tool, charge less than the going rate for the inferior currently available tool and if anyone even inquires about it they think you are asking too much.
As long as I break even I'm okay with it, it's a rewarding hobby and keeps me from going stir crazy.
3baygarage
Well-known member
I knew a couple of older guys near me who would roll together to yard sales and estate sales. One was a flea market flipper, and his buddy looked for scrap metal. I heard them trying to buy a bunch of brass and one of them said their son “makes things” with it. I just laughed to myself.