Help me value a tool box / set

[jake00]

One of my best friends recently passed...
his mom is asking for my help in selling his box / tools

Looking at the pics, can you guys ballpark what we should ask if we sell as a lot?
He was a Volvo tech for a few years, then worked at an euro import shop.

I know we’d probably get more if we piece it out,

 

[B_Bimmer]

Start at 8 grand, go down five hundred or a thousand a week 'til it's sold. To be more precise than that I would need better/more pictures or see it myself.

I would think from what I see you could maybe get five, not needing anything in there I wouldn't get excited 'til about 3. I'm assuming there is a fair assortment of sockets in the top drawer and some other goodies as well.

 

[CJM8515]

Would help to know if the tools are pro stuff off the truck or cheaper end stuff.

Id say 10k and drop 500 off every so often till you get a bite. The box is at least 3000 itself.

 

[jake00]

Mostly truck stuff

 

[Vantastic]

Contact a local auctioneer. They can sell it piece by piece at their auction house.
You will not find somebody with enough cash to buy it all at once.

 

[cgrutt]

Hard to say without knowing what's there but IMO I'd be surprised if you got more than $4,500 - $5,000 for everything in pics. Don't see many sets of tools, you'd do better cleaning up all the loose tools and organizing it better. See a couple of wrench sets but no significant socket sets. In my experience used Snap-on commands significantly higher prices over Mac or Matco, esp. if just loose tools (vs completed sets). Good luck.

 

[Beerman]

Contact a couple of tool dealers. They can probably find you a buyer. Give them 10-20% of the sale price. They might even be able to help finance.

I've sold stuff via a couple of the dealers in my area, albeit not a whole box full of tools. Worked out well for both of us.

 

[jake00]

Had the local Mac dealer over tonight, He knew my buddy and sold him the box and a lot of the tools. Says they just had some Mac tools show in Texas so he’s low on cash, but he’s gonna see what he can do.

 

[John in OH]

I'm just shooting my mouth off here, so I could be well off into the weeds, but ...

It doesn't seem to me there would be many potential buyers out there that would be looking for or interested in an entire set of tools and box. Much more likely you can find more interested buyers if you sell it off in sub-sets of tools and the box separately. And, as you have already noted, that would probably be the best approach to extract the most money.

 

[dimichele]

Piece out complete sets, valuable tools on ebay or something similiar. Sell the box separate. Sell the leftovers as a lot for practically nothing.

 

[jake00]

Local tool guys offer is 2800, which I think is a bit low, but he’s gotta do all the work in finding buyers for everything and making a profit.

 

[Parrothead]

Local tool guys offer is 2800, which I think is a bit low, but he’s gotta do all the work in finding buyers for everything and making a profit.

Sold.

You might be able to get more, but at what cost? Plus you can tell the mom you got rid of it to an actual tool dealer and there will be no argument years later that they were way more valuable and you “gave them away”. Remember moms don’t understand how much stuff depreciates. All it takes is someone to mention that the widget is $300 new and she'll wonder why you got $100 vs $250.

Remember no good deed goes unpunished.

 

[wornoutoldman]

Sorry to hear about your friend. I'd likely take the tool dealers offer unless you feel like spending a couple of months Ebaying stuff...

 

[t4runner]

Around here they seem to be getting a premium for boxes that would sell for around 3 grand ( depending on condition ) I would suggest that separating is the way to go. Break it down to wrench sets, socket sets, screw driver sets you get the idea. I don't think there are to many people who need everything or have the money to spend for it as a package.

 

[Tonyuk]

You'll probably get more selling it all individually, rather than asking for 5K-ish for the lot.

***** to hear about him passing.

 

[unslow1]

Local tool guys offer is 2800, which I think is a bit low, but he’s gotta do all the work in finding buyers for everything and making a profit.

Have you tried asking the guys at his old shop?

 

[wkndwarrior29]

This is what I would do, or sell the sets on eBay the the loose items with the box. 2800 seems low for what you have, unless it's not worth the trouble of eBay to you. I bet your local tool guy is hoping to double his investment for moderate effort.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[potato]

just remember flea-bay takes 10% and you have to package and ship everything.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Advertise box separately in local shoppers and internet sites.( Facebook and Cl, etc)
Give His former co-workers first bids.
Update the local listings daily or weekly.
List the the sets and cased tools separately.
Sell torque wrenches, ratchets, air tools, separate from any "sets".
What doesn't sell in two months goes on eBay.
Establish an asking price before listing anything.


Looks like Your Friend valued and took Pride in His Tools.
Honor His Memory by selling them to the Best of Your Ability.

 

[jd_1138]

You'll probably get more selling it all individually, rather than asking for 5K-ish for the lot.

***** to hear about him passing.

Plus one to both points. Sad situation.

If the tools are mostly truck branded, I'd start at like $8,000 for everything and that will leave negotiating room.

Not sure how much time you have on your hands, but if you bust the sets up and sell individually -- like the set of 6 point metric deep sockets in one set -- she'll get much much more. Maybe she will give you a percentage of the sales? It will be a major hassle doing it that way -- if you're the one taking the pics, listing it, shipping it, etc..

 

[930dreamer]

I can tell you from experience that parting out tools could take years. Sorry for your loss.

 

[AngryBeaver]

sorry to hear about your friend.

your're going to have a hard time finding someone that will buy the entire lot at 25% of what its worth to be honest. most guys with cash are cheap *** like myself. the box is worth 1500-2500 and you'll sit on it for 2-6 months. the tools are worth big coin if sold on eBay. I doubt the entire lot would bring 2500 on CL or FB market place. if you had the time, list the stuff on eBay in individual lots. it *****, see this all the time. 10-20K investments in tools bring nothing when a family member dies. again, sorry to hear about your friend

 

[jake00]

Thanks guys, His last Job was a desk job so those guys aren’t interested in his tools. We’re probably gonna sell to the tool guy . It’d be nice to get more but yea, the time, eBay fee’s etc... it’s the best way