How do you guys value tools?

[Commando]

I was buying tools yesterday primarily Snap-On and have a decent idea what some stuff is worth, and with Snap-On you can search their site for brand new retail and get a price cap.

How do you all come up with a price, 50% of price for Snap-On list, but then what about Craftsman, Mac, S-K, ...

I performed a search as you can see below and can you believe that?

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

For used stuff? Check the price of what you're looking at new, then devalue for use, condition, etc - same as you would for Snap-On (assuming you use logic and not the "OMG GREEN HANDLES I WILL PAY ONE MEELION DOLLARZ FOR THAT!" thinking).

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

Mac, Matco and Cornwell will typically be in line with Snapon for pricing.

SK, Proto, Williams, Blackhawk, etc. slightly less than the truck brands.

Craftsman, older Husky, etc slightly less than the industrial brands.

Mass market Asian and "no name" oddballs should never exceed a buck or two.

 

[Slip_Kid]

Ebay is good for a price check on tools. Do a search for completed listings and you will get a good idea of the current market value,

 

[Commando]

Mac, Matco and Cornwell will typically be in line with Snapon for pricing.

SK, Proto, Williams, Blackhawk, etc. slightly less than the truck brands.

Craftsman, older Husky, etc slightly less than the industrial brands.

Mass market Asian and "no name" oddballs should never exceed a buck or two.

Thanks, I like this hierarchy, good rule of thumb.

I have a hard time when I am buying individual tools and the seller wants a price for each, there's a lot more leeway in lots. I would really like to not regret purchases when I get back home and do research.

 

[back2class]

this has been discussed before a few times.

SO averages 50% of retail...some more/some less.

Other truck brands about 40% though cornwell closer to 30% for me to move it.

Craftsman about 20% or retail. A little higher on sets and in demand stuff and like 10% or less on loose sockets.

Mid brands is a **** shoot, you have the "collectors" who may pay for a missing piece or for like new stuff. But Proto, Blackhawk, Blue Point, SK and others hover about somewhere between Craftsman and Cornwell. But for nice complete sets 50% of retail is not uncommon.

Kind of sad, an odd Proto plier I am lucky to get $4 for when some dufus will jump on the same Snap-On unit beat to hell for $15. Price is not always a sign of better quality and you can outfit yourself with top quality tools if you are not hung up on a brand.



Cheap imports are honestly worth more as scrap or in big buckets for the flea market folks.

 

[Commando]

More great info, I am trying to get the top brands and ones with warranties, but am not going to spend top dollar either and want to be fair to the seller as a lot of them are not familiar with pricing.

My favorite import would have to be the ones from India, one time use tool in most circumstances, perfect candidates for customization.

-Thanks

 

[woody 73]

I am always amazed at the prices in my area, cornwell goes for next to nothing while craftsman brings top dollar. The one person I buy tools from calls it the "The craftsman mentality".

 

[Danglerb]

Price I pay for a tool depends on how much I need it and how much I want it and how much time it will take to find it from alternate sources and at what price. I don't care if a tool is Snapon or Pittsburg, its the same basic process. Hazet and Stahlwille maybe get some different treatment, but so far seems their prices have been either crazy low or crazy high.

50% very rarely would trigger my interest exception being one of a handful of hard to find tools. When I was hunting for a nice SLF936 I was getting to the point where I would have paid over 50%.

If I was selling, pretty much throw it on ebay and let the market decide.

 

[BQuicksilver]

Ebay is good for a price check on tools. Do a search for completed listings and you will get a good idea of the current market value,

This.

eBay IS the market. Nowhere else do tools get as many looks. If it brings big $$ there, it's worth big $$. If not it isn't.

That is market value.

Actual value has more to do with how you use your tools, warranty, etc.

 

[byoungblood]

I am always amazed at the prices in my area, cornwell goes for next to nothing while craftsman brings top dollar. The one person I buy tools from calls it the "The craftsman mentality".

I've seen this at pawn shops/yard sales around here all the time. I was able to buy a mixed lot of Proto/S-K/SO stuff for about half of what a guy at a yard sale was asking for Craftsman tools that he had laid out and neatly organized. I don't know if they just don't have a clue about those brands, or if they think Craftsman is THE top of the line tool brand.

I use eBay as a guide, but I also keep in mind that the prices may be inflated 15-20% (at least on fixed price sales) to make up for the fees incurred there. If I'm comparing auction prices, I usually eliminate the highest and lowest sale prices to get a better picture of what an item is really selling for. My experience has shown me that I can usually put something up on CL for about 20% less than what I'd anticpate getting on eBay and clear about the same amount of money.

 

[ajchien]

This.

eBay IS the market. Nowhere else do tools get as many looks. If it brings big $$ there, it's worth big $$. If not it isn't.

That is market value.

Actual value has more to do with how you use your tools, warranty, etc.

I must respectfully semi-disagree. eBay is the eBay market. Pricing on eBay will be different than Craigslist, which will be different from a swap meet, and that would be different from a estate sale/garage sale.

As a seller, it would be difficult to get the same price for an item at a garage sale rather than on ebay.

 

[Hiball]

I Price my Tools based on many different factors, Ive sold New Snap on Tools for 80%+ of Retail with Great success Here at GJ. Im not saying that all tools will bring 80% of New Price, But some of the Higher Demand items such as Ratchets, Wrench Sets and basically New Condition complete sets will bring more money than single items. I also price stuff according to How fast i want to move it, How much money i have in the Items etc... As others have said Ebay is a Great Pricing avenue and will give you a idea of what stuff is bringing as it changes weekly.

 

[Hiball]

I must respectfully semi-disagree. eBay is the eBay market. Pricing on eBay will be different than Craigslist, which will be different from a swap meet, and that would be different from a estate sale/garage sale.

As a seller, it would be difficult to get the same price for an item at a garage sale rather than on ebay.

A Item is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, But Ebay does set the Value based on what the Millions of Consumers across the Globe are willing to pay. Of course your Garage Sale's, Craigslist ads are only based on a small sector of the Poplulation and the Prices is probably gonna be lower but that doesnt mean the Item wasnt worth more.

 

[Boiler]

For me on ebay:

Snap on 50% give or take depending condition, what it is, etc

Mac, Matco 40% give or take

SK 40% of its new price. Nice new sets actually do better than half, sometimes close to new price. It just started out a lot cheaper than the truck brands.

Craftsman 25% of new if in nice condition.

Cornwell, Blackhawk, Proto, Williams, etc: I really struggle to sell these at any price. The only way I'll pick this stuff up to resell is if I get it basically for free with a bunch of truck brand tools. Even then I don't have a great way to sell it.

I find the only way to make it worth my time to sell tools is to strictly deal with truck brands, and I prefer Snap On much more than the others because it is so much easier to sell

Also, making a profit of 20% of new cost on snap on stuff can be significant. Making 20% profit on non-truck brand tools is basically not worth the effort, unless you already have it and your choice is to market it or put it in the garage sale.

 

[kc-steve]

I agree with most of you guys above on the STARTING prices to choose. But Hiball is right when it comes to actually SELLING tools. It is what people are willing to pay in your TARGET MARKET. It's really all about demand, and these days demand is not so good, so if you want move it now, then maybe a lower price is in order unless you want to keep it a while.

When I see ads on Craigslist continuously attempting to sell the same high-priced item, I wish they would realize that maybe their prices are too high for current demand. You won't see the lower priced stuff on CL because it was sold quickly, and deleted quickly.

There is one other thing worth noting. Your buyer's intent makes a difference. If the only ones looking at your tools are resellers, then you might not sell them unless they are priced for a profitable resale. But a tool user just might buy 'em.

Steve

 

[Trey T]

eBay or amazon. more buyer and sell it faster. I don't like to hold on a lot of tools or equipments if I don't need it.

actually I don't think too much about tool, even though most of my tools and gears are pretty good quality or top notch. the results of my projects usually pays for it. amazon and eBay is the pricing I go with

 

[70redbee]

How do you guys do your selling on ebay? Fixed price, auction with a reserve, auction with no reserve and at what starting price. Do you start out very low on the price or some other way?

 

[Danglerb]

How do you guys do your selling on ebay? Fixed price, auction with a reserve, auction with no reserve and at what starting price. Do you start out very low on the price or some other way?

Strategy on ebay has more to do with how much feedback and what kind you have and how much and what kind of stuff you plan to sell. You won't get top dollar on ebay until you have over 100 mostly positive feedback.

Generally you will get the highest bids out of auctions with very low starting points and no reserve, but you also take a big risk if the item isn't very popular. I bought a pair of $400 items for 10 cents each a few weeks ago, and while the seller had hoped for more like $100+, he had no patience to relist them which I offered to let him do.

High dollar special items I think you are better off setting a BIN at the price you want.

IMHO worst is high bin with make offer. Second worst high first bid AND reserve.