I don't understand selling off all your tools...

[-Brent-]

I keep an eye on the local classifieds. When a good deal pops up on something I need, I get after it. In the last month I've gotten a perfect almost never-used Snap-On tap and die set for a $100 bucks, a new-in-box Dewalt 1/2" impact for $100, and various other tools.

One man I bought some c-clamps from was selling all his tools to pay his taxes. Another lost his job and he was selling the tools he used for work. One other, a younger guy, wrote in his ad that he needed to sell all his tools to fix his car. Sure, he may not have had the tools or know-how to make his repairs but he gets rid of all those tools and he can't swap a radiator hose or brake pads.

I don't get it. To me, my tools are my last line of defense. At one point, having tools helped me get a job when I first moved here. My tools help me save money AND if times were tough I'd sell the TV, home theatre, and coffee maker way before I got rid of something that could earn/save me money. I get selling off stuff you rarely use but everything these guys own?

It's been on my mind a while. I considered that maybe these guys were an anomaly. However, the more I look at the (local) classifieds, the more I see it.

I don't mind the deals, don't get me wrong. I just don't get the mentality behind selling off something that could potentially save your **** - especially when they don't owe you anything. Most tools, I'd assume, are bought and paid.

What do you fellas think about this? Have you noticed this, as well?

 

[Coolabah]

Yes, I have seen this. Usually the person is selling a) most easily sold item or b) highest value item. If a) & b) co-incide then hallejulah !!

I looked at this as if from my point of view- I guess I can get at least 50% from any tool I sold, electrical might be a bit more iffy (25% RRP ??) ?? Clothes would be like 10% ???

Bottom line, I suppose if you need to feed your kids , all bets are off


I agree, I would tend to try and sell my tools last, maybe these persons were already there ??? Sad times....

 

[slipjointed]

Selling tools is a last resort, OTOH I typically get a killer deal on my tools and buy good tools that hold their value, so they are one of the only items I could potentially sell, buy back later, and not lose any money.

 

[tatra]

chances are they haven't brought him the paycheck or satisfaction they were expecting and have decided to go another route in life and if they need something, they can buy cheap in the future.........i can do a lot with tools but as time goes on i realize that the most important one is in my head and i can do pretty much anything i need to woth chi com **** if need be..........most importantly, i know the limitations of the stuff and will quit and wait to get better or farm it out...........also not having a large inventory of chrome makes it easier to move to a better job............

 

[ItWasJustHere]

My simple answer is that there are alot of people out there that are gifted tools and don't really realize their potential. I have a neighbor that has probably 5x the tools that I do but couldn't fix a leaky faucet or replace a starter to save his ****.

I have nothing tool wise compared to most of the people on this forum but if it was tools or dinner, sorry but the tools would go... times are tough, and you do what you need to.

Everyone's situation is different.

 

[RivennHewn]

Buying tools is investing in your future.

Selling tools means a bleak future.

 

[balane]

I had to sell many of my tools once. Sometimes life puts greater priorities in front of you at certain times. Tools are replaceable. Mine are an example of that. Several years back we found our perfect house and we didn't want to lose out on it. We wanted to put the biggest down payment we could on the loan and then meant selling some of our non-essential things. Matco roll-away with SO tools went, gun safe went, several firearms went, some other stuff too. Because of this we were able to get a better loan and our life improved dramatically. A side benefit was that moving was easier too.

I've been working since to replace my tools and I have done pretty good at getting my set back together like it was, even better in some areas. It's a long road but I'm getting there.

My point is try not to judge people. Times are hard. I'm sure none of them are happy about it but they do what they have to. Someday, when things are better for them, they can replace every single tool they got rid of. That's the best part about commodities, they make more.

 

[jeepfan93]

What Balane said. I bought my first set as a marine mechanic. All SO pretty much the day I got hired by the marina. Added some as I could afford to. Then job dried up, I changed careers and had to a run of working at companies that moved out country, got big and fat and died (Lucent). So had to make a choice. Sold most everything except, the basics for myself. Then started rebuilding my pile of tools. 1990 was when things turned around. Since then I've been buying what I could, when I could. Up till last year I never even considered buying used tools. Didn't know I could really. Now I have the 4 closest C-lists and Ebay on my favorites and hit them every morning watching for deals. Do I regret it? Yes. But I got to tell ya, I have triple the tools I had back in 1990, for maybe a couple hundred more. I actually enjoy the thrill of the hunt.

 

[DocsMachine]

Two things come to mind:

One, like Balane said, tools are replaceable. Unless they're an heirloom, an antique, or pretty exotic, it can be replaced in a couple of weekends combing Craigslist or swap meets.

And really, most of us, for the most part, could get along just fine with a small selection of the basics- combo wrenches, a socket set, a hammer or two, some screwdrivers, etc.

And two, keep in mind that not everyone really uses tools. The guy selling 'em to fix his car? Clearly getting to work is more important than having the tools- and having the tools to do the work on the car doesn't buy the parts needed, so a choice has to be made. Been there, done that.

The guy selling the tools he used at work? Chances are he's not in that line of work anymore. In most areas, home construction is way down, if not stopped altogether- lots of people selling off cordless screwguns and the like that are just dead weight at the moment.

Not everyone holds tools in as high esteem as we do.

Doc.

 

[southpier]

"tools" change as we go through life, as do our skill sets. keep the ones you need and get more of the ones you are going to need. let the ones that have served you go gracefully.

 

[harvero]

I often wonder how much of this used craigslist stuff is hot.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

Hey, if you need the money you do what has to be done. No sense having all the tools if they take the house. Some are hot too.

 

[Strouty]

I may have to sell all of my tools this year. I am going to loose my shop in February and if I can come up with 15k down I can finance the place. I figure I can always buy them again. At least I will still have my shop, as empty as it will be.

 

[Todd.Brock]

I bought an entire Matco tool box full of Snappy stuff for 600 bucks. I think it was someone who owed him money or stolen. No one who knew what it was REALLY worth would let it go as easy as they did. That deal has soured my craigslist experience for life now b/c what I used to jump for is now, ehh...wants too much.

I would hate to have to buy, sell and then rebuy my tools. Thats makes tools, really really expensive. I understand that priorities in life dont always start in the garage, though. I had a couple of guns that I loved in college but rent was due so I took it in the keyster on the deal. I made sure I never got in that bind again, b/c I just lost the only other things that i could sell to fall back on!!

 

[kc-steve]

Like others have said, it is a matter of the PRIORITIES WE SET FOR OURSELVES.

But our legal system has priorities laid out for us that many people don't know about and OTHERS take advantage of if we don't know about them. For example, someone who is getting harassed by creditors has no legal right to your tools UNLESS you voluntarily sell them yourself. The "tools of your trade" are hands off to any creditors no matter the situation. If you can not earn a living or don't have the means to earn a living then NO ONE gets paid period.

That legal precedent is pretty much the rule in nearly every state of the USA. There are new laws being worked on at this time to stop the harassment by creditors because they have been overreaching their boundaries.

Steve

 

[Givl Reggin]

One man I bought some c-clamps from was selling all his tools to pay his taxes. Another lost his job and he was selling the tools he used for work. One other, a younger guy, wrote in his ad that he needed to sell all his tools to fix his car.

Don't believe everything people tell you... People will lie, and if they think they can get an extra nickle from you by telling some sob story they will.

 

[bob ny]

As most of you know i have a complete shop( less a lift)that up to a year ago was running full tilt.I was so busy that if a tool came out that would save me 5 min I bought it
well i worked till i had three heart attacks in 19 days. since then i have been in a wheel chair.Now I look at the tool inventory and know that I will never use them again. I have been selling them off piece by piece. the only tools i will buy are craftsman to replace the other American made tools so that i will have all one brand( sounds stupid but you would have to be in my mind to know why)a lot of people ask me why i am selling all the tools. I answer with, why not .my kids are in need of nothing,although my son is good with tools he is not interested, the girl's husbands don't know a wrench from a pliers.i have a 800 piece collection of pre 1920 tools that will be going soon. that hurts
there can be a lot of reasons for selling off a tool inventory. the only tyhing i can say is if it is cheap and you can use it BUY IT bob w.

 

[darkk]

Hmmmmm......I still have every tool I ever bought since 1963. Including my original Snap-On rollaway. Except for some of the stuff that wasn't recovered when my old business was broken into.

 

[johnnybentwrench]

I can say I have sold almost every single woodworking tool I owned. The field is dead and I am no longer interested in IKEA pre-fab garbage. I have sold all of my big saws. Power matic 10 inch saw, 8" rockwell jointer, 16 inch drum sander ++++ To me these tools have paid for themselves over and over. I no longer need them or want them taking up space. I have switched over to my hobby of BMW motorcycles and am eating and paying the bills by selling used Parts for a dealer I have known for years

I would not sell the tools I use to maintain my vehicles though

 

[franzdom]

Don't believe everything people tell you... People will lie, and if they think they can get an extra nickle from you by telling some sob story they will.

I was thinking the same thing. A lot of this is just drama. I prefer to keep out of the drama. I buy more tools than I sell, enjoy buying and selling them. I don't care why someone is selling them to me unless it is too good to be true.

 

[MrSnicks]

When I started working on my own vehicles 20 years ago you wouldn't believe what I made do with. It was one of the 156 piece craftsman tool sets in a blow mold case. Over the years I've bought things that I needed for a particular repair/install and always had a "wish/want" list. I still have the blow mold craftsman set but I now have a real roll-away tool chest. It has a modest collection of wrenches, screwdrivers, ratchets and sockets. I don't have a bazillion types of the same size ratchet, wrench, socket set. You'd be surprised at how little you need to get the job done. Maybe not as fast or as easy if you have all the specialty ratcheting, flexing, etc.. tools, but done.

Except for the occasional emergency buy or "hot deal list" tool I only buy used from craigslist/pawn shop/ebay. I have a very modest tool budget so anything I buy is in the 25-30% retail price range. If my fortune took a turn for the worse I could probably sell any tool I have and break even or make a small profit.

I've seen the boxes on here. A lot of them I've seen are great and impressive but if **** hits the fan people could survive and still make money wrenching with about 20% of their current tool collections.

Patrick

 

[powertrip]

Why are they sellings all their tools for? Its the economy. High unemployment, people losing their jobs, gas prices up. We all need to remember or wake up to how bad it really is for alot of people. We as americans need to get our heads out of the sand. If we dont, then you too may be the next one selling off your tools.

 

[fm2176]

I've been fortunate in in never having to sell my tools (or most of my guns) despite some tough times. I was laid off on September 10, 2001 and had to earn some kind of money before I shipped to basic training for the Army (I'd been wasting my time trying to get a blood pressure waiver for the Guard for two years, 9/11 hit and I decided to go active instead). Outside of a half-*** job selling meat door-to-door, I set up at the flea market and sold off all of my military surplus. The tools didn't even cross my mind.

As a struggling Private I ended up five months behind on my rent prior to deploying, but the tools still stayed in the in-laws' garage back home.

Unfortunately, I'm missing more than a few tools now, but I've yet to sell one. Some ended up missing when the company "cleaned" out my service truck (I did get a former co-worker to ****** me to the truck and found more than a few "overlooked" tools), others probably got left in my roommate's house in Kentucky (which was foreclosed on years ago), and still others were borrowed by my father-in-law and never returned.

If the situation dictates I might consider selling tools before losing the house or truck, but frankly I've got plenty of guns that could go first.

 

[toytech40]

I made my living with my tools for 25 years, and unfortunatly lost a portion of them when I lost my business, I let go the ones I thought I wouldn't need anymore, but some are still missed or have been replaced since. When changed lines of work few years ago and my tools were not needed at work, my loving wife told me I should "sell them where they sit and not bother bringing them home" uhhhhh WRONG. Since then I have picked up side jobs to bring in extra income which I use to support my hobby and have filled in some gaps in the budget when things get tough. Also if something were to south with my current job I could always put my tools and myself back into full use providing for my family. But as some have said here before, if it came down to it the tools would be sold off, lesser used ones first, trying to keep enough basics in the end to work as a mechanic or maintain my own fleet, or make extra cash on the side. I have also thought on the sad note side if I knew I had terminal illness and wasn't going to around much longer, I would put together a basic set for my son(he is not mechanically inclined but does some small things) and a setfor my daughter incase she were to have a son in the future(if she wanted me to). Then the rest I would sell as my wife and children would have no clue as to what alot of these tools are or what they maybe worth. Also some our obsolete to a certain degree and need a certain market place to get better price. It would be hard but it would also peace of mind to know I am relieving this burden from my family. I may also do this when I am getting too old to use my tools and could again relieve the burden from my family.

So we may not know each persons station in life and their feelings towards their tools, it may any number of reasons that they are selling all their tools, one that may have been as tough to make as it would be for you or I, or it may as easy as you or I deciding to sell something that means nothing to us but would bring in needed funds when needed the most.

Just sayin

 

[justanengineer]

Personally I dont believe half the stories people tell about why theyre selling tools, so the sob stories dont mean much to me. There are a ton of reasons people sell tools, but in the end 1. it either makes financial sense for them, 2. they realize they dont really need them, or 3. they get tired of them/want something else.

When I left the military I sold almost all of my tools. I realized the difference between ebay, prices on sites like this (not much different than ebay IMHO), and industrial auctions (most of you would poo yourself what I pay). I sold off my large SO roller cab full, and was able to buy my Firebird, wheeler, and half a dozen other toys, plus I funded my shop full of mechanic's and machine tools with the money - because I started getting smart about how and where I buy things.

For many people working in the garage is a simple matter of fixing what needs repair, and when times get tough you would be surprised how much you can do with little, and regardless what the politicians claim times are still tough in many parts of this country.

 

[woody 73]

Sometimes things happen for a reason and you need the money asap. What I hate is seeing the person bragging that they just ripped off some person as in "hey I just bought this snap on tool set for $5.00 dollars and new it goes for $800.00 dollars".

 

[99LeCouch]

If they need to, they'll do what they have to. Maybe it's preventing foreclosure. Maybe their spouse/kid is sick.

I wouldn't part with my tools since they keep my old car running smoothly. My trade doesn't use tools, but they are nice to have for working on said car. They've saved me many thousands in repair bills over the years, for a much more modest outlay.

 

[regguy1]

I had an employee who suddenly had no tools....found out he sold them a was putting white powder up his nose....sad

 

[-Brent-]

A lot of great points here, thanks, I appreciate the conversation.

A few things I'd like to be clear about is that I get hardships, I do. I really understand selling off things to help out. However, I do believe there are some essential things worth more than getting rid of for a "few bucks." For example, when I moved out here I had an electrician-style tool bag with essentials. It didn't have a complete socket set, but a few ratches and my most-used sockets. I had a complete set of wrenches, which included a set of ratcheting wrenches. I had two different hammers, a few types of pliers, my multi-meter, etc. All-in-all there was probably a few hundred in tools. That's all stuff I wouldn't have ever sold.

Like some of you have mentioned, I get selling off lots of stuff. I don't need a band saw or sawsall, I could sell them. I could sell my drill press, grinders, tool boxes, all the little specialty stuff, and on and on... but that bag of essentials handled everything from maintainence of my daily driver to half-million dollar tunnel washers at my last job. As well, I didn't need to pay someone to get the diamond earing out of the drain in the kitchen.

To help buy that diamond ring, I sold my welder, torches, and some other tools I used for my hobbies.

I guess my point really hinges on the word "all." My family survived the depression, with tools. No fancy tools like I've got sitting in my workspace, just a small hand-crafted wooden crate of tools.

My uncle Tony, originally a barber helped his brothers (and father whom was a medical doctor and veterinarian in Italy) build homes they never got to live in. Each one they built and sold, to survive. Tony also kept his barber tools, let's be honest - there's not many needed, and still cut hair on the side after a day of labor, building homes that are still around today.

My father built a business and brought our family out of some hardship with a tool bag of tools many GJers would consider "junk", a rusty old truck and a lot of perseverance.

I guess what my point really hinges on, is that my tool bag saved me more money than it could have ever brought me in had I sold it to keep my head above water.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

You get to a certain point in life where you just have a He ya lot of stuff. It gets to the point were you just don't need it, so you liberate some of it.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I too don't understand selling off the stuff that makes you money or can save you money. You can bet that people didn't do that in the depression, they fixed and repaired themselves to keep going, and they used their tools to do it with.

This selling tools to get money is somewhat like a large corporation, a diverse one with divisions that do different things. The corporation gets in financial dire straits, and needs some ready cash, so they begin selling off divisions. The first thing to go is the divisions that make the MOST money for the corporation, because that will be the easiest to sell and bring them the most money. Now they are left with the lesser producing divisions, slowly selling off what will sell and keeping what won't. Usually one or more divisions is a break even or losing proposition to a corporation, but the others offset it and its no issue, UNTIL, its the only thing the company has left......... Then they are bankrupt!

Individuals do the same thing............

Charles

 

[Packard V8]

Most of us can sort of understand why some of us get in a situation where selling all the tools is necessary.

Most of us can understand why some of us get in a situation where putting the wife or girlfriend out walking the street is the only way to survive.

That we haven't had to do either may just have been a matter of luck.

jack vines

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

because , when you leave this rotten business YOU NEVER GO BACK
several friends did it , I am the last of the mohicans

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

they are now wealthy enough enough to afford fancy european sport sedans with free services

I can see selling my snap on stuff for on or close to what I paid for it on e bay

I have lots of sk /matco/craftsman to replace it ..since I rarely do side jobs or have a hot rod anymore

 

[back2class]

I buy used tools and often pay very little. Almost everything in my box I can sell for more than I paid. What that means is I can also replace them if I did sell them for what I sold them for. My FIN is an ase master tech who got injured. They ran out of omney so he sold his tools on ebay. We talked about it first, and we both agreed that if he sold a tool used for $10, then there is a good chance he would also be able to buy a replacement for about the same should he wish to at a later date. Non depreciating assets are not much different than a savings account. A $25 used snap-on ratchet you buy can be re-sold for $25 with relitive ease. Much different than a $25 steak dinner. One is money spent, one is money converted.
I had a situation not too long ago where I though I would have to move to an apartment. Started selling off some big tools and some stuff right out of my box. At that moment the stuff changed from being a asset in my life to being a headache. People sell for all sorts or reasons. In some cases like my FIL it just made sense. On a side note he still works a little on family and friends cars. A montley collection of everything, all mismatched and mix or snap-on and dollar store junk. He does just fine with the junk. A real lesson in the mechanic making the tools, not the tools making the mechanic. I sometimes feel stupid having a big box full of everything a average mechanic would wish for and have trouble fixing something minor on a car, where he has near nothing and can do complex engine repairs with ease. But then again I am not a mechanic and my tools get used on things other than cars most of the time.

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

I can understand selling a lot of the extra stuff. I see toolboxes posted on here with hundreds of wrenches, scores of ratchets, most of which never look like they've been used - and I'm sure were bought at the premium truck prices. When it comes right down to making a car run, a basic small set of tools will do a hell of a lot; sure, that specialty stuff helps a lot, but most of the time it's just to make the job easier or faster - you don't need it to fix something. I worked on my first two trucks using no more tools than I had in a medium cardboard box, and most of them made no-brand China junk look like quality tools.

What I don't understand is selling everything - you're always going to need a hammer, or a small set of screwdrivers, or a couple sets of pliers around the house. Why sell them for $5 now when it's going to cost $50 later to buy the exact same thing, and you know you're going to have to buy them again? I know I've been in the position where $5 now is worth more than $50 in two weeks, but there's a lot of stuff I'd sell before I sold my basic hand tools. Hell, the money I'd make selling all those basic tools wouldn't likely cover half the cost of the mechanic I'd need for the first thing that went wrong with one of my cars...let alone the second, third, tenth, or fiftieth thing that went wrong.

 

[american lockpicker]

I sold 99% of mine after joining here and upgraded to better stuff.

 

[greasemonkey44]

youre right there is a ton more stuff on craigslist now; esp tools; tons of snappy and matco still a lil high but there are some real deals.....might have to part with a few bucks when i get back
as far as selling it; ive sold tons of stuff ive never used, snapon 3/4 set, ive given away alot of stuff too

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I don't understand it either. Sometimes i upgrade and i give tools to my friends, but i don't sell them.

A friend of mine just sold all his tools and box to fund his trip back home. Had i known i would've bought them all off him and kept then for him should he come back.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

if you sell your tools , you will never be tempted into returning to the trade
my buddy turned 45 , decided he had enough of scamming toyota customers , only to get screwed by the team system , he made 100 hours a week , yet the team slacked ,so he only took home 48 hours ... he engineered a shop revolt , just to get fired . it worked , my buddy was not sure what to do , he sold one of the most impressive toolboxes around ..easy over 100k invested .. for 8500 on ebay

it was just the thing to start off his computer networking company ..grossed a half million the first year