Laugh at Lump...got burned on a cart!

[Lump]

Well, I really had to laugh at myself on this one...

I stopped at a garage sale last week which did not look too promising, but there around the side of the garage I spied a red tool cart. It was sitting full of water, and badly neglected, but when I looked closer, I spied a Mac Tools label on one end.

I asked the seller if it was for sale. He hadn't thought of selling that particular item; I could see that in his body language. But he said, "Well, yeah. Give me a buck." I reached for my wallet so fast I nearly hurt my arm. But I was driving a little car, and had to come back later with my truck to pick it up. As I was loading it later, I noticed the Snap On label again...and did a double-take. HEY, I thought that cart was a Mac?!?

When I got it home, I lifted it out, and noticed the Mac Tools label. UH-OH! Yep, that's right, the cart has a Mac Tools label on one side, and a Snap On label on the other! :tard: HA, whatta fool!!! The last photo shows some possible residue, where some other label may have been. Anyone recognize it? Probably KMart, or such. Ha.

So now I'm out the buck, plus the trip back with my pickup to retrieve it. I guess that will give the guys who don't like old tools or tool collectors something to laugh at. And if so, well, maybe then it was worth it anyway.

There's no fool like an OLD fool!

 

[Hiball]

LOL I was expecting some major catastrophy, A buck? Your silly... In all seriousness if it rolls or holds any weight at all it's worth a buck even if it was from Kmart.

 

[Red Green]

I'd buy that for a dollar.

 

[JASTECH]

LOL I was expecting some major catastrophy, A buck? Your silly... In all seriousness if it rolls or holds any weight at all it's worth a buck even if it was from Kmart.

+1, Plus I would give the buck for the double sticker, now that was funny! Good deal anyway.

Thanks, JASTECH

 

[supertooljunkie]

For one dollar, I would have bought all they had at that price. Sell them for two and double your $$.

 

[jwitt]

Yup, for a buck it would be in my shop too.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Looks well worth a buck to me no matter what brand it is.

 

[mrholeshot]

I had a MAC just like it back in the 80's The raised handle on one end gave it away. The Snap-On label is from a tool box "Lock n' Roll" drawer slides Wouldn't appy to that. The cheap K-Mart carts had 2 srews per corner because the metal was so thin. Nice find!!

 

[heelsroll]

I'd buy that for a dollar.

What he said.

 

[Bull]

Return to the seller with an angry scowl and demand your dollar back due to false advertising!

 

[Scout Driver]

Good story. It would be worth the buck to me too.

Scott

 

[arkangel06]

Well worth a buck, The mac lable looks original and the snap on which has nothing to do with the cart or any cart was most likely just applied as a joke or something.

 

[jethro29]

that cart is a mac for sure and the so label is off of a box not a cart so you still got a great deal on that mac cart.

 

[Quint]

Sandblast
Repaint
Resell
Profit

 

[Lump]

Wow, it really IS a Mac cart? Hahahahaha! So the jokes on me, yet again! Ha.

On the other hand, this really is a happy ending, for sure!

Now I probably need to take it back home and consider repainting it or whatever (I actually brought it to the shop today, planning to toss it in the dumpster!!)

You guys are terrific!

 

[sberry]

Does go to show, no matter what it is the sticker gets the attn.

 

[Lump]

Does go to show, no matter what it is the sticker gets the attn.

Sberry, you're absolutely right. I saw that sticker, and the correct color of red paint, and noticed it sitting there neglected and full of water, so I asked if it were for sale. When he said $1, I just handed him the cash immediately; never thinking it might not be a Mac.

In fairness to me, however, had he said $10 or $20, I would have looked it over more closely...as would anyone. But I must admit that I am not familiar with that cart, and would not have known it to be a Mac, once I spotted that SO sticker. MrHoleshot recognized it right away, and he would have known its value for sure...but not me.

Don't know if I would have bought it for $10 or not, honestly?

 

[sberry]

Sandblast
Repaint
Resell
Profit

Maybe? I have a couple of old Buds, bought some kind of dozer for 400, drove around the state looking for free or cheap parts for a week, spent another 2 weeks fixing, a gallon of paint, paid me 50 to weld a bracket, sold the thing for 800 and somehow figured that they made 400 on the deal.

 

[Lump]

Ha! I hear ya, man.

Yeah, we treasure hunters often like to fool ourselves on how much "profit" we make on "treasures" we find. It's kind of like the fishermen who buy a boat and trailer, rods, reels, tackle, boxes, accessories, gas, etc. Then take a fishing trip with untold costs, and then congratulate themselves about the "free" fresh fish they're eating! Around my area you can see guys (like me) snorting about the high cost of Lake Erie walleye in the butcher's case at our local groceries. Deer hunters love those "free" steaks too. Ha, I've been guilty of both of those things for years and years myself.

Don't know what a cart like this is worth at all. But if it would sell for $50 looking perfect, or $10 like it sits, I would take the latter. Yet, since I now know that it IS a Mac, and I do like Mac tools, I will see if I can find a place for it in my garage. If I can, then I will take the time to repaint it and shine up the chrome legs...regardless of the cost in time/labor/paint.

But that's just me in a nutshell anyway.

Maybe? I have a couple of old Buds, bought some kind of dozer for 400, drove around the state looking for free or cheap parts for a week, spent another 2 weeks fixing, a gallon of paint, paid me 50 to weld a bracket, sold the thing for 800 and somehow figured that they made 400 on the deal.

 

[Boiler]

No kidding. Unless he's going to keep it and use it, if it is k-mart brand he's not going to sell it for a profit if he considers his time and cost of abrasives and paint.

Personally I figure gas into all of my buys too. It adds up fast. At 15 mpg, driving all over creation for garage sales and hit or miss auctions can make things not worth it really fast. Anymore I need a thorough description of what they have & I usually try to phone first. "Tools" listed with the womens plus sized clothing and an old couch just don't do it for me anymore.

 

[Packard V8]

Back in the jungle poker games, we bet and said, "I've paid more than a buck to watch monkeys copulate."

I've used this analogy before, but some of my friends play golf. They're out there early every weekend. If their round plus mileage plus incidentals costs less than $100, they talk about how cheap it was. When they play the fancy courses, it's $250-500. The next day, there's nothing there. We tool guys at least have something to show for it.

Bottom line, I'll never know what my tools would have cost off the truck, but it is way up there. However, by putting in forty years of sweat equity buying and selling tools instead of playing golf, I've got most every tool I ever wanted essentially at no net cost.

It's a hobby. That it has a bottom line tangible benefit justifies it to the SO in a way impossible to do with a round of golf.

jack vines

 

[ImportTuner]

Ya got a goot deal .. I mean, what can you buy for a buck these days?

 

[bindernut]

Lump, get rid of the SO sticker, take it to the show in a couple weeks & sell it for $10.

 

[Lump]

Pretty good idea, Bindernut!

You still comin' to the big fall swap meet? Bringin' your IHC Scout?

Wait till you see my next auction post later today/tonight, from an auction I hit this past Saturday. It will be of special interest to you, Heelsroll, and other IHC folks...

 

[atari]

Lump, get rid of the SO sticker, take it to the show in a couple weeks & sell it for $10.

Swappers Day?

 

[Lump]

No, Bindernut comes to an automotive swap meet which I produce in Springfield, Ohio, and we have planned to connect there in a couple of weeks, and that is what he was talking about.

It's pretty big now, and I see you're in Ohio. If you like that kind of thing, you can check it out at www.ohioswapmeet.com.

Swappers Day?

 

[cowboy73]

I would have gave a dollar for it and not cared who made it. Because I need cart.

 

[Brad54]

(I actually brought it to the shop today, planning to toss it in the dumpster!!)

So it was the deal of a lifetime when it was MAC for a buck, then it was dumpster material when it wasn't Mac, and now it's back to being useful in the shop?

Sounds like chicks who will only wear brand name labels.

-Brad

 

[Lump]

So it was the deal of a lifetime when it was MAC for a buck, then it was dumpster material when it wasn't Mac, and now it's back to being useful in the shop?

Sounds like chicks who will only wear brand name labels.

-Brad

Brad,
You're absolutely right!

In my case, I didn't really need a cart, or even have room for one in my tight little shop. But, if was a genuine Mac for $1, then there was profit potential in it. On the other hand, if it was a pile of KMart junk, and needed heavy cleaning and/or resto work, it wasn't worth it cause it would never sell for enough to cover the time/labor/matl's.

 

[Brad54]

Brad,
You're absolutely right!

In my case, I didn't really need a cart, or even have room for one in my tight little shop. But, if was a genuine Mac for $1, then there was profit potential in it. On the other hand, if it was a pile of KMart junk, and needed heavy cleaning and/or resto work, it wasn't worth it cause it would never sell for enough to cover the time/labor/matl's.

Believe me, I'm guilty of it too! I CONSTANTLY have to reel myself back when I see some Snap-on stuff for sale really cheap.
"Hmmm... I've already got three Craftsman full-polish 1/2-inch ratchets... but that Snap-on is a REALLY good deal at $25..."

Actually, what's really been hard lately is all the wrenches for sale in the classifieds here.
"Ooo... I could get those Snap-on wrenches for only $10 each! But... um... well... I already have two full sets of polished Craftsmans in the drawer, and several of every size wrench on the pegboard including a full mis-matched set of Snap-on, half a set of Mac and some Proto industrial-finish... But jeez... those are Snap-ons! And only $10 each!"

-Brad