My $5 Pawn Shop Purchase
- Thread starter iiibdsiil
- Start date
dink
Well-known member
Not bad at all.....clean them up alittle and they will be as good as new
Uncle Buck
Banned
The hock shop is where a good 40-50% of my tools have come from, good score! 
Fuzzydog
Active member
I find the pawn shops around here are outrageously high priced. Most of my tools come from garage sales - there you can find unreal bargains.
and actually the best part is that a lot of the tools you find at garage sales are very old and built of very good quality - not like the cheapo new stuff you could buy.
and actually the best part is that a lot of the tools you find at garage sales are very old and built of very good quality - not like the cheapo new stuff you could buy.
Fuzzydog
Active member
I should add that there are exceptions to that - with mastercraft 4.5" grinders coming on sale regularly for $19.99 (with 3 year warranty) there isn't much point in paying $20 for a grinder at a garage sale.
maa139
Well-known member
I also like to find stuff on ebay....not usually as cheap as garage sales, but if I can get a quality tool for less than 1/2 of the price of new, I'm happy. I just got a 3/8 snap on flex head long handle ratchet for $45. I like to find the auctions where something is spelled wrong, so when people search for it it won't usually be found....I've gotten a few good tools that way...
But I agree - Excellent find for $5!
Matt
But I agree - Excellent find for $5!
Matt
Blacknwhitepit
Well-known member
Not a bad price if you are going to keep and use them. I suppose you could double your investment and sell them for $10.00 at most on Ebay. Not to say that they are not quality tools, they just have marginal resale value. I have sold hundreds of tool related items on Ebay and unfortunately Proto is difficult to move. MAC is the second best name to sell, behind the King (Snap on). Hard to sell without being a set.
Here is some empirical data for my fellow tool lovers that I have gathered about selling tools on Ebay
1. Snap on - Without a doubt, the highest value held. If in a set, even poor or fair condition sells at about 25-35% of list price.
2. MAC - Old stuff moves , even when stamped with SABINA OH on it and rusty as hell. A wire wheel can sell a MAC combination wrench for $8-$10 that you picked up for twenty five cents.
3. Craftsman - Can usually resell at about 25% of rate, since prices so low already difficult to make up margin. Don't believe me, check out how many Craftsman nut drivers are for sale on ebay right now!
4. PROTO - Difficult to predict, needs to be of excellent appearance to sell.
5. CORNWELL - Hard to sell, have to have set. New Ratchets and such go for about 20% of original price.
6. K-D - Must be a set. Individual items do not sell well.
7. KOBALT - about 10-15% of original price if in a set. VERY HARD to move
8. Vise Grip - Excellent quality, so good they flooded the market, must be in excellent condition and a set to sell and make anything.
9. Klein - Quality tools, damm near no resale value, so good that flea markets and so on are full of them, difficult to sell.
10. Chan-n-lok - Excellent quality, flooded the market, difficult to sell unless darn near new and a set of them.
- I have more data on other tools if you have any questions
-BWP
Here is some empirical data for my fellow tool lovers that I have gathered about selling tools on Ebay
1. Snap on - Without a doubt, the highest value held. If in a set, even poor or fair condition sells at about 25-35% of list price.
2. MAC - Old stuff moves , even when stamped with SABINA OH on it and rusty as hell. A wire wheel can sell a MAC combination wrench for $8-$10 that you picked up for twenty five cents.
3. Craftsman - Can usually resell at about 25% of rate, since prices so low already difficult to make up margin. Don't believe me, check out how many Craftsman nut drivers are for sale on ebay right now!
4. PROTO - Difficult to predict, needs to be of excellent appearance to sell.
5. CORNWELL - Hard to sell, have to have set. New Ratchets and such go for about 20% of original price.
6. K-D - Must be a set. Individual items do not sell well.
7. KOBALT - about 10-15% of original price if in a set. VERY HARD to move
8. Vise Grip - Excellent quality, so good they flooded the market, must be in excellent condition and a set to sell and make anything.
9. Klein - Quality tools, damm near no resale value, so good that flea markets and so on are full of them, difficult to sell.
10. Chan-n-lok - Excellent quality, flooded the market, difficult to sell unless darn near new and a set of them.
- I have more data on other tools if you have any questions
-BWP
l_bilyk
Well-known member
Why is proto so unpopular?
jbilbo
Well-known member
BlackNWhitePit:
Thanks for the eBay write-up. I was wanting to pick up some pieces but since im new to the whole tool thing, I'm not sure about retail pricing just yet.
So what do you think is the best bargain (generally speaking) on ebay?
Thanks for the eBay write-up. I was wanting to pick up some pieces but since im new to the whole tool thing, I'm not sure about retail pricing just yet.
So what do you think is the best bargain (generally speaking) on ebay?
Blacknwhitepit
Well-known member
Hard to say why PROTO is unpopular. These tools are developed to pass stringent government and industrial standards and are outstanding tools. Just don't have the name recognition I guess. I have a couple of ratchets and they are great. I must admit, If I broke one, I would not know where to take it. Unlike Craftsman, MAC, Cornwell and Snap on.....
Blacknwhitepit
Well-known member
jbilbo,
Let me start this post by saying that I am a Snap on guy, I pull wrenches quite a bit and have high demands for my tools. However when advising people to buy tools I ask simply "how much do you use them". Snap on, MAC, Cornwell, MATCO etc... are made for professionals who use them daily and for those who can't have breaking tools slow them down.
So, long answer short, I say that Craftsman (MADE in USA) are the best for the price and easiest to replace should you break them. If you like to tool around now and again, they are the best value you will find and will serve you well for most general projects.
The big four are more expensive for a reason.
If you can get PROTO, S-K , Chan-n-lok, Vise-Grip (not Irwin but old ones), Wiss, KD, Lisle, MALCO at a flea market or good price on EBAY, then do it. These are all UNDERVALUED quality tools that have little resale value but are great tools.
There are numerous more manufacturers I could name, however I believe that some of their tools are better than others. Just ask and I will give MHO.
-BWP
Let me start this post by saying that I am a Snap on guy, I pull wrenches quite a bit and have high demands for my tools. However when advising people to buy tools I ask simply "how much do you use them". Snap on, MAC, Cornwell, MATCO etc... are made for professionals who use them daily and for those who can't have breaking tools slow them down.
So, long answer short, I say that Craftsman (MADE in USA) are the best for the price and easiest to replace should you break them. If you like to tool around now and again, they are the best value you will find and will serve you well for most general projects.
The big four are more expensive for a reason.
If you can get PROTO, S-K , Chan-n-lok, Vise-Grip (not Irwin but old ones), Wiss, KD, Lisle, MALCO at a flea market or good price on EBAY, then do it. These are all UNDERVALUED quality tools that have little resale value but are great tools.
There are numerous more manufacturers I could name, however I believe that some of their tools are better than others. Just ask and I will give MHO.
-BWP
l_bilyk
Well-known member
Blacknwhitepit said:
Graigner
I have a few PROTO tools and i LOVE them. i think they are THE tool brand to buy on ebay
eschoendorff
Well-known member
+1 I love my Proto stuff. Good info Blacknwhitepit!l_bilyk said:
ps... I also love the pawn shops. Every once in a while I make the rounds to my usual haunts...
Uncle Buck
Banned
Blacknwhitepit: I have been on the used buying end for a good thirty years, a good 40-50% of my tools came from hock shops, flea mkts, garage sales, auctions etc.. I sometimes find deals as good as you indicate above, but I do not agree with your position on popularity pricing etc on the whole. Definitely not regarding Proto in particular, and to a somewhat lesser extent for the rest. My 2 bits.
Blacknwhitepit
Well-known member
Proto
Hholmberg,
Then perhaps I can interest you in several Proto tools I have sitting in my "Unsold pile" I have numerous wrenches that I have not been able to move as individual items or as a set. They are in good to very good condition. I could not get a bidder for $3.99 with $ 4.99 shipping for a 1232 1 inch Proto excellent condition combination wrench (twice).
I could not sell five mixed wrences for $4.99 with $6.99 shipping (All good condition). You may refer to my pricing as an opinion. I can buy proto all day long at my flea market and garage sale trips. It just does not sell well on EBAY and that is a fact I know.
I do not doubt the Quality of PROTO, but like you I have not only been buying, I have been SELLING on EBAY.
"Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it."
-BWP
Hholmberg,
Then perhaps I can interest you in several Proto tools I have sitting in my "Unsold pile" I have numerous wrenches that I have not been able to move as individual items or as a set. They are in good to very good condition. I could not get a bidder for $3.99 with $ 4.99 shipping for a 1232 1 inch Proto excellent condition combination wrench (twice).
I could not sell five mixed wrences for $4.99 with $6.99 shipping (All good condition). You may refer to my pricing as an opinion. I can buy proto all day long at my flea market and garage sale trips. It just does not sell well on EBAY and that is a fact I know.
I do not doubt the Quality of PROTO, but like you I have not only been buying, I have been SELLING on EBAY.
"Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it."
-BWP
Uncle Buck
Banned
Perhaps it is more an EBAY issue? I cannot explain why you could not sell your items for the prices indicated. Some guys like to touch and feel prior to purchase. I would buy from you at those prices but I already have a rather sigificant pile of quality brands such as Proto in my wrench pile right now! To me, sets of wrenches do not matter, yes I have some matched sets, but with wrenches if I find only one at an excellent price and I like it for the money, I will always buy it! Have you tried to skip EBAY and take a booth at the local flea market instead? You may have better luck that way. Good Luck Herb
Uncle Buck
Banned
On second thought, give me the wrench sizes for $4.99 I might buy them just because! 
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Spoken like a true junkie!hholmberg said:On second thought, give me the wrench sizes for $4.99 I might buy them just because!
l_bilyk
Well-known member
Blacknwhitepit said:
oh man... whats the list on that wrench?
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
Also one thing to remember....any brand name tool like Mac, Snap-on, Craftsman, etc. has a lifetime guarantee. When you go to the flea market, or local swap meet or garage sale, keep a keen eye out for the broken screwdriver, wrench, etc. These can be bought for a few pennies or usually thrown in with another purchase just to get rid of them. The take them in and trade for a new one.
Blacknwhitepit
Well-known member
Kevin,
Absolutely correct.
Since I deal with engine rebuilding, I can return a flaking craftsman socket and say, I want a new one. They are supposed to ask no questions. They by far have the best guarantee I have ever seen. They take things back even when the tool may have clearly been abused. I.E. Screwdriver as pry bar, ratchet that had a 6 foot cheater applied and so on. However, the pro lines (MAC, Snap on, MATCO and Cornwell) all have the right to deny you a replacement if they feel it is abused. Also remember when buying a broke Snap on tool that if it is stamped with a "G" (For government) they will not replace it. Snap on recently re-wrote its guarantee in its catalog and says that now the guarantee is only good for the original buyer (gives them an out for the flea market crowd). It is up to the guy who runs the truck to decide. They may or may not give you new screwdriver tips for a handle that is 30 years old and you look 25. If you buy from the dealer on at least a semi regular basis they will usually oblige, however if you just run up to the truck and they have never seen you before, you might be dissapointed.
-BWP
Absolutely correct.
Since I deal with engine rebuilding, I can return a flaking craftsman socket and say, I want a new one. They are supposed to ask no questions. They by far have the best guarantee I have ever seen. They take things back even when the tool may have clearly been abused. I.E. Screwdriver as pry bar, ratchet that had a 6 foot cheater applied and so on. However, the pro lines (MAC, Snap on, MATCO and Cornwell) all have the right to deny you a replacement if they feel it is abused. Also remember when buying a broke Snap on tool that if it is stamped with a "G" (For government) they will not replace it. Snap on recently re-wrote its guarantee in its catalog and says that now the guarantee is only good for the original buyer (gives them an out for the flea market crowd). It is up to the guy who runs the truck to decide. They may or may not give you new screwdriver tips for a handle that is 30 years old and you look 25. If you buy from the dealer on at least a semi regular basis they will usually oblige, however if you just run up to the truck and they have never seen you before, you might be dissapointed.
-BWP
I have a lot of Proto tools and have been satisified with them. They are like Stanley and Mac at this time foreign made. I think they sold some of the U.S. operation to a Mexican company. They tools look almost identical so I think they purchased the manufacturing plant. They even give a 99 year warranty. Turtle tools sells them on ebay Urrea is the manufacturer.
Proto is my tool of choice and I regularly shop e-bay for items to fill in sets etc. In reading this thread one would think that they are just giving away Proto on e-bay. I wish it was so but that has not been my experience. I am usually outbid on the items I bid on. I admit I am looking for bargains but they are getting harder to find on e-bay and the flea markets. When I do find something that looks like a bargain more often than not the shipping will cost as much as I want to pay for the item.
I wish it was so but that has not been my experience. I am usually outbid on the items I bid on. I admit I am looking for bargains but they are getting harder to find on e-bay and the flea markets. When I do find something that looks like a bargain more often than not the shipping will cost as much as I want to pay for the item.