Pawn shop loose socket bins

[sac02]

I had never ventured into the “loose socket” bucket at the local pawn shop before, but I was frustrated after once again being unable to find a commonly used size at work. Work supplies good tools, but they are "community" and tend to go missing (from negligence mainly, not theft). So I decided to do 30 minutes of digging to stockpile some 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm sockets.

As I was digging through the bucket, I had some deep thoughts:

1. These used sockets are really dirty.
2. How much do most people pay for these? I decided my max was going to be about $0.25 per socket for these small sizes. In the end, I got 36 sockets for $7.
3. Should I buy this USA-made socket (Cman, etc), even though it isn’t one of the sizes I needed? (I did not)
4. Should I buy this name brand socket (Snap-on, Mac) even though it isn’t one of the sizes I needed? (I did)

Would you buy a USA or name-brand socket for $0.25, even if you didn’t need it?

 

[2oolhound]

in the pawn shops around here there are no name brand sockets in the bins. They are sold separately for more than I'd pay. I'd buy them at those prices to keep as spares for sure.

 

[jc5205]

Sounds like your loosing quite a few sockets. In that case I would buy cheap ones since they may not be returned

 

[sac02]

Sounds like your loosing quite a few sockets. In that case I would buy cheap ones since they may not be returned

haha, yeah, the number I mentioned (36 sockets) is a lot. That's not how many I replaced though. For example, we have two rails of 3/8 drive Snap-On 6pt sockets: the 10mm and 12mm are missing off one, and the 12mm and 14mm are missing off the other. I only replaced 6 or 8 missing sockets, and then left a couple loose spares of each size in the tool box.

The majority (~20?) are still at my desk, so I can replenish the box again in a year or two.

The company will replace the missing sockets, but it is such a PITA. Multiple forms and approvals for the money (even under $100, the concept of "petty cash" doesn't exist here), choosing an authorized vendor, Purchase Orders, wait for next month's budget to be released, blah... all for a couple sockets. I'd rather just throw a half dozen 12mm in the toolbox. Like you said, the common sizes will wander off again anyway.

 

[crewchief888]

i dig through the pawn shop's misc tools all the time.

IF i find a USA made socket in one of my commonly used sizes, i grab it.

i've found truck brands, industrial brands, USA CM & SK mixed in with junk

an occasional gearwrench, or kobalt finds it's way into my spares and backups.

typically pawn shops around here want $1 ea for USA made sockets.

still not a bad deal when you think about it.

i try to hit all the "good" area pawn shops about once a month. i'm usally in my work clothes, so i stand out from the typical pawn shop crowd a little.
plus i'm buying, not pawning or paying on a "loan"

 

[rockinacummins]

Definitely. I carry as many to the counter as I can. They typically don't even look at the brand especially if they are dirty. And the more you take the cheaper they get usually. I have pieced together a few sets this way. Literally a couple dollars per set. It's a hobby of mine.

 

[beatcad]

i do this also. theres a pawn shop near my work i'll stop by on my lunch break if i aint got nothing else to do.
they have 3 crappy craftsman stacks full of stuff.
bunch of no name junk, but i'll cherry pick all the good stuff and they'll usually charge me about 50 cents for a socket or a buck for a wrench.
they think if it aint "truck" brand it's all the same.
i've got williams, blue point, blackhawk, proto, S-K, grey and a ton of good stuff on the cheap.

 

[Jacobson]

Would you buy a USA or name-brand socket for $0.25, even if you didn’t need it?

No, I wouldn't even take it if it was free.
Stuff you don't need becomes clutter and garbage which gets in the way.

 

[NJ Marty]

haha, yeah, the number I mentioned (36 sockets) is a lot. That's not how many I replaced though. For example, we have two rails of 3/8 drive Snap-On 6pt sockets: the 10mm and 12mm are missing off one, and the 12mm and 14mm are missing off the other. I only replaced 6 or 8 missing sockets, and then left a couple loose spares of each size in the tool box.

The majority (~20?) are still at my desk, so I can replenish the box again in a year or two.

The company will replace the missing sockets, but it is such a PITA. Multiple forms and approvals for the money (even under $100, the concept of "petty cash" doesn't exist here), choosing an authorized vendor, Purchase Orders, wait for next month's budget to be released, blah... all for a couple sockets. I'd rather just throw a half dozen 12mm in the toolbox. Like you said, the common sizes will wander off again anyway.

If you have time I would also hit a few estate sales that look good. You would be surprised at what some of these sale have in the way of good USA made sockets for CHEAP. I have put a handful of 10mm aside as I have lost/misplaced them when I need one when changing oil on my Hyundai the plastic engine cover bolts are 10mm, also put aside some 17mm for the drain plug.

 

[BirdMobile]

The shops around here are a mixed bag. They all have fairly large bins of sockets, but some keep them dirty and unsorted, and some clean and sort by size or US/Non-US. I've found everything, and I mean EVERYTHING - from no-name with flaking chrome to Snap On and SK to broken sockets with nuts or parts of ratchets stuck in them.

When I have the time and I'm serious about it, I cherry pick about 30-40 sockets, sprinkle in about 10 cheap-o no name chinasockets, and take it to the counter with a $0.25 per socket offer. They typically look at a few sockets to see what I've selected, and usually run across 1 or 2 of the chinacom no-names in the process. About half the time, they accept my offer, the other half they counter offer $0.35-$0.50 per socket, which I always accept.

I give away the chinacrap sockets to a friend in the neighborhood who knows kids that work on bicycles... to help balance out the Karma.

 

[unslow1]

I picked up a Bonney 1/2 ratchet for 75 cents last week. If it had been Craftsman I bet it would've been $10. Probably $40 for Snapon.

 

[Danglerb]

All the pawn shops around here overprice Snapon and Craftsman, so I am looking for less common brands, Euro and Japanese, SK, but retail pawn shops also get picked over fast.

Best luck I have had was one weekend the swap meet guy that brings out a truck load of Snapon had two bus bins of non truck brand sockets and misc, first day 25 cents, second day 50 cents each. Big regrets on what I didn't buy.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Gotta beg to differ with my man Jacobson up there^^^^

He's got a valid point about the possibility of things becoming clutter, but having extra ones works for me.

I'm not kidding when I say I have at least 700+ extra/spare/what have you, US made sockets in 4 drive sizes. Yes, I know its a bit excessive, but when you walk out of a pawnshop with 210+ sockets/wrenches etc. and payed $35-$40, its hard to turn it down.

I have a reeeeeally deep blue wallocker/cabinet that is about 3-1/2 deep, 3-1/2 to 4 feet wide, and I'm guessing 7ft+ tall. I only use it to store spare tools that I've gotten from pawn-shops/estate sales/divorce sales/flea markets, and yard sales.

If I break something I can immediately replace it from my extras and worry about warrantying it at my convenience.

I will say this, its VERY easy to go overboard though. Ask my wife how I know!

 

[nicksnothereman]

Condition would matter to me because I would only get stuff that I would use. Basically, if it weren't a large sized socket I probably wouldn't buy it unless it's in great condition, 6 point (of course), fairly cheap, and a trusted brand. I can usually tell what's going to work for me by looking at it; I'm not big on the "thin wall" stuff so if the walls look thick it's probably going to be fairly durable. Most truck brand stuff will be good; but there's a lot outside those brands that is good and much cheaper. All else fails of the common non-truck brands you look for "proto" on the side and you'll get something durable; assuming there's no euro (facom) or japanese (koken) indestro super (usa) also great but rare. The only stuff I'd dabble in used/they probably wouldn't mark up; it's different for different people.

(Haven't seen a set up like this though at our pawn shops)