So looking around on ebay I have noticed Craftsman Professional wrenches have pretty good resale value. I have metric and SAE. They are my best combo wrenches currently, but I'm seriously considering selling my metric (8 to 24mm) and SAE (1/4 to 1-1/16) to fund an upgrade to Proto (or Wright?). The metric wrenches look like they would bring enough to pretty much swap to the new wrenches. The SAE don't look like they bring quite as much but still would get pretty close to paying for the new wrenches. My wrenches are in pretty good condition since they don't see much use - I tend to reach for my Craftsman RP wrenches more - so should bring a pretty good price. Would you sell or keep? I think a set of Proto would be a nice upgrade (I have some proto double box end wrenches - great!). Also if you would sell and upgrade would you prefer Proto or Wright? Thanks.
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Sell Craftsman Pro wrenches for upgrade?
- Thread starter Houe
- Start date
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Personally I’d keep the Craftsman but that’s just me. I like old Craftsman tools lol. You can try and sell them. Most people list Craftsman stuff at ridiculous prices so as long as you have an appropriate reasonable price on them they should sell. Personally the only wrenches I’d buy these days is Wright, Snap-on or Tekton if seeking nice ones. Proto maybe ok as well.
toyotadriver
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2010
- Messages
- 1,586
Personally I would not but that's me. They are a quality wrench and I'd be using them. But, if you wanted the Proto or Wright and selling the Craftsman wrenches would get you there, then do that. Whatever makes you happy. I'd be happy keeping the Craftsman wrenches but if selling them to buy what you would rather have makes you happy, then that's what you should do. Life is too short not to do what makes you happy.
Out of curiosity, I checked ebay prices. They are stupid high! Doesn't change my opinion overall but I might look at garage sales for Craftsman Professional tools to sell!!
Nothing in this post should be misunderstood, interpreted, misinterpreted, or construed to be of a political nature.
Out of curiosity, I checked ebay prices. They are stupid high! Doesn't change my opinion overall but I might look at garage sales for Craftsman Professional tools to sell!!
Nothing in this post should be misunderstood, interpreted, misinterpreted, or construed to be of a political nature.
John in OH
Well-known member
I'm a real fan of Wright wrenches! Made in Barberton, Ohio, right here in the good ol' USA. But there's nothing wrong with Proto either ... I just like Wright better. Either Wright or Proto will give you far more value per dollar spent than Snap-On.
BillK
Well-known member
I have those same two sets and have been using them daily for almost 25 years at my business. I really cannot imagine anything "better" really needed especially for a home shop. I have a couple of oddball size Snap On wrenches and really cant say they are any better.
I agree with this 100%. Milk the value of sentimentality, and use it to get something good! I sold all my Craftsman wrenches and upgraded to Wright and Proto ASD over the summer, and do not regret that choice one single bit.Just my two cents but if you can cash in on the Craftsman insanity on eBay you should.
Nothing special besides nostalgia.
I have those same two sets and have been using them daily for almost 25 years at my business. I really cannot imagine anything "better" really needed especially for a home shop. I have a couple of oddball size Snap On wrenches and really cant say they are any better.
Good wrenches really are better.
Last edited:
rooster59
Well-known member
Asking price and selling price may be different
Looks like full sets of Craftsman Professionals like the original poster has are reliably fetching $300-$500.Asking price and selling price may be different
Zeke
Well-known member
Are you selling because you think the lifetime warranty is going away? If there is no real reason I'll take what I have over having to list, pack, ship and then buy. List, pack, ship should also include risk.
especially with what we've heard of eBy buyer scams lately by members posting here. not sure I'd risk lightly used valuable tools that actually work fine just because you can upgrade to another set of tools that work just as fine.Are you selling because you think the lifetime warranty is going away? If there is no real reason I'll take what I have over having to list, pack, ship and then buy. List, pack, ship should also include risk.
Boogerman
Well-known member
I'd do it, and be very pleased to have sold the CM high, and bought Proto for the proceeds. I did this with my tools a few years ago, went through multiple sets and huge accumulations from the business, and sold them to upgrade to new, clean, higher quality matched sets of exactly what I wanted/needed. Getting rid of all the old Craftsman in the process was an incredible blessing, it was unbelivable how much better the new, modern design quality wrenches worked. Those upgrades were predominately Snap-on and Proto. Now, the upgrade from Craftsman professional won't be as great as from the old RP wrenches and from the sockets was, but will still be nice.
Boogerman
Well-known member
No risk, no gain, just like all of life.especially with what we've heard of eBy buyer scams lately by members posting here. not sure I'd risk lightly used valuable tools that actually work fine just because you can upgrade to another set of tools that work just as fine.
If you really worry about ebay risk, ship insured and signature confirmation and take good documentation photos.
WNYflyer
Well-known member
I would also add the fact of if the seller is willing to ship to countries outside of the US & Canada since it seems those items will sell much higher than they would if the were offered to US buyers only. I wish Ebay would let me filter out US listings that are willing to ship to countries outside the US so I don't waste my time, of course that is more about auctions than buy in now's. That said, I understand why Ebay does not include that filter.Asking price and selling price may be different
tool_scrounge
Well-known member
I was fortunate to have bought some of the US made Craftsman Pro wrench sets when they were being blown out by Sears. But I always grab my Wright or early SK wrenches first as they feel better to me.
I definitely like my Wright wrenches for price comfort and strength and grip.So looking around on ebay I have noticed Craftsman Professional wrenches have pretty good resale value. I have metric and SAE. They are my best combo wrenches currently, but I'm seriously considering selling my metric (8 to 24mm) and SAE (1/4 to 1-1/16) to fund an upgrade to Proto (or Wright?). The metric wrenches look like they would bring enough to pretty much swap to the new wrenches. The SAE don't look like they bring quite as much but still would get pretty close to paying for the new wrenches. My wrenches are in pretty good condition since they don't see much use - I tend to reach for my Craftsman RP wrenches more - so should bring a pretty good price. Would you sell or keep? I think a set of Proto would be a nice upgrade (I have some proto double box end wrenches - great!). Also if you would sell and upgrade would you prefer Proto or Wright? Thanks.
I would double check the Protocol prices because they are often higher than Snap-on depending int the source. Unless you notice jaws spread on you, I would keep ‘em.
nadogail
Well-known member
Your wrenches and your money, I would not replace any good wrench I have with another just because of the brand name.
I don’t like the concept of planed obsolescence.
I don’t like the concept of planed obsolescence.
Wrench97
Well-known member
It did, they do not make the pro series chrome plated wrenches any longer, they replace them with the current china garbage raised panel.Are you selling because you think the lifetime warranty is going away? If there is no real reason I'll take what I have over having to list, pack, ship and then buy. List, pack, ship should also include risk.
PassnThru
Well-known member
If you are going to treat the new ones the same way - not use them in favor of using the RP wrenches - then I'm not sure I see a point in selling them. You already had better wrenches than the RPs and you weren't using them.My wrenches are in pretty good condition since they don't see much use - I tend to reach for my Craftsman RP wrenches more - so should bring a pretty good price.
they only worth a dollar a wrench and only if made in usa, never used and still have the plastic holder
In what world are you living?
Even cheap US made Craftsman raised panels are bringing decent money. The Pro series bring ludicrous money.
I really don't know what you'd gain unless you're bored with CM. The professional and industrial series are solid top shelf tools.So looking around on ebay I have noticed Craftsman Professional wrenches have pretty good resale value. I have metric and SAE. They are my best combo wrenches currently, but I'm seriously considering selling my metric (8 to 24mm) and SAE (1/4 to 1-1/16) to fund an upgrade to Proto (or Wright?). The metric wrenches look like they would bring enough to pretty much swap to the new wrenches. The SAE don't look like they bring quite as much but still would get pretty close to paying for the new wrenches. My wrenches are in pretty good condition since they don't see much use - I tend to reach for my Craftsman RP wrenches more - so should bring a pretty good price. Would you sell or keep? I think a set of Proto would be a nice upgrade (I have some proto double box end wrenches - great!). Also if you would sell and upgrade would you prefer Proto or Wright? Thanks.
I'm considering selling because I decided a few years back I was done with craftsman when all their tools moved off shore. I never liked the detent sockets I have and so far have replaced most of them with snap on. Only my 1/4 sockets are still craftsman. Proto or wright seem like a better value than snap on. It just seems like this might be a good opportunity.
Used? I don’t know, the big Craftsman money is with new and unused.J1200RM-T500 (proto 7mm to 24mm) is $420 on zoro. With 20% coupon it would be $336. I think that is about what the craftsman pro metrics would bring (plus or minus a few).
A quick check of eBay solds shows used metric sets bringing well over $400 plus shipping pretty regularly.Used? I don’t know, the big Craftsman money is with new and unused.
I prefer my Wrights and Protos over the Craftsman Pros I’ve had by a considerable margin. The anti slip features alone are worth the upgrade in my opinion. The fact that I can actually warranty it the need were to arise is just icing on the cake.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I was visiting a buddy who is heading for FL for a month or two. He said he knows a guy in FL that goes to every Estate Sale he can find and buys up all of the old "Made in USA" Craftsman tools. Many times it is literally a BUCKET full for $5-$10 !
A little work with a wire brush and he sells them on eBay for a HUGE profit.
A little work with a wire brush and he sells them on eBay for a HUGE profit.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
There were three different versions of Craftsman Professional combination wrenches over the years. There was the SK version, the Armstrong version, and a mystery version that resembles the current Williams "SUPERCOMBO" combination wrenches. It's the mystery version that I liked the best but didn't purchase them soon enough before they went out of production.
American Locomotive
Well-known member
I don't know how the Craftsman Pro wrenches compare to their raised panel wrenches, but I can tell you that since I got my WrightGrip 2.0 wrenches, I will not be going back to anything else. Love using them. I straight up don't like using my Craftsman RP wrenches anymore unless I feel like rounding something off with the open end.
The Pros, in all their versions, were worlds ahead of the raised panel wrenches. They are very nice wrenches….but they aren’t Wrights or Snap-Ons or Protos.I don't know how the Craftsman Pro wrenches compare to their raised panel wrenches, but I can tell you that since I got my WrightGrip 2.0 wrenches, I will not be going back to anything else. Love using them. I straight up don't like using my Craftsman RP wrenches anymore unless I feel like rounding something off with the open end.
rust in the eye
Well-known member
Oh please, gimme a break, okay? Their utility value far exceeds this.they only worth a dollar a wrench and only if made in usa, never used and still have the plastic holder
I'm no C-Man fan boy (or hater) but have to acknowledge that the USA made ones ARE good quality.
I personally no longer care for any raised panel style wrenches but will buy every decent set you can get your mitts on for a buck a wrench.
Sheesh!
Agree, nothing special about Proto wrenches. Wright are fine if you don’t need or want the longer length.If you sell your CM pro’s you’ll be disappointed with the Proto, I think the jaws spread too easily. Wrights don’t seem to spread at all but to me they’re too short so I went with used Snap On
Neither are an upgrade to the polished Armstrong-manufactured Craftsman Professional wrenches. These were sold as Armstrong and Matco as well at the time.
mjdarg
Well-known member
I sold a set 7-19mm of the SK made Craftsman Professional wrenches a few months ago on eBay for $235 including shipping. That's about $190 after shipping and fees. I got this set from an estate for almost nothing. They were in almost perfect shape with original packaging. I was able to find a 10-19mm set of Snap-On wrenches for less than that on eBay in pretty good, but used condition. I have no regret and would rather has SO wrenches for use and let someone else enjoy collecting nostalgic tools. I used one or two of the wrenches a few times, but the box end on the Snap-On is unquestionably better. You may not be able to get quite as much for your wrenches, but like others have said; I would try and take advantage of the current Craftsman craze.
That's a pretty good swap, although I would have to supplement with the 6mm-9mm sizes.I sold a set 7-19mm of the SK made Craftsman Professional wrenches a few months ago on eBay for $235 including shipping. That's about $190 after shipping and fees. I got this set from an estate for almost nothing. They were in almost perfect shape with original packaging. I was able to find a 10-19mm set of Snap-On wrenches for less than that on eBay in pretty good, but used condition. I have no regret and would rather has SO wrenches for use and let someone else enjoy collecting nostalgic tools. I used one or two of the wrenches a few times, but the box end on the Snap-On is unquestionably better. You may not be able to get quite as much for your wrenches, but like others have said; I would try and take advantage of the current Craftsman craze.
Thanks for all the input it is much appreciated. I decided to sell my craftsman pro wrenches - I'll set up the auction this weekend. These wrenches will probably bring someone more enjoyment than I would get from keeping them. If they don't sell for what I need then I'll keep them but Craftsman has no nostalgia value to me so I'll upgrade (probably proto).