source for flea market tools

[KEH]

I've often wondered where the tool jockeys get their tools. I've heard more than one express concern about getting stolen tools and mentioning turning down purchase of boxes of tools. There is a large flea market near me where a couple of vendors have enough hand tools to outfit a mechanic on Saturday to start a job Monday.(Not tool truck tools) One guy brings a 3/4 ton van full of tools and unloads most of them on tables. Last Saturday I was fishing through the tools and heard him and another customer talking about someone that the vendor used to buy $20,000 worth of tools in a year from. After a little discussion it turned out he was buying them from a pawn shop. No big surprise, except for the amount involved.

KEH

 

[woody 73]

I met up with a few people over the years selling tons of tools ; I also asked the same question; where did you get so many tools? One person told me he would buy large pallets from the Goverment auctions and another old-timer told me that he would also buy a load of pallets but instead of Goverment auctions they were from going out of business sales.

I have seen sales like the going out of business sales, but what I see on the pallets might be something like 10 electrical motors, office furniture,scrap steel etc. nothing like large pallets full of tools.

 

[Modifieddriver]

Timely subject. Yesterday I'm at Home Depot with my wife and decided to compare my used tool/equipment purchase price to new. While I'm there I talk to a guy with an British accent. I tell him about my pawn shop scores. He states all that stuff is stolen. I argue with him that it isn't, or even if it is, you buy at the pawn shop with honorable means.

So, on the way home I stopped by my favorite Pawn Shop and talked with one of the owners. I told him about my conversation with the "Brit" about stolen merchandise.

He kinda' laughed. He said cops are in there all the time looking for "hot" stuff. Said he got stung on a couple of items, but he is careful because if he buys and it's re-claimed because it was "hot" he's out the $dough$ with no recourse.

Anyone that comes in to pawn stuff has to produce photo I.D..

So, if I'm a thief, the last place I'm gonna' sell my stuff is where I have to provide I.D..

So, with all that said, contrary to popular belief, I feel comfortable buying used tools, equipment, etc. at a pawn shop (at least my favorite pawn shop).

Around here, the likelihood of "hot" stuff for sale is probably greater at a flea market/swap meet. Although, I buy constantly buy at both there and auctions.

 

[ganymede]

Many of the ones I've been to get most from estate sales and yard sales.
Some also have junk removal businesses and get lots of tools that way.

 

[RM209]

There are large distributors that buy the old/damaged packaging inventory from the large tool manufacturers. They then break it into smaller lots and distribute it to smaller retail companies and some of the folks that work the flea markets. At some point, no doubt we'll be seeing the old NAPA hand tools at the flea markets.

RM209

 

[RCStocker]

We have one man that buys damaged truck loads. He in LA there are many auciton houses where you can buy by the pallet load. Things can go very cheap. I have been buying some for over 30 years.

I have 2 second hand stores. I sell high end fuirniture and tools. I have one in California and the other is on my farm in Indiana.

I owned an antique mall for years. In my past and present business I always require a photo ID. I take a photo of the person and have them sign a sheet stating it is theirs to sell. I have been hit twice on stolen items. There was no proof they were stolen. It was just hear say. I told the last detctive that I was not going to give up the itmes until he had proof that the person owned them. There were no marks or serial numbers. It was on antique items. I told him if they could produce a photop of the item they could have them. They never produced a thing. Some people claim to own things they don't. It works both ways.

I have been buying and selling for 50 years and If I worried about it being stolen I would climb the walls. I will never buy anhything hot if I know it. The Mexican have hundreds of power tools for sale here in CA. You know they are all stolen. You never come across that many good used power tools. They are never cheap when you find them.

As for Pawn shops. They are so expensive that I laugh. I have seen so many tools, and musical insterments priced so high that you could buy them new for less. I have not spent $75 in 50 years in a pawn shop. I can't get them to deal. I buy estates and I stores that are going out of business. I just bought a garage that was fully loaded. I ran most of it through auction and did very well. I sold the lifes and things before the auction and I did not even turn a wrench.

You guys crack me up.

 

[sumner52000]

I used to buy from a dealer that bought large pallets from Grainger. It was returned, damaged or discontinued. I got some good stuff but he was priced too high to get everything i wanted. He lasted a few months at the flea market before going to ebay only.

 

[justanengineer]

I have seen sales like the going out of business sales, but what I see on the pallets might be something like 10 electrical motors, office furniture,scrap steel etc. nothing like large pallets full of tools.

Youve also probably never been to a real industrial surplus or plant closing sale. Most of these are closed to the general public. You have to have a business license, register with the auctioneer ahead of time, and occasionally post an upfront bond to get into the auction. Believe it or not, when you have a few thousand people working in an assembly plant, having multiple pallets of nothing but impact guns, hammers, and other hand tools (one type of tool per pallet) is rather common.

 

[egnorant]

http://www.govliquidation.com/auction/search?cmd=results&fromsearch=true&words=tools

Here is one source!

Bruce

 

[64merc]

When I used to hit the pawn shops almost every day, I would actually run into some of the flea market guys buying up tool boxes/bags full of tools that they would pull from the back. Apparently, they had some kind of deal with the vendors. Basically, it seems that the pawn shop would hold everything in the back for them, but in return, the vendors would be expected to buy everything pretty much sight unseen, with very little hassle or haggling with the pawn shop. It was annoying as hell to me, but I guess it works for both parties.

 

[RM209]

Youve also probably never been to a real industrial surplus or plant closing sale. Most of these are closed to the general public. You have to have a business license, register with the auctioneer ahead of time, and occasionally post an upfront bond to get into the auction. Believe it or not, when you have a few thousand people working in an assembly plant, having multiple pallets of nothing but impact guns, hammers, and other hand tools (one type of tool per pallet) is rather common.

Concur; Boeing for example, has a Surplus Sales group that disposes of a variety of items including tools, wire and scrap metal.

RM209

 

[maddawg308]

I usually don't think about it. Most of the tools I buy are well used, and fairly cheap but not a steal. I'd think that if it was stolen, the prices would be quite a bit cheaper just to make it go away quick.

Another thing is, this is a small town, but the flea market is pretty well covered by most of the town population every weekend. I'd think that if someone was selling stolen tools, word would get around, QUICKLY, and the cops (who also frequent the flea market) would get involved. I've never heard of it happening here.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Just saw something last night....There is a local CL guy that always has old/good tools. I've even bought from him.

Last week I was at a big thrift store that also does silent auctions/bids. There was a 1980s C-Man 12 drawer top box that I liked. (But I was broke).

Anyway, I saw it pop up on CL last night for $120 from the local guy. IDK what he ended up getting it for, but maybe halfish...He has a storage unit, takes good photos, and you just meet him there. Not getting filthy rich, but I think he pays the bills and has some fun.

 

[gus1962]

Try checking this link : http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87267 .
I bought planes before on a flea market. 'Twas a good deal.

 

[Man of Many Vices]

Bankruptcy auctions, public administrator auctions (old folks with nobody to care for them), liquidation auctions (business mergers, etc.).

By far, the cheapest price for the best tools is at a garage sale conducted by some angry ex-wife whose ex-husband left his junk behind and hasn't paid child support. I usually buy from swap meet vendors who hit up 40 or 50 such garage sales a week, then bring it all to the swap meet. I don't mind paying $1 for a wrench they paid 25 cents for, that I know is worth $5.

Another "secret:" The sloppier the assortment, the cheaper the price. There are some really good tools mixed in with all that junk. I usually extract all the good stuff, even if I already have 3 or 4 of 'em at home. The reason? Price will be the same: 1 handful of tools, $12. 2 handfuls of tools, $12.

 

[jpickar]

I buy my tools anywhere I see them. I have bought new Craftsman in the past a lot. Some pawn shops are higher than new and others will deal with you. Just today I bought a Klien 12" cresecent and a old Blue Point double open end wrench and a Snap-on 1/4" X 3/8" 90 degree wrench all for $5 from a pawn shop.
Some garage sales are asking new prices on things and I just walk away. Some people think there stuff is gold because they see it on TV or ebay "going for that much".

John

 

[2oolhound]

I was in a second hand store in Vancouver one time and a couple guys came in with a camera to sell. The owner talked to them at the far end of the long store but I could hear the 2 guys bragging they got it from a tourist's car just up the street. The shop owner bought it no sweat. His prices were high too.

Many years ago I was in a 2nd hand store just before closing and I overheard the owner instructing a 15 yr old kid to go up the street to the department store and steal something or he was going to tell his parents something about him. The kid was crying and I followed him into the store but lost track of him. I never had any respect for that shop owner after that.

That said I think most of us have sold our own legit used stuff before. There is a huge market of good used legit tools out there that it would be a shame not to take advantage of because of a few rotten apples.

The way I see it buy not buying tools I suspect may be stolen I'm getting cheap insurance on my own tools because thieves know stolen stuff is hard to sell and the low prices they get for it makes it not very well worth the risk involved.

 

[bgqkeneg]

Some also have junk removal businesses and get lots of tools that way.

 

[Danglerb]

The back end deals at a lot of charities would make most people sick.

A lot of the low price comes from having the cash and means to immediately cart off a LARGE misc load. Lots of guys I've met in the junk trade have their own internal wholesale junk guy to junk guy deals, so a garage or storage unit gets sold in bulk to guys who retail that type of goods.