Thoughts on buying used pro tools

[Sine Swept]

If a warranty is not transferable to the next owner then it doesn't make much sense to purchase someone else's tools at a near premium price.

If I purchase a set of sockets for $400 but have a lifetime warranty, what good would it be to purchase them for $300 with no warranty whatsoever?

I just see a lot of high end tools for sale at 3/4 original price. I can see paying half for the tool / half for the warranty. If I am paying for the tool + half the warranty, but get no warranty, then I don't see any deal being had.

 

[Packard V8]

Whether a lifetime warranty is honored for subsequent owners depends upon the goodwill of the original seller and/or his agents and the chutzpah of the subsequent owners.

Some here/there/everywhere see no problem with buying a rusty garage sale tool for cheap and then asking the store/tool truck for a shiny new replacement.

JMHO, but it's impossible to steal anything; all debts must eventually be paid. Your opinions and results may differ.

jack vines

 

[noid]

To have a non-transferable warranty is a joke at the high end; if the low-end guys are offering lifetime warranties with no proof required. Even crazier considering the expectation for highend tools is that you're going to own them for a lifetime; and the chances of retaining a receipt 30 years down the road is pretty low.

Lifetime warranty is a North American phenomenon. In other parts of the world, the expectation is that the highend tool is just that and won't need warrantying.

All in all, the warranty has little real world value, because almost always, it would be cheaper to rebuy the small number of tools you break, than to pay a premium on every tool you buy.

If a tool breaks, wouldn't you want to have a different branded replacement that wouldn't break?

Another thing to consider is that when the company carries a lifetime warranty, they sometimes get limited in the type of tool they can design.

For example, if you look at a Tone (Japan) catalog, you will notice there are certain tools, like compact long reach ratchets and wrenches, that warn against excessive force. Given lifetime warranty, they likely wouldn't offer as slim of a tool, knowing dummies would constantly break them and ask for free replacements.

Premium price normally means a premium tool; the majority of the worlds premium tool companies outside of NA don't carry a lifetime warranty. Considering that, the discount on used tools should have nothing to do with warranty.

TL;DR: Premium tool =/= lifetime warranty.

 

[Evan(CA)]

I've spent so much directly to SO that I sleep very well warrantying a tool I bought off ebay and it's never an issue. If corporate can see you have purchases they aren't going to question it, even if your ******** driver does. 90% of the time you are going to hop on the truck and get it warrantied. This applies to the newerish tools. Things might be different if a 20 year old kid show up with a rusty ratchet from the 70s.

 

[454ragtop]

Need to keep in mind you're less likely to need to warranty a top of the line tool. I buy a lot of used tools, the warranty is never a consideration. But I wouldn't pay 75% of new for used, at that point I'd just bite the bullet and buy new. 50%, sometimes less, makes it worth while. Using this formula, even if I ended up with a tool or 2 that broke and couldn't be warranted, I'm still way ahead in the grand scheme of things.

 

[unslow1]

I just can't see paying a lot for used tools.

 

[dan360]

My tool trucks (Snap-on, Matco, Cornwell, Gearwrench) encourage me to buy rusty broken tools so they can exchange them. Byproduct of relationship building, the great secret.

 

[noid]

My tool trucks (Snap-on, Matco, Cornwell, Gearwrench) encourage me to buy rusty broken tools so they can exchange them. Byproduct of relationship building, the great secret.

Ah, the classic lifetime warranty, where you have to build a relationship with a man and a truck, so they can shine their graciousness upon you.

If they say lifetime, they better mean lifetime; or at-least call it lifetime at the discretion of your relationship status.

 

[M6erfan]

Ah, the classic lifetime warranty, where you have to build a relationship with a man and a truck, so they can shine their graciousness upon you.

If they say lifetime, they better mean lifetime; or at-least call it lifetime at the discretion of your relationship status.

Whos lifetime? The drivers?

 

[Evan(CA)]

Ah, the classic lifetime warranty, where you have to build a relationship with a man and a truck, so they can shine their graciousness upon you.

If they say lifetime, they better mean lifetime; or at-least call it lifetime at the discretion of your relationship status.

It's work he doesn't get paid for. I think it's part of being a franchisee but I see the driver's side too.

 

[noid]

Whos lifetime? The drivers?

What do you think this is? No divorce warranties!

In case of divorce, proceed to get those check books out to start a new relationship with yet another man and truck.

 

[Evan(CA)]

What do you think this is? No divorce warranties!

In case of divorce, proceed to get those check books out to start a new relationship with yet another man and truck.

It sounds like a man had his with you in a truck.

 

[Sine Swept]

Thanks guys for the feedback, it's pretty much what I thought.

I see an awful lot of brand new stuff for sale with too high a price tag to warrant paying top dollar.

I am also just a DIY guy with a wide range of hand tools from premium brands. I do however go after the better tool and not just the better name.

Snap On did warranty my sheathing ripper, then I broke it again!

 

[jeepinerdeep]

The amount of tools in the Taiwan up to SO range that I have had to warranty in 15 yrs is so tiny, I don't really give it that much thought.

I've worn out a few 12 pt sockets, broken a few drive adapters, exploded a few impact swivels and snapped off 1 Phillips screwdriver shank. Any used tool I would break would reasonably blend in. Or I'd just buy a single to replace it whichever is the most direct.

 

[M6erfan]

What do you think this is? No divorce warranties!

In case of divorce, proceed to get those check books out to start a new relationship with yet another man and truck.

Perhaps a separation agreement (AKA: Prenup) would be a good idea when starting said relationship with one's S-o driver...

 

[Gmonkee]

If you buy a 30 year old wrench set with reasonable wear you get assurance they did not break before.

I have recently sold 80 year old tools still unbroken to some shops. Wear was reasonable for a user tool and they use them.

Warranty is not required in such cases. Its a nice frill if you have dealer service and time to mess with OCD over a socket set instead of getting the ****** job out and getting on to family and fun.

I leave my work and tool tote at work when I go home. If something breaks under my regular use I sure do not want an equal. I want a better one.

My work tools are all time tested war vets of five shops and some multiple owners. My most expensive wrench was 3 bucks or so. I have spares too.
Nothing has broken in a long time. Its not luck, its good old tools.

 

[Snakebyt]

even a used socket set, screwdriver ect.. most trucks will replace a couple without question

 

[dan360]

Ah, the classic lifetime warranty, where you have to build a relationship with a man and a truck, so they can shine their graciousness upon you.

If they say lifetime, they better mean lifetime; or at-least call it lifetime at the discretion of your relationship status.

You can spin disdain for the truck brands any way you like to but as a franchisee, with a route-based sales territory, they will take care of their customers first. That said I haven’t personally ran into these supposed terrible dealers that are so prevelant around GJ land.

When the Snap-on guy looks at my MAC sockets and says “you should warranty those they’re rusting” and I say “we have no MAC man”....he says “I’ll take them and get ahold of Larry.” Larry is a MAC man who happens to be friends with my Snap-on guy and they swap each other’s brands all the time.

Things like that; I know it’s way more fun to act like it is all a big racket of marketing **** but customer service isn’t lost everywhere.

 

[mudflap]

I've spent so much directly to SO that I sleep very well warrantying a tool I bought off ebay and it's never an issue. If corporate can see you have purchases they aren't going to question it, even if your ******** driver does. 90% of the time you are going to hop on the truck and get it warrantied. This applies to the newerish tools. Things might be different if a 20 year old kid show up with a rusty ratchet from the 70s.

Yea...but if i were running a tool truck it's the 20yr old kid i would take care of no questions..they have lots of upgrading and tools to buy. Us old timers have seen tool trucks come and go..and have 3 of every tool we will ever need. Seen this happen about 5yrs ago at the shop.. Our driver sent one of the kids off the truck with his tail between his legs over an ebay ratchet he didnt want to warranty.. Driver won the battle...but lost the war.. I taked to him and he agreed to warranty the kids ratchet...never happened..the kid to this day wont set foot on his truck..has spent lots of money on tools since then..and..has badmouthed that driver to every new tech that has came in since to the point they dont trust him..they just use their home address and buy stuff off the SO website..youngsters like to shop like that anyway.. Meanwhile..same driver still stops by about once a month..us old timers hang out on the truck and soak up some AC...tell bad jokes..and talk about the good old days..and sometimes score a free calendar or ink pen.

 

[dan360]

Yea...but if i were running a tool truck it's the 20yr old kid i would take care of no questions..they have lots of upgrading and tools to buy. Us old timers have seen tool trucks come and go..and have 3 of every tool we will ever need. Seen this happen about 5yrs ago at the shop.. Our driver sent one of the kids off the truck with his tail between his legs over an ebay ratchet he didnt want to warranty.. Driver won the battle...but lost the war.. I taked to him and he agreed to warranty the kids ratchet...never happened..the kid to this day wont set foot on his truck..has spent lots of money on tools since then..and..has badmouthed that driver to every new tech that has came in since to the point they dont trust him..they just use their home address and buy stuff off the SO website..youngsters like to shop like that anyway.. Meanwhile..same driver still stops by about once a month..us old timers hang out on the truck and soak up some AC...tell bad jokes..and talk about the good old days..and sometimes score a free calendar or ink pen.

That was a poor decision by that dealer. Eat all his candy.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

If a warranty is not transferable to the next owner then it doesn't make much sense to purchase someone else's tools at a near premium price.

If I purchase a set of sockets for $400 but have a lifetime warranty, what good would it be to purchase them for $300 with no warranty whatsoever?

I just see a lot of high end tools for sale at 3/4 original price. I can see paying half for the tool / half for the warranty. If I am paying for the tool + half the warranty, but get no warranty, then I don't see any deal being had.

If you break all the sockets in the set, you are probably being an idiot. If you just break one, another is what $10?
if you get a 2nd rate product, and it fails, whats the downtime?

 

[sberry]

All in all, the warranty has little real world value, because almost always, it would be cheaper to rebuy the small number of tools you break, than to pay a premium on every tool you buy.

Yes, I havnt even broke enough cheap stuff to worry about it. I beat a 9/16 Tractor store wrench with a 4 pounder, never considered it was warranted.

 

[Negen]

I only had to warranty two sk sockets and all I had was a question about two sockets I sent pictures to an email and didn't even request a warranty and they mailed me replacements they insisted they mail them even without me asking. These days tools are getting good across the board. In some areas it is hard to justify buying high cost tools off a truck unless tax write offs is what one is after. Precision and speciality tools would be the only thing I would think would be important. Wright always had me register my tools online and never had an issue regarding warranty. The only tools I seem to break are socket torx bits though. Any brand. I don't even bother to warranty them. I also had to warranty a Wilde pry bar that the bar just slipped out of the handle right out of the package hje replaced it no cost no return. The only pro stuff my family does these days is government diesel depot. The conversation of warranty doesn't come up. Guys boxes range from 3k worth of tools in the green horns to 60k for the gray horns but the grays only do about 10-15% of the work.

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[OHMS LAW]

As a pro I’ve broken I think 4 snap on sockets. Three chrome and one impact. The impact was broken on a siezed suspension bolt on a kodiak chassis. The others were chrom sockets on breaker bars that gave up before the bolt did.
In a ten year span that’s not bad at all.

Yea I bought all these sockets new but having had drivers change over the years they really have no idea what you do and don’t have that was bought through a truck as far as warranty is concerned.

Now for as at home use, pick a store you frequent and get their set. Autozone oreilly and Napa offer pretty decent selection now a days and I have yet to have an issue with warranty exchanges

 

[unslow1]

Yea...but if i were running a tool truck it's the 20yr old kid i would take care of no questions..they have lots of upgrading and tools to buy. Us old timers have seen tool trucks come and go..and have 3 of every tool we will ever need. Seen this happen about 5yrs ago at the shop.. Our driver sent one of the kids off the truck with his tail between his legs over an ebay ratchet he didnt want to warranty.. Driver won the battle...but lost the war.. I taked to him and he agreed to warranty the kids ratchet...never happened..the kid to this day wont set foot on his truck..has spent lots of money on tools since then..and..has badmouthed that driver to every new tech that has came in since to the point they dont trust him..they just use their home address and buy stuff off the SO website..youngsters like to shop like that anyway.. Meanwhile..same driver still stops by about once a month..us old timers hang out on the truck and soak up some AC...tell bad jokes..and talk about the good old days..and sometimes score a free calendar or ink pen.

A friend of mine runs two chain shops. He has a deal with the local auto school so he employs guys right out of school or still in. He has banned 3 truck drivers from his shops for refusing to warranty the guys stuff. They have been banned for several years now. This guy probably goes through 20 techs per store each year. They get their start and either move up in the industry or decide it's not for them. It would be hard to imagine how much in sales these guys lost due to refusal to warranty a few items for young guys still in school.

 

[Fedwrench]

You don't buy a truck brand tool for the warranty. You buy it because it is probably the best made example of that particular tool ,and it might wear out but, probably won't fail in sustained day in and day out hard use. over several years.
A lifetime warranty provides you with a lifetime of failed tools

The only rules i have for buying used tools is to avoid those with initials or owner's marks, and don't overpay.

 

[Mikeske]

I never have had to warranty much in my 40 plus years of aircraft and vehicle work. I bought Bonney originally and had a couple sockets break and a flex ratchet break. I simple bit the pawn shops and could a full set of Snap-On ratchets. I had only one ratchet that required a rebuild and went to get a rebuild kit off the truck and the dealer grabbed the ratchet put the rebuild kit in it handed it back to me with zero cost. He knew I bought it in a pawn shop but still did it for free. I bought a few tools over the years from him but it always cash and carry. As I had a good enough set of tools to do my work I never needed much.

I always had a issue with the tool trucks business model I never got caught in the get now pay later. I always bought when I could pay cash and not worry about the guy trying to get the weekly-monthly payments.

 

[Shelbylex]

Things are different for people working in the shop and DIY guys without easy access to a truck.

I am slowly building a nice collection of tools (I started with Home Depot and Auto Zone tools and from the beginning of this year I decided to learn more about tools and am slowly building my collection of Snap On, SK, Craftsman from Springfield (-V- and =V=) and other old American tools.

Warranty: when I was growing up we did not have lifetime warranty. It is a great plus, but not a must. However, to me it shows how that company treats it's customers. Based on that I consider how much I am ready to pay for the tool and how much I will recommend the company to people around me.
Some examples of my real life situations:
SK - I have some tools by SK and buy them when good opportunity comes. Some time ago one of the old sockets developed a small hairline crack. I got in touch with SK and asked about warranty. They asked me to send a piece for examination and replacement.
Even though I never sent it (the socket was pretty old...),the offer showed good will of the company to resolve the situation. I keep buying their tools and recommended them to multiple people.
Tekton -Definitely goes out of it's way to help you. I had a problem with MIT torque wrench which broke. I got a great treatment and not a kit, but the whole wrench. Even though a lot of professional guys say different things about the company (professional vs DIY grade), great customer service trumps 10% difference for majority of DIY guys. I will keep using their tools and recommended them to a lot of people (which created a lot of customers over a long time and will spread the word further and further). Unless people really want SO, MAC or SK name, the quality is great for what majority of non-professional people will ever use those tools for. Small steps will make this company greater than Craftsman in its' best days. Their increase manufacturing in US makes it much more likely for me to recommend them and hope the best for their company!
Snap On - called about the socket which developed a small crack (old socket, but in good shape, not sure how it was used before me). I am not going to lie that I or my dad bought something new if we did not. Fair enough, no warranty, no big deal. However, I now buy Snap On only at cheap prices (though if I really need something, I have no problem buying it new - like a new handle for old SO carry box which I hope to restore). The only thing which gets affected is how much I am ready to pay for used SO tools when I need some extra tools. Overall, lack of real lifetime warranty for everybody does not affect the company, but affects how much DIY guys will pay for a used tool to a person selling old collection...

My best suggestion - use the tools which feel the best in your hand, make you smile when you use them. If there is no warranty, just buy the tools cheap enough that if it breaks, you do not feel bad and buy yourself a replacement. Overall, majority of our tools survive years and years and very few ever broke in my hands...

However, if you buy tool set as a gift to somebody, consider buying from a company with real lifetime warranty - gives an extra good feeling to a new owner even though he/she will hopefully never need to use it...

 

[dscheidt]

I do not have a driver... so I do not warranty anything.

When I buy truck tools used, I try to get them cheap. Lightly used and super cheap.

I think a smart move for someone just starting out would be to buy one of those huge blow molded socket sets. That would be a great start. After that, they could slowly buy USA truck tools and industrial tools to amend the set.

That's more or less what I did, but I'm old enough that what I bought were decent quality USA made craftsman stuff. I replaced stuff when I used it enough to know why it wasn't good enough. Pliers and screwdrivers got replaced pretty quick, wrenches, sockets, and ratchets took much longer.

 

[davethorik]

I have a handful of truck tools. I bought an SLL80A for cheap used, like $40 cheap. It skipped, but I know rebuild kits from Snap-on are cheap like $10. I didn't care, for that price it was allowable.

Turns out the head was literally jam packed with some odd disgusting grease. Cleaned it, lightly superlubed. Works fantastic now. I know this is an exception not a rule, but I'll pony up if it needs a rebuild. Although the last time I rebuilt a Snap-on ratchet they just sent me the kit free of charge.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

If a warranty is not transferable to the next owner then it doesn't make much sense to purchase someone else's tools at a near premium price.

If I purchase a set of sockets for $400 but have a lifetime warranty, what good would it be to purchase them for $300 with no warranty whatsoever?

I just see a lot of high end tools for sale at 3/4 original price. I can see paying half for the tool / half for the warranty. If I am paying for the tool + half the warranty, but get no warranty, then I don't see any deal being had.

You still have a warranty, the legal dept. says it's under exclusions XYZ, but call the company, say your tool is broken, you get a new one. Snap on is 3-4 business day turn around usually. The tool was sold with a lifetime warranty. Legacy/warranty costs are built into the price. If you aren't abusing/modifying, you'll get your warranty.


Not sure how the mainly hobbyist/DIY crowd of GJ manages to break so many premium tools. Cracked a few 3/8 drive 8mm snap-ons, the occasional pick breaking or bent punch, drill bits are consumables. I do this for a living, and it's not all proto and snap on in my box. I hammer 19mm 12 point deeps onto wheel locks for removal. The edges of the points wear out before the sockets crack. The ends are mushroomed from the sledge, drive ends wallowed from the impact (use a 1 inch extension to protect your gun), and they get separated from the locks via the 20 ton press. I buy the cheapest ones I can find locally, usually lowes, and pitch them after 40-50 wheel locks.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Things are different for people working in the shop and DIY guys without easy access to a truck.

Maybe if you don't use a car or a phone...

RING
" Hi, I really need a 23 point Volvo oil filter wrench right now."
" I'm at 12 ga Garage on Main street. I have one on the truck."
"Ok great see you in 5."
"Ah **** I just spent $30 on an oil filter socket that fits one car, but I know the damn thing will come off now."

 

[Shelbylex]

Ole Slewfoot, I honestly never thought that a truck would come to a private house if called for a single tool. I will try it next time I need something fast (I ordered over the phone thinking it’s the only option)...

 

[noid]

Ole Slewfoot, I honestly never thought that a truck would come to a private house if called for a single tool. I will try it next time I need something fast (I ordered over the phone thinking it’s the only option)...

For DIY, might as well just do same day amazon delivery. With prime, its normally free, or $6.99.

You may also live in an amazon "now" area where you can get delivery in under 1 hour.

 

[JonDick13926]

FWIW, my snap on dealer indirectly encouraged some broken 3/8” sockets by selling me the longest 3/8” ratchet I have ever seen.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Ole Slewfoot, I honestly never thought that a truck would come to a private house if called for a single tool. I will try it next time I need something fast (I ordered over the phone thinking it’s the only option)...

I can usually drive to where the truck is in 5-15 minutes.
Driver has offered to stop at my house though.

 

[rsanter]

You also buy the top end tools because they don’t break very often

 

[wkndwarrior29]

I've warrantied a few snap on tools by sending pictures via email with my address. Granted - I'm not sending pictures of a scuffed finish and asking for a new tool - but they've never even questioned if I was the original purchaser. For tools likely to break, I'll spend the extra for a higher quality.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[dtnel]

I spend enough but know all I have to do is call and he'll meet me in town any day of the week or drop it by my house on the way in town. Otherwise I can see him any Tuesday by sending a text saying what's ur next 2 stops and he'll let me know and I can meet up with him weekly this way. From the beginning even though I'm a hobbyist but have a shop license because snap on wouldn't sell me a scan tool so I did what I needed to do to get a scan tool, take out a shop license..

Unless you work in a shop snap on credit won't finance a scan tool for you. I did get a low 9.7% interest rate so that was good.bought it in March and it'll be paid off before the end of the month. It was cheaper to throw it in with a refinance since I'm adding a oversize 3rd/4th stall garage. It'll be designed where I can have a hoist in the garage for working on my vehicles since I'm not a young pup anymore.

I have old old snap on tools from the father in law who passed back in 2009 and gave them to me. I use to always be a Mac Tools and some Matco tools person back in the 90's. I bumped into a snap on franchisee a few years back and we hit it off and I've been buying from him since then. First time I went on his truck was to exchange a broken chrome socket. Never bought from him and he exchanged it and asked if there was anything else I was interested in or if he could help me and we've clicked since then.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[RedneckWelder]

Y’all get way more wrapped around the axle about used tool warranty on this site when in real life getting a warranty replacement is usually not an issue