Tool Engraving...does it devalue?

[bulldrm]

I have been talking to a guy thru CL that has a bunch of tools for sale. The only issue is that most of them have the last four of his ssn in them. My question is how much does the engravings devalue the tools? Thanks!

 

[Skin]

i cant give you a percent but for many its a complete turn off. I know i completely avoid etched/ground/marked tools especially names/initials.

Essentially it leaves you with catering to the "i dont give a damn" market and they like stuff cheap.

 

[Toolhorder]

It definitely lowers resale value.
I personally don't care I'll just use it until it breaks and get a new one on truck brand stuff but when I sell it's a problem if it has engraving.

 

[MrMark]

I completely avoid it too. I would hazard a guess that it knocks 50 percent off the resale value. But, like Skin said, there are some people that don't care so if you can find the right buyer . . .

 

[pipsters]

I buy tools so they are mine, I don't want to be reminded that someone else used them at some point. No thanks, unless it was a ridiculous deal (so I guess the answer is yes it would substantially lower resale value to me).

 

[Boiler]

I'd venture a guess that a nice clean tool that might get 45% of new price on ebay would fetch about 30-35% with initials. Often it depends how bad they look too.

 

[Sick Puppy]

Yup, turn off for me too - I've bought tools where I haven't asked and wasn't told (didn't occur to me in the beginning), and was a tad disappointed when I got them. Given the choice I wouldn't go for them.

Having said that, I'm looking at a Koken set in a shop here, and (assuming it hasn't sold, which I don't think it will) I'll be using the engraving, condition etc to try and lower the price. I'm not rating my chances as its priced at double what I want to pay, but if I don't ask, I don't get!

 

[mkdive]

Deal breaker for me also. The owners mark/engraving would have to be pretty damn small & the tool would have to be 20% of value for me to consider buying it. Other than that I move on and find one without engravings.

 

[Skin]

It definitely lowers resale value.
I personally don't care I'll just use it until it breaks and get a new one on truck brand stuff but when I sell it's a problem if it has engraving.

problem is stuff that gets engraved are usually tools that dont break. At least not without abuse.

 

[drummingpariah]

It certainly isn't a deal-breaker for me, I'll just engrave my own initials under it. If the shoe fits, wear it. If the tool works, I'll find a place for it in my toolboxes.

That being said, but I'm going to demand a discount because of any reason I can come up with, and initials is one of the most obvious reasons on there. So it's a big "YES" to devalue. I normally ask for 50% off anything that's been stamped by the owner.

 

[daveblank]

To me, it never did as a tech. I bought my tools to use, not to look pretty in a drawer.

 

[Fedwrench]

To me it's pretty much a deal breaker too. However, not all markings are created equal. Some seem to try to deface the tool so no one would want to steal it and cause rust, chrome peel, etc. On the other hand, a couple tiny numbers or small letters are easier to live with depending on the price but, markings easily reduce used prices by at least a third.

 

[nato]

It does for my Snappy dealer. Earlier this week, he had his usual trade-in box full of **** and I happened to be looking up and checking out an FCF72 3/8" mini flex ratchet. It goes for $82 and he said "Here, check this out if you like this ratchet". He pulled what APPEARED to be a BRAND NEW FCF72 out of his used stock and said that this was like a week or so old. The guy who ordered it used it then decide to trade it back towards something bigger. He told me he couldn't give the previous guy 100% of his cash back b/c he etched his initials into the little pivot part of the flex, under the ratchet head.
He said $50.....
SOLD!!!!
That's better than ebay...
This is HIGHLY the best way to get near brand new tools, IMO
So yes, engraving seems to play a relavent part in tool swapping. Other than an occaision like this, private sales or flea markets shouldn't have any effect on personalized tools. I think brand name will still superceed, price-wise.
Anybody have lucky stories like this to share, lol?

 

[woody 73]

Tough question to answer,I for one try to avoid tools with any marks,but sometimes if the tool is very desirable and I will not see another for a long time I will buy it.

On the other hand as other people have stated they work with them all day long and it is not a big deal if the tools have owners marks.

From an insurace perspective I think each year they depreciate regardless of any engraving marks.

From a collectors viewpoint they want it to be as pristine in nature as possible.

So for some people yes it does devalue the tools and for others it makes no difference.

 

[lalaland]

YES dont do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mrholeshot]

Not a deal breaker but it sure devalues the deal. As a tech it didn't bother me at all as long as it was small. Numbers bother me less than letters. It'sa smart move for a working tech. It can be the differance in getting your tools back and not getting them back.

 

[Daddy_Rabbit]

never had engraving by previous owner disable the tool of it's intended purpose.

then again, I'm different in that I buy a tool for it's usefulness and not for its "ooh-ahh" factor for my buddies when they open the top drawer of my overpriced toolbox.

 

[trout]

I wont buy engraved tools either unless it's a really good deal or unique.
To me using a tool that's been engraved is like having *** with a girl someone else knocked up.

 

[Steevo]

I worked with a guy over twenty years ago, who engraved his entire SSN on every wrench, socket, ratchet, etc.
I wonder how he's doing in this age of identity theft?

 

[Steevo]

I wont buy engraved tools either unless it's a really good deal or unique.
To me using a tool that's been engraved is like having *** with a girl someone else knocked up.

So, it's good? And riskless?

 

[chewy7]

So, it's good? And riskless?

lmao

 

[mrholeshot]

I worked with a guy over twenty years ago, who engraved his entire SSN on every wrench, socket, ratchet, etc.
I wonder how he's doing in this age of identity theft?

Yeah use to be the way to mark everything. It's how my dad did it in the 40-50's and how I did it in the 60's and 70's. My dad use to tell me. Nobody else has that number. Seems crazy now but made perfect sence back then

 

[mrholeshot]

To me using a tool that's been engraved is like having *** with a girl someone else knocked up.

I'm still trying to find the downside of either one of those.

 

[warmpancakes]

I wont touch them, very hard to re sell I have a complete set of snap on wrenches from 1/4 inch all the way up to 2 inches wil the name "bill williams" on each one. Of topic but who names their kid william williams?

 

[ehegwer]

If you do decide to get them, I'd get a letter from him saying he legally sold you these tools that were engraved with his Info. If they ever get lost/stolen from you, this would be your new proof of ownership.

As for devaluing, Yes. But I'm not a collector (yet) I say go for it, and use the heck out of 'em!

 

[mdnelson86]

If you do decide to get them, I'd get a letter from him saying he legally sold you these tools that were engraved with his Info. If they ever get lost/stolen from you, this would be your new proof of ownership.

that's a good point that I had never thought of. I personally don't care all that much. obviously I'd rather buy a clean tool than one that was engraved....but as others said, i'm also looking to buy quality tools for as cheap as I can so i've bought several that were engraved. I always engrave all of mine because around the farm we have a couple hired hands that use my tools constantly and they have a way of not coming back to the right spot. just yesterday I was looking for one of my 1" combination wrenches, looked over in my grandpa's box and found a 1" wrench with my mark on it. easy recovery. (grandpa hasn't used any hand tools for about 5 years so I know he didn't do it)

also i'm only 24 and intend to keep my tools for a while so resale value isn't high on my priority list right now. probably feel differently later on in life.

 

[A29]

I buy tool to use not resale.

 

[bulldrm]

I'm still trying to find the downside of either one of those.

LOL...you and me both, but seriously...thanks for all of the opinions and I think unless I can talk them down some more I will pass.

 

[mrholeshot]

Of topic but who names their kid william williams?

I have an uncle William James Williams, My Sister married a Williams so her name is XXXXXX Williams Williams. Whats even funnier is my wifes maiden name with initals is B.J. Johnson

 

[motoguy]

It'sa smart move for a working tech. It can be the differance in getting your tools back and not getting them back.

This. I etched my name into my new MG725, PH3050, MG325, and 22" Knipex Cobras last night. The etching is fairly small, and fairly inconspicuous (hidden by covers on the tools that have them)...but it's there. When you use your tools daily, they're often left on top of your box, techs and "others" wander the shop freely, and there are a lot of other techs with the same tools...marking is the safe way to play it.

I work with my tools. I'm not some sort of a "tool Connoisseur". I need to make sure my tools are easy to identify, even if it's just to clear up "some confusion". I don't see myself selling these tools, so it's easier to mark them. If I move out of the shop (work), they'll just move into the shop (home). The tools I mark are the high value tools, which should last the longest and be the most durable. As such, I plan on keeping them for a while.

That being said, if I were selling these tools, and someone tried to beat me up on price over some minor markings, I wouldn't really be sympathetic. Markings have no effect on the ability of the tool to do work, nor do they alter the fact that the tool is a top-tier tool. Then again, I've bought tools with other guy's names engraved in them. They went right into my box, and I started using them, too!

 

[mrholeshot]

I never thought much about it when I was a working tech because they were what made my paycheck. Now that I'm retired I'm more concerned about the owners marks because it's a battle to make the most money out of the investment. Many collectors won't touch anything but something super rare with owners marks and even some techs don't want a set of wrenches with "Bubba Dolittle McCoy" engraved all the way down both sides on them. Something like that ruins the resale value. If you are going to mark them I say keep the marks very suttle. I use to mark many oof my tools with a very small musical note. I'd put it in a place where it wasn't very obvious. Over time I just got lazy and stopped doing it. Now because it's pretty much buy and sell other than my personal items I like to find them unmarked. I won't pay near as much for marked and then depending on the marks as to how much depreciation it goes. Even the Bubba Dolittle McCoy wrenches can still get the job done.

 

[trout]

I'm still trying to find the downside of either one of those.

not saying they're aren't good sides to it, but some of us hate the constant reminder of sloppy seconds.

 

[mrholeshot]

not saying they're aren't good sides to it, but some of us hate the constant reminder of sloppy seconds.

I'll take experiance over untouched. Let Capt Kirk go where no man has gone before

 

[Aberdale]

I have no problems with engraved tools. They are usually cheaper, and I buy them to use, not to resell, so there's no downside.

If I do end up selling them, I'll get less, but I paid less, so it all evens out.

Of course, if you want your box to be shiny and pretty, with no grease, dirt, engravings, lint, scratches, or fingerprints, I can see where the engraving can be a horror to you.

To each his own.

 

[Aberdale]

I'm still trying to find the downside of either one of those.

Mrholeshot,

Forgive me for asking, but I can't quite make out your avatar. I know your fantastic toolbox is in the background, but what exactly are you and the lady doing in front of it? Or do I want to know?

 

[mrholeshot]

Mrholeshot,

Forgive me for asking, but I can't quite make out your avatar. I know your fantastic toolbox is in the background, but what exactly are you and the lady doing in front of it? Or do I want to know?

Thats a miniture version with Barbie and Ken

 

[NeilH]

ive bought engraved tools before.

i ground it flat (tastefully) and re-engraved it with my name.

 

[nahudson]

I will say I have gotten some of my grandfathers tools and he worked at Boeing and he had his first initial and last name plus his employee number on a lot of his wrenches.

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

Having been a reseller of tools for over 6 years, I can safely say engraving can knock off around 10-20% of the value compared to a similar tool that is not engraved.

-BWP

 

[Justanoldguy]

I don't give a stuff either way.
I usually buy tools brand new and never sell them.
In 45 years I have lost a few tools but don't recall selling anything.
Mind you, I have very few with my mark on them... Just lazy I guess.