Where do you guys shop for new tools?

[mech-tech]

Just wonder where most of you find the best deals at in general for new tools. I am a diesel mechanic at work, so when I need hand tools or testers, generally speaking, amazon has the most assortment of items to choose from so thats where I usually go to buy. Most local auto parts places around me only stock the cheaper versions of things, so I prefer ordering online to get the name brands that work the best, plus I can read the reviews on each tool. As for the common hand tools, I been keeping an eye at lowes for sales or clearance deals.

Besides pawn shops and other luck of the draw places, where on average can the best deals be found? I am mostly asking this question because where I work at now, they have discounts at grainger and other industrial suppliers and I'm not sure if the business discount would be better than the average person price from amazon or other tools outlets online since places like grainger mark the price up sooooo much anyway. For me, the reason amazon is cheap is because I use the free shipping, so this also factors into the price for me. So what place works for you guys the best?

 

[BearCuda]

You can get some pretty amazing deals on eBay actually, especially on multi availability items with buy it now prices where you don't have to get into a bidding war. I have to try and stay off there as much as I can because I almost always buy a tool or two every time I go onto eBay tools.

 

[littletoes]

I guess it depends where you live.

I work in a town that has an extensive availability of tools. Several dealers in fact, not including the Snap-On dealer that comes to work. I can text him with what I want, and it shows up-talk about awesome.

As expected, we all look for deals-AND quality.

I can get several brands from Grainger alone, and since I can use the state account, at quite a savings on several brands-PROTO, Wiha, (I can get Wera-but I doubt ANYONE gets a deal on them!), etc. There are local dealers that carry S-K, Wright, Armstrong, and several lesser brands.

I'll bet there are several supply houses near you that carrys tools, and give discounts to contractors.

 

[RaptorDuner]

I get a lot from this big stupid truck that comes to my work. !#%$*&. Amazon, Ebay, Craigslist all have worked well for me.

 

[groucho]

I like Sears. I've had a lot of trouble free use from my Craftsman stuff. A recent addition to my tool box is their 19.2 Volt 1/2" cordless impact. I love that thing. The classifieds here is a great resource too

 

[parnass]

Lately, my sources for new hand tools have been Farm and Fleet (a midwestern chain of stores), Amazon, eBay, a very few from Home Depot.

 

[scaron]

me, recently, it's usually one of: ebay, zoro tools, harry epstein's or home depot, although my local home depot is rapidly becoming "played out" of anything i'm interested in.

 

[WJD]

When I need something 'right now' the local Napa or Carquest which are also heavy truck parts dealers and sell the tools to match usually where I end up. Napa's professional 'Carlyle' brand seems to be of sound quality. I still have assorted 'New Brittain' line of sockets and wrenches. Bought stuff of the tool truck also but it was only here once a week. Stores were here there every day.

I'm always perusing ebay, craigslist pawn shops for the good deals.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

amazon
harbor freight

 

[MoparTruck85]

My work gets discounts from Grainger and MSC and others as well and I agree their prices are pretty steep so I usually only buy stuff thats on sale in their monthly catalogs they send us. But we also have a tool account that we can have a max of $500 of stuff and they just take payments of at least $20 from each paycheck so I can get stuff I normally couldn't afford.

 

[e30bradley]

amazon, HF, SO, chads tool box, craigslist, GJ classifieds, ebay, etc..

 

[Twenty20mike]

Sears, Harbor Freight, Home Depot

 

[Cyclones6]

With budget in mind, Sears for the most part. Sometimes Menards or HF but onlt certain stuff. Ebay is good for smaller (shippable) stuff.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

 

[GoodEnough]

www.tooltopia.com
www.farmfleet.com
www.zorrotools.com

All have had a decent price on stuff I was looking for.
These besides the obvious places listed above.

 

[MN4x4]

In alphabetical order, just because I bought from A to Z:

Amazon, Harbor Freight, Home Depot (using HF 25% off coupon for all tools), Sears (becoming less and less frequent), TheToolWarehouse.net, Trident, Zoro Tools

 

[turbowoodworker]

Sears outlet, in store and online mostly. Next it is the Hot Deals section of GJ, wherever you guys point me!

 

[Brownsfan]

Production tool supply. Snap on truck. Home Depot (for Klein and drill stuff) sears for any remaining USA stock. Production tool is my local industrial tool place. Bought all my Williams screwdrivers and a few other things there.

 

[GTO]

Weekend mechanic here,get my new SO tools from Ebay

 

[bobcatdan]

Most of my tools come from my friendly local snap on truck.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Almost always eBay. Find what i'm after then i sort by lowest price with shipping and buy it. You can get so much on there it just makes it so easy. Even bought some Molex Mini-Fit terminals to make new wiring for my flashing lights on there!

Recently i've been buying quite a lot of tools from VW through the local dealer, but they're all special tools for specific uses. And terminal tools, because the dealer is the only place i can get them and have them the following day.

 

[nyrapscalion]

Other people's tool boxes...lol,
Seriously though, Sears is still a top pick. It's funny, some Sears tool departments have USA stuff others have practically none. I visit about 8 different stores on a regular basis and always find something to take home. The full polish wrenches that are half off are a must buy for me.
I find the hardware stores True Value is ok, Brown's in Falls Church is a favorite (this place has stuff from 20 years ago for sale..remember made in USA knives?).
The flea market is hot and cold. When i worked in Ohio the flea was the bomb...I basically ran out of money, even the reserve twenty had to go. I was getting snapon sockets made in the 1930s for $1 each.
When Sears converts to all chinese garbage, it will be online. SK and Mac are some favorite brands.

In time we shall see what comes.

 

[mech-tech]

I dont think any of my local hardware stores even carry name brand tools, accept ACE brand stuff...which they price like its gold! I wouldn't mind buying local, but I rather not buy chinese brands that I never heard of before I see now you can even order craftsman stuff on walmart's website! So I guess the next question is, what websites do you guys trust to order from? I hear about zoro tools a lot, but never dealt with them. How is the return policy with them? I already had amazon sent the wrong tool before, but they handled it very well without problems, so I can't complain about them.