Where do you guys shop? (For tools or otherwise)

[WRX/Z28]

I'm seeing a lot of Hating on Sears. Hating on Harbor Freight. Hating on Snap on.

Where do you guys shop for tools, and what makes you shop there?

Please don't let this turn into a complaining thread. Keep that for everywhere else.

How about the good experiences. Where do you guys feel good about spending your money (and why)?


Does price dictate where you go completely?

 

[imom]

Amazon... if you know what you want... look often the prices fluctuates frequently from hours to days... harryepstein.com and here when people alert you to good deals...not all of them are but at times...I got some decent stuff and try to stop myself from becoming like most here...tool addicts.

 

[NinetyTwoFifty]

I buy in the classifieds here 90% of the time. I've been a lot happier since I started doing that, lots of good people here.

 

[GoBlue]

I buy new from Sears and Matco. My other two tool guys dont offer the service of the Matco guy and Sears American tools are a unbeatable value. I also buy a lot on ebay.

 

[billymade]

Pawn shops and flea markets; I try to buy used when I can. Otherwise, hardware stores, Sears, tool trucks etc.

 

[treasureseeker]

I buy Stahlwille off of www.toolsource, Snap On off of eBay or Snap On’s home site. Pliers from Chads. I buy a little bit of Craftsman’s items from Sears. Power tools from HD or Lowes but not mechanics tools from either.

 

[dwm]

It depends on the tools. But I'd guess that 99% of my hand tool and cordless tool shopping is online. That includes the brick-and-mortars; I order online for in-store pickup. All of my Snap-On orders are done online since all of my tool orders are for home use and I don't work in an automotive repair shop.

In the last 2 years, almost all of my new tools have come from Tooltopia, Toolbarn, chadstoolbox, wihatools, jdindustrialsupply (all the Wright I've bought), Amazon and a dozen other online vendors. A few small things from Sears. No complaints at all about buying online; saves me money, saves me time, saves me aggravation. The top six contenders for mechanic's hand tools for the last 9 months or so:

tooltopia.com: $798.43
jdindustrialsupply.com: $575.00
toolbarn.com: $501.16
chadstoolbox.com: $470.04
snapon.com: $408.50
amazon.com: $305.05

 

[Danglerb]

Once I know a part number I google that, go with the first vendor that has it at a reasonable price ONCE I get enough other stuff in the cart for free shipping.

Amazon and Advanced Auto Parts can have some amazing prices vs everybody else.

I haven't bought a tool at Sears that wasn't seriously on sale in years, but I've bought the bulk of my sockets from them, and many other items when on sale.

Done my share of HF, now I don't think I could spend a $100 if I tried, nothing left I want very much, but there is a bit, mostly smaller things these days like the mini grease gun somebody posted a few days ago.

Truck brands I buy mostly at swap meets or yard sales.

 

[blue dog]

I am on par with Danglerb.

Amazon is hit or miss, yet still good stuff to be had.

bettymills for proto and armstron.
http://www.bettymills.com/shop/product/find?keywords=proto&Department=home&submit.x=0&submit.y=0

Have been making a purchase at harry epsteins every month for a while now
https://harryepstein.hostasaurus.co...en=SFNT&Category_Code=Catalog&Store_Code=1930

Grainger

I get most consumables at HD or Loews.

And lastly, i cruise craigslist every week or so.

 

[WR250F]

I find out what I need then shop it online.

If the exact same item is available from several sources, I'll go with the source I have ordered from previously (with good results), availability, the total price to get it on my doorstep in that order.

If it's a place I've never shopped before, I check for references here and then go with the lowest in my hands price.

For brick and mortar, Sears HD and Lowe's all **** equally, so whatever I'm close to. True Value or Ace only when I can't find it elsewhere or it's on sale

 

[85camaro]

There's a local flea market where I can buy almost any professional grade tool I want. Snap on, Matco, SK....you name it. Some of it is beat up, but most of it is in fantastic condition and some of it is new.

I have no need to shop for Craftsman at Sears when I can get all the SO and other professional grade tools for less.

 

[wreckerman5357]

I spent most of my tool money with my Snap-On guy over the past six months. Aside from that I buy tools at Sears, Ace, NAPA, Harbor Freight, and my local Grange Supply. I have bought two tools on the internet, ever, an IR die grinder and Cut-Off wheel.

I also think it would be interesting to know if people are pro-users or hobbyists. I am a pro-user, a bodyman, and find it interesting all the hobbyists on here using tool truck stuff. I would have a hard time justifying their price for occaisional use.

 

[softailgarage]

The usual suspects, Sears, Lowes, Home Depot, Harbor Freight, Snap on, Matco & Cornwell trucks. Craigslist, Swap meets and my new favorite...McMaster-Carr.

 

[american lockpicker]

If you follow my posts in the Old World thread you would know where I shop. Really its anywhere that has exactly what I want or think I want. Luckily for me my area has a lot of good tools and prices tend to be the lowest in the world.

Edited to add I'm a hobbyist although I would like to find a job to use my tools so i could justify buying more...

 

[byoungblood]

Consumable stuff like drill bits, saw blades, grinding wheels (yeah, I know I could probably get them cheaper elsewhere) I usually buy at the local hardware store, HD or Lowes. Ie., stuff I need for a job immediately and it isn't convienent to wait for it to be shipped.

I've bought a few small things from a local outfit called Tool Depot, but unfortunately probably 60-70% of their basic hand tools are Chinese ****. Otherwise they mainly cater to industrial customers and do carry some good quality stuff, albeit at so-so prices if you're buying from them piecemeal.

I haven't bought anything from Sears in probably 5-6 years that wasn't on clearance.

As of late, most of my tool purchases have been from yard sales, pawn shops, and from the classifieds here.

 

[sberry]

I been buying a few specialty tools on line, generally tooltopia or similar, save 100$ for 5 minutes of easier shopping, delivered to the door.Even get a few things from HF when my neighbor goes there. Been on a tool truck about 3 times in my life.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Fleabay, pawn shops, and yard sales here.

 

[JeremyManning]

here and fleabay

 

[Basskiller]

Matco - driver is a great guy
Snap On - I like the kool aid
Ebay
Harry Epstein
Pawn shops
Yard sale
Flea market
Amazon
Sears
Other various places when I see something in the Hot Deals thread that I just must have

 

[canuckian]

hand tools - snappy truck, snapon.com, ebay, classifieds on GJ, amazon, jensputier for Hazet stuff, Kijiji
power tools - usually HD or Canadian Tire
consumables - princess auto and HD
building supplies - local Home Hardware


I'd buy from pawn shops and flea markets but there are none here worth bothering with

 

[speed bump]

Anywhere and everywhere, if I find a tool I like for the right price then I go for it.

 

[BigRed390]

I buy clothes and some tools from sears. For any sort of higher quality tool, I usually go to Woodcraft, Lee Valley, or Lie Nielsen. My stationary power tools are all old and came from craigslist. Books, movies, and other random **** usually comes from amazon. I hate going to the "mall", so I rarely make it past the friendly, helpful staff at Sears.

 

[wellpoison]

amazon usually has the some-what-harder-to-find brands with alot more chioces. i use wera screwdrivers, no where else sells them and amazon usually has the best prices. if im looking for something harder to find then chadstoolbox usually has it. i spend alot of time at flea markets and yard sales too. get some good finds from time to time.

 

[plinker]

Does price dictate where you go completely?

For the most part yes, but depends on who has the best item for the job at the best price. And depends on how bad I need it. Not every store, be it online or B&M, has every thing I'm looking for most of the time, so I like options. Most of the local retailers sell woodworking stuff so theres another reason for me to go there.

I buy from a few online and local/semi-local stores. I have bought some from Amazon, but not much, as I find the prices are pretty high there and the seller dont (usually) offer a discount on shipping. I do buy alot of electronics/movies & related stuff from them though.

Online,
Cripe distrubting
Tool topia
Harry J Epstein's
Ebay (not as much in the last couple years)
Snap-on
Grizzly industrial
Lee Valley (mostly wood working)

Retail stores;
The Local Napa
Menards
Fleet farm
Home depot
A couple of different Do-it best hardware stores

 

[jeffmoss26]

I try to buy from local places as much as I can...hardware stores, electrical supply houses, etc.
I've purchased quite a few items from garage sales, GJ classifieds, and eBay. Harry J. Epstein is another new favorite of mine.
Only buy stuff at HD if it's on clearance (Klein)

 

[Neuswede]

Depends on what it is I need; MSC, Grainger and Fastenal are all very nearby for industrial stuff. I also will cruise through the Craftsman aisles and clearance bins. Sometimes it may be Lowe's or HD, again also checking the clearance items. I have been buying stuff from Griot's Garage since 1992.

I used to buy from fleabay, but closed my account earlier this year. Now I surf Craigslist for specific items. Much happier and it's less aggravating.

We also have several good independent stores locally, so I typically try to stop in when I'm driving by.. For welding stuff, I have used Indiana Oxygen and Cyberweld. If I need it fast, I use the local Airgas store. I do use Harbor Freight for some items like sanding/grinding discs. etc. I have also bought from Eastwood's, too.

I also attend the Carlisle car events and walk the vendor rows at several events each year, and the AACA Fall meet in Hershey. I also get referrals from non-tool friends when they hear about something I might want to buy. If I am looking for something in particular, I also let these same friends know to keep a look out.

 

[Outlawmws]

I rarely "Need" a new tool so mostly none of the above. Mostly they come from yard/estate sales (about to go hit a Friday Estate sale...), and flea markets. Even C-list it's been ages.

Supplies/Materials it all over. from the box stores to local hardware stores, to specialty shops like welding or steel supply shops, to the one specialty lumber place anywhere near here.

Non tool related it's one of the chain Supermarkets, Costco and FoodMaxx depending on the item/cost. Clothing it's almost entirely on line these days. More likely to by some odd special piece of clothing from a yard sale or a thrift store than a regular brick and mortar.

 

[Steevo]

I do not have access to a Snap-On, Mac or Matco truck, so I get most of my tools at Sears, HF, Lowes, and yard/garage/estate sales.
Most big stuff such as stationary power tools, I get from C/L.
I order tools when I know exactly what they are and have seen them in person, but rarely order something I haven't actually seen/touched in person to know if I'll like it.
I order specialty tooling and such mostly online.

 

[chadster1]

I answered Snap-on

 

[Lkdelta]

Anywhere and everywhere, if I find a tool I like for the right price then I go for it.

This^^^^^^^^^^^..plus...
Sears, if I'm already in that area, (not often)
The "locally Owned ACE" (Just down the road)...they have C-man and awesome hardware isle
The lowes here is getting a really good selection of "cord-power" tools

If I can wait, check the Amazon prices and tooltopia prices

 

[930dreamer]

The Garage Journal of course.

 

[ncfh]

Amongst our corporate values, "cost" is at the very bottom, while "quality" is at the very top.

Suffice to say, "Frugal" is not a term we are familiar with at work. Our vendors love us. lol

Personally, quality is also top priority, then service followed closely by cost.

I will pay a few bucks more to buy from a trusted supplier over an unknown quantity.

As far as specifics, you guys probably wouldn't be interested...

 

[caseyjw]

I buy power tools exclusively from CPO Outlets

Hand tools I buy through work from MSC Direct, Grainger, McMaster-Carr, Newark (for good euro brands like Gedore, Facom, Knipex, etc) and Techni-tool, Steven Engineering (Phoenix Contact Tools) and Allied Electronics (test equipment and such)

 

[plinker]

Amongst our corporate values, "cost" is at the very bottom, while "quality" is at the very top.

Suffice to say, "Frugal" is not a term we are familiar with at work. Our vendors love us. lol

Personally, quality is also top priority, then service followed closely by cost.

I will pay a few bucks more to buy from a trusted supplier over an unknown quantity.

As far as specifics, you guys probably wouldn't be interested...

I think I know what your getting at, but there is such a thing as over paying. Example;

Say I want a new Gearwrench 3/8 ratchet. Fastenal has it for $40, "Online or big box store" has the exact same one for $30. I'd buy the $30 ratchet.

The above is just guessing on the price of the Gearwrench ratchet, Idid not look up the actual cost, but it is, based on my experiance, a fact that some industrial supply places charge more for the same product.

Like when Fastenal sold Craftsman tools you could get the exact tool for less going to Sears to buy it, To me it's wastful to buy it from Fastenal at higher cost, but I understand a factory cant always do the same as an indvidual person can (in reference to tool buying, takes time to shop around). Therefore it's more easier to get the tool from Fastenal where you already have an account.

 

[PECVD2]

Used to shop Santa Fe Tool for everything but it is really starting to look and smell like Harbor Freight in there. Still some good stuff in there but it is getting slim.
Picked through this barrel today, mostly Indestro and Proto sockets which I picked up more than I needed...of course.

 

[CISO1969]

I like Craftsman, Kobalt and many others. Since a lot of these companies now make tools in Taiwan, I have been buying what US made stuff I can find used on ebay, pawnshops etc and from discounters who often have the older US made stuff.

CISO

 

[colt zantop]

ebay and here mostly now......

 

[mlittle29]

Really hate the exclusive contract that Milwaukee has with HomeDepot. Wish Lowes would sell them too.

 

[hammergodthor]

Craigslist, Feebay, pawn shops, Snap On, Cornwell truck. Whatever strikes me.

 

[Boiler]

I buy a little from my Snap On dealer, a little online. I think I'll start doing more at Snap-On.com because he is very slow to get me my stuff while they are just a few days.

I also like buying SK from Advance Auto or from Tooltopia. I love tooltopia and have yet to have a bad experience. I have had a few lackluster ones with some of the other online sellers, so I stick with who works.

I buy a large percentage of my other purchases from Amazon, but only try to buy if it is sold by Amazon, not some random guy or business.

Finally, I buy used tools on ebay to fill sets or just if something strikes me cool.