Your Take on Ebay as Used Snap-on Source

[RogueTraderX]

I am searching for a Snap-on rolling tool cart (maybe more) and don't see that many here on on CL.

Where I do see quite a few is on Ebay. However, I have never used Ebay, especially for a large purchase.

What's the user experience with deals like this on Ebay? I am trying to take advantage of your experiences so I don't walk into a buzz saw.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Lkdelta]

I am searching for a Snap-on rolling tool cart (maybe more) and don't see that many here on on CL.

Where I do see quite a few is on Ebay. However, I have never used Ebay, especially for a large purchase.

What's the user experience with deals like this on Ebay? I am trying to take advantage of your experiences so I don't walk into a buzz saw.

Thanks in advance!

Find a friend/coworker that is really good at Ebay and let him give you a hand while watching closely
or even throw him a 6/12-pack to just do your ebay deals.

If you like the 2nd method,Go thru the ebay listings, find what you want and then send an email link with the stuff you're interested in

 

[cburnscrx]

^

Winning auctions on eBay is as much a skill as an art.

 

[cburnscrx]

I am searching for a Snap-on rolling tool cart (maybe more) and don't see that many here on on CL.

Where I do see quite a few is on Ebay. However, I have never used Ebay, especially for a large purchase.

What's the user experience with deals like this on Ebay? I am trying to take advantage of your experiences so I don't walk into a buzz saw.

Thanks in advance!

Have you thought about the Harbor Freight tool cart? There are whole threads dedicated to the topic. Many people on this forum love them, and think they're one of the best values out there.

 

[UroWerks]

I do agree that harbor freight tool cart is a good value.However most are simple and dont have ball bearing drawers so there are some draw back but other than that they are still a very good buy when comparing pricing for a snap off cart.I for one can say this.Snap on hand tools are really good.But anything else they make I stay away from.

Especially air tools.I learned that lesson after I had to get one of my snap on air guns rebuitl after 2 years and same for a quarter inch air rachet I had.The thing that didnt make is worth while was the short life span,the price and the price to rebuild.

When it comes to air tools I only pick IR.I have been using my IR airgun for 9 years now and its never let me down compared to the snap on one.The rebuild for the 1/4 inch air rachet from snap on was $110 after only 2 years of use.I purchased a brand new 1/4 iar rachet from IR a nice heavy duty one for $110 shipped to my door and have been using it for 3 years now without issues.

Anyone else have a similar experience??Their hand tools are top notch,even though recently you can see they are trying to save some money here and there.Air tools are a different story also alot of their tap and die sets,valve spring compressors and other specialty tools are just rebrands and are 100 or more markup in price.

 

[evildky]

Get the word out to your local snap on dealer. They get trade ins from tech's trading up and some deals are out there, I got a great deal on a 1/2 cordless impact

 

[930dreamer]

Depending on how big of a box you want, shipping might be a killer. Put the word out of the GJ, I see them on the Abq CL often.

 

[SlappyWhite]

Depending on how big of a box you want, shipping might be a killer. Put the word out of the GJ, I see them on the Abq CL often.

Yes shipping will kill the deal. I have had some luck bottom feeding but it takes a lot of time to get a specific item, really just luck and persistence. But on large items, shipping....

 

[ihateimacs]

I love ebay! I make extra money selling things as well as saving money buying items. I had a negative experience once where a seller wasn't happy with the selling price of an item so he shipped my electronics in a cardboard box 4x the size of the item with no packing. I'm really surprised with the care that USPS takes that it came smashed and partially hanging out of one of the corners of the box lol. Now fortunately Ebay has a claims department so I sent a picture and received a full refund. That was back in 2006 and since then have gotten/received almost 1000 positive feedback. You should try to stick to buying from people with a decent amount of positive feedback to keep things like that from happening.

 

[markag]

the game on ebay is to sell for the lowest price, but make up for it with huge shipping costs. You might be able to buy an item for $10 when it is worth $50, but they will charge $75 to ship, and then you may as well just bought it retail.

Large items are going to cost a lot to ship no matter what. You might get lucky and find someone offering free shipping or low cost shipping. But that generally isn't how ebay works. Nowadays, ebay is full of offshore products being sold at OK prices with high shipping costs. You usually have to filter through 100 of the same cheap chinese made item to find a real item from a real user, then you have to actually be tactical enough to win the auction.

Don't bid early, because that just drives the price up. Bid at the last possible second with your maximum that you are willing to go, and hope you win. Or if the seller has a buy it now, just buy it now if it makes more sense. As far as the make offer listings, you just have to make an offer and see what the seller will take.

 

[Fordman7795]

the game on ebay is to sell for the lowest price, but make up for it with huge shipping costs. You might be able to buy an item for $10 when it is worth $50, but they will charge $75 to ship, and then you may as well just bought it retail.

Can you show an example of this strategy?

 

[alinc100]

Can you show an example of this strategy?

Here is one example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=231041525598&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:US:1123


In this instance I had sent the seller an inquiry about shipping at a lower rate.Sometimes the calculator on Ebay isn't accurate.In this case I never got a response from the seller and the item was unsold/relisted.
I am pretty sure these sockets would all fit in a $5.85 small flat rate box.

 

[01ssreda4]

In the end the seller can charge what they want, remember most have to package themselves and likely drive to the shipper, I know I always do. Don't like the shipping cost, don't bid. Simple.

 

[Pumpman1968]

I sell quite a bit on Ebay as well and I do take into consideration packing etc when considering a shipping cost, but, when you see an item like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/300959831294?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 there is no other reason for the high shipping cost except to gouge. I wasn't really interested in this item, but just for sh!ts and giggles, I messaged the seller and asked for "an accurate shipping cost to NY". There was no reply.

 

[markag]

Can you show an example of this strategy?

I would have to search for it. I know I was bit by it a few years back when I clicked buy it now for an item because the price was so good, and then realized that I had to pay twice what anyone else was charging for shipping for the same item. Usually the off-shore based ebay stores will do this. Individuals aren't as bad.

 

[mattygee]

I'm not evangelizing HF, but you could easily take their tool cart, and add roller bearing slides for a 1/3 of you'd pay for a snap on cart.

Ebay is becoming more of a 'buy it now' based marketplace for dealers... From my (a casual seller) perspective, Paypal, listing fees and shipping costs make it hardly worth the hassle. I usually try to sell an item on CL first. The sniping software that people are using takes the fun out of being a buyer too... I've lost many an item I was bidding on by one cent...

M

 

[Fishplate]

I am pretty sure these sockets would all fit in a $5.85 small flat rate box.

The same guy charges you $5 to come in to his store and pick it up in person.

 

[SMKS]

I'm not evangelizing HF, but you could easily take their tool cart, and add roller bearing slides for a 1/3 of you'd pay for a snap on cart.

I do agree that harbor freight tool cart is a good value.However most are simple and dont have ball bearing drawers so there are some draw back but other than that they are still a very good buy when comparing pricing for a snap off cart.

What HF tool cart doesn't have bearing slides?

I think I've fondled both the 4 and 5 drawer carts in person and they both DO have bearing drawer slides.

EDIT-
According to the HF website both the 4 drawer and 5 drawer tool carts do have ball bearing drawer slides.

http://www.harborfreight.com/five-drawer-service-cart-95272.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/580-lb-capacity-four-drawer-tool-cart-95659.html

 

[smokem2020]

I have a nice snap on tool cart with two drawers and two side wings. no dents or major scratches. I was going to trade it for a new power washer that he wanted $600. But the guy only wanted to give me 250 or 300 bucks for it. I just paid him what he wanted for the power washer with out haggling on the price. I use my cart for my TV stand in my living room. Now for a nice dresser in matching red.

 

[[email protected]]

Yup.

You know this thread is more then 3 yrs old

 

[TractorJeff]

Yeah, but I'll comment too! I sell on Ebay when I get too much stuff (once every year or two). Their Shipping Calculator *****! I just had a heavy item shipped to me basically Fed-Ex Overnight. The Seller only added $29 for Shipping? I think if he had used Ebay Calculator it would have cost more and would have been cheaper to drive 4hrs one way and pick it up! I feel guilty using the Calculator and always try to ship as cheaply as possible. USPS only broke one item in 15 years.

 

[cdeer001]

the game on ebay is to sell for the lowest price, but make up for it with huge shipping costs. You might be able to buy an item for $10 when it is worth $50, but they will charge $75 to ship, and then you may as well just bought it retail.

I think that's the way it used to be before eBay got wise to it. It used to be that when you sold an item, eBay charged a % based Final Value Fee (FVF) based on the winning bid (not counting shipping charges). Folks got around this by offering a low item price but made up their profit in shipping and handling charges which eBay didn't get a cut of.

eBay got wise and now they take a % based Final Value Fee (FVF) on BOTH the items final bid AND the shipping. If you offer free shipping then the eBay doesn't take any FVF from shipping since you are not charging anything to ship.

 

[n20junkie]

^

Winning auctions on eBay is as much a skill as an art.

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