auburnseeker Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 I'm always out buying parts and literature lots. At the last place I was at, I found all the tools and boxes are for sale as well. I think I'm the only guy buying from the brother of the deceased brother at the moment. I was originally only interested in seeing what kind of old oddball tools they might have available, but there are a few of the larger snap on boxes that I saw, and was told they are filled with tools. Judging by the shop equipment i saw around, I assume they probably are. It's an old gas station that has been in the family and the brother must have been fairly successful from what I see around the shop. It looks very well equipped with fairly modern equipment. They are emptying out the entire shop so everything is going to be sold. Is there any way to really gauge a value on used tools especially snap on or MAC MAtco etc? These are used but good condition so the stuff is not flawless but not junk. Cabinets are a bit dirty from daily use but not rusty or beat up. Probably 10 years old or so. As a wild guess. There are 2 identical boxes and they look like some special edition Maroon with gold looking trim. I looked on Craigslist but it was hard to gauge as I saw what looked like great prices on some and others seemed priced according to what snap on gets for them. I have a kind of crumby cabinet and a hodge podge of tools though a few good various sets and accessories. It's pretty well full so I need to expand my storage as well. I know you have to make sure they are paid off (these look old enough to be) as I think some have liens on them from the dealers. Any guesses or rules of thumb if I have to make an offer? I know individual tools are expensive but just like parts lots, the larger the lot the less it is worth proportionately. I've already bought some crates of parts I filled up from the family and they seemed happy with my offer. It's much easier when they give you a price but I have a feeling I may have to make an offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 A good single Snap-On wrench or socket can be 25-35 bucks. If you go on eBay you can pretty quickly establish value for Snap-On tools. You will be shocked at the prices, but like everything there are subtleties. I'm sure Mac is probably the same thing. Craftsmen not so much and everything else is sort of junk. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vermontboy Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 (edited) I'm sure you know this but the best way is to treat it like a large lot of anything you buy - take a look through it and as you open each drawer try to visualize the resale of a few obvious items. What you are trying to establish is the quick resale value of maybe 10 percent of the items with the idea the other 90 per cent will be yours. In other words if you need to get your money out of it quickly how much will be leftover and will it be the items you want. You probably do that with every parts lot that you buy without thinking - I've been doing it in a different field since 1985. I only regret a couple of purchases - I regret a lot of missed opportunities I should have jumped on - timing is everything. Buying is the tough part - selling is the easy part. Getting rid of all the mistakes is easier when you remember that there is really no investment in them.... You should be able to get lien information at the county offices. Edited July 1, 2017 by vermontboy clarity (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 Lien info on "truck" tools is as simple as asking the tool truck that services the area for each brand. Snap On gives good trade in money for boxes, so their resale is very high. I have seen them sell for many thousands of dollars. Not advertised, sold price, empty, not full of tools. I don't get it for hobby use. I have both Harbor Freight and a Snap On box. Maybe after 25 years (the age of the Snap on box) I will see the difference in them! Right now they both hold tools, drawers operate smoothly, lots of weight in drawers. I guess if one is going in to get tools hundreds of times a day there might be a difference in wear...... If I want a Snap-On hand tool, and can buy it for 1/2 of truck price, I will buy it. BTW, their flare nut wrenches are great! Older pneumatic tools, tread carefully. Some internal parts are no longer available, so no guarantee, even on Snap-On. Trigger valves are the major issue here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 11 hours ago, alsancle said: A good single Snap-On wrench or socket can be 25-35 bucks. If you go on eBay you can pretty quickly establish value for Snap-On tools. You will be shocked at the prices, but like everything there are subtleties. I'm sure Mac is probably the same thing. Craftsmen not so much and everything else is sort of junk. Snap-on has almost a cult following! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 5 minutes ago, John said: Snap-on has almost a cult following! I bought my box about 50% full of tools from the widow of a retired mechanic 15 years ago. It was not cheap, but nothing like what you see on eBay now. I have gradually been filling in the missing tools over the years with used pieces. I guess I'm a bit of a poser because they are overkill unless you are a professional mechanic but there is a difference a big difference in quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike36 Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 16 minutes ago, John said: Snap-on has almost a cult following! There's a reason for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburnseeker Posted July 1, 2017 Author Share Posted July 1, 2017 One thing I did notice. There are alot of Used and even some New Snap On Boxes and tools on Craigslist. I guess I will just press the seller for a price and only make an offer as a last recourse. I have some decent tools and even a nice small selection of Snap On Wrenches including the flare nuts. I bought those from some guys who were closing up shop who rented a table at a little selling bazaar. There wrenches were 2-$3 each. (small stuff much under 1/2 inch were taped in bundles for the price of one wrench. ) Even stuff up to 1 inch and Comparable Metric. They had alot of duplicates and I spent about 15 minutes trying to put a complete pile together. Not thinking, I should have just bought everything they had left and figured it out later. There were 3 or 4 pails of wrenches all in nice shape. His partner was set up with a bunch of Specialty tools that I bought as well including a bag full of distributor wrenches and odd ball pliers as well as some other stuff. I didn't realize until I got home almost everything was Blue Point. I still kick myself for not buying the big British whitworth tap and die set, he kept telling everybody they wouldn't want because of what it was. I should have bought it and stuck it on ebay. I'm sure I could have found a buyer for it. I assume it was also a good quality as he had nothing that was junk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_padavano Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 Don't confuse fantasy eBay ASKING prices with value. Unless cash changes hands, the eBay price is meaningless. You can search completed auctions on ebay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburnseeker Posted July 1, 2017 Author Share Posted July 1, 2017 I know individual prices of tools can be high. Especially since most are easily shippable and guys need that particular tool. I figured when buying a lot you are buying everything or atleast most of the stuff so in most cases you have no immediate need to justify a big price. Tool boxes are also hard to gauge on Ebay as realistically most aren't considered shippable so they are sold pretty much locally. This is nothing I have to have so we will see. I just thought if I could pick the lot up reasonable to cheap I would. If not I can always go to Craigslist and wait for a good deal on a box if I want to upgrade. There are actually 5 boxes I was told and I saw 3. THe two big ones and a slightly smaller roll cabinet which is just the bottom with no upper cabinet. They have lifts (I'm not real interested in) and what looked like a nice pretty new air compressor, which I will check out as well. I will need a compressor for the nw shop when I get it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 (edited) I have been buying SnapOn hand tools over the last few years. And after using many brands over the last 50+ years the SnapOn's do feel noticeably better when I use them. They feel smoother, lighter, more balanced, and less "chunky". I am stripping out a '29 Buick a little bit at a time right now and carrying a few end wrenches out to where it is sitting. When I am working and think to myself "Boy, this wrench really feels nice." That is quite a statement. No kidding, using a SnapOn wrench makes me smile. Always offer the buy everything. I have bought and sold everything under the wave of a hand many times. About 15 years ago I bought the garage contents from a widow who spoke poor English. When she figured out I was offering to pay her and not charge her to clear the garage she had a huge smile. I even found the old man's stash of dirty books in a dresser drawer with a nice carefully wrapped Sun Tach and some other stuff. She told me that I reminded her of her Husband. I bet she knew about the books all the time. On some of us old guys it just shows in our eyes. Bernie Edited July 1, 2017 by 60FlatTop (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 (edited) 2 hours ago, alsancle said: It was not cheap That is a phase I hear frequently. I wonder about its origin. I used to work with an IT guy who answered every request with "That's not going to be easy." Bernie Edited July 1, 2017 by 60FlatTop (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billorn Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 Mike,,,,,WHAT Is that reason? Just wondering. Dale in Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1912Staver Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 (edited) I would agree that 1/2 of truck price is a very decent "buy" price, even on a large lot. {I would expect perhaps a 10% discount on a single purchase over $2000.00 or so}. But I own about $10,000.00 worth of Snap -on. as I made my living with them for several years. { and have slowly added to my set for a further 25 years} Ebay and swap meet used retail seems to be about 3/4 of truck retail, at least in my neck of the woods. Boxes new are to me overpriced esp the special edition ones. I would personally only be willing to pay 40% or so of new for average condition 10-30 year old boxes, but I have rarely found them for sale at that price. Consequently most of my boxes are Craftsman ,Proto etc. The boxes are nice, but icing on the cake. It's the tools themselves where the quality stands tall. Greg in Canada Edited July 1, 2017 by 1912Staver (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburnseeker Posted July 1, 2017 Author Share Posted July 1, 2017 We'll see how it goes tomorrow. I have an appointment to go back and buy a few parts then talk tools. I was just trying to get a gut feeling for what a fair offer on a large lot of tools might be. I know there are some similar type tool and box combos(nothing quite the same) on the local craigslist all seeming to be unsold for everything from 3,000 -8,000 per box unit. I think one was a bit smaller but looked very good for the 1800 it had been reduced to. These were all for the most part shined up freshly polished boxes. Not straight out of the shop boxes with dirt grime and wear from real use. Not to say that devalues them much but obviously will have some effect. I guess it boils down to do you have to sell the stuff to get rid of it, or are you hoping someone is going to come along and give you most of the truck price you paid for tools you probably shouldn't have bought and didn't end up using so you are trying to get your money back. I'm sure some if not many of the tools are much older than the boxes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeke01 Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 I know that a discussion of hand tools is like a discussion of what the best motor oil is, but here goes. I have never understood the mystique of Snap-On tools. Up front: I have not bought a new ratchet since 1980. I have several ratchets in my tool box, among them Craftsman, S-K, Proto, Challenger, Blackhawk. and Industro (Wizard brand by Western Auto). All perform flawlessly. When I reach into the box, I don't care what comes to hand. I have re-lubed or rebuilt all of them. I trust my knuckles with the Craftsman RHFT (round head fine thread) of the 1970's because they have the stoutest internals of the bunch. My mind doesn't wander to the "buttery feel" of the wrench while I'm using it. I'm more concerned about how to get the problem fixed.When you are trying to unscrew the bolts on a muffler clamp do you worry about the balance of the ratchet? I don't. I worry more about keeping the rust out of my eyes. The upshot of the post is this: I'm no threat to your bidding on the Snappy stuff on e-bay. Excuse me while I get off my soap box. Zeke P.S If you want tool porn, check out garagejournal.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39BuickEight Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 Don't use Craigslist for valuing tools. As an insurance adjuster, I can assure you a large amount of them posted on Craigslist are stolen. Tools are now the most commonly stolen items. Stealing guns and jewelry has gotten increasingly risky for criminals. Petty thieves love tools (and electronics). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburnseeker Posted July 1, 2017 Author Share Posted July 1, 2017 It seems like hand tools being stolen would be a problem. The big boxes seem like they would be risky to steal. Just handling them would arise some suspicion it seems. Listing them would as well. Especially since is seems like a stolen one would be watched for by the owner or possibly cops/ insurance company. Not like you can slide one in your pocket and walk out the door. Don't they have serial numbers on them as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Did you ever consider going into a Pawn Shop to see what they would be worth for a loan? That's closer to what you would want to offer in a situation like this I think. I'll bet your local shop is full of Snap-ons for sale too. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburnseeker Posted July 2, 2017 Author Share Posted July 2, 2017 I know the area it is in is an old industrial type city that pretty much died 30 years ago. The road the garage is on is lined for a few miles with old gas station buildings, garages and former as well as some repurposed dealerships. I bet there is a surplus of tools in the area. An area that is definitely not up and coming with any shortage of cars or mechanics. I know the tools and boxes have value but I doubt many guys are lining up with thousands of dollars to buy boxes full of tools. I know as well that with every thousand dollars you go up, that many more buyers are priced out of the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike36 Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 8 hours ago, smithbrother said: Mike,,,,,WHAT Is that reason? Just wondering. Dale in Indy Hi Dale, I will start by telling you that no matter what I say here, it will probably be picked apart by those with a different opinion. Just like the staunch fans of every brand of automobiles, insisting their choice is the best. I am the 71 year old son of a Chrysler dealership mechanic. He wasn't a " technician", he was a mechanic that knew how to diagnose a problem and fix it. Not start replacing parts until the problem went away. I started working with him at a young age. He owned Mac tools. I used them a lot. Now they are owned by Stanley, and I don't feel they have kept up. My opinion. I have 3 roller cabinets and 4 top chests that are overflowing with tools. Several different brands. The Snap On brand, to me, seems to be manufactured with " usability " in mind more than any brand I have used. Their fit on a fastener is excellent, plating is second to none ( read rust prevention), and the feel in your hand is exceptional ( I have wrenches that feel like I'm picking up a club). That being said, I earned my living with hand tools for a lot of years and I preferred Snap On. For the hobbyist, I totally understand buying Craftsmen or comparables. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike6024 Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Craftsmen are going to be made in China now I think. New Craftsmen combination wrenches look clunkier than previous. Also it's true not all wrenches fit the same. Some 1/2 inch wrenches will fit a 1/2 inch bolt tighter than others. Some will even fit a 13mm bolt even though 1/2 inch is only 12.7mm. Some wrenches are better in challenging situations. For instance driveshaft bolts or coupling nuts are so close to the driveshaft itself a thick-walled box won't go on, but a toll made with higher quality steel may have a thinner box yet be plenty strong. Also the bolt holding the starter to the bellhousing might be hard to get at being in a tight indentation in the aluminum casting of the bell housing. Can't get a box on it, even a thin one. Need the open end, but if the end is too clunky it hits the aluminum when you try to turn it so you don't get much swing. Here is a picture of a wrench I like much better compared to a Craftsman. The Bonney is thin, light and strong. On some wrenches you can even see the jaws of the open end seem to flex and open some when trying to break free a frozen nut, making it much more likely to round it over. Carbon content and hardening are all important to a quality tool. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercer09 Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 buy low sell high......................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 If you bide your time you can often buy Snap On tools for just what is owed the truck, especially when a failed mechanical or resto shop has to raise money to pay off back biz taxes and such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike36 Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 I might add, the SnapOn service is very good( at least in my area), and when you are ready to give up and try out that rocking chair, there are more people interested in buying them than any other brand I am aware of. I do not, and have never, worked for Snap On. But in a world saturated with junk products, I appreciate a company that puts quality at the top of the list of company goals. When I buy from them, I have no doubt if it's going to work. It will still be doing so long after I'm gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike36 Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 On July 1, 2017 at 9:30 AM, 60FlatTop said: I have been buying SnapOn hand tools over the last few years. And after using many brands over the last 50+ years the SnapOn's do feel noticeably better when I use them. They feel smoother, lighter, more balanced, and less "chunky". I am stripping out a '29 Buick a little bit at a time right now and carrying a few end wrenches out to where it is sitting. When I am working and think to myself "Boy, this wrench really feels nice." That is quite a statement. No kidding, using a SnapOn wrench makes me smile. Always offer the buy everything. I have bought and sold everything under the wave of a hand many times. About 15 years ago I bought the garage contents from a widow who spoke poor English. When she figured out I was offering to pay her and not charge her to clear the garage she had a huge smile. I even found the old man's stash of dirty books in a dresser drawer with a nice carefully wrapped Sun Tach and some other stuff. She told me that I reminded her of her Husband. I bet she knew about the books all the time. On some of us old guys it just shows in our eyes. Bernie Hey Bernie, you might need to get some dark glasses!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburnseeker Posted July 3, 2017 Author Share Posted July 3, 2017 (edited) I took a good look at the boxes and a quick look in a few drawers. I couldn't get any price from he seller other than the offer would have to be in the thousands per box. (which I knew that) They are 2 hours from me so it's not a quick trip around the corner. I also forgot to take my camera and no cell phone so I couldn't get any pictures. The box in the best shape with no rust on it is some commemorative edition Rusty Wallace box. That one as it is sits in a different building and is empty. Looks wise. I think it looks not as good as the other two because they painted all the trim white on it. which makes it look cheap, but that's the way they made it from the factory. The other 2 are loaded. Both some other commemorative edition boxes. One is a 50's type seafoam green. This box is a little smaller than the biggest one. Sounds crazy but I like that one best. There is some issue in the garage though and everything near floor level in the building is rusting. The wheels one the box are completely incased in a heavy surface rust, almost like they are submerged. The very bottom of the box also has some of this same type of rust starting on it especially on the edges and it's starting up the seams. The big box a Maroon I think it said 75th anniversary one also has the same problem. That box has the really big wheels with brakes on them and you can't see anything but the rubber on the wheel. I'm sure that affects the value, probably to a somewhat significant degree. No other physical damage. The tools inside are what you would expect. From really nice specialty stuff to very well used, possibly not even snap on brand stuff. I wish they had stuck the other box in the other building and put the Rust Wallace one in the shop. Anyways. I bought some other stuff off him from the attic before including 3 NOS back lit signs for an industrial supply store still in their shipping boxes. and a new Wagner brake cabinet from the 50's or 60's still in the box because the top corner had a dent in it. The paint is excellent on it as it's been in the shipping box and never used. That's actually a pretty big floor cabinet. Doesn't solve my tool dilemma but I couldn't pass it up. I also found some neat old tin cans for products the station used to sell back in the 50's still full and in pretty nice shape. So the trip wasn't a waste. I'll have to give the cabinets some thought. The rust really bothers me, though the paint isn't peeling I'm not sure if it can be cleaned off the cabinet or not. I think this is the same box as the smaller one i was looking at but in a different color. Has the same graphic on it and appears to be the same vintage. Bright trim as well instead of the gold. Not that any of that matters. I found a listing for this one on line for 2800. It doesn't appear to have any rust issues like the one I was looking at. The other box is bigger of course but similar idea and some 75th anniversary type thing. Edited July 3, 2017 by auburnseeker (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe in Canada Posted July 3, 2017 Share Posted July 3, 2017 I do not buy tools or machinery from private sales as a rule. As for Expensive Bay I only use it as a guide line on prices and specs. As for myself I tend to shop at the foreclose auctions for my needs. This is very much different than a farm auction as these auctioneers do not fool around and nickel and dime the bidding. I will also buy to resale to subsidise the items I may keep. I prefer the auctions where the closed company was never modernised with expensive computerised equipment. This tactic works for me as it does not attract big spending bidders. Over the years I have collected a fare amount of machinery and tooling. When I had a break-in a few year ago my insurance broker called in an industrial appraiser. Last week I bought a General band saw to keep and a Standard Modern metal lathe with DRO for resale. Now when I am ready to give up my shop I hope to recoup my hard earned cash I payed for everything. here is the place I shop https://www.bidspotter.com/en-us 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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