Son bought mower off CL. Most likely hot. Sigh,,,,

[Henning]

What! How can Snap-On let you use tools for 10% of what they cost? Why would they do that? I am really good friends with my Snap-On dealer I'll ask him if he is aware of anyone doing that.

BTW- That is a common misperception about the return policy. Snap-On corporate is very strict on what tools they warranty, they do not just send new tools out. Many times they deny the dealers returns because they deem the tool abused, like a chrome socket with impact marks on it. Consumers don't see this because a lot of dealers just eat it as part of customer service. They also don't warranty tools because they have been used and someone wants a new one.

Because he can pass on the discount to some kid who is starting work at another shop somewhere selling them the used tools. Basically I paid for all the tools up front paying his mark up, and he has that money to work with for a year or two. I keep my tools in good shape, so he has no problem buying them back and reselling them. Everybody comes out.

 

[mikea76]

I have found all kinds of great deals on CL. I am in the automotive repair business and the best deal I got was on a snap-on toolbox I gave him $1200 for it used it for a year or so then sold it on CL for $2500.

I felt kind of bad when I bought it because I could see the guy was hard up for money, Blue collar guy like myself living in a nice Boston suburb and probably buried in debt trying to keep his kids in a nice house.

So just because it was cheap it may not be stolen..

 

[docmirror]

Pianos, particularly older, smaller ones are notoriously hard to dispose of. They're heavy and hard to move, and most of the old spinets are not worth having.

Yup, this is funny cuz I learned to tune pianos many, many years ago. People would want me to come over and 'refresh' or 'check' a piano for tune before they sold it. I did this a couple of times to find out that they were trying to sell it to me for the price of the tuning. After a few times, I figured it out, and told them that the tuning was cash only, no trades, even for the piano. Cut down my workload some, but it was worth it. I still have my mutes and tuning wrenches somewhere in the house. Haven't touched a piano in years.

 

[Henning]

Yup, this is funny cuz I learned to tune pianos many, many years ago. People would want me to come over and 'refresh' or 'check' a piano for tune before they sold it. I did this a couple of times to find out that they were trying to sell it to me for the price of the tuning. After a few times, I figured it out, and told them that the tuning was cash only, no trades, even for the piano. Cut down my workload some, but it was worth it. I still have my mutes and tuning wrenches somewhere in the house. Haven't touched a piano in years.

How does that work, you come tune it, "Oh, I can't pay that, I guess you'll just have to take the piano."?

 

[JoseCuervo]

What! How can Snap-On let you use tools for 10% of what they cost? Why would they do that? I am really good friends with my Snap-On dealer I'll ask him if he is aware of anyone doing that.



BTW- That is a common misperception about the return policy. Snap-On corporate is very strict on what tools they warranty, they do not just send new tools out. Many times they deny the dealers returns because they deem the tool abused, like a chrome socket with impact marks on it. Consumers don't see this because a lot of dealers just eat it as part of customer service. They also don't warranty tools because they have been used and someone wants a new one.

Just to side track a bit, but the life of a Snap-On dealer seems horrible. A guy I went to HS with just bought a truck and is drinking the corporate Kool-Aid. But, if he does a god job, his territory gets better, Snap-On can drop another truck on his neighborhood.

He owns his Accounts Recievable, so he has a chunk of working capital sitting in guys toolboxes, hoping to get paid on Friday.

He definitely bought himself a 60 hour a week job.

 

[Alexb2000]

Just to side track a bit, but the life of a Snap-On dealer seems horrible. A guy I went to HS with just bought a truck and is drinking the corporate Kool-Aid. But, if he does a god job, his territory gets better, Snap-On can drop another truck on his neighborhood.

He owns his Accounts Recievable, so he has a chunk of working capital sitting in guys toolboxes, hoping to get paid on Friday.

He definitely bought himself a 60 hour a week job.

My friend is very successful, for one reason. STRONG financial discipline. Analyze every sales package, special, promotion, etc. they push for margin value. Consider every angle carefully because the managers are NOT there to make you money, but to make the corporation money. Don't be pushed into giving credit to a questionable customer. It isn't about the tools is the number one lesson. If your buddy figures that out I'm sure he will make a good living, but you're right it is a lot of work.

 

[SoonerAviator]

I can somewhat understand guys buying Snap-On if your career involves you working with the tools all day every day. It's the shade-tree guys than insist on buying them I shake my head at. There's one heck of a stout rolling tool chest at HF (US General) for less than $1K that will hold it's own against the $2,500 Snap-On/etc brands. Ball-bearing double slides, etc. I've been using mostly Craftsman wrenches/sockets around the garage and shop my whole life and I've never broken one. I'm not implying that Craftsman tools are equal in quality to Snap-On, especially now that it's Chinese owned, but I can't justify the cost for weekend work.

 

[cowman]

I've been using craftsman for years, same rachet set has been through an engine tear-down, transmission swap, numerous brake jobs, tractor repairs, and tons of other things for over a decade now. It's been good enough for me is all I can say

 

[jesse]

I've been using craftsman for years, same rachet set has been through an engine tear-down, transmission swap, numerous brake jobs, tractor repairs, and tons of other things for over a decade now. It's been good enough for me is all I can say

The only craftsman tool I ever broke was a ratchet that I was beating on with a 10 lb hammer. I took it to Sears and they handed me a new one.

Honestly though, I very rarely even buy Craftsman anymore, there just isn't a measurable increase in quality over the Harbor Freight professional line. I've yet to have anything from that line break on me or cause damage to what I'm wrenching on.

At this point I buy Harbor Freight for almost anything. Just stick to the Pro line.

 

[Henning]

I can somewhat understand guys buying Snap-On if your career involves you working with the tools all day every day. It's the shade-tree guys than insist on buying them I shake my head at. There's one heck of a stout rolling tool chest at HF (US General) for less than $1K that will hold it's own against the $2,500 Snap-On/etc brands. Ball-bearing double slides, etc. I've been using mostly Craftsman wrenches/sockets around the garage and shop my whole life and I've never broken one. I'm not implying that Craftsman tools are equal in quality to Snap-On, especially now that it's Chinese owned, but I can't justify the cost for weekend work.

For casual users, Snap On has a side brand called Williams that I have found to be a good quality tool and have been stocking on boats for a while now.

 

[Henning]

I've been using craftsman for years, same rachet set has been through an engine tear-down, transmission swap, numerous brake jobs, tractor repairs, and tons of other things for over a decade now. It's been good enough for me is all I can say

Craftsman has seriously declined in quality in the last 20 years. The reason I don't buy their sockets or wrenches is that they get their strength through mass, and that means the walls and jaws of sockets and wrenches have a larger outside diameter, and often I can't get them on fasteners in tight places.

 

[Alexb2000]

I can somewhat understand guys buying Snap-On if your career involves you working with the tools all day every day. It's the shade-tree guys than insist on buying them I shake my head at. There's one heck of a stout rolling tool chest at HF (US General) for less than $1K that will hold it's own against the $2,500 Snap-On/etc brands. Ball-bearing double slides, etc. I've been using mostly Craftsman wrenches/sockets around the garage and shop my whole life and I've never broken one. I'm not implying that Craftsman tools are equal in quality to Snap-On, especially now that it's Chinese owned, but I can't justify the cost for weekend work.

I've been using craftsman for years, same rachet set has been through an engine tear-down, transmission swap, numerous brake jobs, tractor repairs, and tons of other things for over a decade now. It's been good enough for me is all I can say

Couple of things. Old craftsman doesn't equal new Craftsman, their stuff is crap now. Many better low cost choices out there.

Snap-On is about much more than just cost. Who wants to spend their weekend replacing tools, buying tools, or take time off work to do the same if that's your profession? Also, Sears CC or any other for that matter is what 21% interest? Snap-On will often give truck credit at 0% even if you have a crap credit rating, that means a lot to some people. Also, it isn't hard to buy Snap-On 40% off if you buy the specials, wait for promotions, etc. If you want Snap-On, you really have to have a relationship with your dealer though which might be a pro or con depending.

 

[N801BH]

Couple of things. Old craftsman doesn't equal new Craftsman, their stuff is crap now. Many better low cost choices out there.

Snap-On is about much more than just cost. Who wants to spend their weekend replacing tools, buying tools, or take time off work to do the same if that's your profession? Also, Sears CC or any other for that matter is what 21% interest? Snap-On will often give truck credit at 0% even if you have a crap credit rating, that means a lot to some people. Also, it isn't hard to buy Snap-On 40% off if you buy the specials, wait for promotions, etc. If you want Snap-On, you really have to have a relationship with your dealer though which might be a pro or con depending.

When I moved to Wyoming from Fla I brought my Snap On tools.... Once here I broke a ratchet so I hunted down the local Snap On truck... He flat out refused to help since I didn't buy the tool from him........

I will NEVER buy another snap on tool....

 

[Gerhardt]

When I was a teen I remember exchanging a Craftsman ratchet that I abused badly, no questions asked. So twenty years ago I bought a 100 pc Craftsman socket set on 50% off sale, so it was maybe $100. I've abused the the 3/8 ratchet badly several times because I'm too lazy to reach over for the 1/2" when I should. Eventually it will fail, but I've already got my money's worth.

Funny thing about those 100 pc sets...the bulk of the pieces you look at and think you'll never use, what a waste. Strangely, there are very few of them that I haven't used at least once. The only thing that irks me about my set is that there was no 9/16 open end wrench. What kind of genius made that decision?

Now, comparing quality to Snap-on, you just can't. Snap-on has it, and not just in strength. But on bolts whose heads aren't perfect, Craftsman and some of the other brands may just round them off when a Snap-on socket will grab hold.

Someone made a comment about the company having rights to the territory. The father of a friend of mine as a kid had our town to himself. He barely made a living. 35 years ago it was population 70K. Once it hit 100K they let another guy buy in - just as old man Thomas thought he was going to start making some money. I think it disheartened him so much he just gave up and died. I always felt bad about that because someone said something about a 60 hour work week. That guy was gone at 5 a.m. and came home after dark most days, and worked Saturday mornings. Still, always had a smile on his face.

 

[cowman]

What do you guys like for hand tools that aren't at the snap-on price level?

 

[Alexb2000]

When I moved to Wyoming from Fla I brought my Snap On tools.... Once here I broke a ratchet so I hunted down the local Snap On truck... He flat out refused to help since I didn't buy the tool from him........

I will NEVER buy another snap on tool....

Goes to my earlier post, guys buy stuff from pawn shops, junk stores, etc. just to run down a dealer and get a new one never to be seen again. Dealers hate that because as I said earlier a lot of warranty claims are denied by corporate. So if you replace a bunch of tools for people that are not your customer then you eat a lot of cost and time every month. It really is a problem that Snap-On corporate should solve, although not likely since their attitude is the warranty should only apply to the original purchaser.

If you still have any Snap-On you need replaced send them to me and I'll get it done no problem.

 

[Gerhardt]

What do you guys like for hand tools that aren't at the snap-on price level?

I have a main tool chest, a portable tool box, a tool bag that I keep in the car, and a separate tool kit just for plumbing. The tool chest has the better tools along with tools that I don't use very often. The box and bag have off-brand, everthing from Stanley (think Walmart) to zip ties from Harbor Freight. 99% of the time when I need a phillips or standard screwdriver anything will work - I just need something to do the job.

In the bag I keep in the car:
hammer
large and small phillips
large and small standard
large and small crescent
zip ties
tape measure
2" and 3 1/2" screws
electrical tape
matches, pen, pencil, paper
small coil of sandpaper
two winch straps. (it's amazing how often I see a truck with something about to come out the back, usually a matress. i'll honk, pull them over and sell the strap at cost, maybe $5)

 

[Alexb2000]

What do you guys like for hand tools that aren't at the snap-on price level?

For allen wrenches, t handle allens, etc. I really like Bondhus:

http://www.amazon.com/Bondhus-13390...5585122&sr=8-9&keywords=allen+wrench+t+handle

For pliers, cutters, etc. I like Knipex. Amazon runs some amazing 60% off specials from time to time:

http://www.amazon.com/Knipex-002006...ie=UTF8&qid=1425585205&sr=1-1&keywords=knipex

For wrenchs, sockets, etc. SK, Proto, Kobalt, etc.

http://www.amazon.com/SK-2-Inch-10-...1425585332&sr=1-2&keywords=sk+1/2"+socket+set

Air tools: IR mostly

Cordless: Milwaukee 18V fuel.

Lots of choices, out there.

 

[SoonerAviator]

My Kobalt screwdrivers have been great so far and have good grips, and I haven't been nice to them. I have craftsman sockets, wrenches, and basic air tools which have been flawless. I have used cheap Chinese snap ring pliers and mechanics picks from HF or the auto store which broke, but I replaced them with Craftsman professional items which did the work without issue.

I could see the socket-wall thickness being an issue on a few occassions where a thin-wall socket would have worked better, but it's never been a show-stopper so far. I can't hate on Crafstman, personally, except that their tool boxes are junk.

 

[dell30rb]

I buy on Craigslist often and it's very common for someone to want to meet you at a gas station and it's very common to be able to negotiate it down significantly.

They've wasted a lot of their time loading it up and driving to the gas station plus they just wanted money in the first place. Does not mean it is stolen.

I usually get stuff for 50% of whatever they asked for on Craigslist. Some people get upset with my haggling but I don't care. Welcome to Craigslist

x2

If i'm going to sell something, i'm gonna sell it. I had an aluminum jon boat that hadn't seen water in years and was an eyesore, but was probably worth an easy $500. I priced it at $200 and had it gone in 4 hours.

 

[dell30rb]

Some of these cheap tools might be guys who work for tool companies that buy stuff from the company store for pennies on the dollar.

My friend is quality manager for a very large tool company/warehouse. Occasionally we'll get my trailer and load on a few pallets of blemished goods. I got a ton of screwdriver sets that say "5 screwdriver set" but actually include 6 screwdrivers

He does not sell the stuff as I think that is a big no-no. But giving them away or trading (with friends, not CL) is probably no big deal.

 

[JoseCuervo]

For good entertainment, put something on the Free section of Craigslist, and then watch people race to claim it.

I put an old 21" tube tv and a cheap oak tv stand outside with directions on CL in the Free Section. It had light snow coming down. In 30 minutes, I had dozens of emails wanting me to hold it.

I went outside, and happened to look where it was, and it was gone, just foot tracks in the snow to a side road. Like Ninjas, they just appeared and swept off the TV and tv stand.

 

[jesse]

For good entertainment, put something on the Free section of Craigslist, and then watch people race to claim it.

I put an old 21" tube tv and a cheap oak tv stand outside with directions on CL in the Free Section. It had light snow coming down. In 30 minutes, I had dozens of emails wanting me to hold it.

I went outside, and happened to look where it was, and it was gone, just foot tracks in the snow to a side road. Like Ninjas, they just appeared and swept off the TV and tv stand.

When I do free on Craigslist I always write

"Item will be located at XXX, leaned up against the tree, I will not respond to any e-mails or phone calls and will not answer my door if you knock. If the item is not there then someone else took it. I will remove the advertisement once it is gone"

I did this awhile back with a bedframe and mattress/box spring. The first person to show up was in a small car. Several other vehicles showed up but the guy that had the small car would run them off. There was another small car parked about half a block down watching.

Once the guy loaded all he could fit into his small car, he took the larger pieces and hid them beside my house behind a bush, intending on returning to get them. He drove away.

The car that was watching from a distance pulls up, two guys and a girl in it, the two guys get out, pick up the larger items and then just start running like hell down the street with them and the girl drove away in the car.

The guy that hid them there was rather upset when he returned..lol.

 

[Alexb2000]

For good entertainment, put something on the Free section of Craigslist, and then watch people race to claim it.

I put an old 21" tube tv and a cheap oak tv stand outside with directions on CL in the Free Section. It had light snow coming down. In 30 minutes, I had dozens of emails wanting me to hold it.

I went outside, and happened to look where it was, and it was gone, just foot tracks in the snow to a side road. Like Ninjas, they just appeared and swept off the TV and tv stand.

One time and the LAST time I had a garage sale something similar happened. I had been planning this thing for a week, setup for two days, maned the sale all weekend, and I still had a lot of stuff I was going to have to put back in storage on Sunday afternoon. So I started selling it everything you can carry by the arm load for $5. Can't drop anything or it goes back on the pile. Wives went crazy piling clothes on their husbands screaming at them not to drop, yelling at them to hurry up, kids and grandparents alike were carrying all they could in a mad frenzy. I was laughing so hard I let them haul off the plywood I was using for tables, all the boxes I had unpacked, I didn't care. This went on for 20 minutes. When it was done my garage was clean for the first time in years. I pulled my cars back in still chuckling, shut the door, and spent the $50 I made on a nice dinner. Life's too short for yard sales.

 

[docmirror]

Heh, I learned from my dad. We had a few garage sales back in the day. Folks would get there super early and buy stuff up then take it to their garage sale and resell it for more. So, prices early in the morning were crazy high. He had a pair of crappy speakers sitting out there, and everyone asked the price. At 7:30, the price was $300. By 1PM we were down to $50 when someone bought them. Sure enough, they were for sale for $100 a few blocks away on Sunday! After that, prices before 11am were $2000 cash. It was funny.

 

[TommyG]

I found when it comes to used items, there are two kinds of sellers. Ones that think it's worth more than it is. And ones that just want to get rid of it for any price.

 

[schmookeeg]

When I do free on Craigslist I always write

"Item will be located at XXX, leaned up against the tree, I will not respond to any e-mails or phone calls and will not answer my door if you knock. If the item is not there then someone else took it. I will remove the advertisement once it is gone"

I did this awhile back with a bedframe and mattress/box spring. The first person to show up was in a small car. Several other vehicles showed up but the guy that had the small car would run them off. There was another small car parked about half a block down watching.

Once the guy loaded all he could fit into his small car, he took the larger pieces and hid them beside my house behind a bush, intending on returning to get them. He drove away.

The car that was watching from a distance pulls up, two guys and a girl in it, the two guys get out, pick up the larger items and then just start running like hell down the street with them and the girl drove away in the car.

The guy that hid them there was rather upset when he returned..lol.

That's serious entertainment right there.

I think I would also opt to use someone else's yard. That's a skeezy assortment of cretins to have near my actual domicile, lowering my property values.

 

[mikea76]

Craftsman has seriously declined in quality in the last 20 years. The reason I don't buy their sockets or wrenches is that they get their strength through mass, and that means the walls and jaws of sockets and wrenches have a larger outside diameter, and often I can't get them on fasteners in tight places.

Yep,

This is why snap-on and mac tools command such a premium.

old craftsman stuff is fine.

 

[mikea76]

I can somewhat understand guys buying Snap-On if your career involves you working with the tools all day every day. It's the shade-tree guys than insist on buying them I shake my head at. There's one heck of a stout rolling tool chest at HF (US General) for less than $1K that will hold it's own against the $2,500 Snap-On/etc brands. Ball-bearing double slides, etc. I've been using mostly Craftsman wrenches/sockets around the garage and shop my whole life and I've never broken one. I'm not implying that Craftsman tools are equal in quality to Snap-On, especially now that it's Chinese owned, but I can't justify the cost for weekend work.

I agree with you that a shade tree does not need a snap-on tool box. However no US general toolbox will even come close to a KRA series snap-on ( bottom of the line) ( 2-5k new) let alone a KRL box (about 8-15k new)


Just what I have in my top drawer ( full length with the double slides) would collapse a harbor freight box.

 

[Norman]

I discovered some years back that if you're paying cash the Snap On dealer is usually willing to negotiate price. Their markup must be high because I've bought stuff 30 to 40% off list price.

 

[jesse]

That's serious entertainment right there.

I think I would also opt to use someone else's yard. That's a skeezy assortment of cretins to have near my actual domicile, lowering my property values.

You must live somewhere a hell of a lot nicer than I do, lol.

 

[ejensen]

Yep,

This is why snap-on and mac tools command such a premium.

old craftsman stuff is fine.

I have a 1/2" Craftsman ratchet set that was my dads. it's 60+ years old. Bet it will outlast anything new.

 

[denverpilot]

Pianos, particularly older, smaller ones are notoriously hard to dispose of. They're heavy and hard to move, and most of the old spinets are not worth having.

Agreed. A close family friend's family is in the piano business. They closed it down last year. The majority of sales were high end Grands to pros who knew what they needed them for, and player pianos for those who wanted automated piano music for dinner parties.

Another is in the music store biz. Fiscally, the best thing that ever happened to them (IMHO) was an accidental fire that burnt the warehouse where the pianos taken in trade over the years were stored. The insurance company inherited a bunch of smoke damaged pianos.

We've given away two pianos. Found families that had young kids where they wanted to learn to play, and just told them to pay for moving. Both were in great shape, well known good quality brands, no wood damage, like new condition and always tuned and maintained, but in the age of electronic keyboards with realistic mechanical "feel", no one wants them.

 

[docmirror]

Thought I'd update this thread. We have confirmation that it's not hot.

The bad news is I had to rebuild the carb. when I bought it, I ran it for a few minutes, and it was fine. Once my son started to use it, it would die after 10 min of mowing. Then he would let it sit for 20 min and it would run again. I figured it was a hung float and that's what i found.

I put a needle and seat in there, and a new main jet and now the float will stay filled. So, that's why the guy was selling, cause it wouldn't run for more than 15 min at a time. Just long enough for the float to drain down. Then, let it sit, and the float will fill back up, and run again.

 

[jesse]

Thought I'd update this thread. We have confirmation that it's not hot.

The bad news is I had to rebuild the carb. when I bought it, I ran it for a few minutes, and it was fine. Once my son started to use it, it would die after 10 min of mowing. Then he would let it sit for 20 min and it would run again. I figured it was a hung float and that's what i found.

I put a needle and seat in there, and a new main jet and now the float will stay filled. So, that's why the guy was selling, cause it wouldn't run for more than 15 min at a time. Just long enough for the float to drain down. Then, let it sit, and the float will fill back up, and run again.

I was going to rebuild the carb on my honda mower once until I figured out I could have a new one shipped to my door for $11.

 

[Henning]

I was going to rebuild the carb on my honda mower once until I figured out I could have a new one shipped to my door for $11.

I would have just added a couple ounces of acetone to the fuel tank of his. Normally that's all it takes if it's bad gas and stun ll is flowing, and most of the time with low mowers and stuff that sis a couple seasons, it's fuel varnish, which acetone clears.