Selling Tools

[Money Pit]

retired tool and die maker; have my set of tools that I have no intention of using again. staying retired! that being said it's time to sell them off. wondering how to fairly price things. while nothing in the set is new; most of it is in very good condition. I've been looking at new tool prices; things have sure gone up since I bought my stuff!

what to ask? half of new? more? less?

appreciate the feedback

 

[BRSnKY]

Maybe call the local tech school teacher?
Might be an upcoming graduate that needs a
whole box to go with his new diploma..

 

[Janicholson]

I agree with the idea of placing a notice on a tech school bulletin board. and discussing it with the Prof/instructors. At 1/2
price they will sell. Craigs List and local machine shops are also potential contacts. Jim

 

[dr sportster]

You can see what things sold for on on eBay, but not really mics -- there are a million of them some 99 cent auctions . eBay by search the item then clicking on sold items . Most
machinist tools are expensive. I picked up a 14-15 inch mic for 10 bucks.

 

[Dave H (MI)]

A lot is going to depend on what is included in the set. Some things are mostly obsolete but some of us are still picking them up. I buy a fair amount of tools, but rarely resell anything. I find something I want and then go on ebay and research current SOLD auctions. I pick a few of the lowest and find ones that match condition of what my seller has. Then I show him the auctions and tell what I will pay. Most people have no interest...they want what they want. But, as you can see, I work out a deal often enough and...as they say...the journey is more fun than the destination.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Craigslist worked for me.

Recently, I've been giving my son anything he wants.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

Keith Fenner at Turnwright Machine on YouTube. If you'd care to donate them he awards tools each year to deserving young guys that are getting into the machining trades.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Where are you located?
I don't need a whole lot but could use a
couple of boxes. A rolling tool box and a
Kennedy middle box like the lower one in
the photo.

 

[showcrop]

2X get values from Ebay.

 

[Dave H (MI)]

So now you know how to do it...my email is open. I bought a Logan lathe and some other equipment and will be getting into some hobby level machining. That is why I hit so many sales. Problem is I keep bringing home more woodworking and mechanics tools than what I am actually looking for, LOL! Send me a list and maybe there is something I can use.

 

[flembo]

I retired 3 yrs ago and sold most of my tools for half the price of new. Most of my tools were Starret, Brown And Sharp fowler and Mitutoyo. I just looked up the prices in the new catalogs. Only a few people tried to haggle.

 

[Traditional Farmer]

If you have an auctioneer in your area that does on line auctions of similar items from time to time that would be the way I'd gtherwise you'll drag the selling out for a long time and find out how
people really are when it comes to money which you may not want to know.

 

[dr sportster]

I had a 24 piece radius gauge set on eBay for ten bucks After a year of no bids i kept it. I am selling a caliper and it has been on eBay for some time with no bids. Machinist tools
are not high demand .

 

[Russ from MN]

I have sold some of my millwright tools that I just don't have any use for, and I should sell some more. How many dial indicators does a 70
year old retired guy need? And a Starrett 12 inch level? I did sell my Starrett digital calipers, it used a lot of batteries and the buyer
knew that, so I gave him a good deal on it. I have a set of mics and a Vernier caliper, that's good enough for me. I look at prices on
craigslist, FB marketplace and ebay to get an idea what stuff is worth.

 

[acadam20]

At 1/2 new price machinist tools will set around a while. Machinist stuff is worth about 25% of new give or take (Starrett of certain tool types have higher value), some certain mechanics brands (Snap-On) you can get up to 50% but that isn't across the board. Everybody always tells me 50% of new is going rate. In my selling experience that simply is not true for most of the hand tools and particularly in machinist stuff I have yet to see that out of anything (and I am OK sitting on things to get my money for a couple months).

As far at checking Ebay that is fine but you won't get Ebay price on Facebook marketplace or Craigslist. Ebay eats up 10-15% with their new pricing model so keep that in mind, sellers are actually buying tools, selling on there and taking a 10-15% hit. Meaning that are buying for quite a bit less to still make some $$$$ on the deal.

Some retire and try to sell their stuff for top dollar. Their stuff collects dust until their kids sell it for the good deal. Others sell it for a good deal, it moves and gets used. You just have to decide how much dust and time you want it to collect.

 

[TractorTucker]

I'd be interested in some tools, I'm in
nebraska, but I'd be willing to pay
shipping on stuff.

 

[1946 BN IHC]

may I ask where are you located; am in Ontario Canada. Would be interested in a few items if you would mind creating a list.
Wm. Thamseford Ontario Canada.

 

[Money Pit]

thanks to all for the feedback. i still need toi make an itemized list. would greatly prefer to sell it all as a lot. think i'll shoot for the lower side of half price and go from there. tech schools soiund like a good idea.