Reconditioned Tools: Are they worth it?
Fisher1009
| Posted in Tools for Home Building on
A previous poster just suggested the reconditioned tool sale at the Andersons’. I’ve seen these kinds of sales come up before, and it looks like there are some good deals to be had. the question, of course, is how reliable those reconditined tools really are? do you get what you pay for? anybody have any comments?
Replies
I've bought several and they've served me well.
DANG!!!!!
http://grantlogan.net/
One thing about factory reconditioned tools: unlike new stuff, you're SURE that somebody has taken the unit and verified that it at least does the basics. They've plugged it in and pulled the trigger, for instance, and made sure it spins. No such luck on new goods. Both personally and for our business, factory reconditioned stuff has worked out great.
I don't mind buying factory reconditioned. Typically they have the same warranty as the new item... most of the time they even look brand new, but with a smaller price tag.
Knock on wood, so far I haven't had any problems with fac. recon items I've purchased.
jt8
"A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love." -- Saint Basil
I got a Bosch reconned router that was entirely FUBAR. But it was Bosch, so they fixed it pronto, and it's been good since (except for that stupid switch that gets dust inside). I'd do it again, but only with a good company that will stand behind their products, reconned or not.
zak
"so it goes"
I actually usually look for reconditioned before I look for new. The only thing you need to check is that you're still getting the full warranty as if you were buying new. I've yet to run into a situation where the full warranty wasn't available. I've probably bought somewhere between 12 and 20 reconditioned tools and I've only had one problem.
It actually just happened about a week ago. I bought a Bosch reconditioned cordless saw body from Tool King and it had intermittent power. I called Tool King and they shipped me a new one and sent me a pre-paid return label to send the old one back. Can't ask for more than that.
Sometimes I'll even wait to buy a tool until I can find it reconditioned. I've bought framing nailers, corded drills, cordless tools, circ saws, my Ridgid tablesaw and more reconditioned and couldn't be more satisfied.
FWIW, I don't know if it matters to you, but most of the tools appear brand-new aesthetically... maybe a few surface blemishes, but not many.
I do exactly yhe same.
I look first for factory reconditioned ...
and I wait if I can.
most of my "big stuff" ... is factory reconditioned.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I bought a porter cable 19.2 saw/drill combo reconditioned through Amazon. The batteries were ancient (the sticker on the attery indicated it was 4 years old) & held no charge. I got my $ back.
So...check the batteries.
That battery issue is a good point. Something to keep in mind.
I have a reconned Makita LS 1013 SCMS. Looked brand new out of the box. Never had aproblem with it. Got it from Tool King.
I've gotten reconned Bosch stuff from these guys:
http://bosch.cpotools.com/?ref=googaw1080e
Had a problem with a drill, called, I had a new (ok reconditioned<G>) one in my hand the next day...amazing service
I bought a Bosch jigsaw from CPO a year ago and it has been great. Came with a full warantee, and looked new, except for "RECON" stamped on the side. A little work with a utility knife over lunch took care of that. I'd buy recondidtioned again.
just did the exact same last week from Bosch CPO with a jigsaw. Very happy so far..it was NOT the first time and it WONT be the last."The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a governmental program" -Ronald Reagan
Since I love to take stuff apart and fix and make an improved version, I go for the 'junk' at thrift shops, garage sales, and such. Usually less than 5 cents on the dollar for non-working stuff, almost always fixable if you buy 2 or 3 for spare parts, lotta time you can make 2 out of 3. Gotta know enough though to tell if something is totally trashed (fried armature, stripped gear, etc.) otherwise everything else a good deal.. Have needed to mnake a few new parts on lathe for framing nailers though, hard to tell whats wrong from the outside.
But not everyone has your storage space or understanding spouse ;)
jt8
"A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love." -- Saint Basil
I have had great luck with factory reconditioned stuff. It is priced lower and usually as good as factory fresh mechanically. I have bought new in the past, but after a couple of days with my crew, they look like they should be sent in for reconditioning anyway.
im another one that seeks out recondtioned , lots of times recodntioned was returned with minor (or no)problem , cant be sold as new and as someone mentioned earlier now a real live person evalutes it . as long as warranty is there go for it
Absolutely. I have purchased several reconditioned tools--from saws to sanders, and all have performed very well. I think that most of them have been from Makita. Makita includes a small brochure which describes the testing that they perform on the tool. It is much more complete than the testing performed on new tools.
Elliott
I my limited experience, "reconditioned" means:
These units are not worn, only prescratched. As the pthers have said, as long as they come with the factory warranty, they're as good as new.
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Good Phil.
Ya missed one .
DIYs buy a tool to do a job and take it back for a refund often in the same weekend.
Tim
I do the same as you and deisel.
Ya gotta save that money so you buy more tools.
I feel similar to beer . I buy the beer with 1/3 less calories so I cant drink a 1/3 more beer . Sum guys dont get it .
Tim
You're cheating yourself out of additional beer.If you buy beer with 1/3 fewer calories, then you can drink 50% more beer to get the same calories.Crack open another bottle, you're falling behind!
now ya tell me
did I tell ya about Piraat Ale?
again .. Belgian. 10.5%
first one damn near killed me ... but I fought thru ...
overcame my fear by the end of the 4 pac ... though it took more than one sitting!
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Tyler Tool has got a sale going right now on Makita reconditioned tools. Seems like pretty good prices. I've never bought anything reconditioned so, I'm gonna pick up a new random orbit sander and see how it goes.
http://www.tylertool.com/makrectool.html
As others have posted, some original buyers don't seem to like the product; ensure that a warranty is offered. I bought about 1/2 of my portable tools that way - stay with brand names though - i.e. Bosch, Makita, Campbell Hausfield, etc.
Campbell Hausfield is a name brand????Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
In some weird alternate universe it is.
"Citius, Altius, Fortius"
Campbell Hausfield is a name brand????
You bet buddy! Im proud to be a Campbell Hausfield user.
I have pride in my tools and Walmarts return policy.
Did I mention Walmart will take back dirty diapers?
Tim
Did I mention Walmart will take back dirty diapers?
No shid...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Recon is the first place I look too. Gotta do your homework though. Sometimes a new tool on sale combined with a promo and/or a rebate is the better deal. Only one bad experience; bought a recon Makita 2012NB planer last year- they threw in a box with no padding/cushioning of any sort and it arrived demolished. Had to wait another week for another one which arrived unscathed; the $150 savings over new made it worth the wait. And as previously mentioned check out the warranty carefully. I've been looking at recon Unisaws- $989 without fence or extention table and legs but the warranty is only for 6 months instead of 2 years.
Sometimes the reconditioned tools lack the case and some of the accessories that come with a new unit. Just something to consider.
Yard sale tools are some of my favorites. I got an old Skilsaw Model 77 worm drive saw. A new cord and it's like new. For $5.00 it can't be beat. It gives me a real workout carrying it around.
Norm
never once has that happened to me.
everything I buy reconditioned has been "factory reconditioned" ...
with the full warrenty ...
with everything that "new" was supposed to have.
otherwise ... I'd not buy it.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
The main problem with rec tools is that the majority of them are Dewalt so they were never good to begin with...
I have no comment...
Well, just got another reconditioned AF in the mail yesterday (N88RHMCN2), so tried it out and it is great.
AKA - a good checkout for a reconditioned AF is to load the puppy with 5-10 3" deck SCREWs you collate with a hot glue gun. If it drives the screws all the way into D Fir-, its in pretty good shape <G>