Buying tools? Consider this ebay store

rumatt · 03-14-2007, 06:00 PM

Hardware Sales Inc

I decided to buy some nail guns, but the amount of use they get will be very light, so I took a gamble and bought refurbished Porter Cable and Dewalt units from the cheapest place I could find on the web using froogle. It was the store above.

It turned out that one of the guns (the Dewalt 15 gauge) was defective, and the trigger would stick every once in a while.

I called up Hardware Sales, and I was amazed. First, they are willing to pay shipping both ways on the replacement gun, so it won't cost me a penny. Second, they will ship the new as soon as I mail them a fedex tracking number on the return. They're not even going to wait to receive it. And finally, I didn't want the same gun again, so they're let me buy a different one and they will cover the shipping. I just pay the difference in price for the gun itself.

This is better treatment than you get when you buy from a big, established place with higher prices. I didn't expect it from an bargain-basement ebay store.

Now, whether I like the idea of buying refurbished is another story. This sticky trigger may have been why the gun was returned in the first place.

.

Rob · 03-14-2007, 07:07 PM

Thanks Matt. All of my Dewalt batteries died within two weeks of each other. My cordless tools are useless at the moment. I have been trying to decide whether to buy new batteries (figuring you need two at $80 each) or just put the money towards tools with the new Lithium Ion batteries.

But lots of Dewalt's competition is making Li batteries that fit their old 18 volt tools. Will Dewalt do that to after the "gotta have it" market is exhausted?

But then! We are moving and I really need those tools to be working. Well, at least the drill. So . . .

I am not sure what a "factory reconditioned" battery is, but at half price with your report of customer service and the two year warranty, I am going to give them a shot.

No comments out of you, Lup. I still don't like dragging cords around.

rumatt · 03-14-2007, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwg

I am not sure what a "factory reconditioned" battery is, but at half price with your report of customer service and the two year warranty, I am going to give them a shot.

Reconditioned means it was returned as an open box item, so it can't be sold as new. It is inspected by the factory, and fixed if necessary (if it was returned because it was defective). But sometimes they were completely unused items that were returned for whatever reason. The real concern is the intermittent problem that is not caught in the inspection. How much time can they possibly spend inspecting them?

I might be slightly hesitant on a reconditioned battery, only because the first few charges are important in terms of the long term health of a battery. I don't know if this is still true, but at one point you were supposed to completely cycle them a few times (without every going to totally dead).

But if it's cheap enough, the screw it. You gotta live on the edge sometimes.

And I also decided that if I'm going to buy new batteries, I might as well get them as part of a cool new tool that comes with them included.

Rob · 03-14-2007, 07:24 PM

Hey, we are buying a house! I have to pinch pennies for awhile, so half price batteries, and just the batteries please, are a good idea. (Ignore the fact that I almost coughed up 6 bills for a lithuim ion set). Unfortunately, I did see they have an 18V jigsaw on that website for under $150. I imagine that will be making it's way into my garage very soon.

ff · 03-14-2007, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwg

the fact that I almost coughed up 6 bills for a lithuim ion set). I imagine that will be making it's way into my garage very soon.

Everytime I consider buying a jigsaw, I fail to come up with a good, legitimate reason to go through with the purchase. I guess that I just don't do enough woodworking.

Rob · 03-14-2007, 08:15 PM

I am about to build a shelf to put the stereo components on in the new family room. The house comes with a huge hole in the wall for the TV that is plenty big to jsut add a shelf and stack the components.

I intend to trace a decorative pattern on the 8' board that will be the front stay of the shelf. I could try and rough cut that 8 foot board on the band saw, trying to continuously change the angle at the blade while fumbling with 8 feet of inertia and complications. Or . . . I could get a jig saw out, clamp the board to the work bench, and be done in 15 minutes without have to start over 3 times. (that's why you don't cut it to size before you add the decorative edge, btw. You might need to start over).

that one reason is enough to make me get it. I with I had a decent jig saw all the time. And the 18 volt dewalt tools work as well as any other real tool for my purposes. But I also plan to build some cabinets for the garage. Very handy for that kind of use.

bren · 03-15-2007, 09:29 AM

What makes someone (non-carpenter) decide to buy some nail guns?

ff · 03-15-2007, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwg

Or . . . I could get a jig saw out, clamp the board to the work bench, and be done in 15 minutes without have to start over 3 times. (that's why you don't cut it to size before you add the decorative edge, btw. You might need to start over).

Norm Abram can do it... why can't you?

Quote:

Originally Posted by bren

What makes someone (non-carpenter) decide to buy some nail guns?

Because they're the best thing to happen to wood since the invention of... wood. And they're cool. The more the better. I can't imagine going back to hammer and nails.

rumatt · 03-15-2007, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bren

What makes someone (non-carpenter) decide to buy some nail guns?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ff

they're cool. The more the better.

ff · 03-15-2007, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rumatt

That's my boy!!

03-14-2007, 06:00 PM	#1
rumatt Mugwump Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3 Location: NY Posts: 17,475	Buying tools? Consider this ebay store Hardware Sales Inc I decided to buy some nail guns, but the amount of use they get will be very light, so I took a gamble and bought refurbished Porter Cable and Dewalt units from the cheapest place I could find on the web using froogle. It was the store above. It turned out that one of the guns (the Dewalt 15 gauge) was defective, and the trigger would stick every once in a while. I called up Hardware Sales, and I was amazed. First, they are willing to pay shipping both ways on the replacement gun, so it won't cost me a penny. Second, they will ship the new as soon as I mail them a fedex tracking number on the return. They're not even going to wait to receive it. And finally, I didn't want the same gun again, so they're let me buy a different one and they will cover the shipping. I just pay the difference in price for the gun itself. This is better treatment than you get when you buy from a big, established place with higher prices. I didn't expect it from an bargain-basement ebay store. Now, whether I like the idea of buying refurbished is another story. This sticky trigger may have been why the gun was returned in the first place. . Last edited by rumatt; 03-14-2007 at 06:42 PM.

03-14-2007, 07:07 PM	#2
Rob The user formerly known as rwg Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: Z4 Location: Vegas baby! Posts: 8,261	Thanks Matt. All of my Dewalt batteries died within two weeks of each other. My cordless tools are useless at the moment. I have been trying to decide whether to buy new batteries (figuring you need two at $80 each) or just put the money towards tools with the new Lithium Ion batteries. But lots of Dewalt's competition is making Li batteries that fit their old 18 volt tools. Will Dewalt do that to after the "gotta have it" market is exhausted? But then! We are moving and I really need those tools to be working. Well, at least the drill. So . . . I am not sure what a "factory reconditioned" battery is, but at half price with your report of customer service and the two year warranty, I am going to give them a shot. No comments out of you, Lup. I still don't like dragging cords around.

03-14-2007, 07:24 PM	#4
Rob The user formerly known as rwg Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: Z4 Location: Vegas baby! Posts: 8,261	Hey, we are buying a house! I have to pinch pennies for awhile, so half price batteries, and just the batteries please, are a good idea. (Ignore the fact that I almost coughed up 6 bills for a lithuim ion set). Unfortunately, I did see they have an 18V jigsaw on that website for under $150. I imagine that will be making it's way into my garage very soon.

03-14-2007, 08:15 PM	#6
Rob The user formerly known as rwg Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: Z4 Location: Vegas baby! Posts: 8,261	I am about to build a shelf to put the stereo components on in the new family room. The house comes with a huge hole in the wall for the TV that is plenty big to jsut add a shelf and stack the components. I intend to trace a decorative pattern on the 8' board that will be the front stay of the shelf. I could try and rough cut that 8 foot board on the band saw, trying to continuously change the angle at the blade while fumbling with 8 feet of inertia and complications. Or . . . I could get a jig saw out, clamp the board to the work bench, and be done in 15 minutes without have to start over 3 times. (that's why you don't cut it to size before you add the decorative edge, btw. You might need to start over). that one reason is enough to make me get it. I with I had a decent jig saw all the time. And the 18 volt dewalt tools work as well as any other real tool for my purposes. But I also plan to build some cabinets for the garage. Very handy for that kind of use.

03-15-2007, 09:29 AM	#7
bren lawn boy Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer Location: Maryland Posts: 14,029	What makes someone (non-carpenter) decide to buy some nail guns?