Buying Used Power Tools

Like any other kind of purchase, you'll get a better deal when you buy used power tools if you do a little research first.

Many people will head straight to eBay, find the first tool that looks more or less like what they want, then keep bidding until they win. This might get you a power tool quickly, but it won't necessarily get the best tool for the job, and it certainly won't get you the best price!

So how should you go about the task? Well, the first step is to identify the tool you want - the actual make and model. If for example, you are looking for a cordless drill, start by making a shortlist of drills that meet your specific criteria. Perhaps there are certain brands that you prefer, like Black & Decker or Hilti. Maybe you need a certain battery capacity. Make a list of your requirements, then find drills that match that list.

When making your shortlist, you should start by researching new tools. There's a much wider choice, and it's easy to get all the specifications you need on any new tool. Great sites for this kind of research are Amazon and Shopping.

Once you have a shortlist of power tools that meet your requirements, you next need to get an idea of the street price of those tools. The street price is not the same thing as the manufacturers recommended retail price, or RRP. The street price is the average price you would actually expect to pay for something, and is usually a fair bit lower than the RRP.

Knowing the street price is important, because many people selling used power tools will tell you how much you are saving compared to the RRP. But a comparison to the street price is much more useful to you, after all, you would never pay the RRP! You can get a good idea of the street price whilst researching new tools on amazon and other retail sites.

Now you have a shortlist of tools, and you know the best price you would pay for them if buying new, you are in a much stronger position to buy pre-owned tools. When you find a tool that's on your list, you can instantly see if the price is realistic. And because you know which tools meet your requirements, you won't waste time chasing power tools that will end up being sold on or discarded.

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