If you are shopping for Tools for your home here are a few tips and links for you that will help you get what you want for much less and not risk buying a used tool from someone off MarketPlace or some other sketchy no returns / no refunds place. However some of those sketchy deals have been the best ones I have ever found so don’t totally reject them just know what you are getting into before you hand your money over.
When is the best time to buy tools? Well it really depends on the type of tool you are looking for and who the targeted owner is. There are a lot of great sales on tools around black friday but sometimes you just can’t wait a year to buy a tool.
Buying Reconditioned Or Factory Second Tools
I can tell you the best time to buy a reconditioned or used tool from a Factory Outlet is the opposite time of the year when you need it. So, summer tools you buy in winter and winter tools you buy in Summer. It just makes sense because as the season progresses the manufacturer is processing returns that get sent to repair centers and then are resold in the off season.
This is not to say you can’t get great deals on tools year round and you can if you are conscious about your purchases and buy from a reputable seller. For the most part the links that are included link you to the Official Company Tool Outlets but you can also go to their main websites and find other options for buying.
SunJoe/SnowJoe Factory Outlet on Ebay
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ssn=snowjoe_factory_outlet
SunJoe/SnowJoe also has physical store outlets where they sell reconditioned and new tools direct to you. If you are in the area of one of these outlets or if you can make a trip then its worth the time so you can get the tool in your hand before you buy.
They have great garden tillers and tiny snow throwers/snow shovels that work great. Most items that I have seen ship for free. You may have seen some of their items sold on QVC and that might not be bad to keep in mind as another seller of their products.
Direct Tools Outlet
They are the factory outlet for Ryobi, Hoover, Hart, Rigid and maybe some others. Most of the tools that are sold from this outlet come from big box store returns. Hart is primarily a Walmart Brand and the other tools and appliances mostly come from HomeDepot. From what I understand Ryobi is one of the official house brands of HomeDepot.
https://www.directtoolsoutlet.com/
WORX Tools Outlet on Ebay
Worx is a brand that you probably saw sold from a TV Commercial but they are available from most major sources and big box stores. They are a consumer quality tool that has been around for a few decades.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ssn=worxtools
They have a lot of garden tools but also sell impact drivers and other things that are compatible with their batteries.
Deals on Tools are great but what about Batteries?
If you buy cordless battery operated tools then there are companies on Ebay and Amazon that sell battery adapters so you can use a Dewalt Battery in a Milwaukee Tool. There are many crossover options if you just want one tool from another manufacturer but don’t want to buy all new batteries then buy the tool and an adapter.
Also there are companies on Amazon and Ebay that sell compatible Batteries at much lower prices. Can you expect the best results from these batteries? who knows maybe not or maybe yes but it can be worth the try. A 20v 6ah WORX battery goes for $70 from WORX or $24 from one of these off brand sellers.
Do your research. Find reviews from a few sources. Watch videos of the tool in action if you can. Be careful about return policies and buy from a reputable seller who will process your refund and not fight you about it if there are issues.
Final Note
Remember when you are purchasing a used, factory second or reconditioned tool that there are issues with that tool. For the most part when I have purchased reconditioned tools they have been close to like new quality and you normally wouldn’t be able to tell there was an issue that has been repaired.
On the other hand you have to understand that some of the items in the box might not have been checked. You might be missing a manual or something else that is important to you. You can contact the seller or manufacturer for help if you are buying from their official outlet store. You can also make returns much easier if you are disappointed.
If you buy from a third party or just a random person then you probably won’t have as much success with your warranty or sales problem by contacting the manufacturer. They might reject any claim or just offer to repair the tool at the cost of repair without discount. In other cases you might end up with something to fill your trash.
Return policies, warranties, and other after sale options are something very necessary when buying reconditioned or used products.This is why you should normally stick only with a factory store or a reputable seller with a long good history of working with customers.