Please consider not buying used tools

sly_karma

sly_karma

Crew Member
My jobsite got robbed again last night, that's twice in ten days. Lost over $5000 in power, air and hand tools. Especially hurtful was the loss of a rolling case of specialised woodworking/finishing tools, custom jigs and drill/driver bits that took 15 years to accumulate. Years from now I'll go to look for a special drill bit only to eventually realise it was lost in the theft. Meantime today Cracky the Clown is trying to dump the whole thing with some scumbag pawn shop owner for maybe $50-100 and neither of these clods could identify what 90% of the tools are for. Please don't buy used tools unless it's from someone you know and trust. You're just sustaining a market for the crackheads to dump this stuff for a few pennies on the dollar of replacement cost.
 
I fully support your position. I'm so sorry you got ripped off. The upside of these "Used Everywhere" and similar sites is that a lot of stuff gets diverted from landfills or recycling bins, and a lot of us get great deals. Unfortunately, the scumbags among us have also found these sites to be effective for fencing stolen goods. Here are some tips you can use to avoid getting caught with stolen items (which is a criminal code offense, whether you knew you were buying hot gear or not).

1) Don't buy crap out of the back of vans - go to someone's house.
2) Ask the seller if they have an original receipt if the product looks relatively new - okay, not many people will have receipts, but it puts dishonest people off and honest people will still be cool.
3) Look for serial numbers on tools or other big ticket items - you can actually call the non-emergency number of your local police department and ask them if the item appears in their databases as stolen. It only takes a minute. If you do it in front of the seller, dishonest folks will get really anxious, honest guys will totally understand.
4) Use your brain. Deals are sometimes too good to be true. Thieves and junkies get nervous when you ask for serial numbers, receipts, etc. If they get hinky, its no beuno. Leave and call the cops if warranted.
5) And in case you think you're getting a great deal and you are thinking it might be hot, but what the hell... "I didn't steal it..." remember you are creating demand which may come back to bite you in the butt.
 
You can also arrange to do the transaction in the lobby of your local police station. They are Safe transaction zones with video cameras. an honest person would not hesitate to meet there while a theif would not.
learned this on th weeknd. Much better than meeting at some random place.
 
tinboatrobb said:
You can also arrange to do the transaction in the lobby of your local police station. They are Safe transaction zones with video cameras. an honest person would not hesitate to meet there while a theif would not.
learned this on th weeknd. Much better than meeting at some random place.
Click to expand...

This is a great idea. Love it.
 
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