How to Save Money on Tools: 7 Useful Tips on How to Save Money While Tool Shopping
1.
Search the websites for mistakes Sometimes, companies have prices on their website that are wrong before they even realize it.
For instance, one supplier may enter prices for 10 packs of insert bits without telling their distributors that the price entered was for each bit and not for a pack of 10.
Some companies may have the individual price posted on their website instead of the package price which could end up being a big mistake for the website companies but a huge advantage for shoppers.
However, this will only work if the company has a policy where they stand by their prices 100%.
Take for instance, Carbide Processors; one of their customers was smart enough to recognize their price discrepancy as a heckuva deal and because they stand by the prices that are posted on their website, the customer ended up saving himself about $500.
Many, many large sites, such as Carbide Processors, have similar problems occasionally.
If you are willing to do the work to prowl through the sites and compare prices you too can get a heckuva deal.
2.
Check the special deals and closeout sections on websites Many companies buy inventory and try to guess at what is going to sell and sometimes, they guess wrong.
It's hard to predict what particular product will be a hot seller for a while and then go cold and retailers don't have much choice except to buy on the basis of what has been selling and what their gut tells them.
And a lot of times, their guts end up being wrong and they get caught with really excellent products that are brand-new that just sit there.
After a while they may mark them down just to move them and to create money to buy new inventory.
Some retailers may find that products that have not sold for several months may sell in a matter of a day or two once they are in the discounted closeout section.
It's always a good practice to bookmark your favorite sites and check back often for what they may have in their inventory reduction sales sections.
3.
Price match guarantee Check your favorite retailers for a price match guarantee.
Some companies will honor competitor's prices.
For instance, if you find an identical item for less money elsewhere, Carbide Processors will either match or beat the price that you found it for.
This is a little known, yet quite useful tool while shopping for savings.
4.
Large quantity discounts It could cost retailers the same amount of money to process a large order as it does a small order.
As such, some companies may offer more discounts for the more money that you spend on their website.
If you are really lucky, you will find a company that is willing to be flexible on their minimum order figure and/or quantity.
5.
One-stop shopping If you have a long list of tools that you need to purchase, some companies can probably be a one-stop shop for you.
Many retailers will do this for large corporations, as well as small businesses, that may only need to purchase maintenance items once a year.
6.
Long life tools When tool shopping, look for items that have a guarantee for a longer shelf-life.
You may find that these may actually cost more money but wouldn't you rather have one good tool last a while instead of saving the money now and having to replace the same tool several times? Long life saw blades are a great example of a high quality, long life tool.
Depending on your equipment and the material being cut, the saw blades can give you from 2 to 10 times the life between sharpening when compared to ordinary carbide.
7.
Substitutions There are many small companies that make excellent tools but that do very little or no retail advertising.
In many cases they make and sell tools superior to some or all of the heavily advertised retail tools.
There could be the next greatest tool right around the corner from you that is just as good as the more known brand but at half the cost.
Southeast Tool is a great example of this.
They carry a wide variety of router bits for all woodworking needs and have excellent customer service with even greater prices.
Use these tips, tricks and techniques often when shopping for tools online, some of these tips can even work when shopping in stores.
Always check your favorite websites often for any new and discounted items that have been added.
It may a little more time consuming to have to look for discounts but it is well worth it in the end.
Search the websites for mistakes Sometimes, companies have prices on their website that are wrong before they even realize it.
For instance, one supplier may enter prices for 10 packs of insert bits without telling their distributors that the price entered was for each bit and not for a pack of 10.
Some companies may have the individual price posted on their website instead of the package price which could end up being a big mistake for the website companies but a huge advantage for shoppers.
However, this will only work if the company has a policy where they stand by their prices 100%.
Take for instance, Carbide Processors; one of their customers was smart enough to recognize their price discrepancy as a heckuva deal and because they stand by the prices that are posted on their website, the customer ended up saving himself about $500.
Many, many large sites, such as Carbide Processors, have similar problems occasionally.
If you are willing to do the work to prowl through the sites and compare prices you too can get a heckuva deal.
2.
Check the special deals and closeout sections on websites Many companies buy inventory and try to guess at what is going to sell and sometimes, they guess wrong.
It's hard to predict what particular product will be a hot seller for a while and then go cold and retailers don't have much choice except to buy on the basis of what has been selling and what their gut tells them.
And a lot of times, their guts end up being wrong and they get caught with really excellent products that are brand-new that just sit there.
After a while they may mark them down just to move them and to create money to buy new inventory.
Some retailers may find that products that have not sold for several months may sell in a matter of a day or two once they are in the discounted closeout section.
It's always a good practice to bookmark your favorite sites and check back often for what they may have in their inventory reduction sales sections.
3.
Price match guarantee Check your favorite retailers for a price match guarantee.
Some companies will honor competitor's prices.
For instance, if you find an identical item for less money elsewhere, Carbide Processors will either match or beat the price that you found it for.
This is a little known, yet quite useful tool while shopping for savings.
4.
Large quantity discounts It could cost retailers the same amount of money to process a large order as it does a small order.
As such, some companies may offer more discounts for the more money that you spend on their website.
If you are really lucky, you will find a company that is willing to be flexible on their minimum order figure and/or quantity.
5.
One-stop shopping If you have a long list of tools that you need to purchase, some companies can probably be a one-stop shop for you.
Many retailers will do this for large corporations, as well as small businesses, that may only need to purchase maintenance items once a year.
6.
Long life tools When tool shopping, look for items that have a guarantee for a longer shelf-life.
You may find that these may actually cost more money but wouldn't you rather have one good tool last a while instead of saving the money now and having to replace the same tool several times? Long life saw blades are a great example of a high quality, long life tool.
Depending on your equipment and the material being cut, the saw blades can give you from 2 to 10 times the life between sharpening when compared to ordinary carbide.
7.
Substitutions There are many small companies that make excellent tools but that do very little or no retail advertising.
In many cases they make and sell tools superior to some or all of the heavily advertised retail tools.
There could be the next greatest tool right around the corner from you that is just as good as the more known brand but at half the cost.
Southeast Tool is a great example of this.
They carry a wide variety of router bits for all woodworking needs and have excellent customer service with even greater prices.
Use these tips, tricks and techniques often when shopping for tools online, some of these tips can even work when shopping in stores.
Always check your favorite websites often for any new and discounted items that have been added.
It may a little more time consuming to have to look for discounts but it is well worth it in the end.
