Coincidentally I went into a m/c tool supply type shop today. It is
BIG, old shop. I've been in before and it is an incredible place. Ther are drawers upon drawers of brand new and used drills, millers, taps dies, reamers, bits of machine tools, verniers, hand tools etc etc etc I saw an old twist drill on a shelf that was about 6" diameter by abou
2' long. There are literally thousands upon thousands of boxed too insets in dozens of drawers. There is absolutely no order to the place and anyone could walk around putting things in their pockets and the gu would never know.
The guy sits behind a counter near the door, and whatever you ask for he seems to insist on suggesting something from his immediate vicinit (invariably of crappy Chinese origin) even though you can find SKF Presto or Dormer alternatives by just looking in random drawers.
I went in today to ask for a set of Dormer slot drills. He produced manky box of 6 unbranded tools and said £70 please! I asked if I coul by 6 individual Dormer branded drills from around the shop and he sai 'yes, but it will be far more expensive that way'. Cromwell tools u the road do a set of 7 decent quality slot drills for £26. Brand new The same with twist drills - I was looking for Dormer, 6-10mm in 0. increments. He said that was a very odd range, and tried to sell me craptastic set of 1-10mm in 0.5 increments. I left empty handed (fo the third visit in a row).
A few facts:
1) I have never bought anything from him.
2) I have never seen anyone else in his shop.
3) His prices are as stupid as Myford prices.
4) Trust me - he cannot POSSIBLY know what he has in stock, and ha confirmed this on three occasions by denying he has stuff which I hav found for myself in random drawers.
5) When I do find it, he prices himself out of any possible deal.
6) I would estimate that at least 75% of his stock (the gigantic use drill for example) is totally useless to anyone and will NEVER sell.
7) It is obvious that he buys job lots of stuff from businesse probably like his own that have gone out of business. The stuff wil have cost peanuts as a job lot.
8) I am wondering if me wearing a 'Boeing' work shirt and Jacke influences his pricing structure.
It's a popular misconception that supporting local businesses is bette for everyone because you get good advice and the convenience of having local supplier. Well, I am certainly not paying massively over the odd for the 'convenience' of having an overpriced, disorganised shambles o a shop tell me that I have to pay for quality, especally when I can ge decent stuff at a fraction of the cost locally from Cromwells up th road (still local don't forget) or via the internet.
There are other used tool shops up here and invariably it is a simila story wherever I have been. I sometimes get the feeling that if the think they can make some cash, they try to screw you to make up for th hopeless turnover they must have. Sorry guys, but I ain't having it! Ge in to the 21st century, price things realistically and see how it goes then start complaining if nobody buys anything!
Cheers,
Garth
-- DR_
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