Our FAQ section is dedicated to questions of all types and experience levels. We will solve any problem, no matter how complex or basic. If we see a topic pop up enough times in the forums, or perhaps from emails or friends, we'll write an FAQ about it. This time, it's about buying refurbished power tools.
Everyone loves to trade. One of the best ways you can save money (especially if you own your own business) is by buying refurbished tools. Refurbished power tools can save you a ton of money while still getting the job done. As we like to say – it's not the tool, it's how you use it. This helps a lot in residential construction.
How to do things right without getting ripped off
The first thing to check when buying refurbished tools is whether they are factory refurbished or come from another source. The reason this is important is that if it has been factory reconditioned, it will likely come with a power tool warranty and original parts like new. If the tool comes from another source, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) may not honor the warranty or guarantee its use.
Factory refurbished tools should perform just as well as brand new. Typically, these opportunities include last year's models as well as current offerings. Both should offer excellent bargains. Just follow these recommended guidelines:
- Buy a factory refurbished tool from an older model where the new features aren't particularly important. Adding a few RPMs or in-lbs of torque probably won't affect your work. Tool makers like to make incremental changes every year to keep tool lovers upgrading to the latest and greatest tools. Stick with the deal and you can save a lot of money.
- Opt for a newer or current model refurbished tool for a major leap forward in new technology and vastly improved specifications. You can compare tool models to determine if a new model is worth the money. In many cases, opting for the latest product may offer key features not found in previous models. In these cases, go ahead and pull the trigger.
One of the places we deal with a lot is Amazon.com. They have access to a wide variety of manufacturers, and you can find tons of used tools that still come with a manufacturer's warranty. They also offer free shipping on orders over $35 (or any amount if you have Amazon Prime).
To buy used tools from Amazon, simply enter your preferred brand or tool into the search bar. Once you have the results, click on "Used" in the left column to bring up the refurbishment tool. Always check the description to make sure the tool you're buying is really refurbished and not just someone else's old stuff.
You can also click right where it says (XX used and new deals) to instantly jump to deals on refurbished tools.
On Amazon, you can find the following brands that sell refurbished tools:
- Makita
- Dewalt
- Bosch
- Rich
- baud cable
- delta
- Bostic
- Dremel
- Skill
- Black & Decker
- two backup
If you're looking to buy refurbished power tools from Acme Tools, the process is a bit more straightforward. If you know which brand to look at, type that brand name into the search bar, followed by "refurbished." You can then filter by tool type on the left.
You can also shop all refurbished tools, just search for "refurbished" in the search bar and filter by brand in the left column.
The best place to find DeWalt refurbishing tools online is through Acme Tools Online or CPO Tools. While the selection may be limited, they are all authorized factory certified dealers listed on the DeWalt website. Warranty support is important, so it makes more sense for us to buy from an authorized source than to save a few bucks but have a tool that doesn't cover the warranty if it breaks.
As we outlined above, Makita has a similar approach when it comes to the tools they hand over in the system. The difference is that Makita doesn't advertise it much on their website. So you'll have to track them down at Acme Tools, CPO, or other retailers to find these great deals.
This also begs the question: Are fewer Makita products being returned? Maybe. We can't really answer these questions, there are several reasons why they don't highlight this line of products on their website.
Finding refurbishing tools is easy with The Home Depot. In fact, just click here. You can search your system for any particular tool type and click on Repair on the left. If you don't see this button, no tools exist for that category.
For the budget-conscious customer, factory-authorized refurbished tools are an excellent option at retail prices. Most refurbished tools will replace all defective parts. Manufacturers also typically clean these tools and replace wear parts before putting them back on the market.
Most of the time, these products look like brand new tools out of the box. This is a compelling reason to save as much as 30% or more on tool prices. The deal gets even better when you consider the full manufacturer's warranty in the process.
Another reason buying a refurbished tool is great value is knowing that the tool has some personal time with the technician to ensure its quality and proper functioning.
final thoughts
Buying refurbished tools allows you to get tools for a much lower price than brand new retail tools. While you won't always be able to find exactly what you're looking for, dropping a few "seekers" online may save you some money without too much hassle.
We like to bookmark some of these sites for easy access. You can even bookmark sites that have the above checkboxes set. This makes checking out the latest discounts easier than ever.
Speaking of discounts, you might also want to check out our page on the latest power tool deals for some truly amazing savings. We update each week with the latest free extras, discounts and promotions from your favorite brands.