With Amazon Prime Day coming up, and the holiday shopping season soon after that, I started checking Amazon to see if there were any new tools or likely promos.
I’ve posted about Gearwrench’s MicroDriver mini bit ratchet tool set before, and it looks like there’s a new version with a bigger ratchet and more accessories.
It looks like an interesting kit, and I’ve generally been a fan of Gearwrench.
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But the price… I think it’s just a bit too high.
At the time of this posting, Amazon is selling it for $59,399.
If you finance it with an Amazon credit card, you can pay it off in 1 year with monthly payments of $4,949.92
Great tools are often worth premium pricing, but this is an exception to that.
Home Depot has it for a much more reasonable $69.97, although it’s out of stock right now. There are also zero reviews. Maybe it’ll be a holiday 2024 gift center tool deal.
Obviously, this is a price mistake that no one at Gearwrench or Amazon realized yet.
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On the bright side, it had me looking closer at what the tool kit comes with.
Scott K
Definitely a mistake, but it only takes one insanely wealthy and uninformed buyer for it to pay off big time…
BigTimeTommy
That’s funny you’d imagine someone that wealthy would need and buy tools.
Grokew
Slap a Snap-on logo on it and you will have people lining up to buy it, with a 19% anual rate credit loan.
Jared
$88 in Canada. My big arbitrage opportunity?
Scott K
Currently out of stock on Amazon US…so you have that going for you, too
Rich
For what it’s worth, in the Amazon listing, the Buy it with section lists it for $69.33
Harry
I bought that set awhile back and I’m disappointed in the quality of the individual items. The set’s contents come from either Taiwan, Mainland China, or Vietnam. The ratchet is handle heavy but, I like its push button locking head and smaller head size. What I don’t care for it the retention ball on the square drive is positioned too close to the end of the square drive. When you place a socket on the ratchet, it will move towards the end of the square drive when the retention ball finds the cutout in the socket giving you about a sixteenth of an inch in inward and outward play when the socket is attached. The socket doesn’t fall off but, it’s rather annoying. The next thing I hate is on the universal joint and the two extensions, instead of having nice, scalloped cutouts on each side on the female square drive end, Gearwrench is using a notch/groove design that reminds me of that old Craftsman double detent design but, sorrier. I like the magnetic trilobal handle bit driver. One thing missing from the set is a 1/4 hex by 1/4 bit adapter so, you can’t use the sockets with the bit handle. I like compact 1/4 drive sets but, this missed the mark for me in several areas. I feel the decline in Gearwrench quality is worrisome.
Badger12345
Thanks for your detailed review of the product. I found it quite useful.
fred
I have not bought many Gearwrench tools – and nothing from them in over 10 years. The last item I bought was a torque wrench – back in 2011 – which was very competitively priced – and seemed to be accurate enough. But I would guess that Apex is facing stiff competition in the slot that the brand occupies. Perhaps value-engineering has started to creep in?
BobH
Amazon now says “Temporarily out of stock.” I guess they sold out 🙂
Rog
Might have been the only set, hence the price. Supply and demand and all that…
Ron
I saw this a couple weeks ago and thought it was a mistake. Can this be right?
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Werner-3-ft-Fiberglass-Step-Stand-Ladder-with-375-lb-Load-Capacity-Type-IAA-Duty-Rating-SSF03/203134307
MattW.
Either ridiculous shipping from the manufacturer or more likely the 375lb rating fiberglass tax. I don’t buy anything that is rated 375lbs because I’ve seen a few guys taco a ladder or step stool. So because of that yes I have to buy fiberglass ussaly podium at twice the price of a holiday special. If it keeps me from one workmans comp claim it was worth it. Im a solid 270 lbs plus tools I don’t need insurance issues. So yes people pay crazy price’s for stuff sadly “cough sawstop”. I’d be inclined to guy the little giant which I own 3 of them that cost 100ish for a step stool but the easy pick up setup is worth it (375 lbs and fiberglass plus it’s lime green!).
Stuart
That price is high, but the average street price is still much higher than you’d think.
Nathan S
Well, here we are about a year away from April Fools.
…and I like the 2/5 star rating, even with that price.
Alexk
When the Harbor Freight mini ratchet kit went on sale for $24.99, I bought one for myself and one for a friend almost two months ago. Haven’t used it once, but I love it. Going to buy the mini Kobalt tool box for it so I’ll know where it is at all times and use the ratchet as a fidget when stressed or bored and watching tv.
Looking forward to the time I will need it and it will be the right tool for the job.
I jumped on it at the sale price of $25 because I think it will come in handy, and if not……. it’s so damn cute! A baby ratchet? With an adjustable angle head?
I wouldn’t spend $70 on a kit unless it would save me time and aggravation on more than the rare occasion.
JayS
They purposely priced it high so they don’t have to remove the listing while they’re waiting for stock. It’s a common practice.
fred
I’ve seen that happen quite a few times on other Amazon listings. I always wondered why – and your hypothesis seems logical.
eddiesky
The only review is that they got them rusty and that Gearwrench changed design, not for the better. Its also on Amazon (5 left at this time) for $60.
Gearwrench site shows Zoro in stock but when you visit, its $46 but OUT of stock. WTF??
https://www.homedepot.com/p/GEARWRENCH-1-4-in-Drive-Micro-Bits-Mechanics-Tool-Set-in-Foam-Storage-Tray-105-Piece-GWMSMBS01/326887575
You can get at HD as a tray foam.
Donald Peters
I have a couple sets of their ratcheting wrench’s that I received as xmas gifts over the years. Almost all of the wrenches have the chrome finish flaking off. Looks like glitter in your hands and feels like a razor blade.
Steve
must be gold plated 🙂