Today I will be reviewing my first shopping experience at ChadsToolbox. I have mostly heard good things about Chad’s, and figured it was time to check them out for myself. ChadsToolbox specializes in carrying quality European brands, such as Knipex and Wera, and several domestic brands.
Details follow, but for the impatient I’ll cut to the chase – I am quite satisfied with my experience with ChadsToolbox, and will definitely order from them again in the future.
Advertisement
Why ChadsToolbox?
When purchasing new tools, I usually need a very good reason to stray away from my favorite retailers. Shopping around recently, I found that Chad’s had the best prices for a few Wera and Knipex tools that I had been looking to buy. In addition to this, Chad’s also had a much wider selection of less common tools and accessories.
Better selection and lower prices are definitely two great reasons to try out an unfamiliar retailer.
Ordering, Tracking, & Shipping
Ordering was quick and easy, and I received email confirmation. I then received another email confirmation once the order had shipped. I cannot seem to find a tracking number for my order, but since it shipped via USPS Priority, it arrived quite quickly and without incident.
ChadsToolbox charges a flat rate fee of $8.95 for orders under $200, which is somewhat reasonable. When the order arrived, I immediately noticed the care that was put into packing the box. All of the tools were carefully wrapped with packing paper, and the outside of the box was well taped up around the corners. This gave me a great sense of reassurance knowing that Chad’s doesn’t just haphazardly throw loose tools into a flimsy box with a single air bag.
Contacting ChadsToolbox & Backordered Orders
One of the complaints I’ve heard about Chad’s a few times is that they don’t communicate well when one or more parts of an order are backordered. I placed a second order for two backordered items, with an expected late April shipping date.
Advertisement
Well, it’s late April, and my second order had not shipped out yet, so I decided to give Chad’s a call. The automated response said to press 1 for help placing an order, and if I recall correctly 3 for help with existing orders. After pressing the appropriate number, another automated response said to leave a message or contact them via Live Chat.
I opted to contact Live Chat and awaited someone to assist me. After a moment, a message popped up saying that if I didn’t want to wait, I could send my inquiry via email. I chose to stay “on the line” and waited for about 5-6 minutes until a customer service representative joined the chat. In less than two minutes, I was told that my order should be fulfilled by this Thursday.
I have emailed ChadsToolbox in the past during normal business hours, and both times their responses were quick and comprehensive.
Conclusion & Recommendation
Overall, I am very pleased with my experience with ChadsToolbox. They have the lowest prices around for many of their catalog items, and I didn’t even have to take advantage of their “115% low-price promise.” A wide product selection and helpful customer service team seals the deal for me.
My first order with ChadsToolbox was a very positive experience, and while my second order has not yet arrived, it looks like it will further reinforce this sentiment. Based on this, I would not hesitate to recommend ChadsToolbox.
Chris
I had extremely bad results with my one and only experience with chadstoolbox. I ordered some Knipex pliers. One of the pliers had the wrong handle type. I notified them and they emailed me back telling me to ship it back at my expense and they would reimburse me. Long story short they told me the shipping address on their website is only their corporate headquarters my package would be refused and sent back and then I would have to send it back to them again at my expense. I contacted UPS who of course confirmed the package was delivered and not refused. All of this I relayed to their customer service at which point they stopped responding. I gave up at that point and just contacted my credit card company to dispute the charge. They have nice tools but their customer service is crap.
Joe
Nice place to order tool for your future grand kids, but be sure to teach them patience.
Richard Bruno
These people are, or person is a moron! I bought $131.07 worth of Wera electricians tools. I got the tracking number and the package was listed as delivered by the post office. I never got the package. But I did get video from 2 cameras in my driveway that show the mailman was parked across the street for over four minutes and never came to my house to deliver. I have filed 2 claims with the post office and am now considering calling the police. Through this entire ordeal I am going through, with my back injury, etc. Guess where chuds toolbox is? They ignored my emails and phone calls. When I reported the dispute to PayPal, they won the case, citing proof of delivery!! How do I know they even shipped what I paid for, after reading the reviews here? CHUD. l will consider removing this feedback, WHEN I get my money back! This will not be my last review of you by any stretch of the imagination!
Andrew
I don’t know shit about chadstoolbox (that’s why I’m on this website) but it sounds like your issues is with the shipping company and in no way an issue with the shipper.
Jerry
FRAUD – SCAMMERS – BEWARE !!!!!!!
These people have nothing to offer but to take your money. They most likely do NOT have any products in stock just live off your moneys interest. Te\hey will never ship your order because it’s not in stock, but they shall never contact you to say it’s not, and it’s showing IN STOCK!
So many ripped off people bty these guys – just search ONLINE>..
DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME and MONEY!!!
Jim Felt
Stuart.
Has anyone reported a simple, easy, on time and in stock transaction with these people/person?
I did years ago buy a couple of times and remember no issues but their online ratings are off the charts lousy.
Thoughts?
Stuart
I’ve learned 2 things about Chad’s.
1: They are focused on wholesale customers. Consumers and end users seem to be secondary.
2: A lot of people don’t ask about availability prior to placing an order, and are surprised to find that things are not in stock. Asking about availability ahead of time can help to reduce the level of disappointment.
A lot of complaints come from that “what do you mean it’ll take 6 weeks for my tools to arrive?!” disappointment.
michael
Business with communist atitude
the tools are good quality but chads toolbox is the biggest rip off ever.
there is no way you can contact anybody if you have problem with order
if you do no one responds back. you can also use chat on the website.
if you lucky enough to get someone to speak with you will be treated
like piece of crap. once you pay it is over . I never got my tools. about
$50 worth. I am finding out that I am not the only one who did not get the tools
$ 50 or more per order x 1000 customers( I believe the number is higher)
that is $ 150 000 stolen from people.
but I should have red the reviews before ordering
Dilly
That actually sounds CAPITALIST in nature.
ayyyitstony
Similar Experience….I did actually receive tools. Took about 6 weeks for the NWS 9 Piece combo which is a “sale” or “promo” item. I will never order from Chad’s again.
Pete Lemke
Waiting for months for my order. When I try to go to the site to check up on my order I get a warning that Chads is an unsafe site. I am at wits end at what to do next.
Stuart
Email them and ask for an ETA update. That’s what I’ve done in the past.
As for the “unsafe site” warning, I haven’t a clue what that’s about.
...
Stewart, this article came up as the third result for the store’s name in Google. Do your readers a favor and place a big ol’ warning on your glowing report, this retailer really is utter shit. I’ve placed multiple orders, but so far the results have been roughly 50/50 on whether or not I actually receive an item. And if they can’t get it, they don’t notify you, or even apparently check it themselves, just utterly awful logistics. They list every single part number in the catalogs of the brands they carry, but can’t even get a hold of a good portion of them — and they explicitly know it.
These aren’t isolated incidents, as they say, the plural of anecdote is data. Anyway, now I have to get back to contesting a charge from last month because they didn’t deliver and then had the gall to cancel the order without concurrently issuing a refund.
Stuart
When ordering from Chads Toolbox or other retailers that don’t mention whether items are in stock or not, one has to be prepared to contact them – first before placing an order to see what’s available for immediate shipping, and second to get an estimate as to when the backordered stuff will arrive.
With stores like this, they carry the most popular tools, and if you want anything else they have to add it to their next shipment. Delivery ETAs then depend on their international shipping schedule, and the manufacturer’s production schedule. If you placed an order after the most recent international shipment had just arrived, you’re in for a longer wait. If a less common tool isn’t immediately available from the manufacturer, you’re in for a longer wait. If there are any holidays or disruptions, you’re in for a longer wait.
Chads Toolbox is not my first or second choice when it comes to buying European hand tools anymore. I would probably order from them again, as long as I would save enough money to put up with the added hassles of having to ask for ETAs before placing an order and periodically after that.
Chads Toolbox’ logistics are indeed not customer-friendly.
Ibew11
I have actually read all the bad reports about them and still took the chance ordering twice. First order of 51 and second order a little over 100 both have been shipped at a resonable time. Now i am at my thrid order 3 weeks later. Haven’t placed the order since the website promises a point system to give store credit. Which i have contacted plenty of times to updated to my order but i receive no discounts the website promises. I have asked plenty and never get a straight answer. Thats my complaint why advertise something you dont provide. I will only place another order here until they provide me with the store credit the store promises.
bill iffert
I got my pliers, Oh yeah … I am happy
Michael Eibling
Well, seems to me that things must have gone poorly for the management of Chad’s Toolbox.
Placed an order and was told about a coupon. 12 hours later asked them to apply the coupon or cancel the order so I could re-order with the coupon. They RAISED THE PRICE THE VALUE OF THE COUPON then cancelled the order !
That is all kinds of shady.
Michael Eibling
And a day later when I asked them about and submitted a pricematch request, they raised the price to nullify their 115% pricematch garantee.
NYCJay
I placed an order over a week ago and absolutely nothing has happened. The website still doesn’t show that I even have an open order but I definitely have my receipt PayPal. I inquired about my order with the live chat tool which turns out isn’t actually live, or chatting, or a tool because in 2 days no one ever responded. Fool me once, shame on you, but there will never be a second chance for Chad to make a fool out me a second time. I’m going to open a dispute with PayPal and then order from Amazon and\or Zoro.
Don’t shop here if you’re actually expecting to receive your order.