I’ve been receiving emails from a magazine, and they’ve started going over the top with their posts about Amazon tool deals, urging their audience to buy anything and everything.
Everything is an amazing deal, everything is a great buy, every tool will transform your projects. You get the idea.
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As you should be aware, Amazon is one of many retailer affiliates we (and other) websites partner with. If you buy something at their site after clicking through a specially tagged link here, you pay nothing more, and we earn a small fee for referring the sale.
I follow some strict guidelines about how and when to link out, and always try to tread carefully.
I’m a little overworked and very sleep-deprived, and somehow convinced myself that it might be fun to try to see if I can BS you. So, what follows is how a deal post might look if I wasn’t me, and didn’t have very strict practices and controls about how affiliate links are used.
Here goes:
Today only, Amazon is offering a 65-piece homeowner’s tool kit, for the low price of $28. Its “was” price is listed at over $38, making this an incredibly good deal.
The set comes with a selection of great quality Stanley tools that’ll help you tackle any task around the house. There are pliers, screwdrivers, hex keys, a small level – perfect for most jobs – a hammer, tape measure, utility knife, bit selection, and you even get a ratchet and some sockets.
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Why spend more for tools you don’t need? This set is perfect!
You’d better hurry, this is a limited time deal. It’s also never too early to start holiday shopping!
You don’t consider yourself handy? Maybe you just need more tools!
What are you waiting for? Buy it now!
And check out all the 5-star reviews!
Sale Price: $28
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Deal ends at 3am ET 10/27/2017, unless supplies sell out sooner.
Real Assessment
I do like Stanley tools – they offer decent quality at entry-level prices, and some of their offerings are exceptionally good.
This looks like an okay homeowners tool set, but it’s also missing too much. I’d maybe recommend it to college students or homeowners who really have no other tools and no idea about what they might need.
There’s no adjustable wrench. While a ratchet and sockets might be useful, an adjustable wrench might be more so, for basic homeowner tasks.
The price isn’t bad, but I could probably spend the same $28 a little more wisely next month when the holiday shopping season deals and special buys arrive.
It seems like a good deal. There will likely be another $10 off $50+ select Stanley tool purchases during the holiday season, which will allow for better customization.
This is something I’d buy to keep in the garage for anyone that came looking to borrow my tools. You don’t use my screwdrivers as chisels or pry bars, at least not the ones which aren’t overbuilt and intended for such misuse, any more than you should use my butter knives as pry bars. Thanks for bending my knife, James.
That’s why it was worth mentioning, but I didn’t think it was worth its own post. But also, magazines have been more aggressive in pushing affiliate links and way too encouraging on deals like this. So I figured I’d have some fun with it.
I’m also curious. How many of you are interested in tools like this? Not necessarily the deals, but in entry-level tools.
I have never limited what I’m interested in posting about. While it’s rare for me to look at entry-level tools with personal interest, there are times when it happens, such as right now as I consider whether or not I could use something like this as a garage loaner kit. I don’t want to spend a lot on tools that I would only buy to avoid saying NO to someone really in need, and without risking ruin to my personal tools.
Oh, and I also learned that it’s incredibly difficult for me to BS about this set. I guess 9 years of self control and policies will do that.
Also, how would you over-sell this set? I suppose it’s good that I find it so difficult to do.
Steven Mclachlan
I buy the best tools I can for my personal sets but am still interested in things like this as presents or like you, loaners. Or just another spare set for somewhere.
Mattd
I am not a fan of these types of kits because they always seem to be lacking some often essential tools like adjustable wrenches (you always need 2), channel lock style pliers and vise grip style pliers. I would love to see one of these sets that is thought out by an actual handy man because a decent tool set is IMO the perfect high school graduation gift.
Adam
Agreed. I also tend to give tool kits as wedding presents (though I assemble my own instead of going with pre-designed ones).
Wayne
And these cases leave you no where to stick the essential additions…it’s the case that puts the stake in its heart for me.
Hang Fire
I was thinking exactly the same thing, no ChannelLock style tongue&groove large pliers, and something else large for the other side.
Blow molded cases are always full populated with tools (maybe one pocket for loose hardware), it would be a retail nightmare to try to sell them with “missing” tool slots. Cases like that are always hard to expand upon, until you give up the idea of having everything in one case.
I use different solutions for each of my vehicles, but there’s nothing wrong with having some tools in a molded case and the rest in a tool bag. For SUV’s or hatchbacks where there is no trunk, sometimes it is a necessity because there’s no one place to hide a larger toolbox.
Scott K
I have a handful of inexpensive Stanley tools that have held up really well. The two pliers in this set look a lot like part of a 3-piece set that I bought as one of my first purchases. I’ve used them a ton and they’ve worked well until recently- the grips have come loose and now make it difficult to use these when force is required.
Hang Fire
Plasti-Dip.
Andy
Or instead of tool dip, if you need a “right now” solution, self-fusing silicone tape.
Coach James
I like to read about all types and grades of tools from high end down to what you can get from the grocery store. Twice, grocery store tools have gotten me out of a late night jam so people shouldn’t turn their nose up at them.
These kits are not ideal, but they are a lot better than no tools. So please do keep posting about anything in the tool universe.
Patrick H
Great comment. This makes me think of another use I have put kits like this toward. A small case like this slips easy into the car and you never know when it might come in handy. My crappy car tools have come in handy way more often than I would have guessed. It’s nice to always have a couple basics on hand.
Nathan L
You and me both. I’ve self-selected myself out of more potential sales opportunities than i can count by rejecting at some basic level the hard-sell and marketing bs that some people take to like a fish to water.
It’s amazing how easy it is to go to stores and not buy anything when you reach the level of “i don’t really need any of this crap” zen i have somehow stumbled upon.
That said, there are occasionally exceptional basic tools and tool set deals that come along, and i am always on the lookout for them to buy for myself as replacements, backups or gifts… and i love hearing about those. The cream should be helped to rise. I consider the m12 fuel impact driver to be an exceptional tool, and when i first read about it here and then saw the holiday deal come up, i was sold, and i don’t regret it. Not exactly an entry-level tool, but the point is it’s a great tool and on sale you get plenty of value for your money.
msergiob
It happened to me a lot of times. The older (or wiser) you get, the less tools (but more pro ones)you need to do the job.
I had the exact same ¨zen feeling¨ at hardware stores…
Bob Warfield
Would love to see you review the best value for one of these kits. I bought one years ago for my wife and kids to use (instead of my tools, LOL!). Over the years, various things have gone missing so they’re getting into my tools again.
Need to find a replacement for them.
ktash
The case is more important for this type of a set, since it provides a place for everything. For many tools, like drills, I just discard the cases since they get in the way and take up space. But if you are using it for a loaner or a gift, this will help keep things in order and you will likely replace the tool after use (or loan). Stanley tools are usually good for the price.
Koko the Talking Ape
Re gift sets: it is a lot more fun to select everything individually, including the bag. Plus, the time and consideration you took is obvious to the recipient, even if they know nothing about tools.
Re loaners: I am too poor to have disposable tools. I loan out my own stuff, tell the guy I’d like it back by a certain date, and follow up. But maybe used tools could be good for that. I’ve found some good deals on Estwing hammers and the like. They just needed a little cleanup.
Matthew
As someone who doesn’t make a living with their tools I enjoy seeing posts about almost every level of tool. I try to go with the best I can afford but I also have to temper it with frequency of use and my skill levels.
I have DeWalt for my 18/20V cordless but B&D and no brand for my 12V drills that are more grab and go/keep in the truck options. I have a mix of Kobalt, Husky, Craftsman and Harbor Freight for my pneumatic and hand tools. Finally, I got Rigid for my large saws due to the LSA and infrequent use. My one “splurge” is that all of my electrical tools are Klein or Southwire now (but I survived for years with the no name tools for my projects).
I tend to take the lower tiered tools and put them in grab and go bags that stay in vehicles as I replace them in my tool chest with better versions.
All that to say, I enjoy the posts about lower tiered tools as much as (or more than) the posts about the highest end tools that I’ll likely never have a true need for.
Andy H
Very well said! I’m in the same boat.
Joe
I only buy high end tools, but I’d love to see multiple sets like this,only better quality, on display here to compare side by side …your thoughts on all of them …they do make inexpensive gifts to give out….
Sledgecrowbar
Harbor Freight is my source for beater hand tools – the tools I keep in my tool cart for “common usage”, basic maintenance, single-afternoon projects, and to lend to a neighbor. These tools have to be of acceptable quality but not be so well-finished that I might regret wear or loss. That Harbor Freight is the new Sears Craftsman, at least as far as having a lifetime warranty on hand tools and being within easy driving distance, makes them ideal for this. I don’t buy homeowner or beginner tool kits only because of the hassle of warrantying them. Did I buy this at Walmart or K-Mart? Do I need the receipt? If I don’t have it, will anyone who works there know that this is a lifetime warranty set? How long will they carry this set before I have to walk out with a “similar item” that isn’t similar at all?
Harbor Freight has become a reliable source for this grade of tool, and they offer almost everything to cover such needs. I would like to see them offer a larger 1/2″ socket set, but their impact sets have picked up that slack, and now I go for them when I have a large fastener, which has helped prevent next-day soreness from hanging off a breaker bar instead of getting the impact gun.
Now, I have bought this grade of tool at places like dollar stores and clearance sections at Lowes or Home Depot. Who can say no to ten pairs of pliers at 50 cents each? I keep five in my car door map pocket and I’ve given away four so far, to friends or people in need at a gas station or the like. At that price, it really doesn’t matter, but when you’re desperately in need, it’s sure nice to have it. This particular starter set in the article, though, it would have to be under $10 for that kind of purchase.
Julian
Not such deal for Canadians. Another $25 or more in shipping and customs charges mean I can buy this side of the border piece by piece and use the savings towards a nice red toolbox to put them in. Thanks in the meantime as I enjoy reading about the tools. Keep up the good work.
SS
I like knowing about ones that are actual deals and not oversells, and this seems like the latter. Agree with your assessment completely.
And if I was overselling, I’d do it in a more “just in case” or “throw it in a drawer” or “back of the car” context.
MikeD
‘Bendy plastic hinges’ are garbage!
I live in Canada, the second time I take a kit like this outdoors (9 months of the year) the hinge will break in the cold!
Then the kit becomes 2 covers and all the tools get lost.
Refuse to buy ‘Bendy plastic hinge’ products!
Nathan L
Yeah those of us who spend time in the frozen North are clearly not the target market of products that require polymer whatzits to remain plastic. I had a bike computer mount with a plastic retaining tab that, of course, snapped off the first time i tried to operate in Boston in January.
Coach James
If I liked the tools, I wouldn’t decline to buy them simply because of a cheap plastic case. I would just move them to a tool bag.