A few months ago, someone from Get to Work had emailed me with some information about their tool subscription program.
There are lots of different product subscription services you could buy into these days. I think my first might be Adafruit’s Adabox electronic gizmo program, and I’ve been meaning to pull the trigger on LootCrate.
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Coffee? I guess that makes sense. Snack foods? Err… okay.
There’s even a subscription to Field Notes’ Limited Edition notepads!
But… tools?
I kept trying to hammer out my thoughts about the Get to Work subscription service and never got back to them (sorry, Robert!), and their offer for a review sample.
I ordered Ben a past AdaBox, and for myself too, to see if that’s something we could recommend to ToolGuyd readers looking to get into electronics tinkering. Ben recently posted a photo of his robot-in-progress to Instagram, and it made me think back to this tool subscription program.
Here’s what Get to Work said in their reach-out to me:
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We have launched a brand new tool and work gear of the month subscription box. We have many high quality brand name tool and gear companies involved in this box and many more to come.
Their first 3 subscription boxes were out, here’s a look at the contents:
(You can also see them on their website, here.) (Update 5/2020: link removed, looks to now install suspicious software.)
What you get depends on the subscription tier. This is everything you would get at the “Master Box”
I spy some brand name stuff here, and almost all are tools I wouldn’t mind receiving.
Again, some interesting choices. While perhaps not as appealing as the Tool Essentials box, this looks like a good selection of stuff, and appropriate for the month and season too.
Everything shown here is included in an even higher subscription tier – one that also includes power tools.
Subscription Tiers
- Novice Box: $25
- Apprentice Box: $50
- Journeyman Box: $100
- Master Box: $150
- Power Box: $150 (just power tools and accessories)
- Boss Box: Master Box + Power Box: $300
Plus shipping. I did a quick check, and I’m seeing $7 shipping on the Novice box, and $11.44 on the Master Box.
What would I pick?
Looking at the breakdown of what was included in each of the subscription tiers of previous boxes, I think that the Apprentice Box offers the most bang for the buck in terms of goodies.
The $50 Apprentice Level is the sweet spot.
Stepping up to the Journeyman box usually includes something big, and with that a greater chance of “but I can’t use this” regret.
There’s a mix of things at the $50 Apprentice Box, so even if you can’t use everything, you’ll probably still have a sense of getting your money’s worth.
In the first month’s box, the jump from Apprentice to Journeyman costs $50 and gets you a flashlight that’s $40 bare or $55 with a starter battery and charger kit.
In the second month’s box, the $50 jump to the $100 level gets you a $62.40 ThermaCELL heat pack 2-pack.
In the third month’s box, take the $50 jump from $50 to $100, and you get a Lenox tight spaces tubing cutter kit that currently retails for $48 and change.
I don’t really want a rechargeable CR123 high-powered LED flashlight, battery-powered hand warmers that are unfavorably reviewed, or close quarters tubing cutters.
[Start Sidetrack]
As an aside, I recently bought a 10-pack (pairs) of Hot Hands in-store (HD?), but I certainly paid more than you can buy them for on Amazon – $4!!
I believe I paid $8. They’re normally $1 each or so per pair, so I figured $8 was a good deal. Hmm, is that something I really would have bought online even at half price? Maybe if I was buying lots and lots.
[End Sidetrack]
Yes, I’m more and more convinced that the Apprentice level is the one to pay more attention to. You don’t get much at the $25 Novice level.
But… spend more and get more. If you have more to spend, I’d say go straight to the Master Box, at $150, which gives you more goodies in each box.
This tool subscription program looks like a good idea for users looking to add functionality to their toolbox, such as new homeowners. Maybe hobbyists and young professionals as well? I don’t know.
The February 2017 theme? Hanging Drywall.
Themes are announced ahead of time, and if you’re not too eager you can skip that month.
There is also a skip feature, so if you decide you don’t want that month’s box you can opt to skip that month with no charge.
Looking at the first 3 months of subscriptions, I’m much more interested in the program than when they first reached out to me. There’s one other tool subscription box program that I know of, but that’s a DIYer-focused program and the tools they ship out look like cheap no-name garbage. Sorry, maybe I should have sugar-coated this.
But Get to Work‘s offering? I think it has potential, which is as much of a *thumbs up* as I’m prepared to give right now.
More Info(via Get to Work) (Update 5/2020: link removed, looks to now install suspicious software.)
Hmm… I wonder if they’re open to ideas on how to make the Novice level more exciting…
P.S. Would you like to see a review of one of the next boxes? Maybe a giveaway?
Matt
Can you cater these boxes to a theme ie plumber or electrician or say carpenter? Or is is strictly novice, apprentice etc?
Either way, i, personally prefer to hand pick my gear as I am super picky and even though I enjoy the surprise(these boxes seemingly have the potential to produce that Xmas like anticipation) I think Id rather peruse Amazon or take a trip to Lowe’s or HD and spend and hr going over their hole saw blade selection…
That December box with the winter cold weather gear looked neat but I am not certain I would seek this out via a tool box subscription site.
As far as test driving this site, do they offer like a free month or your money back? Do they let us dip a toe in the proverbial water first?
Stuart
I don’t think so. There are some customizations, such as metric vs. SAE, and for sizing, but that’s all I can see.
But you can skip a month if you don’t like the sound of the announced monthly theme.
Since billing is month to month, I’m guessing one can cancel at any time, or skip as many months as desired.
Brandon
I still don’t understand these subscription boxes. Are you paying a premium for the experience of getting a “present” every month? If I need/want a tool, I spend hours researching the purchase before-hand, add it to my wishlist (which is an 8-column spreadsheet), and then either prioritize my purchases using that list or refer to it when the need for the tool actually arises.
Aren’t these boxes are just gambling with (I’d hope) better odds?
Stuart
The idea is that you spend x-amount of dollars on products that are valued at higher amounts, products you have a high likelihood of enjoying or using.
The risk is only supposed to be whether you like what you get, but most subscriptions tend to vary things up so everyone’s at least partially happy.
Rich
Bro you are way too anal about your tool selection. If you’re in a trade and you need a tool, buy it. It’s really that simple. I’m a refrigeration tech and right now I can tell you I could use a few more sizes of pipe cutters, some digital gauges, a manometer, and definitely a micron gauge, and I don’t need a spread sheet to remember that.
Stuart
Everyone’s entitled to their opinion and how they research their purchases, no need to criticize.
KL
My dogs love their Bark Box…..that’s all I got.
AW
Oh, mine get visibly excited each month when we plop their box down on the bed. Watching them pry the lid and inspect everything is worth the subscription.
Jim Felt
Stuart. I’m just a bit surprised and pleased you mentioned my friend Aaron Draplin’s Field Notes! He’s one amazing graphic designer. And world traveling speaker.
They have been a hoot to use and gift for at least the decade I’ve known of them. Aaron is even funner.
As for a tool related subscription Gift Box idea at any level: naw. Never. I’m too picky. Interesting idea but I can’t see a focused or even focusable market niche. Sorry.
Stuart
Surprised?
I thought it would have made sense – I’m picky about pens and mechanical pencils, why not pocket notebooks too?!
I only have Field Notes in one style, but might be splurging on a few different styles soon. There’s so much going on that I want to revert back to a pen and pocket notepad to keep track of tasks and ideas.
Brian
Not understanding why anyone would get this. I get the surprise factor, but what if you really, really need a screwdriver. You open your box and no screwdriver. Will you wait for the next months delivery? No, you’ll go buy one like any other normal person and then you’ll get your screwdriver delivered next month and then you’ll have way too many screwdrivers.
Mrs. ToolGuyd
Too many screwdrivers? Impossible.
Jay
Pass. Just more stuff to pile up. Tools are expensive so rather target specific items of need. Like my new Dalluge 2000 delivered yesterday or my new Marshalltown DuraFlex flat trowel that came last week.
David
I can’t see the appeal of a subscription box. Instead, I think I’d recommend that folks tackle something like Wood magazine’s “Set up a workshop on $150 every two weeks” plan. They’ve done a great series of articles on it: http://www.woodmagazine.com/workshop/idea-shop-6/welcome-to-idea-shop-6
Tom
That is really neat. Maybe when I retire (in 20 years…)
BigDan
They should probably break out into categories for newbies, the ladies, a mr practicality, and the person who has it all, etc.
newbies – I can see myself getting this for my brother who has limited tools and has no clue what he needs most times, or advising him to get it if I dont feel like spending money on him.
Mr practicality would be niche items that they normally wouldn’t spend money on because ‘i just need my EDC and duct tape’ (you know who you are).
For the ladies it could be smaller lighter options that are easier to hold (yes exceptions exist), or things that are better for arts and crafts, or make that a category itself.
For the person who has it all – maybe that could include the newest items to market that they may not have yet? Or variants on a traditional tool. Dunno not my business, but its got potential.
The cost they add (whatever it is) to the tools to actually support the business model is not just ‘paying for the box’ but rather doing the work for people who dont know, dont have time, or are too stubborn… other reasons even – but again its got potential. If they dont change it up fast enough to meet the demand then the subs will dwindle. Or Amazon will do the same thing because they want to take over the world. If amazon became skynet today there’d still be a major world crisis without the nukes.
Nathan
It’s a neat idea – first version of this I was exposed to was when my wife started Birchbox – then got me one. It’s grooming stuffs – small samples of things you might not know to shop for or know existed. often a coupon or 2. I canceled mine after about 3 months because I didn’t really need most of the items. (beard oil why? it’s oily enough right?)
anywho – I also got a beer of the month thing and that was nifty – but like you said there is some user regret when you end up with something you won’t like or in this case use.
I like the idea on the surface and I like they make up a task oriented theme – which is useful. I wish on the upper tier of dollars they might ask you – which team color do you prefer so that if they give you a tool it’s along the lines of your system.
IE You buy the master or whatever tier – and choose team red – then your mini hacksaw for your plumber kit is a milwaukee device – albeit without battery or charger – such that you have something you can and want to use. I’d be more included at the higher dollars for that.
Otherwise – their selections are most likely based on what vendor or store etc offers them the best deal on the bulk buy to keep the boxes profitable. IE they approach lennox and irwin and ________ for pipe cutters and they all offered something for a dollar figure and lennonx’s offering was cheaper but still a useful product so that went in the box.
I might try a apprentice kit
agreenjacket
I may be in the minority but I have done subscription programs before and they work well. An example is the Love with food box. My family likes the surprise each month and it is a good value. https://lovewithfood.com
But that is food.
Tools I am not sure. I am compelled to try it for a month or 2 just out of curiosity. I can see the value if you are just starting out. When I bought my first house many years ago my father started buying me one serious tool every Christmas. I now have a great very useful collection of good tools that mean something to me. A subscription service at that time may have been useful as well.
RX9
Most of these subscription boxes are for things people don’t really need, like sci-fi memorabilia in the case of loot crate. The idea of a surprise assortment is part of the appeal.
Tools, on the other hand, are usually bought with a specific purpose intent in mind.
I would rather take the cash in my pocket and directly purchase what I really need/want rather than gamble on these folks picking for me.
Moreover, of all the example packages shown thus far, there was literally nothing I needed or even wanted. Much of the stuff shown were items I already had.
I suppose it might be a great idea for someone with no tools and no specific intents, but for somebody who already has a workshop with most of what he needs, this service is not a good idea.
Toolfreak
A lot of these “subscriptions” are just a way for clearinghouses to get rid of large amounts of overstock and make money on it. I guess it’s a good thing in some ways since it’s better than it all going to a landfill, but the marketing of stuff like LootCrate just seems eye-rollingly deceptive to me. It’s crap nobody wanted at the big-box stores, and stuff that didn’t arrive from China until months after the movie release, not ultra-super-rare collector’s items. I’m fairly impressed they’ve been able to get people to pay THEM to get rid of the stuff by sending it in a box, but stuff like that is less surprising in this day and age.
I guess a tool subscription service might be okay if you are building a collection and don’t have much, or have plenty of space in the garage or shop and want to try new things you might not find at retail otherwise but for the average tool nut who already has too many tools – yeah, I agree with the comments this might not be a good thing to spend money on, only to wind up with yet another tape measure, another screwdriver, and lots more small accessories that just keep piling up in a junk drawer.
I might consider it if there was specific info each month about the exact contents of the box, not just a general “theme”. If they contract with the companies that make and market these tools like I think they do, then surely they would know what they are going to be putting in the boxes months ahead of time.
The “surprise” aspect is overrated, and is how these wind up being a disappointment, paying $50 to get $45 worth of stuff you don’t really want or need and getting one semi-useful tool you could have just bought on sale weeks ago when you needed it.
Let me know when they are sending out these boxes to hardcore tool users for free, with the compensation being useful feedback from the consumer about the tools.
Nathan
thing is – just like when I tried birchbox – they might easily throw in some items I’d never consider trying on my own.
Take that winter kit – I wouldn’t go buy any of that on my own. Limited use for me in middle america – but it could be used. OK so I’m out 50 bucks and I got a insulated T shirt I’d never buy myself on it’s own. But hell I’ll try it. Rechargeable hand warmer – meh OK. Then hey I might really find it nifty and buy another. WHich is why companies sign up to supply for this sort of thing – near free marketing.
John
I dunno about a tool subscription. To be honest there is maybe 2 or 3 pieces in the delivery in each month that only sorta interest me and something I’d get on my own. The rest is a lot of filler in my opinion (70%). I picture by this time next year I’d have drawers of random “tools” from such a subscription site just piling up and gathering dust. I rather have what exactly I want instead of a spaghetti model.
I much rather subscribe to your site on my RSS feed, get updated on cool tools I didn’t know about and might have a use for. Put it in my wish list on Amazon, have a $50 a month auto deposit to a savings account and buy a real power tool at $100 – $150 every 2 months (plus acquired interest). Having it auto deposit without me knowing is a pleasant surprise and I call it my FU / Toy fund where I blow it on something I want.
Jim Felt
John. That’s a wildly rational non business tool acquisition model!
Sadly I’m just not that disciplined.
But I love the logic of your idea.
Really.
Joe J
I think people may be missing the point here.
This is not a way to get the proper tools you need. This is not a primary means of acquiring tools.
This is a FUN thing for people with excess cash to spend that’s let you try out some different gear. That is in addition to any tools you would normally buy.
JoeM
That market is remarkably small, and those that fit into that “Extra Cash” demographic are more likely to be the ones going out and buying the big tools, or an entire system kit at once, not subscribing for a pile of random little tools.
Tool people like the rest of us are trying to work for a living, or trying to do work around the house. We get frustrated when we don’t get our job right the way we want it, so why would we spend money on stuff we can’t control entirely, just for entertainment? It makes no sense. This is not about Tool Geeks who are just owning tools for show. Tool people actually actively use the tools they own, and often don’t have a spare room to fill with dust-collecting junk.
Fun for Tool people isn’t in “Getting Stuff” it’s in drooling over, and then adding to, the tools we need to do our “Thing”… Work, Hobby, or DIYer alike, we’re goal oriented, not attention-deficit oriented. When we look at “The Next Big Thing” we look at it from a point of “How does it work with what I do?” rather than “Oooh! I wonder where I’ll put it!”
Nothing about these Subscribe-A-Box concepts is “Fun” for a Tool user. We all share a very OCD type of mentality about our tools, and introducing randomness to it is the opposite of “Fun” for our demographics. Quite the opposite. It sounds far more like pure hell for a Tool User to subscribe to randomness. We are all control freaks at heart when our Tools are involved. Unless you’re feeding our need for control, you’re getting looked at sideways as we pass on by you.
Joe J
You are making a lot of sweeping generalizations, assumptions and claiming to speak for an awful lot of people.
Again. You are completely missing the pointing of these monthly box things. They are clearly not for you. Which is fine. But don’t claim you are inside the heads of everyone that has ever picked up a tool. Because that makes you look like a tool.
BobSwedish
I have to say JoeM got into my head almost perfectly there.
I share the OCD mentality of painstakingly choosing every tool on its ability to accomplish my “Thing”. Which by the way is not just owning a bunch of random average tools.
That is where toolguyd comes in as fantastically helpful and genuine resource.
JoeM
Uh… No… If this was entirely consumables, and the odd “Can’t Live Without” accessory (Like those S-Biners) then I would understand. This is a pile of cheap crap you’d get in a clearance bin to fill the spaces between the two or three items that actually warrant the price of the box.
Full-on TOOLS? No. This is not what they are promising. The Tool users out there are extremely picky about exactly what they use. Randomizing that is only going to frustrate them.
It would not surprise me in the slightest if these guys go under with this business model. I see Rigid up there… I’m a DeWALT guy… The very idea that they would send me something that I now have to go out and re-purchase to support it would make me cancel the subscription and never come back.
Now, if we were talking just… Select your favourite brands, and you get a box of supplies every month, then this would make sense. Fisher Space Pens/Refills, Field Notes, Bit Kits from the brand of your choice, Pen Lights, Battery Packs, Disposable Gloves, First Aid Supplies, C-Clamps/Kant Twists, Saw Blades and all that kind of thing? Yeah… Sign me up in a heartbeat. Throw in the odd Knife or Multi-Tool from the brand of your choice as well at a premium level, so you are always getting exactly what you go through most, and a few small things to cross off your upgrades list. THAT is worth it.
This subscription system thing doesn’t work for me. The AdaBox program, where you know what you’re getting, and the surprise is what you’re learning about the tech… THAT is a working model. These Tool, Gaming, and Geek Culture boxes are ridiculously obnoxious, and ignore the selectivity the groups they claim to serve are known for.
John
Unfortunately, the get2work box has been discontinued. I was really looking forward to receiving the framing box they advertised for May.
Chris
Odd, they haven’t said anything about it on their social media pages, they’ve just deleted most of them.
Tyson
Can we get a quick update by chance? I tried looking for this subscription but, they’re not there anymore. There’s only maybe a couple left that offer subscriptions for tools.
Stuart
The company seems to have abandoned their website. I am not familiar with any current alternate programs or offerings.