In the UK what is the go to tool seller?

[TheLoraxxZeus]

Seller = retailer, brick and mortar shop. Crappy title sorry,


I recently watched a video by BigTime on Youtube ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2pIxuWvpvc) where they go to their local Harbour Freight and walk out with $15k worth of tools.

The thing that I noticed straight away is (it's the whole point in the video) is that all these tools where the same brand, Icon. I just can't for the life of me think of a shop in the UK I could walk into and leave with that many tools.

The only place I can think of that comes close is Scewfix but you will not get all the same brand. Halfords stock is god awful in every store I've been in but even if they stocked every Halfrods Advanced tool it wouldn't even touch half the stuff these guys pick up.

Does a place like this even exist in the UK? I have in the past required a tool and found myself having to check 3-4x Halfords branches in a 20 mile radius, a handful of Screwfixes and B&Q I don't even bother anymore because it's just a dropship store at this point.

[Belle427]

I dont think there is really, maybe machine mart but they wont stock everything. Click and collect at Halfords normally works for me.
I do see some of these department stores on programmes like mighty car mods, super cheap autos is one that springs to mind. Looks a great place to spend a few hours and some money!

[bimsb6]

My go to in the states used to be sears , massive range with a lifetime warranty on handtools , they also had a more budget range without the warranty .never had an issue returning tools no receipt reqd as every thing was their brand .(craftsman branded)

Edited by bimsb6 on Tuesday 17th December 17:26

[donkmeister]

Isn't icon the harbour freight own brand? It's like walking into Wickes and buying a load of Wickes tools, or Costco and getting Kirkland.

[anonymous-user]

Machine Mart is about as good as it gets really. You might get lucky if you have a big Halfords nearby.

I love going into Harbor Freight, Home Dept, Canadian Tire etc when I'm across the pond, their tool/DIY stores are like nothing we have here. Same with auto parts too

[gazza285]

One of our local auto factors is a Teng dealer, you can go in and buy a vast amount of their stuff, and you can order in anything that isn’t in stock.

[TheLoraxxZeus]

donkmeister said:

Isn't icon the harbour freight own brand? It's like walking into Wickes and buying a load of Wickes tools, or Costco and getting Kirkland.

Yeah it's their own brand. I think the difference here is the warranty. They offer a lifetime warranty much like Halfords Advanced except they seem to have considerably more tools on offer. That's what struck me the most because there is just no way to walk into a shop around me and walk out with a bunch of tools like that.

If you were to write a list that included ratchets, sockets, torque wrench, extensions etc etc and go into the biggest Halfords in the country I doubt you would walk out with even half your list.

[TheLoraxxZeus]

MrBig said:

their tool/DIY stores are like nothing we have here. Same with auto parts too

[irish boy]

We've 30000 square feet in showroom. Not sure how that compares to UK mainland but we're the biggest in NI and you'd enjoy a visit if you ever do a Belfast city break.


https://www.dwtoolshop.com/pages/showroom

[LunarOne]

MrBig said:

Machine Mart is about as good as it gets really. You might get lucky if you have a big Halfords nearby.

I love going into Harbor Freight, Home Dept, Canadian Tire etc when I'm across the pond, their tool/DIY stores are like nothing we have here. Same with auto parts too

Machine Mart was basically set up by Clarke to sell their tools, so it's the closest thing we have to Harbor Freight.

[tapkaJohnD]

If you want to spend $15000 (£12000?) on tools then a "retailer, brick and mortar shop" is the last place to go to. Better go to the head offices of any of the suppliers, and negotiate, because for a contract like that you'll get a BIG discount!

I'd start with Halfords and their 'Advanced' range, but MachineMart, Bluepoint (Blaupunkt!), or even SnapOn. Ask, compare and bargain. You'll get one for that sort of investment! See: https://www.halfordsforbusiness.com/wholesale/

Even if you're not spending that much, get yourself a Halfords 'Trade' card. It's supposed to be for professionals, who Halfords hopes will spend more in their shops, but all it needs is a "proof of trade" document, see: https://www.halfords.com/on/demandware.store/Sites... And if you could spend a few hundred, I would not be surprised if the shop manager issued you a Trade card on the spot!

John

Edited by tapkaJohnD on Wednesday 18th December 11:49

[InitialDave]

Take a holiday to a US state with good weather and low sales tax, and raid a Harbor Freight!

In the UK closest is Machine Mart, but not quite as good or cheap.

[super7]

tapkaJohnD said:

If you want to spend $15000 (£12000?) on tools then a "retailer, brick and mortar shop" is the last place to go to. Better go to the head offices of any of the suppliers, and negotiate, because for a contract like that you'll get a BIG discount!

I'd start with Halfords and their 'Advanced' range, but MachineMart, Bluepoint (Blaupunkt!), or even SnapOn. Ask, compare and bargain. You'll get one for that sort of investment! See: https://www.halfordsforbusiness.com/wholesale/

Even if you're not spending that much, get yourself a Halfords 'Trade' card. It's supposed to be for professionals, who Halfords hopes will spend more in their shops, but all it needs is a "proof of trade" document, see: https://www.halfords.com/on/demandware.store/Sites... And if you could spend a few hundred, I would not be surprised if the shop manager issued you a Trade card on the spot!

John

Edited by tapkaJohnD on Wednesday 18th December 11:49

Bluepoint is the cheaper range of Snap-On....

[Tony1963]

InitialDave said:

Take a holiday to a US state with good weather and low sales tax, and raid a Harbor Freight!

In the UK closest is Machine Mart, but not quite as good or cheap.

Would be interesting g to see how it all compares once that low sales tax, shipping, and any tax and other charges are included.

I went on a company trip to Cleveland, Ohio over twenty years ago, and stuffed a load of Craftsman tools inside our new hydraulic test rig. Top tip there

[dhutch]

Belle427 said:

....Click and collect at Halfords normally works for me...

With a tradecard, you can do a lot worse.

But as said, Machine Mart is one of the other options.

Or year, the infamous SnapOn Van!

[TheLoraxxZeus]

tapkaJohnD said:

If you want to spend $15000 (£12000?) on tools then a "retailer, brick and mortar shop" is the last place to go to. Better go to the head offices of any of the suppliers, and negotiate, because for a contract like that you'll get a BIG discount!

I'd start with Halfords and their 'Advanced' range, but MachineMart, Bluepoint (Blaupunkt!), or even SnapOn. Ask, compare and bargain. You'll get one for that sort of investment! See: https://www.halfordsforbusiness.com/wholesale/

Even if you're not spending that much, get yourself a Halfords 'Trade' card. It's supposed to be for professionals, who Halfords hopes will spend more in their shops, but all it needs is a "proof of trade" document, see: https://www.halfords.com/on/demandware.store/Sites... And if you could spend a few hundred, I would not be surprised if the shop manager issued you a Trade card on the spot!

John

Edited by tapkaJohnD on Wednesday 18th December 11:49

Ha I'm not in the market for £12k worth of tools . This was more of "does it exist" because I'm kind of jealous at the huge range of options they just have on the shelf.

I do have mostly Halfords Advanced tools however I've started buying Facom tools when I can. I'll look into the trade card thing because it's my current go to for random bits and bobs for ongoing jobs.

[donkmeister]

Tony1963 said:

InitialDave said:

Take a holiday to a US state with good weather and low sales tax, and raid a Harbor Freight!

In the UK closest is Machine Mart, but not quite as good or cheap.

Would be interesting g to see how it all compares once that low sales tax, shipping, and any tax and other charges are included.

I went on a company trip to Cleveland, Ohio over twenty years ago, and stuffed a load of Craftsman tools inside our new hydraulic test rig. Top tip there

Whilst you'll probably be fine, the danger is you end up paying import duty and VAT when you bring them back to the UK. Yes you can take the packaging off but then you have the (admittedly low) risk of trying to explain you aren't flouting the terms of your visa/waiver.

[Novexx]

I've never been to their retail showroom & have only ordered online, but range, availability & service from Prime Tool (Bath) has always been superb.

It looks like their current showroom is closed while they move to bigger, better place.

[ChocolateFrog]

Halfords Advanced is the answer.

Yes the range is not as expansive but it's the only shop that's comparable and with the lifetime guarantee on tools.

[ChocolateFrog]

Machine Mart. That has to be some inside joke I'm not getting.

The quality is vastly inferior and I don't know about their guarantee but I doubt I can walk in with a handful of clearly abused 20 year old tools and walk out with brand new ones no questions asked.