Selling a complete shop of tools?

[Flint Miller]

A relative recently died, leaving behind a complete shop's worth of stationary tools: saws, planers, shapers, sanders, dust collector, etc. It's mostly Grizzly, and probably around 30 years old, although unused for the last 15. Under the circumstances, I'd rather not sell it off piecemeal, but I'm wondering what the chances of success are of selling it as a collection. It's near Kansas City, which may well not be the center of the woodworking universe. Anyone have any experiences pro or con on this? If I have to sell the individual machines, are there specialized auctions that I should look at, or should I just consign it to a general auctioneer?

Any advice would be appreciated.

[james manutes]

I've gone to a few auctions of complete woodshops , hoping for a good buy . Not only did that not happen but stuff was going at 60 - 80 % of new retail prices . A Jet 16-32 drum sander I was looking at fetched $1000 , it's $1199 new . I think an auction would generate more than one large buyer might offer . Gotta find and pay the auctioneer , I don't know what their fee would be . If you can find somebody to take it all , thats a lot less trouble . Also , love your name , I was born in Flint Michigan .

[Andrew Pitonyak]

It seems unlikely that you can sell everything as a package deal except to someone who intends to resell it. Someone who would buy it to use it is likely to already have the equipment.

If there is enough stuff, an auction feels like a good way to do it, but be sure to advertise it in the paper (or wherever people do that these days; the auctioneer probably knows).

It is a lot of work to sell these things piece by piece. You might find a school (high school, university, etc) that is interested (do schools have shops anymore? Mine did not) you you just want a write-off.

A local woodworking club might have some better knowledge on how to deal with that. I purchased some things from a professional woodworker who was selling some stuff off for a lady whose husband had died.

If someone does the work for you, they will be compensated in some way.

Just a few thoughts on possibilities.

[Ron Selzer]

A good auctioneer will be the best for you based on what you posted.
Question is who that auctioneer is?
Good luck
Ron

[Erik Loza]

Most of the shops/customers I have, have not had luck selling whole packages. Invariably, someone already has this, only needs that, etc. If I were you, I would sell piecemeal and just be prepared for that. Or, as Ron mentioned, go the auction or estate sale route. Sorry for your loss and good luck with it.

Erik

[Carroll Courtney]

Like Erik saying, not that many people has a hunk of bills in their pocket. Most of us including myself started out one piece at time, the fun is in the hunt. I just don't think there are to many that will wake up and say " I want to be a woodworker" start looking for a package deal. Where I work at they would hire auction house to sell old stock that was no longer up to date and it was just such a pain to do. No longer do they use the auction houses to move stuff onward. To me its not that big of a pain to sell, it becomes a pain if someone is selling close to what new is. As they say " Price Sells"

[Richard Coers]

It completely boils down to money. From most return to less; 1)Hire a family member to take photos and be the contact for taking calls. 2)Have something like an estate sale. 3) Hire an auction company. They haul it all away and you get a check in return. Not sure if auction houses are open in your area because of Covid. 4)Take a bunch of pictures and list as all for one price sealed bids.

[Travis Conner]

You would have to do an estate sale. That's the easiest way.

[Earl McLain]

I've built my hobby shop one piece at a time, almost 100% used buy/sell/trade-up. Have read of great deals picked up at auctions, but those sound rarer than stories of seeing stuff sell higher than expected. In addition to wanting or needing a tool (or whatever), there are people who want to win. I've overpaid at online auctions for that very reason. Only been to a handful of live auctions, but the stuff i went for went for prices that left me shaking my head!! Properly advertised auction can probably NET as much as selling a piece at a time to buyers who are not in competition with other buyers. Just my thoughts--no scientific study on the competitive nature of auction bidders.
Best wishes to the family.
earl

[Wes Billups]

Flint, feel free to PM me if you are interested in getting some info on auctioneers. I live in Topeka, KS and have been to quite a few tool auctions as well as estate sales. Some were very good and others not so much. My mother was an auctioneer and I grew up working these auctions so I've been around the block a few times and have learned what to look for in auctioneers

You've got a lot of options but ultimately what you decide to do will determine how much it costs. Depending on the amount of "stuff" will determine what anyone assisting charges. Most likely you are looking at 10-20% commission depending on what route you go.

Wes

[Will Allen]

Online auctions are the deal these days. Here in Minneapolistan there are online auctions for everything. I watch quite a few of them but seldom buy anything because they get too much for used items. People have a lot of time to stare at the computer these days. That's good for the seller, not so good for a buyer.

The advantage is that you don't need to move your stuff and you don't get a hundred bidders overtaking your property for a few days.

[Matt Day]

You would have to do an estate sale. That's the easiest way.

Wrong, IMO. auction is the easiest way - estate sales are were people are looking for deals, pennies on the dollar. And there’s no guarantee it’ll all sell ina weekend or two. An auction will clear it out in one day, after some organizing and prep work - by the auctioneer not the family.

[Matt Day]

One other note about auctions - don’t sell anything beforehand or take a few of the main machines. Folks like me who go to auctions want to see as much as possibly in the ad. If most of the machinery is sold already, it turns off buyers and not as many will show up. In my experience.

[Flint Miller]

Thanks, everybody, for the thoughtful replies. They seem to confirm my main suspicion, that a one-fell-swoop sale would be a real long shot. Looks like my best bet will probably be to connect with an auction house, probably an online one to avoid a crowd of bidders and their entourage of viruses. If I get something going along that route, I'll mention it on SMC and maybe someone'll see that 36" planer (or whatever) they've always wanted. :)

[Flint Miller]

Also , love your name , I was born in Flint Michigan . Thanks, JM. Your compliment led me to look up Flint the city to see if maybe we had an ancestor in common. Nah, Flint's named for the stone abundant in the area. I'm named for some flinty sea captain in 19th century Nova Scotia.

[Zachary Hoyt]

Auctions are great if you get a good auctioneer. If you get a jackleg auctioneer that's good for the buyers but not so much for the seller. I have been to both kinds, it pays to look around at the choices or get a local person's advice on which auctioneer to hire. Around here I know who I would suggest to get top dollar, but it's a pretty local business. With COVID I would think an online auction would be a good bet.

[Flint Miller]

Thanks for the offer. I'm trying to figure out how to send a PM— apparently it doesn't work as stated in the FAQs. LFM

[Will Allen]

Auctions are great if you get a good auctioneer. If you get a jackleg auctioneer that's good for the buyers but not so much for the seller. I have been to both kinds, it pays to look around at the choices or get a local person's advice on which auctioneer to hire. Around here I know who I would suggest to get top dollar, but it's a pretty local business. With COVID I would think an online auction would be a good bet.

I go to several auctions every day and never leave my desk. I miss live auctions but they are becoming a dinosaur. Auctioneers are being replaced by computer programs.

I know of one online auction house that has an auction every Monday night. It might be antiques one week, firearms the next, tools and equipment another night. etc. I would probably not go there if I had to spend a whole day and maybe get nothing. But if I can sit at my desk in the evening I will attend every auction.

[Bruce King]

A relative recently died, leaving behind a complete shop's worth of stationary tools: saws, planers, shapers, sanders, dust collector, etc. It's mostly Grizzly, and probably around 30 years old, although unused for the last 15. Under the circumstances, I'd rather not sell it off piecemeal, but I'm wondering what the chances of success are of selling it as a collection. It's near Kansas City, which may well not be the center of the woodworking universe. Anyone have any experiences pro or con on this? If I have to sell the individual machines, are there specialized auctions that I should look at, or should I just consign it to a general auctioneer?
Any advice would be appreciated.

If someone had a complete set of machines that cost around 6k because some were bought used I would bet the whole lot could be sold for 3000 to 3500. It’s worth trying. I have left items listed on CL for 3 to 8 months without dropping the price and someone popped up and bought it. You have to renew the ad every 30 to 45 days and within about two days or the pictures will be lost. Since those are older Grizzly, I would get on their parts site and see if common items like switches and plastic levers are available. If they are you have a good sales pitch to add.

[Neil Gaskin]

Hello. I’m close to KC. In Lawrence.

Equip bid or purple wave may be auction options. Mayo is another I see a lot. I’ve bought from Equip bid and looked into selling. I didn’t think the selling worked out so well so I’ve sold stuff mostly on fb and Craigslist. Craigslist is a crap shoot.

I may be interested in purchasing several things but I want to take a look. I wouldn’t buy the whole shop out more than likely.

Where is it located and would you be willing to show me what’s there?


Thanks.

[Rick Potter]

Have you considered spending 6 bucks to become a contributor.....then listing it on Sawmill Creeks classified section?

Lots of people, all of whom are tool-centric.

[Rob Luter]

A relative recently died, leaving behind a complete shop's worth of stationary tools: saws, planers, shapers, sanders, dust collector, etc. It's mostly Grizzly, and probably around 30 years old, although unused for the last 15. Under the circumstances, I'd rather not sell it off piecemeal, but I'm wondering what the chances of success are of selling it as a collection. It's near Kansas City, which may well not be the center of the woodworking universe. Anyone have any experiences pro or con on this? If I have to sell the individual machines, are there specialized auctions that I should look at, or should I just consign it to a general auctioneer?

Any advice would be appreciated.

What is your ultimate goal? Who will the proceeds go to? The best solution depends on what constitutes success on your part.

If the goal is to quickly liquidate the equipment to empty the property and ready it for sale, a well publicised auction will probably work. In that case price paid will probably not be top dollar and money will go in a number of pockets besides yours. While end users will be there to bid, so will resellers.

If the goal is to sell at maximum profit with the proceeds going to a grieving widow for living expenses, sell it off piecemeal to end users. This will take time. If the deceased was a serious woodworker perhaps he had a social circle that could help network.

If you have lots of time, try Craigslist and the classified sections of woodworking forums like Sawmill Creek.

Whatever course you choose, be realistic about your selling prices. Folks aren't likely to snatch up 30 year old machinery priced 10% under new.

[Clark Hussey]

Thanks for the offer. I'm trying to figure out how to send a PM— apparently it doesn't work as stated in the FAQs. LFM
You have to be a contributor to use the pm feature

[Flint Miller]

You have to be a contributor to use the pm feature

Thanks for the tip. It might have taken me weeks to figure that out on my own.

[Jim Becker]

Thanks for the offer. I'm trying to figure out how to send a PM— apparently it doesn't work as stated in the FAQs. LFM
PMs, photo viewing and the classifieds require Contributor status...just click on "Donate" up at the top of the page. It's $6 per year to be a Contributor.

Jim
Forum Moderator

[Stan Calow]

Flint, I think KC is actually the center of the woodworking universe, or maybe just mine. You've been given all the good answers. Is it just the woodworking stuff you want to sell, or is there a household of stuff as well? If its just the tools and supplies, consider making a list and and posting it here in the classified section of the forum. There are a lot of folks from KC here, and it will save you from the gawkers and bargain hunters.

I go to a lot of estate sales and auctions, especially if they note woodworking tools & supplies. But I won't go unless the ad mentions more specifically what they have. Some people seem to think a box of old cheap chisels and a rusty circular saw qualifies as "woodworking tools". Sometimes you can tell when the good stuff has been cherry-picked before the sale. I think auctions get better prices and quicker, but its a lot more hassle. And some estate sale companies price things high so they can make a very low bid for all the remaining stuff at the end.

[Flint Miller]

PMs, photo viewing and the classifieds require Contributor status...just click on "Donate" up at the top of the page. It's $6 per year to be a Contributor. Jim, Forum Moderator

Small price to pay. I'll do that. Then I'd like to come back to this thread with a list of what I've got. I'm not in a position to offer the stuff for sale at this moment (depends on decision of co-executors) but I want to let the forum see what I'm talking about.

[Jim Becker]

Small price to pay. I'll do that. Then I'd like to come back to this thread with a list of what I've got. I'm not in a position to offer the stuff for sale at this moment (depends on decision of co-executors) but I want to let the forum see what I'm talking about.

This thread wouldn't be the correct place to "list" any kind of available equipment. The Classifieds is, but all items must have prices and you need to be the owner who is selling per the rules. What you can do, however, is mention a few things here for grins and giggles to keep the boys and girls entertained. ;)


Another suggestion...consider taking up woodworking since you have a great opportunity to acquire some nice stuff to work with.

[Jon Endres]

I've participated in a few online-only auctions in my area recently, and in most cases, even the junk went for prices that had me shaking my head and saying "what were they thinking?" I'm cheap and I didn't get much - a few clamps and a decent vise which was still too much money. These were full woodworking shops, everything from the big equipment down to workbenches, hand tools, lumber and hardware. The auctioneer takes care of everything and the buyer's premium tends to be around 18% lately. Plus sales tax. This would definitely be the best way to dispose of that stuff. There seems to be a lot of people spending their "stimulus checks" for DIY stuff and home improvement and this is a side effect.

[Will Allen]

I've participated in a few online-only auctions in my area recently, and in most cases, even the junk went for prices that had me shaking my head and saying "what were they thinking?" I'm cheap and I didn't get much - a few clamps and a decent vise which was still too much money. These were full woodworking shops, everything from the big equipment down to workbenches, hand tools, lumber and hardware. The auctioneer takes care of everything and the buyer's premium tends to be around 18% lately. Plus sales tax. This would definitely be the best way to dispose of that stuff. There seems to be a lot of people spending their "stimulus checks" for DIY stuff and home improvement and this is a side effect.

I am watching a few of them near me right now. I've seen a lot of these tools sell for 80% of new price. Ridiculous!!!!!

I have told the wife that if I tip over someday to sell all my stuff this way. She will make a fortune.

I think these auctions have become the latest addiction in the country. We have Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers anonymous and soon there will be internet buying anonymous. So many people sit on Amazon and buy stuff they don't need with money they don't have.

[Thomas Colson]

Every single estate sale I have gone to involving the sale of a serious DIY or profession WW has been attending by hordes of wealthy folks bidding not much less than new for floor tools. Hand tools usually go for pretty cheap. Now clamps, holy cow. I'm thinking of buying a couple hundred clamps, faking my death, then tripling my investment at the estate sale, because that's what I see clamps get bid to at these things. Granted, your typical estate sale bidder is looking for cheap stuff, but spend a Saturday morning in a barn bidding on a 20 year old rusty Grizzly with 50 other guys with 75,000$ pick-ups parked outside with a 50,000$ Harley enclosed tandem axle trailer on the back of every one of them (because they KNOW they're going to be the successful bidder). Wood worker estate sales tend to attract people for whom money is no barrier.

[Roger Feeley]

Flint,
Contact the Kansas City Woodworkers Guild. I used to belong and they handled several estate sales of shop equipment. Like any estate sale contractor, the Guild will charge a flat percentage. They will remove the tools to their 10,000 square foot facility, their experts will price the tools and they will handle the sale days.

The guild is a 5013c non-profit.

[Flint Miller]

Again, thanks to all for the useful suggestions and experiences. I expect we'll end up going with an online auction, but per the moderator's suggestion above, I'll just mention a couple of the items I found the most interesting: Performax Supermax 37x2 220v sander, Grizzly 20" planer, General International 75-050 mortiser. Will update.

[Jim Matthews]

...should I just consign it to a general auctioneer?

Any advice would be appreciated.

If this shop is part of a larger estate it's unlikely the value approaches the real estate it occupies.

Unless there are historical rarities or collector's items in the shop, an on-site auction will be more expedient in clearing the building for eventual sale.


https://www.auctionskc.com/

[Steven Cooper2]

Our woodworkers club (and our neighbor club) advertises several estate/auction type events a year. As suggested earlier, I would check with the local woodworkers club.

They also will list a classified on their local page, better quality machinery seems to go in a couple days around here. I know I would be eyeing the sander and planer...