[Fred T]

The time to buy used tools is when the economy is down. I usually try to hit the pawn shops. Best time of the year is after Christmas.

For SK, find who the local distributor is (not the dealer). Some are the auto part jobbers. If you're working for a shop they sell to, you can usually buy the tools at what your company would pay. SK still makes good tools, but they don't replace them for wear. The last I knew, none of the big tool makers would. If they are, thank your sales rep, because the warranties have clauses that include normal wear.

When you return tools to Sears, and they give you any problems, this is found on the next to last page of the 2008 Craftsman catalog found through sears.com.