To sell used tools fast and without risk, post a listing with photos of the tool, an honest description of its condition and a realistic price based on similar listings in the same city. Then answer the buyer's questions, arrange a viewing in a safe place and accept cash payment on delivery.
The market for used tools in the UK is crowded: professionals upgrade their gear, companies sell off surplus equipment and DIYers hunt for a working drill or angle grinder at half the price of new. That is exactly why your listing competes not with the shop but with dozens of other sellers offering the same model in Manchester, Birmingham or London. Whoever writes clearly what they are selling and for how much gets messages on the first day. Whoever hides a defect wastes time in negotiations and returns. Here is the order of actions: price, photos, text, communication, handover.
- Compare at least five listings for the same model and city before you write a number.
- Six clear photos in daylight sell faster than a long description.
- Cash on collection, no deposits and no courier links.
- Check the serial number and the weight of the tool before you go to a viewing.
How to set a price for used tools
The price is set by three things: the market value of the model, the condition and how fast you want to sell. Search for the exact model, not the category. If you are selling a Makita 9558NB, compare it with a Makita 9558NB, not with all angle grinders.
Look at listings within a 30-mile radius. A buyer rarely travels further for a tool that costs £150. If there is not a single similar listing in Leeds but there are five in London, your price is measured against the London ones, but with a discount for transport.
What the value depends on
The brand holds the price most strongly. Bosch Professional, Makita, DeWalt, Metabo and Milwaukee are still in demand after ten years of use. A no-name tool from a car boot sale is worth its weight.
The battery condition decides for cordless tools. A new 18V battery costs between £40 and £100, so the buyer factors its price into yours. If the battery holds a weak charge, say so in the listing and drop 20 to 30 percent.
Completeness adds value. The original case, charger, second battery and spare brushes raise the price by £5 to £10 compared with a bare tool. The same goes for documents: warranty card, receipt, service history.
How much to give in a haggle
Add 10 percent above the price you want. That is the buffer you give away without dropping below your minimum. Tool buyers almost always offer less, and a seller who will not budge a penny loses interest.
Decide your bottom line in advance. If you listed £180 and your minimum is £150, do not go below £150 even after a week of waiting. Better to take the listing down and repost it a month later than to sell at a loss.
Photos and description: how the listing gets messages
A listing gets messages when the buyer sees in three seconds what the tool is, what condition it is in and how much it costs. Photos do that work, the text only confirms.
How to photograph a tool
Shoot in daylight on a clean background. Put the tool on a worktop, table or concrete, not on a carpet and not on a tangle of cables. A phone is enough if it is steady and the flash is off.
Take six shots: a full front view, the back with the label, the serial number, the wear points, the accessory set and the case. The serial number matters because the buyer checks whether the tool has been reported stolen.
Show the defects. A scratch, a cracked plastic part and a worn brush show up better in a photo than in a sentence. A hidden fault comes back as a complaint and ruins the deal.
What to write
The first line is brand, model and power. The second is the condition in one honest word: like new, good, working, for parts. Then come the year of purchase, whether it was used professionally or by a hobbyist, and what is included in the price.
Do not write "selling due to surplus". Write "selling because I switched to an 18V system and this 12V kit is left unused". A specific reason sounds true and the buyer asks fewer questions.
State the city and the neighbourhood, not just the region. "London, Camden" works better than "London". The buyer judges in two seconds whether they can drive over.
How to answer buyers and spot a scam
Reply briefly, to the point and within a few hours. The first reply decides whether the conversation continues. State the price, the location and when you can show the tool.
Sentences that should stop you
Scams in tool sales follow the same script. The buyer is far away, cannot come, but sends a courier. They ask for your IBAN, then send a fake screenshot from a banking app showing the money has been transferred.
The second sentence is about an advance. "The courier is coming tomorrow, pay the delivery fee and I will add it to the price." There is no such courier. There is only a transfer to a stranger.
The third version is a phishing link. "Click here to confirm receipt of the money." The link leads to a fake site that wants your card details. A real bank does not ask for confirmation through a link from a buyer.
Check the money in your account, not the buyer's screenshot. If the amount is not available in your mobile banking, it has not been transferred, no matter what the picture shows.
What to reply
Write "I accept cash on collection" and stop the conversation there. If the buyer insists on an advance or a link, end it. No tool is worth the risk of a drained card.
Ask for a phone call before the viewing. A voice is clearer than chat and a scammer usually disappears at that point. The buyer's number can be checked through public records, and if you suspect fraud, report it to Action Fraud.
If you sell professionally and issue a document, check the requirements for your activity with the Consumer Protection Commission. A private sale and a commercial activity have different obligations.
Where to meet and how to hand over the tool
Meet in a public place, during the day, with someone who knows where you are. A petrol station, a supermarket car park, a busy street. If the tool is heavy, ask a friend to come with you.
Do not let a stranger into your garage or warehouse. If the tool is large and cannot be moved, arrange a viewing on site, but with a second person and in daylight. Keep the door open and do not leave the buyer alone among your other belongings.
The viewing
Run the tool in front of the buyer. Plug it in, let them hold it, let them try it. If it is cordless, bring a charged battery. A tool that cannot be switched on on site is hard to sell.
Show the serial number and let the buyer write it down. That is a sign of honesty and reduces the fear of stolen goods. For more expensive equipment, write the buyer's name and phone number on a receipt in two copies.
Payment
Cash in hand on collection is the cleanest option. If the amount is over £1000, arrange payment in a bank branch or at a place with an ATM and check the balance immediately. Do not accept a cheque and do not accept a transfer that has not yet cleared.
When you hand over at a place with cameras, such as a petrol station, you also have a recording if a dispute arises. That helps both sides.
Quick sale, average price or trade-in: which suits you
There are three ways to sell used tools and each brings a different result. The choice depends on how much you need the money and how much time you have.
| Approach | Time to deal | Price vs market | Risk | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick sale | 1 to 3 days | 15 to 25 percent below market | Low, but you lose money | When you need space or fast cash |
| Best price | 2 to 6 weeks | At market level | Medium, the listing ages | When you have patience and good condition |
| Trade-in or buyout | Same day | 40 to 60 percent below market | Low | For a whole batch of tools |
A quick sale works when you have dropped the price enough to be the lowest in the city. Then the listing collects messages within hours. The downside is obvious: you leave money on the table.
The best price takes patience. Post the listing at the start of the month, when people get paid. Refresh it every ten days with a new photo so it does not sink in the list.
Trade-in and buyout are for companies with surplus equipment. One drill is not worth the conversation, but ten hammer drills and three compressors are a batch that sells in one go.
How the listing reaches the buyer
Post where buyers search by city and category. EX & GO has a dedicated tools category and lets you filter by city and radius, which saves driving around. You can see the seller's history and reviews before you message, and listings go through moderation.
If you sell regularly, register a profile and maintain your rating. Buyers look at how many deals you have and what previous buyers write. A profile with ten completed deals gets an answer faster than a new one.
The rules on posting, prohibited goods and photo requirements are set out in the platform rules. Read them once before you post your first listing so your text is not sent back for corrections.
Before you post, compare prices for similar tools in post a listing. And if you are looking for spare parts or accessories for the tool you are selling, see also used tools.
We see which listings moderation returns most often: photos from the internet instead of real shots of the tool and prices with no link to the market. Texts with clear photos and an honestly described condition go through quickly and collect more messages.
Check this before you post
Take five minutes for the list. It saves corrections and having the listing returned.
- Brand, model and power are in the first line.
- The price is compared with at least five listings in the same city.
- Six photos in daylight, including the serial number.
- Defects are described in words, not hidden.
- The city and neighbourhood are stated.
- Payment terms are clear: cash on collection.
- The phone number is current and you reply within the day.
- The profile has a photo and completed details.
If any line is not ticked, fix it before posting. A listing posted once and edited afterwards loses its position in the list.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay tax when I sell my personal tool?
For a one-off sale of a personal item that was not bought for resale, income tax is usually not due. If you sell regularly for profit, the activity has a different character and it is best to consult an accountant or the tax authority. Keep purchase documents if the tool is expensive.
Can I return the tool if the buyer complains after the sale?
In a sale between private individuals there is no legal obligation to accept returns, as there is with a trader. So describe the condition accurately and let the buyer test the tool on site. If you hid a defect, the dispute is between you and your reputation, and the platform can only step in if the listing breaks the rules.
How do I know the tool is not reported stolen?
Check the serial number and compare it with the details in the listing. For expensive equipment, ask for a purchase document or warranty card. If you suspect the goods are stolen, do not buy and report it to the police. The check is quick and protects both buyer and seller from trouble.
How many photos do I need for a tool listing?
Six shots are enough. One full view, one from the back with the label, one of the serial number, one of the wear, one with the accessories and one with the case. More photos do not hurt, but blurry and dark shots put people off. Shoot in daylight and without flash.
Why is my listing not getting messages?
Most often the price is the reason. Compare it with similar listings in the same city and see if you are 30 percent above the market. The second reason is the photos: dark, blurry or taken from the internet. The third is the missing city and neighbourhood. Fix these three things and post the listing again.
Is it safe to accept payment by bank transfer?
A bank transfer is safe when the money is available in your account, not just shown in a screenshot. Do not accept a photo of a screen as proof of payment and do not pay fees for a courier who is supposedly coming to collect the goods. If the buyer insists on an advance or a confirmation link, end the conversation.
What decides the outcome of the deal
To sell used tools without risk means keeping control of three things: the information in the listing, the communication with the buyer and the place of handover. An honest description of the condition reduces haggling. A clear price reduces empty messages. A public meeting and cash payment remove the most common scams.
Do not rush the discount. A week of patience often brings 20 percent more than the first offer. If you are selling several tools, sort them by value and start with the most in-demand. The profile you maintain today works for you at the next sale.
Finally: check the platform rules, shoot real photos, write accurately and meet in daylight. That is the whole job.