I have put almost 25 percent of my pay back into my tools and run between six and eight tool accounts. To date, I have invested about $100,000 in tools and equipment. I still find it hard to justify buying some specialty tools because some I have only used once. Most tools have very little to no trade-in or resale value. You cannot count on selling them to retire on, so they are only an investment as long as you are able to make money with them.
With tools and equipment getting more expensive all the time, and the techs pay cut to 35 percent labor or less, it is getting very hard for a tech to update or renew outdated equipment. It gets even worse when you get into the need for information systems, such as ALLDATA or Mitchell. Even though the tech is the one that needs the information, only the shop can afford it.
It comes down to the fact that tool and equipment upgrades in the service industry are a never-ending cycle. No one person on their own can keep up with it. The tech and the shop have to work together. Shops should purchase the big-ticket equipment, such as alignment machines and brake lathes. But techs need to invest in their own tools, too, without going broke in the process.
One way to dissect any argument is to look at the extremes and see what they show. So, would you answer this ad? "Class A technician wanted, must hold state inspection and emission certification. ASE a plus. Must have all necessary tools, including emission analyzer, air compressor and four-post lift." Not likely you'll be making that phone call. Clearly, there are pieces of equipment that a shop must have just to open the doors. The shop owner has certain equipment requirements, particularly in shops doing state-required emission or safety inspection.
