Leatherman Garage

SteveC · **Reply #180 on:** February 23, 2022, 08:34:33 PM

Let's keep this discussion civil.

gregpost · **Reply #181 on:** February 23, 2022, 08:37:48 PM

Quote from: SteveC on February 23, 2022, 08:34:33 PM

Let's keep this discussion civil.

On a more positive note this speaks to Leatherman's great success as a business and if we take a moment to be less cynical about hype, resellers, and limited editions, the 1,000 run seems small today but the original PST launched with runs of 500 at time, then 750, then 1,000. So with that perspective maybe it's just their way of actually getting back to their roots.

My first million: Tim Leatherman, Leatherman Tool Group

Six months later, at $24, catalogues were more interested and Leatherman soon had an order for $12,000-worth 500 tools through the post. Berliner's father offered space in his business for Leatherman's machinery and they got working for a delivery date of December 1983. As it turned out, this wasn't quick enough for the catalogues. "They said we need them really badly, because they've all been sold. Here's an order for 500 more. And a week after that they said 500 have gone, here's an order for 750, and two weeks later the 750 had been sold, here's an order for 1,000."

powernoodle · **Reply #182 on:** February 23, 2022, 09:17:15 PM

Quote from: gregpost on February 23, 2022, 06:34:17 PM

Leatherman is not a publicly traded company. No idea what your talking about with shareholders and dividends and such. It's a private business . . . .

Privately held companies issue stock. I have such a certificate right in front of me (in the course of doing my taxes), which has a share value and for which dividends are issued.

https://www.upcounsel.com/private-company-stock

GearedForwards · **Reply #183 on:** February 23, 2022, 09:29:16 PM

Quote from: powernoodle on February 23, 2022, 09:17:15 PM

Privately held companies issue stock. I have such a certificate right in front of me (in the course of doing my taxes), which has a share value and for which dividends are issued.

https://www.upcounsel.com/private-company-stock

Private companies can issue stock, again do we actually have any indication that Leatherman does this?

powernoodle · **Reply #184 on:** February 23, 2022, 09:40:45 PM

Quote from: GearedForwards on February 23, 2022, 09:29:16 PM

Private companies can issue stock, again do we actually have any indication that Leatherman does this?

Tim Leatherman won't return my calls anymore, so I guess I'll never know.

But this whole stock thing is a red herring. The salient point (which I brilliantly articulated

) is that Leatherman Tool Group exists to generate revenue for its owners, and not to make the MTs we think it should make at the price we think it should Charge. [<< Leatherman pun].

You lads and lassies are a passionate, passionate bunch about your MTs - I'll give you that - which is what makes MTO so much fun.

MrToolJunkie · **Reply #185 on:** February 23, 2022, 10:12:34 PM

I am just happy I was able to procure one of these and now have to agonize if I will use it or put on a shelf to admire. I am excited about the innovation with the new plier head and chisel. Don't really care as much about the other tools since they all exist in different variants today.

GearedForwards · **Reply #186 on:** February 23, 2022, 10:49:55 PM

Quote from: powernoodle on February 23, 2022, 09:40:45 PM

Tim Leatherman won't return my calls anymore, so I guess I'll never know. But this whole stock thing is a red herring. The salient point (which I brilliantly articulated ) is that Leatherman Tool Group exists to generate revenue for its owners, and not to make the MTs we think it should make at the price we think it should Charge. [<< Leatherman pun].

You lads and lassies are a passionate, passionate bunch about your MTs - I'll give you that - which is what makes MTO so much fun.

Here I thought it existed because Tim Leatherman had to keep fixing the motel plumbing whilst travelling

Why a company exists depends on what the people at the top prioritise, unless we're talking about the legal structure of what a company is, which doesn't seem pertinent or helpful.

I'll try and relate this to my own personal experience:

I used to work for a trailer manufacturer with a long history of quality and an excellent reputation. It was started by one guy making trailers and whilst he worked there employee morale and product quality was king. That built an incredibly successful company with a desirable product. When he retired from day-to-day operations things shifted to the bottom line and profit margins. It's now a dreadful, underpaid place to work that puts out a questionable quality product on the name quality once built.

I can't help but see comparisons and it's concerning.

Rich_SD · **Reply #187 on:** February 23, 2022, 10:57:29 PM

Quote from: MrToolJunkie on February 23, 2022, 10:12:34 PM

I am just happy I was able to procure one of these and now have to agonize if I will use it or put on a shelf to admire.

I am faced with this same dilemma.

I really want to use it, but I'm afraid I would break a one-of-a-kind part... not because it doesn't seem durable - it's just my luck.

Aloha · **Reply #188 on:** February 23, 2022, 10:58:43 PM

Tim saw a need and put in a lot of hard work to fill that need. Yeah its about profits otherwise whats the purpose? Thats said, I really like what greg said.

Quote from: gregpost on February 23, 2022, 08:37:48 PM

On a more positive note this speaks to Leatherman's great success as a business and if we take a moment to be less cynical about hype, resellers, and limited editions, the 1,000 run seems small today but the original PST launched with runs of 500 at time, then 750, then 1,000. So with that perspective maybe it's just their way of actually getting back to their roots.

My first million: Tim Leatherman, Leatherman Tool Group

Six months later, at $24, catalogues were more interested and Leatherman soon had an order for $12,000-worth 500 tools through the post. Berliner's father offered space in his business for Leatherman's machinery and they got working for a delivery date of December 1983. As it turned out, this wasn't quick enough for the catalogues. "They said we need them really badly, because they've all been sold. Here's an order for 500 more. And a week after that they said 500 have gone, here's an order for 750, and two weeks later the 750 had been sold, here's an order for 1,000."

Maybe we all got it wrong? They're going back to their roots so to speak. Maybe Tim took someone out the the shed

gregpost · **Reply #189 on:** February 23, 2022, 11:34:12 PM

And if you take the long view Leatherman is still offering good value. The original PST was $24 in 1983 dollars which today is around $67. You can buy a Leatherman Bond for $60 or Leatherman Rebar which arguably improves the design for not much more.

Aloha · **Reply #190 on:** February 23, 2022, 11:40:46 PM

I still feel 200 asking price was fair

. I didn't get one as my lust for MTs is not as strong as it was. I give LM a hard time cause I know they are capable of more. I get its not good business sense to cater to the customers but I'm still gonna bust their chops when I see a reason. I'm a fan, I'm a user, I'm a collector of Leatheman, and I will always be. I'm stoked for those who got a tool. How fun is this? I don't think the FREE got this much excitement

.

Rich_SD · **Reply #191 on:** February 24, 2022, 12:13:56 AM

Quote from: Aloha on February 23, 2022, 11:40:46 PM

I still feel 200 asking price was fair .

I was expecting $250 or more for a Garage tool, so I was pleasantly surprised with the price.

Given how quickly they sold out, I'm going to expect the next Garage tool to cost more... I hope I'm wrong again.

kkokkolis · **Reply #192 on:** February 24, 2022, 12:14:55 AM

I'm not a fan, neither a collector, I simply enjoy light use of those shiny metal things. As far as I am concerned, the more designs see the light of the sun, the better for everyone. I don't need to own something to appreciate it. So, as long as I live, I'll be informed about Leatherman or Victorinox or even Gerber products. But as a person and as a user I may have an opinion and even complain for some issues, like making such good moves as engineering the bit holder and the t-shank holder and then restricting their use for some specific models. Or building a ton of different color versions, taking advantage of (or even manipulating in fact) the collector impulses (Vic does that also and perhaps more extensively). Or how easy these relatively expensive steels break or rust (neither ever happened to the inferior Swiss steels which I abused with more force and for more years).
However controversial this tool is, it's nice to have it and we need even more and, if possible, even better tools, at adequate numbers.

Adam5 · **Reply #193 on:** February 24, 2022, 12:18:49 AM

For anyone who wants a Mr Crunch, keep checking and refreshing the web page. Two more became available about 30 minutes ago. Of course, they are gone now. But it is possible more will reappear.

Full disclosure:
I bought one of the two. I almost bought both, but, while I see nothing wrong with someone buying two with the intent to sale one to cover the cost, I am like Rich. I would not feel right doing it.

Besides, I am not sure I will keep it. I am very curious about Mr. Crunch and want to handle it some, but the Gerber Dual Force is more interesting to me. I may decide to pass it on

Rich_SD · **Reply #194 on:** February 24, 2022, 12:44:32 AM

Just now - 8 available

MrToolJunkie · **Reply #195 on:** February 24, 2022, 12:46:26 AM

Yep. Random ones keep appearing. I picked up a second one. Now I can use one and enjoy it and keep one new and admire it as a shelf Queen. I will sleep better now in my OCD state.

Rich_SD · **Reply #196 on:** February 24, 2022, 12:49:13 AM

Quote from: Adam5 on February 24, 2022, 12:18:49 AM

For anyone who wants a Mr Crunch, keep checking and refreshing the web page. Two more became available about 30 minutes ago. Of course, they are gone now. But it is possible more will reappear.

Full disclosure:
I bought one of the two. I almost bought both, but, while I see nothing wrong with someone buying two with the intent to sale one to cover the cost, I am like Rich. I would not feel right doing it.

Besides, I am not sure I will keep it. I am very curious about Mr. Crunch and want to handle it some, but the Gerber Dual Force is more interesting to me. I may decide to pass it on

Oooo... I am very eager to get my hands on the Dual Force too!!

Adam5 · **Reply #197 on:** February 24, 2022, 01:04:54 AM

While I liked the Center Drive's tools, I just not a fan of retractable pliers. So I gave them away in a GAW. The Dual Force is more my style. I just hope it operates more smoothly than the Schrade ST5.

genevabuck · **Reply #198 on:** February 24, 2022, 01:06:13 AM

Gonna be funny if some of the eBay flippers who have already put them up for sale can’t deliver.

MrToolJunkie · **Reply #199 on:** February 24, 2022, 01:08:39 AM

it seems like there are fewer today than yesterday. Crazy one of these is already over $700 mark.

MrToolJunkie · **Reply #200 on:** February 24, 2022, 01:32:24 AM

Just saw a new one on eBay with a $1,300 buy it now.

genevabuck · **Reply #201 on:** February 24, 2022, 01:54:54 AM

Quote from: MrToolJunkie on February 24, 2022, 01:08:39 AM

it seems like there are fewer today than yesterday. Crazy one of these is already over $700 mark.

I think that there is some shill bidding going on with that one. Why would people keep bidding on the highest one when there are five more at lower cost?

Rich_SD · **Reply #202 on:** February 24, 2022, 02:08:47 AM

Quote from: genevabuck on February 24, 2022, 01:54:54 AM

I think that there is some shill bidding going on with that one. Why would people keep bidding on the highest one when there are five more at lower cost?

I was thinking the same thing - someone is doing that to drive up the price on another auction.

chrono · **Reply #203 on:** February 24, 2022, 02:14:00 AM

Quote from: genevabuck on February 24, 2022, 01:06:13 AM

Gonna be funny if some of the eBay flippers who have already put them up for sale can’t deliver.

It is entirely possible they have some trigger-happy personels in their CS canceling orders when they suspect the buyers will resell. Receiving order acknowlegemenr does not warrant one will get the items. They did this to me a few times before, without even letting me know the orders were canceled. Buying two of hot items may increase the risk of all your pending orders getting canceled.

Happy Gilmore · **Reply #204 on:** February 24, 2022, 03:16:56 AM

I'm really hoping the Info that they chose 500 because of the first order is true. That means they could scale it up a lot more. Even 2500 would be very few for something like this..and Ideally they should offer some oversees as well.

MrToolJunkie · **Reply #205 on:** February 24, 2022, 05:10:40 AM

Has anyone received any shipping confirmation yet? I only have order confirmations so far. I have to hand it to Leatherman - they are being thorough to prevent people from buying several, which is a good thing in my opinion.