A few months ago, someone from Get to Work had emailed me with some information about their tool subscription program.
There are lots of different product subscription services you could buy into these days. I think my first might be Adafruit’s Adabox electronic gizmo program, and I’ve been meaning to pull the trigger on LootCrate.
Coffee? I guess that makes sense. Snack foods? Err… okay.
There’s even a subscription to Field Notes’ Limited Edition notepads!
But… tools?
I kept trying to hammer out my thoughts about the Get to Work subscription service and never got back to them (sorry, Robert!), and their offer for a review sample.
I ordered Ben a past AdaBox, and for myself too, to see if that’s something we could recommend to ToolGuyd readers looking to get into electronics tinkering. Ben recently posted a photo of his robot-in-progress to Instagram, and it made me think back to this tool subscription program.
Here’s what Get to Work said in their reach-out to me:
We have launched a brand new tool and work gear of the month subscription box. We have many high quality brand name tool and gear companies involved in this box and many more to come.
Their first 3 subscription boxes were out, here’s a look at the contents:
(You can also see them on their website, here.)
What you get depends on the subscription tier. This is everything you would get at the “Master Box”
I spy some brand name stuff here, and almost all are tools I wouldn’t mind receiving.
Again, some interesting choices. While perhaps not as appealing as the Tool Essentials box, this looks like a good selection of stuff, and appropriate for the month and season too.
Everything shown here is included in an even higher subscription tier – one that also includes power tools.
Subscription Tiers
- Novice Box: $25
- Apprentice Box: $50
- Journeyman Box: $100
- Master Box: $150
- Power Box: $150 (just power tools and accessories)
- Boss Box: Master Box + Power Box: $300
Plus shipping. I did a quick check, and I’m seeing $7 shipping on the Novice box, and $11.44 on the Master Box.
What would I pick?
Looking at the breakdown of what was included in each of the subscription tiers of previous boxes, I think that the Apprentice Box offers the most bang for the buck in terms of goodies.
The $50 Apprentice Level is the sweet spot.
Stepping up to the Journeyman box usually includes something big, and with that a greater chance of “but I can’t use this” regret.
There’s a mix of things at the $50 Apprentice Box, so even if you can’t use everything, you’ll probably still have a sense of getting your money’s worth.
In the first month’s box, the jump from Apprentice to Journeyman costs $50 and gets you a flashlight that’s $40 bare or $55 with a starter battery and charger kit.
In the second month’s box, the $50 jump to the $100 level gets you a $62.40 ThermaCELL heat pack 2-pack.
In the third month’s box, take the $50 jump from $50 to $100, and you get a Lenox tight spaces tubing cutter kit that currently retails for $48 and change.
I don’t really want a rechargeable CR123 high-powered LED flashlight, battery-powered hand warmers that are unfavorable reviewed, or close quarters tubing cutters.
[Start Sidetrack]
As an aside, I recently bought a 10-pack (pairs) of Hot Hands in-store (HD?), but I certainly paid more than you can buy them for on Amazon – $4!!
I believe I paid $8. They’re normally $1 each or so per pair, so I figured $8 was a good deal. Hmm, is that something I really would have bought online even at half price? Maybe if I was buying lots and lots.
[End Sidetrack]
Yes, I’m more and more convinced that the Apprentice level is the one to pay more attention to. You don’t get much at the $25 Novice level.
But… spend more and get more. If you have more to spend, I’d say go straight to the Master Box, at $150, which gives you more goodies in each box.
This tool subscription program looks like a good idea for users looking to add functionality to their toolbox, such as new homeowners. Maybe hobbyists and young professionals as well? I don’t know.
The February 2017 theme? Hanging Drywall.
Themes are announced ahead of time, and if you’re not too eager you can skip that month.
There is also a skip feature, so if you decide you don’t want that month’s box you can opt to skip that month with no charge.
Looking at the first 3 months of subscriptions, I’m much more interested in the program than when they first reached out to me. There’s one other tool subscription box program that I know of, but that’s a DIYer-focused program and the tools they ship out look like cheap no-name garbage. Sorry, maybe I should have sugar-coated this.
But Get to Work‘s offering? I think it has potential, which is as much of a *thumbs up* as I’m prepared to give right now.
More Info(via Get to Work)
Hmm… I wonder if they’re open to ideas on how to make the Novice level more exciting…
P.S. Would you like to see a review of one of the next boxes? Maybe a giveaway?