Many people start out as customers and end up as friends at ReTool, 3622 E. State St.
Loyal customers have come to appreciate ReTool and its owner, Dave Stenberg. Dozens of new customers walk through his door every week to benefit from ReTool’s huge selection, Stenberg’s experience, and the opportunity to buy and sell tools at great prices. The quality of products and unparalleled customer service is why he has remained in business for more than 25 years, he adds.
“A lot of customers I consider friends. I remember them, not necessarily by name, but by what they buy and what I know they are always looking for. Everything you buy here has at least a 30-day parts and labor warranty. So, it’s no risk and not like buying at an auction or a garage sale,” he says.
Ray Saathoff of Stillman Valley discovered ReTool when he and his grandchildren were at the Fairview Shopping Center and he saw the store sign.
“Anything that says ‘tools,’ I gravitate toward, and so I went into the store to see what it was all about,” he says.
That was 20 years ago.
Today, he stops in at least once a week. Always having to build or repair something, Saathoff specializes in building machinery and fixing electric wheelchairs. He estimates he saves about 50 percent of what he would otherwise spend by shopping at ReTool.
“Dave is just a genuinely good person and he’s a great person to talk to about tools,” Saathoff says. “He’s been in the business long enough and knows what will work best and will last the longest. He’s just someone you can trust and that’s hard to find these days. It’s good to know there is someone who cares more about the customer than the sale.
“I rarely have a problem with anything I buy from him, and if there is a problem, he takes care of it right away. He’s a great asset to Rockford,” Saathoff adds.
Retool is open from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday; 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday and closed on Sunday.