While I understand some people think this is clever, all it does is increase costs for businesses which ends up increasing costs for honest consumers. Worse yet: it tends to increase the cost for local businesses, or at least businesses employing local people, so it's giving the finger to your neighbours rather than to the man.

Many autoparts store have a formal tool lending program that is structured as buy/return. I know it sounds like @bombcar is suggesting some “lifehack” that is closer to stealing. But, no, this is an actual service provided by actual auto parts stores.

https://www.autozone.com/lp/loan-a-tool

If it is a formal policy of the store, then it's a different story. They could also manage it in a way to minimize costs. That said, I have run into people who are proud of "discovering" the lifehack version.

Ok, so they don’t call it a ’buy’ program.

It’s a lending program, for free. With a deposit for full value so it becomes a purchase if you don’t return it in time. Same structure but the phrasing matters.

Cool idea.

From the website it seems like they're expecting that some people will do this with the intention of renting, but then decide to keep or not get around to the return process.

The tools are almost always something they sell normally, and it keeps their accounting clean.

You'd be a silly goose to rent it and then never return it, however, as the rental tools have been used to heck and back.

They make money on the parts you buy. the tools are a loss leader