There's no co-op around here and on my budget if I tried to assemble a kit one piece at a time buying only the best I'd never get my bikes fixed up. Both bikes had issues that needed fixing pronto. I took a chance on the Venzo because of Amazon's generous return policy. No complaints.

But I didn't skimp on some tools, like the cable cutter. I read every review by ordinary users and mechanics and got the Jagwire. Not the cheapest or most expensive but a great value and does the job. So far, no need to dress the ends of brake or shifter cables after cutting, or to even use the awl in the end of the handle.

I still need to replace some tools I gave away about 10 years ago. (Yeah, I know, dumb to give away good tools, but I was recovering from a debilitating car wreck and figured I'd never ride again. Took a few years but I finally recovered.) I still need a set of wrenches, and and pretty picky about those -- I had mostly Craftsman and Snap-On, bought a piece at a time from used sales when I could find 'em. And screwdrivers. I prefer tips that can be filed or ground as needed to fit slots perfectly.