I keep getting ask d for one, I have never seen it in the store to buy. Is there something I need to do in order to trigger it showing up?

You need to unlock the gold tools, but there are several issues with the gold shovel. The fix for this issue is available in the 0.5.1 update for Virtual Town. The update is available now on Google Play and Amazon, and it will be available for iOS as soon as Apple approves the update.

Thanks! I have the gold machete and the gold pick axe, I just never see the gold shovel or axe...hopefully Apple approves soon.

Huh, I have the opposite in my store. I've had the gold shovel and machete for awhile but have yet to find the gold pickaxe...

The gold tools require different things to unlock them, and some are more difficult than others to achieve, since most of them are not based on how many times you use them, but on achieving specific objectives in areas related to each tool. The gold machete is usually the first tool you'll unlock, since it is based on how much grass you cut. The others will take longer, but you can find clues to what you might need to accomplish by reviewing all of the stats at the mayor's desk in the Town Hall.

OK, so I probably just haven't used the pickaxe as much so the gold version won't show up yet. That's OK. But I do have a different question about the gold tools-my mayor is close to retirement, so when she does and my kid takes over will the gold tools transfer over to her or will I need to rebuy them? And if they won't transfer if they're still in my inventory, will they transfer if I put them in the storage chest in my house?

Your adoptee will 'inherit' all the tools and items in storage so you needn't worry about losing them on their succession to mayor. About the only thing that changes is that s/he will choose a new 'bestie'.

Items in storage AND in your inventory are preserved. The kid inherits everything. Unless things changed with the version that was recently released, you'll lose the clothes the mayor is wearing and yes, you'll get to choose a new bestie.

Result of gold shovel request: