Big box stores: Inferior tools?

[Pops15]

The same model tool, is the same tool no matter where you get it with the better quality tools. I also doubt that Ryobi or the other low end brands have better and lesser versions.
Eddie

I suspect that's true of SOME brands.
Smilingreen's post # 72 & 73 say it all.
I KNOW that many years ago (when they still made decent tools) B&D had cheaper components in some circular saws with the same model number.
PC was still making good tools 10 or 12 years ago. I'm not impressed with what's available now. The supply houses around here no longer sell PC. The only place left to buy PC are box stores. They've lowered their quality to the box store level. That speaks volumes.

 

[Carl Bert]

Using the argument that a faucet is different from one source then another doesn't have anything to do with tools. I've bought them from the sources mentioned and spoken to the people that work there. The same model tool, is the same tool no matter where you get it with the better quality tools. I also doubt that Ryobi or the other low end brands have better and lesser versions.

Also saying that a brand that made a great tool twenty years ago has anything to do with what they make today isn't based on reality. Brand loyalty is a wonderful thing, but with the way things are done, what was once a great brand just can't be said for what is sold today. Stanley, Black and Decker and Porter Cable are all brands that at one time where very good. Now they are pure junk.

I like Makita and Bosch, but I'm not married to either. I'm liking what Hitachi is doing, but they are still making some junky stuff and some stuff that seems really good.

Reading this has really opened my eyes to how urban legends and wives tales get started.

Eddie

So you're saying that plumbing fixtures may be made cheaper for the BB stores, but no way that tools are made any cheaper. You know this as a fact, because you spoke to the all knowing HD employees. Well if a HD employee said it, then it must be the truth.

Come on, if you don't believe what everyone is telling you, than how do you explain the different model numbers? I cannot go item for item to give you physical evidence, because I do not have them sitting in front of me, but you can guarantee if one company is doing it, (and Milwaukee definitely does) they all will have to follow suit, or they won't be selling any tools. Ryobi, as far as I know, only sells low quality tools and pretty much sell for the same price anywhere you go.

As I said before, because of the great return policy, most items cheap or not, really dont matter, but tools that have a limited return policy and other things that cost money to install, do matter.

Hey its just a good thing to keep in mind when shopping. Its not an urban legend or a wives tale. If you choose not to believe it, then so be it.

 

[k0ua]

Interesting about the "low quality" Ryobi tools.. I still have my 9.6 volt Ryobi cordless drill. It is over 25 years old and has had about 5 or 6 or more batteries thru the years, and It is still my "go to" drill and still works well. I bought it at Sears when they sold Ryobi. I have other drills. and they have not lasted as well as this old Ryobi. I also have an old Ryobi "sawzall" I bought from sears about 20 years ago and it is still going strong also. I have used it plenty, but not as much as that drill. I know Ryobi is considered a lower priced and lower performance tool line, and I am not arguing any different, but I am only stating my factual experience.

James K0UA

 

[EddieWalker]

So you're saying that plumbing fixtures may be made cheaper for the BB stores, but no way that tools are made any cheaper. You know this as a fact, because you spoke to the all knowing HD employees. Well if a HD employee said it, then it must be the truth.

Come on, if you don't believe what everyone is telling you, than how do you explain the different model numbers? I cannot go item for item to give you physical evidence, because I do not have them sitting in front of me, but you can guarantee if one company is doing it, (and Milwaukee definitely does) they all will have to follow suit, or they won't be selling any tools. Ryobi, as far as I know, only sells low quality tools and pretty much sell for the same price anywhere you go.

As I said before, because of the great return policy, most items cheap or not, really dont matter, but tools that have a limited return policy and other things that cost money to install, do matter.

Hey its just a good thing to keep in mind when shopping. Its not an urban legend or a wives tale. If you choose not to believe it, then so be it.

I'm not sure if you are intentionally mistating things to get your point across, or if you just want to use a misleading example to get your point across. As a General Contractor, I know the guys at the Plumbing Supply, Electrical Supply and building supply houses. I also buy from Home Depot and Lowes. While it's true that you can buy tools from the different supply houses, their brand selection is very limited. One only sells DeWalt, another only sells Milwakee and another has both and a few other brands. Contractors buy those tools when they are in need of something and they need it right away. The guys who work there will tell you that you can get the same thing cheaper at other places.

If you want to talk about faucets, thats fine. This thread is about tools. You will not get a different or better version of the same tool by going to the supply house to buy it. What you will do is pay more money, and have it right away.

Eddie

 

[Pops15]

I'm also a general contractor. My experience leads me to believe otherwise. Not all brands of tools, but some of them for sure. B&D is one that put different quality guts in their tools. That was 30 years when their better stuff was still worth buying. From what I've seen everything they have now is junk.
If a box store can spec faucets, toilets, storm doors, etc,etc, why wouldn't they spec tools as well?

 

[Carl Bert]

I'm not sure if you are intentionally mistating things to get your point across, or if you just want to use a misleading example to get your point across. As a General Contractor, I know the guys at the Plumbing Supply, Electrical Supply and building supply houses. I also buy from Home Depot and Lowes. While it's true that you can buy tools from the different supply houses, their brand selection is very limited. One only sells DeWalt, another only sells Milwakee and another has both and a few other brands. Contractors buy those tools when they are in need of something and they need it right away. The guys who work there will tell you that you can get the same thing cheaper at other places.

If you want to talk about faucets, thats fine. This thread is about tools. You will not get a different or better version of the same tool by going to the supply house to buy it. What you will do is pay more money, and have it right away.

Eddie

Not sure what I misstated, or how I was misleading, I just repeated what you said. I too am a contractor, and deal with supply houses, just as you do. If your salesmen are telling you that you can buy the same tool, for a cheaper price at HD, then they too do not know what they are talking about.

If you need proof, go buy a Milwaukee impact gun at HD, and then buy the same gun at an electrical supply. Try returning the HD gun to the electrical supply. If the salesman is somewhat aware enough to check the model number, he will tell you that it is a HD product and must be returned to HD. You can then say, well you said they were the exact same tools, so what's the difference. I bet he will not accept the return.

As I said before, if you don't believe what I and many more are telling you, thats fine, enjoy your HD tools. I won't bother you with any more examples of proof.

 

[Carl Bert]

Interesting about the "low quality" Ryobi tools.. I still have my 9.6 volt Ryobi cordless drill. It is over 25 years old and has had about 5 or 6 or more batteries thru the years, and It is still my "go to" drill and still works well. I bought it at Sears when they sold Ryobi. I have other drills. and they have not lasted as well as this old Ryobi. I also have an old Ryobi "sawzall" I bought from sears about 20 years ago and it is still going strong also. I have used it plenty, but not as much as that drill. I know Ryobi is considered a lower priced and lower performance tool line, and I am not arguing any different, but I am only stating my factual experience.

James K0UA

Ryobi tools made 25 years ago, may have been a quality tool. I don't know, I never bought them. I can say for sure, that the Ryobis sold today are very poor quality tools. Hey, you get what you pay for, right? Well Ryobi's don't cost much.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I think that in many cases tools that are sold at Harbor Freight, Tractor Supply, Lowes, Homes Depot, Northern Tool, ect...do come out of the same plants in China...
With that said, I think that in some cases those tools are the exact same tool...
And in some cases, those plants make better quality tools for those retailers...
A case in point...
Several years ago I purchased a set of 3 adjustable wrenches from Tractor Supply on sale...
They were excellent quality with extremely tight tolerances in the thumb adjustment for opening the jaws...
Those wrenches are typically priced higher than lower quality wrenches but they were still made in China...
At the time I could not find an equivalent at Northern Tool although I am sure that they have had them in the past...
The point I am making is that the Chinese, Indians, Taiwanese, whomever, can make good quality tools or cheap quality tools...
It comes down to the market and the quality that the retailer wants to market to...

 

[Soundguy]

Not sure what I misstated, or how I was misleading, ...........

lets look at the rest of this paragraph...

If you need proof, go buy a Milwaukee impact gun at HD, and then buy the same gun at an electrical supply. Try returning the HD gun to the electrical supply. If the salesman is somewhat aware enough to check the model number, he will tell you that it is a HD product and must be returned to HD. You can then say, well you said they were the exact same tools, so what's the difference. I bet he will not accept the return.
.

hmm.. 'go buy same gun'

hmmm.. 'check model number'

if the model # is different.. it's a different model. menaing it's a 'different gun.. thus your initial statement of 'go buy the same gun' is a logical falacy.

therin lies the issue.

soundguy

 

[Artisan]

In the past, I have seen w/ my own eyes, the exact same faucet
that I would buy at a supply house, I have seen it's quality and I have
seen the exact same part number at HD and it was cheapened TREMENDOUSLY.
For the record I am a plumbing contractor. So those whom claim this
truth to be false are flat out WRONG. What really threw me over the edge
is when they introduced the PLASTIC water supplys on the faucets THEN
the PLASTIC POS tailpiece/pop up assemblies.
Some of the "cheapening" is very hard to detect. Plastic Aerator screens
vs SS, plastic this and that. I found JUNK at HD and TRUST me that those
whom buy that stuff do so at your own peril.

Just two weeks ago a lady had me out for a kitchen faucet leak. The faucet
appeared to be quality, she said it was a Kohler. So I pull the hot handle
and I see it was installed wrong and it simply needed to be tightened
up. I tighten it to find the mechanism was really tight. I tell her I need to
pull the cartridge and replace it, being a Kohler, even though it was purchased
at HD I assumed it would be OK. NOT! What a royal PITA and POS this thing
was.

I ended up pulling the valve body from the sink disconnecting at the spout
underneath because I could not get the cartridge to unscrew out of the
valve body. So I bring the junk out to my truck, I lower the VISE and
put the valve body in it. Well, first an 8" crescent, then a 12, then a 14"
pipe wrench THEN AN EIGHTEEN! I kid you not, it took and 18" pipe
wrench to split that valve body DESTROYING it in the process. So
I call Kohler and guess what, IT IS NOT REPAIRABLE! LOL! they do
not sell but THE WHOLE SHOOTIN' MATCH as a replacement! You have
to buy the whole freaking valve body and of corse you need a hose
as well.

Now understand this home was imaculate, were not talking a calcium
and hard water encrusted valve body here. It looked new.

NEVER buy plumbing junk at box stores. Some fittings and pipe maybe,
but faucets and WATER HEATERS, (OMG, I have pulled those
junk piles in less than a year and half (BELIEVE IT) ) are things
you are gambling w/ BIG TIME.

Additionally I see PP standard 2 and 3 valve tub and shower valves
and the valve bodies are a pot metal brass. I do not know what they
have mixed in the smelter over there but it ain't real brass.

They average homeowner / handyman will NOT see what I have seen.

I started plumbin' when I 15 years old, I am union trained, I am now
54, I have seen decades of cheapening, it is destroying the quality
of life in the USA via all these HD generation homes being built and
remodeled. But you nah sayers just keep on bying that crap...keeps
me in business.

BELIEVE IT.