Big box stores: Inferior tools?

[Carl Bert]

Some manufacturers choose to make a slight change in the model number, such as adding a letter or two, at the end. Others choose to use the serial numbers, also just by starting or ending it with a certain number or letter, to distinguish between the two. It doesn't really matter how they choose to do it, it just matters that everyone is aware that it's being done.

Again that doesn't mean these tools are junk, it just depends on how it's going to be used. For the average homeowner, I'm sure they are fine. If you're a contractor, then I believe its foolish, because in the long run, you will replace that tool 2 maybe 3 times, in comparison to the life of a quality one. Been there, done that.

Believe it, don't believe it, thats up to you.

 

[Artisan]

Perhaps this can be confirmed by someone here,
but I heard;


I heard that manufacturers do NOT sell there product to
the home centers but they are FORCED to "Floor" the merchandise
at their own expense and they are paid after it sells. Case
and point, I know around here at the home stores you usually
see guys in the tool isle wearing brand name matching
shirts and pushing "their" wears, why? Becuase they
have not been sold yet!

Case and point 2, Manufacturers can be seen in the isles
taking stock of their wares, straightening and organizing
things, why? Because it is not sold and they have to do it!

Home Centers are some of the largest money producing
retailers in the world per square foot.

Additionally have you noticed that when the big box stores
open the prices are all really low? Then when all the mom
and pop stores fold the prices go up A LOT ???

Believe It...

 

[Gator6x4]

Let's see if I understand all the FACTS? Mom and Pop stores, and other Retailers sell legitimate tools. Big Box stores sell knock offs. They may look like the real thing, but in reality they are knock offs.

I wonder how they have been successful in by-passing Federal and State Laws. Who is getting money to look the other way while all this deception is going on? Manufacturing facilities also have dual production lines. On one line they make quality model number XYZ tools. On the other line they make knock offs or inferior XYZ tools.

Having two production lines would also require the Manufacture to have two different warranty or return departments. Now this part gets really complicated because how is the poor consumer to know if the tool he purchased was the Real Thing or a Knock Off?

So that would mean when it comes to a tool being repaired or replaced one must rely solely on the good will of the seller. The manufacture would not be involved because the tool would have to be disassembled so it could be determined if it was the Real Thing or a Knock Off? We all know the retailer nor does the manufacture have the resources to disassemble tools and check wire size, measure plating, check wire winding, etc to determine if the tool is the Real Thing or a Knock Off?

I think the problem is not manufactures making two types of tools I think the problem is, consumers are looking for and buying the cheapest tool. Dewalt for example makes four and one half inch die grinders. The grinders start with motors around 4.5 AMPS and go up to motors with 13-15 AMPs motors. A consumer goes in a buys one of the 4.5 AMP motor grinders at the Big Box Store. About half way through an eight hour job he burns the motor up.
Now another consumer goes into a Retail store and buys a 13 AMP motor grinder and uses the grinder for hours daily and never has a problem.

The same apply to circular saws, drills, etc. If you want quality tools look at the size of the motor. If it says .8 AMPS on the drill for motor size do not buy it. Place it back on the shelf and continue looking.

 

[Pops15]

No, they're not knock offs. A knock off would be another company making a cheaper version of a quality piece.
Just what federal or state laws are they breaking?
It can be done on one production line. Again, read Smilingreen's posts #72 and #73.
Nowhere have I seen where anyone claims the lesser quality tool with the same model number as a higher quality tool has a different warranty. Pretty much anything will last until the warranty expires.
They can use the serial number to tell where the tool was sold. No need to disassemble anything.
I agree that some manufacturers have several models of varying quality, but they are clearly marketed as such and not at all what this discussion is about.

 

[Pilot]

I'm with the "nonsense" crowd. I suspect the difference in the last digit of the model number relates to a routine change in design or component source during the production run. A purchasing agent found a cheaper source and started buying from them, regardless of who the retailer might eventually be. So if you have a problem with the unit, you need the complete model number to get an exact replacement part. And that's all there is to it. Go back later to your favorite retailer and compare model numbers with the big box store's units and they will be the same simply because they were built at about the same time, whereas when you went earlier the numbers were different because one was built earlier and has sat in stock longer than the ones the big box store carried.

 

[EddieWalker]

So if I understand how this works, you know for a fact that a certain company that makes tools that are sold in both box stores and mom and pops stores, makes this tool with quality parts for the mom and pop store, and cheaper parts for the box store. You know this for a fact because your relative works there and if you said what company this is, the people who run the company that makes this tool will know which one of it's thousands of employees told you this because your screen name is secretely known to them and they will be able to find out who the employee is who told you this information is through your screen name on this site?

I'm impressed. They got some super powerful mojo to be able to do all that!!!!

Does anybody else know of a company who makes two version of the same tool that is sold today in both the box store and a mom and pop store with the same model number but a differen serial number? I understant if you have a relative, friend of a friend or even a friends relatives neighbor who works there and you can't give up the secrete because it's too easy to trace your screen name to where they work. But if you can, I sure would appreciate knowing what company actually does this.

Thank you,
Eddie

 

[Soundguy]

They don't want different model numbers on tools. .

but they commonly DO.

as aczlan pointed out.. and I have seen it too... same unit.. different prefix or suffix on the model number.. thus.. different model numer.

very effective at killing price match guarantees..e tc.

 

[Soundguy]

very plausible too.. I wondered alound earlier in the thread about mid term revisions on a product.. etc...

I'm with the "nonsense" crowd. I suspect the difference in the last digit of the model number relates to a routine change in design or component source during the production run. A purchasing agent found a cheaper source and started buying from them, regardless of who the retailer might eventually be. So if you have a problem with the unit, you need the complete model number to get an exact replacement part. And that's all there is to it. Go back later to your favorite retailer and compare model numbers with the big box store's units and they will be the same simply because they were built at about the same time, whereas when you went earlier the numbers were different because one was built earlier and has sat in stock longer than the ones the big box store carried.

 

[Pops15]

So if I understand how this works, you know for a fact that a certain company that makes tools that are sold in both box stores and mom and pops stores, makes this tool with quality parts for the mom and pop store, and cheaper parts for the box store. You know this for a fact because your relative works there and if you said what company this is, the people who run the company that makes this tool will know which one of it's thousands of employees told you this because your screen name is secretely known to them and they will be able to find out who the employee is who told you this information is through your screen name on this site?

I'm impressed. They got some super powerful mojo to be able to do all that!!!!

Does anybody else know of a company who makes two version of the same tool that is sold today in both the box store and a mom and pop store with the same model number but a differen serial number? I understant if you have a relative, friend of a friend or even a friends relatives neighbor who works there and you can't give up the secrete because it's too easy to trace your screen name to where they work. But if you can, I sure would appreciate knowing what company actually does this.

Thank you,
Eddie

That's not what I said. They work for the retailers, not the tool companies. I'm not going to say where on the off chance it could get them in trouble with their employers.
Eddie, I thought you would have been above resorting to sarcasm.
I'm done with this topic.
You all believe whatever you want to believe. I believe what I know to be fact.

 

[Carl Bert]

Let's see if I understand all the FACTS? Mom and Pop stores, and other Retailers sell legitimate tools. Big Box stores sell knock offs. They may look like the real thing, but in reality they are knock offs.

I wonder how they have been successful in by-passing Federal and State Laws. Who is getting money to look the other way while all this deception is going on? Manufacturing facilities also have dual production lines. On one line they make quality model number XYZ tools. On the other line they make knock offs or inferior XYZ tools.

Having two production lines would also require the Manufacture to have two different warranty or return departments. Now this part gets really complicated because how is the poor consumer to know if the tool he purchased was the Real Thing or a Knock Off?

So that would mean when it comes to a tool being repaired or replaced one must rely solely on the good will of the seller. The manufacture would not be involved because the tool would have to be disassembled so it could be determined if it was the Real Thing or a Knock Off? We all know the retailer nor does the manufacture have the resources to disassemble tools and check wire size, measure plating, check wire winding, etc to determine if the tool is the Real Thing or a Knock Off?

I think the problem is not manufactures making two types of tools I think the problem is, consumers are looking for and buying the cheapest tool. Dewalt for example makes four and one half inch die grinders. The grinders start with motors around 4.5 AMPS and go up to motors with 13-15 AMPs motors. A consumer goes in a buys one of the 4.5 AMP motor grinders at the Big Box Store. About half way through an eight hour job he burns the motor up.
Now another consumer goes into a Retail store and buys a 13 AMP motor grinder and uses the grinder for hours daily and never has a problem.

The same apply to circular saws, drills, etc. If you want quality tools look at the size of the motor. If it says .8 AMPS on the drill for motor size do not buy it. Place it back on the shelf and continue looking.

Wow!!! Do you live in Disney World pal? Where does this stuff come from? Lets start off by asking, how old are you, seriously. This post is borderline ridiculous. Please, don't even offer input, if its not going to make some sort of sense.

I give up on this thread, why even listen to this level of ignorance.