Big box stores: Inferior tools?

[Soundguy]

i don't doubt that there are some too lines that are distributed only thru some palces. as I mentioned. i bought some uniroyal tires at a walmart one time.. wanted to get some more and was at a tire dealer who sold uniroyal. when he say the # on mine.. he told me that exact model of tire was a walmart only uniroyal.

now back to the post LD talked about.

same model number.. prefic and suffix and all.. that's the camp I'm in.

I'd need to see that the exact same model # has different parts.

that said.. i think we will have very few examples of the exact same tool sold at multiple places.

that said.. i would not always count on the tool sold in a multi pack being 100% identical to the tool sold alone. it does carry a differnt id number.. and COULD be different. I could easilly see that. i could see the multi pack tool being made cheaper for a price point for the multi pack savings. even if it is just a suffix change showing it is a multi pack tool. it is at least a different model id number showing it was not a stand alone tool, vs a MP tool .. that would be legit in my mind anyway. different number.. different tool.. could be a small revision on a few parts to save $ to justify it being in the multi pak?

lets keep looking at what tools we have and see if others have same tools sold from different stores.

 

[Chilly807]

The box stores have enough volume to special order their own version of the tools from a manufacturer. Some could actually be better than the tool store version, quality wise, but more likely they are designed to cut a few corners to keep the cost down and be affordable to the mainstream user.

Stores like Grainger sell predominantly to pro users, who don't want to waste time, wages and fuel returning cheapy models for replacement. To them, the higher price is simply the cost of doing business. Most of us think we're pros, but spend like misers which is why we're bitching about this whole thing.

Ever notice how we always like to recommend bigger and better when we're spending someone else's money? A compressor to run a nail gun or an impact wrench twice a year to swap out snow tires or build a woodshed needs to be capable of doing double duty at the track at a Nascar race, just in case you ever need to do that...

So how dare Milwaukee or Dewalt put a plastic gearbox in a cordless drill?? We need it to perform under the toughest of conditions, like hanging a curtain rod for the wife over the Thanksgiving weekend, or driving lag bolts into black locust or juniper posts.. never mind that we can't afford the one that has the metal gearbox, the 30 second fast charger and the locator beacon, and can break your wrist when the 3 inch spade bit jams on a knot. I actually bought that drill, well the one with the 3-speed metal gearbox anyway. It's on it's second set of batteries now, and is almost 10 years old. It was cheaper to replace the batteries than to buy another drill to replace it. 14.4 volt, cost me almost $400 at that time. I love it and it's worked hard for me, but the cost still chokes me. Having said that, I'd buy another one tomorrow if it quit, although I'd moan and drip about it.

Remember who does most of the tool shopping at a Home Depot. Not professionals, usually it's weekend warriors and casual users. For them, the tool does the job just fine, like the angle grinder I mentioned early on in this thread.

I think I've said enough. You probably think so too..

Sean

 

[Oaktree]

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.

Can't say for sure with the box stores, but it is definitely true with supermarkets. Beer, soda, bread, chips & snacks...all these vendors lease the shelf space and are responsible for their own stocking.

 

[Oaktree]

So how dare Milwaukee or Dewalt put a plastic gearbox in a cordless drill?? We need it to perform under the toughest of conditions, like hanging a curtain rod for the wife over the Thanksgiving weekend, or driving lag bolts into black locust or juniper posts.. never mind that we can't afford the one that has the metal gearbox, the 30 second fast charger and the locator beacon, and can break your wrist when the 3 inch spade bit jams on a knot.
(some snippage)
Remember who does most of the tool shopping at a Home Depot. Not professionals, usually it's weekend warriors and casual users. For them, the tool does the job just fine, like the angle grinder I mentioned early on in this thread.

Amen, brother.
While it's nice to think that our tools will last forever, and be lovingly passed down thru the generations, the reality is that for the most part once we're worm food our stuff will end up getting sold at a yard sale or secondhand store. If a $100 drill lasts me 10 years (which is more than likely unless you're a pro using it every day), I figure I've gotten my money's worth.

I'll avoid the "cream cheese" (as my high school shop teacher used to call them) tools they sell at Big Lots or those traveling stereo and tool shows, but box store tools have served me well.

 

[EddieWalker]

Since I do not believe that a tool company sells a better quality of the same tool at a different location, I sent this email to Milwaukee.



Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 8:40 AM
To: Customer Service
Subject: Product Inquiry


Do you have different versions of the same tool? With a higher quality verson being sold at some locations, like a contractors supply store compared to Home Depot? If I pay more for it at the supply house, am I getting a better tool? is there any different between the same model number but with different serial numbers?

Thank you,
Eddie Walker



Today, they sent me this reply.



Eddie,

Thank you for your email to Milwaukee Electric Tool.

There is no different in the model number on the tool based on the serial , the serial number is just a reference number to determine the year and date of manufactured. We do honor our warranty from the date of purchase however, is the receipt is lost we can determine if the tool is still within the five year warranty by the serial number that is located on the tool.

Thank you.

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.

***Tonia ***

Web Support

Milwaukee Electric Tool
Phone: 1-800-729-3878
METCustomerService@milwaukeetool.com


It's up to you to decide if you believe them or not. I do.

Eddie

 

[vwnotrunning]

Eddie,

How can we continue to have convoluted threads if you go and get facts?

I know we buy stuff at Graingers just to keep the labor costs down. When you are paying Journeymen to stand in line at HD / Lowes / Etc. it does not make sense to pay $40.00 labor to save $18.00.

 

[k0ua]

His friend Eddie who works for a plumbing supply store, was in HD and saw a Ridged power tool that he wanted. He figured he could get it cheaper through his ridged supplier, so,he took down the model number. When he asked the supplier to get him the tool, the supplier said that model is made only for Home Depot, and could not be bought elsewhere. He didn't say why or that it was made cheaper, he just said he could not sell it to him.

I know this seems a bit coincidental, but I am telling you the truth. This is what he said.

I don't have any problem believing that story at all. I don't doubt for a moment that HD and Lowes, have different models built to their specs, that may or may not be quality tools. But the Point is they are different tools. The only thing that I and LD1 (and I think others) were questioning is that the exact same model number of tool bought at one place should be the same as the exact same model number of tool bought elsewhere.. That is all I am saying.

James K0UA

 

[KubotainNH]

Interested thread, took me a long time to read through it. Interesting that folks on opposite sides actually agree but took so long to get to that conclusion. Curious to see if anyone takes anything apart. It is sad that no one makes power tools in the US anymore. I love my Milwaukee cordless drills but both my 5 year old one and 18 year old one were made in china but both are still running strong. The quality of both of these drills is immensely better than my FIL's HF junker. HF tools have their place but I wouldn't buy a battery powered tool from them, especially not a tool I use almost daily for hours at a time.

 

[Carl Bert]

Do you have different versions of the same tool? With a higher quality verson being sold at some locations, like a contractors supply store compared to Home Depot? If I pay more for it at the supply house, am I getting a better tool? is there any different between the same model number but with different serial numbers?

Thank you,
Eddie Walker

Today, they sent me this reply.

Eddie,

Thank you for your email to Milwaukee Electric Tool.

There is no different in the model number on the tool based on the serial , the serial number is just a reference number to determine the year and date of manufactured. We do honor our warranty from the date of purchase however, is the receipt is lost we can determine if the tool is still within the five year warranty by the serial number that is located on the tool.

Thank you.

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.

The guy never answered the question as to whether or not they make different versions of the same tool or if they sold higher quality tools at contractor supply stores compared to what is sold at Home Depot. He totally sidestepped the entire first part of the question, and just answered the last sentence.

 

[mikehaugen]

It is sad that no one makes power tools in the US anymore. I love my Milwaukee cordless drills but both my 5 year old one and 18 year old one were made in china but both are still running strong.

dewalts are mostly made in Mexico (hey, it's better than china at least) and Snap-On claims their cordless drills are made in USA, though there batteries are made china. Also some or most of metabo's are made in Germany, again... better than china. Milwaukee Sawzall's are "assembled in USA".