Lowe's/Kobalt 80 volt battery tool system: a cautionary tale.

[jmc]

80v Kobalt System was a chainsaw, leaf blower, hedge trimmer, hedge-trimmer-ona-pole, pole saw, edger, string trimmer, maybe more. Local Lowe's had them all on display. Bought the chainsaw- liked it, went back and bought the hedge trimmer- liked it. Most or all tools are available with or without a 2 or 2.5 amp-hr battery and charger. Price point for the tool, charger and battery is currently $250-$300. Stay with me here.

Went back to Lowe's to see the pole saw- Lowe's entire 80 volt system display is gone. Clerk said it's available online.

Went online. My chainsaw is no longer shown. (Good luck to me when it needs parts.)

Worse is those 2 or 2.5 amp-hr batteries sold with the full sets are not shown online. Their life was surprisingly good. Instead, the only 80v replacement batteries online are a 4 and a 5 amp-hr battery at $300 each!- more than the total price of the original adequately sized battery, charger, and tool itself.

I'll now limp along with my $500 or $600 Kobalt investment, but phase into Stihl's system, starting with the pole saw and leaf blower. And the local Stihl dealer will probably still have parts on discontinued products.

 

[Alan W.]

I have the 80 volt Kobalt tools also.
Chainsaw Trimmer Blower.
I have two 2 amp and one 2.5 amp batteries.
They are starting to show some weakness on the chainsaw but run the other tools just fine. I will probably just rebuild the batteries when they finally die.

 

[John0829]

I refuse to purchase anything Kobalt, years ago I purchased one of their high end miter saws that at about 9 months the cooling fan in the motor broke... it was discontinued and no parts were available. The saw was not used much, mainly the wife used it for cutting up small bit of wood for her bird houses and other odd and ends. Probably had a total of less than 15 hours of use total.

That was the last time I ever bought anything branded Kobalt.

 

[j13smiley]

Ridgid tools... Lifetime warranty on tools and batteries. This year I started seeing much more outdoor tools available.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

80v Kobalt System was a chainsaw, leaf blower, hedge trimmer, hedge-trimmer-ona-pole, pole saw, edger, string trimmer, maybe more. Local Lowe's had them all on display. Bought the chainsaw- liked it, went back and bought the hedge trimmer- liked it. Most or all tools are available with or without a 2 or 2.5 amp-hr battery and charger. Price point for the tool, charger and battery is currently $250-$300. Stay with me here.

Went back to Lowe's to see the pole saw- Lowe's entire 80 volt system display is gone. Clerk said it's available online.

Went online. My chainsaw is no longer shown. (Good luck to me when it needs parts.)

Worse is those 2 or 2.5 amp-hr batteries sold with the full sets are not shown online. Their life was surprisingly good. Instead, the only 80v replacement batteries online are a 4 and a 5 amp-hr battery at $300 each!- more than the total price of the original adequately sized battery, charger, and tool itself.

I'll now limp along with my $500 or $600 Kobalt investment, but phase into Stihl's system, starting with the pole saw and leaf blower. And the local Stihl dealer will probably still have parts on discontinued products.

I feel for you.

thats why I would only buy the newest / latest / greatest technology from the #1 or maybe #2 company out there with hope the technology and company survives.

I feel sorry from the guys that dropped $100k on a Rivian electric truck or $50k on a BYD electric sedan as both quickly becoming white elephants and potentially worthless.

 

[MJZ]

Oh man, I did that with a drill at Lowes. Battery was as expensive as a new drill. Isn't that pretty common with all battery/electric? The replacement batteries are almost if not completely cost prohibitive?

Regardless, it stinks and I'm sorry.

 

[slckeys]

Is this the 2.5ah battery you're looking for?

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-80-Volt-Max-2-5-Ah-Rechargeable-Lithium-Ion-Li-Ion-Cordless-Power-Equipment-Battery/1000501501

 

[Duds13]

Ridgid tools... Lifetime warranty on tools and batteries. This year I started seeing much more outdoor tools available.

This. I've recently had to have an 18 year old battery replaced then an 18 volt drill. No questions asked by Ridgid, both replaced. You do have to register your tools but why wouldn't you? Only takes a few minutes

 

[bdhsfz6]

In many cases, you can buy on sale, a tool / battery / charger combo package for about the same price as a single larger capacity battery. I've acquired quite a collection of tools this way. Yes, the batteries are reduced capacity but I just carry 2 or 3 when doing a particular job. They are quick & easy to swap and lighter in weight, which makes a difference when handling a tool for long periods.

 

[jmc]

Is this the 2.5ah battery you're looking for?

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-80-Volt-Max-2-5-Ah-Rechargeable-Lithium-Ion-Li-Ion-Cordless-Power-Equipment-Battery/1000501501

Yes, but at the bottom of the link:

"This item is unavailable. Here are some similar items ..."

And $179 if it were available! This is kinda like the inkjet cartridge business model on steroids.

 

[slckeys]

Yes, but at the bottom of the link:

"This item is unavailable. Here are some similar items ..."

And $179 if it were available! This is kinda like the inkjet cartridge business model on steroids.

It shows available for delivery for me? That's why I posted it. Not available for pickup though. I thought $179 was pricey, but was not sure. Just thought I was able to find you a spare battery

 

[DarkBlack]

This. I've recently had to have an 18 year old battery replaced then an 18 volt drill. No questions asked by Ridgid, both replaced. You do have to register your tools but why wouldn't you? Only takes a few minutes

That’s interesting, because the Ridgid warranty states they only cover defects in workmanship or materials.

 

[Duds13]

That’s interesting, because the Ridgid warranty states they only cover defects in workmanship or materials.

from the ridgidpower.com website in regards to the lifetime service agreement. I do see on ridgid.com the wording you have in your post, which are different tools

What is the Lifetime Service Agreement?​

We don't offer our Lifetime Service Agreement because we think our tools will fail, but because we think they shouldn't.

Our Lifetime Service Agreement means that any registered power tool or battery that fails with regular use, will be repaired or replaced, for free. We've got you covered. It's as easy as that.

 

[KennyG]

I've had good luck with off brand replacement batteries for my Dewalt tools. They are a lot cheaper and generally work ok. That's another reason to stick with the better known tool makers - it's more likely you can get off brand replacements.

 

[caver]

Watch out for counterfeits of popular battery packs and tools.

 

[jmc]

It shows available for delivery for me? That's why I posted it. Not available for pickup though. I thought $179 was pricey, but was not sure. Just thought I was able to find you a spare battery

I had searched Lowe's site for 80 volt Kobalt batteries and the link you found didn't come up. (Both $300 ones did!) I was thinking maybe Lowe's was phasing out the 80v line but your link gives hope. They claim that it's just unavailable temporarily.

And searching that model number elsewhere shows cheaper sources.

Thanks.

 

[ultrarunner]

80v Kobalt System was a chainsaw, leaf blower, hedge trimmer, hedge-trimmer-ona-pole, pole saw, edger, string trimmer, maybe more. Local Lowe's had them all on display. Bought the chainsaw- liked it, went back and bought the hedge trimmer- liked it. Most or all tools are available with or without a 2 or 2.5 amp-hr battery and charger. Price point for the tool, charger and battery is currently $250-$300. Stay with me here.

Went back to Lowe's to see the pole saw- Lowe's entire 80 volt system display is gone. Clerk said it's available online.

Went online. My chainsaw is no longer shown. (Good luck to me when it needs parts.)

Worse is those 2 or 2.5 amp-hr batteries sold with the full sets are not shown online. Their life was surprisingly good. Instead, the only 80v replacement batteries online are a 4 and a 5 amp-hr battery at $300 each!- more than the total price of the original adequately sized battery, charger, and tool itself.

I'll now limp along with my $500 or $600 Kobalt investment, but phase into Stihl's system, starting with the pole saw and leaf blower. And the local Stihl dealer will probably still have parts on discontinued products.

I weighed the options and decided Stihl is outdoor professional tools and to my thinking a safer bet for a price.

I don't like throwaway tools and just about every handy person I know has been through the series from 7.2 to 9 to 12 to 18, etc. voltages.

When I bought my place there was a box under the bench left behind with a dozen cordless tools with Dead batteries...

 

[ultrarunner]

I feel for you.

thats why I would only buy the newest / latest / greatest technology from the #1 or maybe #2 company out there with hope the technology and company survives.

I feel sorry from the guys that dropped $100k on a Rivian electric truck or $50k on a BYD electric sedan as both quickly becoming white elephants and potentially worthless.

Is BYD kaput?

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

yup... in Canada at least.
Last months 100% tariff imposed by Government pretty much kaputs them here.

 

[ultrarunner]

yup... in Canada at least.
Last months 100% tariff imposed by Government pretty much kaputs them here.

Got it... Like when other foreign makers left North America...