Big box stores: Inferior tools?

[jymbee]

Whether it's myth or reality (or some combination of both) I've heard numerous folks claim that even though the big box stores such as Home Depot, Lowe's, etc. sell some of the top name brand tools, they are not of the same quality for the same model # you would find elsewhere. The theory being that given their buying clout they can make deals with manufacurers to sacrifice certain quality standards in order to lower their cost and thereby maximize their profit.

Myth or reality?

 

[brin]

Well if it is true then it is more than just tools.....I had a plumber tell me the plumbing fixtures ..faucets, toilets etc. at the big box stores with the brand names were a cheaper and inferior version than the same brand names at the plumbing supply houses...I did not believe him and when we built our house 8 yrs. ago we bought all Price Phister brand fixtures from Home Depot at about a third of the cost from a plumbing supply house and we have not had one problem in those 8 yrs....I find it hard to believe big companies would compromise their brands that way.

Same thing I have read on threads here that if you buy a JD lawn tractor from a big box store it is inferior to the same JD tractor you might buy at the JD dealer....I would have to see proof JD would do such a thing....

 

[WilliamBos]

Truth. Companies like home depot pull a Walmart and dictate the prices to the tool companies. So they are forced to build a cheaper model to recover a profit. That is why I refuse to shop at box stores.

 

[Gator6x4]

Whether it's myth or reality (or some combination of both) I've heard numerous folks claim that even though the big box stores such as Home Depot, Lowe's, etc. sell some of the top name brand tools, they are not of the same quality for the same model # you would find elsewhere. The theory being that given their buying clout they can make deals with manufacurers to sacrifice certain quality standards in order to lower their cost and thereby maximize their profit.

Myth or relaity?

I would place that in the same Urban Legend category as "Elvis Is Still Alive". For homeowner and light commerical use big box tools, rachets, sockets, open and box end wrenchs work great. Now for heavy commerical use one should hop on the Snap On or Mac Tools Truck. Big boxes are able to offer lower prices through volume purchasing. A company will sell you or anyone else items cheaper if you purchase several thousand of an item versus 50 - 100. No deals are being made to sacrifice quality standards. The nightmare of trying to constantly change manufacturing and design specs to accomplish such would drive a crazy person insane.

 

[Raspy]

Truth. Companies like home depot pull a Walmart and dictate the prices to the tool companies. So they are forced to build a cheaper model to recover a profit. That is why I refuse to shop at box stores.

I'd still need some proof of that.

Big box stores can dictate the price they'll pay, but that's not the whole story.

Costco, for instance has items that look identical in every way to the same thing at Best Buy, but if you look closer, there is a one digit part number difference and the only place that number can be had is from Costco. It's not the same part. Lowe's has their own brand of tools, Kobalt, and their own brand of ceiling fans. Can't compare them to others. Home Depot generators and Costco safes can have a different part number and look identical to others.

But if the part number is the same, I bet the item is the same.

I've even been told that redimix concrete in the identical package from the same manufacturer is not as good at HD. Really?

I'm not sure it's true and I don't know how to prove it.

On top of that there is a lot more to pricing than subtle differences you can't see. Boutique stores can charge several times more for stuff that is absolutely no better and they can be hard to deal with when it's time to get parts or return something.

I have no problem dealing with big box stores. You can pick up and look at a large selection of stuff and pick what you want. You can go in and figure out how to make something work by looking around. And no matter what you get, as far as tools at the big box, it's probably many times better than a Harbor Freight tool, especially their electrical "tools" and yet people flock to Harbor Freight to buy tools. Go figure.

 

[kenmac]

Same thing I have read on threads here that if you buy a JD lawn tractor from a big box store it is inferior to the same JD tractor you might buy at the JD dealer....I would have to see proof JD would do such a thing....

JD dealer told me that the box store JD's are built by MTD. He said, they carry the same JD as HD to be able to compete, but it's not built by JD.The 1 built by JD cost more

 

[edlegault]

Big box stores that buy in big volume can get manufacturers to label their products (sold in their stores) with a different part number or model number for this reason --- price matching. Big box stores advertise they will match or beat prices on EXACT models or items. With different model numbers, no match.

 

[murphy1244]

JD dealer told me that the box store JD's are built by MTD. He said, they carry the same JD as HD to be able to compete, but it's not built by JD.The 1 built by JD cost more

MTD does NOT build any JD products. I don't think JD does either.

 

[WilliamBos]

I'd still need some proof of that.

Big box stores can dictate the price they'll pay, but that's not the whole story.

Costco, for instance has items that look identical in every way to the same thing at Best Buy, but if you look closer, there is a one digit part number difference and the only place that number can be had is from Costco. It's not the same part. Lowe's has their own brand of tools, Kobalt, and their own brand of ceiling fans. Can't compare them to others. Home Depot generators and Costco safes can have a different part number and look identical to others.

But if the part number is the same, I bet the item is the same.

I've even been told that redimix concrete in the identical package from the same manufacturer is not as good at HD. Really?

I'm not sure it's true and I don't know how to prove it.

On top of that there is a lot more to pricing than subtle differences you can't see. Boutique stores can charge several times more for stuff that is absolutely no better and they can be hard to deal with when it's time to get parts or return something.

I have no problem dealing with big box stores. You can pick up and look at a large selection of stuff and pick what you want. You can go in and figure out how to make something work by looking around. And no matter what you get, as far as tools at the big box, it's probably many times better than a Harbor Freight tool, especially their electrical "tools" and yet people flock to Harbor Freight to buy tools. Go figure.

There are specific models of tools that only HD sells. Any of the box store power tools are inferior to similar tools sold at different locations, as thry are built cheaper to maintain profit. it is more than a different number on the serial sticker. We do not have a harbour freight up here, even if we did, would not go there. I buy tools either off a truck, from a construction place, or Cdn Tire, as they stand behind their hand tools.

I do not support box stores, as none are a private franchise. Canadian tire is an exception, as they're franchised, but will not buy power tools from them.

 

[MrWhippy]

There are specific models of tools that only HD sells. Any of the box store power tools are inferior to similar tools sold at different locations, as thry are built cheaper to maintain profit. it is more than a different number on the serial sticker. We do not have a harbour freight up here, even if we did, would not go there. I buy tools either off a truck, from a construction place, or Cdn Tire, as they stand behind their hand tools.

I do not support box stores, as none are a private franchise. Canadian tire is an exception, as they're franchised, but will not buy power tools from them.

This is a common practice. Not just with tools but with electronic gear too.

 

[brin]

OK - Here is why I absolutely have to see proof that major brands that mfg. tools, lawn tractors or anything else actually put their name and brand on a product of theirs that is inferior to the same product they sell to another dealer or store....

Think about it....What Manufacturer would dare do this kind of thing to their brand...Imagine making two separate runs of the same tool ...one superior and one inferior and sending them out to the market place.....Think of the law suits, think of the ill will from failing products...the bad models they sold would ruin the reputation of the good models....I believe it when I see proof....

 

[Western]

I have heard this about Electronics and I can see how that would be possible. Changing out quality internal components would only effect the production/ assembly line, but would allow for the cheaper chips, diodes ect tra. This doesn't discount the fact that some stuff may be "pirated" over sees and sold here as a like product, I have seen news stories about that. Some copies are all the way down to include the serial numbers.

 

[KennyG]

The model number differences are not a sure indication of a quality difference. Often the manufacturers do that to allow stores to give a "guarenteed lowest price" since no one else will have the same model for sale. I haven't seen anything that would indicate that "name brand" tools are different and some of the store brand stuff like Lowes "Kobalt" seem pretty good. On the other hand, I've had bad experience with Menards house brand tools.

I've done a lot of remodeling and the plumbing supply stores always try to convince customers that the big box stores sell inferior versions. However, I always buy Kohler or similar brands from Lowes and Home Depot and have never been disappointed.

 

[Johnp33]

As a mechanic, that works with tools every day, personally I prefer American Craftsman tools, I have sets of Westward, they are thinner, and needed in some locations. I have specialty Snap-on and Mac tools, and Mac 12 point impact sockets. You do not need a Snap-on box and tools to be a mechanic.
I have a huge Waterloo Magnum Tool box and the full set of Craftsman tools, it sits in the basement, my work tools are a mix.
Thirty years ago a Snap-on tool or Mac was superior to others, today the steel in the cheapest tool is better than those tools were.
I used an air ratchet a lot and have had every kind in the book, the best one I found is the Campbell Hausfeld, I use to go threw the expensive ones in a year, the cheap one is three years old and still going strong. I bought the Campbell Hausfeld just as a spare the two expensive ones I had were always in the shop getting fixed, they ended up buying them back.
I bought the Campbell Hausfeld at walmart in Bellingham Washington for less than $20.00 it had a three year warranty.

 

[Gator6x4]

I'd still need some proof of that.

Big box stores can dictate the price they'll pay, but that's not the whole story.

Costco, for instance has items that look identical in every way to the same thing at Best Buy, but if you look closer, there is a one digit part number difference and the only place that number can be had is from Costco. It's not the same part. Lowe's has their own brand of tools, Kobalt, and their own brand of ceiling fans. Can't compare them to others. Home Depot generators and Costco safes can have a different part number and look identical to others.

But if the part number is the same, I bet the item is the same.

Ever purchased a electronic item at Costcos? I have. They have one of the best warrantys and returns on electronics. Buy a computer, they add one year to the warranty, have a problem with it 80 days later, return it and get a refund. Try that at Best Buy. With an exceptional warranty and return policy Costco has to have some way to identify products sold at Costco. They would not last long providing warranty on items sold at Best Buy. Same applys to Lowes and HD. They also have got to have a way to identify the product that came from Lowes or HD.

The only item I know that you cannot do comparison shopping on is a mattress. Look at a Mattress at Sears or other mattress vendor, obtain the identifying nomenclature, now try finding the same mattress at another vendor.

 

[kenmac]

MTD does NOT build any JD products. I don't think JD does either.

I didn't do any research I just took him at his word. I don't own a deere riding mower



I did however find this John Deere Mowers | Should You Buy From Big Box Stores? info about the quality of JD mowers sold at the box stores

 

[Raspy]

Ever purchased a electronic item at Costcos? I have. They have one of the best warrantys and returns on electronics. Buy a computer, they add one year to the warranty, have a problem with it 80 days later, return it and get a refund. Try that at Best Buy. With an exceptional warranty and return policy Costco has to have some way to identify products sold at Costco. They would not last long providing warranty on items sold at Best Buy. Same applys to Lowes and HD. They also have got to have a way to identify the product that came from Lowes or HD.

I buy too much stuff from Costco! I like that place.

They have their own part numbers as I've said, and I've seen apparently identical items at other stores, with the exception of some very small difference. Like one selection on a switch or one less temp setting on a washer, etc. Just enough to justify the part number difference. I also agree it helps with the "price guarantee" argument.

Can you imagine if for instance, Milwaukee Tools produced a lower quality Hole Hawg and tried to pass it off on contractors! No way.
It's the hardest working tool I have and the one most commonly used in construction by various trades. The one trusted by so many contractors. They'd be crazy to re-tool just to cut quality. Besides, selling a lot more of them at the box store means they can make less on each one and so, can price them lower at the wholesale level.

I say prove the lower quality argument.

 

[WilliamBos]

Buy some of each and use it! The box store crap will not last... cheap junk.

The only thing box stores care about is getting your money, and will get it the cheapest way possible.

 

[TCJatko]

Buy some of each and use it! The box store crap will not last... cheap junk.

The only thing box stores care about is getting your money, and will get it the cheapest way possible.

The myth that "big box" stores require manufacturers to supply an inferior product to satify cost constraints is nonsense. The costs of maintaining a separate production line for the "big box" stores would be prohibitive. Large chains rely on huge volume to secure discounts. File this fantasy with sasquatch and UFO abductions.

 

[JDgreen227]

Have pretty much stuck with the Sears Craftsman brand for hand and mechanics tools since 1968, but have on occasion purchased a few sets from Lowes, Meijers, and Home Depot. Found the Kobalt brand from Lowes to be as good as Craftsman. Meijers used to sell hand tool sets under the name of "Greystone" and for the price they were excellent for the occasional user. Meijers also sold socket, plier, and wrench sets under the "Goodwrench" brand name...excellent quality for the price. Sad thing about Craftsman is that they have gradually cheapened their hand tools by selling inferior quality imports where most of them used to be USA made...there IS a difference.