Big box stores: Inferior tools?

[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.