Walmart Getting Serious About Tools in 2026?

[ChevyEFI]

I am not going to keep up with this thread, but WM is where I bought Stanley 1/2" chrome sockets 24 years ago.

My point? Change of suppliers on a reg. basis. Are they "serious" now? They have established a regular negotiation practice with suppliers. So they probably won't stay serious with one supplier / brand indefinitely.

I kinda figure my nearest WM won't end up with the 45" pry bar before they change.

I have observed the MiUSA 4? pc pry bar set(s) missing the small one at least a half dozen visits. I thought they should offer it separately and make some sales. lol Maybe they'll offer the 2pc. set here.

Might have been because they were clearancing a lot of Fram filters, at least in my local store. There were way more filters in the clearance section than in automotive.

I miss being able to go in and buy a Hyundai filter. I guess I should say "for less than $15" since Wally has the third party sellers popping up.

Man, I gotta start up a Rock order for when my buddy visits family out of TX since the tax standoff with AZ is still active.

 

[four.cycle]

My point?

Same thing several of us have said: Walmart has NO loyalty to their vendors. NONE.
How many proprietary battery-operated systems does one need to invest hundreds of dollars into before they realize that no two brands are compatible?
I guess if you're willing to roll the dice, cross your fingers, and hope that your newly-purchased battery-operated power tool from Walmart outlives you, best of luck!

 

[ChevyEFI]

Same thing several of us have said: Walmart has NO loyalty to their vendors. NONE.
How many proprietary battery-operated systems does one need to invest hundreds of dollars into before they realize that no two brands are compatible?
I guess if you're willing to roll the dice, cross your fingers, and hope that your newly-purchased battery-operated power tool from Walmart outlives you, best of luck!

Yep. And I wish Amp-Share were more prevalent in N. America.

 

[zendriver]

I haven't been in Walmart in a few years. It's on the other side of town and side they aren't open at night, have no reason to go there.

You’re not missing much, maybe with the exception of slightly lower prices

Otherwise, they more or less sell exact same stuff everybody else does

 

[zendriver]

Do think people don’t steal from Staples?
The average “commercial thief” isn’t likely going to be stealing office supplies to sell to a fencing operation. (One of the main reasons for high volume shoplifting).
There are plenty of shoplifters who probably steal compact items like pens, or notebooks, or school supplies, etc.
Most office jobs for employers that aren’t sh!t actually supply office supplies, so basic thieves don’t need to to steal from Staples, even if they work an office job as a day job.
Staples does lock up expensive compact stuff like graphing calculators, and power banks for phones, and other stuff that usually has decent resale value.

I’m sure they do people steal stuff from everywhere big time

If you think the number of and type of people who go to Walmart is roughly the same as that go to Staples, there’s nothing I can say to change your mind

 

[zendriver]

No... I was actually kind of surprised... they were only a $10.00 price point. Go figure.

.... and this was exactly the same case with that little pair of scissors.

That makes it even more sad

Nowadays, that everything is computerized it’s pretty easy to tell which items are leaving the store paid for and which ones are not

There was some hand ringing sometime back about Walmart locking up Haynes T-shirts they are not overly expensive, but apparently enough of them are walking away. They felt like they needed to do something about it.

Sometime back, Walmart had all their shaving razor blades locked up they are not anymore or maybe because it just hurt overall sales too much that they just eat the theft.

I don’t think retailers do it because they want to be mean

 

[john.k]

Just today ,I was checking out my weekly groceries,paid ,then I noticed a block of cheese still in the trolley ........so I put it through as a separate payment of $3.50......Apparently their AI identified it as a theft ,and as I stepped outside the entrance ,security guys came up to me and were quite surley ,to put it mildly.

 

[Metallitubby]

Honda doesn’t sell gasoline powered mowers in the US now?

We only announced that 4 years ago.

 

[JeepYJ]

We only announced that 4 years ago.

It seems like there was at least one rant thread on here about the change.
How is Honda mower market share in the US since that time?

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

I haven't been in Walmart in a few years. It's on the other side of town and side they aren't open at night, have no reason to go there.

I have never been inside or bought anything from a Wal-Mart. Everyone at work thinks I’m weird but like you, I just don’t have a reason or need to go.

 

[powertrip]

I've got a few Popular Mechanics end wrenches, they have held up well.
Walmart has always been iffy about keeping automotive/mechanic stuff in stock, at least in my area. I went a few months ago and the ENTIRE oil filter section was almost bare.

That is because Fram is basically out of business. Do a google search on First Brands bankruptcy. You'd be surprised.

 

[Metallitubby]

How is Honda mower market share in the US since that time?

Low. Think single digits now. We made a mistake, but it was because of money, and money alone.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Oh... really? Wow... that was dumb.
So... now according to Google's AI bot the market is led by:
Toro
Ego
Greenworks
Craftsman (MTD built gargage)
Troy-Bilt (more MTD built garbage)

so sad.

 

[Jtels85]

I went to Walmart yesterday to check out the new HyperTough tools, and they're locked up behind glass. As soon as I saw that, I said "Get fukked" out loud and walked out of the store. I'm not tracking down an employee to unlock a glass door.

That's not just a theft deterrent, it's also an honest customer deterrent.

 

[Davefr]

I went to Walmart yesterday to check out the new HyperTough tools, and they're locked up behind glass. As soon as I saw that, I said "Get fukked" out loud and walked out of the store. I'm not tracking down an employee to unlock a glass door.

That's not just a theft deterrent, it's also an honest customer deterrent.

I'm all for B&M retailers trying to protect their inventory but there are better ways to do it. Just put tags next to the locked items and bring a tag to the register and they bring you the item. Only problem is that WalMart no longer has checkers. I don't see how they stay in business since they make it so hard to buy.

 

[Metallitubby]

^ Oh... really? Wow... that was dumb.

We are aware, but building mowers in North Carolina wasn't cost effective, although we could've made it work. I can talk for hours about this subject.

 

[JeepYJ]

I don't see how they stay in business since they make it so hard to buy.

Ordering online for home delivery or picking up at the store constitutes a large portion of their business and is steadily growing.

 

[four.cycle]

We are aware, but building mowers in North Carolina wasn't cost effective,

^ You should have located the plant in Guadalajara!


MTD's plant is apparently in Tupelo, Mississippi. Now a subsidiary of B&S.
Probably able to pull it off with lower labor costs and sheer volume.

 

[Metallitubby]

^ You should have located the plant in Guadalajara!

We have two factories in Mexico.

Celaya
Tijuana (where our battery walk-behinds are currently final assembled using American suppliers)

 

[zendriver]

I went to Walmart yesterday to check out the new HyperTough tools, and they're locked up behind glass. As soon as I saw that, I said "Get fukked" out loud and walked out of the store. I'm not tracking down an employee to unlock a glass door.

That's not just a theft deterrent, it's also an honest customer deterrent.

Maybe they figure more people will steal a $50 set of Chinese. Wrenches than buy them.

Scaring off impatient customers is a risk they’re willing to take apparently

 

[Jtels85]

Maybe they figure more people will steal a $50 set of Chinese. Wrenches than buy them.

Scaring off impatient customers is a risk they’re willing to take apparently

Just like our local Harbor Freight did with their ICON tools. They put locks on the pegs. The first time I had ever tried to buy ICON tools was also the last. I went for a set of 3/8" drive metric sockets, and the peg was locked. I looked up the aisle and there was a long line of people standing at the register.

 

[JeepYJ]

I looked up the aisle and there was a long line of people standing at the register.

Not exactly putting themselves out of business by locking up tools?

 

[Jtels85]

Not exactly putting themselves out of business by locking up tools?

Not exactly welcoming more business either.

 

[JeepYJ]

Not exactly welcoming more business either.

No but if that’s what they need to do to stay in business I guess they’ll do it. I have 4-5 HF stores I am near regularly. Some have everything locked down, others have nothing locked up. Same for Walmarts. They’re all different.

 

[four.cycle]

^ The black sealed box hanging on the locked pegboard hook is the reason I do not own an ICON ratchet, even though they were on sale that week.

No touch, No buy. Simple.

 

[zendriver]

Just like our local Harbor Freight did with their ICON tools. They put locks on the pegs. The first time I had ever tried to buy ICON tools was also the last. I went for a set of 3/8" drive metric sockets, and the peg was locked. I looked up the aisle and there was a long line of people standing at the register.

Go shopping Ace Hardware not like their stuff isn’t nailed to the wall

My HF store someonecomes by about every five minutes and see if I need help

 

[zendriver]

Surprising, that this thread has morphed from tools Walmart, “making it about themselves” on their store security

The way things are going in this economy, with Walmart going to their buy online and pick up. I would be surprised to see stores go total” service merchandise” someday.

Order it. Pay for it. Pick it up. There is no pushing and shopping cart around in your pajamas, with hair filled wheels.

 

[Davefr]

Order it. Pay for it. Pick it up. There is no pushing and shopping cart around in your pajamas, with hair filled wheels.

Too late, Amazon same day delivery for the win. Usually a little cheaper than B&M and a great return policy. The only thing bugging me about Amazon is that they're morphining into an Aliexpress/Temu with it getting harder to find name brands.

 

[whateg01]

My pet hate on all battery tools is the big lump hanging off the end ...........I miss the balance and feel of quality air tools

Yeah, battery powered tools will never take off

 

[john.k]

I went to a big store here to get a new phone ,obviously locked away with high value electronics .......no one at the electronics counter ,whole dept is deserted .......so I pressed the service button ...several times .......a guy with a huge bunch of keys eventually comes out , obviously not a customer contact person......Anyhoo say what I want ,and quote the online price, $149 .....Wow ,did I hit a nerve ......This is a shop ,we do not sell for the online price ,that is for online sales only......If I could read lips ,he said " f***k off ,you a***hole ".....But this story doesnt end there ........I go to another shop "Office Works" ,also advertising the phone for $149......nope its $177 ...apparently prices fluctuate all the time ,and when store facial recognition sees an old person ,prices all go up .

 

[zendriver]

Too late, Amazon same day delivery for the win. Usually a little cheaper than B&M and a great return policy. The only thing bugging me about Amazon is that they're morphining into an Aliexpress/Temu with it getting harder to find name brands.

I can get milk and chicken salad same day from Amazon?

Amazon is filled with brand names, but go figure, they’re Chinese brand names.

Fwiw just like Detroit in the 1970s going into a fast food restaurant all the help was behind bulletproof glass, in this great nation I wouldn’t be surprised if every store ends up having everything lockdown

 

[PCustoms]

...apparently prices fluctuate all the time ,and when store facial recognition sees an old person ,prices all go up .

That's age discrimination! You should start a thread about it.

 

[neophyte]

Too late, Amazon same day delivery for the win. Usually a little cheaper than B&M and a great return policy. The only thing bugging me about Amazon is that they're morphining into an Aliexpress/Temu with it getting harder to find name brands.

Practically every grocery store chain is trying to do this, from Amazon/Whole Foods, to Target, to Giant, to Acme/Albertson’s etc.
Trader Joes and Adis seem to be two of the major grocery stores chains that don’t actually offer delivery, but there are third party services that will provide the delivery.
I have Amazon Prime, but never use it for delivery of groceries, and Target Circle, and rarely use that either, except things that are a pain or out of stock at the closest stores.
I actually like wandering around the stores to find stuff I otherwise might not have come across.

 

[PCustoms]

I cut through the tool aisle last week (too much coffee that morning) and had to laugh / scratch my head when I realized that all the pliers were stuffed into one of those little plastic security boxes and locked up...

Well, this explains it

1.4K views · 91K reactions | All gas no brakes faster we get out less money to spend . Guy math | Joseph Tyler Carr

All gas no brakes faster we get out less money to spend . Guy math

www.facebook.com

 

[NUTTSGT]

Same thing several of us have said: Walmart has NO loyalty to their vendors. NONE.
How many proprietary battery-operated systems does one need to invest hundreds of dollars into before they realize that no two brands are compatible?
I guess if you're willing to roll the dice, cross your fingers, and hope that your newly-purchased battery-operated power tool from Walmart outlives you, best of luck!

If someone with a brain at Wamart HQ would have had some fore thought of trying to settle with one vendor and stuck with them, WM would have built a serious tool section 30 years ago and a dedicated buyers following with the amount of stores they have. They probably could have bought the Cman name and been ripping the market to shreds.

 

[cherrybomb]

When you're having thoughts of going shopping at WM.go to the tube and watch ,Larry the Cable Guy and his video on WM after Midnight, that will get you thinking!!!The saying,"I got more than what I bargained for"

 

[zendriver]

If someone with a brain at Wamart HQ would have had some fore thought of trying to settle with one vendor and stuck with them, WM would have built a serious tool section 30 years ago and a dedicated buyers following with the amount of stores they have. They probably could have bought the Cman name and been ripping the market to shreds.

It would probably be the most shoplifted brand unless, of course they locked everything up

 

[Skellyii]

If someone with a brain at Wamart HQ would have had some fore thought of trying to settle with one vendor and stuck with them, WM would have built a serious tool section 30 years ago and a dedicated buyers following with the amount of stores they have. They probably could have bought the Cman name and been ripping the market to shreds.

While I have to agree that they would have owned the tool market, from what I've seen, Walmart ONLY cares about the bottom line. They have dedicated buyers who want cheap sh#t.

Do they own the market for anything other than that??

 

[NUTTSGT]

While I have to agree that they would have owned the tool market, from what I've seen, Walmart ONLY cares about the bottom line. They have dedicated buyers who want cheap sh#t.

Do they own the market for anything other than that??

I won't argue with that point one bit.

However, I believe they would have improved their bottom line with that fore thought of an investment to follow through on....

 

[JeepYJ]

I won't argue with that point one bit.

However, I believe they would have improved their bottom line with that fore thought of an investment to follow through on....

Tools probably make up an infinitesimally small amount of Walmarts profits. They rely on consumables to drive customer traffic and repeat shopping trips. The tool section is handy if you’re visiting grandma on Easter Sunday and need a socket set to fix her wheelbarrow and that’s the only place open with tools.