Lowe's dumping their electricians tools: All on sale...

[Exceller8]

I was just at two different Lowe's stores and they have all of their electricians tools on closeout. I asked and nobody seemed to know what was going on. Anyway, there are some really great deals on Channellock, Knipex, and other electricians tools.

I picked up a pair of Channellock 318's for $18.

 

[71goldss]

I've never been very impressed with the Knipex selection at the three Lowe's stores in my area, even before this closeout. I did buy a pair of Knipex Linemen's pliers there once, but most times all I see is a small handful of the basic Knipex items in the electrical aisle. A large variety would definitely draw me there more, but is never the case when I've checked. Disappointing!

 

[Conductor562]

A couple years back I saw a big sale on Klein. Sure enough, most of it was soon replaced with Greenlee. They're probably clearing some shelf space to try and ram some more ****** Kobalt pliers up our ***

 

[Exceller8]

A couple years back I saw a big sale on Klein. Sure enough, most of it was soon replaced with Greenlee. They're probably clearing some shelf space to try and ram some more ****** Kobalt pliers up our ***

I talked to one guy there who thought just that. He said they're probably going with a home branded line of electricians tools.

 

[Conductor562]

Sounds about right I rarely go to Lowe's anymore. HD is 15 minutes closer meaning I have 30 fewer minutes travel time to be disappointed.

 

[nmantas]

Weren't Kobalt once made by Snap-On about 12 years ago......now their ratchets have exact internals as Harbor Freight's Pittsburgh line. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

With the entire craftsman line going overseas along with all their US tool contracts and all the chain stores going exclusively to their house-brand tools its going to be tough for these domestic tool companies to make any money (without following them on the next ship).

 

[Conductor562]

Weren't Kobalt once made by Snap-On about 12 years ago......now their ratchets have exact internals as Harbor Freight's Pittsburgh line. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

They were made by J.H. Williams (A Division of Snap-On) from they're release in 1998 until late 2002 or early 2003. Danaher picked up the contract and had it until the changeover to Taiwan in 2011. The pliers have been ****** for a long time. I'm not sure that they ever had decent pliers. I always bought Channellock.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I checked my Lowe's a couple weeks ago in hopes of finding some Knipex or Channellock deals, the prices sucked like always. I might have to go back over the weekend!

 

[PugetDude]

Lowes blows. Just sayin'.

 

[Exceller8]

I checked my Lowe's a couple weeks ago in hopes of finding some Knipex or Channellock deals, the prices sucked like always. I might have to go back over the weekend!

Jeff, the prices were hit and miss. Some were only a few bucks off the list price. The whole section is on sale so there are some good deals to be had.

 

[SteveCh]

Yep, at two Lowe's in Denver, I saw some tools marked clearance had prices only $1.50 to $2 reduced, that's on fairly pricey tools. Others next to them on the rack might be marked down a bit more, $7 or so on a $50 tool. Not real great deals at my stores. I did grab one wire stripper marked only $3 off [clearance] because I've been needing a new one anyway. It's a Reflex, $14, made in USA.

 

[davesnothere]

Lowes blows. Just sayin'.

Agreed.

 

[matt_m]

deleted

 

[Harry Gerrard]

I found the Knipex 9.25 inch linemans pliers for $29.96 marked down from the $49 price that was,, after searching online, $30 for these pliers is good price. Thanks !

 

[bimmerZ5]

the pricing at 3 of my local Lowe's were all different. if you have more than one Lowe's in the area, might be worth checking each store. for me, one store sucked, one had one knipex worth buying, and another i had to clear out their entire knipex inventory

 

[THEFIX]

Thanks for the heads up Exceler8! I picked up the linemans plier for 29.96 too

 

[toolaholic]

I found the Knipex 9.25 inch linemans pliers for $29.96 marked down from the $49 price that was,, after searching online, $30 for these pliers is good price. Thanks !

Bought the same pliers(same price too) and saved another 5% w/ my lowes card.

 

[Rickster55]

My favorite response when asked at Lowe's (or Home Depot for that matter) if I need help finding something is - "Just looking for something made in the U.S."

 

[DMAR]

My favorite response when asked at Lowe's (or Home Depot for that matter) if I need help finding something is - "Just looking for something made in the U.S."

I like it!

 

[mmack66]

My favorite response when asked at Lowe's (or Home Depot for that matter) if I need help finding something is - "Just looking for something made in the U.S."

OMG, that's so clever!

 

[RedFordTruck]

Picked up a pair of 8'' Needle nose for $16 after clearance and coupon and 8'' side cutters for $17.40

Might not be made in the US but they are pretty awesome if you ask me!

Since my Craftsman Linesman pliers already see limited action I decided to pass on Knipex Linesman for $29.48 and Channellock Linesman for $17.48

 

[Brownsfan]

Just bought the angled 8" diagonals? $19. Have a buddy that is a gm there that is going to hold the electrician needle nose and the insulated set for me

 

[Trucky]

Everything is on clearance. I'm glad I have a decent set now.. or I'd be buying all of it up. Their basic combo pliers for 10$? Count me in. No way are you getting anywhere near that price and quality ever again unless you're buying used.

 

[byoungblood]

My favorite response when asked at Lowe's (or Home Depot for that matter) if I need help finding something is - "Just looking for something made in the U.S."

I'll have to start trying that one myself.

Lately I have found myself going to HD and Lowe's less and less for things. If it weren't such a pain to get to a GOOD hardware store around here, I could probably eliminate them entirely save for building materials.

 

[928'er]

Got the 240 mm 1000v insulated linesman pliers for $29.69 which was actually 30 cents less than the uninsulated version of the same pliers.

Virtually nothing left on the shelf in the Knipex section - looks like they're going with the Taiwanese Greenlee ****. Guy in the electrical dept didn't have a clue. At least they still had a lot of Channellock - but who knows how long that will last....

 

[GortonsFisherman]

Guy in the electrical dept didn't have a clue.

Do they ever?


Most of the Knipex are all 35% off around my area, as are a good bit of the Ideal and Greenlee stuff.

 

[ishiboo]

Finally a deal! Local Lowes reduced the mini bolt cutters (#139323) with notch to $27... great price. Used 10% off coupon + 3% cashback with eBates as well.

As always, clearance prices vary by store and your mileage WILL vary.

Lowes website describes these as "wire stripper" so they do not show up in an educated search

 

[Brownsfan]

All the tools in the electrical department are being replaced with a company called Southwire electrical tools. Just confirmed it with my buddy who is a GM at lowes. So buy up all the good stuff while you can.

 

[cburnscrx]

All the tools in the electrical department are being replaced with a company called Southwire electrical tools. Just confirmed it with my buddy who is a GM at lowes. So buy up all the good stuff while you can.

http://southwiretools.com/

 

[Brownsfan]

Just bought the 10" alligators for 12 and the angled 8" diagonals for 19. Hope to get more and expand my knipex collection. Also bought the mini bolt cutters last week. Kinda late to the knipex party. All my pliers are snap on, Klein and channellock to this point.

 

[928'er]

Everything is on clearance.

Not at my local Lowes.

Knipex was marked down but they only had a few pieces left. Most of the Channel Lock stuff was regular price - a few pieces were "clearance priced" at a buck or two off. I don't think the Greenlee stuff was marked down (didn't look too closely 'cause I wasn't interested).

 

[dleonard1122]

Just picked up a Knipex 7 in. Cobras (the push-button locking kind) for $17.** after military discount. They had the larger size (10in I believe) for $23.** but I decided to pass at the last minute because I couldn't see myself using them. Glad to finally own a Knipex branded tool!

 

[Digital4n6]

Saw two South wire tools in the mix in Frederick MD, certainly not impressed. The Knipex comfort grip in red+blue or electrician's red+yellow are very comfortable but most stores seem to be sold out of them except for the $100 pack and diagonal cutters.

 

[928'er]

Saw two South wire tools in the mix in Frederick MD, certainly not impressed.

As I recall, someone posted that they'd seen some of the Southwire screwdrivers and they were the usual Chinese **** - not a good thing.

 

[byoungblood]

Part of me can't believe Southwire pimping their name out on something like that. I lived maybe 30 minutes from their main mill and headquarters in Carrollton, GA. They were always looked upon as being a strong, US run company, making a good American made product.

 

[cburnscrx]

Yep, one of my buddies was a controller for Southwire...sad to say their pimping their name for this. Oh well, such is life.

 

[cburnscrx]

Oh, and the Knipex/Channellock clearance prices vary WIDELY by store. I've been at three different Lowes in Indy, and the prices vary from giving them away to $1 or $2 off original list price.

 

[Jeff]

The shelf tags show the yellow clearance alert on the Knipex but the prices are only $2-3 off list. The Greenlee items, however, are at least 50% lower.

 

[Brownsfan]

Was at a different Lowes than normal today and the Knipex deals were much better. Bought the 10" alligator and 8" long nose. Bothe were over $15 off normal price. Bought the angled head 8" diagonals for $18 yesterday. The 5pc insulated set was now $59.99. That's $40 off normal price. Almost forgot the electrician combo long nose pliers I got for $17. The only place to get Knipex locally now for me will be Sears

 

[jeffmoss26]

Gonna check my store out tomorrow!