Are brushless LiOn tools over priced

[theoldwizard1]

Milwaukee M12 oscillating multi tool. Brushless FUEL. 2.0Ah battery. $150 !!

I just can not justify it !

 

[Ign]

At full retail Milwaukee certainly is. They're trying to project that image of we're better because we cost more.

But I never pay full price for any of my Milwaukee stuff...

 

[Wrench97]

The M12 line is hot right now so I suspect that has a lot to do with the pricing.

 

[GrantCee]

Well, you can buy the Ryobi for $49!

 

[sk farmer]

brushless 20v max, 99 bucks.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

Milwaukee M12 oscillating multi tool. Brushless FUEL. 2.0Ah battery. $150 !!

I just can not justify it !

Is that bare tool?

 

[ThatSickRip]

Yep, bare tool. But can get in store for $149 with a free 2.0 battery. If wanted, can return the battery and the tool will be like $103

 

[dnschmidt]

You have no idea as to what overpriced means until you get into Festool. Now that's overpriced.

 

[dsimatt]

Milwaukee really is proud of their batteries, i csnt afford to buy at full price so is a chess match trying to buy when they are on sale.

 

[SuperCat]

Yes, I agree, but I am a DYI project person, so I buy Ryobi and just get stuff done.
Works for me, but truth be told, I wouldn't mind giving the Milwaukee stuff a try.
But I have read that once you go down the Milwaukee road, there is no going back....

 

[DFB]

List price/NEW tool.

So is this a bare tool offer with battery promo or the -21 "kit" with charger and maybe soft side case?

Link?

Haven't seen any ad personally, but I don't I ever paid list except for the the M18/M12 speaker on pre-order

Don't really even understand the fascination with brushless here. I purchased the brushed M18 version around 2019 Christmas Holiday bare tool with a free battery and charger promo all for just $99. Cuts anything as fast as I'll ever need it too. Smooth too

 

[Farmall450]

Brushless tools are dirt cheap for what they are (especially when bought as bare tools on sale/with a free battery).

 

[Kscardsfan]

I’ve never paid MSRP for a tool. Between sales, coupons, flash sales, etc I’ve put together enough batteries to make bare tools a stupid cheap way to get more toys. Black Friday and Father’s Day is when to shop.

 

[gjusername]

The batteries are massively overpriced for what they are. Much like printer cartridges.

It's just 3 18650 cells inside of the m12 2.0ah packs, and you can get significantly better cells than what they use for only $5 each. 3 quality high-drain cells could probably make a 2.0 pack output just as much power as their extended 6.0 (by power I mean how I've seen that the 3/8 impact can produce more breakaway torque with the 6.0 battery than the 2.0. If you put high-drain cells in the 2.0 then it could probably make them even)

I really wish it was easy to just remove the cells and insert new ones. Although I understand that would be a bit complicated for the average consumer and can be unsafe when using lithium batteries in series... I would definitely buy some sort of m12 adapter that comes as an empty battery case that you can insert your own 18650 cells into.

 

[bobcatdan]

If you really want price shock, look at the cordless 1" guns.

 

[zendriver]

It's a plastic and metal power tool, made in China.

The name alone ought to be worth at least $75.

 

[acer66]

You have no idea as to what overpriced means until you get into Festool. Now that's overpriced.

If you think Festool is overpriced you might not want to check Mayfell prices etc etc.

 

[danski0224]

You have no idea as to what overpriced means until you get into Festool. Now that's overpriced.

Um, not made in China.

Made in a country that has environmental laws.

Made by workers in Germany (mostly) that are most likely unionized and have benefits.

Someone has to pay for it.

Yes, there is a brand name premium (not as bad as $30 for a 6" magnetic Milwaukee torpedo level though...). Also yes, the tools and prices in the USA are not the same as what is sold in the Euro market.

 

[zendriver]

Um, not made in China.

Made in a country that has environmental laws.

Made by workers in Germany (mostly) that are most likely unionized and have benefits.

Someone has to pay for it.

Yes, there is a brand name premium (not as bad as $30 for a 6" magnetic Milwaukee torpedo level though...). Also yes, the tools and prices in the USA are not the same as what is sold in the Euro market.

It's all just part of "the race to the bottom", folks say they hate, but actively participate in.

They love Milwaukee etc. tools, but won't buy them unless they are steeply price discounted.

The end result is literally getting what we are paying for. In many cases, people cannot afford to pay more, but that is another issue.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

IDK, I figure I paid a similar price for my m12 osculating tool kit which is non-fuel. A few years ago granted.


It's $150. Maybe I'm out of touch - but what's your time worth doing that tools job, by hand?


What's a corded on going for these days? $50? My older m12 is $80 on amazon, tool only. Don't forget to add in another $25 for accessories.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Brushless tools are dirt cheap for what they are ...

Not sure where you are coming from ! Ryobi is selling one, minus battery, for $50. The plastic housing and the mechanical bits and pieces can't be more than a couple of dollars difference. Same with the electronics (which, by the way, cost less than $1 more than brushed DC motor controllers).

Batteries are also a huge rip off ! $65 for a M12 2.0 Ah !! Three 18650 cells shouldn't cost more than $15.

Somebody is making a HUGE profit ! Of course Ford makes Lincolns on the same assembly line as their other cars. A bit more chrome here, some fake wood there and a different name plate an it cost $10k more !


BTW, TTI owns both Ryobi and Milwaukee.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I don't know if they are overpriced, but they certainly are expensive. My tools are yellow, and the brushless versions of the skilsaw, sawsall and mini grinder are all out of my price range for a casual purchase. If they were work tools, no question.

 

[DFB]

WIZ BANG BOOM!

The new Fuelie M12 with battery is on HD special today

Limit 5

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...12-2-0Ah-Battery-2526-20-48-11-2420/314317560

 

[theoldwizard1]

My tools are yellow, and the brushless versions of the skilsaw, sawsall and mini grinder are all out of my price range for a casual purchase. If they were work tools, no question.

Exact same situation !

 

[speed bump]

Its one of those things, it only costs a lot until you need it or you use it.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

If you think Festool is overpriced you might not want to check Mayfell prices etc etc.

Free market and competition are both good things.
I have no regrets regarding my Festool drill purchases or my Festool RAS.
I won’t be shamed over my decisions, and don’t intend to shame someone else about the ones they make.

 

[JRC3]

Surprised non of you HF fanboys haven't brought up Bauer or Herc. LOL

 

[ssdave]

....

 

[dsimatt]

Surprised non of you HF fanboys haven't brought up Bauer or Herc. LOL

The Bauer line is interesting and might be decent quality wise.....not going to spend my money to find out thou.

 

[American Locomotive]

I think the mechanical tool prices themselves are okay. However, the two items that are ridiculously overpriced are:

1) All of the new LED lighting solutions from every manufacturer. These things are disgustingly expensive for what you get. High-powered white LEDs are absolutely dirt cheap now. There is no good reason why a made-in-china Milwaukee or Makita LED stick light should cost $50.

2) Batteries are ridiculously expensive. Lithium batteries have gone down in price significantly, but tool batteries have not. A Makita 3.0ah 2-pack of batteries was $112 in 2007. They're now $100 today. A single 3.0ah battery was ~$60 in 2008, they're now $79. The 1>2 battery price cut is insane.

Let's not even mention the fact that the tool manufacturers just bundle everything with steep discounts. So you see tons of people end up with a pile of chargers they don't need, and way more batteries then they can realistically use. It just encourages over-consumption and wastefulness.

 

[Banjorear]

CPO refurbished is your friend. Buy almost all of my Milwaukee tools there and never had one issue.

 

[JRC3]

The Bauer line is interesting and might be decent quality wise.....not going to spend my money to find out thou.

My point, as it's always been, Bauer has a 90 day warranty vs Something like Milwaukees (thread example) 5 years. Somehow the HF fanboys always defend HF saying it doesn'y matter...Or my favorite, "you can buy the extended warranty." LOL

I'll tell you something else, My DeWalt has hit the floor dozens of times from a 6 or 8 foot ladder. It always comes back for more. That is also what you're paying for with the "overpriced."

Let's not even mention the fact that the tool manufacturers just bundle everything with steep discounts. So you see tons of people end up with a pile of chargers they don't need, and way more batteries then they can realistically use. It just encourages over-consumption and wastefulness.

Every manufacturer sells bare tools though.

 

[American Locomotive]

Every manufacturer sells bare tools though.

But they're often a terrible "value", which encourages people to buy things they don't need and create more waste.

Bare Tool: $100
Single Battery $79
A charger is $55

Oh look, you can get a kit with the tool, two batteries and a charger for $150.....

 

[zendriver]

Surprised non of you HF fanboys haven't brought up Bauer or Herc. LOL

The discussion is brushless LiOn tools over priced

Why would we?

Cordless power tools, at the moment, they only an angle grinder.

 

[JRC3]

Cordless power tools, at the moment, they only an angle grinder.

They have more than one...https://www.harborfreight.com/20v-l...ng-jobsite-led-spotlight-tool-only-57330.html LOL

 

[bushmechanic]

Milwaukee really is proud of their batteries, i csnt afford to buy at full price so is a chess match trying to buy when they are on sale.

They make very good batteries.

I'm pretty sure the constantly fluctuating deals are built into the marketing plan to increase the "action" in the consumer experience. Remember twenty years ago when the idea of a new drill battery was no more than an inconvenience?

...and today? If we can find one at the right price, we get it while we can.

 

[bushmechanic]

But they're often a terrible "value", which encourages people to buy things they don't need and create more waste.

Bare Tool: $100
Single Battery $79
A charger is $55

Oh look, you can get a kit with the tool, two batteries and a charger for $150.....

To be fair, it's allowed the vast number of cordless tools we have today.

 

[dsimatt]

My point, as it's always been, Bauer has a 90 day warranty vs Something like Milwaukees (thread example) 5 years. Somehow the HF fanboys always defend HF saying it doesn'y matter...Or my favorite, "you can buy the extended warranty." LOL

I'll tell you something else, My DeWalt has hit the floor dozens of times from a 6 or 8 foot ladder. It always comes back for more. That is also what you're paying for with the "overpriced."


Every manufacturer sells bare tools though.

You are paying for the name but also better quality on top of having more power, warranty shouldnt even matter if the tool is built right IMO.

Bauer is just another try to take market share from competitors that are in another lesgue, id buy ryobi before any of the HF brands.

 

[JRC3]

...warranty shouldnt even matter if the tool is built right IMO.

True that. But it does show the manufacture's confidence in their product.

 

[dsimatt]

They make very good batteries.

I'm pretty sure the constantly fluctuating deals are built into the marketing plan to increase the "action" in the consumer experience. Remember twenty years ago when the idea of a new drill battery was no more than an inconvenience?

...and today? If we can find one at the right price, we get it while we can.

Their batteries are good thou my coworker who has 2 5amps in warranty right now because the cases fall apart might not agree.

A few years ago i could get a 5ah for under $100, now its $140 so the only way I'll buy one is part of a kit on sale. I've been trying to snap up the two 3ho battery packs for $100 when they go on sale. Reality the battery technology is changing for the better, so many options are nice.

On a side rant, why are the old 1.5ah batteries costing more than the new 3ah HOs.