"Free" Irwin T&G pliers

[getbent4x4]

I found a mini pair of china pliers that came with a kids bike. Such junk the teeth won't even touch because the handles hit they are made so crappy. hehehe

 

[Brians VWss]

my Lowes has the 3 pack Kobalt brand for 9.98.so I bought 2 and converted all the smaller pairs for these plus the 2 old pair I brought originally,8 pairs of these and 2 12 inch Kobalts for 20ish.I'll sell 6 pair for 10 each at work and make some money.shweet. anytime China. anytime.[/QUOTE]

Did you do that in store? What did the cashier say wnen the brand new Kolbalts went in the drop box

 

[tbaggz]

yeah with the manager and I discussing how i'd sell them and she was talking EBaying them for herself and you didn't even have to put any pliers in.Limit is 1 per transaction.i just stood there and watched and collected receipts.

 

[MN4x4]

Went to three different stores with varied results. First store had the display out, but didn't know what to do. Asked us to come back on Monday.

Second store didn't seem to know anything about the promo, but found the display in the back and got it out. They couldn't make the barcode work, but called over a manager who did a markdown.

Third stare had the display out, but again we were the first to do the deal. They also called over a manager to do the transaction.

I figure it will be a few days until the stores figure out how to make it work smoothly, but that's OK 'cause I already got mine!

 

[tbaggz]

there is a barcode on a promotion bulletin they have to scan.it dawns on me one could return these for store credit and get anything they want.

 

[pettybird]

Two more pairs today for five total. I put a pair of regular pliers in today but they made NO effort to find out if I put in anything at all. The box is by the commercial desk and I checked out at the normal registers.

 

[EdJack]

My Lowes was a bit more strict. You have to go to the commercial desk, then get the manager of that area, who watches you physically drop the tool in. Then they hand you a piece of paper with the barcode and the tool from the display. You then have to walk over to the regular register. Then the cashier calls over another manager who asks "Did you drop the tool in the bin?" and then they scan the tool, then scan the barcode on the paper.

Anyway, traded a Craftsman RoboGrip for the Irwin! I didn't have any junk pliers to trade, but figured since the RoboGrip is probably 15 years old and has literally never been used, it was a good trade. I also have a second pair of RoboGrips (different size) that I might swap out tomorrow.

 

[zer0cell]

My Lowes was a bit more strict. You have to go to the commercial desk, then get the manager of that area, who watches you physically drop the tool in. Then they hand you a piece of paper with the barcode and the tool from the display. You then have to walk over to the regular register. Then the cashier calls over another manager who asks "Did you drop the tool in the bin?" and then they scan the tool, then scan the barcode on the paper.

Anyway, traded a Craftsman RoboGrip for the Irwin! I didn't have any junk pliers to trade, but figured since the RoboGrip is probably 15 years old and has literally never been used, it was a good trade. I also have a second pair of RoboGrips (different size) that I might swap out tomorrow.

Sounds intimidating

I'm sure not all lowes stores would make it such an ordeal.

 

[getbent4x4]

one of the employees told me, you're not suppose to get them out of the turn in bin, as I was digging for made in usa pliers. LOL

I ended up just trading my junk pliers for their advertised pliers. Was too hard to sort through the 20 pliers to look for made in usa quality ones to swap out while 5 employees were watching me within a few ft distance. There was no channellock brand in there, or I would of seen the blue handles.

 

[diggerrick]

When I was getting my $20 Dewalt grinder today, I asked about this. The lady didn't know what I was talking about until I spied the promo sheet on the desk. It's supposed to run the whole month of September, but she told me they haven't "seen anything yet".

 

[NUTTSGT]

When I was getting my $20 Dewalt grinder today, I asked about this. The lady didn't know what I was talking about until I spied the promo sheet on the desk. It's supposed to run the whole month of September, but she told me they haven't "seen anything yet".

Did you hit up the Marion store Rick ? It's already set up and going on at Mansfield. It's located in front of the Pro desk.

 

[lotsoftools]

I found another pair of rusty Chicom pliers underneath my workbench today so I'm going back tomorrow for another pair.

 

[diggerrick]

Did you hit up the Marion store Rick ? It's already set up and going on at Mansfield. It's located in front of the Pro desk.

Yep, just Marion.

I saw this post after I pm'd you - thanks!

 

[Beowulf]

I went to the Lowes in Longmont CO and got this deal. I had a pair of Channel Lock Style pliers that were part of one of those cheap tool set you get for $5 that your great aunt gives as gifts. Took it in and got the Irwins. They were the GV8R model.
Tons of pliers in the box were standard slip joint, needle nose…etc. I seems they will take anything. I might just take some other throw away pliers I have to get another set for the offroad kit.

 

[mooman]

Just had the painful experience trading in my Robo Grip pliers. I was the first one at this store so everybody needed to learn to process

 

[crazy5]

My experience was even more painful... not only did they have to figure it out, but the barcode that they scanned had been entered in their computer wrong. The computer said it was only valid for 9/2-9/3, even though the flyer they had clearly stated through the end of the month. They didn't give me grief about it, but it took them awhile to figure out how to "sell" it to me manually for $0.00. Mine were the gv8r as well, and a nice upgrade from the cheapies that even China was too embarrassed to put their name on!

 

[diggerrick]

It's now at the contractor's desk in the Marion, Ohio store also.

 

[ajchien]

I did trade in a HF 10" and a Proto Challenger 10". 2 receipts, went easy without hassle. The display was next to the contractor desk, checked me out right next to the display. Store knew what to do, they even let me know that Irwin would probably do another saw blade trade in promo within the next few months.

The pliers look decently built, and comfortable. Havent used it yet. I guess the real test will be how well the teeth hold up over time.

 

[lotsoftools]

I just got back from trading another pair. There were only 4 trade-ins in the box, including the one I swapped last time. This time the box was closer to the lumber section where the cashier could see it better I guess, and it was a simple in and out transaction.

 

[mooman]

How are some of you guys getting the gv8r as the one they are giving back?

 

[Beowulf]

For me the GV8R was all that was in the Trade-in display.

 

[crazy5]

GV8R is all that was in the display at my store too.

 

[tadwolfe]

GV8R on display at the 2 Lowes I targeted today.....1 each

 

[2many2s]

Just returned with the wife from trading in two unwanted no name pliers (long nose and small linemans) for a couple of the Irwins. Will see how these stack up against my Knipex equivalents.

 

[ajchien]

Just returned with the wife from trading in two unwanted no name pliers (long nose and small linemans) for a couple of the Irwins. Will see how these stack up against my Knipex equivalents.

Wait, theyre taking any kind of pliers? I thought it was just the tongue in groove/water pump type they were taking exchanges for?

 

[carguy07]

Wait, theyre taking any kind of pliers? I thought it was just the tongue in groove/water pump type they were taking exchanges for?

The store I went to did not care what they were, just throw a random tool in the box.

 

[zer0cell]

For those of you who only have good quality brand pliers and no cheap junk to trade in, you could always hit up a pawn shop on your way, pick out a handful of the cheesiest looking pliers and have the people at the desk give them to you for $0.50 to $1 each

 

[jim2664258]

LOL I bet Lowe's is stocking up on the HF pliers.

Speaking of, you could buy these: http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-tongue-and-groove-joint-pliers-set-43553.html

With a 25% off coupon: http://www.harborfreight.com/20off-...edium=aff&utm_campaign=wts-coupons&hftref=cj#

So you get 4 pair of slip-joint pliers to exchange for less than $10.

Go on, you cheap bastards!

 

[zer0cell]

I like the pawn shop idea better jim

I wouldn't want to give HF the impression that I actually 'like' their pliers

 

[diggerrick]

You can pick up a pair of pliers from our dollar store for $1 and Lowe's is right behind it.

 

[zer0cell]

Maybe where you live it is... just went to the pawnshop and major score. Got some good stuff cheap, including 2 taiwan slipjoint pliers for $0.50 each. Took one to lowes for the irwin exchange. It was easy. The box at lowes had quite a few pliers in it. Many of them were junk but I saw a few blue handled channellocks in there as well.

Being that this is a nation wide program, I wonder how many tons of steel are being recovered from old pliers... hopefully it gets recycled and not just thrown in the dumpster

 

[Basstracker34]

After turning in my second junk pair of pliers for a free irwin I noticed they aren't the same. The first pair of pliers have the GV8R engraved in the metal. The second pair has it printed on instead.

Everything else is the exact same. Same store too.

 

[EdJack]

Dropped off my second pair of RoboGrips for another pair of Irwins.

Now I officially have no RoboGrips in my tools! Took 15 years to get rid of them, but finally did it!

 

[Fast LT1]

Maybe where you live it is... just went to the pawnshop and major score. Got some good stuff cheap, including 2 taiwan slipjoint pliers for $0.50 each. Took one to lowes for the irwin exchange. It was easy. The box at lowes had quite a few pliers in it. Many of them were junk but I saw a few blue handled channellocks in there as well.

Being that this is a nation wide program, I wonder how many tons of steel are being recovered from old pliers... hopefully it gets recycled and not just thrown in the dumpster

I would toss my HF pliers in there and take a pair of Channel locks. The irwins are OK at best.

 

[zer0cell]

Indeed but I doubt that dude at the desk would have allowed it

 

[zkling]

Indeed but I doubt that dude at the desk would have allowed it

Why should he/she care? As long as you end up with only 1 pair of pliers no loss on their part. Now if someone was fishing around and just digging out pliers that would be one thing, but dropping yours in for a different pair.

I do wonder what they are going to do with the traded in pliers.

 

[MN4x4]

I believe the instructions say for them to 'destroy' the pliers that were turned in. If so, I imagine they'll end up in their dumpster at the end of the promo.

 

[2many2s]

Wait, theyre taking any kind of pliers? I thought it was just the tongue in groove/water pump type they were taking exchanges for?

I called the store and spoke to someone in the tool department. He told me that it didn't matter what type of pliers you were exchanging for the Irwins.

 

[EdJack]

I believe the instructions say for them to 'destroy' the pliers that were turned in. If so, I imagine they'll end up in their dumpster at the end of the promo.

If I was working there and was assigned the job to haul them out to the dumpster, I'd be cherry picking the rejects.

 

[Ahicksv]

I called the store and spoke to someone in the tool department. He told me that it didn't matter what type of pliers you were exchanging for the Irwins.

Display clearly states "drop your tongue and groove pliers." Guess it depends on how close store monitors. First store I went to couldn't care less what type of pliers they were. Second store wanted to inspect to ensure they were t&g before I dropped them in.