"Free" Irwin T&G pliers

[zkling]

If this is old new please delete.

So I was strolling Lowes this evening after work, needed some trimmer line, but thought I would check out the tool section. I saw a center display in the tool world for Irwin's new T&G pliers. They had a box were if you turn in one of your old T&G pliers you could get a new pair of the Irwins for free.

Downside is that they are made in China, and have a push button locking mechanism that requires additional thinking to open. I don't think I will be trading in any of my USA pliers for a pair of these, but just thought I would throw it out there. To me they seemed pretty cheese. I think I could pretty easily break them in my hand if I really tried. Price was $12.98 or "Free" with a trade in.

Has anyone done this so far?

 

[rednotch]

I didn't even see them and I was in 2 different lowes today?

 

[zkling]

I didn't even see them and I was in 2 different lowes today?

Lowes is killing me with their inconsistency from store to store. I just don't understand it.

 

[rednotch]

I got some old china Great kneck brand T&G pliers in the junk yard box If I run across it. They look like the old orange handle HF brand, the teeth are about gone away. Not planning on another trip this week though, all ready had the clerks searching the top of the racks for knipex. And yes every store seems to price or sell stuff how ever they want to.


did find this for the (UK ONLY) guys though http://www.irwin.co.uk/pliers/
IRWIN TOOLS is offering you chance to claim a FREE Vise-Grip 6” Water Pump Plier or a 5CR Curved Jaw Locking Plier when you buy any plier from the IRWIN Vise-Grip range

 

[928'er]

Right, like I'm gonna trade in my Channellocks and Protos for some Chinese ****....

Gimmie a break.

 

[imanaddict]

Any tongue and groove pliers?

 

[NUTTSGT]

If I had to make a trip over there, I'd stop to see if they had the deal local. I have an old pair of Alltrade Twainese T&G pliers that I might swap for a new pair.

 

[Hip2u77]

If these are for the GrooveLock pliers then they're not so bad. I got in on the Sears deal a year or two ago where you got 2 pairs for like $12.

I've got Knipex Cobra, Alligator and Pliers wrench and a few Channellocks, but I still use my Irwins 10x more than any of them. And for one simple reason. . . they're faster to use and are "good enough" for 99% of what I need.

 

[lotsoftools]

Might be worth a trip to the $1 store to buy a pair of junky pliers to trade in.

 

[retDAC]

Might be worth a trip to the $1 store to buy a pair of junky pliers to trade in.

To me that's unethical. I don't like people treating me that way so I don't do it to them, not even businesses.

I will take some I already have of course if Lowe's has no requirement regarding condition or brand.

 

[shocksandstrutz]

i noticed this last night at the store near me, went to two different lowes this morning and didnt see them, guess im hitting the one up on the way home and throwing a pair of my ol HF pliers in there for a free pair

 

[zer0cell]

I already have cobras and channellocks... that's really all you need, but If I could trade in some dollar store pliers for the irwins I would do it. Unfortunately, none of the lowes stores around me seem to have this promotion going on, or at least its not advertised...

 

[reptilezs]

i will check my lowes near work

 

[zkling]

To me that's unethical. I don't like people treating me that way so I don't do it to them, not even businesses.

I will take some I already have of course if Lowe's has no requirement regarding condition or brand.

I know the guy that runs the tool section at our local store, we always BS about life in general. We had the same thought. I think it is just a way for Irwin to get the product out on the market. If you saw the box you would think it's even more shady. It instructs you to drop in your old pliers in this unsecured cardboard box and then go up to the register to redeem your free Irwin pair.

 

[lotsoftools]

I went to Lowes this morning and got a pair. I traded in a pair of rusty old dollar store specials from the bottom of my truck box. I was sad to see that somebody had traded in a nice looking pair of USA made Channelocks. These Irwin's are alright for free, but I would never pay for them. They feel cheap to me.
Anyways, as usual I went to check out and the cashier had no idea what I was talking about. He told me there is nothing free in Lowes, so I told him to get a manager. The tool manager came over and she didn't know anything about it so I had to walk her to the display. She authorized the transaction after that. I'm pretty sure one guy probably put the display out and didn't mention it to any of his co-workers.

 

[shocksandstrutz]

traded mine in last night, i was the first person out here to do it, there is still a display full of them here....crazy... and they are FREE!!!!

 

[reptilezs]

none here in woburn ma. they did have the kobalt flex ratchet and spark plug set but that rang up 18 dollars

 

[zkling]

I was sad to see that somebody had traded in a nice looking pair of USA made Channelocks.

Just like at sears when people turn in a USA tool for China. . You should have asked to buy the channellocks. Or next time bring in a pair of your worn out T&G's and trade them for the channellocks instead of the Irwins.

traded mine in last night, i was the first person out here to do it, there is still a display full of them here....crazy... and they are FREE!!!!

What is your opinion of the Irwins, happy with your trade?

 

[lotsoftools]

Just like at sears when people turn in a USA tool for China. . You should have asked to buy the channellocks. Or next time bring in a pair of your worn out T&G's and trade them for the channellocks instead of the Irwins.



If I could have gotten my hand into the box I would have fished the Channellocks out.

 

[zkling]

If I could have gotten my hand into the box I would have fished the Channellocks out.

The "drop box" at our store is just a cardboard box with a clear window and very large opening on the top. Mysteriously there are no pliers inside the drop box.

 

[kiatech]

Was at lowes this morning, didn't see it.

 

[mtnwkr]

Wish they had this at my store! I have a crappy pair I could trade in..

 

[volpster31]

i couldnt bring myself to do it...i returned my beat to hell craftsmans to sears for a new u.s made pair.....

 

[Jawn]

Right, like I'm gonna trade in my Channellocks and Protos for some Chinese ****....

Gimmie a break.

Right, but it might be worthwhile if you had some crappier cheapies.

My local store had one pair of unknown make in the box. If I had any crappy ones, I'd give it a shot.

 

[jim2664258]

The "drop box" at our store is just a cardboard box with a clear window and very large opening on the top. Mysteriously there are no pliers inside the drop box.

Just saw this myself too. They located the box near the tools section, but not in the tools section. It was near the end of an isle in the plumbing section, and if it was not near the end of the aisle I would have missed it. There was nary a plier in the drop box until I put my really ****** pair in. I knew I'd be having a conversation at the register, and a manager asked me to walk them over to the display because they didn't know what it was. They were all familiar with the circular blade promo in the past so that helped.

I suggested they move the display over to customer service, where they could see you drop in a pair and get the new one. Plus they would be familiar with the whole thing, obviously they are not telling cashiers about it. I don't know if they have a limit (maybe one per visit?) but it did not say that on the display. The drop box was just a piece of cardboard so if you wanted to cherry pick anyone else's dropoffs, it would be easy.

These are not heavy-duty pliers and they are only 8". If you dropped a pair as ****** as the ones I did, it's worth it. Otherwise I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[Brians VWss]

Picked up a pair. The display was located in tool world. The person working did not know about it. He looked on the computer and did not find it. Told me to go to customer service and ask to see a manager. When I turned around there was the display. Still in the cardboard box. They opened it up and I dropped my china pair in then, He walked me up to customer service to explain it was free. Thanks O/P

 

[upgrading]

Does it need to be T&G pliers you drop in or could you drop in slip joint pliers ?

 

[shocksandstrutz]

What is your opinion of the Irwins, happy with your trade?[/QUOTE]

definitly, i trade a worn out old POS pair of HF pliers for them....ive had those pliers for 10+ years and was going to throw them away.......now i have a pair of IRWINS

They arent bad, small pliers, but should come in handy one day.

I got mine friday night on my way home from work....saturday morning I needed to get some wire to run my 220 for my welder and the display was GONE!!! guess maybe that wasnt supposed to be out...

EDIT - Wentzville, MO store zip 63348

 

[zer0cell]

It would be helpful if everyone listed their store location if they found the box there for the trade-in

 

[ajchien]

Hm. Ive got potential trades. One is a Proto Challenger which I never liked because the handle is wrench-like skinny, uncomfortable to really squeeze hard on it. The other is a HF blue handle, which works adequately for what it is, but has lost it's handle. Is this Irwin any better than HF? Ive never thought of using Irwin except for vise grips and taps.

 

[Brians VWss]

Stopped a 3 locations today. 2 of them were still boxed up, the last was on display. Of course no one knew what to do. Finally the pro service desk came over and said these should be at the pro service area just like the saw blades. He was unable to exchange them as he stated the promotion starts 9/1- 9/30.

 

[zkling]

Ive never thought of using Irwin except for vise grips and taps.

They USE to make nice screwdrivers IMHO. I have a few with different handle styles on them. But they are all OLD and of course USA made. When I felt the pliers in the store, I honestly thought if I gave enough effort, I could break them in two.

 

[The Ratchet Man]

Could someone post a picture of one? It'd help to know what we are looking for.

 

[EdJack]

Could someone post a picture of one? It'd help to know what we are looking for.

Pictures are up on post number 26 above.

 

[The Frisco Kid]

Here's the deal on the pliers trade in... the sale goes live Sunday morning. That's why we're not all seeing it in our local stores. We should all see the promo late Saturday or Sunday morning!

 

[pettybird]

I was told this today as well.

 

[shocksandstrutz]

cool, ill go back with another crappy pair and get an exchange and put it in my sons toolbox!!! good deal

 

[Ksullivan]

I saw the promo box behind the commercial sales desk today all boxed up still. My zip is 13212

 

[WildwoodChuck]

none here in woburn ma. they did have the kobalt flex ratchet and spark plug set but that rang up 18 dollars

I got that same set for 5.99 rang up 5.00.

 

[zkling]

I got that same set for 5.99 rang up 5.00.

WOW, do you have a link or item # by chance?