Home Depot Milwaukee Return Policy

[Holeshot121]

Can someone help me understand the Home Depot return policy for Milwaukee tools? I got the deal where you buy the M18 starter kit with the charger and two 4.0 batteries and you get a free tool. I could swear that I've read on here multiple times that if it rings up as 2 separate items, comes in 2 separate retail packages, etc that you can return one item for a pro-rated amount. I ordered online and it showed as 2 separate items in the cart, each with a pro-rated amount.

Either I'm mistaken, or they changed their policy. My local HD wouldn't let me return the starter kit without the tool also, and I called HD corporate to verify. They confirmed that I would have to return both items. Has anyone successfully done this recently?

I would have just posted this in the Milwaukee deals thread, but I guess I don't have enough posts yet.

 

[zendriver]

Why should they let you keep the "free tool"

 

[nicks78camaro]

Not sure about milwaukee, but I ordered a dewalt drill kit for $199 from home depot and got a "free" 3/8" impact ($199 value). When it rang up, each item discounted automatically to $99.50. I returned the drill kit the next day and got $99.50 back.

 

[Holeshot121]

Why should they let you keep the "free tool"

Because it's not really free. It shows up in the cart as 90 some odd dollars and the starter kit is discounted by that same amount. So according to what I've read here, I should be able to get that partial amount back.

Not sure about milwaukee, but I ordered a dewalt drill kit for $199 from home depot and got a "free" 3/8" impact ($199 value). When it rang up, each item discounted automatically to $99.50. I returned the drill kit the next day and got $99.50 back.

That's exactly what I'm talking about. Almost identical situation for me, but with Milwaukee.

 

[nadogail]

The last time I checked there still is no "Free Lunch".

 

[pepi]

The last time I checked there still is no "Free Lunch".

Very true but, it never seems to stop a ***** from trying.

 

[Holeshot121]

The last time I checked there still is no "Free Lunch".

Once again, it's not free. Read the previous posts. It's a $200 kit with a free tool. Rings up as $100 for the kit and $100 for the tool. You return the kit and get $100 back, not $200. Or at least it has worked for others, including right here in this thread.

Very true but, it never seems to stop a ***** from trying.

LOL! Calling me a *****, but you clearly have the reading comprehension level of a pre-schooler. That's adorable.


EDIT: This is why I wanted to post this in the hot deals section. The guys there are familiar with the buy and partial return thing. I know people do it all the time, but maybe this specific combo doesn't work that way, or maybe it varies by store.

 

[Skin]

Did the system block the employee or did they verbally tell you this without even trying to ring it up?

If its on the receipt at the pro-rated amount they should be able to refund you that.

Why should they let you keep the "free tool"

They dont ring up as free, they're pro-rated on the receipt so if you buy a $299 kit with a free bare tool then the bare tool would ring up as $99 and the kit would be $200. As a result of this their system doesnt see the "free tool" as free and it can be returned as its own individual purchase. I'm not entirely sure why they allow it but people do this all the time.

If I had to guess I'd say its simpler than getting into fights over people trying to return the kit without the tool that rang up as "promo" or "$0.00". Their return policy is crazy lax.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Has anyone successfully done this recently?

Yes.
I needed tires inflated, leaves blown, and some wood trimming done.

In between all that, I made time to read that whole thread.

If you find a good deal on the chainsaw, I know someone looking to buy one.

 

[American Locomotive]

The pro-rated discount thing is probably the easiest way to implement it in their system. But they're probably tired of people abusing the returns to get "cheap" tools.

It's like at AutoZone - if I buy a $25 item and get my rewards point, and then return the item - they take the point away.

 

[Zmann]

To purposely buy a kit with a bonus and intend to return just to score a deal seems slimy ( specially if it is shipped ) and it cost us all in the end

now I am sure there are honest exceptions ( like the OP I hope) but I sure wouldn't get bent if they wanted the whole package deal back

my old boss used to have no problem buying equipment for a job then returning it when done ,, that's why I own the company now

Anybody know where I can by a wood box of soap and return just the soap ?
I need a soap box to stand on

 

[jonesg]

stealing is avarice no matter how convoluted and makes the thief all the same.

 

[HamAndEggs]

My local Home Depot lets me do this no problem

Don't see how its slimy when they are ripping us off 24/7 and making upwards of 45% profit margin and hiring people who are of zero help to anyone

Thats just HD, think TTI Hong Kong (Milwaukee) has your interests in mind?

 

[pizza]

wtf, lol? i didn't read anything about anyone trying to steal something in this thread. how whipped can you get to try to shame the OP like that? haha.

this isn't even a real loophole. it's clear they're aware of what's going on. the fact that they ring up separately as pro-rated amounts is evidence of that.

if you want all the pieces of the kit, great. it's probably a good deal.
if you want only a piece of the kit, and they let you return the rest (sounds like they usually do if some conditions are met), then that's also no problem to them. it shouldn't be a problem to any of you, either.

this is just their (HD's & Mw's) corporate strategy. imo, Mw's retail pricing is a rip off. that's their bread and butter. they sell a lot of tools at full price, i think.

but they also cater to those who are willing to 'clip coupons', research, and waste more of their time than these discounts are usually worth. and then there's loss leaders around holidays.

i don't have an answer to your actual question though, OP. if you ever find out why it didn't work, lmk.

 

[HamAndEggs]

I'll admit I may have accidentally scanned the wrong number of items at the self checkout once or twice...

 

[pizza]

Yes.
I needed tires inflated, leaves blown, and some wood trimming done.

In between all that, I made time to read that whole thread.

If you find a good deal on the chainsaw, I know someone looking to buy one.

c'mon, that thread is 5200 posts!

i loosely follow it, and as a result, i think i only have a general idea about how the deal works. am i also right that the tricks have changed over time? like before, you could return basically any piece of a bundle that was separately packaged, but now they have to ring up separately when you buy. so when you buy online, they have to show up in your cart separately? and each show their own price or something like that?

and when the trick works, the components are each worth a fraction of the bundle price proportionate to their individual MSRPs.

does that cover it, or am i missing something?

because i don't understand what went wrong for the OP.

 

[purplezr2]

I think it is due to it being online from what I have read.

Funny enough, I did buy the router deal that was posted here, the store that I had picked was the store closest to my parents house, as I had purchased something for my dad to pickup(COVID concerns). When I purchase the router deal it was for pickup on the router and shipping on the battery. The battery shipped and I forgot to pick it up. Well a few month later I was at my parents, and I had the battery, and I gotten an email that they had cancelled my pickup order. I stopped at the store to return the battery, and the lady said I had a pickup(I have a unique last name). I return the battery and picked up my router.

So in the end I have no idea.

 

[Rarified27]

Pro-rating makes the return smoother, but also lets them resell the item at full price.

 

[fourjeepin]

Soooo, yes, HD is aware that people do partial returns. This was intentional and requiring full return of items sold on a promotion was intentionally NOT done. I did the bulk of the functional design of the promotion system at HD back probably 15 years ago. A few years prior to this system, only employees got a discout and only once a year.

I would guess that the OP was blocked by a cashier who knew what’s going on. Possible this is due to a store or even corporate guidance, but most likely it was operational and not a systemic block. Promotions logic is complex and was very rarely changed while I was involved.

 

[ckeboss]

Soooo, yes, HD is aware that people do partial returns. This was intentional and requiring full return of items sold on a promotion was intentionally NOT done. I did the bulk of the functional design of the promotion system at HD back probably 15 years ago. A few years prior to this system, only employees got a discout and only once a year.

I would guess that the OP was blocked by a cashier who knew what’s going on. Possible this is due to a store or even corporate guidance, but most likely it was operational and not a systemic block. Promotions logic is complex and was very rarely changed while I was involved.

Did you ever work on or know of their discounting system when a product is being discontinued? Their 1 cent system seems odd.

 

[Holeshot121]

If this is some kind of glitch, then yes, I feel bad for taking advantage. I'm certainly no thief, lol. But it sounds like this was done by design, or at the very least, they're aware of it. For you guys who aren't aware, they also mark up the item you're paying for.

That starter kit listed at $200 is probably less than $150 on sale. There's a kit with better batteries available for $179 all day on sale. And most of optional free tools are also available under $150 on sale. So when they pro-rate the items, I can only guess they're still making a few dollars.

Anyway, sounds like it won't work at my local HD. No big deal, I can just sell the starter kit.

 

[Holeshot121]

Did the system block the employee or did they verbally tell you this without even trying to ring it up?

If its on the receipt at the pro-rated amount they should be able to refund you that.

They verbally said that. I asked them if they would try to run it through the system but they said no. I didn't press the issue.

Yes.
I needed tires inflated, leaves blown, and some wood trimming done.

In between all that, I made time to read that whole thread.

If you find a good deal on the chainsaw, I know someone looking to buy one.

Slacker!

 

[Tduby]

Can you show us the receipt I have done this many times with in store purchases but I have heard mixed results about it when bought online. In store the receipt will show the value of the return and you take back the item you don’t want and keep the ones you do. If that is stealing then buying anything on sale is stealing and you should feel bad.

 

[Jeff95TA]

Don't see how its slimy when they are ripping us off 24/7 and making upwards of 45% profit margin and hiring people who are of zero help to anyone

Thats just HD, think TTI Hong Kong (Milwaukee) has your interests in mind?

They show you the price, and you make the choice if you want to buy it there or somewhere else. If H.D. is so bad, stop going there.

 

[fourjeepin]

Did you ever work on or know of their discounting system when a product is being discontinued? Their 1 cent system seems odd.

The final price being 1 cent is different from most stores. I believe this was done for accounting purposes, but I am uncertain. This price does not mean the item is on recall and the store cannot sell the item. That is a common misconception but that is a different setting, not a price. The POS system did not have any logic to restrict sales of penny items while I was working there. It would have been easy to implement though. Instead, the pricing folks changed the markdown schedule and now the clearance section rarely has any deals.

 

[fourjeepin]

Don't see how its slimy when they are ripping us off 24/7 and making upwards of 45% profit margin and hiring people who are of zero help to anyone

Unsure how HD rips you off but FYI, 45% isn’t very high for many places. Out of curiousity, what line of work are you in?

 

[Zmann]

My local Home Depot lets me do this no problem

Don't see how its slimy when they are ripping us off 24/7 and making upwards of 45% profit margin and hiring people who are of zero help to anyone

Thats just HD, think TTI Hong Kong (Milwaukee) has your interests in mind?

Not sure we have the same right and wrong radar calibrations

Your $3000 laptop was stolen out of it, remember

Hey insurance guess what happened

 

[HamAndEggs]

I can give you my name and address if you want do a full internet search for me, if you want. Just in-case I said anything else you don't approve of

Merging comments from two threads to make a point? And it was very clear that second one was a joke

 

[Mr.N]

Very true but, it never seems to stop a ***** from trying.

If you are trying to work the system, you have to be smarter than the system...

.​

 

[Ton ton]

Very true but, it never seems to stop a ***** from trying.

Lol. I agree.

 

[pizza]

i'm not sure why trying to buy something on sale makes you a *****.

what's shady about it?

if they create a system where they (usually?) let you return potentially unwanted parts of a bundle, why do any of you have a problem with people returning stuff?

i don't see a free lunch here.

 

[HamAndEggs]

i'm not sure why trying to buy something on sale makes you a *****.

what's shady about it?

if they create a system where they (usually?) let you return potentially unwanted parts of a bundle, why do any of you have a problem with people returning stuff?

i don't see a free lunch here.

We must defend our corporate overlords! Imagine if they couldn't get to fly wheels up every day? Man I'd feel so bad