Jeff C
Well-known member
Klein Returning to Lowe’s?
- Thread starter Jeff C
- Start date
Daveyclimber
Well-known member
Been at my Lowes here in Montana for at least the last 3 years
davethorik
Well-known member
Last time i looked in the electrical tool aisle at Lowe's, it was mostly Southwire, some Ideal, and 10" Knipex Cobras. More selection is always good.
redwrench60
Well-known member
Klein and Knipex sold side by side…..mass hysteria!
slowtwitch73
Well-known member
I'll have to go and shop lift me some.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Forget Lowes and their lack of customer service and training.
Support your local electrical supply house.
Support your local electrical supply house.
It looks like they might be displacing Ideal for this. I wanted to buy an Ideal combo tip driver:
Lowe's has it on the website, but no local stores have stock, and my wife informs me that it's now a clearance item. If that's so, and Klein is coming back, they're probably taking Ideal out of the stores to make room for it.
There’s two in stock at our store, looks like they only dropped the price 50¢. It’s the same price on Amazon but it’s a different color.It looks like they might be displacing Ideal for this. I wanted to buy an Ideal combo tip driver:
Lowe's has it on the website, but no local stores have stock, and my wife informs me that it's now a clearance item. If that's so, and Klein is coming back, they're probably taking Ideal out of the stores to make room for it.
Grab one while you can if you want it. They're definitely clearance.
Ideal recently changed the color, but not the stock number, and a lot of places haven't updated their listing pictures. I ordered one from Amazon that should arrive by Saturday, and I'm betting it will be blue.
Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies. Rivers and seas boiling. Forty years of darkness. Earthquakes. Volcanoes. The dead rising from the grave.
redwrench60
Well-known member
You got it! We are headed for a disaster of Biblical proportions. Old Testament. Real wrath of God type stuff!
mooman
Well-known member
I would love to. Most of the supply houses are not open when it's convenient for me.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
Wow. I heard a rumor about this a while back but it looked like nothing was gonna happen. Lowe's seems to be stepping up their game.
Makes me wonder what's going on with Ideal. Western Forge and Pratt-Read are dead, they sold off SK, and a lot of their Ideal-branded tools are no longer made in the USA. So this can't be good for them unless they strike a deal with another store.
Makes me wonder what's going on with Ideal. Western Forge and Pratt-Read are dead, they sold off SK, and a lot of their Ideal-branded tools are no longer made in the USA. So this can't be good for them unless they strike a deal with another store.
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sparky 1971
Well-known member
Lowes changes vendors quite often it seems. In about 2011-2012 they clearanced out Ideal, Knipex, and some Channellock to make room for Southwire. I found out about it late, it had beenpicked over already, but was still able to score an Ideal iron 1" conduit bender with handle for $12, three five gallon buckets of jet line for $8 each, Channellock lineman pliers for $5, and four pair of Knipex lineman pliers for $7 each There were also Ideal screwdrivers, but don't remember the price.
upgrading
Well-known member
I notice Stuey Just had an article about Klein coming out with their own modular tool box system.
Maybe Klein figures they will sell more if they get them in front of customers at B&M locations.
Maybe Klein figures they will sell more if they get them in front of customers at B&M locations.
BreeStephany
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I try to support our vendors, who often give me AMAZING deals on tools through their "apprentice tool account". The main reason I stick with them is that they also deal with the warranty headaches on hand and power tools I purchase from them AND they always let me know of upcoming deals on tools.
With that said, Knipex linemans for $7?!... I guess I need to keep more current on inventory change overs in the box stores!
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BreeStephany
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I guess its been a while since I've been into a Lowes... last I went in the electrical section of Lowes, all I saw were the 'cheaper' Southwire clones...
kngelv
Well-known member
I also scored on that 2012 closeout with about 15 different Knipex pliers under $12.00 and multiple IDEAL Carbide conduit hole saw kits. I picked up a half dozen at $8.00 each. They each had 1/2, 3/4, and 1" bits. I also picked up two 13 piece Lenox hole saw kits for $5.00 each. This was around the same time Sears clearanced all their individual sockets including swivels for 99 cents each.
James
James
It arrived today and is blue. I prefer that, because it stands out from the Klein drivers.
spike99250
Well-known member
Toolguyd.com announced that this week. I would hope Depot keeps carrying KLein, it is a shame they stopped selling Estwing.
why, they always treat you like dung, if you're not a license card carrying union electrician, they dont want anything to do with you, and they will tell you that
MarvinBerry
Well-known member
Hmm I was in a depot yesterday that's well out of my usual travels... in electrical and almost everything Klein was gone.
Had some meters left but no handtools of any type... no screwdrivers which bummed me out... but even the basic outlet testers & all that? Nothing.
Not a fan of bLowes they have a spot about 4 miles from home and it's always a disaster. Half the time they're out of whatever I needed and the other half it's self checkout only with one person covering everything.
Had some meters left but no handtools of any type... no screwdrivers which bummed me out... but even the basic outlet testers & all that? Nothing.
Not a fan of bLowes they have a spot about 4 miles from home and it's always a disaster. Half the time they're out of whatever I needed and the other half it's self checkout only with one person covering everything.
neophyte
Well-known member
Local supply houses vary.
Plenty of pro supply houses are fine if you just show up and are polite.
The main issue is that even the local pro supply houses don’t always have the item you want.
Even Grainger, 20 years ago, when Grainger really was set up to sell to businesses with accounts, was willing to sell to me when I walked in off the street with no account.
I presume the sales people just set up an account under CashNCarry or something like that.
Admittedly some businesses will be dicks, but you don’t know until you walk in and check.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
If thats the hand you were dealt, I can understand why you would feel that way.
My favorite suppliers (three options within 10 miles) cover multiple trades: industrial supplies, electrical, hvac, plumbing, bathroom fixtures, commercial and residential. They are mature, helpful and professional. General public sales are a huge part of their business.
One of them has a revolving weekly Klein order. They stock a huge inventory, but if there is anything one wants in addition, give them roughly a week and they will have it.
Warranty is quick, painless, hassle free.
All three are locally owned and operated small businesses.
Neither have I been shunned at places like Ferguson that strictly cater to pros.
I dont like Lowes.
As always on GJ, YMMV...
Tiny Jackson
Well-known member
Klein is really pushing retail apparently. My local plumbing supply house now has a whole Klein display.
I've found that there are enough pro contractor level supply houses will sell to the end users. I know the shops that don't want to bother with end users, those places jack up prices above the manufacturer suggested list to deter a sale. Others will state they don't sell to the public. That's ok there are other shops that see a sale and make some $.
A mentioned about Ferguson and Grainger, they treat me well as an end user type. Prices at Grainger aren't the lowest thought they have fast turn around so that level of service is valuable. When I don't want large quantities from the usual tool supplier, Grainger allows purchases for singles and low count pieces. They are an authorized seller so warranty and authentic product isn't an issue either.
A mentioned about Ferguson and Grainger, they treat me well as an end user type. Prices at Grainger aren't the lowest thought they have fast turn around so that level of service is valuable. When I don't want large quantities from the usual tool supplier, Grainger allows purchases for singles and low count pieces. They are an authorized seller so warranty and authentic product isn't an issue either.
sparky 1971
Well-known member
Guys go in to the supply houses and buy tools when they get off work all the time. Since it's usually a cash sale, the counter guys have no clue as to who they are or who they work for, or even if they are an electrician. I've been there and done that when I worked on the construction side. It wasn't until I started running a service truck and was in there every day buying material on the company account that I got to be on a first name basis with them and they knew who I was and who I worked for. Now that I work for myself, I am no longer a card carrying union man and things are going on exactly as before except that the tools are now being charged to my own account rather than a cash sale. I even have friends go in there and get things as a cash sale, but they run it through my account for the contractor pricing.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
There's a local plumbing supply place that sells fixtures, etc. in addition to actual plumbing supplies. I went there looking for valve cartridges. They looked at me like I didn't belong there. I brought the old ones, and they all ignored me, preferring to stand in a circle talking. I asked another guy in the back if they had the kind of valve, and his response was "no, they change them" and walked away.
OK. I'm not going to beg you to take my money. Needless to say, that kind of put me off supply houses. I reckon I should give the local electric supply house a try, though.
OK. I'm not going to beg you to take my money. Needless to say, that kind of put me off supply houses. I reckon I should give the local electric supply house a try, though.
MarvinBerry
Well-known member
Well Ok I was in my local usual depot tonight and... where'd all the Klein go?
Electrical had a real shakeup. Tools stocked & very few empty pegs... lots of house brand "commercial electronics" taking over.
Only Klein left, basically like the last store was meters & test gear. No screwdrivers no pliers no strippers or anything of the sort.
Looks like the couple things I wanted are still available online, listed as "available for store pickup" and showing in stock but those 4 in 1 mini screwdrivers were absolutely not on display tonight.
Electrical had a real shakeup. Tools stocked & very few empty pegs... lots of house brand "commercial electronics" taking over.
Only Klein left, basically like the last store was meters & test gear. No screwdrivers no pliers no strippers or anything of the sort.
Looks like the couple things I wanted are still available online, listed as "available for store pickup" and showing in stock but those 4 in 1 mini screwdrivers were absolutely not on display tonight.
bluedog225
Well-known member
Lowes return policy *****. If you are not satisfied, you can return your new and unused product (maybe). Huh?
consti2tion
Well-known member
I've never experienced an issue returning items to Lowes, these types issues really seem inconsistent.
Happy to see they will have Klein as I try to avoid HD in my area.