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Kobalt 3/8 Flex head ratchet

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jptbay

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 19, 2006
Messages
608
The 2 sets I ordered arrived quickly.

I was shocked. Lowe's sent them UPS 2nd day air. Pretty good for $6 shipping.
 

loranger

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 2, 2012
Messages
789
Location
DFW, TX
I just used mine a few days ago to change the spark plugs on my truck. Worked beautifully! Ive never had a flex head ratchet and didn't realize they helped so much.
 

lightning02

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2013
Messages
2,677
I got mine couple weeks ago. I compared it to my cman flex head. The cman has a much thinner head and it alot tighter in the flex part. The cman flex is my go to ratchet. The kobalt isnt bad. They should make the head little tighter tho so it doesnt flex so easy. Other then that I like it.
 

mattmus4357

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 21, 2012
Messages
122
Location
Land of Oz
Picked up a set tonight. If you can't find them in tools or towing then check the lawn section near the spark plugs, that's where my Lowes has them
 

DSM21

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 30, 2013
Messages
924
I was going to buy one of these, but then my neighbor gave me a great deal on a snap on ratchet I couldn't refuse. 60$ had a friend take it to the Snap on guy and got a brand new Fine tooth, long handle flex head now :beer:

But I think this ratchet is probably the best bang for the buck
 

djb2

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 3, 2010
Messages
639
Location
Redwood forests
I noticed several Lowe's in my area stop carrying these ratchet, period!

From the store placement in the lawn-and-garden section, this appears to have been a seasonal package deal targeted for lawn mower spark plug changes. They wanted the package to be bought by casual users that would otherwise get a $5 spark plug tool. Not by regular tool users that would otherwise buy a $30 ratchet.

The production cost can almost be ignored. It's probably negligible, a dollar or two. The only thing that matters is tempting customers to spend as much as they can. If you can sell it for $30, great. If you can sell more at $20, better, as long as you don't sell to too many people that would have spend $30. If you guess wrong about how many you'll sell and have to mark it down to $10, that's still fine. At least until the $30 spenders are only spending $10. (And actually it's still fine if the $20 and $30 customers make a bunch of return trips hoping to find similar deals. Uhmm, yeah, that would be me.)
 

erty67

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 30, 2012
Messages
1,151
still good, but stores are getting less likely to have it. I finally broke down and ordered one for $17.97. I guess I didn't want it to sell out before I caved in. GJ costing me money yet again! :willy_nil
 

nicksnothereman

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2013
Messages
3,608
Location
In the Mojave
I noticed several Lowe's in my area stop carrying these ratchet, period!

They were clearing these out for like 13 bucks at my lowe's a while back. I bought one, took it home, decided I didn't need it, and returned it the next day. I don't regret that decision; I don't really need a flex ratchet and don't really like the idea en face.
 

Harrison2

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 1, 2013
Messages
982
Location
Bay area and UK
my store has quite a few boxes left except they're on the bottom shelf under drill bits so I guess they're not bothered about selling them.
 

Trey T

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 3, 2011
Messages
3,749
Location
Houston, TX
Lowe's used to sell the ratchet by itself ($21) for more than the sparkplug ratchet kit ($20). They stop selling them altogether!
They were clearing these out for like 13 bucks at my lowe's a while back. I bought one, took it home, decided I didn't need it, and returned it the next day. I don't regret that decision; I don't really need a flex ratchet and don't really like the idea en face.
 
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Wangstang

Well-known member
Joined
May 25, 2006
Messages
405
Location
Triangle Area, NC, USA
They were clearing these out for like 13 bucks at my lowe's a while back. I bought one, took it home, decided I didn't need it and returned it the next day. I don't regret that decision; I don't really need a flex ratchet and don't really like the idea en face.

I thought the same thing when I bought mine. But instead if returning I figured what the heck...worth a try....and gave the kit a whirl on my 1984 C20 pickup 350 spark plug set. That articulating ratchet head made a huge difference in getting around things and the plug sockets felt like quality sockets for the job. The included extension worked on all but one plug, which required me to go to a slightly shorter extension from my box.

Frankly, for the money, if you don't have an articulating ratchet in your collection you should strongly consider the set for the ratchet alone.

Wes
 

lightning02

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2013
Messages
2,677
If you want one that locks in place this is a good deal at home depot. The handle extends also.

that would be great that it locks in place. never used any extendable handle ratchets. maybe ill give it a try just to see how it is. worse case ill return it. my cman flex head is still the best i used so far. the kobalt is nice just wish it didnt flex so easy.
 

crazy5

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 24, 2010
Messages
117
Location
Denver, CO
I thought the same thing when I bought mine. But instead if returning I figured what the heck...worth a try....and gave the kit a whirl on my 1984 C20 pickup 350 spark plug set. That articulating ratchet head made a huge difference in getting around things and the plug sockets felt like quality sockets for the job. The included extension worked on all but one plug, which required me to go to a slightly shorter extension from my box.

Frankly, for the money, if you don't have an articulating ratchet in your collection you should strongly consider the set for the ratchet alone.

Wes

If you haven't already, open it up and give it a light coat of Superlube (or your favorite lube). Turns a "not bad" ratchet into a "real nice (especially for the price)" ratchet.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
 

m4rkz0r

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 23, 2012
Messages
110
Location
Texas
They were clearing these out for like 13 bucks at my lowe's a while back. I bought one, took it home, decided I didn't need it, and returned it the next day. I don't regret that decision; I don't really need a flex ratchet and don't really like the idea en face.

Why would anyone return perfectly good tools? :confused:
 

928'er

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 26, 2012
Messages
756
Location
Wine Country, CA
These have been out of stock (or just not being displayed) at my local Lowes for a while.

Stopped by today and found two sets on clearance for $12.58. Bought 'em both - probably use them for gifts.
 

djb2

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 3, 2010
Messages
639
Location
Redwood forests
My flex head ratchet has gotten a bunch of use lately. Mostly because it's not part of a set, and thus doesn't get put away as quickly. But at least a bit of that is that the high quality feel makes it a pleasure to use.
 

usmc_noma

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 9, 2009
Messages
1,219
Location
virginia
They're $12 and change at several places here. I have one, but may pick up another and bend it like a few other members have. I just have to figure out how since I don't have a press.
 

alpinewhite

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 4, 2012
Messages
1,315
Location
Orange County, California, USA
$12.58 at Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.

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fivespdcat

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 25, 2011
Messages
1,520
You guys are driving me crazy. I resisted this for a year, then someone bumps this thread and I go weak. Picked one up yesterday while reloading my salt stock. $12.58 at my local spot, seems like a really nice ratchet, the sockets are just your basic rubber insert ones.
 

Mlr2006

Active member
Joined
Nov 10, 2013
Messages
25
They have them at several stores in the Orlando area for 12.58. Scooped up one today while picking up a few other things.
 
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