Lowe's electrical tool reset coming? Klein?

[Brownsfan]

I was in Lowe's today needing to buy a set of crimpers( I somehow lost my set) an I am on the road in Chicago for work. I wanted the USA made Ideal set and there were none on the hook. In fact there were even no **** southwire crimpers either. Wouldn't have bought them if they were there. Any way, the electrical section employee said they are out of the Ideal and are doing a reset in the next few days. He claims Klein tools will once again be sold at Lowe's. I know it's just a guy at the store level but has anyone else seen or heard this? It's been quite a few years and maybe the home Depot deal has expired? I ended up going to HD and buying the Klein set.

 

[555]

I was also in a Lowe's today and heard the same thing.

 

[Wamsutta]

I thought Southwire was a big hit; what happened?

 

[zer0cell]

Hmm south wire is the same price as Klein but it's made in China. Even if the quality was equal - why not just go to Home Depot which is often times in walking distance to Lowe's to get Klein? Channellock is also an option and it's cheaper than south wire and widely available. I hope Klein does come back to Lowe's. That would be good.

 

[ecotec]

I have not bought a single Southwire tool. Just looking at them makes me a little angry.

 

[bcradio]

I bet they sold almost none of them and then realized they need to change it up because they made a mistake by switching to the Southwire.

 

[zer0cell]

Lowes went from Klein to Knipex, to Southwire... and now back to Klein again?

 

[Brownsfan]

I guess they figured out that no one especially professional electricians will Buy Chinese made Klein knock off tools at USA made genuine Klein prices. The USA made ideal tools there now are a dollar or two less than the equivalent Southwire right next to it. They may have sold if it was priced like a Chinese Klein knock off.

 

[zer0cell]

Yep, I'd say so for sure. For a homeowner who just wants some cheap tools there are plenty of offerings out there... when a store is asking $30-$40 for some pliers, they should know that most tradesman or enthusiasts willing to pay those kind of prices are looking for a recognizable brand with a good reputation and many times those people have a preference for the tool's country of origin. Charging top dollar for a tool line, I for one have never even heard of that's made in China isn't going to sit well with me.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I always thought HD had an exclusive on Klein, at least for the past several years. Maybe things have changed.

 

[rlitman]

I always thought HD had an exclusive on Klein, at least for the past several years. Maybe things have changed.

I thought the same. Wasn't that when Lowes lost Klein and went to Knipex?

I have not bought a single Southwire tool. Just looking at them makes me a little angry.

Ditto!

 

[wvrailroader]

On a similar note, I saw a few Southwire tools at the local Ollie's, so maybe Lowe's is sending them there.

 

[ecotec]

Ollie can keep them.

 

[Brownsfan]

Well that would make sense.Ollie's is a closeout type store so if you want to get rid of large quantities of stuff cheap. They are the place to go to. I wonder if this is actually true or is this guy full of it. Maybe they are expanding the ideal offerings. Or maybe it's true and the exclusive agreement is now up and Lowe's wants them back.

 

[Ross]

Every time I looked at the Southwire pliers it seemed like they were no better than the Kobalt ones available in another aisle for a third the cost. As far as their specialty electrical tools they all seemed expensive in comparison to the imported ones available at other stores.

 

[redwrench60]

I wouldn't hit a fat hog in the *** with a pair of Southwire pliers. What a joke. Even if Lowe's does in fact drop Southwire as they should, I'll still hold a slight grudge against them for thinking I am really so stupid that I'd pay full USA made Klein prices for a China made swine vomit tool brand pulled straight from some marketing director's ***. Apparently they thought we wouldn't notice and they would make out like bandits. Well piss on them.

 

[davethorik]

A friend has a set of Southwire insulated screwdrivers, and the slotted driver bent like 1st or 2nd use. Junk.

 

[Brownsfan]

Especially since they made all the tools direct copies of USA made Klein. The color of the vapor blasted tips on the screwdrivers were even The same. The comfort grips were direct copies of Klein journeyman grips. The steel color of the tools were even the same. Offering standard dipped grips and comfort grips. The only things that were not Klein knockoffs were the meters.

 

[Brownsfan]

But he didn't get electrocuted, so I guess they did their job.

It did half it's job. It failed at removing a screw. Lol.

 

[cybrdyke]

Southwire isn't going away. Their arrangement with Lowes goes far beyond just being a tool supplier.
CD

 

[rlitman]

I wouldn't hit a fat hog in the *** with a pair of Southwire pliers. What a joke. Even if Lowe's does in fact drop Southwire as they should, I'll still hold a slight grudge against them for thinking I am really so stupid that I'd pay full USA made Klein prices for a China made swine vomit tool brand pulled straight from some marketing director's ***. Apparently they thought we wouldn't notice and they would make out like bandits. Well piss on them.

Gee, tell us how you really feel.

 

[amorrow]

I thought the same. Wasn't that when Lowes lost Klein and went to Knipex?

Yes, the Lowe's in Chicagoland at least did carry Knipex several years ago. That's where I first tried their stuff after seeing a 3pc Cobra deal posted on here. Recall picking up more pliers when they were clearanced.

 

[supertooljunkie]

I hate that Lowes has gone to Chinese made electrical tools. I wouldn't purchase pliers, screwdrivers or other tools from them. I have purchased a pair of the cheapest Southwire strippers to do a job when I had left my Ideal strippers in another bag. I found them suprisingly good strippers. Much better than any pair of Klein strippers I have purchased in a long time. I will not use Klein strippers any more.

I also purchased a voltage or tic tester. I found it better than a Klein.

It would be nice to see Lowes go back to selling well made American tools, or even go back to Knipex. I am changing all my electrical tools to Knipex, and Whia.

 

[Wamsutta]

I like Klein tools but the Ideal #30-429 crimper is a keeper.

 

[Brownsfan]

I like Klein tools but the Ideal #30-429 crimper is a keeper.

I bought a set today. There were 2 different ones on the shelf. One had the standard insulated crimp die. The other looked EXACTLY like the channel lock 909s. Which I do not care for. It looks like ideal is changing the design and keeping the same part number. The original is a far better non insulated crimp design. Check them out next time at Lowe's

 

[jeffmoss26]

I bought a set today. There were 2 different ones on the shelf. One had the standard insulated crimp die. The other looked EXACTLY like the channel lock 909s. Which I do not care for. It looks like ideal is changing the design and keeping the same part number. The original is a far better non insulated crimp design. Check them out next time at Lowe's

Can you post a picture of the differences?

 

[cheechi]

I have not bought a single Southwire tool. Just looking at them makes me a little angry.

This is exactly how I feel.

To be fair, having done a lot of rewiring in the past several months, I really do like the Southwire Romex.

Before a lot of it went overseas I bought a lot of Ideal pieces on clearance and I agree generally (don't know about that specific stripper) the older ones are better.

 

[unslow1]

I like Klein tools but the Ideal #30-429 crimper is a keeper.

I have several Klein tools but I actually prefer Ideal and Channellock.

 

[Cope]

I thought the same. Wasn't that when Lowes lost Klein and went to Knipex?



Ditto!

My local Lowe's never stocked Knipex. My local HD has always had a better selection than my Lowe's, and better staffing in electrical also.

 

[Brownsfan]

Can you post a picture of the differences?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004SBDI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The difference is in the insulated crimp area. The new version is now IDENTICAL to the channellock 909

 

[Empty Pockets]

Lowes went from Klein to Knipex, to Southwire... and now back to Klein again?

Seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same LOL

 

[Empty Pockets]

I've never been opposed to paying more for quality. If you want steak, you gotta pay for steak, if you want hamburger, you pay less

 

[Brownsfan]

Well I guess we will see if this actually happens. I do know one thing. I will never own a southwire tool. I just bought a set of ideal crimper $29.99. The southwire crimper next to it same price. I would choose the ideal tool every day of the week as most professional electricians.

 

[928'er]

I have not bought a single Southwire tool. Just looking at them makes me a little angry.

Same here.

 

[Wamsutta]

I bought a set today. There were 2 different ones on the shelf. One had the standard insulated crimp die. The other looked EXACTLY like the channel lock 909s. Which I do not care for. It looks like ideal is changing the design and keeping the same part number. The original is a far better non insulated crimp design. Check them out next time at Lowe's

I hate it when manufacturers do that. I figure if they change the design, they should change the part number.

 

[yevangelis]

SW stuff looks ok... Their china stainless wire strippers are 100% identical to greenlees that menards has on sale for 10$ now and then- made in usa or taiwain can't recall.

Greenlee is top notch stuff. Even their cordless stuff is made by panasonic.

Panasonic is top notch stuff. They make their own batteries.


What's this thread about again?

 

[redwrench60]

I have two pairs of the yellow handled Ideal 30-429's. They are my favorite plier style crimpers. The machining and polishing on the older pair is jaw dropping. I don't have any experience with these new blue handle Ideals but I hope they don't change them. They make clean damage free crimps, last forever and don't cost a fortune.

 

[Coach James]

I thought Lowes got rid of all the Ideal stuff. Ours has had only Southwire for at least 2 years now. I don't know of anyone that has bought any and the hooks are never even half empty. The smaller HD 30 miles away has a much better electrical section than out huge Lowes anyway.

Coach

 

[cheechi]

at my closest lowes the ideal pliers they have on hangers are hanging so that the handles are behind other hangers. Somewhere between incompetent and intentionally hidden.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

The only Ideal tool I've owned has been their 11-in-1 Twist a Nut screwdriver, but I will always replace that one if it gets lost. Love that thing. Other than that, meh. I've heard their multimeters are decent, nowhere near Fluke though.