Lowes - lighted ratchets

[stickshift]

Not sure if the quality of these ratchets is the same as the regular Kobalt ratchets, but if they are, this is a good deal. They are clearing these out as it seems not many buyers were swayed by the light.

1/4" drive: $7
3/8" drive: $8
1/2" drive: $10



If anyone is familiar with the quality, please post. I could use a 1/4" drive ratchet and would rather not spend the $20 that Lowes wants for the regular Kobalt version.

 

[cheechi]

I've walked by those plenty and they never seem to be selling even at those prices. If I needed a 1/4" ratchet on the cheap I'd go for the HF composite one. Well loved by GJ and inexpensive enough to 'give it a try'

 

[shocksandstrutz]

buy one, use it and give it your review to let us know if it was worth the measely 7 bucks spent

 

[ez-duzit]

lighted ratchets

Lighted ratchets--ridiculous!

 

[In The Doghouse]

Buy it to use as a flashlight. Then if you are ever anywhere and need a ratchet, you got it.

 

[pendragon1998]

I thought about buying one to try, but I noticed that the display models that were tied to the display had already been broken. The 1/2 switch was completely broken, the 3/8 was loose, and the one quarter was dead (probably just the battery). I think the price is good, the ratcheting part is probably good, but the plastic light parts will not hold up.

 

[TinKnocker]

What will they exchange a broken one for?

 

[Super Sport]

The large lump on the back of the ratchet head makes it unusable in many situations.

It's sad that they have them marked down this cheap already and we're still two months from Christmas...

 

[Harrison2]

ton of them in my local store, not selling at all. when theyre down to a $1 il buy them " accidently" break them and return them for the non light model?

 

[allinon72]

I've never thought to myself "hmm I wish this ratchet had a light on it"

 

[allinon72]

And the way most of us use tools, that light can be expected to last about 1 week

 

[zeekh]

I've never thought to myself "hmm I wish this ratchet had a light on it"

Actually it can be quite handy. My wife bought me a lighted extension from Sears a few years back. IT has been very helpful at times

 

[metaldad]

i bought the 3/8 and 1/2.
decent rats, lites are convenient, shining thru the socket.

 

[tbaggz]

at those prices I'd buy kd USA rats from O'Reillys clearance.

 

[Hootbro]

ton of them in my local store, not selling at all. when theyre down to a $1 il buy them " accidently" break them and return them for the non light model?

Please, break that down so I can understand how that would be ethical or morally right if not borderline illegal?

That is right up there with the stories of guys buying buckets of rusty Craftsman tools for pennies on the dollar and then warranty exchanging them for new and then going Ebay.

 

[stickshift]

i bought the 3/8 and 1/2.
decent rats, lites are convenient, shining thru the socket.

Any downsides relative to a regular $20-25 ratchet?

 

[metaldad]

Any downsides relative to a regular $20-25 ratchet?

the 'head' is taller, where the battery resides..
the rat, when lubed, is smooth. the chrome is nice, and the way they pack they, they don't get road rash.
seems like a decent item, especially for the price.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Saw them tonight, wasn't terribly impressed. They had extensions with the same tech in them that I was partially tempted, but didn't go for it.

 

[Harrison2]

Please, break that down so I can understand how that would be ethical or morally right if not borderline illegal?

That is right up there with the stories of guys buying buckets of rusty Craftsman tools for pennies on the dollar and then warranty exchanging them for new and then going Ebay.

it wouldn't be to resell, unethical? illegal? so when these are all sold and there is no led models to replace your broken model no matter if it broke through malicious damage or general use what are they going to replace it with? the standard model...

you cant hate on someone for wanting to make a buck or two, man gotta eat don't he!

 

[monomach]

I've been walking past them on clearance for months. Every once in a while, I think about it...but then I decide that they're stupid because of how many places that head won't fit.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Not sure if the quality of these ratchets is the same as the regular Kobalt ratchets, but if they are, this is a good deal. They are clearing these out as it seems not many buyers were swayed by the light.

1/4" drive: $7
3/8" drive: $8
1/2" drive: $10



If anyone is familiar with the quality, please post. I could use a 1/4" drive ratchet and would rather not spend the $20 that Lowes wants for the regular Kobalt version.

The quality on most kobalt tools is good. I have no reason to believe these are any different. Still, they've been on clearance for months. I was going to pick up the 1/2" but have started limiting my purchase of non-essential tools. I have no need for gimmick stuff, but with these ratchets it's probably just a kick in. 1/2" ratchet for 10 bucks is a decent deal in that quality tier; it's nothing really fancy though.

If you NEED a ratchet, you probably won't have any issues with any of these...if they're the taiwanese kobalt. China...meh; gonna be hit or miss.

 

[nicksnothereman]

ton of them in my local store, not selling at all. when theyre down to a $1 il buy them " accidently" break them and return them for the non light model?

My local lowe's just throws the clearance out well before "90% off just get it out of here!) and writes it off. Store manager told me. You'd have to time the dumpster dive correctly to get at the good stuff though wouldn't want to end up wading through manure to find tools...I think. When I was there he through out a bunch of ideal stuff and sprinkler heads and assorted other things.

 

[Harrison2]

id gladly take a 3/8 and 1/2 for $5 a pop but at the current prices you can get a gear wrench equivalent via ebay for just a few dollars more.

 

[tweedlestan]

Please, break that down so I can understand how that would be ethical or morally right if not borderline illegal?

That is right up there with the stories of guys buying buckets of rusty Craftsman tools for pennies on the dollar and then warranty exchanging them for new and then going Ebay.

Look out folks, the warranty fuzz is out in force!

Worry about your own thought crimes.

 

[kunkernator]

I've been walking past them on clearance for months. Every once in a while, I think about it...but then I decide that they're stupid because of how many places that head won't fit.

Exactly my thoughts. But if they drop a little more, I might bite. After all, I have a ratchet collection going on.......

 

[stickshift]

the 'head' is taller, where the battery resides..
the rat, when lubed, is smooth. the chrome is nice, and the way they pack they, they don't get road rash.
seems like a decent item, especially for the price.

Thanks, I think I'll pick one up.

 

[thoraudio]

Alright. I bought one. Will post review later.

I had to get a shipping box, and can't stand to put just $0.69 on my debit card, so, 3/8" ratchet, here I come.

 

[Hootbro]

Look out folks, the warranty fuzz is out in force!

Worry about your own thought crimes.

Either you have ethics or you do not. Obviously some do not. Trivialization of the matter is only for those who do not want to face that and need to rationalize it for themselves.

 

[volpster31]

as far as I'm concerned, ethics don't come into play with Chinese tools. As long as you bought them in the first place, when they break the warranty comes into effect. And they will break

 

[Hootbro]

as far as I'm concerned, ethics don't come into play with Chinese tools. As long as you bought them in the first place, when they break the warranty comes into effect. And they will break

There is a ethical difference between breaking them during normal intended use versus the implied premature "accidentally" breaking them to game a better or more desirable higher cost ratchet.

Granted, it is not the crime of the century but there seems to be a sliding ethical scale when it comes to how much of a larger corporate entity you are dealing with. Instead of Lowes, if it was a Mom and Pop store down the street or lets say a personal relative doing a private sale, people would not be so prone to do such things. But since it is Lowes with deeper pockets, it is treated as nothing immoral or unethical when it really is.

 

[Loscaldazar]

There is a ethical difference between breaking them during normal intended use versus the implied premature "accidentally" breaking them to game a better or more desirable higher cost ratchet.

Granted, it is not the crime of the century but there seems to be a sliding ethical scale when it comes to how much of a larger corporate entity you are dealing with. Instead of Lowes, if it was a Mom and Pop store down the street or lets say a personal relative doing a private sale, people would not be so prone to do such things. But since it is Lowes with deeper pockets, it is treated as nothing immoral or unethical when it really is.

Big business are evil though and we have a right to steal from them because we are so much better!

/sarcasm

 

[cheechi]

Well said Hoot.

 

[monomach]

Look out folks, the warranty fuzz is out in force!

Worry about your own thought crimes.

Warranty abuse is one of the the reasons tools are being made in China. Warranty abuse eats up profits pretty quickly.

"Oh, no. My Craftsman sockets that my dad bought in 1958 have some surface rust. Should I clean them up? Nah. I'll just dump them on Sears and get new ones!"

Next thing you know, you guys are crying about Sears (or any other company) cutting costs by getting cheap tools from China.

 

[Harrison2]

plenty of people claim snap on warranty for scratched screw driver handles and such a like, lowes probably pay less than $1 a piece for these things. if they can discount knipex pliers from $20 to $2 then I think they're making enough money to warranty a china ratchet.

 

[monomach]

plenty of people claim snap on warranty for scratched screw driver handles and such a like, lowes probably pay less than $1 a piece for these things. if they can discount knipex pliers from $20 to $2 then I think they're making enough money to warranty a china ratchet.

Yeah, and Snap-On charges suckers enough for those screwdriver sets that they can warranty the whole set 7 or 8 times before it starts to hurt them. Sears and Lowe's don't.

I guarantee Lowe's had more than $2 in that Knipex stuff. They were getting rid of them as quickly as they could. I'm sure they lost money on that. I saw a 2 foot Stanley pry bar go for $0.48 because they got the same pry bar with a Stanley-Bostitch sticker on it. The scrap price is more than that.

 

[Hootbro]

plenty of people claim snap on warranty for scratched screw driver handles and such a like, lowes probably pay less than $1 a piece for these things. if they can discount knipex pliers from $20 to $2 then I think they're making enough money to warranty a china ratchet.

Your running the whole gambit of rationalization without admitting fault it is unethical. Saying since others do it, it is OK for you and using their cost structure for other items, you come to the conclusion they can afford it.

That right there is called "deflection" in critical thinking. Shows a subconscious sense of entitlement. Straight up caught shoplifters and petty thieves give the same rationalizations also, still does not negate the fact they stole or done fraud for material gain.

Also, your Snap On scratch screwdriver handle analogy is totally different also. Presenting a scratch handle to a Snap On driver for warranty is not "present and demand" warranty situation. The Snap On driver can still have final say and refuse warranty since serviceability is not affected.

To purposely break a ratchet and demand a different and higher cost warranty replacement is still fraudulent transaction and I bet your not giving the Lowes employee that nugget of information when you bring it broke and playing coy on why it broke.

 

[kythri]

Where do you all buy horses that tall?

 

[ez-duzit]

Hoot is right. A man either has integrity or he doesn't.

 

[kythri]

Is this the deals forum? I thought this was the deals forum.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

A person's actions speak loudly for what sort of person they are.