Lowes stocking nearly every socket

[biscuit141]

So I was at Lowes tonight in Nile, MI and this was the first time I noticed it but they must of had nearly every socket stocked individually. Shouldn't have any trouble if anyone needs to get one warrantied. I don't know if all Lowes are like this, I usually shop at the Mishawaka, IN store but haven't been there in awhile. I will have to look next time I go and see if they are doing the same thing. FWIW the Niles store is a newer and I think carries a much larger selection of hand tools. They also had a good size selection of wrenches as individuals. i think their new tools look great fit/finish wise, not sure how well they hold up, but MAN they are over priced for import tools, they need to cut their prices by 20-30%. I hate when these retailers charge USA made prices for foreign made tools.

On a side note, I know a lot of people ***** about Sears lately and I don't know what it is about them, but you can never find an employee to help in the tool section anymore, but also I doubt you would find this large a selection of individual sockets in most Sears stores. I know mines only has about 6 individual impact sockets in some random sizes.

 

[Outlawmws]

They smell blood in the Sea of Craftsman...

 

[Deafautotech]

It do same thing at two loses that I has few miles west of my home and one at my parents' home...

 

[volpster31]

i dont get why they shouldnt carry them all..if they only sold sets i wonder how theyd exchange broken sockets

 

[kippieland]

My Lowes has been like that forever. Looks exactly the same.

 

[ckadams00]

They smell blood in the Sea of Craftsman...

I think that is exactly right. I hadn't been in a Lowe's in about three years - went in a week ago and COULDN'T BELIEVE the tool section. They are gonna put Sears away in my opinion.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

one in toms river has been that way for about 6 monthes brick only 3

 

[geologist]

My Lowes is starting to get like that. They have basically every Kobalt ratchet. Sockets are a little more meager though.

 

[otis66]

Not buying Chinese/Taiwan Craftsman tools. Not buying Chinese/Taiwan Kalbolt tools. If I need anything now it will be SK or Wright. I have not been to Sears in 3 years. Stopped buying Kalbolt when Danaher took over. If I do have to buy Chinese/Taiwan tools they will be Gearwrench.

 

[JASTECH]

+3 Outlaw, A bigger peice of 22/7

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Two of the four lowes in my area are about the same as the pics posted.

However when compared to sears....no flare line wrenches, double box end wrenches, large wrench sizes in sets, diagnostic tools, pry bars, vacume gauges, ratchet wrench selections, etc etc.

Lowes is definately better than they were a few years ago though

 

[fordbroncodave]

the only way lowes will over take is if they make the whole tool line for all automotive products and not just the basics like hand tools.

diagnostics, specialty tools, jacks, presses, ....

 

[Matt018]

That looks like my Lowes, I like there tools, but feel like there a little over priced for what they are imo.

 

[DFW-LSX]

They smell blood in the Sea of Craftsman...

Yep swimming in a sea of chinese craftsman ****.

 

[DFW-LSX]

Not buying Chinese/Taiwan Craftsman tools. Not buying Chinese/Taiwan Kalbolt tools. If I need anything now it will be SK or Wright. I have not been to Sears in 3 years. Stopped buying Kalbolt when Danaher took over. If I do have to buy Chinese/Taiwan tools they will be Gearwrench.

Makes sense.... :

 

[biscuit141]

i dont get why they shouldnt carry them all..if they only sold sets i wonder how theyd exchange broken sockets

You're right and I think they should too, it's just that they hadn't been set up like this in the past. This is something new in our area. When they had USA made tools they had a much smaller selection of hand tools. However these tools are certainly overpriced a bit.

 

[allinon72]

All the stuff is Taiwan but in a pinch I have no problem buying it. The finish on the tools is good, on par with Craftsman probably a little better.

 

[powertrip]

Not buying Chinese/Taiwan Craftsman tools. Not buying Chinese/Taiwan Kalbolt tools. If I need anything now it will be SK or Wright. I have not been to Sears in 3 years. Stopped buying Kalbolt when Danaher took over. If I do have to buy Chinese/Taiwan tools they will be Gearwrench.

Who do you think owns Gearwrench anyway?

 

[osborn.ozzy]

I bought the filler impact sockets I needed for my set at lowes

 

[ibedayank]

Not buying Chinese/Taiwan Craftsman tools. Not buying Chinese/Taiwan Kalbolt tools. If I need anything now it will be SK or Wright. I have not been to Sears in 3 years. Stopped buying Kalbolt when Danaher took over. If I do have to buy Chinese/Taiwan tools they will be Gearwrench.

and you will still be buying apex/'dannaher when you buy gearwrench

 

[metaldad]

Went to a Lowes today. Their socket section is not that large.

 

[walwalka]

The lowes near me looks exactly like that, they are out of sockets from time to time. I shop there frequently actually, the Kobalt stuff I have purchased I like a lot. I can't afford SO, Matco, etc. I really can't afford to eat at times, thank god for still living at home..(only 21) My job requires me to obtain my own tools, this for me means Kobalt, HF, husky, older used stuff..

 

[plierwire]

Nothing wrong with that, walwalka. Take more pride in the work you do than the tools you do it with. Thats what matters. Them bolts don't know whats written on your wrench.

 

[walwalka]

That's exactly why I buy what I can afford and not put myself into debt with SO or the others.. If it requires me to work a little harder because I don't always have the strongest tool, I'm ok with that. I'm actually wanting to replace all the sockets I do own with the 227 piece Kobalt kit. It will replace everything I own and add some sizes I don't have.

 

[plierwire]

That 227 piece set was on sale for like 99 bucks at Christmas. Watch it on Memorial Day...if it is not on sale then, wait till Father's day. You can definitely get a good deal on it.

 

[walwalka]

I saw it for 99 but was strapped on cash with having to buy books so I couldn't pick it up. I figured memorial day or father day I could find something decent for a good deal..