Menard's Deals Permathread!

[pauls_workshop]

Menard's is my favorite first place to shop for stuff so let's start a Menard's deals permathread like the HF coupon thread or review thread. This can be about any good deals you find each week OR just about good products you found there you like and want to share with others OR about questions on products. A general all purpose Menard's thread. Let's get some good discussions going!

I'll kick it off by saying I'm really impressed with the Masterforce premium brand of tools at Menards. Their impact driver bits are really good. I found in my store they have a free printed catalog for Masterforce by the tools area. Many of them are USA made. What have you tried in Masterforce and liked? - Paul

 

[BTC]

I picked up the older model 56" tool chest when they had it marked down for clearance. Now I just need to find a deal on a matching bottom. The Masterforce toolboxes are very nice, imo.

 

[mshell56118]

love my 41" roller

 

[kythri]

Menards needs to expand out west.

 

[tadwolfe]

Great idea Paul.....I need a support group for my Menard's addiction.

 

[rsieracki]

i loved home depot for a while then started shopping menards more and more and although each store has its good and bad i really prefer menards... sadly i never "save big money" there... i just spend big

 

[Basstracker34]

11% off sale is good on their giftcards now. A pretty miserable ad this week otherwise.

 

[70C-10]

I used to enjoy shopping at Menards. Now I support local businesses much more.

 

[pauls_workshop]

I used to enjoy shopping at Menards. Now I support local businesses much more.

70C, but it's the theme song, Doot Doot Do Da Dot Da Daaaa (Insert "Save More Money at Menards!). Can't get it out of my head! Don't .... Resist ....

Local business is fine too of course. Where I'm at, Menards IS local business for tools and home supplies as small independents are all long gone now. We also have a Lowes, Home Depot, Von Tobels, Sears, Harbor Freight (recently) and a little Ace store. Where I'm at, lowest price is Menards or HF, followed by Home Depot. The rest are more pricey (except when Sears or HD has a good deal occasionally on something).

Best knowledge when I need some help to figure out something is Von Tobels for sure. I will still shop there when I need the help but pay much more to do that. I probably spend 50% at Menards, 20% at HF for only things recommended by the HF thread on GJ and nothing else, the remaining 30% at the other places combined if they are lucky. Menard's is King and the place to beat for me. The other stores need to take notice and do better if they want my dollars and time! They can start with a more catchy theme song or just forget the whole thing!

I even now like to buy some groceries from Menards! This 11% off week is great to stock up on stuff you like there! I find it inherently cool to buy tools and groceries in the same store. If only HF would listen, but no...- Paul

 

[pauls_workshop]

Great idea Paul.....I need a support group for my Menard's addiction.

YOU need a support group! Did you just read my post above?! - Paul

 

[Tiny Jackson]

Its a good time for this thread because around the first of the year Menards usually has the 20% brown bag sale.

 

[dakotart1984]

The freebies have been nill the past few weeks.. Some of their Masterforce Hand tools are USA COO afaik..

 

[b7labelle]

Is Menards really the shiznitz when it comes to tool/garage/house stuff shopping? I usually stick to lowe's or HD. What's so much better about Menards?

 

[pauls_workshop]

Is Menards really the shiznitz when it comes to tool/garage/house stuff shopping? I usually stick to lowe's or HD. What's so much better about Menards?

Hi B7, well again, it all depends on your local pricing. HD or Lowes will change their local pricing as they see fit. Some areas are high. Some are really low. Where I'm at, they are high. I can get about 70% of what I need at Menards and only bother with HD or Lowes when Menards doesn't have it. Often for me, the same thing at Lowes isn't 10% more but 80% more than Menards. Your local situation may vary considerably.

What people like about Menards is each week they have a new sale or two or three. And in each sale there are real doorbusters! All year long! Some are free after rebate! Some are cheap after rebate! Some are just cheap! And when you need various things, the normal everyday prices are pretty fair anyway. So I'll buy the one or two things cheap when I go in, but also buy other stuff I might need and not worry about it much. The other stores, I really don't want to buy anything not on sale at all.

Menards also does sell some US made stuff, but also lots of china stuff/taiwan stuff. And has three levels of quality for tools, Tool Shop is the cheap China, Performax is the better Taiwan and some US, and MasterForce is the premium brand with alot of US made stuff, and a really really good premium brand too. So get what you feel like spending and your needs, they have you covered. So I like them. Lumber there is also the cheapest where I live so I like to get that there too. Now I'm not saying everything there is good to buy or a deal - that is why we have this thread to help people sort out what to buy there. They sell some junky stuff too. But alot of good stuff, and fundamentally, when you shop there, you don't feel like they are looking out for Menards but instead Menards is looking out for you as best they can. I really like that and I don't get that from most other stores. - Paul

 

[mshell56118]

I heard somewhere that the master force was built by Allen tools


Matt

 

[rodm1]

Is Menard really the shiznitz when it comes to tool/garage/house stuff shopping? I usually stick to lowe's or HD. What's so much better about Menards?

My experience with Menards is they seem to keep there prices within reason. I could go to HD in the past and pay $25 for a copper fitting and the same exact one at Menards sells for like $9 they have a better selection of fittings to. Another thing is my store you can enter the same door as you exit sow when the weather isn't good I can be closer to my car.

I find HD has better wood but still kind of junk. Go to a lumber yard if you need good stuff. Menards has a better premium tools selection then HD. Lowes is about the same but I'm finding Lowes might have better pricing then Menards on fittings.

Pricing dues change often between the big 3 sow worth you time to price shop on line first.

 

[whyNick?]

The freebies at Menards filled my boys' stockings this year. Free 25' tape measure, free magnifying glass, free 1/4 bit set, nearly free wrench set, free gum, etc, etc.

I got myself an early Christmas present in November. Menards had their 22 ton log splitter on sale for $798 and it was 11% rebate week. Also Discover was offering a 5% cashback deal so I got the machine for around $680 plus tax. It's a cheap Chinese machine but it works great, I've already split several cords of wood with it.

I love Menards!

 

[monomach]

I heard somewhere that the master force was built by Allen tools


Matt

It is. Nothing fancy there. It's basically the last round of US Craftsman stuff; Apex's cheapest US budget line.

I don't know why he said Performax is all Taiwan and US again. The last time he said that, I went there and looked. I saw a grand total of four Taiwan ratchets. Everything else is China and India; no US and no more Taiwan. Other than those four ratchets, it's all relabels of the Harbor Freight basic line.

I like Menard's a hell of a lot and go every week, but people who don't have them aren't really missing anything as far as the house brands go; that's not what makes Menard's awesome. Masterforce/Allen's US ratchets, sockets, and wrenches are pretty much right in line with Taiwanese Kobalt. The pliers are all just Chinese stuff, like everyone else. The Screwdrivers are Pratt-Read, so that's a legitimately excellent choice, at least.

 

[pauls_workshop]

Mono, no worries. What I said was Performax was their middle range line, which is the same thing I said in another thread a few months back, generally a few steps better function or quality than the lower ToolShop line. I have found some Taiwan there as have you. Mostly China is not in disagreement with what I said, but whatever the COO, Performax line is generally a step up in designn or quality from Tool Shop.

They do move things in and out of these lines, so what I've bought in the past may not be available now. I'm just speaking in general terms. The best line in general is the MasterForce line but many Performax are very good tools I've found. Which particular items are the "gems" to buy at Menards and which are "plain Janes" is the purpose of the thread. I have some tools from all three of these lines, and they all more or less work. Best "feel" in a tool is definitely not in the Tool Shop tools I have but they were almost free too! Tool Shop is often an exact rebadge of lowest end Harbor Freight tools, like the power tools. Every so often, you can find an exact clone of an HF tool at Menards rebadged with slight differences like color or plastic details. This is true of the Performax variable multi tool, which used to be an exact clone of the highest cost variable multi tool sold by HF, but at Menards, you got a ton of bits with it that you don't get with the HF, and a lower price than the HF model too, so clearly best buy for that at Menards for instance.

Thanks whyNick for the log splitter review above! Let's get more reviews going of what you like. - Paul

 

[yevangelis]

i like the 25% sales on MasForce screwdrivers, but last time they didn't count nutdrivers as screwdrivers so i had a hissyfit

 

[ishiboo]

I heard somewhere that the master force was built by Allen tools


Matt

The sockets/ratchets/etc. are the same as Allen. Screwdrivers/nutdrivers/etc. are Pratt Read. The table saw I believe is Bosch, and at least the 20v lithium band saw is the same as Bosch as well.

 

[ishiboo]

Masterforce/Allen's US ratchets, sockets, and wrenches are pretty much right in line with Taiwanese Kobalt. The pliers are all just Chinese stuff, like everyone else. The Screwdrivers are Pratt-Read, so that's a legitimately excellent choice, at least.

Agreed if not a bit below Kobalt Taiwan, however Kobalt is now China, Sears stores are closing even if they weren't China as well now, etc. Masterforce seems like a somewhat safe choice for inexpensive, USA tools.

 

[Amitygravel]

Great idea of a thread Paul !

Since I work in Champaign , that's the store I frequent.
They have a propane filling station that is slightly cheaper than anyone else I have found in the area.

Drill bits ,
New England (Carbide? , I can't remember now !). Made in U.S.A. Work really well and much less in cost than other brands.

Montana brand drill bits. Made in U.S.A also. Have not tried these yet.
Anyone have feedback on them ?

 

[pauls_workshop]

Great idea of a thread Paul !

Since I work in Champaign , that's the store I frequent.
They have a propane filling station that is slightly cheaper than anyone else I have found in the area.

Drill bits ,
New England (Carbide? , I can't remember now !). Made in U.S.A. Work really well and much less in cost than other brands.

Montana brand drill bits. Made in U.S.A also. Have not tried these yet.
Anyone have feedback on them ?

Welcome Amity, I once lived in that little town of yours where there is a little school I once got my master's degree from. Always had really terrible football and basketball teams when I was there though. How can anyone lose to Ohio State? - Paul

 

[Amitygravel]

Yes the UofI just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Its about to overtake the whole county it seems.
I slung many a drink across the bar at 613E Green up those 26 stairs from the street to the 2nd floor.

 

[pauls_workshop]

Yes the UofI just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Its about to overtake the whole county it seems.
I slung many a drink across the bar at 613E Green up those 26 stairs from the street to the 2nd floor.

They plopped the new engineering library on top my old lab where I did my research! You can't go back, you can never go back! Literally. It is all gone now! Nothing like working till 3 in the morning most nights in the lab! It took me a couple years after graduating to recover from that experience. One might argue whether or not I'm still "normal" once again after that (are engineers ever really truly normal?), but that is another thread and topic.... - Paul

 

[Joe B.]

11% off sale is good on their giftcards now. A pretty miserable ad this week otherwise.

This thread should be moved for free parking as with 26 posts only the one above mentions an actual current deal.

That said, in the Sunday paper there was a Menard's calendar with six $5 off $50 coupons that won't expire until the end 2014. I might head out and see if I can find a few extra copies. (You can't buy gift cards with the coupon but you can use it when you redeem the gift cards.) The calendar also has sheet music for their jingle for all of you super fans that are musically inclined.

 

[Loscaldazar]

Meanrds screwdrivers are awesome. Handles are way better than the CMAN ones, and the blades are PR, much better than the WF ones. The nut drivers were $4 off for each set. They don't have a hollow shaft however.

 

[mshell56118]

We'll damn I did not get a calendar



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[pauls_workshop]

This thread should be moved for free parking as with 26 posts only the one above mentions an actual current deal.

That said, in the Sunday paper there was a Menard's calendar with six $5 off $50 coupons that won't expire until the end 2014. I might head out and see if I can find a few extra copies. (You can't buy gift cards with the coupon but you can use it when you redeem the gift cards.) The calendar also has sheet music for their jingle for all of you super fans that are musically inclined.

Hey Joe, thanks for the coupon heads up. I might have to try to get a sunday paper today! Also, although we may be getting a rough start here, there is only so much you can say about a generall 11% off week. In coming weeks I think it will be more interesting for you. Having said that, see post number 1 too. This is about deals but also about anything you feel like talking about related to Menards or tools or whatever. General purpose Menard's thread. So there will be some chatter for sure! It is ok! Let's all have fun with it. I've already learned a bunch here so far! - Paul

 

[pauls_workshop]

Great idea of a thread Paul !

Since I work in Champaign , that's the store I frequent.
They have a propane filling station that is slightly cheaper than anyone else I have found in the area.

Drill bits ,
New England (Carbide? , I can't remember now !). Made in U.S.A. Work really well and much less in cost than other brands.

Montana brand drill bits. Made in U.S.A also. Have not tried these yet.
Anyone have feedback on them ?

Amity, which drill bits were you talking about? Masterforce? I have some toolshop drill bits and those are probably China. What are the good ones there you are talking about? Anyone know the details on their drill bits? thx- Paul

 

[Amitygravel]

"Montana " brand drill bits. Made in the U.S.A
Doesn't seem like a big selection of sizes.
Have yet to grab any. Wondered how well the perform.
Price is about in line with Masterforce which I believe are China.
With the 11% sale going might be a good time to grab a bunch.

The 20% off bag sale should be coming up soon too.

 

[stanj]

Was in my local Menard's tonight and they had a lot of items on clearance. They had a couple of 41" (?) bottom chests but no top boxes. Several corded and battery operated power tools. Ryobi, Rockwell, and Menards brands that I can recall. I am used to seeing one end cap listed as a clearance area, but this was a whole side of an aisle with the larger items piled in the aisle.

 

[pauls_workshop]

They couldn't have had Ryobi as Menards doesn't carry any Ryobi, it is a HD only brand. Mine had some of those bottom chests also but not other things. Mine also had some leftover Performax black friday sets for the same price, about $29 leftover and on sale. Those are a great deal for a multi tool if you can use one, full of extra bits with it. Variable speed too and 2.3 amps.

I picked up one of those gift cards and put money into that with the 11% off now. I'll use it throughout the year for sure, then I can combine it with other offers and deals and "save more money". Someone mentioned a Menard's calendar with coupons. I didn't get a Sunday paper though and they didn't have any left on Monday! Anyone else get those? Have a spare calendar to mail to your friendly OP? - Paul

 

[whyNick?]

My Menards has a two piece Channellock set for $16.99. It includes the 420 and 426 slip joints. I believe these are left over from the day after Thanksgiving when they were selling for $10. Not a screaming deal but you'd pay around $24 if you purchased them separately.

 

[stanj]

They couldn't have had Ryobi as Menards doesn't carry any Ryobi, - Paul

I looked again today and they are Bosch and Hitachi. Guess I need to pay more attention so when I come home and post I get it correct. Some Bostitch air tools also. 41" bottoms were $399.

 

[FarmerPete]

I've found that Menards either beats or meets the everyday prices of HD or Lowes. I love the free deals from Menards. I just got my rebate check from when I picked up 4 lbs of sausage (free), 2 oven liners (free), 12 packs of gum ($1), and 2 LED flash lights (Free used heavily during the 5 day power outage I just had). Totally worth the time to fill out a couple rebate forms. Also, if you didn't know, you can mail rebates in combined if they are going to the same PO box. So I put all of those rebates in a single envelope, along with a couple 11% rebate receipts, and when I got the check from Menards, it was one big combined check (instead of 5-6 individual checks). It makes it much more convenient.

Realisticly, I typically go to whichever store is more convenient. Since Menards and Lowes are spitting distance from each other, I typically go to Menards over Lowes unless there is a good deal at Lowes. HD is a quarter mile away from my commute, and Menards is 5 miles out of my way. I think the main benefit of having a third store that can really compete with HD and Lowes is that it forces HD and Lowes to compete! When stores compete, the customer wins. I also want to remind people that you can AND SHOULD use the friendly competition to your advantage. For instance, I've taken the before mentioned 20% off bag and used it as a competitor coupon at Lowes before, (Bought a $250 Nest thermostat that doesn't go on sale for $200 with the bag at Lowes). You just need to think creatively about it.

 

[FarmerPete]

On a side note, a friend of mine works at Menards. He said that around two years ago, the jingle was broken and wasn't playing over the loud speaker in his store. He said it took them 2 hours to get it fixed. It was his favorite 2 hours working at the store. He and his coworkers still speak fondly of those two hours to this day. Just goes to show, you could always have a worse job.

 

[yevangelis]

"Montana " brand drill bits. Made in the U.S.A
Doesn't seem like a big selection of sizes.
Have yet to grab any. Wondered how well the perform.
Price is about in line with Masterforce which I believe are China.
With the 11% sale going might be a good time to grab a bunch.

i have a tiny 6pc drill bit set by montana and i love it, i think its titanium (gold color)
havent broken or dulled one in 2yrs

 

[LB-1911]

YMMV as to availibility - The Bosch Dare Devil™ Stubby & Standard Spade Bits are on Cleareance. You may want to check your local Menards

http://www.menards.com/main/search.html?search=+Dare+Devil&queryType=storeItems