Menards Socket Handtool Clearance - thoughts on new Lineup

[Cfendrick]

Last Monday Menards began to clearance out GearWrench and Crescent and even some Master Force and PerformaX brand sockets and wrenches. No word on if or what they will restock but I wonder if they possibly struck a deal with Stanley Black & Decker as I don’t see as many Stanley products getting clearanced out.

Any thoughts on a new lineup or brands such as Craftsman moving in? What do you think?

 

[engineer2]

This will require further investigation. 11% rebate this week starting 09-23-2018.
I was there last week as I needed a set of metric flare nut wrenches.
Bought the Crescent set and they are round off tools for tight fittings.
I noticed they hadn't been restocking GearWrench and Crescent.
I wouldn't be surprised if they switch it all to their made-in-China MasterForce or Tool Shop ****.

 

[AA/FC]

There was a member on here a month or two ago who posted in one of the Craftsman threads that Craftsman Tools would soon be available at Menards. He did not reveal his source but his profile had his location listed as Eau Claire, Wisconsin which is ironically where Menards company headquarters are located. I asked him in that thread if he worked for Menards but he did not reply to my question.

It's possible they are clearing the shelves to make room for new Craftsman inventory.

 

[Tom White]

I would seriously doubt we see Craftsman in Menards. They have too many locations in common with Lowes and I would imagine Lowes wanted SOME form of exclusivity in their deal with SBD for Craftsman.

If I were to make a guess, it would be a model or design change to the Masterforce line and they want to clear out the older models? Actually, that last part doesn't make as much sense in writing as it did in my head. HA!

 

[Moparman390]

I've been hoping Menards would carry Craftsman since the SBD purchase, the two closest Lowes stores to me closed some time ago and Sears closed too. There's two Menard's and a F&F near me, but F&F doesn't have the full line of Craftsman (singles). There's three HDs but they'll never carry Craftsman in my opinion. My concern is mostly warranty and or replacement if I ever need it.

Now, I don't ever recall Lowes claiming they would have an exclusive on Craftsman in the home improvement space, they just left that more for people to assume much like people assumed Craftsman will flat out replace Kobalt. In the binary HD vs Lowes battle I think you won't see any Craftsman at HD to go up against Husky and Ryobi as HD protects those brands. I think SBD wants to get Craftsman everywhere they can sell it, Menards being a big regional player makes sense for them.

 

[Cfendrick]

There was a member on here a month or two ago who posted in one of the Craftsman threads that Craftsman Tools would soon be available at Menards. He did not reveal his source but his profile had his location listed as Eau Claire, Wisconsin which is ironically where Menards company headquarters are located. I asked him in that thread if he worked for Menards but he did not reply to my question.

It's possible they are clearing the shelves to make room for new Craftsman inventory.

Would that be this post from who's user location shows as NW Wisconsin and that could still be considered Menards Head Quarters location after some googling.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7259448&postcount=58

 

[AA/FC]

Would that be this post from who's user location shows as NW Wisconsin and that could still be considered Menards Head Quarters location after some googling.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7259448&postcount=58

Yeah, that looks like the post I'm talking about. Looks like it was posted on June 15th, so more than 2 months ago like I originally posted. I was pretty sure his location said Eau Claire, but after thinking about it more, it might have said NW Wisconsin and I assumed Eau Claire in my head. I don't remember exactly. I was going by memory and my memory isn't what is once was. lol. Either way, NW Wisconsin could easily be considered Menards HQ so it's still possible that member works for Menards.

We'll find out soon enough....

 

[AA/FC]

I would seriously doubt we see Craftsman in Menards. They have too many locations in common with Lowes and I would imagine Lowes wanted SOME form of exclusivity in their deal with SBD for Craftsman.

If I were to make a guess, it would be a model or design change to the Masterforce line and they want to clear out the older models? Actually, that last part doesn't make as much sense in writing as it did in my head. HA!

I can buy Channellock pliers at my local Home Depot, or my local Menards and they are only 4 blocks apart.... I doubt SBD cares how far apart stores are located from each other as long as those stores (and their customers) are buying their (Craftsman) products. I also doubt that SBD bought the Craftsman name from Sears to turn around and specifically sell tools at Lowes only.

Also, from what I understand, most big box home improvement chains are "warehouse" stores where manufacturers stock the store shelves with their products and only get paid for them once a store makes a sale. Menards on the other hand buys all their inventory from the manufacturer before it ever hits their shelves.... If you were SBD, would you rather sell and get paid in full, (from Menards) for a giant order of tools, or have sales trickle in over time? (from Lowes)

I wouldn't be surprised one bit if we saw Craftsman tools sold at Menards.

 

[Tom White]

Oh, it wouldn't bother me a bit if Menard's carried the brand. I'm just an end-user and they are closer to me than Lowe's. I would have thought if that was the plan we would hear an announcement, or that Menard's would be listed on the Craftsman website under "where to buy" along with Lowe's, Ace, F&F, and Atwoods.

 

[oak_park]

How are the clearance prices?

 

[AA/FC]

Oh, it wouldn't bother me a bit if Menard's carried the brand. I'm just an end-user and they are closer to me than Lowe's. I would have thought if that was the plan we would hear an announcement, or that Menard's would be listed on the Craftsman website under "where to buy" along with Lowe's, Ace, F&F, and Atwoods.

I agree. If Menards is getting Craftsman, why has it been kept a secret? Not sure. Stranger things have happened though....

 

[engineer2]

How are the clearance prices?

You can look it up at menards.com. search for gearwrench.
Examples:
GearWrench Metric X-Beam Combination Ratcheting Wrench Set - 12 Piece, Model: 85888
$73 Menards, $112 amazon

GearWrench Metric Reversible Ratcheting Wrench Set - 8 Piece, Model: 9543
$58 Menards, $46 amazon (cheaper from amazon!!)

GearWrench Metric Ratcheting Flex Head Wrench Set - 7 Piece Model EHT9900
$31 Menards, $53 amazon

 

[NUTTSGT]

I just noticed Menard's had Gearwrench stuff on clearance minutes ago. I wondered why. I also started another thread in the Hot Deals section about FFH getting rid of Tekton. They are replacing with Dewalt (SBD) and Milwaukee and house brand Master Mechanic.

Think about this, SBD gets Lowes to carry the line of Cman tools. Cman, Stanley and Dewalt hand tools are all under the umbrella of SBD. Why wouldn't SBD want to get in all areas of the market ? They have invested heavily in the Cman name and need to make it pay off.

Maybe there is one smart dude working at SBD. He's listened to what people have said, like, members here, about tools being made in the USA. Corner the hand tool market with big box stores like Lowes, Menard's and maybe HD will be next, they already carry Stanley/Dewalt hand tools. A tool in bought in one store and can be warrantied at any one of them, ease of use for the consumer and what does it matter to the corporate office where it gets warrantied at ?


Using some wishful thinking, this could be the beginning of a major shift of hand tool production being brought back to the USA and the availability of them being bought, sold and warrantied every where.

 

[Jtels85]

I would absolutely enjoy buying Craftsman tools at Menards vs. Lowes. Menards does like to sell “Made In USA” when possible, so maybe this is a sign of good things to come...

Speaking of clearance... has anyone else’s Lowe’s been running low on Kobalt tools and not restocking? Three locations I frequent here in Ohio have not been restocking anything Kobalt. The shelves have been getting more and more empty as the weeks roll on...

 

[NUTTSGT]

I would absolutely enjoy buying Craftsman tools at Menards vs. Lowes. Menards does like to sell “Made In USA” when possible, so maybe this is a sign of good things to come...

Speaking of clearance... has anyone else’s Lowe’s been running low on Kobalt tools and not restocking? Three locations I frequent here in Ohio have not been restocking anything Kobalt. The shelves have been getting more and more empty as the weeks roll on...

Maybe just part of the overall plan, phase out Kobalt and warranty anything that breaks with Cman ? All Lowes has to do is buy the tools to sell and not worry about contracting with somebody to make them. Same with Menard's and their Masterforce brand.

 

[ed_v]

I saw craftsman tools for a brief time at Menards in Illinois about 7 years ago. They only carried a couple of small blow molded case socket sets for a few months and then they went away. I wouldn't be surprised to see the craftsman tool line return there.

Ed

 

[Harley94]

Menards is switching to Craftsman.

 

[AA/FC]

Menards is switching to Craftsman.

It's not that we don't believe you, but can you share your source? I honestly hope you're correct....

 

[engineer2]

Picked up the 9900 Metric set. I noticed not all Gearwrench is on clearance. The clearance sets appear to be older inventory and most all the individual wrenches are on clearance.

 

[unslow1]

At least at the Menard's I was in today the prices haven't dropped much. They seem to average about 15% off. I guess with the 11% rebate that is 25%. As mentioned earlier not all of it is clearanced. I was in Advance Auto last night and they had better prices on some of the wrench sets. They are still running their 40% off select Gearwrench sets.

There was probably more Masterforce on clearance than Gearwrench.

 

[bimmer630]

They are going to be selling BONNEY tools in Menards.

 

[AA/FC]

They are going to be selling BONNEY tools in Menards.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Stopped by Menard's today, Not sure on the price drops but most of the ratchet related stuff is red tagged locally.

 

[Tom White]

Stopped by Menard's today, Not sure on the price drops but most of the ratchet related stuff is red tagged locally.

I also took a look today (Bloomington, Indiana store). Yeah, a lot of red tags. No, the prices didn't persuade me to buy anything. The prices weren't awful or anything. Just nothing to write home about - at least on the individual sockets and ratchets.

 

[Farmall450]

I just noticed Menard's had Gearwrench stuff on clearance minutes ago. I wondered why. I also started another thread in the Hot Deals section about FFH getting rid of Tekton. They are replacing with Dewalt (SBD) and Milwaukee and house brand Master Mechanic.

Think about this, SBD gets Lowes to carry the line of Cman tools. Cman, Stanley and Dewalt hand tools are all under the umbrella of SBD. Why wouldn't SBD want to get in all areas of the market ? They have invested heavily in the Cman name and need to make it pay off.

Maybe there is one smart dude working at SBD. He's listened to what people have said, like, members here, about tools being made in the USA. Corner the hand tool market with big box stores like Lowes, Menard's and maybe HD will be next, they already carry Stanley/Dewalt hand tools. A tool in bought in one store and can be warrantied at any one of them, ease of use for the consumer and what does it matter to the corporate office where it gets warrantied at ?


Using some wishful thinking, this could be the beginning of a major shift of hand tool production being brought back to the USA and the availability of them being bought, sold and warrantied every where.

That would be odd given they jumped ship on US masterforce ~2 years ago with the rush of Gearwrench & crescent. Stranger things have happened tho, if SBD was dealing I'm sure Menards would bite.

 

[AA/FC]

That would be odd given they jumped ship on US masterforce ~2 years ago with the rush of Gearwrench & crescent. Stranger things have happened tho, if SBD was dealing I'm sure Menards would bite.

They jumped ship because the manufacturer who made the US Masterforce tools moved their factory to China. Not Menards fault....


.

 

[Farmall450]

They jumped ship because the manufacturer who made the US Masterforce tools moved their factory to China. Not Menards fault....


.

False.
Apex still makes American tools.

 

[Moparman390]

I was in my local Menards tonight and they had most of the Crescent, MF, and GW on clearance too. Seems obvious what is happening just waiting for someone to confirm it. Not good for Apex.

 

[NUTTSGT]

They jumped ship because the manufacturer who made the US Masterforce tools moved their factory to China. Not Menards fault....


.

False.
Apex still makes American tools.

I think the issue was they were made under the Allen flagship. Most of the Allen stuff I see now is China made.

I think it's more of a paper shuffle of who made what under Apex.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I was in my local Menards tonight and they had most of the Crescent, MF, and GW on clearance too. Seems obvious what is happening just waiting for someone to confirm it. Not good for Apex.

Unless SBD contracts with Apex to produce tools.

 

[AA/FC]

False.
Apex still makes American tools.

Really? Where?

Then why did they stop making Armstrong hand tools?

Can you name a hand tool brand (sockets, ratchets, wrenches) still made by Apex here in the US?

And this: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=182582

.

 

[Moparman390]

Unless SBD contracts with Apex to produce tools.

Yes, they contact manufacturer for some SBD Craftsman right now but I'm sure SBD is looking to move that stuff in house over time as they ramp up. Now, being the OEM for someone else vs selling under your own brand name is not preferable. Being the OEM for someone else at the expense of your own brand names is real bad. I have done executive level/C-Suite IT support for my entire career at three major American manufacturers (Fortune 500) and I was having a conversation with a brand manager one day and said "since we make most of the name brand (household name) and store brand of this product on the market we really don't care either way" and he corrected me, "we really want them to buy our brand, we make a lot more money on it." Losing a major distributor of Crescent and GW is really bad for Apex, I'm sure Menards made up a non-insignificant part of their sales. Whatever crumbs they might get back OEMing some SBD Craftsman tools for a time won't be worth it.

 

[WWheeler]

I would seriously doubt we see Craftsman in Menards. They have too many locations in common with Lowes and I would imagine Lowes wanted SOME form of exclusivity in their deal with SBD for Craftsman.

Along with Lowes, SBD also struck deals at the same time to sell Craftsman at ACE hardware, Bain's Farm & Fleet, and Atwoods Ranch and Home, so it's never been just Lowes. I've not seen any indication/mention of any sort of exclusivity deals (in fact, doing so might run afoul of some antitrust laws). If anyone has seen some mention of such please post a link because I'd like to see it. But if we're making assumptions I would assume the opposite that they will be actively trying to push their Craftsman line to other retailers that already stock Stanley tools, especially once their new investment into MTD shows up in the form of a Stanley Craftsman lawn and garden line. I'll be really surprised if all of it doesn't show up at Mal-Wart before long, much less Menards and Home depot also.

 

[WittHay]

Craftsman is now sold up here in Rona, a 500 + store nation wide home improvement chain. There house brand is called Haussmann. It is being clearanced out and has been winding down for at least a year already.

Like Lowes it is mainly a Stanley store with Stanley, Stanley Fat Max, DeWalt, Irwin and Lennox on the wall. Power tools are split between DeWalt, Makita and Bosch.

I think there is a push by SBD for Craftsman to replace a smaller chains house brand. Probably some multibrand pricing, like the more Craftsman a chain buys the better deal they get on DeWalt, Lennox or other Stanley brands

 

[Jtels85]

Along with Lowes, SBD also struck deals at the same time to sell Craftsman at ACE hardware, Bain's Farm & Fleet, and Atwoods Ranch and Home, so it's never been just Lowes.

It wasn’t so much striking a deal. These stores (Ace Hardware, Bain’s and Atwoods) have all carried the Craftsman brand for many years, well before the switch to China in 2011.

 

[Moparman390]

It wasn’t so much striking a deal. These stores (Ace Hardware, Bain’s and Atwoods) have all carried the Craftsman brand for many years, well before the switch to China in 2011.

Yes, SBD inherited those retail contracts from Sears and assumed control of the Craftsman distribution to them right away.

 

[WWheeler]

It wasn’t so much striking a deal. These stores (Ace Hardware, Bain’s and Atwoods) have all carried the Craftsman brand for many years, well before the switch to China in 2011.

They had that deal with Sears. Stanley is their source now. My point was that Lowes doesn't seem to have any sort of exclusive arrangement to sell SBD Craftsman as was implied. Wouldn't be surprising to see Menards or anywhere else start selling Craftsman also, especially if they already sell Stanley tools.

 

[nickelTwin]

I was told by someone I know that works for a company that sells to menards today that it will not be Craftsman at Menards. He did not know what brand was replacing the discontinued ones. or if it was going to be USA or not.

 

[Farmall450]

It wasn’t so much striking a deal. These stores (Ace Hardware, Bain’s and Atwoods) have all carried the Craftsman brand for many years, well before the switch to China in 2011.

Blain's didn't have Craftsman until ~2015

Really? Where?

Then why did they stop making Armstrong hand tools?

Can you name a hand tool brand (sockets, ratchets, wrenches) still made by Apex here in the US?

And this: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=182582

.

Hey, I didn't say an entire line. If the demand had been there they certainly could have met it.

 

[AA/FC]

Blain's didn't have Craftsman until ~2015



Hey, I didn't say an entire line. If the demand had been there they certainly could have met it.

So my original comment wasn't false then?....