SK already being clearanced at Lowes?

[KnurledNut]

All the SK is yellow tagged at my Lowes.
The X-Frame sets are down to $50 from $80.
The 3/8 dr. socket set is down to $30 from $50.
The 3 pc. adjustable wrench set is $20.
The metric wrench set was tempting at that price, but it skips sizes, so I passed.
Holiday sale, overstock, local special buy or is the adventure over?

 

[lardy1]

What an undignified demise. Good grief. lol

 

[zendriver]

Christmas is in three days?

 

[Davefr]

SK was an orphan that the average retail consumer has probably never heard of. Lowes had a mere 3 high priced SK sku's mixed in with all the holiday specials outside of the main tool area. Meanwhile CM has dominated the hand tool lineup at Lowes with tons of brand recognition. It was doomed to fail.

 

[four.cycle]

gee... I might have to drive over to Lowes!

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

All the SK is yellow tagged at my Lowes.
The X-Frame sets are down to $50 from $80.
The 3/8 dr. socket set is down to $30 from $50.
The 3 pc. adjustable wrench set is $20.
The metric wrench set was tempting at that price, but it skips sizes, so I passed.
Holiday sale, overstock, local special buy or is the adventure over?

I can't see them discontinuing SK already. That had like a two week shelf life. If true....oof!

 

[Fedwrench]

I think they bought a few SK things to sell for the Holidays. Lowes might be discounting those special purchase items now.

Lowes has too many brands to fit on a shelf now as it is

 

[Steve_P]

I don't need any more ratcheting wrenches, but $50 for the x-frames is a great deal. Yeah, I know, SK *****, warranty, China, skipped sizes....blah blah blah....

 

[lardy1]

There are so many SK threads it would take all day to find one more pertinent but I'm lazy and commenting in this thread that Advance Auto is offering USA made SK wrenches on their website. I mention this because there has been so much in question as to whether domestic SK is or ever will be available again. The site says "factory direct shipping" so maybe there is still some hope for domestic SK again.

Advance Auto Parts - Down for Maintenance

 

[sparky 1971]

There are so many SK threads it would take all day to find one more pertinent but I'm lazy and commenting in this thread that Advance Auto is offering USA made SK wrenches on their website. I mention this because there has been so much in question as to whether domestic SK is or ever will be available again. The site says "factory direct shipping" so maybe there is still some hope for domestic SK again.

Advance Auto Parts - Down for Maintenance

You made me look. Then I looked at the prices. I didn't verify, but it appears to me that Advance is probably doubling or even tripling the already high price from the SK website. Good luck with that Advance.

Advance Auto Parts - Down for Maintenance

 

[allinon72]

Lowes caters to Jonny homeowner...so it's quite curious that they would latch on to professional brands like SK.

Klein Tools......good luck to you, I look forward to buying your tools on clearance in a year or two as the average Lowes consumer gravitates towards Blue Hawk

 

[lardy1]

I was keeping my personal opinion on their chance of success to myself. lol

 

[four.cycle]

I drove across town to Lowes and asked them where the S-K was that they had on sale.
I asked three different people.
They don't stock S-K at Lowes here.

 

[ohhimark]

Looks like they're on sale. They haven't stocked any around here.

 

[Davefr]

Guys, are these things really worth getting?

 

[gleman]

Are the x-frames reversible? I'd be tempted at that price.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Are the x-frames reversible? I'd be tempted at that price.

The originals are not.

 

[bwringer]

Klein Tools......good luck to you, I look forward to buying your tools on clearance in a year or two as the average Lowes consumer gravitates towards Blue Hawk

I'm not even a veteran, but I know what a "Blue Falcon" is. Why would ANYONE name ANYTHING, let alone a line of crappy tools, " Blue Hawk"? Never figured that one out.

Or maybe it was deliberate somewhere along the line...?

 

[drtyler]

Guys, are these things really worth getting?

No, save your cash.

 

[isb cornbinder]

My Dad bought a set of SK on the day I was born, 78 years ago. I used SK at work as a mechanic. I have just about everything SK made including a $156.00 reversing screwdriver with a pawl drive. If SK disappear, it will be a sad day for me.

 

[four.cycle]

must be regjonal because they don't carry S-K at their stores here.

 

[Lt CHEG]

Guys, are these things really worth getting?

Nope.

 

[Crabman]

There are a few items on their website. X frame is there

 

[dnschmidt]

And this debacle surprises anyone?

 

[Madjik Man]

I drove across town to Lowes and asked them where the S-K was that they had on sale.
I asked three different people.
They don't stock S-K at Lowes here.

Not at my Lowes either.

 

[Mgdoug3]

My local Lowe's is showing 4 in stock for SAE and metric. I like my set but I would like them even better at $50 vs the $80 I paid. I have no complaints with mine yet except for the skips in the metric set.

 

[Wamsutta]

Lowe's is like the mortuary for tool brands.

 

[four.cycle]

They had aisles of Craftsman. Full aisle of Klein in another section. Lots of Kobalt. Lots of DeWalt. No S-K

 

[Etchase]

Lowe’s app has them for $50 shipped to your door thru January 18. Or I could pick them up at a nearby store where they have them in stock, which is only 2,300 miles away in my case. I don’t know how the warranty works, but generally you can return anything to Lowe’s the first 30 days.

 

[JeepYJ]

The S-K tools at Lowes are in cardboard display units. They’re not on the shelves in the tool department.

 

[four.cycle]

okay
I asked three employees.
they all looked at me like I had three heads.
all I can tell you.

 

[Fly YX]

I got the metric set. I got the sae set when they came out they have been ok. I have a bunch of SK USA wish they could have been bought buy a US company but I guess that’s how it goes.

 

[JeepYJ]

okay
I asked three employees.
they all looked at me like I had three heads.
all I can tell you.

To be fair you usually get the same response if you ask where to find a 2x4.

 

[logical]

To be fair you usually get the same response if you ask where to find a 2x4.

Try asking for a straight one. They probably don't know they exist.

To be fair, in my area they have slightly better lumber than Home Depot.

 

[908Jim]

On a related note, I have been looking for the new made in china SK stuff to see it in person and I haven't found it at my local stores. I was in two different Lowe's stores in Central NJ in the past 2 weeks picking up some things for a project and neither store had SK tools on display anywhere. None of the associates had seen them at all.

I'm wondering if it was just a trial run in select locations to test the waters.

 

[Davefr]

I'm wondering if it was just a trial run in select locations to test the waters.

If it was a trial run they would be with tools instead of hidden with the holiday "special" gimmicks. They probably got a great offer to dump some excess SK inventory.

Lowes needs to focus on CM as their premium brand and Kobalt as their value brand. SK has lost what little brand value they ever had (at least to the general public).

 

[four.cycle]

^ From what I saw yesterday it appears they're doing exactly that, although the rest of the "tool" section in that store was pretty much a hodge-podge of different brands.

 

[zendriver]

Maybe buy some and give as gift to someone else.

It is Christmas.

 

[Tdbo]

To be fair you usually get the same response if you ask where to find a 2x4.

If you tell them you are looking for long pieces of wood, and use your hands as a visual device to demonstrate width and thickness, it helps.

 

[Jtels85]

My local Lowe’s could offer me free sets and I still would not step food in their store. Thats how much I despise them.