The Milwaukee addiction thread! :)

[kctyphoon]

Haven't you learned your lesson with Milwaukee hand tools already?

eh, not really - the electrician pump pliers are awesome, so are the straight jawed pliers - hence why they have not gotten a redesign.. the only issue i have with the quick adjust is that the lock protrudes a bit to far to make for a smooth entrance into a lineman's pouch - which is completely different than most tool pouches. the same problem (for me) exists with the Knipex cobra pliers, and the craftsman quick adjust pliers (made by Knipex) or the NWS versions. the only issue's i had were really with the dykes - which have now been phased out and gotten a total overhaul, just line the linesman pliers. everything else ive bought and used from Milwaukee has been up to par as far as im concerned.

totally off topic, but if you look at one of the other threads ive posted in, ive gone on a bit of a mission to try alot of different brand and style to lineman pliers and dykes, from some of the cheapest to the most expensive - and im already predicting im gonna wind up going back to a set of pliers and dykes that only cost me $24 for the pair.

 

[kctyphoon]

$229.21 OTD. All on clearance at my HD. May go back for more tomorrow. Originally $830 + tax.

looks like milwaukee may be getting ready to push back against Makita and Ridgid holding the titles of strongest hammer drill and impact drivers..

 

[BeachBoy]

I emailed Milwaukee to find out if they were getting a M18 framing nailer out soon... To compete with the DeWalt

They don't provide info on future products.

Seems that dewalt really has the top spot how, even better than the Paslode!

 

[kctyphoon]

[/QUOTE]$229.21 OTD. All on clearance at my HD. May go back for more tomorrow. Originally $830 + tax.[/QUOTE]

youre about to make me spend $14 on tolls to goto my nearest Milwaukee "outlet" HD tomorrow just to check prices and scan items..

 

[MaineGuide]

Anyone have the M12 Fuel Circ. Saw? I have a nice Makita and Dewalt corded for bigger tasks, but for breaking down thin layers of sheet goods it seems it would be much more pleasant to work with.

 

[Ign]

Anyone have the M12 Fuel Circ. Saw? I have a nice Makita and Dewalt corded for bigger tasks, but for breaking down thin layers of sheet goods it seems it would be much more pleasant to work with.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4710384&postcount=1524

 

[chrisexv6]

If they normally stock those items, they won't have those prices. You need to check the prices at a store that normally doesn't stock this stuff.

Thats what I was thinking.

I do have one store that never had a "full" line of Fuel stuff, but did have a few pieces. Im going to check them out during lunch today to see if maybe they are one of the stores this clearance is intended to clear out.

I think they only thing they actually have is the Fuel 6.5" circ saw but I will bring the list from your pics to compare.

 

[kctyphoon]

alright - CAN SOMEONE PLEASE explain to me how EXACTLY some of you guys are using the in store computer to find and check stock of in store clearance items?? and can you please explain it the way you would to a 5 yr old... reason being, is any "in store" computer around me is no different than me looking at the home depot site at home with my own computer.. there is absolutely no difference. they use internet explorer - there is no access to anything different. i swear i am so lost with this.....

 

[mrvm]

Originally Posted by cagullett1
I don't doubt at all that you got them for this price, but was this a product of a return/rebuy?

Yes.

Thats one heck of a haul but also quite ballsy to do so many at one shot. My local HDs are nearly on a first name basis and I felt pretty good with just one Rtn+RBy transaction.

 

[Caparris]

$229.21 OTD. All on clearance at my HD. May go back for more tomorrow. Originally $830 + tax.

Holy ****, you ****.

I just want a steal on a M18 grinder for crying out loud, haha

 

[Wanna Ride]

You have my interest.... Explain this return and rebuy deal, please.

 

[MaineGuide]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4710384&postcount=1524

Yeah, I saw that post. I also noticed that it appeared he'd made only one cut and hasn't post anything else about it.

I was hoping there may be some other members who have recently purchased one. Thanks for the "help".

 

[kctyphoon]

Well, 5 yr olds are pretty computer savvy, so maybe like I'm explaining to an 80 year old?

Sorry. When you go to the computer, there is a start button, just like on your computer at home. If you click it, there's an icon that refers to a store menu. Sorry, I can't remember exactly what it says. If you click that, a bunch of icons pop up on the store menu. I believe it's the top row, second from the left, is an icon called "Price Checker" or something similar. Click that. It opens a website in Internet Explorer, but it is not the same at all as homedepot.com .

If that doesn't help, I'll take step-by-step pictures this weekend for you.



Yeah, I learned the next day not to go so big. I'm pretty sure the one store will never let me do it again. I'll have to branch out this weekend.

thanks but no need.. i finally sat down in front of a computer in a different store that had the "apps" your talking about.. literelly took 30 seconds to figure out. the other sotres i went to just told me to goto home depot.com and that there was no other way to search.

only other qestion i have is when you brought the items up to the return desk, did you just ask for a price adjust saying the item just went on clearance? or are you asking them to honor their own in-store price listed on the computer?

there is really only 1 or 2 things lid like to get if they will refund the difference... thanks in advance..

 

[justanengineer]

thanks but no need.. i finally sat down in front of a computer in a different store that had the "apps" your talking about.. literelly took 30 seconds to figure out.

Since you seem to be genuinely naive of how the scam works....

Bubba does his homework by either asking an employee, illegally accessing the store's computer, or just by looking closely through their aisles at the inventory to find out what items Store Location A does NOT regularly sell. He then goes to Store Location B, buys those items at full price, and returns them at full price to Store A. Since Store A does not sell them as a regular item, they automatically list them as clearance and slash the price to be rid of "open box"/onesy-twosey items. Bubba then returns to Store A a few hours/days later and buys those same items at a "clearance" price.

FWIW, its called return-fraud. $500+ is usually considered a felony and will buy the fraudster a couple nights in jail the first time plus a hefty fine/community service. Its one of the most common methods of retail theft, usually perpetrated by store employees. If youve never wondered about the tool ads on craigs selling the various tools (usually HF presses and compressors in my area) brandy-new at discount, or the Schwoogies/Gypsies selling new tools at auctions/fleas, thats how they do it. I attend enough auctions every year that I know quite a few of them unfortunately, theyve all been to jail once or twice bc of it, hence why one poster I believe said this was "ballsy" to do.

 

[kctyphoon]

Since you seem to be genuinely naive of how the scam works....

Bubba does his homework by either asking an employee, illegally accessing the store's computer, or just by looking closely through their aisles at the inventory to find out what items Store Location A does NOT regularly sell. He then goes to Store Location B, buys those items at full price, and returns them at full price to Store A. Since Store A does not sell them as a regular item, they automatically list them as clearance and slash the price to be rid of "open box"/onesy-twosey items. Bubba then returns to Store A a few hours/days later and buys those same items at a "clearance" price.

FWIW, its called return-fraud. $500+ is usually considered a felony and will buy the fraudster a couple nights in jail the first time plus a hefty fine/community service. Its one of the most common methods of retail theft, usually perpetrated by store employees. If youve never wondered about the tool ads on craigs selling the various tools (usually HF presses and compressors in my area) brandy-new at discount, or the Schwoogies/Gypsies selling new tools at auctions/fleas, thats how they do it. I attend enough auctions every year that I know quite a few of them unfortunately, theyve all been to jail once or twice bc of it, hence why one poster I believe said this was "ballsy" to do.

what a scumbag.. i cant stand people like that -- what should i do with all this then??

View attachment 438551

 

[Ign]

If you return an ONLINE-ONLY item to any B&M HD they cannot re-sell it to you. HD could (and, depending upon one's ethical POV, should) change their policy to treat clearance returns the same as online-only returns. They could even just do it when the return occurs at a physical location other than the original sale. IOW just say sure, we're happy to give you your money back but we'll be unable to re-sell you the item as it is required to be returned to corporate (as are online returns)

Personally, I don't much care one way or another....merely pointing out that HD could head this off if they wanted to......seems simpler than (allegedly) trying to prosecute your customers.

 

[Ign]

....and there's nothing illegal about accessing HD's computers. My store is definitely on the small side and they have a terminal facing out at both Customer Svc and the Pro Desk. Contractors, customers, Mickey Mouse.... can all use these. This is where I just re-registered my sales tax license.

The Price Checker app is right there and is not password protected -- it's important to note that many aspects of the system are pw protected, so if HD didn't want you using it, you wouldn't be. If using the Price Checker app is illegal you all better stay away from the barcode scanner kiosks scattered throughout WalMart! Those big signs inviting you to check a price....it's entrapment I tell ya!!

 

[michiganman18]

Regardless of right/wrong it is blurring the lines and should not be occurring in this thread I feel. What happened to actual pictures and red items that are supposed to be posted and not how people are scamming home depot?

That said. My new 1/2 impact came in the other day. Worked great and am most happy with not having a hose attached. Busted everything I needed it to.

 

[Lu-Max]

Freebie:

 

[kctyphoon]

....and there's nothing illegal about accessing HD's computers. My store is definitely on the small side and they have a terminal facing out at both Customer Svc and the Pro Desk. Contractors, customers, Mickey Mouse.... can all use these. This is where I just re-registered my sales tax license.

The Price Checker app is right there and is not password protected -- it's important to note that many aspects of the system are pw protected, so if HD didn't want you using it, you wouldn't be. If using the Price Checker app is illegal you all better stay away from the barcode scanner kiosks scattered throughout WalMart! Those big signs inviting you to check a price....it's entrapment I tell ya!!

well heres my experience - i went in with just a receipt for the shop vac ($99 item on clearance for $25) and just asked if they would do a price match on an item that went on clearance.. a real snobby guy said "no - you NEED to bring it back to where you bought it". and just walked away.. ( ok ********).. so i went home grabbed the shop vac and the multi charger - both $99 each.. went in, told another lady, this guy wont do price match so i just wanna return them.. she did the return then asked how much they were on clearance for - i told her $25 each, and then showed her the price on their own computer.. she said hold on, lemme call someone for you.. manager came (really hot woman in my store - i almost felt bad) - first she told me the in-store computer is not their website.. then she told me they were old items that were replaced by new models and were different items.. i made her compare both items numbers on the computer, of course they were the same.. then she said well its $99 on homedepot.com.. to that i said - well thats the internet price- not what you own computer says the price is, and im here standing in the store, not at home on my couch.... then she said shes never seen that website before, and doesnt know what im looking at and wont match online prices.. so i had to show THE MANAGER thats its their own in store computer im using, with her store number, showing her prices.. then she said she wont do the return, i have to go back to where i came. i said - you already DID the return and regardless, I'm not driving back to another state and paying bridge tolls to goto another HD - thats the whole reason why you guys open more than just one store, so people DONT have to travel.

then i said listen - i bought these 2 items at another one of your locations 12 hours ago - i come here, use YOUR computer to find out EVERY other store has or had them on clearance for 1/4th the price.. so how do you expect me to react? its not my fault your store doesnt carry the item - and if i wasnt allowed to return it anywhere else, you guys should disclose that in the store that DOES sell them before you sell them.. hang up a sign and call it a day - dont tell me after the fact..
so after 5 minutes of debating - she tells me i can re-buy them if i want to, after i had said i dont want them if i have to pay $100 for it when anyone else that finds one will get it for $25.. so i left with both for $53..

there is a really simple way to avoid this is they wanted to.. cleareance out the items in the stores they hand pick until the inventory reads 0 on hand, 0 on order, and then just raise the price back up to the normal price..

(not directed at who i quoted)

and honestly - i dont wanna hear anyone's sob story about "ripping off" HD, cause i didnt see anyone complaining when people were taking advatage of the $150 off deal a few month ago.. funny though, how its "a score" for you if you find the one i return, that will immediatly go on the clearance rack having not spent one day at full price in a store that normally doesnt sell them.

 

[justanengineer]

funny though, how its "a score" for you if you find the one i return, that will immediatly go on the clearance rack having not spent one day at full price in a store that normally doesnt sell them.

Clearly you dealt with someone who didnt know what they were doing, but sadly in retail thats to be expected of many today. Sorry if you disagree, but its wrong to do as you did, just as its wrong to intentionally damage or open an item's box/package then ask for a discount/clearance price, same scam different method. Conversely, yes its a score if someone finds a non-inventory clearance item tho its definitely not an unusual one bc most arent returns. Many including myself have made countless similar (but legal) purchases, many (most?), especially larger items like windows, doors, appliances, etc in the clearance racks are custom-ordered catalog/online-only items and can only be clearanced as theyre not sold in ANY store. Even smaller items are often ordered for an individual then never picked up bc many items require no deposit.

Justify it how you want, its not "gaming the system" or any other nonsense, its fraud and illegal just as it was years ago. I waited to post until I could verify that through the local manager, who confirmed it through the regional manager btw.

This method is not listed. It is not fraud. Nothing is done deceitfully. Original receipts are used. Nice try though.

FWIW, Wikipedia isnt a trusted source on most college campuses, in most primary schools, nor in most any professional setting, so I wouldnt bother quoting it.

Yes, what you did was illegal in every state Ive lived in and a common scam, its a form of fraud just as intentionally damaging an item to get a clearance/scratch&dent/other price is. The definition of fraud in most states usually boils down to whether or not the customer intentionally affected a retail price. Stores are allowed to offer coupons, change prices, and intentionally move inventory to affect the price, not customers.

 

[kctyphoon]

Justify it how you want, its not "gaming the system" or any other nonsense, its fraud and illegal just as it was years ago. I waited to post until I could verify that through the local manager, who confirmed it through the regional manager btw.


Yes, what you did was illegal in every state Ive lived in and a common scam, its a form of fraud just as intentionally damaging an item to get a clearance/scratch&dent/other price is. The definition of fraud in most states usually boils down to whether or not the customer intentionally affected a retail price. Stores are allowed to offer coupons, change prices, and intentionally move inventory to affect the price, not customers.

<cough> Clearly you dealt with someone who didnt know what they were doing, but sadly in retail thats to be expected of many today. Sorry if you disagree....

 

[OCD]

Explain this return and rebuy deal, please.

Bad karma... It's basically scamming using a loophole... Those losses get passed on to the rest of us consumers to pay...

 

[Wanna Ride]

Anyone seen these yet? Hard to tell from just pictures, but I'm liking what I'm seeing...

http://www.internationaltool.com/milwaukee-48-22-8030-jobsite-organizer

But $29 seems kinda pricey. Looks like it's a pre-order thing, and the release date is June 15th.

 

[Kracin]

i'm all for a hot deal, but whats the difference between returning an item to get it at 1/4 the price because they don't stock it. and opening an item, returning it after using it once, then buying it back a day or two later when it sback on the shelf discounted from use?

whats the problem with just using normal deals like everybody else?

 

[Ign]

Anyone seen these yet? Hard to tell from just pictures, but I'm liking what I'm seeing...

http://www.internationaltool.com/milwaukee-48-22-8030-jobsite-organizer

But $29 seems kinda pricey. Looks like it's a pre-order thing, and the release date is June 15th.

Yeah, Stu did a preview here
http://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-organizer/

 

[Fcvapor05]

i'm all for a hot deal, but whats the difference between returning an item to get it at 1/4 the price because they don't stock it. and opening an item, returning it after using it once, then buying it back a day or two later when it sback on the shelf discounted from use?

There's no difference at all between the two scenarios you've described- they are both prosecutable as fraud.

I'd be VERY careful about starting (if you're just reading this thread) or continuing (if you're posting about doing a return/rebuy scheme in this thread) to do this. Home Depot, like nearly every other store does these days, maintains a full record of every transaction every customer makes. Chances are good that if you go to do a return/rebuy and some store manager realizes what you're doing, you're going to get prosecuted for that particular instance as well as all the other instances that already exist in your transaction record unless you've been paying cash 100% of the time.

Return/rebuy schemes are most definitely illegal. Just because the tools required to do it are freely accessed by a customer doesn't make the scheme legal- in the same sense that owning a gun is legal but shooting your neighbor for no reason isn't.

 

[LordPsychon]

There's no difference at all between the two scenarios you've described- they are both prosecutable as fraud.

I'd be VERY careful about starting (if you're just reading this thread) or continuing (if you're posting about doing a return/rebuy scheme in this thread) to do this. Home Depot, like nearly every other store does these days, maintains a full record of every transaction every customer makes. Chances are good that if you go to do a return/rebuy and some store manager realizes what you're doing, you're going to get prosecuted for that particular instance as well as all the other instances that already exist in your transaction record unless you've been paying cash 100% of the time.

Return/rebuy schemes are most definitely illegal. Just because the tools required to do it are freely accessed by a customer doesn't make the scheme legal- in the same sense that owning a gun is legal but shooting your neighbor for no reason isn't.

I'm glad to hear someone else say that because I've heard people talk about doing just that and I've said to them "that's unethical and probably illegal" and they just look at me and do what they want.

 

[Fcvapor05]

I'm glad to hear someone else say that because I've heard people talk about doing just that and I've said to them "that's unethical and probably illegal" and they just look at me and do what they want.

Even if the odds of actually getting prosecuted for this are low, in my opinion it's highly unethical. Do the right thing, even if the wrong thing is easy and not very dangerous.

 

[cagullett1]

There's no difference at all between the two scenarios you've described- they are both prosecutable as fraud.

I'd be VERY careful about starting (if you're just reading this thread) or continuing (if you're posting about doing a return/rebuy scheme in this thread) to do this. Home Depot, like nearly every other store does these days, maintains a full record of every transaction every customer makes. Chances are good that if you go to do a return/rebuy and some store manager realizes what you're doing, you're going to get prosecuted for that particular instance as well as all the other instances that already exist in your transaction record unless you've been paying cash 100% of the time.

Return/rebuy schemes are most definitely illegal. Just because the tools required to do it are freely accessed by a customer doesn't make the scheme legal- in the same sense that owning a gun is legal but shooting your neighbor for no reason isn't.

Just curious, do you have any legal foothold to support these allogations, and if so, in what state?

And would you consider it illegal if the employee hands you the item right back after you return it, so that you can rebuy it when you are finished with your shopping trip?

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Hey all,

I know we all like this thread, so let's tread lightly and not get it shut down. Maybe move morals/ethics to a new thread, and keep this one red.

 

[Fcvapor05]

Just curious, do you have any legal foothold to support these allogations, and if so, in what state?

Return fraud is nothing new. There's a zillion cases a year of people being prosecuted for various types of return fraud. The more money you fleece from the retailer, the more likely they are to notice and come after you- so are you likely to get busted for 'stealing' $75 dollars from home depot by return/rebuy-ing your way to paying $25 for a $100 item? Not really. But, again, just because the odds of getting caught are low doesn't make something legal, or the right thing to do.

And would you consider it illegal if the employee hands you the item right back after you return it, so that you can rebuy it when you are finished with your shopping trip?

Just because an employee doesn't know any better doesn't make doing something ethical or legal.

 

[cagullett1]

Return fraud is nothing new. There's a zillion cases a year of people being prosecuted for various types of return fraud. The more money you fleece from the retailer, the more likely they are to notice and come after you- so are you likely to get busted for 'stealing' $75 dollars from home depot by return/rebuy-ing your way to paying $25 for a $100 item? Not really. But, again, just because the odds of getting caught are low doesn't make something legal, or the right thing to do.



Just because an employee doesn't know any better doesn't make doing something ethical or legal.

PM sent.

 

[montanafordman]

So uh.... Anyone have some new Milwaukee tools to post?

I'm saving to hopefully get a new Fuel hammerdrill and impact combo. Hopefully in another month or two.

 

[Rustypigeon]

I ordered the M12 3/8 impact with free 3/8 ratchet kit from HD website over a month ago and it has yet to ship. It was not showing back order when I ordered it.

I called customer service to see if they would just ship them individually since they both show available but they wouldn't.

So no, no new Milwaukee tools for me yet. Maybe in a couple more months when it ships.

 

[kctyphoon]

can we please not start discussing "ethics" in a forum filled with mechanics using books to charge people labor rates instead of actual time spent working.. nobody here is an angel - so please be carefull about throwing stones.. theres a million threads on here about people taking advatage of loopholes, or mistakes made by big companies.. weather it be for tools, or paying $1 a quart for synthetic oil that wasnt suppose to go on sale in every single store.. so please dont kid yourselves..

also - nobody is stopping the stores from just keeping the items - donating them, damaging them out, shipping them back to other stores, or changing the price back to normal once they've gone out of stock.. and im sorry - but i dont see anyone complaining when people are buying $25 honda lawn mowers in the hot deals forum, or 1 cent table saws and miter saws, cause someone accidentally misplaced or manually changed the stores stock by mistake because they couldnt find the last 1 or 2 items in overstock.. its no different then people on "extreme couponing" when people leave the stores with 400 boxes of ceral they got for free taking advantage of loopholes... and, its not like theres no degree of research and legwork, and an ounce of husseling to accomplish this - to then buy an item that still being sold for twice what they paid for it - and if i offered to then sell you an m12 bandsaw for $30 - i dont think your ethics would get in the way..

lastly - both times i went in to do my own return - all i did was ask if they would be willing to do a price adjustment, and if not - id like to return the item. and BOTH times, they OFFERED to resell the item to me at a discount.. one time took a little debating, only because the manager made up 4 lies about everything, and then STILL offered to sell them back without me even asking, and the other time - the manager went out of his way and said he was glad to help me save money...

btw - blue ryobi tools are on clearence for 1/2 price, but your more then welcome to pay twice what the product rings up for in the store computer if you like..

 

[77Ford]

Thank you..........

 

[mrvm]

Let's keep this Milwaukee ADDICTION thread on track:

Old Milwaukee JobSite Radio: still works, looks tough enough

View attachment 439493

4.0 Ah on reserve duty

View attachment 439496

Old pic of corded "Magnum" drill and corded 10A Sawzall among last year's addiction/addition

View attachment 439495

 

[Wanna Ride]

I got some new Milwaukee stuff, but it'll be a couple days before I can post pics. Got an awesome deal on the nut-driver sets, both metric and SAE. A couple of the torx-bit drivers, and the impact sockets in the red, plastic case. That was the first Home Depot I've seen them stocked.

Yeah, Stu did a preview here
http://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-organizer/

Thanks. I hadn't seen that yet. Just makes me want them now, instead of the mid-June release date.

Think we'll see them in Home Depot?

 

[kctyphoon]

View attachment 439493

4.0 Ah on reserve duty

View attachment 439496

did you just get/find this? that was a black friday promo that started at $129 (i think) and ended up at $65... i bought 1 at $89 and 2 more at $65.. the battereries alone are like $129 now.