used tools at Lowes

[drwheels]

Does anyone else by used tools at a discount at Lowes.

 

[reeseleblanc]

I wasn't aware they did that. Meor info, please?

 

[lotsoftools]

I was looking at some of the tool rentals they had for sale at Home Depot the other day. They had mostly gas powered tools (i.e. roto-tiller, concrete cutter). The bad part about buying used rentals is that you can expect they weren't treated well during their life.

 

[drwheels]

It is a hit and miss deal on used tools at Lowes. Some of it gets to the clearence rack and some of it does not. I call it Lowes tool rental. They buy it. do their project and return it. Good luck. Hope this helps.

 

[diebog]

It is a hit and miss deal on used tools at Lowes. Some of it gets to the clearence rack and some of it does not. I call it Lowes tool rental. They buy it. do their project and return it. Good luck. Hope this helps.

Ive seen a few friends/acquaintances do the same thing. One bought a house paint sprayer to spray a house and was really careful not to get paint all over it and when he was done he just took it back and said it started spraying weird. (which was a lie) It worked just find. A few days later we saw it for like almost half price. Its not a real honest way to do things, but people do it all the time. Why pay for a rental that can add up fast if you need it a week or so when you can buy the tools and return for a full refund. Zero cost.

I only buy tools if I plan to keep them and that I will use again. As a result I have a **** load of tools for a big variety of jobs. Guess its a sickness of mine. You can never have too many tools.

 

[McFarmer]

And their wives do it with prom dresses.

 

[Davefr]

I was looking at some of the tool rentals they had for sale at Home Depot the other day. They had mostly gas powered tools (i.e. roto-tiller, concrete cutter). The bad part about buying used rentals is that you can expect they weren't treated well during their life.

That's not necessarily true. Some of these tools sit on the shelf most of the time and when they come back from rental return they're well maintained.

They often get sold after only 3 years or so for tax/accounting reasons.

It all depends on the tool and the price.

 

[jfcasey]

Ive seen a few friends/acquaintances do the same thing. One bought a house paint sprayer to spray a house and was really careful not to get paint all over it and when he was done he just took it back and said it started spraying weird. (which was a lie) It worked just find. A few days later we saw it for like almost half price. Its not a real honest way to do things, but people do it all the time. Why pay for a rental that can add up fast if you need it a week or so when you can buy the tools and return for a full refund. Zero cost.

I only buy tools if I plan to keep them and that I will use again. As a result I have a **** load of tools for a big variety of jobs. Guess its a sickness of mine. You can never have too many tools.

Its funny because that's exactly how the tool loaner programs work at auto parts stores which makes a lot of since. You pay the retail price for the tool and when you are done you bring it back and they refund the price when it comes back, then they do the same to the next guy who needs it with the same tool kit. Works pretty well for DIY guys and I always liked the fact that if you decide you like the tool enough to keep it, you just keep it.

 

[Harrison2]

never seen any at my lowes however ive seen returned stuff for sale at sears, usually craftsman drills with broken attachments or wrenches covered in surface rust.

 

[elronin]

I got a Dewalt 12-Volt Max 3/8 inch Cordless Drill Driver for twenty bucks last year, I reviewed it LINK and even talk about how I RMA'ed it. $20 bucks not a bad price, ended up getting the matching 12 volt impact driver from ebay for 45 bucks. Total was 65 bucks for a 150 dollar combo at the time.

 

[kiatech]

Now that you guys mention this, I just noticed they don't rent tools at the ones around here. They did when I lived in Ohio...

 

[GortonsFisherman]

At the ones in my area, I often get stuff as much as 98% off, and have gotten contractor-grade power tools as much as 85% off, but they'll put out returns and display models at just a few bucks off and they'll just sit around for months.

 

[nicksnothereman]

People are pretty good with that here. Don't really do that "weekend use rental" garbage probably because they wouldn't take it back. With hand tools it would never happen here because they wouldn't accept the return. If it broke they'd replace but they wouldn't accept a used tool. Once you buy it, if you use it it's yours.

 

[PCO6]

I picked up a used DeWalt 4.5" grinder at Lowe's for $20. It was a bit beat up and the handle was missing (I have extras) but it works fine.

 

[paul2112]

Last time I was in there they were selling there once used chainsaw blades for 1$ Each..Its cheaper for them to replace than resharpen the guy told me..Were the wrong ones for my saw....

 

[firebox40dash5]

Its funny because that's exactly how the tool loaner programs work at auto parts stores which makes a lot of since. You pay the retail price for the tool and when you are done you bring it back and they refund the price when it comes back, then they do the same to the next guy who needs it with the same tool kit. Works pretty well for DIY guys and I always liked the fact that if you decide you like the tool enough to keep it, you just keep it.

Yeah, but they "buy" one of each with the intention of doing that, and keep it on the shelf for the next guy, and if someone keeps it, oh well, he just paid full price for a used tool. They don't sell it, refund the money, then dump it at a discount.

I know there's a like-new looking Husky Rancher sitting in the shop that our Snap On guy got in an estate buyout. It's got a Lowe's clearance tag on it... I put a compression gauge on it one day, it's got ~40psi.

As for off-rentals, my dad has asked at Home Depot before. They told him they'd sell him any tool they rent, just pick one... they've got a formula of what their "cost" is, and some amount of the rental cost gets deducted each time it goes out, then when it hits some point based on either rentals or needing a repair, it gets a sale tag on it. Used to be a good source of Dolmar/Makita chainsaws at least.