Lowe’s front page is advertising a bunch of new Craftsman tool deals, as part of a Craftsman Days sales event.
Here, I’ll list out all of the highlighted Craftsman tool deals and briefly rate them.
HOT Deal: “would buy without hesitation”
Warm Deal: “okay if it perfectly suits my needs”
Cold Deal: “I’ve got reasons for skipping it”
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Craftsman Tools – up to 40% off Select Products (WARM)
Some of the special buys are good, others are “meh.” Craftsman used to have a USA-made 6-gallon pancake air compressor for $99. I’m not inclined to pay $129 for the made-in-China replacement.
Craftsman 2-Tool Cordless Power Tool Combo Kit + 2 FREE Tools – $249 (HOT)
The 2-tool combo gives you brushless tools, and the freebie choices are also V20 RP brushless tools. This combo gives you a 4-tool brushless combo kit for $249, which is a good price.
It only comes with 2Ah batteries, but you can buy a 2-pack of 4-Ah batteries for $79, which is reasonable.
Craftsman Brushless 3/8″ Impact Wrench – $64.50 (HOT)
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Less than $65 for a compact impact wrench seems like a great price, especially one with a brushless motor.
Craftsman V20 Starter Kit – $69.50 (HOT)
If there’s a particular Craftsman tool you want, this starter kit gives you a battery and charger at a fairly low price.
Craftsman V20 Starter Kit + FREE Tool – $99 (WARM)
The selection has a lot of entry-level tools, and I think it’s a good value for what you get.
Craftsman Cordless Mower Kit + Free Outdoor Tool – $329 (WARM)
This also looks to be a good value, as long as you like the freebie options of either a hedge trimmer or low powered blower.
Craftsman Cordless Blower Kit with String Trimmer and FREE Accessory – $219 (HOT)
This kit gives you a cordless trimmer and blower – both of which feature brushless motors as part of the Craftsman V20 RP line – a 5Ah battery (I didn’t know Craftsman made that size), and a charger. Plus, you can choose between a Bluetooth speaker, vacuum, LED light, or 4Ah battery as a free add-on.
Craftsman Tool Cabinets – Save up to $160 (WARM)
These tool chest deals are similar to what we see for Black Friday.
Craftsman Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit – $99 (WARM)
Entry-level tools at average promotional pricing.
Craftsman 230pc Mechanics Tool Set – $99 (WARM)
This is always a good value, but it’s pretty much always this price. Amazon also has it for $99. I bought a set to check out and ultimately gave it to a young couple as part of a starter kit.
It’s a good starter kit that I’d buy again for others or for secondary portable kit for myself.
But, frankly speaking, it’s seemingly designed around a $99 price point, not the “was” or “list price” of $199 that retailers are claiming. It’s good if you need it, and a great value, but not a hot deal.
Craftsman 6-Tool Cordless Power Tool Combo Kit – $199 (COLD)
I’m not sure I could find the same value for $199, but I’d much sooner take a closer look at the customized Craftsman 4-tool combo kit deal you can get with the 2pc combo + 2 free tools deal.
Craftsman USA-Theme 9-Drawer Rolling Tool Box – $649 (COLD)
This was $50 cheaper last holiday season a few months ago. If you’re patient, you might see better pricing later in the Father’s Day season, or maybe afterwards.
Lowe’s has different end dates for all of the Craftsman Days tool deals, with some advertised as ending in August. Supplies don’t seem to be very limited, but keep in mind that deals can sell out.
Jared
I’m hoping the father’s day deals improve in Canada. Right now Home Depot, for example, is only really offering “buy a starter kit, get a free tool” offers.
E.g. the Dewalt version is $199 for a 5ah battery and charger plus a half-dozen basic tools (pruner, two different OMTs, an ROS, and the most basic grinder, reciprocating saw and circular saw).
That’s not very good. We’ve had many more options in the past. Even if you step up to the $278 two-battery deal, you still only get to pick one of those same 6 tools. I need tools after my garage fire and I’m still not interested in the lowest-tier stuff. I realize it’s how they lure consumers into their battery system, but still.
Stuart
What you see is what you get. Father’s Day is too soon to expect anything new outside of deals of the day and similar.
Jared
Hmm. Disappointing.
If that’s the case then Rona is even WORSE. They’ve got the DCK240C2 (with the infamous DCD771 drill and the DCF885 impact) on the front page of the flyer for $177.
DANIEL
The 3/8 impact is $149 on lowes app
Garrett
Off topic but you think nextec should come back?
Stuart
Nextec was made by Chervon, which now owns Skil. They haven’t done everything they could have done with it (yet?).
Craftsman was supposed to have a new V12 cordless power tool system, but changed their minds, and I think it’s at least partly because Skil was able to win over the shelf space at Lowe’s.
So… maybe it could, but probably not.
Oarman
The Craftsman tool cabinet deals didn’t look compelling last winter against the Husky equivalents, and I’m not sure they’re any better now.
Matt_T
Not sure if the links show different deals depending on zip code but I’m seeing the “HOT” $70 starter kit with one 4ah battery. The “WARM” $100 starter kit has 4ah plus 2ah batteries and a free tool. I figure an extra battery and free tool for an extra $30 should upgrade this deal to smoking not downgrade it to warm???
Stuart
Let’s say you want something that’s not included in the $99 bundle, such as the soldering iron, and just need a battery and charger.
Why spend $30 on top of the $69.50 for another entry-level tool and smaller battery you might never want or use?
Jared
Just for context, that’s what I’m complaining about above in relation to the Home Depot Canada deals.
I don’t want any of the “free” tools I can choose from, so the deal does not appeal to me even though, arguably, if you were buying one of those tools anyway it would be a “deal” to also get a 5ah battery, charger and bag for $200.
PW
IMO, the 159-piece hard case kit is a better buy than the 230-piece kit – unless you really want the Versastack case:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-159PC-Mechanics-Tool-Set/5014463527
Way more sockets, fewer filler bits for the same $99 price point.
These built-for-a-promo kits always have so many filler pieces, it bugs me. It’s not really “230 pieces”, it’s 120 pieces with 110 pieces of filler. I guess with the Versastack case you at least have some room to add missing sockets and such.
Stuart
Don’t underestimate the appeal of a great case, and the 3-drawer is a great case. But you make an excellent point. The one you link to might be better for some users.
eddiesky
Gotta say that the tool cabinets, even if you get the bottom and top, are cheaper than the HF US General bottoms alone. Wonder if a side by side comparison is out there? Gauge of steel? drawer slides? handles?
I know that HF has coupons and being a member gets some other deals. But after Craftsman discontinued the V line tools and their horrible support, along with Lowes disappointing return/exchange support… I might stick with US General.
(And all the youtube mechanics seem to have them vs Snapon or Craftsman or Husky)
PW
I would encourage you to compare the bottom-tier Craftsman tool cabs to US General in person.
Unfortunately, there’s a reason SBD is able to have “assembled in USA” cabinets at a lower price than HF’s imports. And it’s not because they’re competing on quality.
DANIEL
It might be my area but the trimmer/blower combo is $199