For reasons I can’t pinpoint – naivety? affiliate link spammage? – mass media sites have been promoting several Dewalt cordless power tool deals on Amazon. If you ask me, the deals they’ve been promoting range from lackluster to plain awful.
Here, the Dewalt DCD771C2 cordless drill kit is not a good deal in 2020. Sure, this was once a reasonable mass-market Dewalt-branded drill kit for holiday season shoppers. But, 2015 was the last year this was true, as Dewalt’s first brushless motor cordless drill kit special buy came out in 2016 and there was no reason to look back.
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This DCD771 cordless drill kit is larger and weaker than their more recent brushless and Atomic brushless motor drill kit offerings, and those same better cordless drill kits are about to be on sale. Like clockwork, Dewalt’s entry-level brushless drill kits go on sale for $99 every year, so why buy this larger, weaker, and less energy efficient brushed motor model for the same price?
Sure, this drill kit is presently being discounted, but that doesn’t make it a good deal.
If you want a Dewalt brushless cordless drill for $99, check out their 12V Max kit. I love using that compact brushless drill, and like Dewalt’s 20V Max kits, it’s also bundled with 2 Li-ion batteries.
I guess the DCD771C2 kit is an acceptable buy if you want a Dewalt 20V Max cordless drill kit for $99 right now, or if for reasons I don’t understand you prefer this particular model and want another one. But if you can wait 4-6 weeks, there will be better drills on sale for the same price, maybe even sooner.
If you’re a bargain shopper, now’s not the time to buy a cordless drill kit. If you can wait, pass on this drill kit deal – it’s just not a very good value compared to what Dewalt and other brands typically stock the store shelves with for the winter holiday shopping season.
I mean, it’s a usable drill, but larger, weaker, and slower compared to price-point competition, and also bundled with the cheapest and lowest capacity 20V Max batteries Dewalt still makes.
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This is simply not a good deal. Yes, I know I’m repeating myself, but I really want to get the point across. There’s a reason Dewalt keeps making this model – people keep buying it! I can understand its inclusion in Dewalt’s budget-focused 20V Max cordless power tool combo kits, but the drill kit isn’t competitive at the $99 price point anymore.
It could be argued that this is the best Dewalt cordless drill kit right now, and that might be true. But being the best deal that’s available right now isn’t saying much given the far better deals that we have seen and will be seeing again later this month and in November.
Some of the mass media and tech websites boasting this as a fantastic deal correctly point out that you can use the charger and batteries with Dewalt’s other 20V Max cordless power tools, but the batteries are less than ideal entry into the Dewalt 20V Max cordless lineup, too low in charge capacity to be of much use for anything beyond this drill.
This is Amazon’s 2nd best-selling cordless drill kit right now.
If you can’t wait and need to buy something right now, encouraging you for the upcoming holiday season promos and special buys isn’t good advice. But perhaps you could at least consider some of the better options currently available.
I really like Dewalt’s 12V Max Xtreme Subcompact brushless drill kit.
Buy Now via Amazon
Buy Now via Acme Tools
OR, also consider Metabo HPT’s $89 18V cordless kit deal. I’d buy that over the Dewalt without hesitation, although it’s also not as well-featured or bundled as the drill kits that are just a few weeks away.
See Also: Metabo HPT via Amazon
Wait a second – THIS Bosch 18V brushless hammer drill kit is what I’d recommend at the $99 price point right now.
I haven’t tried this Bosch drill kit promo yet, but on paper it’s far better than the Dewalt DCD771C2 kit.
Buy Now via Amazon
Buy Now via Acme Tools – will surely be discounted soon
To be fair, the Dewalt DCD771C2 cordless drill kit is not without merit.
If you look at Amazon’s user reviews, it – and some bundles that feature it – currently has nearly 9,800 ratings, and with an above-average ratio of 5-star ratings. At the time of this posting, there are 85% 5-star ratings and 9% 4-star ratings, and just 6% 1-3 star ratings combined.
It’s a very popular seller and users seem happy with it.
My opinion isn’t about whether this is a good product or not, but that at $99, there are better drill kits and also better bargains.
If this is truly what you want, go for it. At least now, you’re hopefully more informed.
Seasonal Dewalt Cordless Drill Kit Deals
Both of the following Dewalt cordless drill kits usually sell around the $99 price point during holiday shopping seasons.
The Dewalt DCD777C2 brushless drill kit is a common holiday season special-buy at $99. It is not on sale yet.
A few years ago, there was a similar brushless hammer drill kit deal, bundled with a compact 3.0Ah battery for the same $99, but that promo has not yet been repeated/
The Dewalt 20V Max Atomic cordless drill kit, DCD708C2, is also seasonally on sale for $99.
This drill is 25% more compact and 13% more compact compared to the DCD771 featured in this post. It has a brushless motor, which is more efficient, and also comes with a belt clip, a small but appreciated addition.
Joatman
I have this Dewalt drill and have been wanting to upgrade it. I posted not too long ago how overwhelming it is right now to choose between all the different yellow and black drills that are out. Recently I’ve been bitten by the M12 bug and have been wondering if the M12 Fuel can deliver the same results as, say, a new Dewalt 20v brushless drill. I’m partial to the Dewalt 20v platform for my larger tools but like the small size of the M12 for those quick grab-n-go projects that don’t require a higher battery capacity. Your thoughts?
Stuart
I put this together earlier in the year: https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/best-dewalt-cordless-drills/%3C/a%3E. I need to update it with the new 20V Max Power Detect and FlexVolt Advantage models, but other than that it should still be accurate.
M12 Fuel vs. Dewalt 20V Max is a tough decision.
If you’re just looking for a cordless drill, I still very much like the Dewalt 12V Max. Xtreme Subcompact vs. M12 Fuel then really depends on whether you just need a compact drill or are looking at expanded 12V-system options.
Joatman
Thanks for your response. I definitely don’t want to start a new family of Dewalt 12v tools even though it’s tempting. Dewalt 20v and Milwaukee M12 are enough. However, the “holiday” costs of the kits above are a much better value the the Fuel. Decisions!
Stuart
If you change your mind and do look at Dewalt 12V Max, you don’t need any new chargers, unless you only have the fastest charging 20V Max/FlexVolt charger.
You might also want to look at whatever M18 compact brushless drill kit Milwaukee comes out with this year. =)
Milwaukee’s promo kits are usually their regular main-line model but with a carrying bag instead of a hard case, and a single battery instead of two.
Oh, AND there have been last-gen M12 + Packout kits in the past.
Even if you only look at Dewalt 20V Max and Milwaukee M12, there will be enough options to make your head spin.
But, that’s also why I make sure to understand the very many holiday season promos every year. The more specific the question, and the better defined the boundary lines, the easier for me to answer.
Joatman
Thanks! I agree!
Joatman
I got bit by the M12 bug when they had the basic drill kit w/ bag for $59. No regrets whatsoever. I’ll wait for the holidays and more than likely expand my M12 platform. As always your input is appreciated!
Tom D
You want to hold the M12 in your hand – the drills have the battery in the handle and if your hands are small the Dewalt or M18 may be a better fit.
That said my M12 surge is my go-to for everything.
Joatman
Yep… had my eye on the surge too even though that’s an impact. I have the plain M12 drill and really like the feel of the handle. Like you, I tend to use my Dewalt impact for most everything. But it’s so convenient to have that extra drill hanging off your pocket or belt for pilot holes… not having to switch out bits every few seconds. Thanks for your reply.
Tom D
That’s the exact time I use my M12 drill or my Festool – switching bits is annoying.
fred
Exactly! There is nothing like trying tools out to see what feels right in your hands. I find the M12 stuff fits fine in my hands – but sometimes a XL glove won’t fit my mitts – so who am I to say. My wife like the grip on the Makita 12V tools a lot better. I’ve also heard that some folks feel the Bosch 12v – despite battery-in-handle design – fit their hands better than M12
Joatman
Thanks Everyone for the feedback. Let’s see what the holiday deals offer for the M12 Fuel. That’s been my gut….
Evadman
I have a ton of dewalt 20v drills, and have several m12 drills, impacts, etc. I find myself almost always using the m12 version due to the lighter weight and size for similar performance. The m12 fuel version I have is amazing. The m12 has a bit better weight distribution I have found.
As mentioned, the handle is a bit thicker, but I have large hands, so both for me fine. I don’t even notice the thickness difference personally.
If you are already in the m12 battery ecosystem, I would recommend the fuel drill. If not, then I would suggest staying with dewalt to save on batteries and charger space.
JoeM
Ugh… This damned kit… I still have my DCD795… The FIRST Model they released. No sales (though it was ON sale at the time.) no holiday special… The ACTUAL kit with the first gen Impact Driver.
When it was first released, the 771 turned my stomach. A step down from the very first series of brushed tools, and somehow a “Bargain” at $99? It’s time to put this thing in the Discontinued pile, and at LEAST upgrade to a modern deal.
Stuart
As mentioned in the post, there ARE more modern deals.
JoeM
Yeah, I mean to totally replace the 771 completely. Like… drop this model off the production line and make room for other tools. KEEP the Newer ones as the go-to standards that the 771 has been holding onto for so long.
I think the Triple 7 might be the best option for the go-to… Though I’m still not fond of these “Budget” level models. The basic Compacts are already pretty much that butter-zone price every year anyways.
Stuart
People vote with their wallets.
Why eliminate the DCD771 if it continues to sell very well?
JoeM
People also vote because they’re told to, because they don’t care and just put down whatever to get the election over with, and also to deliberately cast impotent rage against the governing body. It really doesn’t mean the Voters are doing any voting here. (In reference to “Voting with their Wallets” not trying to debate Politics here, just that argument.)
The fact remains that the popularity of the 771 is falsely inflated by the Ignorance Purchase demographic. The person buying sees a sale, knows they have a gift to buy for someone who uses tools, and buys the kit because they, personally, know ABSOLUTELY nothing about what they’re buying. They just want that box/bag/whatever under the tree/wrapped up to give to the person, so they don’t have to pretend to know anything about the person’s interests.
At SOME POINT it does come down to the industry saying “We HAVE a budget-oriented model that is more modern. We no longer need the original. We can make just as much, if not more, by just using the new one for the same audience. We’ll save resources in having to make the old one too.”
This line of tools is a Zero-Demand purchase. There is no one pounding down any store’s customer service counter saying “I WANT THIS MODEL!!” no one. There is plenty of SUPPLY of the product, but there’s no DEMAND for it. It simply gets bought like an impulse buy, or like kids’ cereal. They aren’t going for this tool, they’re going to get the cheapest thing that looks like a thing someone ELSE wants.
But that other person wants the newer one. They both go on sale to the same price, at the same times. So why not reduce the resources needed to produce TWO lines, when you can release ONE that is closer to what the year-long demand for the product is? It’s better for the bottom line of the company, really.
Aaron SD
This is probably someone getting pallets of these and trying to unload
Stuart
No. This kit ships in pallets upon pallets. It’s purposely-designed as a $99 drill kit option and value-focused cordless combo kit inclusion.
Steve
And if people are going to consistently give them $99 for it there’s no incentive to increase value in the offering, SBD is going to keep costs as low as they can on this item until the market dictates otherwise. Funny thing is they will have $99 brushless kits out at the same time too, so consumers have to do a little homework.
Clay
Have only been in Dewalt tools for a year, but have already learned: avoid kits with black batteries. Always underpowered.
Steve
September through the end of October, and usually early November, aren’t the time to buy anything big, not just drills. Retailers hold the line on prices until the real holiday sales start. After the Labor Day sales I usually hold off purchasing things unless they are absolutely necessary until Black Friday.
This is the baseline kit drill, it’s not worth the money it’s sold for, the people buying it are mostly homeowners buying the Dewalt name and reputation.
Stuart
That’s not necessarily true – I’ll always see some special buys and deals going live in October.
Steve
Yeah towards the end of October, especially as they bring in the floor displays at Lowes and HD, but I’m always hesitant with the thought of if I buy this now are they going to do an even better deal later?
Stuart
The floor displays typically go out after Halloween, by the end of the week or next Monday, depending on the store.
Some of those items are price-fixed throughout December, others will be discounted around or after Black Friday.
Whether to buy a deal now or to wait is always a tough choice, and the answer depends on the tools.
There’s always a risk. Some deals launch for Thanksgiving weekend or Cyber Monday and never return for the rest of the season. In the past, people who say “I’ll wait for a better deal” have missed out.
The key is to determine what you’re willing to pay. If you think the price could do down x-amount further, how much of a higher cost is worth having earlier access to the tool or product? If the cost increases, how much higher will you accept paying to avoid waiting another x-amount of months for another deal as good as the one you missed?
Last year I wanted to buy a new TV, but didn’t. This year, I saw a discounted price earlier in the month but missed out. It’s now at that same price at most retailers. I can’t imagine the price being any lower for Black Friday or the holiday shopping season, given the pricing of that brand’s same product line in the past. So I ordered it now. There’s a chance it’ll go down in price, and TVs aren’t the type of products you can easily buy and return-rebuy. But if I wait, there’s the risk of it going out of stock or being shipped and delivered during peak season chaos. Of course Amazon added a ~$30 “clip this coupon” extra savings after my order was delivered, but after a chat they gave me a courtesy credit of $20. I’m okay with this.
Some deals are predictable, others aren’t.
ToolGuyd has Black Friday deals going back quite a few years. You can browse through here: https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/tag/black-friday-2019/%3C/a%3E , and just change the year to see other previous years’ deals.
The best we could do is recognize past trends and try to apply them to future predictions.
With the TV example, the current generation of model numbers breaks the mold from what I observed the past few years. So, I had to guess. Is this year’s pricing less, or the product worse?
Let me know if there’s something in particular you’re hoping to snag a deal on this holiday season.
Miter saws and table saws are definitely “wait and see” types of tools that always go on sale for Black Friday, and some models might be further discounted into December to clear inventory from stores and warehouses.
For cordless drill kits, $99 is the magical number. There are sometimes special bundles or added discounts, but that’s usually the unpredictable exception and not the norm.
Steve
You’re right, there can be exceptions to my after Labor Day wait till Thanksgiving rule, in general I’ve found its riskier to buy now.
I had a few instances where I bought something that I thought wasn’t going to go any lower and was wrong. One was Lowes Black Friday prices started online the week beforehand and I ordered a power tool cmbo kit, if I had waited until Thanksgiving they had an additional 15% rebate. The other was a TV from Best Buy, no way I thought it would go any lower than Black Friday for the same reasoning you had on your TV, then Cyber Monday came and it was $100 less. That turned into a fiasco because they agreed to do a return and repurchase while the TV stayed at my home. I was charged twice, then refunded twice, and eventually a competent store manager straightened it out. BB corporate didn’t know if they were coming or going.
I totally agree with you on the value of the kit, the better alternatives, and that the $99 drill kits are the norm.
Anyway, I’m holding out for deals on the DCR028B (new), DCC020IB (a common holiday deal item), DCL077B (new), and one of those $199 pancake compressor kits with the 3 nailers/staplers from one of the SBD brands or competitive equivalent.
Stuart
I see where you’re coming from, and you’re right – most of what’s on your wishlist *might* be on sale, but not until Thanksgiving, except maybe as part of an early “buy a starter set get free bare tools” promo.
Jared
I presume sales of this model persist because of the high-quality perception of the Dewalt brand and because of consumer naivety. E.g. here’s a $99 deal for a full-sized Dewalt drill with two batteries. If that’s all you really know about power tools, it’s probably tempting – and it’s not like it’s a terrible drill. Many people are probably happy with it.
Stuart
And also writers not knowing any better pushing it with “wow, save up to $40 on this top-selling drill” posts.
fm2176
“There’s a reason Dewalt keeps making this model – people keep buying it!”
Exactly, this is what kept the 18v kits going so long. The 18v tools went on clearance at Lowe’s last year (IIRC) and now the website shows they’re discontinued, with only batteries available. That line had a long period of good service (and still sees a lot of useage), but in my opinion it was a disservice to customers when they continued selling 18v holiday combos at $99 right next to 20v Max drills at the same price point. Of course, I’m sure that many of those kits flew off the shelves for the sake of replacement batteries.
Tool guys–those of us who keep up with specs, tool news, and innovations–look at this drill and see an underperforming tool that has been surpassed by newer and better spec’ed models at the same or a lower price point. Like Steve, I’d venture to say that most, however, look at this drill kit and think, “DeWalt, that’s a professional drill kit for under $100.” Similarly, I can see this drill kit being purchased by apprentices and laborers who want the DeWalt name but who have no idea that there are better models out there for the same or not much more money. In other words, visitors to ToolGuyd and other tool news/review sites are simply better informed than the average consumer.
Tool design has come a long way over the past decade, but to most a drill is a drill (and probably 95% of users can make do with almost any drill). There’s also a “bigger and more is better” mentality that likely affects some buyers, where a larger drill with two batteries may be preferred to a smaller drill with a single battery.
bobad
Smaller is better, without sacrificing power or battery capacity. I guess some shoppers don’t consider power or even tools that match their existing battery platform. In my shop, the battery platform gets first priority. Even if a game-changing tool comes on the market, I will wait until my batteries fit before purchasing one.
Joatman
There’s also the point that people who are serious about their tools don’t like to buy old technology.
Most all of my newer tools are brushless including the outdoor tools Like the trimmer and blower. The same for TVs. You can buy a 75 inch HD TV now for under $800. But it’s not the OLED which has a superior picture. Then I look at my TV at home which is a Samsung 55 inch and say to myself there’s nothing wrong with this picture. Do I even need to replace it? Uhhhh….yeah!