Lowes is running a promotion this month where you can trade in older or lesser quality tongue and groove pliers for free Irwin Vise-Grip GrooveLock pliers (8-inch).
I own a couple of GrooveLock pliers, and they’re quite decent. They adjust with a push of a button and quick slide of the jaws, and are comfortable to use. They’re not super-premium pliers, but they’re well-made and work quite well.
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Greg wrote in:
I was in Lowes this past weekend by the contractor register and there was an Irwin [display] box there with a bunch of the small Groovelock pliers. The box said free when you turn in your old groovelock pliers. So I asked the cashier about this and she said just to bring in your old pair drop it in the box and take a new one to the register for free.
Well my son and I returned later that night with 2 old crappy groovelocks and walked out with 2 brand new Irwin Groovelock pliers for $0. Great deal if you ask me.
Where: (Select?) Lowes stores, near the Pro/contractor section
What you get: (1) Irwin GrooveLock pliers (valued at $13, via Amazon)
Price: (1) used tongue and groove pliers (Channellock-style)
There is no mail in rebate; after taking the pliers to the contractor register, you can walk out of the store with your free pliers in-hand.
*While supplies last* – this looks to be a month-long promotion for September, but supplies could go quickly.
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John S
lowes is not very close to me, but I gotta remember this if I happen to ‘stumble’ my way there 🙂
Caleb B
thank you so much for taking the time to post these deals and tips. And the reviews, good job all around. Thanks
Noah
No thanks Irwin, I’ll keep my made in USA Channellocks.
Are they taking Channellock brand only? Or can I go get a cheap pair from Home Depot and trade? Or maybe I can trade one of the ones from the Kobalt three pack I bought once.
Stan
Same here. I rather keep my American made Channellock, Wilde pliers than these Irwin pliers. Went to Sears today and tried them just to how they work and wasn’t in the least impressed.
Country of origin is a deal breaker for me and that being said pivotal as well. But that is just me.
Stuart
“Channellock-style” tongue and groove pliers. Some pros and older users refer to this style of pliers as channellocks, but a lot of brands offer them these days.
matt
I dont think I would even trade HF pliers in for irwins. They killed Vice Grip IMO the import ones suck. So even if these are the most awesome ever I will use Channel locks that are made here and for a better price..
No thanks Irwin. If you want to take the work over seas fine but at least drop the price.
LORDDiESEL
I love channellocks, but i also own 3 pairs of groovelocks and they are bloody awesome! I love how fast i can adjust them. The teeth are made of pretty good steel and have held up great. The GV20’s are for the big ass jobs and have used them alot. I picked them up on sale from KMS for 25 bucks! I couldn’t care less about the COO.
Great product.
fred
I probably bought hundreds of pairs of Channellock brand pliers over the years that I was buying tools for my company. I heard few if any complaints about them – other than some growing legs and walking off the jobsite. Then about the year 2000 or 2001 – we discovered the Knipex series 86 adjustable plier wrench – and their #87 series Cobra pliers which introduced us to the Knipex (German) brand. After that I’d say that out Channellock purchases did not stop but did decline in favor of Knipex
LORDDiESEL
I’m sure that was the case, but look at the cost difference.
Anthony
and thats why your part of the problem in this country
Stuart
There’s no need to be antagonistic.
Fred was commenting that they stopped buying as many Channellock pliers once they discovered the Knipex pliers that were better suited for their tasks.
LorddDiesel was agreeing but commented that the Knipex pliers cost quite a bit more than the Channellocks.
I don’t see what the problem is; neither of those commenters said anything deserving of a personal attack. In any case, NO commenters are deserving of personal attacks. If you have a different opinion, you are free to share it, but only if you can do so in a civil and non-offending manner.
Allen
He might have been referring to “…couldn’t care less about CCO”.
I had trouble following it also.
Stuart
Oh, maybe. But even in that context, a personal attack is not justified.
JCC
Or…you can take yourself to Sears and buy this set of Craftsman pliers:
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-2-pc-adjustable-pliers-set-7-in/p-00945433000P?prdNo=9&blockNo=9&blockType=G9
These are rebranded Knipex Cobras and Made in Germany. Dirty little secret, this. I bought a set for myself and a set for my Dad for Christmas.
John S
Nice tip… I hadn’t realized that!! Very cool…!
Stuart
Yep, I have the same pair. Those pliers go on sale every now and then and are a great buy.
Soda
The only water pump pliers I will use are Knipex brand. No other brand of pliers can even come close to the same quality.
KenZ
Agree!
Tom
Stuart:
Once again, your website has repaid the high cost of admission! I waltzed into my local Lowe’s today with an old scuzzy pair of Channellocks that I found somewhere, and waltzed out with a new pair of Irwins! The Channellocks were SO scuzzy that I was ashamed to put them up on my toolboard. Of interest, few Lowe’s employees knew about the promotion. We had to dig around the Contractor Desk to find the Irwin giveaway box…
Tom
Stuart
I’m glad it worked out well for you!
My feeling is that the promo was soft-launched at the beginning of the month and will be more strongly vocalized and advertised later this month in promotion of Irwin’s National Tradesmen Day campaign.
Travis M
I went to the Lowes in Longmont CO and got this deal. I had a pair of Channel Lock Style pliers that were part of one of those cheap tool set you get for $5 that your great aunt gives as gifts. Took it in and got the Irwins. They are not the curved jaw style you show in the picture. They were the GV8R model.
Tons of pliers in the bow were standard slip joint, needle nose…etc. I seems they will take anything. I might just take some other throw away pliers I have to get another set for the offroad kit.
Jason Offret
Got mine! Thanks for the tip!
Jonathan
Stopped in last night, I was surprised that this offer was still available, the promo was setup right in the center of the raise between the check-out. I took an older pair of channel locks USA. Never realized that the jaws did’nt mesh, til l i inspected it. They were backups to a pair of knipex alligator which I like, but dislike the free fall to larger jaw sizes when working in tight quarters. I prefer the the groove lock style a lot better. I bought a set of larger Irwin’s on sale a few years back I think a 10 and 12 or 14. The smaller size round out my set. Thanks Stuart and toolguyd. Sorry about all the hate mail from our wives lol.
Bill K
Just snagged a pair this morning. They look good and appear to function very well. The engineer in me wants to disassemble the push-button to see how robust it is…. That’s the tool’s weak link I’m guessing.