We recently posted about how our local Home Depot stores seem to be pushing Klein Tools out on clearance, and how Lowe’s stores are prepping to receive them as part of their new retail partnership.
Klein Tools answered some questions we had about the matter, and about their future availability.
Thank you to Klein Tools for being open to discussing this. Following is what they said, with the key takeaways being my own interpretations:
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Will any Klein Tools remain at Home Depot?
Yes, Klein Tools’ continues to value our relationship with The Home Depot as a distribution partner for Klein Tools. The Home Depot manages their own inventory and ultimately decides what products will be made available to Pros. While there will be a decrease in Klein’s overall presence, we will still have many products available in store and on The Home Depot’s website.
Key Takeaway: Many select Klein tools will still be available at Home Depot stores, and you can also buy the brand’s tools at Home Depot’s website.
How extensive of a Klein Tools lineup can we expect to see at Lowe’s now, and in the future?
When everything is set, Lowe’s will have the largest in-store selection of Klein Tools nationwide. From Big Box exclusives like the MODbox mobile work station, Personal Protection Equipment and many core Made in USA SKUs, customers will be able to find all the tools they love, as well as hundreds of new innovative products.
Key Takeaway: Lowe’s will have the largest in-store selection, as well as specific exclusives.
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When will the initial Klein introduction at Lowe’s be completed?
Klein Tools will be rolled out in all Lowe’s Prozones in late August and then there will be a continuous flow of product into the stores in the electrical, tools and personal protection equipment aisles throughout Q4 and into 2024.
Key Takeaway: The kickoff at Lowe’s will begin soon and continue in coming months.
Why is Klein leaving Home Depot after 14 years of exclusivity? (I understand if this one cannot be answered.)
The demand for Klein Tools has never been higher. Our customers needed more products available to them at more locations. With our expansion into Lowe’s, we are making more Klein Tools available to all contractor trades.
Over time, Lowe’s and Lowes.com will stock the broadest assortment of nearly 2,000 unique Klein Tools products ranging from the brand’s iconic lineman’s pliers and other hand tools, a full line of personal protection equipment, as well as Klein Tools’ all-new mobile MODBox storage system.
These look to be exciting times for Klein Tools.
I particularly like this part – “as well as hundreds of new innovative products.”
Read Also:
Home Depot Dumps Klein Tools with Huge Clearance Sale
Lowe’s is Clearing out Ideal Tools to Make Room for Klein
mikedt
That explains why some Klein tools are discounted at HD and others are still at normal price.
ChuckR
yeah that’s what I’m seeing too… the things I need are not on sale lol. (fishtape)
Hardware Guy
Roll out on Klein tools is already in full phase at Lowe’s!
I am an Armed Forces Veteran, and a tool rep at Lowes.
As an experienced electrician. I have been using Klein tools for many years and I welcome the change to USA made tools.
Michael Zaborski
All klein tools are not made in the usa. Its ashame but they are not ,and they admit to it.
Michael Zaborski
So home depot now will carry some klein either the web page or store. So when my wire stripper shits the bed i might have to order one on line and then ask for credit when it comes in an i give them the broken one.
TomD
Kudos to Klein for answering these as well as reasonably expected. Even with the PR-speak it’s easy to read the story.
I’ll admit to being in the Red Army but Klein is a brand I’ll grab if nothing from Milwaukee is available.
Ben
I’ll be very interested to see how the newer Milwaukee MiUSA hand tools stack up against Klein (esp. if they’re going to focus on MiUSA SKUs) vs other offerings from Wilde, etc.
Donnie Green
Klein is the brand that will be working in 20 + yrs and the “Red army” crap will have rusted out
James
And what will happen to the Ideal brand? Where can it be bought?
Jeremiah James McKenna
Since HD already had many other Ideal products, I wouldn’t be surprised if they expand their Ideal products.
Dan
I prefer Ideal. I have some pliers still from the 70s. I have let my students know of the deals at Lowes.
Gary T
I already saw a Klein MODBox in my local Lowes, this week.
Nick
Klein has a couple products on the shelves at my local Lowes, it’s cool to see. This is a move that I greatly appreciate, as an electrician in a town with no Depot of Homes.
Thanks for digging into this and sharing with us! It’s always nice when big companies peel back the curtain for us mortals.
Jeremiah James McKenna
I like how he skirted the direct answer about contracts and still kept things professional, but not transparent.
Drewski
Went to my local Lowes yesterday for something unrelated. I did check to see if any of the Ideal or Southwire stuff was on clearance. Nothing, and no Klein in the electrical section. Did see the ModBox stuff in their contractor section.
Jim Felt
I’m still assuming the mainstay all lines Klein sales channel isn’t the dumbo big box chains but rather the regional and national electrical contracting supply houses. They at least have knowledgeable staff, serious credit availability and deep in store/warehouse stock.
Yeah. I’m no fan of the big two. Just a too frequently bumbling source.
JR Ramos
Absolutely. Screwdrivers, pliers, cheap meters/outlet testers do well in the DIY retail but it’ll be interesting to see what the “largest in store selection in the nation” looks like (and/or how long it will last). We have one electric supply and one datacom supply here that could probably take prizes for the breadth and quantity of Klein tools in store and it’s hard to imagine Lowe’s diving in that deep with their typical market.
It’s nice to have some Klein items available during longer retail store hours sometimes, though.
Dan
I believe that the box stores do well with the CTE students entering the field. Parents buy their first tools.
ND
In our area, Lowes only builds after Home Depot and Menards are already present, and Lowes prices are always higher, so their stores don’t survive. Now, I will have to drive 17 miles instead of 1 to get a Klein tool. I’ll look for alternatives before I make the drive.
Dan
We have both Lowes and H Depot. Here in Maine, but Lowes prices seem lower and give military discount for all but already clearance priced. H Depot gives military discount for limited items. More vets I believe shop at Lowes here and our HD has limited stock being a smaller box.
Ben
According to my local Home Depot, part of the reason for the pull back was a change in the Klein tool warranty.
Stuart
What kind of change in warranty?
As far as I am aware, Home Depot has nothing to do with customer support for Klein tools beyond the return period.
JR Ramos
Did they want HD to handle more of it at the counter, or were they (probably wisely) tightening up their exceptions? Klein has always been a bit tight there – officially – so if you got easy warranty replacements at a store or supply in person then you sort of got lucky. When I was dealing with them 20-25 years ago they were a royal pain to work with since we were not a top tier distributor with super high volume sales – we had a lot and we were steady but never met their numbers game. We had to eat some clearly failed/defective tools that we replaced for customers and were then rejected for reimbursement by Klein, so we more or less stopped doing warranty replacements – did affect sales, I think, as some guys would just go to the supply houses where if you purchase it there they’re more apt to replace it, and they get less hassle for reimbursement.
I would imagine warranty and returns with HD on tools must be a nightmare with so many under-skilled users and a WalMart return mentality.
Foxy
Home Depot plans to phase out most of Klein and replace them with Milwaukee. I spoke with some in the know people 😉 I’m personally upset, for my use I prefer Klein.
Jim
A lot of these tool are forged in USA but machined in Mexico
ROBERT M
I do not understand people that think any tool can replace another once that tool has been used in your hand and is now comfortable. That is how people get hurt.