A reader wrote in today about Lowe’s tool deals of the day, asking if “Lowe’s is getting rid of the Skil line.”
The better Lowe’s tool deals have already sold out, but you can check out the others, here.
As for the question, that’s something I’ve been asked several times recently, and so it’s time to answer it in a post.
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Frankly, I don’t know. There’s no one at Skil or Lowe’s to ask about this. And even if either company had active media or marketing contacts, they’d likely give us a corporate non-answer.
So instead, let’s ask a different question: Why are readers asking if Lowe’s is dumping Skil or Skil 12V cordless power tools?
Last night, I put the Skil 12V jig saw in my cart, selected for pickup at my local store. Before completing the transaction, I went and got the kids down for bed. This morning when I went to finish the transaction, it is saying the product is no longer sold by Lowes. Do you think they are throwing in the towel on the whole 12V line?
Man, so are Skil cordless tools on their way out or not? They’ve been running big discounts for a year or so and now clearance, but they keep restocking them, too.
Does seem like Lowes is clearing out Skill 12v tools.
Several days ago, Lowes’ deals of the day had the drill kit or $29, the 12V impact kit for $29, and the drill and impact kit for $49.
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Over the holiday season, Lowe’s had a Skil 10-tool combo kit. It started off as a “limited time buy” at $299 before being discounted to $249 and then $199. Lowe’s held a flash sale where they dropped the price to $149.
My store only had 4 boxes in their display, but it seems they had to reduce the “limited time buy” price from $299 all the way down to $149 to sell them all.
They didn’t seem to be selling many of the Skil 12V Flip Drill tool kits either. The product page was cloned mid-season, following the display of low sales stats, and the new version of the page switched to “views last week” messaging.
Skil’s 12V Max line of cordless power tools have never been highly visible at Lowe’s, at least not that I’ve seen. Based on what I’ve been seeing this holiday season, I better understand why that is.
I don’t think there’s much to gain from Lowe’s dumping Skil or the Skil 12V line. The brand and these tools aren’t given much space in stores, and there aren’t any brands vying to take their place in entry-level DIY category. Time will tell.
MM
I noticed that over the last couple of months some new “demo stations” have popped up at my local Lowe’s, with a section of 4×4 provided for customers to drive screws into. They have a total of 4 tools: a compact drill and impact driver each from Flex and Skil. I keep looking to see if they will put out one of the Skil Flip Drills for demonstration but they have not done so, though they do have some in stock. In fact, the Skil Flip Drill is one of the few power tools that my Lowe’s doesn’t have an example of out for customers to examine, even without being able to power it up. Want to handle a Dewalt drill? Flex saw? Bosch router? Metabo HPT nailer? Kobalt grinder? Dremel? There are examples of all of those out for customers to inspect. But not the Skil Flip Drill. If they are trying to sell them, they’re not trying very hard.
Goodie
There’s a demo station with Flip drill near me. I’m not in the market for it, as I already have the 12v Bosch Flexiclick. I think it’s a much nicer tool than the Flip drill. Nonetheless, I liked the Flip better in person than I did looking at it online. In person it feels reaonably high quality and the controls are good. I’ve mentioned this in a few posts. I think they need to sell for about $69 (rather than the $89 MSRP) to be a competitive offering. Any higher price and a reconditioned Flexiclick on CPO (you can get a brushed version for $120) starts to make more sense. I’d argue that the Bosch is better for just about anybody, but the most budget constrained buyers.
Lowe’s always seems to have things on clearance to rotate inventory, and there are always attendant rumors always that they’re dropping a line. I suspect it’s because it’s cheaper to clearance the tools out then to properly promote them. I’ve taken advantage of this opportunity to build up a pretty full Metabo HPT toolkit at steep discount.
I don’t understand Lowe’s retail displays at all. My local stores have Metabo HPT nailers prominently displayed, but the Metabo HPT cordless is a few aisles away. Flex gets a prominent display, and you’d think that Chervon would want the Skil tools set up close to them. Doesn’t happen.
MM
Oh, I have zero interest in buying the Flip Drill, but I would like to examine one just for curiosity’s sake.
Goodie
That was how I felt. It made more sense when I actually handled it, which is the only way I think they are going to get sales.
I wouldn’t buy for myself, but maybe as a housewarming gift or Christmas gift for a young person. I think the Skil 12v platform is a pretty compelling platform for someone on limited budget and just starting out.
Jared
$50 for a drill and impact kit, $80 for a 5pc tool combo, all the way down to $149 for a 10pc kit? Those seem like extremely aggressive prices to me.
Besides visibility, is there a reason customers aren’t buying Skil 12v tools? I’d certainly be willing to try if they were available at comparable prices in Canada. I though Skil 12v tools were generally well-received, albeit they aren’t as premium and don’t have the breadth of offerings of M12.
If the tools and prices are good, it certainly sounds like Lowes is the problem.
Saulac
The reason could be beside the special combos/deals, the price of individual tools are not that low. Just for fun, I look up to see with there is anything that interesting/cheap enough for me to try to convert to use with M12 batteries…, I found that for the price, I much rather stick to M12 tools.
Mike
At my local Lowes, the Skil 12v tools are still on the end cap, but the 20V have all but disappeared. Possible Lowes is de-emphasizing the 20V line in favor of Craftsman?
I have a number of the Skil 12v tools and have been impressed with the performance and price; particularly, the right angle impact driver, jig saw, and inflator.
MattW.
I bought up all the clearance demo models for 5 bucks each thinking they were disco but they were just resetting and moving them by metabo. They are fully stocked no more fire sale tags and look to be sticking around.
Mark S
I have been watching this closely too for about a month. My theory is that they are clearing out the “old” USB-A 12v battery items for the new USB-C versions.
One of the deals of the day about 3 weeks ago was two other 12V packages, and this big 10piece combo kit was $99 (I’m pretty sure!) And I wanted it just because it was so cheap. But all my local stores didnt have one, and it would have been $79 to get it delivered. I believe that one is the USB-c batteries kit.
Today’s deals are both the old USB-A capable batteries. Good deals but not great. I already have tools from most of the other brands, so this wasn’t compelling enough to bother. I also got the drill kit for $29 somewhere around Christmas week or so. Again, old battery.
So i think they aren’t ditching it all the way, just the old battery models. My theory at least.
Mark S
And by the way the $29 drill kit was the one that was in the holiday floor display section right next to the 10 piece set and those funky Skil bit sets they had too.
Mike
They have a kit with two of the new USB-C batteries for $79 plus a “free tool”. The tools range from $30 fan or light to $100 ratchet wrench.
Andrew Munczenski
not interested in these at all
Brian
At this point, these are being sold below cost to both Lowe’s and the manufacturer so it’s anyone’s guess what the endgame is. Having worked with Lowe’s among others on the vendor side in the tool space, it’s no surprise as Lowe’s seemingly turns over lines that are not the big brands more than anyone else. No consistency.
eddiesky
FYI- I stopped in local Lowes and HD to get some melter for my driveway, walkways and spare bags since I used up last year’s supply. Man, the skeleton crew at HD was just ridiculous…more contractors than staff that morning. And Lowes had alot of employees standing around but only one register open, at the Pro Desk area.
The confusion for me is at Lowes, I realize no Milwaukee but all the identical RED packaging for Craftsman is annoying. And then at HD, I was looking for Makita packout, found none. But lots of drivers/drills. Also, the Dewalt DXL drawers were on display as a 10high stack and selling them loose. Dunno if that is default-dewalt but I’m not dropping $300 for a drawer unit that is openbox and people puttin snot-hands on them!
Jake
They dropped the 12v Bosch line, and that was a way better line than skil and the only serious competitor to Milwaukee’s 12v line.
Stuart
Lowe’s has has the Dewalt 12V Xtreme line with more options than Bosch 12V.
In a general sense, I wish that Lowe’s and Bosch had a stronger partnership.
Phil
At least Skil has moved in the direction that I think the the entire market will eventually move to and that’s usb-c rechargeable batteries. It’d be so convenient if all/most tool brands could recharge via usb-c.
Stuart
That’s fine for DIYers, but the charging times would be unacceptable for pro users.
Skil 2Ah battery charge time via USB: 55 minutes
Milwaukee M18 Forge 8Ah (and 12Ah) battery charge time on simultaneous Super Charger: 45 minutes
The M18 Forge 6Ah charges to 100% on the same charger in 25 minutes.
USB-C charging is convenient, but 55 mins for 2Ah is not something most brands are going to adopt, except maybe potentially other DIY brands.
Being able to charge via an adapter, vs cramming charging circuitry into every battery, is a good middleground. https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/dewalt-usb-charging-kit-dcb094-review/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
ColeTrain
They just dumped the 20v line 3 months ago to go full in on the 12v line. Would they already be bailing after the months? Really?
Stuart
What makes you think they dumped the 20V line?