As we mentioned earlier, new Bostitch hand tools have started popping up at Lowes home improvement stores. While it’s great to see new hand tools, especially from dependable brands, we imagine that the great folks over at Estwing and Dasco Pro aren’t too happy to see their own products removed from Lowes’ shelves.
That’s right, much to our alarm, we noticed that Estwing’s USA-made hammers and Dasco Pro’s USA-made chisels and punches, among other tools such as pry bars and nail pullers, have already been replaced by the new Bostitch versions.
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There are a few reasons why this news is upsetting. First, how will this shift in product availability affect both Estwing and Dasco Pro? Second, the imported Bostitch tools are being sold at the same prices as the previously available USA-made Estwing and Dasco Pro tools. What?! Something isn’t adding up. Third, there is the possibility that this move will promote additional bad behavior.
It is possible that only a small percentage of Estwing and Dasco Pro’s tool sales came from Lowes. Both brands are quite reputable, and are available at many other retailers and industrial suppliers. Still, this move can only hurt them.
This isn’t intended to be a criticism about Bostitch, it’s mean to question Lowes’ motives. What could prompt a national retailer to dump USA manufactured tools for imported ones (regardless of how comparable in quality they may be) after so many years of carrying them? $$$$$
These comments are based on our own and others’ observations. If anyone has some conrete info about what is going on for this apparent switch to have happened, please let us know!
JD
I scored some good deals on DASCO & Estwing at Lowe’s, between 50-70% off.
With regards to Lowe’s changing vendors, it’s probably all about the bottom line. Quality, Made in USA tools don’t come cheap.
Steve
The Dasco chisels were value priced. It’s always sad to see a quality USA made tool replaced with an Asian import.
george
i don’t shop much at lowes anyhoo. but if i need something to use more than once or twice then i look for usa quality stuff. funny how they hurt american businesses and then wonder why sales are down cuz folks are out of work and unable to buy stuff..
Mike
Bostitch tools, at least the nailers, are made in the U.S.A…
David
Most of their stuff is China made.
Coach James
Their nailers might be but their chisels, punches and hammers are all made in China.
MadeinUSA
I will never shop at Lowes again for hand tools, because I ONLY buy Made in USA tools period. doesn’t matter if it’s Chinese or German made I won’t purchase it.
David
I’m with you, man. Enough with the Chinese garbage. Buy quality American tools you can be proud of and pass down to your kids.
Rogerengineer
Lowes and HD make me crazy. Absolutely everything is Chinese except the Bostich stapler. I am sick of it and them. I will shop online or Sears for Tools made in USA. Totally disgusted!
David
Sears is sadly not much better anymore.
David
Sears isn’t much better these days. Home Depot in my area carries more USA tools than Sears.
Michael
That bostitch stuff is way over priced. I suppose the mark up for lowes is a lot higher, but even DIY folks deserve a good hammer, chisel , or pry bar. Keeps the USA workers busy and earning a living. The suits at lowes do not seem to understand this concept of maintaining the USA worker so he can remodel his home. The schools no longer teach this concept so the people making decisions do not have a clue as to why it is important to keep America working. Why would any race team put KOBALT on their cars? How embarrassing to promote imitation tools. Buy quality USA made estwing tools and all will be well. Even Vaughn makes a nice hammer, USA made. I am not sure, but I think there are only 3 or 4 USA made hammer companies still around. Stanley has one two styles of hammers made in USA I think, the fat max. series. The Plumb tools I have seen are china too. Are there any USA made Plumb tools anymore? Support those USA made companies and hopefully the bostitch line will stay on the shelves.
Kevin Hockman
I noticed everything at Lowes is made in china, I buy quality made in USA tools, hardly shop there anyhow, think I will stop completly.
bernie
bought some estwing and Vaughan hammers on a recent trip to boston from the uk excellent quality they are selling a lot of imported rubbish in the uk as well will be sending to usa for tools in future they were a good price as well
David
Lowes’ hand tool selection just depresses me now. They still carry a few Channellocks, but forget finding an American made hammer or screwdriver or really much of anything else. I wrote them a letter urging them to stock American brands, but I just got a corporate blow off response. Funny how they pretend to be so patriotic with the American flags on their vests, but practically everything in the store is made in China. I go there much less now, and never buy hand tools there. Sears is still where I tool shop a lot, but to my dismay, more and more Craftsman tools are showing up on the shelves with either “Made in China” or “Made in USA with global materials”. Estwing hammers are still sold at Sears, Ace, at some Home Depots and online. The Home Depot in Tallahassee, FL has a large selection of Estwing, Vaughan, Channellock and also carries a small selection of Klein Tools. Ace carries some other American brands also, like Dasco Pro, Marshalltown and Eklind hex keys. If I can’t find quality American tools I want in a local store, I am perfectly happy to order it online. Better to have to wait for it and pay more for a quality product than succumb to the force fed Chinese crap. Sometimes the smaller mom and pop stores have nice tool lines of particular USA brands, so call around. Also, check your town for stores like Fastenal and Grainger. They are smaller, but carry some nice quality tools. Online at times has been my only option for brands like Mayhew, Proto, Armstrong, Bully Tools and most Klein tools.
Chris Pyfer
Very pleased to see so many people opting out of buying from Lowes. When a company realizes that “bottom line” thinking is costing them money it will be time to reconsider the American marketplace. Also when distributors like Lowes take a high quality product out of their line and replace it with an inferior one at the same price they are hoping no one will take notice. Thanks Lowes for insulting the intelligence of your shoppers.
Jerry Trent plumbing company Lebanon Oh.
In my 20+ years in the building industry its always been a sign of pride to have quality tools on job sites and customers homes. I have noticed that the contractors and workers that do beautiful work always have the best tools work boots and carpenter pants all USA made stuff. This is why Lowes exist the hacks have to have a place to shop to buy there junk.
Stuart
I don’t know if this is a new development, but I recently noticed that Home Depot has been carrying a full line of USA-made Mayhew punches and cold chisels. Lowes should take notice and follow suit, but they probably won’t, seeing as how they recently swapped out all Channellock and Knipex electrical tools.
David
Yes, our HD also has added Mayhew.
Lynyrd
(I know it’s an old post, but I’m new to this site and catching up)
Bostitch Hand Tools??? Another odd offering from Stanley Black & Decker. Why offer lines of Hand Tools of Bostitch, DeWalt, and Stanley? I didn’t fully understand why they would cannibalize Stanley hand tools sales by creating a full DeWalt line. I supposed it was to compete for the contractor base Milwaukee line, so okay I get it.
I see two possibilities from SB&D:
1. Bostitch hand tools are meant to be a “Lowes” only line.
2. Throw it against the wall and see if it sticks. Maybe their just testing their brand names to see who gains market share.
In the case of the later, since it is all from China/Taiwan, maybe SB&D only cares about overall market share.
For Lowes they have nearly eliminated all premium line Made in USA tools. This will hurt them.
Personally, it’s good to have choices, but too many brands only confuses the consumer and dilutes sales. See: Consumer Electronics Televisions; there used to be two dozen brands, no there are only about half a dozen.
What are your thoughts ToolGuyd?
fm2176
I think the height of Bostitch’s run at Lowe’s was in 2011. They had a great Father’s Day sale that year, where buying any one Bostitch hand tool would net any other free. I paid under $6 for their chalk line and got the $20 torpedo level for free. They also had a double bladed razor knife, and I think a hammer and tape measure; I bought a razor knife and got another torpedo level for wedding gifts. Recently, they cleared out the chalk and razor blades…I can’t recall the last time I saw a knife or chalk like in store. Seems Lowe’s is content with a few tape measures, hammers, and chisels to represent the Bostitch hand tool line.
Anyway, in the past few years, I’ve seen Fatmax and Bostitch power tools (to include cordless); Sears and even Lowe’s started carrying Dewalt mechanics tools (TBH, I’ve only seen one set at just one Lowe’s store); Lowe’s cleared out Bostitch levels to carry Fatmax; and countless other things that seem just odd. SB&D overlaps so many of their brands now that it’s ridiculous! For example, why add more cordless and corded power tool lines to the well-established B&D, Porter Cable, and Dewalt trio. Harry Homeowner can pick up the latest Black & Decker, DIY Dan or Prosumer Pete can choose between Porter Cable and some of the entry-level Dewalt, while Carl Contractor can opt for the heavy duty Dewalt. Tossing Fatmax and Bostitch into the mix adds confusion, especially since (AFAIK) none of the batteries are interchangeable.
Why not just keep Stanley, Proto, and Mac as the mechanic’s tools companies (maybe expanding the availability of some of the latter); Bostitch for fastening tools, Fat Max for measuring and layout; and B&D/Porter Cable/Dewalt for the power stuff. A little overlap is understandable and probably a good thing; having 5+ brands of 22 ounce hammer isn’t.
Nade
I checked their site and they are selling it now.
ta
Are they selling Dasco Pro yet? Or DASCO? It would be nice to see USA Made tools.