Over at Tool Nut, they’re giving customers the heads-up that a broad Makita price increase is going to go into effect starting April 1st, 2022.
Makita’s 2022 price increase is expected to apply to more than 700 items. The marketing language suggests that prices will increase by up to 30%.
The product pages for different tools will tell you how much more expensive affected items will be.
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For instance, the XGT jobsite radio is increasing in price by $5 (~3%). The 18V X2 track saw with guide rail is increasing by $20 (~4.7%). The 18V cordless multi-tool is increasing by $10 (~8.4%). Makita’s 18V brushless barrel-grip jig saw is increasing by $20 (~7.2%). The corded compact router kit is increasing by $30 (~20%).
The price increases are expected to go into effect on 4/1/2022.
This also helps to explain the new kit configurations that we’ve seen. Makita launched a new 18V cordless router kit, as well as a new 18V X2 brushless track saw kit. Both kits – and there could be more – feature 4Ah batteries instead of the 5Ah batteries that were previously bundled in now-unavailable kits.
So, it seems that Makita’s power tools all fall into 3 categories:
i) Tools that are affected by the price increase but otherwise unchanged.
ii) Tool kits that substitute 5Ah for 4Ah batteries at unchanged price points.
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iii) Tools and kits that are unchanged and unaffected by the price increase.
It is what it is. At least one retailer was able to provide us with some warning.
Benjamen
“…go into effect starting April 1st, 2022.” If only this was an Aprils Fools joke.
I’ve been looking into buying some more Makita tools, but if they are going to turn Festool on me I’m going to seriously think twice.
Stuart
Part and material costs are still up, as are international freight and shipping costs. Price increases are not unexpected.
A lot of tools and equipment these days have already increased in price, but without any forewarning.
Lance
Exactly. I had a Milwaukee rep tell me that prices were increasing in the new year, and I did see several tools go up at my local Home Depot (Canada).
Tools that launched recently probably already have the price increases baked-in. I’m thinking DeWalt Powerstack batteries, for example.
Benjamen
True, I’m not opposed to price increases where they are needed, but “Beat the price increase,” really feels like the start of a yearly Festool price increase. I suppose it’s not a set percentage and not all tools though.
It’s also interesting that Tool Nut is pointing it out and not Makita. Was Makita trying not to call attention to it and Tool Nut saw a way to bump sales for March? Or are we going to see an announcement from Makita later?
James C
I wonder what would be more profitable for the retailer: A. Try to sell more at current prices with this notification to customers, or B. Don’t advertise it and when the price increase takes effect you get better margins on your current inventory.
Stuart
Tool Nut is a Festool dealer. They could, should, and probably did reference past Festool pre and post price increase sales data.
As a customer/end user, would a price increase warning potentially affect your planned or tentative future purchases?
I dragged my feet on something and the price went up a few months ago. I still haven’t purchased it. If I knew the price was going up, I would have purchased it earlier.
fred
In running businesses, our philosophy was to buy tools when you needed them. Recognizing lead time, we might have ordered some special tools in advance of an upcoming job. But otherwise, we tried not to be lured into early purchases based on an attempt to avoid price increases. I lived through several periods of inflation – and can say that its usually better to hold onto your capital (or cash) rather than buy a tool at a potentially lower price and then have it gather dust waiting on some speculative job. That was part of our philosophy that allowed us to expand by buying other businesses that found themselves in distress because of poor cashflow management. If recurrent history is any indication, this current period of inflation will not last forever – and prudence and fortitude (as in the NYC Public Library Lions) should help us get through it.
teicher
Earlier this year Tekton sent an email to existing customers (I got it myself) that gave notice to an upcoming price increase. I appreciated the transparency and heads up. Everyone knows costs are up and supply chains are still disrupted, and companies that level with their customers will always fare better than those who try to be secretive.
Art
Guess I’ll not be getting that 12″ miter saw. I still feel like many companies are charging more because they can rather than actual price evals. Prices rising is understandable, but some manufacturing is still holding fast.
fred
It could be worse. If the retailers like Tool Nut were like car dealers they might start charging $5000 or more over MSRP and tell you that you should be happy for it.
Aaron SD
I think more might be ahead especially with China sitting Shenzhen down for a week (3/14 to 3/20) due to their covid policies
Aaron SD
shutting… everyone stays at home
Gordon
Potentially, but Shenzhen is more of a tech hub in the south. If I recall correctly, Makita is based out of North Eastern China, closer to Japan.
Adam
Could be worse, and they say nothing. I’m sure a few will remember that ToolNut alerted them, and may head back there to buy down the road, maybe not.
Perhaps they are hoping for a bump in sales now, to overlook the dip in sales after, but know they have to increase prices either way.
Nathan
hmm – interesting statement. lots of other stuff will be going up in price over the next 2 weeks to and everything will go us as fuel price moves around.
shame there isn’t an intenty that could do something about that like you know in war time or times of additional pressure. Seems after 200+ years of a nation on the move you’d think there would be a way to handle situations like this………
sorry anyway. it not your new string trimmer – then your next bag of fertilizer will be going up in price.
Frank D
I for one appreciate the transparency, if I were on the fence about a particular brand’s tool, it might perhaps prompt me to put an order in now.
Rob
Let’s just hope with that price increase on April 1st they also bother to bring any of the XGT stuff here…..
Rog
I handled the XGT stuff the other day at the local dealer and, holy crap those 5ah 40v batteries are large and HEAVYYY. The XGT drill was heavy alone and putting that battery on it would be a *serious* arm workout
rob
I only own/use the 2.5ah batteries. Same size and weight of their 5ah/6ah LXT batteries. 18650 to boot. There is no need to use their 4ah or 5ah batteries. I also haven’t bought any XGT tools since the US launch (not counting the imported saws). I suppose I could import two other things I need yesterday, but that doesn’t account for everything else they’ve brushed aside for tea kettles and camping equipment.
I bought the new Hilti VAC because they bothered to show up. 140cfm. You think the 5ah XGT is bad (and it is), wait until you see the Nuron battery that runs this thing. 🙁
rob
Hold up, the drill is not heavy. Unless you’re comparing to a pencil style electric screwdriver.
James Davis
I’m glad I outfitted with Flex last year. I also got more M12 and V20 tools. I have noticed some significant price increases across the various brands. We live in perilous and interesting times, simultaneously, no?
Jim Felt
“May you live in interesting times”…
Though Google just indicated neither Obi Wan Kenobi nor any ancient Chinese author were likely ever involved.
Okay. Maybe in fred’s in post above he actually covered the best tool acquisition centric meaning of the term?
Gordon
Price increases suck but transparency is always nice.