My Home Depot used to have a Ryobi Link tool storage wall in the home storage aisle, far away from the tool box section.
There was a Milwaukee Packout display in one bay of racking, and next to it a full bay of Ryobi Link wall storage products.
And now it’s all gone.
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It seemed like a good idea, although the placement could have probably been better.
At eye level they had a couple of Ryobi Link wall panels with accessories, so you could get a sense of how it looked and all fit together.
Below, they had wall panels and some common accessories you could buy on the spot.
The selection was also a bit limited, but it was good to be able to see some of the Link system components in person.
In hindsight, I’m not surprised.
Home Depot offered a couple of Milwaukee Packout wall storage promotional bundles that didn’t seem to gain much traction. Packout wall panels and accessories seem to sell better online. So if Packout’s wall storage products didn’t seem to sell very well in-store, why would things be different for Ryobi Link?
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Then again, garage storage isn’t something that everyone buys on a regular basis. And, the displays and immediate product selection were limited due to space.
The displays were nice – I liked them. That’s not to say that I would ever buy into the Ryobi Link tool box or wall mounted storage systems, but I thought the in-store display was well done.
J . Newell
The HD nearest me has never had a Ryobi Link system display, and I noticed six months ago or so that some of the RL items were at closeout prices, though that might have been just a local close-out. But I think your point about garage storage is correct. This store has nearly none of the Packout wall storage on display, either.
The RL system looks (looked?) good and I would have been open to buying some. I don’t need the entire garage to be on the same storage system. Not being able to see the system in real life, combined with relatively low motivation, meant that I was/am not a customer for that system.
Plain+grainy
A lot of times I’m in HD picking up a specific item. I might see something that interests me in store. Then I’ll order it later online. If it wasn’t for the in store display, i wouldn’t have ever purchased it probably.
Mike
This is the way. You want to see and touch this stuff in real life, so it’s good to have a display, even if you have to order it to be shipped to you or the store.
Shauns
Exactly! I’m a female. And work as a fabricator. Tiny hand. Like extra small size incredibly tiny hands. So I need to buy tools that fit comfortably for me for all day use in an effort to minimize hand fatigue. Learned that mistake of not interacting before buying after buying my first tool…the DeWalt Msx drill. Was on sale but not displayed. So I grabbed it up withimmediately regrets. Milwaukee and Ryobi is more comfortable for me.
eddiesky
Wonder if rents or pad space/retail space developers would be viable for a Ryobi-tool store, independent of the big boxes? Because these wear-ya-down-houses like HD, and Lowes, fight for deals and floor space. Take Lowes, where you walk in and you see lots of “Red” products and its Craftsman…which fools me to think, Oh Milwaukee… oh…nope.
And since HD is more exclusive to Ryobi, Husky (house brand), Rigid, Milwaukee, Dewalt, Makita,..and sparse mix of Bosch.
Also, I enjoy reading fromHomeDepot employees on reddit r/Homedepot
AB
TTI already has/owns an independent retail store(s). It’s called, Direct Tools Factory Outlet. They sell Ridgid, Ryobi and Hart on the tool side.
https://www.directtoolsoutlet.com/
Mopar
Maybe I’m wrong, since the nearest B&M store is an 8-10hr drive away, but I thought they only sold refurbished and blems?
I’m actually surprised they do NOT have a store closer. I live in NH, we have several huge malls and outlet store destinations like North Conway. People from other states in the northeast vacation shop here because we have no sales tax.
Stuart
Yes. There’s been controversy over the outlet store selling new products and undercutting Home Depot.
Tucker
I have a bunch of Link and most of it is via Direct Tools. You can get “factory blemished” Link stuff for generally reasonable money.
I had hopes HD would stock more in-store.
The system is decent – my only gripe is when hanging on the wall, by design you have fixed spacing – so if you want to move things left or right a bit you can’t.
Rog
My biggest gripe with DT is they mark all their products, no matter what, with a big, gnarly RECON branded into the plastic.
I don’t mind that they mark it, they just always seem to do it in the most conspicuous places.
ElectroAtletico
Less storage system, more Ryobi hand tools!
Stuart
They only bring out Ryobi hand tools for Black Friday and similar.
Rog
My local HD had their Link display buried in a back corner of the store. Unless you’re looking for it or other storage setups, you would never find it.
pags409
i have the system and appreciate it. all the HD’s around me took them down quite quickly.
i have it in two places and am constantly moving from one place to another, as needed. like everything off the ground. not sure why they don’t catch on.
Don Mills
Yeah, their tools and batteries are less expensive than others, but the Batteries fail too soon and the tools can’t handle extreme use. After 10 years I finally cams to the conclusion, spend more get more.