I feel bad for being so negative, but today’s Makita 18V brushless drill/driver kit deal that’s featured as Amazon’s deal of the day? – it kind of sucks.
This same Makita XFD061 drill kit, reviewed here, was $99 during the height of the Winter holiday shopping season, and for a bit earlier than that, too.
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Father’s Day is 2 months out, and there are guaranteed to be some good drill kit deals in May and June, even if this particular kit isn’t discounted at that time.
Before I come across as being overly pessimistic, I should emphasize that this does look to be the best deal, right now.
I always feel like the off-season pricing on this and other promo kits might be artificially high, to help balance out the seasonal ultra-low price of $99.
This is a really nice drill, by the way. I bought one, and like it. I meant to compare it against Milwaukee and Dewalt models, but had a really hard time trying to determine which is “better.”
Anyway, let’s talk about this deal. Today only, 4/11/2018, the Makita 18V XFD061 drill kit is being bundled with a “contractor-grade” 70pc drill and screwdriver bit set, for $135.74.
The drill kit is $140 by itself, and the bit set normally retails for $22. So, in theory, you’re getting $162 worth of stuff for $135.74.
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BUT, the drill kit was released last Fall and dropped to $99 for the holiday shopping season. So with this current deal, assuming the price will drop back down to $99 again, either for Father’s Day or the next Winter holiday shopping season, you’re paying $135.74 for a $99 drill kit and $22 bit set.
Is this the same as what we talked about yesterday, where the choice is take advantage of a good deal now even if a better one might come along, or to wait for a better deal and risk losing out on any savings? Maybe, but I can’t explain why I feel so strongly against this deal. I suppose it has something to do with my knowing it will most likely drop to $99 again. And if not, other brands’ offerings will continue to hit the $99 price point, as they do every year.
Some promo drill kits go on sale during the Winter and again for Father’s Day. I mentioned the Dewalt DCD777 in last year’s Father’s Day gift guide. It will almost certainly hit the $99 price point again this year.
There are typically other drill/driver deals as well. Last year there was a deal on a Milwaukee M12 drill and impact driver kit and bonus battery bundle.
The Makita drill featured in today’s deal is good. But I can’t shake the strong feeling that the deal isn’t a very good value.
Still, if you need a new compact drill kit NOW, and can use a small but varied assortment of drill bits and screwdrivers, this could be a good deal. But if you can wait, there are better bargains to come.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Deal ends at 3am ET 4/12/2018, unless supplies sell out sooner.
Mike
Home Depot has the Milwaukee M18 brushless compact drill kit with one 2.0 battery and soft bag advertised for $99. Decided to check it out last night and found several in the clearance section for $84. Brand new, unopened box, not customer returns. $99 was a good price, $84 even better. Always check the clearance racks at HD.
John Lobert
The names of the seasons are not capitalized. Just saying.
Jim Felt
good catch
Stuart
*Fixed*! I had 3 “winters” not capitalized, and 1 “Fall” capitalized. So now there are 3 capitalized Winters, too, for consistency. =)
I can’t tell you why, but Fall seems to look better to me than “fall.”
bj
I mentioned this in the Spring BF post, but I’ll say it again since… HD has discounted the Makita x2 BL kits. The 36V reciprocating saw and rear handle circular saw are $249. The 10″ Miter and track saw (+free rail) are $399. All come with the additional dual 5.0 batteries. YMMV based on store stock. Crazy price drop.
Dan in Honolulu
Thanks bj,
Have been looking at the track saw deal for $499…didn’t see the HD pricing. Just picked it up for the $399 that you mentioned. Saved me $100 bucks.
Renato
I bought the Miter saw last weekend. Amazing saw!!
Keith
The other companies, the dewalts and Milwaukees out there only provide a 1.5 MaH battery with their start up driver and drill kits. If you look on the box it doesn’t tell you this but read the battery when you pull it out. And this is just a personal oppinion and just something I believe I have noticed over the last couple of years for myself. But both Milwaukee and DeWalt actually have a slightly larger motor that actually has a little more torque and speed I think. But that motor also draws more power from the batteries. Neither of the two will keep up with Makita in an actual day to day usage on the job site. I’m still running on the same 4.0 battery come 5 o’clock that I started with that morning, when everyone else has had to switch theirs for the second one. Including the 5.0 batteries they use. And Makita now has a 6.0 and soon up to a 8.0 that is being tested in Europe and other places. They also have a new line for the PEX and press on copper plumbing fittings coming out. I’m using the M18 crimpers and press fittings drivers now. I would much rather have all Makita then having to have both. But models in Milwaukee line that are comparable to Makita, weight more and use more battery life. And personally they aren’t as comfortable. I’m sorry wasn’t trying to debate this or press my oppinion on anyone. I actually started writting this to say today I walked into my Gulfport MS homedepot and found 3 of the 5 tool Makita kits, the one with the sawzall, 1/4″ driver, 1/2″ hammer drill, 6 1/2″ circular saw, flashlight ( not the LED one, it has a bulb) charger and 2 3.0 batteries. That normally sells for 430.00 and sells for 390.00 durrring the Holliday’s, well I got them for 290.00 today. I was going to buy all three since I normally pay 390.00 during the Holliday’s to give to my new guys as gifts so they have a good startup set. But I only got 2 because I had a attack of councious I guess thinking someone else starting out with a new family or whatever might actually need them too. But there is one left and possibly more on a pallet in the back of the store they said. It’s in Gulfport MS. And they will ship it to your store for free if you know where they have it at. Hope it helps. I enjoyed bragging about my good deal thanks…….
will
‘I’m still running on the same 4.0 battery come 5 o’clock that I started with that morning, when everyone else has had to switch theirs for the second one’
says more about how much work you’re getting done than the efficiency of the battery i reckon… 😉
wilcharl
Still a better value then the Hazard Fraught Herc
Gavin
When will a cordless drill maker relocate the bleeping directional switch? They all put the switch right above the trigger, making it subject to unintentional operation when the user squeezes the trigger at the awkward angles encountered in the real world. These miserable tools have different brand names but likely all come out of the same Chinese sweatshop. I hated this design on the Makita drill and driver set that I retired after one of its “quick charge” batteries failed after being charged less than thirty times. The Ridgid set that replaced it has a hideously sensitive directional switch which has inspired some of most creative profanity my neighbors have ever heard. Cordless drills suck!