Whether you’re looking to buy into a modular tool box system or expand your existing kit, my recommendation is that you wait.
This includes the new Makita MakTrak tool box system preorders, but also Milwaukee Packout, Dewalt ToughSystem, Flex Stack Pack, ToughBuilt StackTech, and others.
Last year, Lowe’s had deals and coupon savings on every single modular tool box system they carried.
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Home Depot typically has promos on Dewalt, Milwaukee, Ridgid, and now Ryobi tool box systems.
Online retailers tend to have matching deals and discounts.
Unless you need something immediately, it’s better to wait just a few weeks. Most promos should be live by the first week of November.
There might be additional savings for Black Friday, but it depends on the retailer.
Last year Home Depot had a Packout doorbuster bundle with Packout workshop wall plate and battery caddy with M12 batteries, and Acme was giving a free tote box with $399+ eligible Packout orders.
You can wait until Black Friday to be safe, but I think most promos will be out and available by early November.
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Makita MakTrak preorders are expected to start shipping at the end of October. If you preorder, make sure the store you order from has a generous return or price match policy, just in case. Or don’t preorder and wait until November.
The same goes for ANY modular tool boxes; I recommend against buying ANY modular tool boxes unless you need something immediately.
Unless of course you want to spend more money for the same gear. If that’s true, go ahead.
Some brands will have “buy more save more” promos, and others will discount specific models. For example, I bought Dewalt ToughSystem 2-drawer tool boxes for $99 at Home Depot last year, when they had a stack in their holiday gift center. They’re currently $130, although Acme has the 2-drawer box for $99 right now.
Just… WAIT.
If you need it, you need it. The more you plan to spend, the bigger the risk you’ll spend more and have buyer’s remorse.
As for Makita MakTrak, I don’t expect them to discount their new modular tool box system, but folks from their USA headquarters have been visiting some of our posts about earlier Milwaukee Packout tool box Black Friday deals at Home Depot. If Makita USA corporate is doing research on Home Depot’s Black Friday deals on Packout tool boxes, it could be a coincidence, or maybe holiday discounts on MakTrak tool boxes are in the works.
With one retailer pricing Makita’s “Master 7pc” tool box combo at a whopping $839, a hypothetical “buy more, save more” deal could mean substantial savings.
My general recommendation – about any brand or modular tool box system, except perhaps for Festool’s – is to wait until November deals before making big tool box purchases.
Ask questions and I’ll try to answer based on what I’ve seen over the years.
Michael G
Any news about the release of the new Sortimo/Bosch system that was discussed a couple months ago?
Can we also talk about how disappointing yesterday’s new tool release by Bosch was? It is a great example of how uninventive they have been the past few years.
Three new things-plumbing press tool, trim router, and nail/staplers, all of which are released far behind their competitors, and some very, very slight changes to a few products in their existing lineup. I can’t think of a single 18v tool they offer that is unique. Furthermore, they lack direction. They don’t seem to know what segment of the market they want to cater to.
This is unfortunate, since I really like the product quality and am an American who is already invested in their 18v system.
James
I’m not too bothered by the absence of unique tools. They make excellent tools and batteries to cover the basics, and I fill in with M18 and M12 for things they don’t have or for things that Milwaukee does better.
Many tool brands have nothing unique, or only a couple of unique things. I’m far more interested by quality and longevity, both of which I’ve been more than pleased with for my Bosch tools and batteries. One caveat is their original 18v circ saw which was a piece of 💩, but I believe their new one has good reviews (I’ll never buy it because I now have M18 and M12 cord saws that serve me well).
James
*circ saws (damn you autocorrect)
Stuart
I have NOT heard from Bosch or Sortimo. I was promised an update by the end of September, and will ping them next week.
We’ll talk about Bosch’s new announcements tomorrow.
Bosch, like Makita, are messy to talk about because they’re headquartered overseas, and that seems to be where all the tool development takes place.
Bosch USA is responsible for marketing, sales, and support, while development is (mostly?) external to them.
I don’t understand Bosch anymore, and there are too many questions. For example, they have this new AmpShare collab with different tool brands, and Rothenberger is a founding partner. So why is Bosch launching their own press tool rather than leveraging their partnership with Rothenberger? Or did they?
I believe I also saw an EU announcement of a Bosch cable cutter.
Some brands launched into new categories one at a time. It looks like Bosch is going for a broader approach. Maybe?
Ken
FWIW, I think the guys on the UK YouTube channel mentioned in a recent livestream that the new press tool is compatible with Rothenberger dies. So maybe they did collaborate with Rothenberger on that tool?
JJ
> I can’t think of a single 18v tool they offer that is unique
Agreed about Bosch overall lack of focus. Their only unique power tools are the 18V Freak, 18V flexiclick (other brands’ installation drivers are 12V), and also the 12V trim router.
Mnoswad
Stuart, have you talked about how the dock workers strike may affect is tool buyers this fall yet?
Stuart
I’d bet that a lot of promo tools are stateside already. Home Depot and Lowe’s holiday gift centers will go live 2-4 weeks from now. Lowe’s started earlier last year, and Home Depot typically goes live after Halloween but there’s indication they’ll have things up a week earlier this year.
I think it will be a while before the tool industry is obviously impacted, but it’s hard to say as I’m not too knowledgeable about industry inventory or logistics. This also isn’t the kind of question I’m likely to get straight on-record answers about from any tool brand or retailer since info or insights could have competitive value.
From what I’ve read so far, the biggest concern right now is on perishable goods, such as bananas.
If tool brands don’t have warehouses full of tool boxes or promo tool sets right now, yeah, the port strikes will hurt. The bigger players learned how to improvise a few years ago when there were Covid shortages and closures. I think a port strike has the potential to disrupt things, but it’s too soon to tell. The longer it goes in, the greater the chance of disruption due to backlogs and such.
Some brands seem to have moved more production to Mexico, with tools transported via truck (or train??) rather than ocean freighter.
HomerBucket
THD will set Gift Center (Back Wall + Laydown and Racetrack) starting on 10/21. The freight has been coming in steadily for over a month and then ramped up heavily right before Holiday Deco went up. If you look up at the palletized overheads you can identify the Gift Center boxes by the solid orange stripe around them. If they have a pink placard those are Special Buys (Black Friday).
ElectroAtletico
Don’t need a box (although I may just pull the trigger on a Husky rolling cart). What I need is HD to put a nice sale of Ridgid WetVacs!!!!
Stuart
Wait a month for that too.
Jim Felt
The Longshore Union has apparently “tentatively settled”.
Mopar
More like postponed until after the election, but for the purposes of this page, it still means no impact on holiday tool sales.
Frank D
I thought last winter’s toolbox deals and the whole BF were a major miss. I don’t think I bought one single extra thing … of any kind, whether storage or tools. Such may be the disadvantage of a “ well stocked “ “ pro-sumer “. You have to have promos that don’t involve / require the same basics … or have in on extras the consumer or pro wants.
Stuart
“Buy more, save more” promos let you get whatever you want.
I ordered Packout drawers, carts, cabinets, and work tops, ToughSystem drawers, and StackTech crates.
Being a well-supplied prosumer isn’t a bad problem to have. If you’d like, I can try to hurt your wallet with more gift guides aimed at well-supplied tool users. But those would be more “bet you can use one of these” tools rather than discounted holiday promos or gift center deals.
eddiesky
Stuart- Any chance you get on the MakitaTrak boxes “inner” dimensions, would be great. Makita’s site and videos only show the outer dimension.
My ongoing saga for a lockable, storage of my pneumatic Dewalt 2-n-1 floor nailer/stapler continues…
Stuart
Sorry, Makita has been extremely unhelpful regarding answering any questions like that. You might have better luck asking them on social media.
E Schmidt
Any possible promos for the new DeWalt boxes?
Stuart
Honestly, I think there’s a 50:50 chance.
Mark M.
Stuart, based on what you’ve seen in previous years do you think there will be any significant deals on gas-powered OPE? I’m in the market for a backpack blower and can wait, but I wonder if it’s too late in the season to expect much.
Stuart
I visited Home Depot and Lowe’s last week, and it seems like both already moved past blowers and other Fall cleanup tools.
There are rarely promos on handheld gas-powered tools these days. I don’t know about Lowe’s, but Home Depot has made statements about focusing on cordless OPE growth.
I don’t recall seeing many backpack blower deals in general, let alone gas powered.
If you wait, you *might* come across end of season clearance type deals.
I could also be wrong, but I think your comment about it being “too late in the season to expect much” is accurate.
Mark M.
That’s great info, appreciate your insight!
Stuart
You’re welcome! Keep in mind that I could be wrong – my answer is based on historical observations in my area and online. Things change, and there could be differences depending on your region.