Where are all of the Father’s Day tool deals?
Jim wrote in – “Is it just me or are there actually few if any real Father’s Day tool sales of my memories?” No, it’s not just you. I think.
There are still tool deals to be had, but not as many as in prior years.
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Big box stores, namely Home Depot and Lowe’s have been putting up sizable displays of cordless outdoor power tools for the spring season. Other tool promotions have gone up in the main aisles for Father’s Day, but not many are aimed at gift givers anymore.
Many of the in-store promotions are of the impulse-buy variety – hammer bundles, new power tool accessory assortments and bundles, and things like that. But stores have been light on even those deals.
There’s a big push for “Ryobi Days” deals, but that’s just at Home Depot.
A lot of the promotions can be subbed up in a single word – “meh.”
Amazon’s Prime Day is coming up next month, and most online retailers – the larger ones at least – are going to participate and turn it into a summer Black Friday type of event. But Father’s Day and Prime Day aren’t mutually exclusive tool deal events.
Is this a perception issue, or is there a dearth of tool deals this year? Frankly, I’m not sure.
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I had been wondering if I was just jaded with the current promotions. “Black Friday” last year was a nearly 3-month affair, and this year’s Father’s Day promos don’t compare to that at all.
Specialty retailers haven’t had many deals this year either. For instance, one of my favorite knife and multi-tool retailers looked to have put barely any effort into their Father’s Day deals this year, with no special freebies, stickers, or accessories for the first time in a while.
Are there fewer deals, or is it just that the deals and promotions are just not appealing to us?
Steve L
I too have wondered if I am getting jaded. Seem to be a lot less deals for good equipment with good savings.
But, when I started buying cordless & brushless I opened to door to buying power tools I already had in a corded version. That is over and I don’t feel the need to get a newer cordless & brushless model.
So it might me be also – what do I really need? Fortunately I have not had to discuss this with wife.
Bonnie
I haven’t particularly noticed them, but I’m also at a point where I’m not really shopping for any common tools so they hold little interest even if the deals are good. The only deal I’d like to see a repeat of is that big Ryobi hobby combo one, but that felt like a special launch kinda thing anyways.
Drew McDaniel
I think what is out there may be less appealing to people. At least to me, especially at the specials being offered. At my local HD, at least according to homedepot.com there remains plenty of stock of the Ryobi Battery kits and the “free” tools, for both the regular and HP batteries and tools. I may be in the market for the HP Hammer Drill, and have been checking inventory levels. I haven’t been able to get to the project that would need the new hammer drill. I’m hoping to do it tomorrow. But I have been checking inventory levels and four days out from Father’s Day, the store has plenty of inventory. I figured if inventory got tight, I could always buy the battery kit and hammer drill and return it if I didn’t need it.
eddie sky
I was holding off on any EGO deals like cordless trimmer kits or blower kits. But nope. Perhaps the corporate greed machine deems Dad not worthy?
Jared
I’ve wondered why too – e.g. is it because people are still buying? I’ve definitely slowed down as inflation worsens, but maybe the same isn’t true for everyone.
Perhaps there are still supply chain constrictions and there’s no point fire-saleing product that will sell eventually and can’t quickly be replenished?
Has it proven more profitable to keep prices higher and accept slower sales?
AT
This is just inflation in another form — getting rid of regular deals is a subtle way to raise prices.
Raycr
Exactly. But it acts to depress sales and then complain about sale totals at the end of their fiscal year. Being off.
Better To make half a loaf of bread than none.
MM
I haven’t seen much, but I haven’t been looking much either unless you count visiting Toolguyd.
There’s not a whole lot I need right now. I keep checking for the DCG460 grinder which was supposed to be out earlier this month if I remember right but I haven’t seen them anywhere yet. And I could use a couple 5ah Power Stack packs but I’m waiting on a deal.
Derek
I haven’t seen any Father’s Day deals. The Home Depot weekly ad has some, but not many. Nothing in my local store either.
fred
My dad, if he were alive would be 119 years old. So I’m not exactly a Father’s Day shopper. But my email inbox has shown up with a few so-called sales. Many were not offering any special deals but rather just promoting the idea that tools would be a good gift. I guess some vendors figure that tools sell themselves at Father’s Day – so why bother to reduce prices.
The kind of emails that I got had banners like these:
Protect Dad’s Lungs w/ These Excellent Woodworking Must-Haves – from Infinity cutting tools
Father’s day Specials In store – and Get Dad What He Really Wants This Father’s Day! – both from Eastwood
Garmin D2 Aviation Watch Fathers Day Sale Available Now from Aircraft Spruce
Still Need A Gift For Father’s Day? – from Tekton
Make Dad’s day with DEWALT! – from Acme
Last Chance to Get These Great Deals for Father’s Day – Highland Woodworking
The Ultimate Father’s Day Gift? Toolbox Organization. – Gearwrench
$24.99 Knipex TwinGrip! Other Great Fathers Day Deals! – Chad’s Toolbox
Final Days To Find That Perfect Gift For Dad! – ToolNut
SAVE MORE THIS FATHER’S DAY – FREE TOOLS, FREE BATTERIES, FREE SHIPPING! – Toolmarts
Last Call on Gifts For Dad – FastoolNow
Klein Tools Father’s Day Sale! – Haus of Tools
Father’s Day Is One-Week Away – It’s Not Too Late To Order For Dad. – NailGun Depot
Stuart
This is just marketing, which any and every retailer is supposed to do. But most are simply advertising tools at their regular pricing.
A few years ago I asked a retailer if they were having any Black Friday sales, and they told me they don’t that kind of thing. I still chuckle about that, especially since they now have an especially active email marketing department.
fred
Exactly. I copied each of those banners because they struck me all as being less than compelling – more like just announcing that they were still in business and knew that Father’s Day was still an opportunity to make money – probably at regular prices on most everything they sell.
Early in my life I learned that English is a marvelous language for marketing. Proclaiming that items are “on sale” is almost always true (unless they are out of stock and cannot be backordered). While we have come to think of “on-sale” as meaning that the price offered reflects some new or better discount there is no absolute about the terminology. Vendors offer discounts when it is to their advantage to do so. This year’s Father’s Day may just not be one of those times.
Robert
Stuart, actually I was wondering why you weren’t show casing more Fathers’ Day deals. So I see it’s you simply didn’t see many. Much the same for other sites I visit. And the push media puts out “meh” deals. The FD deals look just like the run of mill “sale!” deals. Like being caught in the tool buyer’s
equivalent of Kohls or JC Penny’s time loop.
Jared
I feel the same about the Canadian deals. I could use another tool chest and thought I’d keep my eye out for father’s day deals. So far I haven’t found ANY worth buying.
I’m not picky about brand or store for this chest, so I’ve been checking all around. I haven’t found anything better than typical “sale” prices I can find any other week of the year.
The first thing I checked was the 46″ Husky tool chest I bought a couple years ago for $298. Might as well get another I thought. It’s “new lower price” is $548. No thanks.
Seems like I’m always on the hunt for a new pocket knife, so I checked the retailers I normally buy from. Nothing special there either. Sure, they’re having “sales” – but there’s always something on sale and the father’s day selection doesn’t look special.
Rog
I was definitely wondering the same. Not many—if any—deals this year. Ryobi Days seems to be the only real thing I’ve seen going which is a fairly niche promo
Albert
It might depend on where one looks. I’ve been much more interested in Harbor Freight now that they went upscale. I’m seeing a lot more coupons (including 20-25% with restrictions). I saw a coupon for a folding trailer that I have not seen since the tariffs and pandemic. I hope one day to see a $140 coupon for a 4×6 bandsaw again.
BrianA
LOL, I don’t think I have heard anyone call HF upscale before. Friend recently sent me a gold plated HF ratchet and asked if I had it. Haven’t bought a tool from HF is a very long time as not on a budget shopping level. I have even stopped going there for consumables. Recently needed tarps and just bought off amazon instead of going to HF and having to deal with coupons. Just like I stopped shopping at BB&B and Kohls cause coupons are a pain & scam.
Steve
Almost universally tool deals have been worse and regular prices up the last two years. It’s the inflation. I’m glad I built Almost all of my tool collection from 2015-2021. I feel it might be a while before we’re back on the other side of the cycle most beneficial to consumers.
Dave
Agree with you and have similar experience with a good quantity of my tools purchased previously before the year 2000 and we know the huge change that took place that year!
Nate
I don’t see a lot of compelling deals, but there’s only a couple of deals that I need. I’ve filled out a lot of my tool needs over the last two-three years, and I primarily get what I need based on projects I am doing. I just got a deck wrecker (needed for current project). I probably need to get some more construction related tools (layout strings and big framing square), but will buy/borrow as I need.
Joe E.
Sears used to have excellent father’s day Craftsman tool sales.
Lowe’s Fathers Day Craftsman tool sales are as lame as their tools.
fred
ToolUp – says 10% off – using code DADDAY
Seems to work on items that are not on promotional prices.
https://www.toolup.com/
Big Richard
Yeh, I got that email too and was going to use it on this – https://www.toolup.com/DeWalt-DCBP520C-20V-Max-PowerStack-Starter-Kit-w-FREE-DCF891B-20V-Impact-Wrench – but it did not work. And then I looked closer and saw the mention of *Any Regular Price Item*.
It’s still a pretty decent deal without the 10%, but I have been holding out on it the past couple weeks thinking/hoping they would have some sort of Father’s Day promo that would enhance the deal even more. But no such luck apparently.
Clay
Yeah, looks like Home Depot had better Memorial Day deals than Father’s Day.
Surprised they did not just join them together.
Chris Shelton
I doubt we will ever see “deals form years past” ever again. Inflation happens all throughout the supply chain. Plastics, Metals, Shipping and Manufacturing have all cost more in the past two years than previous years. They all just pass the cost down to us consumers.
Frank D
I have not seen anything interesting or heavily discounted at all.
Home Depot might have had me buy a few Packout container units, but it is like $225 before you get a free thing … and I’m not buying five container organizers ($250) to get a six-th free. I don’t need that many.
If it were $199, maybe. But if they simply had done a pro rated discount, spend 150, get 25 off, 200 get 35 off, 250 get 50 off … then they would move more units. I don’t need more base units, middle boxes or drawers. Cooler costs too much for what it is. Radio just the same. …
Ecotek
Yeah man. I got an email from my brand of cordless tools to promote their fathers day deals and it was pretty much the same meh deal that they run all of the time. To tell you the truth, this whole year I haven’t been seeing the kind of deals and promos that just force my hand to buy.
Nate
The most compelling deals this year on cordless seem to be the Makita XGT deals that Stuart put up. There were also some Bosch deals that were compelling. You’re right, though, not that many compelling deals this year.
Neighbor Joe
Good article. Exactly what I was thinking last weekend at Home Depot. Mostly all lawn stuff. I remember Milwaukee was hoping to use Fathers Day to launch their new made in USA hand tools. They missed that milestone.
Stuart
Milwaukee was never hoping to use Father’s Day to launch their USA-made hand tools.
Their last ETA was mid-2023. https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/milwaukee-usa-made-hand-tools-2023-update/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Mid-2023 spans through maybe July. Father’s Day was a good expectation, but the company never announced such goals.
Stuart
Sorry – the latest ETA is July 2023. That’s still mid-2023.
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/milwaukee-usa-made-pliers-screwdrivers-pricing-preorders-2023/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Usually an uncertain May, early June, or Father’s Day launch might be specified as “spring 2023.”
Big Richard
Menards has a variety of Crescent 12″ circ saw blades on sale for like $11 ($9.99 after mail in rebate). They are not going to be the best blade you ever used, but you cannot beat that price. They are ~$50-$100 anywhere else, depending on the blade (the laminate floor blade is normally +$120).
https://www.menards.com/main/search.html?search=crescent+12%22+blade&brandName_facet=Crescent&skipKeywordInCategory=true
fred
MaxTool sent out an email this morning (less than 2 days before Father’s Day) proclaiming “early access” to a 15% off sale on Milwaukee for Father’s Day.
Obviously not aimed at gift-givers – but might be a good deal
Use code MILW15 for 15% off on orders over $200
https://www.maxtool.com/
Jp
I’ve seen tons of tool deals, but many are deals without exclusively mentioning fathers day.
jcewl93
I found a lot of good deals on Ridgid 18V power tools at Home Depot, but some of those were the DOTD. I replaced my aging set of DeWalt 18V & 20V tools with a TON of Ridgid! The lifetime service agreement is unbeatable, & after dealing with DeWalt on battery replacements, I got tired of dealing with them at all after it taking MONTHS each time I needed a new battery. If a Ridgid battery dies, I click 3x on their website, & they’ll send me a new one!
fm2176
I have more than enough tools to carry me over, but I’ve not been impressed by Father’s Day sales for a few years now. The only time I really remember thinking, “Hey, that’s a great deal!”, around FD was around 2010 or so, when Bostitch had some BOGO tools. I forget exactly what it entailed now, but I think it was a “buy this, get that” type deal at Lowe’s, and I got a couple of @$10 chalk boxes or torpedo levels with free hammers or other tools.
Paul Harden
It’s funny that you mentioned about fewer Father’s Day sales this year. I was in both Lowes and Home Depot over the weekend and thought to myself that I didn’t notice any Father’s Day sales. Strange.