Why go through all the trouble in special ordering the DCD960 when you can buy the DCD970? They are both the same drill, one with hammer feature, and one without; with a $20.00 price difference I don't think it would be worth all the hassle.
I've been told by my local store that is exactly why they don't carry both models in the store, the drills are exactly the same, with & w/o the hammer feature and for the very small price difference they're not going to carry double inventory for them both, that would be too expensive to do so. If you don't need the hammer feature, well then you don't would use that feature, no real issue there, and if you do need it the model they carry DCD970 has it. It would be a different story if they carried only the DCD960 and some people needed/wanted the hammer feature; I think the stores have made a wise inventory choice.
Got the same story for the reason they carry the DCD760 compact w/o the hammer feature and not the DCD775 compact with hammer feature. The stores experience shows that most people wanting a compact unit don't need/want the hammer feature, just the opposite of the full size drill models. So this is how the stores have balanced things out so to speak. Yes and of-course DeWalt gives you both choices in full size & compact models, I fully get that. The high cost of inventory and shelf space in local stores doesn't always make good sense to carry every variation that a manufactures makes. I would tend to agree with the stores product line they carry.
As myself I have the DCD760 compact, just because it's compact, and I also have the the DCD970 full size that has the hammer drill. I could have easily purchased both with the hammer feature or w/o online, but I feel if I need to use the hammer feature, I'll probably be needing/using a full size cordless drill anyway.
