grampage Posted January 6, 2017 Report Share Posted January 6, 2017 Is it true that Supply Dealers get a different power tool stock then the big box stores? Is the quality different? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stercorarius Posted January 6, 2017 Report Share Posted January 6, 2017 The only instance I am aware of is with the Lincoln easy MIG 140s. Lowe's and Home depot have different model numbers than each other and then supply stores have a different model number. The supply stores only difference is in the feed roller material iirc. The reasoning I was told was so no one has to do price matches. If some supply store is willing to quote it to you for $200 you can't walk into Lowe's with the quote and have them give it to you for that plus 10% off because they can point to the model number and tell you they don't carry it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grampage Posted January 6, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2017 Yea that sounds better then believing A company like dewalt or Milwaukee would risk their reputation for pricing. I wasnt even gonna ask but this is like the tenth time I was told by someone to stay away from big box stores when it comes to reliable power tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stercorarius Posted January 6, 2017 Report Share Posted January 6, 2017 I've heard that on the interwebs a few times but have yet to see any credible evidence, or any evidence for that matter, to back it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMack37 Posted January 6, 2017 Report Share Posted January 6, 2017 I have noticed the Dewalt Ni-cad 2 pack at HD is a different model number than Lowe's and others. The only other thing are the accessory kits, they always seem to be 1-2 more pieces and/or different variations of the kits, particularly Dewalt and Dremel do this from Lowe's to HD. As far as power tools, I don't think so. I've never noticed any special models or package variation, I imagine that just complicates things for the companies for warranty and manufacturing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albert.amantea Posted January 6, 2017 Report Share Posted January 6, 2017 The only instance I am aware of is with the Lincoln easy MIG 140s. Lowe's and Home depot have different model numbers than each other and then supply stores have a different model number. The supply stores only difference is in the feed roller material iirc. The reasoning I was told was so no one has to do price matches. If some supply store is willing to quote it to you for $200 you can't walk into Lowe's with the quote and have them give it to you for that plus 10% off because they can point to the model number and tell you they don't carry it.Yep, that's the reason. We can thank Wally world for this practice. They started required a different sku number back in the late 80's early 90's so they could avoid price matching. It saved them millions of dollars. Now here it is 2017, and it's a fairly common practice. Most retailers won't admit it, and some manufacturers require the retailers to pay a small premium for the sku by throwing in a bundle at the retailer's cost (like free nail guns with a compressor, etc), but the savings is still offset. If you look at most price match guarantees, in the small print it will tell you that the model number must match. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T217A using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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