Dewalt or makita?

[Mr Gear]

Interesting conversation to follow, and somewhat disappointing.
I can see that the lower end manufacturers perhaps would have nothing to lose and everything to gain in terms of sales by producing ‘Screwfix specials’.
But the respected manufacturers holding or building a strong reputation with the trades....? You’d like to think they’d see the pitfalls of such deception and refuse requests to lower standards.
Those who unwittingly replaced a trusty full spec tool with a lower spec one they thought would be identical would feel especially aggrieved I guess.

 

[SammyInnit]

Interesting conversation to follow, and somewhat disappointing.
I can see that the lower end manufacturers perhaps would have nothing to lose and everything to gain in terms of sales by producing ‘Screwfix specials’.
But the respected manufacturers holding or building a strong reputation with the trades....? You’d like to think they’d see the pitfalls of such deception and refuse requests to lower standards.
Those who unwittingly replaced a trusty full spec tool with a lower spec one they thought would be identical would feel especially aggrieved I guess.

You have to consider who's buying it.

For most tradies Screwfix is a last minute port of call when you need this or that to get on with the job - otherwise wholesale or trade counters for specifics offer far better range and value in specific areas.

Scrrwfix really is the go to for people who are your over average DIYer, want a better offering than B&Q with the accessibility of a trade only retailer.

So considering that, I don't buy many tools there because they're too expensive; speciality tool retailers offer better value but occasionally they'll have a decent offer on that's there to pick up.

And truth be told I have quite a few erbauer bits where it's a tool I won't use very much at all and can't warrant Makita money and some is decent, just rough around the edges.

I believe they've gone into brands such as festool now even but I can't imagine they'll have the range or prices like MAS Tool do for festool but it's an easy to access shop.

 

[Mr Gear]

You have to consider who's buying it.

That’s very true, but as you say trades still do purchase from Screwfix for a myriad of reasons - including locality to job, convenience, need, and of course price when it is - or appears to be - right.

But if you were looking to replace your recently nicked trusty DeKita BJ2000 previously purchased from a reputable trade supplier with what appears to be the same item on SF’s irresistible-at-that-price ‘Deal of The Day’.... you’d expect them to at least be the same thing???

 

[SammyInnit]

That’s very true, but as you say trades still do purchase from Screwfix for a myriad of reasons - including locality to job, convenience, need, and of course price when it is - or appears to be - right.

But if you were looking to replace your recently nicked trusty DeKita BJ2000 previously purchased from a reputable trade supplier with what appears to be the same item on SF’s irresistible-at-that-price ‘Deal of The Day’.... you’d expect them to at least be the same thing???

Ah but there's no question on like for like. If I want a BJ2000 they'll sell you a BJ2000 (at a higher markup) but what we're talking about is something comparable for the market without all the bells and whistles.

So we're not saying they substitute one for another, We're saying they make tools for that retailer, a one off special if you like.

 

[EddieM]

Fortunately I don't think I've bought any power tools from SF apart from a 5kg SDS, that I never use. Normally buy from D&M, FFX, Axminster (rarely) or smaller independents.

 

[Mr Gear]

So we're not saying they substitute one for another, We're saying they make tools for that retailer, a one off special if you like.

That I can understand, But my response was based on the example and experience JobAndKnock gave with his Bosch drill - which is of one model number, two different drills.

 

[big-all]

there are many many models made specifically for specific retailers from many manufacturers
often to look the same but to a lower overall spec as often a diyer paying say 40% less for a dewalt or bosch "trade tool " will be very happy at getting trade tools when in actual fact they are actually built for occasional diy use so 1.3ah or 2ah batts and lower quality specs but perfectly up to diy use
it also stops retailers who say "we will match or beat any price" having to do so as the model number will be unique so no comparison possible

 

[ban-all-sheds]

it also stops retailers who say "we will match or beat any price" having to do so as the model number will be unique so no comparison possible

I've always assumed (yeah, I know) that they invent the unique model numbers in order to hamper price comparisons, and/or to allow Dixonscometpcworldeuronicstesco to claim that they have the lowest price in the market for the Panasonic KJSDJWURJHWGDJU17823677FJDJGNV982KASJC-GB.

 

[EddieM]

On further reflection I do remember being in B&Q a number of years ago when they had just started stocking dewalt tools. I though at the time they looked quite different to dewalts I had previously used. Cheap plastic housings and they felt too light. Didn't think too much about it at the time as I don't buy tools from B&Q.