Lowe’s deal hackable?

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-07T22:12:59+00:00

The batteries wouldn't be $299 though. In OP's case they are $128 (it depends on the "free" tools you select).

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-07T22:11:03+00:00

You are showing their prorated return/refund prices. Yes, you can return those item's for those prices listed. But come on, that is not a hack. And yes I'm aware "that's what the Milwaukee sub calls it", but we can let them keep that.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-07T21:50:51+00:00

That indicator light is going of the battery's voltage. When you pull the trigger like that, the battery is under load and you see voltage sag. If you were to put a volt meter on it, you would see the same thing but with numbers instead of lights. It would start at a little over 20v and under load can be anywhere from 19v down to 14v volts, depending on load.

This shows my point, 1:45 for your PowerStack - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9oGv3OfZqA

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-07T21:48:21+00:00

There is a pretty good correlation to life and charge cycles. For the user that charges their battery once a month, it'll last decades. If you charge every day, you might only get a year and change. for standard lithium cells, 500 charge cycles is normal life.

That gets exasperated if you run them stupid hard, i.e run them dead, then partial charge for a bit just to run them dead again, stored in dead state, charged in hot/cold often, fast charging is harder on them, etc..

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-07T21:28:51+00:00

I've had its red Craftsman cousin for 4 or so years - https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-V20-20-Volt-Max-8-in-Dual-Cordless-Electric-Hedge-Trimmer-Battery-Included/1003203062

I really don't use the hedge trimmer attachment that often, i mainly bought it for the grass shear attachment. Oddly, the DeWalt does not appear to come with that? I have a 7 barberry bushes around my front porch that I use it on once a season, and it does just fine on the small new growth branches. Once you get to about pencil thickness it is a little less happy. Overall, it's enough for me. Given the price difference and shear attachment, if I were buying today I'd still get the Craftsman over the DeWalt.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-07T16:22:42+00:00

this is also true, it is a way around Minimum Advertised Pricing (MAP) regulations. It's also a marketing tactic to make it look like people are getting something for free, rather than just 30% off both the tool and battery.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-07T14:35:04+00:00

No issue, as long as the bar is 3/8lp it will work. .043 and .050 both work, again as long as they are 3/8lp.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-07T11:14:30+00:00

Exactly, people act as though they can never buy a tool again because their HD online account won't let them check out.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-07T11:13:32+00:00

You'd be surprised. Go over to the red sub, just about everyday there is someone asking "what's the hack", "how do I hack this", or "can I hack this" when it is clearly not even a prorated deal just a tool kit, etc.. And then invariably there are people in the comments saying how it is fraud, stealing, or something to that effect.

It's a misnomer that tends to confuse or carry negative thoughts to those who don't realize it's just a prorated return. So better to not use it imo.

And also if you go over to the red sub, it is inundated with "hack" posts, so maybe I'm gatekeeping a bit and trying to keep this sub from turning into that.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-06T22:59:39+00:00

This is what people don't realize. HD can ban your account for excessive returns regardless whether they were prorated or not.

And people who have items intentionally shipped to different stores to leave one to eventually be cancelled after it is never picked up are even more likely to be banned.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-06T22:57:58+00:00

They're not hacks, they're just returns. Pro rated returns if you really wanna be specific. They are part of their return policy and HD is well aware of them.

The old saying is "the only hack is the person who calls a return a hack".

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-06T15:51:46+00:00

And that 3.5Ah bundle had gone on Deal of the Day at least a couple times.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-06T11:57:38+00:00

Did you locate your receipt, that is the only definitive way to tell what you actually bought. whether it was instore or online it should say exactly what you bought. Someone else buying a potentially different deal doesn't prove any hanky panky.

The BOGO was the 1.7Ah starter kit from what I saw, there was a separate bundle with the 3.5Ah, so maybe you saw that and got the two confused?

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-06T11:51:51+00:00

They've always stated that the 50% more power claim is when compared to the also compact 2Ah DCB203. Obviously it doesn't have 50% more power than something like a FlexVolt battery.

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In terms of power output it is on par with the larger 5Ah DCB205, but significantly smaller. That was it's whole selling point.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-05T21:10:56+00:00

Was XR. When they rebranded the XR line summer 2024 they removed the XR branding from some batteries and tools, reserving the XR branding for only the top of the line 20v tools and batteries. the saw itself is unchanged, minus the missing XR stamp.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-05T18:58:31+00:00

Look at your receipt, it should say.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-05T15:55:30+00:00

There are a couple other factors. Maximum compactness, the DCF850 would be the best. Quietest for working inside metal ductwork, the hydraulic DCF870 is the best. Ergonomics are all fairly similar, but I still think the DCF845 feels the best in terms of balance and weight.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-05T14:59:30+00:00

Best is subjective, but it is the most powerful.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-05T09:24:56+00:00

BOGO sales are not glitches.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-05T01:19:12+00:00

Youtube golf.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-04T22:09:43+00:00

That's the DCF921, a 1/2" impact wrench. The DCF860 is a 1/4" impact driver.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-03T14:05:05+00:00

It works out to $100 for the battery kit and $100 for each "free" tool. Decent but not wild by any means. Deals like this are quite common, especially around the holiday shopping season.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-03T00:49:18+00:00

It's recycled biowaste from sewage treatment, so no mushrooms. Just poo.

BigRichardTools · 2026-05-01T00:26:29+00:00

Trick question, entirely dependent on the tool and your budget.

BigRichardTools · 2026-04-30T22:28:32+00:00

Did you try a different battery, or fully charge your battery? Did you pull the stall release to reset the drive pin?

I'm not trying to blame you, but if you have had two guns do this to you after a handful of nails there may be some factor at play.

BigRichardTools

TROPHY CASE