Great price on Rigid 24 volt XLI combo kits

[AIR PRO]

Home Depot has a great deal on the Rigid 24 volt LI combo pack, Normal HD advertised price is $597, I picked one up today for $317! And there is also a coupon you can download to get an extra 24Volt LI tool for free if you buy this kit.

this is the kit
http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/RIDGID-XLi-24-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Combo-Kit/index.htm

here is the rebate coupon/form for the free tool
http://www.homedepot.com/cmc_upload/HDUS/EN_US/pc/common/pdfs/102606_010307_RidgidComboKit.pdf

They had it advertised for $397 when I got mine earlier, but I had them run the price and sure enough....$317! Sale ends on 1-2 though or while supplies last ,so better hurry. They had 4 left at the store I went to.

[dhvac]

i had a bunch of ridgid tools for a while even if they was selling them off for $10 each i wouldnt buy another one they rank right up there with craftsman and black and decker imo

[slimwoodie]

we tried some

all our sheetmetal mechanics burned 'em up

[mayguy]

I've had mine for about a year and half so far, been happy with it.. I like the speed charging on the battery.

[2hot2coolme]

Which free tool didja get? How many batteries do you get with the combo? How many batteries can you charge at one time?

[ga-hvac-tech]

You might want ot remember that teh company tha tmakes the Ridgid shop vacs and tools is a HD company. My experience wiht Ridgid tools was the same as the others, they do not hold up as well as Dewalt or Milwaukee.

Hope this helps.

GAhvacTech

[tinner73]

You might want ot remember that teh company tha tmakes the Ridgid shop vacs and tools is a HD company. My experience wiht Ridgid tools was the same as the others, they do not hold up as well as Dewalt or Milwaukee.

Hope this helps.

GAhvacTech

Ridgid was bought by Emerson Electric a few years back. i don't think Emerson is affiliated to HD is it?

http://www.gotoemerson.com/jsp/brands/pro_tools/index.jsp

[ga-hvac-tech]

Ridgid was bought by Emerson Electric a few years back. i don't think Emerson is affiliated to HD is it?

http://www.gotoemerson.com/jsp/brands/pro_tools/index.jsp

This is the way I understand it: The shop vac's that Sears used to sell were built by Emerson Electric. Sears was going to broker the manufacturer out to China, which would close the plant where they were made.

HD bought the plant and that is why the Ridgid shop vac's look a lot like the Sears Craftsman units from a few years back.

I think somewhere along the way, HD bought all of Emerson Electric, but I could be mistaken on that one.

I do know that HD likes to own the manufacturing rights to their products (house brands). Example: Hampton Bay is a HD house brand. Natural Air (air filters) is a house brand. There are a bunch of others also.

My experience with HD house brands is that everything (including engineering, R&D, manufacturer, etc) is controlled by bean counters that are looking to make things as chepaly as possibly, because next quarter's profits is the ONLY thing HD cares about.

O K, it is late, ZZZ time.

GAhvacTech

[hillbilly in tenn]

never used a ridgid but the best drill i have ever owned was a craftsman. it is still a great drill but both batteries are dead and the cost around 80 bucks a each for that price i can buy a new drill. i have used dewalt and i dont like them but thats just me. i have a ryobi at the moment that i like pretty good.

[slimwoodie]

i didn't care for ther old B&D cordless..
but the DeWalt stuff these days is top notch
we use the crap outta drills
mildoggys good, too, just seems w/ DeW.
everyones got a spare charger on the jobsite

[contractor99]

Consider the life of the batteries in these new tools. The lithium batteries cost a fortune. I just bought a new Milwaukee V28 kit at a HD Contractor special. 10% off the kit, + 2 additional batteries (total of 4) + the radio was thrown in after I paid the cashier $680. Those 28V batteries cost about $130, a little less on Ebay. But, they have a 5 yr, or 2,000 charges, warranty that dosn't start until you first charge them. They have a date/time stamp chip in them that records the first charge date. So, I have 2 sitting on the shelf that will stay under warranty until the first charge, you only need 2 batteries as they charge very fast. How about service? The best service I get is from the local Bosch factory service station but they are close to the shop. Milwaukee 45 mins. away but I havn't had to use them. Bosch tools only have a 3 yr. warranty if you register them. They fixed one of my 14V drills 4 times before they handed me a new unit, they repalced one battery and the charger for free, no questions, no paperwork. The tool was worked to death by one of my journeymen. It dosn't pay to buy cheap tools unless you are a homeowner, you have to look at the long term cost of the tool.

[Jax]

I don’t know about Rigid
I had to replace my 12v bosh screw guns last year. I knew lots of people who were using 18v XPR Dewalt. So I bought 2 screw gun, then a zip saw, and a couple flash light. One of the local suppliers had the 18v batteries on sale 2 for $75. Use them every day and no problem until last week when the zip locked up. Took it back to the tool store where I bought it and got pretty much what I expected. We can’t do nothing, you will have to take it to the DeWalt service center. Oh Yeah. He said it is right down the street. I remembered seeing it. I went, no receipt or any thing. I was out of there it 5 minutes with a pick up slip, and they called me the next day with it fixed, no charge. So I took one of the flash lights that had quit. They ck the bulb and it was good so they just gave me a new light.
I am impressed with the service.