When is the best time to buy cordless power tool batteries? Oh, that’s an easy one – the last week of November is the best time to buy power tool batteries.
The first week of December is usually a good time too, and most of the biggest promotions by the most popular brands are still in stock.
Shown above is a Milwaukee M18 CP 3.0Ah battery 2-pack. A reader messaged me – they’re looking to buy a couple of Milwaukee cordless power tool batteries, and they want to know if Home Depot’s $129 “special buy” is a good deal.
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Around Black Friday is the best time to buy power tool batteries, because that’s when the broadest selection of batteries are at the lowest prices of the year.
There are other promotions throughout the year, with the weeks ahead of Father’s Day being another great time to shop for batteries.
But, what about the rest of the year, aside from a couple of weeks separated nearly 6 months apart?
“I need it now, but I also want the best price.”
Acme Tools has a 30-day low price guarantee, where they will match the price should you find the identical item in stock at an authorized dealer for less money.
Home Depot also has a low price guarantee. This applies at the time of purchase, but they will (usually) also adjust the price for you within a 30-day period.
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Home Depot also has a 90-day return policy, with some exceptions.
Let’s say you buy a Dewalt battery, a Makita battery, Ryobi batteries, or the displayed Milwaukee M18 cordless power tool batteries. We’re currently in mid-March, and 90 days from now would take us to mid-June.
Between now and June, there might be a spring promo, and there will certainly be Father’s Day promos.
If the exact item you purchase decreases in price, you have options. First, you can request a price adjustment. If the item is within the return period, customer service (in-store or on the phone) will likely accommodate this.
I should mention that this has been my personal experiences. I could not find any specific details on Home Depot’s website, but my understanding is that Home Depot’s post-purchase price adjustment and matching policy is limited to 30 days.
If for some reason you cannot get a price adjustment, but you are within the price adjustment policy, you can do a rebuy-return. Or, in some cases a return-rebuy.
If you are within the return period and the item is still new-in-box, you can return it and repurchase it or an identical product at the new low price.
If the item is not new-in-box, some customer service associates might recommend a rebuy-return if they are unable to do a price adjustment for a purchase that is still in its return period.
A rebuy-return involves purchasing the identical item and returning it on the original receipt.
Rebuy-returns usually aren’t sanctioned practices, but as mentioned it’s something that has been recommended to me, and it’s something that shoppers will occasionally do.
So, you have some low-price security of up to 30 days, and perhaps up to 90 days if you’re willing to exploit a return policy loophole.
In my opinion, a rebuy-return is better than returning a used product to buy a new one at low pricing, as the rebuy-return results in the store getting back the identical product in original sellable condition.
Promotions can be unpredictable.
For instance, the $129 price on that Milwaukee M18 battery 2-pack might be the lowest price we’ll see in a while. I don’t believe it went on sale for the 2021 holiday shopping season, and it’s not certain whether it will be any lower priced for Father’s Day.
Let’s say you do buy that battery bundle at Home Depot today, and it goes on sale for less within 30 days. In my experience, they’ll adjust the price, and I usually only need the receipt in-store or my order number via phone.
Things get more complicated between 30 and 90 days, but you do have some options if you’re within the return period for eligible items. As far as I am aware, Home Depot and Lowe’s are the only tool retailers that offer a 90-day return policy.
Festool has a 1-month money back guarantee, but their prices tend to be fixed year-round.
Metabo HPT has a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
Craftsman has a 90 day satisfaction guarantee on corded and V20 cordless power tools.
Some retailers will not adjust prices. Amazon, for instance, typically will not grant price adjustments. When you return products to Amazon for “I changed my mind” types of reasons, they will sometimes deduct return shipping fees from your refund. But, some return methods, such as store drop-offs, might be possible without incurring any return shipping fees.
For the Dewalt 20V Max 6Ah battery 2-pack, Amazon says it is eligible for Free Returns:
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
That is for a direct sold-by-Amazon listing, but I am also seeing the same for a Dewalt PowerStack 2-pack listing where the batteries are sold by a 3rd party seller and shipped by Amazon.
Note: Although Amazon is often an authorized dealer, 3rd party sellers on Amazon usually are not. As such, retailers generally won’t price-match to Amazon unless the listing is both sold by and shipped from Amazon.
So, to revisit the title question, when is the best time to buy cordless power tool batteries? Generally, the winter holiday shopping season, and although there are usually fewer promotions and smaller selection, the weeks leading up to Father’s Day.
If you cannot wait, depending on the retailer, there’s some low-price-assurances 30-90 days ahead of promotional events.
Basically, this means late-August through December, and late-February through June for brands and batteries available at Home Depot and likely Lowe’s as well.
With some other retailers, you still have a 30-day window, which is long enough to make most people feel more confident about not waiting to make a purchase. For instance, if I buy something that I need right now, and it goes on sale 40 days from now, I’m not going to feel as bad compared to if it dropped in price after just 7 days,
I should also add that customers’ accounts can sometimes be flagged for excessive returns, and so it’s best to avoid exploiting return policies except when necessary or the price difference is sizable.
Some retailers seem to increase pricing leading up to promotions, but higher prices are not a predictable indicator that a sale or promotion is coming soon.
Do you agree or disagree? When do you think is the best time to buy cordless power tool batteries at the best pricing?
Kingsley
When you need to buy some or you end up with too many…like me.
Dewalt…
3x9ah flexvolt
1x8ah
6x5ah
1x4ah (slim)
2x3ah(slim)
4x3ah 12v
2x2ah 12v
These are all just for my DIY house reno
I still would like to get some powerstack, 15ah flexvolt and 5ah 12v… sad!
Travis
I just picked up a two pack of power stack batteries on amazon for $148
Andrew
There is just no way I can justify that price for those batteries, no matter how compact spending $150 on 3Ah of run time hurts too much
MM
There are still quite a few deals going where you can get a free tool with that 2-pack of batteries.
Robert Adkins
I love those 3ah and 4ah compact batteries. I’m hoping DeWalt can make a slim 5ah, which would be perfect for my 7-1/4 saw, reciprocating saw, and angle grinder.
Big Richard
The next PowerStack will be a slim 5Ah, DCBP100. We won’t see it on shelves until late 2022, October is the targeted date.
MM
Excellent news indeed!
Greg
If you’re lucky like me and your local Home Depot always has way more stuff than they need for Black Friday deals, most of it will be on deep clearance after January. This is when I buy batteries. I always end up buying them in the combo kits etc from Black Friday and selling the tools I don’t need.
These kits always have a special SKU for the holiday season. Some of them have even been the same combo kit that’s run throughout the year but because it had a special Holiday sku it’s gotta go.
This is when I always wait to buy batteries unless I need one out of the blue.
Stuart
Home Depot cannot discount certain holiday promos any further. Some go up top, some go to shelves, others are sent back to brands.
notinuse
I bought those same batteries from Home Depot last June for $99. Must have picked up a Father’s Day special.
Stuart
The problem is that there’s no guarantee we’ll see the same promo this year.
But if it does return, we’re in the return window, which reduces the risk of buying at a much higher price vs. waiting 2-1/2 months.
notinuse
Agreed, hopefully the same sale will show up this Father’s Day.
Badger 12345
+1 to Stuart’s comments.
The holiday promos this year were not as good as previous years with a few exceptions. Between supply constraints, the soaring costs of raw materials, and general inflation we may not see those prices again.
I agree with the strategy to buy now and watch for further discounts and then seek an appropriate price adjustment.
Dave P
Best time to buy most things during these times of hyperinflation was yesterday.
Lately, availability has been more of a concern than price…..
PTBRULES
Absolutely…. And I hate to say that…..
andy
With batteries, I would say the best time to buy is after waiting until you really need them. Having extra “just in case” means you have more batteries sitting around, wearing out-which they do even when not being used.
Dave P
I have over 100 Milwaukee batteries–12’s and 18’s. I always engrave the purchase date on them. My oldest M-12’s have 2010 etched on them and they still work great.
I have had ONE–yes ONE battery go bad….I don’t remember the date on it but I remember it was way out of warranty, which I believe is 5 years.
I have some M-12 6.0’s that don’t like rapid charging–the charger lights will flash between red and green and they won’t charge. Put them on a regular charger and they are just fine. If I remember correctly they are fairly new.
Luke
I’ve had a handful that wouldn’t charge so I tossed them. Wish I’d have thought to put them on a standard charger! Though I’m pretty sure I tossed all my standard chargers once I got up to 4 or 5 rapid chargers.
SamR
It has been strange times for the last two years. I don’t know what a good deal means anymore.
Today, what is considered a good deal was 10% -30% cheaper during the 2019 year.
Companies have been breaking profit records for the last two years, and I wonder why!
Chuck
I don’t think I have ever bought a battery by itself. I usually get them free* with a tool purchase or part of a combo.
I’m just a DITer so I can get away with the batteries I have most of the time.
Don Julio
Other options, in no particular order:
As part of BOGO (buy one, get one) deals.
In kits, though I wish “tool and batteries only” kits existed. Who needs more chargers?
When retailers are doing cordless power tool resets on their displays. There are often loose batteries associated with those displays, but things tend to get sold piecemeal and cheap. When you see a reset in progress, ask about availability on display items.
JDK
Maybe something has changed, but recently ACME has become super stingy on price matching. When I was in the retail store about a month ago looking at a Dewalt tool they said they would only match a LOCAL retail price. “If you can drive to another store and pick it up today we’ll match it” is what I was told.
When later chatting online with their customer service rep, I was told they would only match their OWN prices. Maybe others are having a different experience but it’s making mean lean more on HD or Amazon for their greater flexibility when sales pop up.
Steven L
We have had years without inflation and think prices remain flat. But we now have inflation and a few years of price increases are probably ahead. The seasonal/holiday sales will continue but increasing prices (how many brands have already increased prices in 2022?) will reduce the benefits of waiting for a sale.
Davethetool
The majority of the time I purchase my Batteries during the Christmas shopping season as these are the best deals of the year. This year I picked up a free Dewalt 5.0 battery and a free power stack Dewalt battery thrown in with tool purchase. If you a professional and need a constant supply of batteries waiting is not an option however. Your at the mercy of the market. Father’s Day used to also be a great holiday for Dads but has really tapered off the last couple of years as Father/Dad is a hostile word in todays culture. Shameful are we.
Javier A.
What are you TALKING about? Please, is there no place anywhere safe from politics now?
Greg
Does it have to be politics or is he just stating a fact as he sees it? He is a self proclaimed “tool”.
Jim Felt
“Father’s Day used to also be a great holiday for Dads but has really tapered off the last couple of years as Father/Dad is a hostile word in todays culture. Shameful are we.”
What on earth are you talking about?! That’s both absurd and offensive.
Shameful are you. Lordy. Lordy.
Greg
Good deals can be had on ebay if you know what you’re doing to not get ripped off.
The previous comment by Steven L is political but ignored because it doesn’t fit your agenda. You got what you wanted.
Fyrfytr998
Once I committed to Craftsman, I was able to build my tools by taking advantage of either the free starter kit with purchase of a tool, or the 4ah two pack sales.
Unfortunately, I own or do not want the stuff they currently offer, and Lowes won’t substitute. So now I’m left waiting on the two pack sales.
I did pick up the Brushless SDS Rotary on clearance for $67 bucks today. So that was a win since my normal Lowes is selling it for full price.
Franck B.
That appears to be an excellent price, my local Lowe’s only put the CM clearance stuff at $83. But I bought a few things at that price. I found the SDS hammer to work quite well, I’ve probably drilled 300-400 1/2″ and 5/8″ holes with Bosch bits this year and haven’t had a complaint.
Our teams were using all corded Bosch SDS+ and SDS-max hammers but we started suffering from failures and inability to get repair parts. Failures weren’t unexpected considering the number of hammers we had and the way some of our workers are. Over the last two years I brought in a few cordless Dewalts which are doing great except most of our team uses batteries that were too small to do a lot of work. I passed on my Dewalt when I got the Craftsman version, which appears to have the same mechanism. I’ve been doing that with a lot of CM items primarily because no one will touch my tools when it’s obvious that it’s mine. With a 9Ah battery it performs great and can do a good amount of work between charges.
JoeM
I thought the answer to this would be an easy one for me:
Whenever “Have The Money” lines up with “Current Battery Ceases To Function” I buy new ones.
I’m not much for Sales/Specials… They never seem to line up with when I have money to spend, so… I may be getting robbed blind on the price, but I only buy when I can afford to spare that. Plus, I have a Jewish half, which is incredibly suspicious of Retail Pricing. I’m a really weird person, so I don’t like to let Retailers dictate when I buy items, I prefer to buy at my own discretion. Unless I’ve specifically asked them to get stock in, in which case, I keep the money aside until they are absolutely positive it’s in their hands waiting for me. Then the purchase happens.
A lot of you will probably think I’m an idiot for doing things this way, but I’m not wealthy, and taking care of an elderly parent full time doesn’t leave anywhere near enough of a budget to whimsically buy whenever a retailer dangles a shiny offer in front of my eyes. I often need these things in order to adapt, modify, or build, something to restore some kind of independence to my aging Mother, inventing my way through what she needs over time… but it doesn’t mean the money is always there to complete the job when the sales are on. Sad but true. When our families age and become infirm, we have to choose either ambition, or compassion. Regrets will be hard to handle either way you choose it, but whatever you choose, you’re dedicated to whether you have options to choose otherwise or not.