Earlier this week, we talked about some surprising Milwaukee Tool deal math at Home Depot. Here, Round 2 will focus on Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 tool box combos and bundles.
Dewalt’s ToughSystem 2.0 tool storage system is a fantastic line that has been expanding with additional tool boxes, bags, organizers, and accessories. The tool boxes are strong, durable, easy to connect, and very versatile.
Before we begin, I should point out that Home Depot isn’t the only retailer that has multiple similar-seeming listings at confusingly different price points. This is just the nature of shopping on the internet these days.
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Let’s start off with this 3pc assortment of Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 tool boxes.
You get the small tool box, plus a large tool box, plus a rolling tool box, for $269.
The holiday shopping season is mostly wrapped up, and so a lot of products are back up to full price now.
Next up, we have a Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 3pc tool box combo kit, featuring the same SKUs (according to Home Depot’s specs).
You get the small tool box, large tool box, and rolling tool box, for $249.
Okay, so the first SKU looks to be a combined assortment bundle, where this SKU is for the 3pc combo tower. Both show up as single SKU combos in the online shopping cart.
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Looking at other retailers’ catalogs, they have different combos at $249 and $269 price points, depending on whether the middle box is a large or extra-large size. But here, it looks like both purchase routes are for the same exact 3 tool boxes.
I have seen multiple ways to purchase the same tools before, but almost always at identical pricing. This is strange and interesting, but let’s move on.
If you buy the small ToughSystem 2.0 tool box, large tool box, and rolling tool box, all three are at special buy pricing right now, at $55, $75, and $109, respectively.
So, buying one of each tool box separately gives you the 3pc combo for $239 with free shipping (as of the time of this posting).
This is the least expensive way to get the 3pc Dewalt ToughSystem 2.0 tool box combo right now. Right?
But then there’s also this other listing. You get the small tool box, large tool box, rolling tool box, and an open tool tray. The tool tray can be used separately or inside the larger tool boxes.
Price? $178 with free shipping. This beats Home Depot’s Black Friday 2022 pricing, which featured a 3pc ToughSystem 2.0 combo with organizer, large tool box, and rolling tool box for $199.
If you’re looking to buy into the Dewalt ToughSystem tool storage system, the 3pc combo is a very popular way to go. And with this deal, $178 is as good as it gets right now.
To sum it up, there are 3 different prices for the 3pc tool box bundle, and then there’s this 4pc bundle, where you get 1 additional component – the tool tray – and for a lower price overall.
Although often confusing, I love it when tool deal math works out like this.
TonyT
Here’s some TS Small Toolbox math:
Small Tool Box alone, $55 https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-TOUGHSYSTEM-2-0-22-in-Small-Tool-Box-DWST08165/312134726
Small Tool box with Deep Tray and Shallow Tray, $66.80 https://www.homedepot.com/p/TOUGHSYSTEM-2-0-22-in-Deep-Tool-Tray-TOUGHSYSTEM-2-0-Shallow-Tool-Tray-and-TOUGHSYSTEM-2-0-22-in-Small-Tool-Box-DWST08120W11065/319699572
And large tool box math:
Large Tool box alone, $75 https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-TOUGHSYSTEM-2-0-22-in-Large-Tool-Box-DWST08300/312135916
Large Tool box with 2 shallow trays, $75.05 https://www.homedepot.com/p/TOUGHSYSTEM-2-0-22-in-Shallow-Tool-Tray-2-Pack-and-TOUGHSYSTEM-2-0-22-in-Large-Tool-Box-DWST08110W08300/319699014
I have to say I find those deals tempting, but am trying to resist (stackable tool boxes are a luxury item for me, nice to have but not necessary).
Joatman
If you were buying the 3 pieces individually ( for $239), it would great if the price would DeFault to the $178 price….and a pop-up would show on the register screen saying “Go to isle B18 and get a tray”. I know what you’re saying…especially around the holidays, it’s hard to be aware of every deal. That’s one of the reasons why this site is such a blessing. But wouldn’t it be great if you got some sort of prompt or red flag that says…..”hey, you missed this one….you can get the same tool, but with a free battery”. Of course that’s the comical way of saying….but the registers nowadays are basically computers…….and the person programming them and uploading and updating them should be able to create some sort of item/price matching matrix that alerts the customer or cashier…..some sort of V-LookUp. Just a thought…..
Scott K
That would be great! A few years ago I bought Ryobi’s 12” chainsaw. I was planning on buying the bare tool since I already had a few batteries and happened to compare the kit out of curiosity and noticed that it was cheaper with a 4.0battery…
Bill D
💯
Mike
I found this during black Friday. They also had a 3 piece tower with large yellow tool tray for $181, which is what I got. I out it in my cart for later and told friends about it, but after awhile you could not find it in the home depot search. I was able to access it thru my cart and send out links. It also was in and out of stock almost daily.
dave
I don’t see features or value in dewalt’s plastic cases I see in the the red stuff. This looks cheap, generic and feels cheap when I poke at in the store. The red stuff sooths my adhd and I can spend time configuring and reconfiguring and stacking and unstacking different sized boxes.
Corey Moore
That’s a first for me as far as reasons for preference go lo To each their own, and their both great products in my opinion. l I prefer my 6-7 year old L cart, wall racking, and being able to grab whatever box I want without all the stacking nonsense, personally. Only time I’ve ever broken even my original toughsystem boxes, was in a 4 times over the cab rollover I took down an embankment in 21. Did did a number on the truck also, to be fair, but I’m still using the couple of tools that went underneath the truck, too.
Steve L
Are you talking about Dewalt TSTAK which is not as strong as the red stuff?
I view Tough System’s tool boxes as being as good as red and I bought for much lower prices. I think Packout has better offerings for organization
My tool boxes are Tough System, my organizers are Packout. I cannot stack both brands in one tower but I don’t use towers and am comfortable with what I think is best from two brands.
Chris
I almost spilled my coffee laughing. So sad, so true.
MKY
Stuart –
Let’s start off with this ***3pv*** 3pc
Stuart
Thank you! *fixed*
Collin
These pricing games just tell me that tool companies and retailers have huge margins to play with, or less charitably, they’re sending their kids to Harvard and financing that yacht with my purchases.
James Eppich
It’s a publicly traded company. A lot of their info is public. The have more than doubled since COVID, but so have many companies. Buy the tools, or don’t. But you also could have bought the stock and sent your kids to school. (And ivy league schools are just old schools that started a liberal arts style curriculum where if you were an engineer you would have general education requirements that have nothing to do with engineering. Most state schools are liberal arts schools, vs trade and tech schools where you only study your field.) Harvard isn’t even that competitive with education anymore. It’s just a brand. Buy it, or don’t. You’re not faulting Harvard. Don’t fault DeWalt.
Matt
Another fact that seemingly very few (none that I’ve seen thus far in this discussion) is these aren’t even made in the United States let alone even made in United States of global components. This isn’t my opinion yet directly coming from a Dewalt representative I spoke with these are made in Israel. This agent very reluctantly was even willing to mention this.
For $178 and considering TTI owned Ryobi’s version is at least partially Ameican made this is a very hard pass for me. Yes I know I am but a mere blue collar pleb in the eyes of these globalist multi billion corporations yet for what it’s worth this is my take.
Stuart
Dewalt HAS made certain ToughSystem products in the USA. But yes – most of Stanley Black & Decker’s higher-end plastic storage products are developed and manufactured in Israel.
COO is irrelevant to this topic.
Jimmy
Stuart,
Speaking as someone that is owns their own business also; considering the cost and reluctance for a company as large as Dewalt to share basic information I see where Matt is coming from. In the 50 years I’ve been in business being straight forward has typically worked out for me. Not always the case, but I always let my customers know I am here to provide as much information as possible.
Why isn’t this information on neither Home Depot’s or even Dewalt’s offical website? While I am a boomer and I’ll openly admit that; even I know when not the whole picture is being presented.
Stuart
It was maybe 12 years ago that I first asked Home Depot why they don’t disclose product COO on their website. They’re looking into it…
I ordered stainless steel balls from a supplier. They came without COO markings. I asked the retailer and they basically said “oh we don’t know.”
I recently ordered planting supplies and there’s no COO info. Then why did I spend more from this supplier rather than the dozens of lookalike products on Amazon?
Believe me, I understand where you’re coming from.
MM
@Stuart
I can believe that COO information might be left off a website, either because of laziness or perhaps because they’re deliberately concealing it. However, it is illegal to sell anything in the USA without disclosing its COO, in fact the COO must be marked on the product. This is per the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890. That law is mostly known for import taxes but it is also what started products being marked or bearing stickers “Made in Japan” or “Made in England”, etc. So, whomever sold you those bearing balls or planting supplies is clearly in violation of the law.
Stuart
@MM once you go beyond consumer products, a LOT of brands and suppliers leave out COO, with many unable to easily provide it upon request.
Is it right? No.
If or when it bugs me, I choose a different brand or supplier the next time.
Jerry
I always check different ways to buy something. Fairly often if I need 2 of something from Amazon it is cheaper to order two single packs than a 2 pack.
AlexK
If I hadn’t got the Ridgid three stack over Christmas (for $130), I’d have considered this for $180. That brings it closer to Milwaukee pricing so I’d have to do more research. The Ridgid was a no brainer. The price was low enough that if i want to get into another brands set up, I could pass it on to a relative or friend. Well built and the removable rolling mechanism is so useful to fit inside my Ranger and when I get a Toneau cover, it will be able to close without laying the cart on its side.
I do like the Dewalt and I’m glad there are so many options for each of us to choose.
The photo of the cases with the mud smeared on it bothers me. Having photographed things over forty eight years, occasionally for pay, it is obvious from the direction of the smears that someone took a sponge and smeared mud on it and didn’t attempt to make it look natural. That being said, if that’s all that bothers me today, I’d consider it a good day.
MFC
Don’t do it! Get drawer units. I’ll keep saying it over and over and over… I had 5 rolling tool boxes and 20 stackable units and got rid of most of them in lieu of drawers. Much more convenient to keep things organized and easily accessible. You do still need larger tool boxes for Circular saws, Bandsaws, big recip saws, etc. but I bought into packout so I use the cabinet and can fit two circular saws in it. Maybe DeWalt will come out with a large drawer/cabinet solution.
Adam
100%. Rolling chest is good for the bigger tools. I still use some of the clear top bins for small parts. But overall I much prefer drawers to access things when I need them without unpacking the whole stack. It also helps keep things neat as you go because I don’t end up with a makeshift table or someone’s counter top covered in my tools.
JMG
Sooooo, I purchased the $178 set for delivery to home, as there are no stores in my town… First, they honored the military discount which made the price even better, but then they failed to ship the full order.
When I contacted customer service about the incomplete shipment, the only option I was given was to return what had been shipped and then reorder the items as the supply warehouse refused to ship the missing item on its own. Shipping weight total clearly shows that they failed to ship the complete package and yet they could not figure out how to ship a partial order to make up for the error…
Yeah, think I will let that deal slide.