It’s not a surprise, that Milwaukee has come out with new compact brushless drill and impact driver promo kits for the 2017 holiday shopping season.
Makita’s got a new brushless kit out – check out our review here, and while it rose above $100, we expect it to drop down to $99 again, which is what we bought our 2 samples at.
Advertisement
And let’s not forget about the Dewalt DCD777 20V Max compact brushless drill, which is already back down to $99 at Amazon.
So with Dewalt and Makita offering $99 compact brushless drill kits at $99, it was somewhat predictable for Milwaukee to come out with their own.
I don’t recall seeing a Dewalt 1-battery brushless impact driver kit, but there is a Makita promo impact driver kit new for this year. It’s currently $129 at Amazon, but it was $99 briefly, and I expect it to drop down again soon.
Who knows, maybe we will see a Dewalt brushless impact driver with 1-battery promo kit this year.
Milwaukee was all but guaranteed to come out with the promo drill kit. In past years, they developed the pattern of matching their drill kit with a similar impact driver kit, and so I figured it was a good bet we’d see a hypothetical single-battery brushless impact driver kit to fit their hypothetical promo drill kit.
ANYWAYS…
Advertisement
Now that I’ve nearly exhausted what I can say about my dislike for syndicated and aggregated reviews, let’s talk about the actual impact driver kit, 2750-21P.
Here’s the original preview post from 2015.
Unless something has changed, and I don’t believe it has, here are the specs:
- 1500 in-lbs of torque
- 0-2,800 RPM
- 0-3,600 IPM
- 1/4″ hex quick change chuck
- 5-3/8″ length
- 3.1 lbs with compact battery
Pricing: $199 for the kit, $109 for the bare tool.
Right now the kit is priced at $129 at Home Depot. But as mentioned, I fully expect it to drop down to $99 in a few short weeks, or maybe even sooner.
$129 is a good price for a 1-battery kit. $99? That’s great!
You only get 1 compact battery pack, and a tool bag instead of a tool box. But that’s a fine trade-off in my book.
Assuming that this promo kit goes on sale for $99 again, here’s the question: Makita or Milwaukee? The Makita comes with a higher capacity battery pack, but it’s also larger and bulkier. The Milwaukee comes with a compact pack. I’ve never tried the Makita, and don’t remember trying the Milwaukee.
But if I had to pick? It would be the Milwaukee.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Buy Now(Drill/driver promo kit via Home Depot)
Sorry, as far as I am aware, despite what the user reviews might suggest, this impact driver set does not come with a free jobsite backpack. Shown in the photo, that’s just a compact tool bag.
There are a bunch of “SEED” reviews up on Home Depot already. As part of the SEED program, samples go out to select customers for early review.
But there are other reviews too. There are currently 362 reviews up for this brand new kit configuration. Looking at some of the reviews, they’re for… a jobsite backpack.
A jobsite backpack?!
This is a great example of what happens when syndicated reviews run wild. It almost definitely stems from an algorithm issue, where Home Depot’s review compilation system looks for same-family products to draw reviews from.
Looking deeper into the stack of 362 reviews, I found some reviews for a promo kit that included the impact driver, a backpack, and a bit set. I believe those reviews came from a holiday season deal of the day last year, which was priced at $149.
So what’s going on? Why is a new promo impact driver kit showing reviews of a backpack and a special bundle from last year?
I guess that this current promo is somehow connected, automatically or intentionally, to last year’s promo kit, and from there the syndicated review system draws a connection to the Milwaukee jobsite backpack to pull some reviews from.
Perhaps even more likely, those jobsite backpack reviews were pulled into the review section of the impact driver, backpack, and bit set bundle package. When this current promo draw user review reviews from last year’s promo listing, perhaps it also pulled all of those backpack reviews in with it.
While all this makes a lot of sense, it’s still not a good idea in my opinion.
The mindset of someone who received or bought last year’s $149 bundle might be different than someone buying this promo kit at its eventual price of $99 (I’m guessing). The $99 kit will lack the backpack and bit set.
It’s not quite the same product, despite the impact driver kit part being the same. The psychology is going to be completely different. How would you rate your favorite restaurant meal? How would you rate it if it came with a free appetizer and dessert for a lot less than the sum of all the components?
Matt
I’ve seen on another site that at this particular home depot they had the compact Brushless drill, 2ah batt and charger for $119.
Stuart
That’s believable.
$129 online, $119 in [some?] stores, and then final “new low price” of $99 once the big sales roll in?
Last year’s promo was $119 before the price drop.
Maybe it’s $129 online, will become $119, and then go to $99 both online and in stores.
Matt
Its actual. In store. I believe he is in NJ. Had the Brushless impact for same price
Stuart
I’m saying I believe you.
My local HD didn’t have anything ready yesterday, and I assumed they’d be busy putting the gift center together this morning. So I’ll check tomorrow.
A further store had boxes on the floor, but not yet opened and the entire section cordoned off.
So it’ll have to be tomorrow until I can see it for myself.
Historically, or at least based on past seasons’ ToolGuyd deal posts, the M18 drill and impact kits and promo kits (last year there were drill and impact plus flashlight bundles) were $119 (maybe more at times?), and $99 during the peak season.
Matt
Historically havent those deals been mainly brushed motor tools? Well, maybe besides last yrs impact)backpack deal.
These may not be Milwaukee’s top of the line gear but I believe at $99(or $119) itd be a no brainier for those looking for best single tool kit(the same site showed the usual brushed Makita hammer drill or impact for $99, the Brushless DeWalt non xr drill with 1.5s etc). I won’t go in to ruin your hd trip.
But if the m18 compact Brushless drops to $99 I’d say that’s a steal
Stuart
Yes. But the price point is the relative constant.
Competitors upped what they were delivering at the $100 target, so Milwaukee was expected to do the same.
Whether they want to or not, they had to.
What’s interesting, and noteworthy, is that the Milwaukee compact brushless offerings are their everyday tools. Dewalt’s seasonal brushless drill is not. But that’s in regard to drills; Dewalt doesn’t have an evenly competitive promo brushless impact driver kit, at least not one I remember seeing.
Matt
Dewalt DCF885C1? Or DCF885L1? Not really holiday priced at all but it took some looking into.
It’s doubtful these will be released at $99 but I suppose the kits do exist
Stuart
DCF885C1 is a real thing, and it dropped to $99 last holiday season.
https://toolguyd.com/dewalt-dcf885c1-single-battery-20v-impact-driver-kit/
Currie
Milwaukee needs to come out with it’s version of dewalt power source and 12v walkie talkie
Stuart
Agreed!
Well, about the power source. Walkie talkie? For something like that, do you really want to swap batteries, compared to putting the walkie on a base station or charger?
There might not be much added hassle with one, but what about 2? 4? 10?
Scott K
A base station is much simpler to manage than swapping out individual batteries. Especially when you have a half dozen or more walkies.
Adam
Perhaps if they were to use the new 4v (?) battery in their flashlights for a walkie talkie application. It would then be easier to make a charging base station for it, or allow them to be charged via USB.
Stuart
Ooh, that’s a good point.
Clayton
What’s the diffrence between fuel and just brushless? Or are they the same?
Matt
The Brushless is more compact than fuel. Less torque, one speed impact, prob lower rpms, no single handed hex head on impact. But still good tools.
The compact Brushless hammer drill is a really good drill.
Nate
They are the same.
Nate
At least I thought so……hmmm
Stuart
Fuel: Premium brushless offering, nothing held back
Compact Brushless: Not quite Fuel, but still brushless.
Mentioned in the preview post https://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-compact-brushless-drills-impact-driver/ :
Brushed: Best-in-class performance & durability, with RedLink electronics
Compact Brushless (NEW): Most compact, over 50% longer runtime (than the brushed motor models), with RedLink electronics
High Performance (Fuel): Most powerful, most durable, with PowerState brushless motor and RedLink Plus electronics
These are Milwaukee’s descriptions, but hopefully it clears it up.
Michaelhammer
They are the same
Michaelhammer
Or so I thought…
Diamond Dave
Saw the 2 manufacturers “Great Buy” Holiday Tool on Display at Depot Yesterday. Dewalt offers a 20v brushless Drill or 20v regular impact driver that included one battery and charger for $99ea and Milwaukee’s offering was brushless Drill or brushless Impact + one battery and charger for $119.
Jim Felt
Stuart.
So where’s the new Milwaukee ratchets and soldering iron and staplers???
Asking for a friend.
Stuart
Stapler: Coming soon (test sample arrived this week)
Ratchets: 1/4″ and 3/8″ test samples arrived and should be shipping soon, 1/2″ to follow
Soldering iron: I’ve got my eyes peeled, didn’t see it yet.
Adam
They are all listed on HD website now, but only the ratchets are shipping a believe. The other 2 items said they were unavailable for shipping, but allowed for store pick up, but no store in 100 miles had any for me.
Arlan
I ordered the Milwaukee 12v staple gun from Home Depot website about a week ago. It was delivered UPS 2 days ago.
Jeremiah
Don’t know if it’s been mentioned on toolguyd. Home depot and other sites have a m12 fuel hackzall deal now. $169 for a kit with a single 4.0 A battery, charger and choice of non-fuel bare tool up to $99. Home depot has 4 options drill, impact, rover light or ratchet. Saw it on toolup also.
Jeremiah
Also at home depot a good ryobi cordless deal.
The brushless hammer drill with a 4A battery and free bare tool for $149. Bare tool (msrp) options include the newest brushless recip($119), brushless grinder ($99), and new brushless 7-1/4 circ saw($119).
I don’t need the hammer drill as i have an m18 fuel but am considering getting it and reselling the drill. They’re going on eBay for 75-90. So $75 or less for a $50 battery and decent brushless tool.