Back in October 2018, I met with Walmart’s online team about a new PRO TOOLS curated store experience they were putting together.
About a year after that, I wanted to post an update, and was told that big things were coming soon.
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It has been a little over two years since Walmart launched their Pro Tools store, and I have one word to describe what I have seen so far: disappointing.
Two words? Utterly disappointing.
Walmart pumped up my excitement and enthusiasm – and no they didn’t pay me anything – but they squandered any potential they had.
The Walmart Pro Tools experience in 2021? *scoff* What Pro Tools experience?
But wait – they added Makita to their list of participating brands! Walmart is selling several Makita cordless power tool SKUs directly to users, and the rest are simply marketplace listings. So what?
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Oh, but what about the Walmart Pro Tools “curated shopping experience?”
Sure, they have pro tool categories, but once you click through, the listings are unfiltered, with direct listings, listings from their initial hand-picked 3rd party partners, and listings from many other 3rd party sellers.
I haven’t heard from the Walmart Pro Tools team in a very long time, ever since the project lead left the company.
Has Walmart abandoned the effort, relegating the Pro Tools experience to nothing but a category link in the site-wide directory?
What was supposed to be a fancy pro-user-oriented shopping experience has become what, an automated mix of direct and 3rd party marketplace seller listings?
At the time, Walmart officials said that they can help coordinate bringing private labels to market. Might this mean the potential for bringing some USA-made tools to the mix? Brands that previously supplied Sears’ Craftsman brand were hurting – could Walmart and their Pro Tools experience create some opportunities there?
Why did they mention and even emphasize this in our meetings? What did they have in mind? What kind of pro-audience initiative could come of this?
Or, were they alluding to the Hart tools launch? You can now buy a 2pc set of Hart pliers for the dirt-cheap price of $5.
I was told that the Walmart Pro Tools store was going to be *the place* to buy professional tools, equipment, and woodworking tools.
But, I asked, why buy from Walmart over the other online tool retailers where the tools are drop-shipped no matter where you buy them?
And to that, they talked up Walmart.com’s customer service as the main advantage.
I ordered a couple of items from Walmart this past year, and based on that I would NEVER buy any sort of heavy tool equipment or items that need to be shipped via freight. I was open-minded, but if Walmart’s customer service cannot handle simple things like preorder and backorder complications in a satisfactory manner, how are they going to handle anything that might go wrong with an order involving woodworking tools or other such heavy workshop equipment?
Grizzly Tools sells their G0505 benchtop planer for $395 plus $49 freight. The Walmart Pro Tools store has the same Grizzly planer, with Grizzly as the seller, for $495, or $51 more. Amazon also has it for $495. Both Walmart and Amazon offer “free shipping” on the marked-up tool. Could you tell me why anyone might buy this via Walmart?
There was so much potential for the Walmart Pro Tools experience store.
They could have been the go-to for premium tools. They could have worked out special deals. They could have brought to market a special line of affordable USA-made hand tools.
I read back all my optimism from back when the Walmart Pro Tools store first launched, and it just makes me angry.
They promised so much, and delivered so little.
Did they decide that competing against Home Depot and others was too hard? Did the team lose interest? Was the plan nixed from high-up? Did the grand strategy change? Was this related to Walmart’s partnership with Hart Tools and TTI? I really don’t understand what happened here.
I think that the plan and strategy was well thought out from the start, but it seems that Walmart never followed through on the execution. I can understand that this happens sometimes, but it’s a shame nonetheless.
There were a couple of bugs in the system, such as non-curated links finding their way into the curated section, but nothing major.
Would you buy any pro tools from Walmart today? I wouldn’t, unless there were substantial savings compared to Amazon or Home Depot, or there were availability considerations.
What frustrates me is that Walmart could have been the tools destination that Sears was 10-15 years ago, or even bigger. At that time, Sears had very strong Craftsman and Craftsman Pro brands, special partnerships with popular brands, and they brought it new brands that were scarcely available at other USA tool retailers and distributors. And, they had compelling promotions and sales on occasion. Walmart could have done the same – and more – but they didn’t.
I am so disappointed in Walmart. I would say that I regret allowing myself to be so enthusiastic about the prospects, but my sentiments then were as genuine as my feelings are now.
A lot of people put much planning, time, and effort into the Walmart Pro Tools experience storefront, and it seems they either gave up or the higher-up powers-that-be put the kibosh on the initiative. I don’t know what happened, but for all intent and purposes, their efforts seem to have been abandoned.
Check it Out Here – and tell me if you think I’m wrong
bob
“There was so much potential for the Walmart Pro Tools experience store.”
Not really. I’ve shopped at Wal-Mart my entire life and the usual clientele isn’t the type to buy pro tools. Hart is already good enough for the majority. I have noticed on the other hand that a lot more random products (tools included) now appear to be Made in the USA. It’s too little and the transition is too slow though.
And why would any non-budget brand want to work with Wal-Mart even if they got incentives? Putting a brand in Wal-Mart is guaranteed to lower the public perception and value of that brand, unless Wal-Mart only carries the lower-end models of said brands (see electronics department). Wal-Mart could never be a place for high-end/pro tools since the store as a whole is not like that. The following is a bit of an exaggeration but it would be along the lines of putting a Rolex/Armani store in the middle of a strip mall and thinking it would work out.
bob
And something else I’d like to point out is that “pro” as in “professional” does not necessarily mean “high-end” either. A “professional” can just be anyone who makes money to live, and plenty of workers do just fine with Hart and Harbor Freight tier tools.
Stuart
Forget any assumptions or judgements the Walmart name evokes. Here was a mega-company with huge resources, and a team dedicated to the creation of a Pro Tools boutique store-within-a-store experience.
There are so many angles where they could have provided a unique online shopping experience. There was much that could have been done in the way of product selections, promos, and engagement.
Robert Adkins
When Wal-Mart does something mysterious or changes their minds with no reason given, it’s probably not stupidity or short-sightedness. It’s probably shelf space, which guides so many of their decisions. I’m betting the shelf space nazis had at least some influence in killing the tool program. So many products, especially food items, are only allotted about 1 linear foot!
Tom D
I suspect there were warring factions at some level of middle management – one wanted to try to go upscale and compete with Home Depot; the other wanted to go wide and compete with Harbor Freight.
I think it’s clear who won.
Jm
I have ordered tools online through Walmart for store pickup several times and the experience was always horrible they never could find the stuff even though they said it was ready for pickup. I had to make multiple trips to pick it up a single order. they don’t give you a receipt for online pickup and then I got stopped and accused of shoplifting when I tried to leave the store after the employee gave me the merchandise.
I found a bunch of Porter Cable tools in Walmart the other day and despite talking to several employees and even the manager they could never figure out a price or anything. I was thinking they might be on clearance but they couldn’t even figure out how they got into the store. I offered to buy them but they said they couldn’t sell them despite them being out on a shelf.
Steve
Wait, Walmart failed to deliver a pro level experience and pro grade products? I’m not surprised.
Jim Felt
I doubt Sam Walton would have ever bothered to go even this slightly upscale.
And between their reputation and Sam’s Club also being a non union cheapo barn that really doesn’t even try to compete with Costco’s demographic I’m not in the least surprised this attempt passed into the good night.
Sorry they jived you. ;-)~
Stacey Jones
I’m certainly not a pro, but I did see this hand tool that I will definitely buy next time I am in in Walmart for $7. It looks like a knock-off of the CH Hanson Self-Adjusting locking pliers. I have those and my son has permanently latched onto them, so of course I used that as an excuse to buy the upgraded lockjaw version. I love these pliers.
I sent you a message on Facebook but doesn’t look like you check that. Where should I send you buy tips?
https://www.harttools.com/products/hand-tools/pliers-and-wrenches/6-auto-adjust-locking-pliers
Stuart
Thanks, I’ll look into it!
I’m sorry, I have been having problems with Facebook notifications and buried messages.
MoogleMan3
Grabbing one of those, thanks.
CyberRanger
Had their old corporate culture remained, you may have not been so disappointed. But a quick perusal of who’s on the BoD & you’ll almost find a who’s who list of failed companies & none of them are from Arkansas. Walmart helped us keep our house 10+ yrs ago when my wife was laid off from HP & even then it was a far cry from what Mr Sam espoused & it hasn’t gotten any better. We have many friends & family working there & its continuing to go down hill. Bentonville micro manages the stores, even to the point of creating personnel schedules.
Walmart is a shadow of what it used to be & we’re not the least bit impressed at our house.
Nathan
I think one piece is that the average walmart shopper doesn’t shop anywhere else. or look for that matter.
Likewise they do know they have a market in auto needs – so there is a group of people that shop wallmart for their auto stuff (oil, wax, coolant, filters, etc) and would see oh look a impact wrench with a name I recognize. Never saw that in the store – oh shipped only. Hmm, well I’m getting 15 quarts of oil might as well free shipping I need a new ____________. . . . . . . .
Also biggest bit – people like my wife. She shops mostly amazon and cannot be bothered to look elsewhere for things. that would be like that effort and mess.
So once she looks for something at walmart or target websites she then seems to have to buy extra other crap without cross shopping at all.
I had hopes they would carry stuff reasonably with their ship to store for pickup process. but that didn’t pan out.
Brian A
I hate when search results point me to Walmart.com for something I am looking to buy. Its mostly 3rd party sellers and there are errors in the listings which question my trust of buying. If I wanted to buy from a 3rd party, I would prefer Amazon 98%, then ebay 1%. Anytime I shop walmart I immediately choose walmart retailer only. Now Target has even gotten into the game of 3rd party sellers. Found MS office for 50% cheaper than anyone, didnt trust or buy it.
Mike
I’d buy tools at HF before I’d buy at WM. I think WM’s selection will vary with margins and marketing whims, HF is a little more consistent – and some of the line names are quite entertaining 😁
Dave the tool
As mentioned in previous comment Walmart uses 3rd party sellers a lot and I haven’t had good experience with their 3rd party sellers so I avoid them completely on Walmart’s site and also will not purchase anything other than directly from Walmart because of bad experiences.
Pro tools at Walmart never sounded good as it just doesn’t fit the market branding. Combine that with the recent political decisions of the company and it’s easy to see Walmart has completely lost its way and moral compass in being America’s Store. Every Walmart once displayed a huge American Flag somewhere near the checkouts. Not any longer. Sam Walton is turning in his grave! I have cut my Walmart shopping down immensely!
Toolfreak
I bought a few things over the last two years, including a few Knipex pliers, but the weird thing about shipping was some of them were only available for store pickup, no matter the total price, so I always wound up having to go into store pickup to get an order rather than be able to have it delivered directly.
The in-store pickup experience varies from having to wait for an associate to go back and forth to find the package and then bring it to you, or just going to the gigantic kiosk and having it come down the little elevator and make sure you grab it in time before the door closes.
Overall not bad when the price is low, but my major disappointment with the “pro” tools experience has been walmart not leveraging itself to compete on price, most times amazon or home depot has been much lower and the walmart price stays the same as anywhere else, or sometimes even higher.
DaveVB
Harttools. Com, would that be related to this topic? I’m just seeing it so maybe I’m late to the game as usual.
JC
I like my Hart tools. Got the saw, drill, flashlight kit with bag and 2 batteries (20V), and got the trimmer and blower 2 pack with 40V. Trimmer isn’t anything close to my 4 stroke cub cadet, but it is so much lighter and does my .5 acre yard trimming with no problem and then swap 40V to blower to clean up, used them all of last year. Other tools have helped me repair cedar fence, repair deck, clean dryer vent, other small tasks. Plus always have ready to go flashlight.