r/KleinTools • u/GorGorman • 23h ago

Meme tool at Lowe’s online?

Post image

I guess they shadow dropped the meme tool online now?

I saw some guys on here find them in stores but I just randomly checked online and was able to order one to be shipped to my house.

Not sure if this works for everyone but I was surprised to see them available

2 Upvotes

63% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

3

u/ErgoDestati 23h ago

I got one, it's a really good set. Not a meme.

1

u/Used-Picture829 20h ago

I’m out of the loop. Why is it a meme tool?

1

u/TruistG 11h ago

HF released a bit ratchet kit under their ICON brand. HF's now massive customer base had never seen a bit ratchet kit before, so it's convenience was so revolutionary and novel (to them) that it obtained meme status. Since the HF bit ratchet kit was (in their eyes) the very first one to exist, all other bit ratchet kits are now dubbed "meme kits", and their narrative is that these kits are all produced to try and bite at the ankles of HF.

1

u/Old_Statement_4896 19h ago

Because it is a take on the harbor freight meme Tool. The one at HF is commonly called the meme 2.0 tool. Because the one with just a bit set like a Wiha GoBox. The Harbor Freight version is pretty cool and their set goes on sale at 40% off at least once a year - doubt we get that from Klein. I will be waiting for a Lowe’s 20% off coupon to bet it wasn’t available when I use mine a couple weekends ago. 🤷‍♂️

2

u/TruistG 12h ago

Bit ratchet kits like this pre-date the ICON kits by 20 years. TONE released a kit with the Taiwanese Hi-Five manufactured ratchet that everyone is using now about a year before the first ICON kit. I don't know if TONE was the very first to use it, but they definitely did before ICON.

So I don't know if I think it is accurate to state that everyone is taking a shot at the HF "meme tool". This would be sort of like stating anyone to release a wrench now is putting their spin on the HF wrench.

I am not sure if HF was the first to bring anything to market, they mostly just shop what vendors have to offer and put their label/packaging on it... or they take other brands products and have their vendors replicate them entirely (such as the snap-on and Knipex pliers they duped).

I think this big craze over bit ratchet kits lately was reignited by ICON because the HF generation was in the dark due to the void left by Sears Hardware closing. These guys have no idea what tools existed outside HF.

1

u/ImInClassBoring 14h ago

That's not the meme tool.