Printable View
Is it just me or is the Bosch Blue line of tools gradually getting smaller and disappearing from a lot of stores? I wanted to buy a particular set of a 12V drill and accessories, they have never been marketed here and from what I can see the 12V range is just about non-existent despite what the rep said when I last spoke to him about 12 months ago.
Chris, who sells Bosch tools in Oz? The only ones I have seen are the green at Bunnings. And Bunnings are dedicated to the cheaper end of the spectrum for power tools (a rather obvious observation), so I have never seen blue on their shelves.
Regards from Perth
Derek
Total Tools appears to have exclusive rights to sell Bosch blue.
Odd! I had heard that they'd inked a deal with the Big Green Shed (Bunnings) for exclusive supply, hence they were disappearing from other common places?Quote:
Originally Posted by Bohdan
I will also add that the Bosch of today (in my limited experience) is no longer the Bosch of yesterday :(
Funny this thread came up, I bought a ROS yesterday and was interested in looking at the Blue version as it seems to get good reviews, I could not even find a shop that stocked them apart from online stores so wiped that from my selection list. I checked their website for stockists and it is Bunnings and Total tools, both don’t carry it.
Not real happy with Bosch at the moment anyway, I bought a new laser level and they had a promotion going that you got a free infrared detector with it so it can be used it bright light situations.
Turns out it is via redemption and so I went online to register and got an email back saying I should have it in 8 weeks :?
Pretty annoyed as I need to use that now so gave them a call via several numbers and finally got hold of the right person in NZ, she said they don’t have any and waiting for a shipment.......pretty with the whole thing and my complaint fell on deaf ears although the laser itself is very good.
On the other hand I bought a Makita tool last month and got a free 5 amp battery via redemption and I had it with 5 business days of buying the tool.
Bosch blue are featured on bunnings website. I assume stock varies from store to store.
The bosch presence has diminished because they made so many rubbish tools. Why would you when the equivalent tool is the same price as makita, is less well designed and has lousy after sales support ?
The trouble with makita is the handyman stuff is not well differentiated from the quality stuff so you have to know exactly what you are buying.
Hitachi (hikoki) have marginalized themselves.
Milwaukee have been the flavour of the month lately but looks like dewalt is fighting back.
For the record I think every long lived brand of tools have diminished in quality over the years without exception and singling out Bosch is just avoiding the obvious. Perhaps the one brand this hasn't happened to is Festool and I am not buying one of those. Damien, I have had Bosch Blue 12v for many years and no problems what so ever and once you get tied into a line of tools it is generally cheaper to stay there.Quote:
Originally Posted by damian
Blackwoods apparently sell them, I keep getting emails from them offering them to me
https://www.blackwoods.com.au/search...less/208637080
Edit- not a big range, When I posted that link, I thought there was 12 pages, but it’s only 12 items.
G'Day Chris, When you say 12v Bosch Blue are you including what was called the 10.8v Bosch Blue range?
Saying that I do believe that Bosch Australia have reintroduced the Bosch Blue 12v range back into Australia from discussion I has with a tool guy but I personally haven't seen them.
Cheers, Peter
PS - If they have the whole range that is available in the USA, there are some beaut tools....
https://www.boschtools.com/boschtool...LL&pageSize=50
Yes, Bosch went all ethical a few years ago and changed how they classed 12V tools. I am still tossing up whether to buy this kit from Amazon https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/bos...cb22-187544-p/
I don't need or want any more 18V stuff as I rarely use what I have now. If I want to do heavy work in the yard I fire up the compressor and use air tools, the batteries don't go flat and the motors haven't got any smoke in them.
That's a great kit Chris, I tried to buy one a year back through USA & Canada but the freight costs were a killer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Parks
Ended up buying the same kit in the 18v range locally.
On the 10.8v or 12v range; the batteries are interchangeable... I have a couple of multi-tools plus a drill/driver and impact driver; use them all the time for the toymaking, first class tools!
I was also thinking of getting one of the 12v palm routers; great reviews in USA & Canada...
Cheers, Peter
Amazon will deliver for $24 AUD with an all up cost of $294 AUD which seems ok. Decisions, decisions.
I don't agree. The top of the line makita is unkillable and my hitachi stuff will outlive me, but quality specifically isn't my issue with the bosch blue.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Parks
My drill reverse switch died after about 20 years. That's fine but the replacement is stupidly expensive and all sorts of bother to get a quote on it. Repairing my similarly old makita planer was cheap and easy by comparison.
My ros is a terrible design. The dust box works but is properly awful to empty and replacement filters are worth more than the machine. I eventually got a vacuum attachment. It's the same diameter as my vacuum so I'll have to make an adapter for the adapter.
Just one annoying stupid pointless thing after the next. You just don't get these problems with trade duty makita stuff.
Incidentally tradetools have been making youtube videos. Recently they did an impact driver comparison and while they don't carry bosch blue they included it. It was middle of the pack. I found it interesting.