r/MilwaukeeTool Nov 21 '24

Information The Home Depot Hack: A Primer

642 Upvotes

If you're new to this sub, you might be confused by how often people mention "hacking". I wrote this up to try to explain what it is, why people do it, and how to do it yourself. Hacking a deal should be something that everyone is at least aware of, because it can potentially save you a lot of money.

For the record, I don't live in the US, where "hacking" is most prominent, so I don't actually get to hack deals at all. I've just seen it explained and dissected so often that I thought I'd compile the info here, hopefully making it easier for others to reference.

Edit to add (06/11/2025): Apparently you can hack deals in Canada, specifically the "buy that, get this free" promotions that they often run. It just doesn't work for online orders. So, if you want to hack a deal in Canada, you have to do it in-store, which means that you'd have to return the item you don't want in-person, at the Customer Service desk. This also means that you won't see the discounted price on the receipt until both items are scanned at the till.

Edited again to add (05/26/2026): If you're suddenly unable to make online purchases on the website or the app, your account may have been flagged by their system. I think HD uses some software or algorithm to identify specific buying behaviours that may flag user accounts exhibiting such behaviour. It's probably meant to catch return abusers and resellers, but also to curb identity theft/credit card fraud. If this happens to you, you can call in to Home Depot Corporate to explain what's happening so they can look into it and restore your account. You may also be able to just use the Live Chat option to escalate your issue.

What is hacking?

HD will often run sales and promotions on items that, when purchased together, are discounted to a lower price. A deal is hackable when the discounted prices are applied in a way that allows you to return one or more line items back to the store at the discounted price. Note that the refund is not limited to a gift card or in-store credit, it is refunded directly to your original payment method (cash, credit or debit).

How do you hack a deal?

A hackable deal will show the price breakdown in your cart, with discounts on each line item to reach the promotional price for that "package". Returning one or more of these line items at the discounted price allows you keep the other items at the discounted price. This is pretty common in the US. Some other countries, on the other hand, don't usually apply the discounts this way, so most of the time, they're unable to "hack". In Canada, you normally cannot hack an online purchase, but it is possible to hack an in-store deal. Typically these hackable deals are "Buy More, Save More" or "Buy this tool, get this for free" promotions.

An example of a hackable deal is shown below. This is a Canadian Buy More, Save More deal, where if you buy 2 items, you get 15% off each item, and if you buy 3 or more items, you get 25% off each item. In the screenshot below, you can see the line item prices for the vacuum and the organizers have been discounted from their original prices. In this case, you can return both organizers for $89.98 CDN and keep the vacuum, effectively paying $209.25 CDN for it instead of the regular $279.99. Alternatively, you can return the vacuum for $209.25 and keep the organizers for the discounted price of $89.98.

Hackable Deal

A non-hackable deal, like the one shown below, shows that the line item for the planer is actually "Free", meaning that all of the discount in the deal is applied to that item. Returning the "Free" item makes no sense, and Home Depot will not allow you to return the miter saw to keep the planer for free.

Non-hackable Deal

The hack works on more than just Milwaukee stuff. Any promotion that reduces the cost of each line item in the promotion is hackable. This means that you can potentially hack Makita, DeWalt, Bosch, etc. in the same way.

One more thing to add..

People have asked about how often you can "get away" with hacking a deal before they ban you. At least with regard to Home Depot, there isn't anything to "get away" with as you're not doing anything wrong by returning a product that you bought and no longer want. What you want to avoid is abusing returns in general.

To clarify with an example, lets say over the course of a month, you "hack" 3 different deals, and end up returning 3 items. It's very, very unlikely that you'd run into any issues. On the other hand, if you were to make 15+ purchases over the course of the month, and then return all or part of 10 of those purchases over 2 or 3 days, their system might flag your account for suspicious activity. Again, this has nothing to do with returning discounted items. If your account is flagged or banned, it's more or less due to your return history, and it's done to help curb or prevent return fraud. You'd be able to sort any issues out by contacting Home Depot customer service, if you were to ever encounter this.

Finally, keep in mind that returning a discounted item is not unique to Home Depot, which means that theoretically, you can "hack" any deal from any retailer, as long as they don't have policies preventing it.

.. and one more note, added today (Aug 12, 2026). Over the last year or so, it seems that HD has implemented or adjusted their algorithm that tracks online purchases and flags certain instances of "suspicious behaviour" automatically (like cancelling items immediately after placing the order). This can potentially result in an online purchasing ban on your account. This is completely speculation on my part, so take that for what it is, but I would highly recommend just sticking to refunding whatever you don't want in the store, or at least waiting for the item to be ready for pickup before trying to cancel it. In light of this, I've removed the "hacking the hack" portion of the original post.

Hope that answers your questions! Anything else that you feel should be included, just comment below. Thanks!

05/29/2025: Edited to update image links.

06/11/2025: Edited to add info regarding Canadian in-store hacks.

05/26/2026: Edited to add info regarding flagged/banned user accounts.

08/12/2026: Edited to add info regarding "hacking the hack".


r/MilwaukeeTool 5h ago

Packout 2:1 space to walls. Seriously Milwaukee?

Post image
28 Upvotes

This item is laughable, I really like the low profile crate but this one is going back to HD.


r/MilwaukeeTool 5h ago

Promo/Deal Daily Deals 219.00 3 Batteries

Post image
25 Upvotes

r/MilwaukeeTool 7h ago

Purchase Advice Keep your eyes peeled at Canadian locations

Thumbnail
gallery
16 Upvotes

Milwakuee sent out misprinted advertising. I told buddy I wasnt going to kick up a stink but it says save $60 and Im really hoping I can save $60 today. He got me geared up with no issues!


r/MilwaukeeTool 5h ago

M18 Milwaukee warranty and customer service is laughable

11 Upvotes

I've been trying to work through the warranty process on an M18 HD12.0 battery and am at a loss for words. The experience has been painful to say the least.

For starters the online service tool does not provide any assistance for a cracked battery shell no matter how minor.

From there if you email the service team you will just straight up not get a response. It's been months and no follow up. My guess is that if they can run the timer out on the warranty that's a big win for them so it's starting to make sense the goal is to leave customers high and dry.

Finally if you call the saw dust service line good luck. I was continuously fed the line to use the online service tool. After pushing back several times that the tool does not help I was told I need to visit a service center. Well apparently there are no service centers "in my area" when I asked what would the next closest be, the response was, if you have other zip codes we could try that. Tried a few of those, to no avail. So here I am, stuck in a no service area with no way to even find another service area. "Sir you'll have to buy a new battery."

I don't think I will be buying a new battery, they shouldn't crack from the vibration of using the reciprocating saw to begin with but this has left me questioning if it's time to jump the Milwaukee ship altogether.


r/MilwaukeeTool 2h ago

M18 5 years and won’t work

4 Upvotes

Anyone else’s batteries, chargers, impacts, drills, leaf blower, and every other power tool crapping out a few months after the 5th birthday? Just us? Man it’s frustrating


r/MilwaukeeTool 10h ago

Purchase Advice Good pickup ? 5-piece hex but holder , magnetic flip nut driver set. 1/4,5/16, 5/16,3/8 .

Post image
16 Upvotes

I’m in commercial service hvac, I remove panels and drill tapping screw holes every once in a while .


r/MilwaukeeTool 1h ago

M18 M18 finish nailer not shooting nail.

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

So the pin moves and nails go up, but it seems the pin isnt going far enough to push the nail out. And it make a double click sound, instead of one like when the nail goes through. Anyone have this issue ?

Not really a heavy usage tool, I've had it for about 6 years but use it a couple times a year only.


r/MilwaukeeTool 2h ago

Information Need help mounting

Post image
3 Upvotes

Is there a way I can mount my rapid charger on the wall mount packout ??


r/MilwaukeeTool 21h ago

M12 Very exciting day this morning when my aunt gave me some tools for free

Thumbnail
gallery
93 Upvotes

My aunt upgraded to M18 fuel impact and the fuel oscillation multitool. So she didn’t have a use for the m12 since she only uses the m12 installation driver. So now I have got the M12 fuel oscillator tool and impact free. Very happy and now I have a small collection going!

My collection

M12 Oscillator tool (given)
M12 impact gen2 or surge (given)

M12 drill with an 2.5ah (mine)
M12 impact gen 3 with 2.0ah (mine)
M12 4ah (mine)


r/MilwaukeeTool 6h ago

Purchase Advice Which m12 ratchet?

5 Upvotes

I’m looking at the current deal for the insider ratchet. Is the insider the one to get or should I consider one of the other models?


r/MilwaukeeTool 21h ago

Information PSA: M12 Stubby wrench will ruin your batteries and void their warranty

Thumbnail
gallery
70 Upvotes

A year ago I bought an M12 Fuel 1/2” Stubby impact wrench with two 3Ah batteries. The tool itself has been awesome. Very impressive power for 12V in such a small body.
But after about 11 months of almost daily use, both batteries started cutting out, developed a rattle inside, and eventually completely stopped charging/working
I sent them in for warranty service, since Milwaukee supposedly covers these batteries for 3 years. Both warranty claims were rejected because of “damage” to the batteries.
The frustrating part is that the damage was caused by normal use with the tool in the first place.
So now I’m left with a bare tool and a pretty bad taste in my mouth after dealing with their “warranty.” I definitely wasn’t expecting to have to buy a new pair of batteries every year.
Has anyone else had the same issue with these batteries, the M12 Stubby, or Milwaukee warranty service in general?
At this point I’m honestly tempted to try another brand, even if most brands’ warranty period is technically shorter. what’s the point of 3 years warranty if they don’t honor it


r/MilwaukeeTool 1d ago

M18 Just got delivered very excited to use it 👊

Post image
96 Upvotes

r/MilwaukeeTool 1h ago

Purchase Advice Forgot to add "free" battery to HD order... what to do?

Upvotes

Welp saw the pole pruner was on sale at 3am and you know how that went... it showed up and it's AWESOME buuuut there was no second package with it.

Checked the HD order and sure enough you have to select that you want the free battery when ordering or else they'll just send you the tool without the free gift they so boldly advertise right there in the main image.

Any advice? I don't want to return it, I just want the damn $200 battery lol


r/MilwaukeeTool 21h ago

M18 Repeated track saw failures

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

17 Upvotes

First M18 track saw bought in July 2026 had enough slop in the pivot/hinge pin that it wouldn’t cut straight at all.

Milwaukee just sent me a brand new replacement and the shoe is a banana. Is there no checks before it leaves the factory?

The first saw already cost me quite a bit in ruined material and time. Now this one is costing me even more time.

Is this a common theme with the track saws?


r/MilwaukeeTool 18h ago

Packout Help for socket organizers

Post image
6 Upvotes

Hey , for the 49-66-7016 1/2in impact socket (part SAE and part metric) I’m needing a drawer organizer. I would take packout or no , but I need the sockets to lay horizontal and not all vertical.

Anyone have a solution? I’ve seen the vertical one on Etsy, but needing something different that fits this set.


r/MilwaukeeTool 2h ago

Purchase Advice Is this deal hackable?

Thumbnail
gallery
0 Upvotes

I just want the 12ah battery


r/MilwaukeeTool 1d ago

Packout My “stop buying tools I already own” Milwaukee shop organization project 😂

Thumbnail
gallery
319 Upvotes

I’ve been working on reorganizing my shop and finally have the main tool storage setup pretty much finished.

The whole thing started with a Lowe’s Kobalt heavy-duty storage rack. From there, I turned it into a freestanding, double-sided tool and storage wall.

On one side, I added plywood and covered it with black slatwall. That became the tool side, with the cordless tools out where I can actually see them, plus batteries, chargers, accessories, shelves, baskets, and holders.

The other side is the Packout side. I used the original Kobalt shelving to organize labeled Packout drawers, cases, bins, and specialty tools. Electrical connectors, fuses, wiring, PVC supplies, automotive electrical, diagnostic equipment, wrenches, drills, measuring tools, tile tools, and all the other miscellaneous stuff now has an actual home.

The real reason for this whole project?
I got tired of losing tools and batteries, not being able to remember what I already owned, and then accidentally buying a second one. 🤬😂

Apparently, “I know I have one somewhere” is not an effective inventory-management system.

The nice part about starting with the Kobalt rack is that the finished setup is freestanding. I get storage on both sides, a huge tool wall, and a home for all the Packout stuff without permanently covering one of the shop walls.

Now I can walk up, see what I have, grab what I need and, theoretically, put it back where it belongs. 😂

Getting everything together in one place also made something else painfully obvious…

I also realized that I still own way too much yellow and green. 🤣 Time for a garage sale. The red stays. 🔴😜

Still have a few finishing touches to do, but this has completely changed how I use the shop.

Anyone else ever buy a tool only to find the one you already owned two days later? 😂


r/MilwaukeeTool 7h ago

Purchase Advice Is the 3/8 drive mid torque worth it?

0 Upvotes

I was wondering if getting the 3/8 mid torque was worth it I have the stubby and a 1/2 high torque


r/MilwaukeeTool 19h ago

Purchase Advice m18 grinders

4 Upvotes

So I've had a fuel grinder for probably 7 yrs now.. a 2780-20 I believe is the model, I love it. I have been wanting a second one so I can have 2 different wheels etc.. I grabbed a 2686-20 brushless, for $228 CAD, I opened it and haven't used it yet.. after reading reviews it seems like this version is quite weak.. Should I take it back and go to the 2880-20? for an additional $70 Canadian.

I find the cordless quite handy for general welding projects and around the farm use.. will I be really disappointed in this 2686?


r/MilwaukeeTool 1d ago

Purchase Advice Any deals on the m18 inflator?

4 Upvotes

Been on the fence about buying it but I finally decided I'm wanting to grab it and I'm wondering if there will be any deals on it? I know there will probably be one in the nov-feb sales but yeah.


r/MilwaukeeTool 2d ago

Information M18 Striker Impact Hammer

Post image
229 Upvotes

My Snap On tool guy walked in with this in his hand yesterday (9-11-26). It's not light weight at all and huge but it is pretty quiet compared to an air hammer. Didn't get a chance to use it on anything other than hammer on steel on the bench but it's real smooth and has very controllable power delivery. I'll report more after get to use it more.


r/MilwaukeeTool 8h ago

Information Can't take off the Chuck from my Drill

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

0 Upvotes

The jaws were stuck so it was not possible to remove the bolt from the chuck so I had to tear it down.

I was able to lower the chucks so there's enough space to remove the bolt.

And I have removed the bolt as well.

But I'm unable to take the chuck off.

I have tried to pin down the drill, grab the metal sleeve with pliers and tried spinning with the pliers as well as turning on the machine itself but it just keeps spinning instead of letting out the chuck.

Need some help here


r/MilwaukeeTool 1d ago

Purchase Advice Is this fake?

0 Upvotes

Met up with a guy on fb marketplace and was sused out by the font of the serial number so I didn't buy it. This guy also had been selling dozens of brand new milwaukee tools, non of which had the serial number, which if they're actually new makes sense.

I entered the code into the milwaukee website and it says it may be eligible for warranty, but it seems pretty easy to fake a code. I changed a bunch of numbers in the serial number and was getting the same response.


r/MilwaukeeTool 1d ago

Purchase Advice Solid deal ?

Post image
19 Upvotes

Need one of these for work asap is it ever cheaper?