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.
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".
Im just looking to get something i could use to charge phones and such in case of power outages and such. I don't have any M18s but a bunch of m12 batteries. I keep seeing people post about first using the actual top off and it breaking rather quickly. I don't need it to charge my m12 batteries just for phones in emergencies. If anyone has had any experience with these, that would be appreciated
Messing around in the garage tonight, cleaning up and organizing. Didn't realize I had this many m12 & m18 batteries still. I've sold at least 15 in the last month or so. And this isn't all of them. Pictured: m12: X2 1.5, X1 CP 2.0, X2 HO 5.0. m18: X2 CP 1.5, X2 CP 2.0, X1 XC 3.0 (new), X4 XC 5.0 (1 new), X1 HO 6.0, X1 HO 8.0, X1 FORGE 8.0. Not pictured: m12: x1 CP 2.0, X1 HO 2.5, X1 HO 5.0. M18: X2 CP 2.0, X1 XC 4.0, X2 XC 5.0, X1 HO 6.0, X1 HO 8.0, X1 HD 9.0.
I bought and paid for exactly 2 of these batteries. The 2 M12 5.0's. The rest I built or repaired after receiving them for free. I have a total of $119 into my battery collection, I'll take it. LOL.
And this is just the Milwaukee stuff. Not including the massive stash I have waiting to be resurrected. Probably an easy 200 packs across all brands in total waiting on their turn.
Hi Folks, great saw but I'm getting fed up with constantly putting the chain back on. Figuring that the Milwaukee 0.043" chain gauge was too thin for a 16" bar, tried an Oregon 16" bar with 0.050" gauge chain. Better but still comes off too often. I believe the bar is too long for thin chain.
I have a 10" bar with 3/8" pitch and 0.050 guage chain on order. If I have to cut anything bigger than 10" diameter, I'll use a gas saw. Milwaukee said bars shorter than their 14" will not fit...stay tuned.
Looking to find out if the 3 panel M18 Rover light is a good upgrade from a dual halogen bulb stand light. I know it’ll be much more portable, cooler and lighter. But will it give me a decent output compared to that for say stairwells and other spaces to be working in? Also how is the rover outdoors?
HD has a $99 tool hack now so I’m considering doing this while it’s cheap.
I have the full line of M18 fuel stuff but no M12 stuff - I'm currently tearing down my WRX and well.. if you know you know.
I have a pneumatic cheap ratchet that I used to use for the odd thing but my little pancake compressor just can't keep up with all the tight bolts on this stupid car.
Is the 3/8" BRUSHED ratchet decent? I normally go for Brushless but here in Canada land I can get the ratchet + 1.5battery and charger for $125.00 Canadian Pesos (that's a good price here lol) and in this application I think Brushed is fine as I really won't be
I know we're not talking a lot of money.. hell one stupid coilpack for the car was more, just don't want to pick it up only to realize it's hot garbage that spins slower that I could turn my manual ratchet and now I'm stuck with another battery platform where I have no plans to buy any other m12 stuff
Purchased about a month ago, this flashing pattern started yesterday when charging. Usually yellow pulsing with intermittent green, occasionally a red.
Just bought the m18 inflator and I’m assuming it doesn’t have a deflate option. I see a lot of people using the Amazon quick connect chucks but does anyone have one they can recommend with an air release button? I got it mainly to take to the track when I’m drifting and I do a lot of inflating and deflating when swapping tires.
I don’t have a ratchet or an impact. I’ve got a good few m18 tools but this would be my first entry into the m12 line. For a home diy is this a good deal or should I pass?
I’m looking to pick up some new impact sockets for my 3/8” Stubby and came across this set for $99. Seems like a decent deal, but I’d eventually need to buy 20mm-24mm sockets separately in both standard and deep. I don’t use SAE very often, but it does come in handy occasionally.
Is there a good way to mix and match sets to get the most complete setup without overspending? I know Milwaukee sells a 6-24mm set with SAE sizes in a Packout mount, but those are all deep sockets and it isn’t on sale for anything crazy at the moment ($199).
Any recommendations are appreciated. With Black Friday right around the corner, I don’t mind waiting if there are usually better deals or specific sets worth looking out for.
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edit: I don’t care about the Packout itself. My only priority is getting 3/8” drive metric deep and standard sockets up to 24mm as cost-effectively as possible. SAE sockets would be a bonus if they’re included in the mix.
All the Milwaukee Impact driver anvil swaps I see have been 1/2" as it's easier to bore out drive housing. Never did like the 1/2" as I reserved those sockets for heavier duty jobs thus, I give you the 3/8" version. Had to turn a 4140PH bushing down to size (.5905" OD .5185" ID) and lapped it into the spindle bore.
So yeah basically title. If the gun is set to 1st or 2nd speed and I pull the trigger it beeps and then does the normal pullback. Get to level 3 and things work fine.
I read the beeping is the motor shutting itself off for protection from motor overload. I haven't even run any caulk through this yet so I don't know what to think.
Just bought 2 days ago from Clark's tools, they sent me the wrong Rover light let me keep it and are sending the Rover I wanted free of charge. Now this happens and I feel like I'm being a stickler.
Which light to get for automotive work (brakes jobs, suspension work etc) and general purpose around the house? I am DIYer and not a pro at all so I work in my dim light gar garage. I already have Braun head light and magnetic stick light. The stick light does not light up well and chargeable battery dies. I also have the M12 under hood light.
Summary is im in a position where I just need to totally swap on tools. I see people doing the bogo return deals and there always seems to be new deals pop up and of course blackfriday coming around. Would anyone have advice saying its better to do the bogo deal and return multiple times being worth the head ache etc or hope for a really solid deal on a total kit? Looking at only m18 fuel versions and to of course max amount of batteries in deals. Tools im listing below are in order of importance in need and want if deal is good enough.
Optional Want if deal is good enough: sawzall, 1/2 Impact wrench, grinder, miter(if was pretty much 100 or less w a deal)
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Previously getting by w miss matched ive acquired on a need to basis so jumping into the deep end here. Figured itd be best to wait for blackfriday anyways and go from there.
I was able to get in on the hammer drill/impact bundle yesterday with the extra impact and free tool for $399. I ordered it through the military exchange and there were 100+ units left when my order was confirmed. I see today that it has now been cancelled. This isn't the first time this sort of thing has happened for deals like this. Is it because the military exchange delays things enough that they have time to catch what may have been a glitch? Super frustrating to get confirmed for something and have it cancelled with no other communication.
Just picked these up. Bundled them thru the Home Depot deals! Still missing 4 batteries and a 100pc drill set with PACKOUT! Finally switched from dewalt to Milwaukee. Excited to put them to use on my next project. The wife said she wanted a 15ft closet so I took it as an excuse to buy me some new tools lol. Still keeping an eye for more tools to buy so keep me updated on more deals!
