Is Ryobi 18Volt dumped by HD

[rman]

I was at the local Borg in riverdale NJ and noticed that the stock of Ryobi 18 volt power tools is down to the bare min stock and the large kits are priced down almost half! The shelf in the tool coral is being stocked with B&D power tools! What gives I've got almost every 18 volt Ryobi tool and am waiting for new ones (Hopefully a radio) I might have to stock up on additional batteries before HD dumps for a cheaper line of tools predictably B&D! Of course the slackers that claim to work there do not know what's going on with the change just that they are busy stocking shelves. (Thats what they do best)
Any other info on this change at other HD's???

[maxparot]

If it is true that HD and Ryobi a spliting ways I would think that Ryobi's name and reputation have grown enough that they are taking away the exclusivity from HD and would soon be available from other dealers.
This could be a good thing for competative pricing on tools that may be the best values available already. It may also force other tool manufacturers to be more competative.

[mschrank]

Isn't the "ryobi available exclusively at the Home Depot" a fairly recent thing? Seems to me I used to see Ryobi products available at other outlets.

At any rate, I'd like to see the exclusivity go away for Ryobi's sake...I don't think HD represents them well...especially in regards to our favorite TS.

[mikeg]

I know that the HD here has the BT3100 sort of put together but there are plenty of pieces missing or put on wrong. I only bought it because of this forum. And they don't carry ANY accessories. No dado plates, zcp's, nothing.

mikeg

[LinuxRandal]

While I have a strong dislike for "exclusivity", when they don't carry or support items (Ryobi and Ridgid, BOTH come to mind), It is about the time of year, when the old models, start being phased out, for new incoming models. The BT's price drop, and a post on the old software, pointed to a change, but didn't say when.