Bosch is Worse Than Done... It's Irrelevant! 

Bosch is as irrelevant in the US as Milwaukee and Dewalt are irrelevant in europe. Don't worry they're fine. ✌

My entire US shop is Bosch, corded, 12v and 18v. Zero issues. Bosch doesn't have a visible presence at retail stores like Home Depot, thus isn't held up on a pedestal from an optics standpoint to the average consumer. As someone who doesn't buy tools based on what's on the retail shelf, I chose Bosch.

There’s also something to be said about American attitudes. Bosch focuses on good engineering and ergonomics. Their tools are lighter and more efficient than domestically-designed tool companies. As a Bosch user, I get shit from folks who lug around their heavy, loud American tools. I think insecure men feel they need that as a prop, like big trucks.

I contacted Bosch about my broken drill trigger. I asked for a part to fix it. They sent me a brand new 18v drill. 🎉

I’ve owned Bosch tools by choice for over 20 years. They are exceptionally tough. It’s too bad they dont more to put themselves out there. Plus you can’t beat Bosch Blue

I’m from Australia, carpenters mostly have makita here but i own around 10k worth of cordless Bosch and it is fantastic. 6 year tool and battery warranty and whenever the boys use my tools they make comments how nice they are.

Bosch has been introducing new tools every other week now for the past few months. Bosch is far from dead. Their testing on TTC proves they're stepping up their game.

I’ve had no issues with my 18v stuff, aside from my first slim packs finally hitting the end of their lives after 15 years. As someone that occasionally works on random house renovations, I quite like that my tools are less likely to walk away since everyone uses yellow or red. Also easier to figure out who’s tools are whose when you have roommates that also have power tools. I hunt around and find the best deal, usually not any more expensive than the other brands. Honestly, seems a bit pointless to make a video saying a brand is irrelevant when it’s not a quality issue.

You should specify in America because in Europe they dominate

I just put a pair of Bosch windshield wipers on my truck.

I purchased a bosch 18v sander, and a drill for some home reno work last year. I picked them up mostly because I can go onto their website, and look at schematics and buy repair parts.

At my local Lowe's, the Bosch section has been neglected and covered in dust for years. They could care less about it.

When I retired my DeWalt cordless tools I went with Bosch don't have to worry about my batteries walking and I like the ergonomics better than the DeWalt.

I used to buy Bosch wipers as the best available for my vehicle... and I stopped buying them when they stopped selling replacement wiper refills and you had to buy the entire wiper and arm assembly (which is now how they all are). I hate the "throw away culture" we have now, especially when it's completely unnecessary like in this case.

Ive been moving away from ridgid and over to bosch for my new tools. You can usually get a battery free with bosch tool at lowes. I now have more bosch batteries than i ever did with ridgid.

You should try the Bosch quick release multi-tool. It is miles ahead of any other quick release for multi-tools (including DeWalt). It is easier to operate than the DeWalt quick release and you can use any StarLock blade. Try it next time you are at a Lowe's, it is amazing. Speaking of blades, this might be a bit off topic, but Bosch makes great blades and bits. And yes, I am including the Diablo stuff because Bosch owns Diablo. To my eye there isn't a difference between Diablo and Bosch (might be wrong). As far as the deals, I found buy a tool, get a two pack of 4 ah batteries or a battery and charger free. There also happened to be sales at that time on those tools. So I picked up like 5 tools in the $53-100ish range and got a ton of batteries. Also have seen decent buy more save more deals. But that can be a way of buying things that you don't need. All of this was at Lowe's within the last year. I think the deals are a little more hidden because quite frankly not a lot of people care. Which brings me to availability. In my opinion, availability is most important in battery powered tools and is most important when getting someone in a battery line or choosing between two options in one battery line. People that aren't Tool reviewers rarely have more than two battery lines and most only have one. Therefore, few people are shopping between brands for their next cordless tool. It is as simple as choosing the one that is your favorite tool color/the one you have batteries for. You also can't actually use the tool in stores. You can figure out more within 5 minutes of putting a battery in a tool than you will ever be able to in a store. At the end of the day I think Bosch has a marketing problem in the US. They probably need to be in Home Depot to have people interested in them. The tools I have tried are smooth and powerful. Can't speak for the freak, but honestly an impact driver is NOT an impact wrench. Carpenters want to drive a screw as fast as possible and Mechanics just want to get that stupid rusty bolt off. Trying to do both will result in a tool that is meh at best on both fronts. And will likely fail when used as a true impact Wrench. Don't judge a tool brand by its worst idea.

Last year I purchased a Bosch corded circular saw. I dropped it multiple times and that thing still wirks great. What turns me off to their cordless tools is that when I was a teenager somebody gave me one and it worked for like 5 days before it completely fried itself in a pretty spectacular fashion.

My local Tractor Supply carries a good number of Bosch power tools. Cordless, cord, bits, and other accessories.

When I worked for a mill shop back in the late 90's Bosch was thought of as the high end German made tool. Our tool of choice at the time was Porter-Cable for routers, sanders, saws.

Then again there is Bosh Power Share. Bosch Batterys are used in many other maschines from other companys from garden tools to packaging hand machines from companys like Cyclops

Love their 12volt small impact and drill set, we all use them at work.

I own a lot of Bosch corded/cordless tools dating back 20 years and really like them. Haven't really had any problems with them. The problem I have with Bosch is their resistance or disinterest in coming out with different tools. They make great drill/drivers, but how many different models of the same thing do you need? One tool I wish they would come out with is a cordless ratchet. I hate that I had to buy a Milwaukee (which is great too), when I have many Bosch batteries already.

I have been using the Bosch 3 plane laser level for 5 years and it is fantastic

In my home shop, I have a Bosch 12" sliding miter saw, jigsaw, router, and cordless drills. No complaints, and would buy them again.

The only 18v Bosch I own is the orbital sander, and it is hands down the smoothest I’ve ever used. My Flex one is definitely more powerful and better for removing material, but the Bosch is buttery smooth.

I use mostly Bosch professional tools, corded, 12v and 18v. Both at work and at home. Most are high quality and good performers to acceptable prices. The new 18v Biturbo tools that I have used performed very well, such as the reciprocating saw and SDS max GBH 18V-45 C concrete hammer drill. Today they have a relatively wide product line with tools for wood, steel and concrete. And many of the weaker tools (in performance) have been replaced with better versions now. I think the main problem is the marketing effort in North America.

I don't know what tha' hell was this. It seemed like you were grasping at straws, while trying not to go overboard and everyone calling you on it. So, Bosch marketing from two years ago is the problem is somehow a negative doom-n-gloom indicator - when in fact it worked, given that I didn't know anything about them, but because of their free battery deals, now I am into ALL their 18 and 12V? Or that "Lowe's is not for pros! Well, except for Flex...and Toughbuilt...and Cobalt....oh, yeah, and Bosch..."? Or they don't have a large 18v line...like, you know, Ridgid, and Flex, and Cobalt, and Craftsman, and.........EVERYONE else, but for Makita, Milwaukee and Ryobi? Who tha' hell out there has a bigger line? Hilti doesn't. Neither does Festool. Yes, they are primarily sold on line, but...THEY ALWAYS WERE! How exactly does that make them "irrelevant" NOW, more than before? Dude, sorry, but that sucked. I wouldn't mind if you had a good argument, maybe I missed something I should know, but the way you presented it? The examples you gave were at best uninformed, and at worse dishonest. Ok, Freak is not the most powerful out there, but not everyone needs a wrist-busting impact, but YES, the 1/2 socket adapter is the BEST idea out there on impacts. I have the first, and weakest generation of the Freak, but I also have the latest, third generation, and guess which one I use 95% of the time...Oh, and you showed it with their not-most powerful drill/driver. And then, "not recommending their 18V line"? Really?!? They were the first to use the new 2170 batteries, and not only that, right away they came up with the "pro core" concept, the separating of each stuck working separately, from four years ago, when Milwauke...JUST DID IT THIS YEAR! And they are the smallest factor batteries! They have the best orbital sander line with FOUR different kind of sanders, the best X-Lock system (the ones who came up with it!), the most powerful 6in angle grinder, the most powerful drill/hammer, the most powerful reciprocating saw, the only circular saw and track saw that works on their own proprietary track AND the festool-style tracks, the absolutely-no-freaking-argument best portable 18v HEPA vacuum, and on, and on.... So, yeah, what tha' hell are you talking about?!? Edit: Not a "woodworker tool", but also there is the impact wrenches, both the mid and high impact, the only ones that bested the Milwaukees

All my tools are Bosch , been well used and bever let me down , and their battery technology is among the best their is

I really like my 12 V Bosch drill. It’s my go to drill for inside the house.

Spot on with the corded tools. The Bosch routers and circ saws are some of the best made. The convenience of going to your local box store and picking up a red or yellow tool pretty much takes Bosch out of the equation for me in the cordless section.

Man I skip HD and go straight to Lowes. HD does not carry anything these days.

Honestly the freak is a beast change the tire on the van then do a subfloor replacement. As a floor guy I run Bosch because my batteries won’t walk away and their tools have a reputation of abuse me please. Haven’t let me down yet bosch is a pro brand . Just overlooked

So...they make quality tools and they're the second largest tool manufacturer in the world. I don't understand how this makes Bosch irrelevant. I've always been pretty satisfied with the Bosch tools that I've bought.

From a Bosch fan with a large collection, you are correct. Bosch does not have a significant footprint in the retail stores. Not a big issue these days. It's all about marketing, and the kings are DeWalt and Milwaukee. Yes they have some quality tools, but is the quality at the Makita and Bosch level, I do not think so. DeWalt was resurrected from an abandoned radial arm saw brand and marketed beyond imagination in the late 90s which is what established them. Remember those disposable 18 volt Nicad batteries😁. Milwaukee was a great American brand historically that turned into a marketing machine shortly after TTI (China) purchased them. They have done great at creating some of the most powerful cordless tools and targeting trade specific design. Milwaukee lost me in the early 2000s with the intro of V18 Lithium Ion line as it was a fail followed by abandonment. Bosch is not the same type of player just like Makita, Festool, Hilti. These all have there nich market and will most likely continue.

Their concrete tools are still among the best when price considered

This is a very interesting video. Thanks! Loved it.

As current long time user of Bosch Professional Power Tools for over 23 years, i concur with the gist of your video as It is all about the non existent marketing by Bosch in your Country USA. Here internationally, i got all their large line of lastest quality cordless tools. Bosch North America needs to follow suit of the colleagues in the UK & Germany, as they both got monthly livestreams on RU-vid, showcasing their tools & answering our questions of up coming new tools, plus they do country wide tours by themselves every week of every month showcasing their tools, along with attending tool shows when they come around. So us Professionals are fully aware of their large cordless tool line. I asked Bosch North America if they would start to do such, they said that is a great idea, but haven't got any update to know if they started. Much respect for your work sir. Keep it up.

Bosch rules in Europe and in Asia (with Makita). In the US is ok if they are on 5th or something like that. Because you guys have other big local brands, that a national american is inclined to buy. It's totally fine, you need to help the local economy. And that's why Bosch is not investing in the local market like in Europe. Where the competition is crushed easily. Globally, they are a mamut and will never be Irrelevant

Bosch makes over 11 times the yearly revenue of any other leading tool company. It's because they are not just a tool company. They could stop selling tools tomorrow and that will be just fine. Their tools are durable and dependable, don't be fooled just because they only carry a handful of outdated Bosch tools at Lowe's and home Depot pretty much is just the TTI store now.

you are half correct, what BOSCH has done "partnered with with hundreds of leading tool companies, merger is called AMP/SHARE, BOSCH will be the power source for all these other tool brands" why make tools when you have the battery business locked down? its a game changer when you look into this merger its going to be massive!

My next cat will be called Makita, now. The local Do It Best used to be a solid place to buy Makita. Kinda went to the wayside when Milwaukee came in strong with their hand tools and the like.

Great video as always

I would be curious to know your top 10 starter diy buy it for life hand tools and electric tools. I’m attempting to start out my collection with quality I can use for a very long time. Love your videos.

I actually got a free Freak and I did the break up thing and got a cordless grinder too... my batteries crapped out stone cold with no warning all at once... kind of why I'm hesitant to explore any further.

Thanks for picking on my freak now it has a complex..😂

love my 12 volt

It's Bosch all the way for me. They are really good tools and tough. I don't choose my brand on the basis of who stocks them, I choose them for performance

About 4+ yrs ago my barn manager asked me to do work on the property. I'd take my paycheck and start getting tools. I went with Ryobi cordless 1, because the nearness to an electrical outlet was prohibitive and I'd need lots of extension cords. 2, because their battery platform ran all of their product lines including the old stuff. As I ran into a situation where I needed a different tool I'd get it. I had the little chop saw, but ran into a huge problem when it took 3 cuts to cut a 4x4. I saw at Home Depot a Ryobi Cordless radial arm saw 36v and got it. It fit the need perfectly and I built my wife's horse's stall a lot faster.

I think Bosch is becoming relevant again because their price. They're offering similar performance and longevity as the other brands for around 20% less in many cases.

I just purchased a Bosch orbital sander from Menards, and I absolutely love it. You're right unfortunately menards is about it when it comes to having a huge selection of cordless bosch tools, but if you're lucky enough to live by one, I highly recommend them. I'll be adding more bosch stuff in the future. You mentioned the saw. My dad just bought it and said it's the best he's used, super smooth.

I live in Europe, and Bosch is very popular here. We also have a DIY line from Bosch, the green line and it’s available in every DIY shop. Great value for money. The blue line is also popular. I love the 12v blue line. It’s compact, very ergonomic and reliable. What’s not to like about it?

I run Bosch 18 and 12 volt on residential job sites. Every guy on my crew loves the 12v drills. My 18v 8ah batteries are bar none the best batteries on the job.

Bosch makes solid tools, but they've been left behind in the power department by Milwaukee, Dewalt, and Flex. Another problem is that Dewalt and Milwaukee are constantly being promoted and on sale. Home Depot does a far better job of promoting and having tools in-stock for Milwaukee than any other brand in any other store. There's always Milwaukee tools on sale at Home Depot. Most tools I need are right on the shelf, too, and Home Depots seem to be in more convenient locations than Lowes. Bosch used to be the go to brand for woodworkers, but as the shift to battery power came, Bosch got left behind. Oh, and O-H-I-O ROCKS! Wouldn't live anywhere else!

Bosch doesn’t need to shill to influencers to get their products like other brands do. Bosch tools speak for themselves. People who use them love it and stick with it

I love my Bosch 12v drill

Yea their corded tools are great. Definitely like their routers.

This is a damn shame, Bosch makes some of the best corded tools, yet Lowes doesn't carry them.

0:48 this shop has two corded bulldogs. A staple and must have in every shop!

The Bosch cordless remind me a lot like makita and both probably have the highest quality. I had to rethink Bosch after watching a service guy repairing them and both are substantially better than Milwaukee

We have Milwaukee, Makita and Metabo HPT in our business but the recent 18V tools are really quality and some of the best made in the business and we've actually been adding more tools on jobsite as of late

In Fontana ca Lowe’s and Home Depot Bosch tool display is dead I found 2 --18 volt cordless on sale display only Sad to see if Bosch is going to be like SEARS I know I can buy online but I like to feel the ergonomics of the tools before I buy one

Bosch is what I settled on after using both Dewalt and Milwaukee early on in my career. I get $#! + for using pack out boxes for storage but they're a big improvement over my Bosch Lboxx system.

Bought my first house in 1997. First thing I did was buy the new Bosch 18v kit for $599 from the now defunct Eagle Home and Garden. Within 4yrs of nothing but using the kit for home improvements on weekends, the batteries had to be replaced or rebuilt by Batteries +. When I sold that house and bought my new one on 2002, the house I'm still in today, I switched over to Makita. I've never had a problem except for replacing a battery or 2. Matter of fact, I still have a couple of Makita 2.0ah batteries from 2012 that still work.

I have a Bulldog and a router. Great tools. My battery tools are Milwaukee. Great vid Bear. Thanks

It would be interesting to see thier market share. Actually it would be cool if you could make a chart of cordless sales by company year by year

The problem is Bosch has made no real effort to enter the cordless market in the USA

My friend and I got drill sets at the same time, I got Bosch, he got makita and were similar specs. He is onto his third drill, my original Bosch is still going hard and that’s after leaving it out overnight in the rain twice in 7 years

You’re right, it is odd. What could be the problem? Are they giving up?

Bosch makes the Best Dishwashers!

He's right !!🤷‍♂️🤷‍♀️

Ok. for 1 I live in Ohio. 15 20 minutes from a Menards haha... I own a couple bosch 12v tools and loved them. Wanted more but started getting m12 line of tools (pawn shop finds) I do own multiple bosch corded routers. Only router I will spend money on. When I need a new jig saw... It will be a bosch. which goes by your point ( corded tools) One of my co workers has a bosch drill for many years sees lots of abuse and still works.. so over all. Everything you said besides for getting out of Ohio thing ill have to agree with. Great corded tools. good 12v line. rare to find 18v. If i was to move away from the m18 platform Id consider either makita or bosch.

I started with Bosch, but the compact size and light weight of the Milwaukee M12 and M18 stuff is enough to choose it, as a non-professional home user.

Honestly. When I go to look for a tool. I don't consider Bosch at all.

When I bought my house 3 years ago, I went with Bosch for 3 reasons: 1) I already had a Bosch drill. 2) The Freak meant one less tool I needed to buy (I bought a newer one, not the original). 3) Lowes had a big sale where you got a free battery and charger with most of the bare tools I needed. The impact is great because you can leave the T20 on while using it as a wrench. It also has more torque as a wrench than a regular impact driver because you don't need to adapt up from 1/4" to 1/2". The only downside is you need two hands to put in a new driver bit. My main complaint with Bosch is they only carry professional tools and don't have homeowner tools like everyone else. I ended up buying a Craftsman inflator, because it can be powered by battery, cigarette adapter, or AC. But now I have three battery systems (including Ego).

I love my 12v Bosch . I have the 1/4 “ Impact/driver set , bought in 2010 for 129.00 . I have Milwaukee,Dewalt but I grab the Bosch 9 out of 10 times. The 12v hits my hands and I’m retired so I don’t use them quite as hard as when I was a commercial electrician. I will buy every set I see on sale, I have 4 drills &4impacts. For 18/20 v I am married to Dewalt but am cheating on them with Hercules in the camper because they have gone nuts with the whole battery thing. I just need a friggen battery . At a decent price and decent quality. ‘Not something that is so expensive that it grows legs the second you put it down. I will NEVER pay $200 for a battery unless it’s going in me truck or camper.

Perhaps Bosch doesn't have a ton of cordless tools. But who really needs, and I do mean NEEDS, cordless tools? Very few people are what I think. Yes, they're convenient, but I could live without any of my cordless tools. It's almost like people are afraid to plug in a cord 😮. I think it's more the same attitude that most of the last 2 generations have had. (I deserve to have it all and I deserve to have it all right this second! I shouldn't actually have to work for it!) It's a sad situation indeed 😢. Corded tools always give better performance and that's alright with me. I'll be happy to plug in my cords and not continue to buy batteries. It simply comes down to laziness and too many parents letting their kids get away with it. Send me your hate mail! It won't bother me a bit.😊 😊😊

I help lead charity housing rehab work a few times a year. Teams of volunteers bring personal tool bags with most brands represented. I got tired of getting tools and batteries mixed up so I bought in to the Bosch line. The tools are mostly excellent and nothing goes missing anymore because virtually no one has Bosch. Good for me, but seems not so good for the company's market share evidently.

We have a huge number of Bosch tools where I work. I can believe the daily abuse and they don’t die. Repair areas are mostly yellow and red though.

This is such a shame because Bosch makes wonderful products, including their cordless line. Unfortunately for them, it is a fiercely competitive market. They did not advertise and promote their products the way their competitors did.

They have an F on the BBB. I have a lot bad Bosch Tools.Lithium Batteries go out and switches go out.

I honestly haven’t seen any Bosch tools marketing , I did however seen their dishwasher ads more than their tool ads

I have the 3/4 hammer drill, circular saw, freak/hammer drill combo and the small radio. Love them and they have worked great so far but I have never paid full price so I can afford them.

I've always been on the Bosch 12v line. Lowes ran a sale where they had their 18v 975 inch pound drill/hammer drill for 99 bucks and you got 2 free 18v 4ah batteries along with it so I jumped on that because I needed a bigger drill with 1/2" chuck and a side handle. Whale of a deal and I love it.

Awesome perspective! It sounds like Bosch could use a little help with Marketing and Distribution here in the states.

I think you can still get their corded jigsaw made in, I believe, switzerland or hungary maybe? Also their laser level / measuring tool. Those are considered top end aren't they?

The situation is similar in Canada. None of professional stores sell Bosch tools extensively. Only a few DIY friendly ones like RONA or Canadian Tire. And their selection is not realy diverse. Heck, even local professional tool store does not have cordless Bosch at all!

I agree with you - I like to see and hold a tool before purchasing. I don’t care about “specs”, I want a hand or power tool that feels right in the hand when operating. Coincidentally, I was just saying this same thing about Metabo HPT. They seem to be shrinking in Lowe’s and they are getting clearanced out of Menards completely aside from nailers. I don’t know how they can maintain or gain any customers if they aren’t available in a retail store.

Irrelevant, and people need to know it. Bosch refuse to replace an improperly manufactured high pressure hose on a brand new device. Their customer care is bad. They will not stand over their poorly made products. All they needed to do was send me a replacement hose. I have the receipt of sale. They refuse to do so, and I believe people ought to be aware of this.

I saw an SDS Max Bosch Hitman normally $529 that I found a crazy deal for $139 at Lowes which I picked up. Non SDS hammer drill purchases have been underpowered by a large margin.

I'm starting to stock up on Bosch tools and after already having a bulldog SDS boschhammer and a worm drive skill saw I'm firmly convinced that these guys know how to build well thought out and durable tools. The freak is very cool and I like thier hammer drill. The freak has impressed me with the torque. Also compared to the Makita multi tool Bosch pretty much stomps it in ergonomics and weight which means everything for making those precision cuts.

It's true, Bosch cordless tools are hard to find in stock. Every Bosch tool I have, is still working just fine. I also own Dewalt 20 and 60 volt tools. I still have some older 18 volt, 12 volt and even a 7.2 volt screwdriver. All are working just fine. I had 0ne dewalt 18 volt battery go bad. Then there is my dust collecting Milwaukee tools. I had to replace the batteries all the time. Never had a Milwaukee battery last two years. The final straw for Milwaukee, I had a set of hole saws that were oval not round. The one thing the Milwaukee made best were the axe and torch recip. blades.

Yup, no one buying Bosch tools lately. I’m a fan of innovations like ampshare, x lock and starlock. Their & Connect app is the. However Milwaukee and Dewalt are more powerful. Bosch 12v is cheap but less brushless than m12. makita has best vibration control. I like Metabo Hpt and Bosch they are better value but it is difficult to get specialty tools on the US and less to choose from. Bosch is still more popular in Europe. they know they are not competing for top brand in the US, it’s not their main market just like the Japanese brands but I wish they would sell me their tools

Honestly in my area everyone has Milwaukee. The pawn shops sit on every thing else. But if a Milwaukee lands on the shelf it is sold in a couple days for double the money. Everything else sits and collects dust.

I still love the lasers

In Europe, Bosch is more common, but owning a bunch of Blue, i really hesitate to buy more. Their oscillating tool uses non standard blades(starlock) blue 18v batteries don't fit green 18v tools. So i wanted to buy some garden equipment which Bosch has in the green line but my batteries won't fit. Even though they are fairly common in my area, I need a good reason to buy Bosch

I still use my 25 year old Bosch router regularly. I probably would have invested in their cordless system but they were late to the game and I already bought a bunch of Ryobi's.

I still have my old W. German made sds drill. It died after 20 years of hard daily service. The new one I bought is made in China, it worked fine for the last 5 years of my previous career. Now it just sits on s shelf and now and then is used around the house.

In the US market, many of these tool brands will live and die on the crappiness of the Lowes display.

I went with the black and yellow because of the tools in stock that I could lay my hands on. I tried a Bosch corded router, which I still have, but I have to work too hard to use it. Just not comfortable in the hands.

The next time you are in the Chicago area you really need to check out Berland's House of Tools. Years ago I ventured into cordless being a big corded Milwaukee and Bosch fan. The guys at Berland's steered me towards Panasonic back then, and I loved it. At the time, Bosch cordless was on my radar. These days I have become mostly Milwaukee and Makita 12 and 18 volt, but if I wasn't married to other battery lines I would do Bosch. Berland's has an outstanding selection of Bosch, and a lot of others too. Neat historical fact, the Sherman family that runs Berland's is the Sherman of Sherman Klove, better known as SK.