My dad has a bunch of Makita powered tools and I thought it would be a nice gift to get him some Makita batteries as spares as I'm told extra batteries are always nice.
They don't seem to come cheap, or they're packaged in sets with tools he already has.
Any recommendations on how to get the best bang for buck?
This. 99% chance they’re stolen from Bunnings as well.
Nah, that's an exaggeration. Tradies buy combo kits all the time because buying skins don't make sense, and end up with too many batteries. I am not a tradie and I've probably sold 15-20 batteries so far.
How would they be stolen from Bunnings? They keep batteries in a cabinet at the tool shop counter…
Ppl flog them from skin and battery packs from the shelves.
The best way is to get bonus batteries with a set of tools, but you need to actually want the tools to make it worth it.
Eg something like this https://toolswarehouse.com.au/collections/special-offers/pro…
Either way, buy brand new from marketplace or buy brand new kit and sell the tools on marketplace.
Unfortunately Makita are really bad for any form of outright "special". Yeah, you can buy a tool pack (or redemtion deal) and sell off the bits you dont want but that's all pretty painful if you ask me.
Tools Warehouse occasionally have 20% off.
Just be aware that ebay e.t.c. is full of counterfeit batteries. So the awesome deal may not be what you think it is. There's a number of YT vids on the subject.
Having said that… Makita have kinda made the counterfeit battery market somewhat worthy of consideration. On an ethical level, they charge so much for their batteries (and remember they manufacture in huge quantities) that they are taking people for an absolute ride. There's nothing much special aboute their batteries… they're just descent 18650s inside. Buying that 6.0ah that might really be a 5.0ah off ebay at 1/3rd the price vs being absolutely shafted my makita for 1 extra ah… consumers are not the only ones with an ethical choice here….
Speaking of tools Warehouse they have 30% off today… 2 x 5.9ah for $230.30. Thats a good price by makitas standard.
Facebook marketplace. People buy kits and sell their unused batteries all the time. 5Ah ones are around $90-100 each.