Price Increases at Harbor Freight Tool

[rixtrix1]

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that since Harbor Freight started loaning tools to various publications for testing and getting glowing reviews back, that their prices have increased 20-30%? It seem that what used to be retail prices is now the sale price.

 

[KamiCrit]

Gotta pay those workers in china!

 

[ChevyEFI]

It's a business. They do increase prices, but I believe they have overall increased products on sale.

A hydro. gear puller there saved me $1400 over other brands new so I'm fairly okay with their business model for the time being.

I'd say the long-term prices have changed in a predictable on larger items due to fuel costs / shipping.

 

[owenst7]

The quality and customer service is better than craftsman, so the price increased accordingly.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

They're spreading (like a cancer, to some) and getting their name out there. The price is only going to continue to go up, as other brands (cough, Craftsman) go down in quality but keep the same price point.

I think this is why we're now seeing regular 25% off coupons over the 20% coupons. Raise the prices 10%+, and offer an extra 5% off, people still think they're getting a better deal.

 

[1950mercury]

I just found a 2009 hf catalog and they havnt raised there prices 20-30% since then. I hate to say it but if u are on a tight budget you cant beat there pro line anywere in the world...

 

[sloppy]

Gas and milk have went up to..

 

[CD1]

I just found a 2009 hf catalog and they havnt raised there prices 20-30% since then. I hate to say it but if u are on a tight budget you cant beat there pro line anywere in the world...

BS, HF has been raising prices the last three years, you just don't follow them closely like many of us here do!

 

[tedsters]

it ain't just HF look at gas prices or groceries everything has gone up its economy and are government

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Few years back you could get six ton jack stands on sale for $20. Now the three ton jack stands on sale sell for that.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

We've had a HF For less then 8 months so I cant comment on a long trend, but I want to say I recall the 44" Being $349.99 with coupons, now the cheapest I see it is $369.99

Same goes for the toolcarts... 4 drawer used to be 99.99, now its either 109 or 119, I cant remember..

 

[chipper]

I would be more upset for not being able to use coupons on tool storage anymore

 

[warmpancakes]

Its not just harbor freight its everything US dollar is falling in value compared to the Yuan, so it takes more US dollars to buy the stuff (chinese made goods), But keep thinking of the great deals and keep shopping there.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Welcome to economics...we are having our own economic troubles while China is a growing nation. Their goods are going to cost a little more as a result...


Say what you will about HF, they at least know how to run a business decently. They are expanding, and the quality of what they sell tends to get better as the time goes by.

 

[mr overdunne]

They're spreading (like a cancer, to some) and getting their name out there. The price is only going to continue to go up, as other brands (cough, Craftsman) go down in quality but keep the same price point.

I think this is why we're now seeing regular 25% off coupons over the 20% coupons. Raise the prices 10%+, and offer an extra 5% off, people still think they're getting a better deal.

in Chicago we call that the "kohls syndrome." we have a store called kohls that constantly raises their prices and then offers % off coupons and mailers to make you feel better about paying the regular retail price you would generally pay anywhere. lol.

 

[montanafordman]

On the bright side, with us spending money like its going out of style, killing the US dollar those prices from china will only continue to rise until it makes more economic sense to manufacture here again vs. paying the freight to buy and ship from other countries. Some segments / industries are already discovering this and moving our way again.

 

[LOTW]

I used to earn $4.25 an hour

 

[warmpancakes]

other countries. Some segments / industries are already discovering this and moving our way again.

Nope its called 4.00 per gallon fuel Thats the line when fuel is above 4.00 shipping becomes too expensive to haul it around the world

 

[RedneckWelder]

On the bright side, with us spending money like its going out of style, killing the US dollar those prices from china will only continue to rise until it makes more economic sense to manufacture here again vs. paying the freight to buy and ship from other countries. Some segments / industries are already discovering this and moving our way again.

That's not the way you want manufacturing to come back to the US...

 

[LEVE]

The costs and prices have both risen since 2008. In 2011 HF settled a lawsuit with it's founder. That, though undisclosed, has got to cost a small chunk of change.

Harbor Freight Founder Settles Lawsuit

 

[mtesh73]

i think the timing on that particular box matters greatly. i purchased two of them, one in february with coupon for $369 and one in march with coupon for $349, they adjusted the february purchase for me as well when i made the march purchase.

We've had a HF For less then 8 months so I cant comment on a long trend, but I want to say I recall the 44" Being $349.99 with coupons, now the cheapest I see it is $369.99

Same goes for the toolcarts... 4 drawer used to be 99.99, now its either 109 or 119, I cant remember..

 

[capturedlive]

I think the price of gas is the biggest and easiest culprit to why prices go up. It's why food and everything else got more expensive, and that's just the way it is. Frankly, I think HF's price hikes (if any-- I haven't noticed them) have been modest compared to most other stuff out there.

 

[Zapp Branigan]

The prices are going up, but so is the quality. I bought tools from HF when they just had a crappy two page flyer and everything was mail order (pre-internet). That stuff was horrible. The tools they have now are better than what Sears sells today, so why wouldn't the price go up? When I was a teenager, Japanese tools were exactly the same ****, and they were just as cheap. The sockets would break under light use. History is repeating itself. Before long, you'll probably be seeing crappy African tools.

 

[southalabama]

As quality goes up so will price.

I recall when Japanese manufactured tools or Taiwan manufactured tools were considered junk. Some of my first tools were stanley made in Japan and sold in Kmart. Those tools look pretty good after 30 yrs. automobiles were the same way

China manufacturing is going through the transformation. As they improve quality price will follow.

 

[healing]

The costs and prices have both risen since 2008. In 2011 HF settled a lawsuit with it's founder. That, though undisclosed, has got to cost a small chunk of change.

Harbor Freight Founder Settles Lawsuit

From that article it sounds like the CEO is a real piece of work (be sure to read the comments). You add his attitude to his political party affiliation and perhaps I need to shop elsewhere for my cheap stuff.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

The costs and prices have both risen since 2008. In 2011 HF settled a lawsuit with it's founder. That, though undisclosed, has got to cost a small chunk of change.

Harbor Freight Founder Settles Lawsuit

After reading that article;
I believe my Harbor Freight patronage has come to a close.

Such Disrespect is Too much to swallow..

 

[thesilverone]

the consumer pays for those paid magazine reviews

 

[pipsters]

Some things have gone way up well outpacing inflation. An example is the SDS Hammer drill.

The thing is, I think HF is starting to price things for what they can sell them for. There are two pricing models, one is "cost +%" and the other is "sell for what you can sell them for". My guess is a lot of HF products are cost+% but there are some gems there, and they realize this, and have increased price accordingly. It's still a lot cheaper than name brand stuff and still produces an excellent value. Remember the 44" toolboxes used to be $275 because you could use the 20% coupons on them. I guarantee you they would sell almost as many for $399 vs. the $359/$369 price or whatever it is these days. That is also an example of an excellent value.

 

[jim2664258]

I see many people explaining away the price increases by using reasons that explain a partial increase, not a 20-30% increase. And yes, I know for a fact many things have gone up that much and even much more than that (smaller items) in the last several years. I swear, companies don't even need to defend themselves anymore, people will do it for them.

They are behaving like all American companies. No more, no less.

 

[capturedlive]

HF posted this old catalog from 1988 not long ago. The prices haven't changed much at all.

 

[Casey69]

i noticed that their coupons are becoming much scarcer, at least outside of the internet. not many ads in the newspapers anymore. chinese labor is getting more expensive, along with the price of steel.

 

[sberry]

Tools have got better and cheaper. Competition within China has driven it up. Walmart has junk but they also have some of the best for the least, they have shoppers, not everything they sell is the cheapest one.
Same for HF, they wont go cheaper if its faulty and cost 50 cents less on a 25$ item, they try to buy the best they can.

 

[frugalscotty]

i noticed that their coupons are becoming much scarcer, at least outside of the internet. not many ads in the newspapers anymore. chinese labor is getting more expensive, along with the price of steel.

They've started putting flyer's w/coupons in with the bundled grocery coupons in the newspapers. I find them in there nearly every week.

 

[Steinmetz]

From that article it sounds like the CEO is a real piece of work (be sure to read the comments). You add his attitude to his political party affiliation and perhaps I need to shop elsewhere for my cheap stuff.

Same reasoning I use when avoiding any product manufactured by Koch Industries.

 

[Pother]

After reading that article;
I believe my Harbor Freight patronage has come to a close.

Such Disrespect is Too much to swallow..

Looks like I am going to do the same thing now. I am quite disappointed to discover this. I still can't bring myself to pay new prices for many American tool brands though :-|

 

[ZRX61]

it ain't just HF look at gas prices or groceries everything has gone up its economy and are government

This is what happens when the Govt lie about the true rate of inflation.....

 

[Kevin54]

I used to earn $4.25 an hour

Back in '79 or '80 I was making $4.50 as a Setup Man and Group-leader. And I thought THAT was good money

 

[dink]

I wonder who gave people the idea transportation and low gas prices a constitutional right. In order give another reason to bring tool manufacturing back to the states is to get the idea of low gas prices out of peoples head the idea its a constituional right to own or drive any type of transportation. Transportation is a privilege and until that is realized just like other countries do then the idea of local manufacturing can become a reality again and not just a boutique idea

 

[jim2664258]

Low gas prices are not a constitutional right, and neither are high gas prices. Corporations have proven time and time again they will do whatever it takes to make as much as they can without regard to anything else. Got an excuse for a price increase? Great, we will increase the price 4x over what the real justification was.

And if gas prices eventually do go down, guess what -- the prices that were hiked up "because of fuel" stay the same. It's all ********, at least call it out for what it is.

 

[ZRX61]

You guys are also forgetting that the US $ is in the toilet.