My point is, even if they didn't move into "mid tier", their "base" is well intact. Probably growing...
HF going after pro-tools now with ICON line.
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My point is, even if they didn't move into "mid tier", their "base" is well intact. Probably growing...
Partsguy57
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Partsguy57
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Funny playing in the shop right now and my son just returned my die grinder with a good carbide bit in it ( used it all day enlarging cleaning holes in a steel fence project) and the first question is what kind of bit was that? That thing rocked That's about a 80.00 bit i said and no h.f will not cut it ....
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Partsguy57
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Lol you made me lol.. I thought you were comparing the wacker... ( the compactor)
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With the demise of Sears, HF fills a void
Negen
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Well you mentioned them when you quoted me from yesterday. When I asked someone if tektons new designs came from their OEM or tekton. Since tektons new tools look the same as other brands with the same coo.
As far as hand tools go I am not too sure how much craftsman designed anything other than their trademark handle. Their old 90tooth round head with the spinner seems the same as the old Armstrong round heads with the spinner and parts seem interchangeable. The craftsman pear heads also seem very similar to Armstrong.
My point was from the other day that I suspect the OEM shows the brand owners the new lines and then the brand owners make it fit their brands overall look and feel. With all these 90 tooth ratchets around I would like to buy a few and compare the guts if that hasn't been done yet. SK fixed the issues that the proto 90teeth have of self reversing by adding detent balls to lock the pawl in place. The timing of new Asian tools is somewhat odd to me if all those brands are making different tools. The five or six big Asian hand tool brands all releasing newly forged tools all around the same time ? If building new tooling equipment and making and testing new tools is that easy and fast in Asia then all brands should move there to get new tools out faster and cheaper.
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Partsguy57
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It does, along with Wally world and others. Sad to watch the decline of a appreciation of quality. Started in a auto parts store in 82 at 14... owned by age 19 sold in 2002.. was amazing to watch the rise of the cheap driven by customer demand... The hours I could spend talking about trying to sell quality to a cheapskate.... the excuses, rational, mentality, etc is amazing... lol.
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Ratsofftoya
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Wow, I haven't been on this site in a couple of years. Stumbled back tonight, clicked on the top thread, which just happened to sound quite interesting. I then spent 45 minutes reading through page after page of bickering, wondering if there would be any pictures or info and finally remembered around page 5 why i gave up coming here. Oh well. Merry Christmas everyone. That is, if we are still allowed to say that. Oh forget it.
PS- Didn't we used to have pictures next to our names and emojis?
PS- Didn't we used to have pictures next to our names and emojis?
Partsguy57
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It's so much fun agreeing all the time... boring..Merry Christmas
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Negen
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Hard to have pictures of tools that are not being sold yet. I reread every post here and I think for the most part everyone is in agreement that these new tools will be quality. I think the disagreement are three parts
1. Who will buy the tools (equal quality to tekton , Milwaukee toptul , kolbalt)
2. Who is designing these new tools? ( OEM or the marketers marketing them)
3. And third is if "pros" will use them.
Other than those bickerments I think everyone is excited to see and hold them. I believe that the toolbox line will see the most popularity since now there are only a few box makers in north America.
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1. Who will buy the tools (equal quality to tekton , Milwaukee toptul , kolbalt)
2. Who is designing these new tools? ( OEM or the marketers marketing them)
3. And third is if "pros" will use them.
Other than those bickerments I think everyone is excited to see and hold them. I believe that the toolbox line will see the most popularity since now there are only a few box makers in north America.
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Well, it did give you the opportunity to pass judgment and proclaim self-righteousness which is the good thing about this site, there is "something for everyone!"
Happy holidays to everyone!
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emeraldcoupe
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here you go, right from SEMA. first post has the pictures
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=405597
OP
SilverBulletZ06
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America loves a bargains and value. Look at snowblowers. I bet there are 20 Craftsman and other mid tier blowers for every 1 Ariens. And I bet there are 10 Craftsman or other mid tier blowers for every "Power Job No Name Brand" as well. If I can get a much better tool for 10% more then I will buy it. Incremental increases with exponential costs (*cough Snap On cough*) are a nonstarter for me and most of the public.
If only my salary / pay increase with this inflation on price of things.... I wouldn't mind buying the brand names... heck I even buy a snap-on tooth pick so I can have brand name tools.... but the world don't work that way... job needs to get done with snap-on or HF... with the little $ that we get paid. Pro grade tool doesn't have to be snap-on btw... just because its HF, doesn't mean they are not capable of pro tools... so if the price is right..
M_George
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You need to consider availability as well. Often times you need it NOW and Lowes, ACE and HF are just down the street. I like SK but need to either buy on-line or an hour drive to the nearest supplier.
Very good point.
It's fun (and a bit of a cop- out )to call people Who favored inexpensive imported goods "cheap", what the real truth is there's a whole **** load of Americans, who really don't make a lot of money relative to the high cost of living.
I always find it interesting how people like to equate $15 an hour is this some kind of desired "magic wage", that's to make America great again.
Minus vacation, it equates to about $30,000 a year which is about double the rate of poverty, for a single person, in the US. It would've been an awesome wage in 1985.
For $75, you get an imported floor Jack, but Saving $300 to put towards that $800 tank of heating oil.
Personally, I am cheap, but I also know that no one here wants to feed me in my old age, so it's up to me to squirrel away as much money as I can.
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M_George
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I consider myself frugal. For infrequent use I'll get the inexpensive tool. But if it is used heavily, I want quality.
Partsguy57
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I was speaking in general terms of everything that consumers use....nearly all premium brands have fallen by the wayside... quality is mostly dead in America. I understand those that can't afford a premium or even a better product but many can and refuse. My experience as a auto parts owner confirms this as its nearly impossible to find a premium auto part in stock any longer. There is simply low demand for anything better then cheap.. go talk to your local auto parts owner,mechanic, they will confirm very clearly. People will spend money on some things like crazy for examples cell phone they costs many hundreds, no problem there, food another great example. Customer would need a part for their rig and complain about the price( a vehicle arguably one of ones most important possessions) and you would later see the same person at the pizza joint with two pizzas and three pitchers of beers for the family spending three times the money.... then off to the movies to spend a ton more..... American is funny, most want cheap but when it comes self indulgence many will spend like crazy, but spend for quality on most anything no way....
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Partsguy57
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I should have added in my last post... I agree America loves a bargain... but I don't consider h.f for example a bargain. It's a cheap tools for a cheap price. (You can use many other examples other than h.f) A bargain is something of value at a good price. In my book cheap at a cheap price is getting what you paid for.
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SilverBulletZ06
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You can't fix some people, but imho on the whole people want that mid tier quality product. Spending the extra $5 is worth it to get better quality. Spending $25 over that, not so much.
GarageGuy89
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Does Proto have a physical product catalog they can mail to you? I find these great reading materials when sitting down. Also makes me order more stuff.
In America today, owning a smart phone and going out to dine on pizza and beer is considered an extravagant indulgence.
I remember when factory line workers, owned rental houses, built racecars in their home Garage, or maybe even owned a small airplane. I never remember anyone comparison shopping for tools, they just bought what they wanted.
Now people shop at Harbor freight today because they waste their money on everything else.
So much for "great!"
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I remember when factory line workers, owned rental houses, built racecars in their home Garage, or maybe even owned a small airplane. I never remember anyone comparison shopping for tools, they just bought what they wanted.
Now people shop at Harbor freight today because they waste their money on everything else.
So much for "great!"
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Hardly a "new" phenomenon
Yep, poor people wouldn't be poor, if they just manage their money better
Got it!
Medium income in the US is $56K year, which really isn't jack ****, in 2018 IMO for living a decent life especially with the high cost of living.
It seems people with no money shop at Harbor freight and people with plenty of money (but don't want to spend it) shop at Harbor freight. Seems ironic
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Nineeightyone
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There's definitely a growing divide between the well-to-do and the poor, but I wouldn't say that we "waste" our money on everything else. I'm pretty firmly middle class, and I'm able to indulge a pretty wide array of hobbies.
Places like Harbor Freight offer me an inexpensive way to get into a hobby, without necessarily committing a large sum of money to it, to see if it's something I enjoy, much like buying an entry level guitar.
When I outgrow a tool, I'll buy something better, but my experience with most of what I've purchased at HF has been positive enough, and I've rarely felt the need to get something better. Sometimes the "upgrade" comes from HF for that matter -- like moving from the relatively awful 1/2" Pittsburgh round head ratchet to the much nicer Pittsburgh Pro flex head.
Negen
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Partsguy57
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No you misquote is that common in America today? I said people complain about the cost of a neccessary and then spend way more on a unnecessary... maybe you were confused... clear now?
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Partsguy57
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They might... selling millions of parts from behind the counter you will be amazed at what people what as far as quality and most of the time it's cheap and most of the time it wasn't because of money...
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Partsguy57
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Most poor ( not all)) are the result of poor choices... simple fact and many refuse to except what is self evident...
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Nineeightyone
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I think this is a combination of the perception of necessity, as well as the ability to break large costs down into smaller payments. My cell phone was roughly $700, but broken down I'm paying very little monthly, which makes it easy to swallow. When I'm done with the payments, I'll usually hold onto a phone for a while, but once the non-replaceable batteries cease to hold a charge, I typically swing for another flagship phone, because it's something I rely on pretty heavily. As for the perception of necessity, people who aren't experienced in a field can easily compare a $10 torque wrench and a $100 one, see they serve the same basic function, and will not see a reason to spend the extra $90. For basic use, the $10 option may serve them just as well, where the $100 (or more) option may offer a discernible difference to the experienced.
Again, I feel most of these people in question figure that the $50 part is equivalent to the $150 part, and that the only difference is the stamp from the factory... Hence why a lot of us who do DIY repairs don't opt for the OEM part, but a functional replacement.
As to your first point, I never said that
As far as your lamenting median wages, that started decades ago my friend.
87FoRunner
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I gave my local HF store manager my card and told him to give me a call when the wrenches, sockets, or ratchets came in.
I’ve been following in Mechanicnamedjohn’s footsteps for the most part and the new Icon line seems right up my alley.
I’ve been following in Mechanicnamedjohn’s footsteps for the most part and the new Icon line seems right up my alley.
Negen
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I do not understand why people are waiting for the new icon line when the same tools are available from different vendors at similar price points. I do not believe that the 90 tooth ratchets will be any different than the other Asian brands unless a handle fits ones hand better. also with Milwaukee's new wrenches you get a few more sizes than Wright at the same price point but should be around the same price point as other Asian brands we will have to see on that one.
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Who's waiting? Not me, all good here, but I'm interested to see them...
Harbor Freight now has a loyal following of fans, just like they have a loyal following of haters.
Seems many are interested, one way or the other
New products, usually attract attention, so a wait-and-see stance, is a popular one.
Personally, I don't care, as the current lineup of products works just fine.
Negen
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I know home depot is getting upset that brands that have self space at home depot are getting higher quality. The new Milwaukee wrenches are 350$/15 piece set at home depot. 103-135$ everywhere else online. I am curious about the harbour freight pricing on those wrenches.
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DFB
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Wow did anyone get that HF email today comparing the Zurich Pro scanner to Snapon Solus Edge
I can't even begin to BELIEVE that Harbor Frieght actually will try to market anything with almost a 2k price tag to it! $1999.99
Coupon for $600 off til Christmas Eve 12/24 or $1399.99
I can't even begin to BELIEVE that Harbor Frieght actually will try to market anything with almost a 2k price tag to it! $1999.99
Coupon for $600 off til Christmas Eve 12/24 or $1399.99
Huh? The wrenches are 129
mudflap
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They are out there...called Matco trucks..