Is Harbor Freight getting too big for its britches?

[Tanro]

I dont use a ton of HF tools, but I like that they're stepping their game up. They've been going through and revamping each type of tool, and so far I like it. Except for the new power tools, I think youd have to be a fool to buy any of their cordless stuff.

The only thing that kills me, they've been doing a makeover to practically everything they sell, except for screwdrivers, sockets, and wrenches. I dont get it. Youd think that would be the first thing they'd update, as those are the bread and butter tools. Hopefully something is in the works.

I dont use their tools professionally, I'm a snap on guy, but I do use some of their stuff at home.

I use their ratchets, impact sockets, and flare wrenches every single day at work. I've yet to round a fastener with my flares. I know snap-on makes a better flare wrench, but I have so many tools I need to buy I dont have...

If I had not have inherited a metric **** **** load of hand tools I'd have more of their hardline tools. But I have so many cutters, pliers, sockets, screw drivers etc I have the extras pilled in boxes in the garage. I've gotten 4 sets of tools now. Family just keeps giving me tools I don't need. Not gonna throw them out, Kids will need them one day. Glad metal doesn't rust or anything. +

 

[Tanro]

Skilled tradesmen don't use junk tools.
There's a reason they pay 5k for toolboxes.

Gonna tell you this once.

Skilled tradesmen fix **** you can't (implied you, the person bringing the broken thing to be fixed). Doesn't matter if they do it with snap-on, harbor freight, or something they built themselves. I've seen guys with 20,000$ worth of snap-on tool debt turning 500$ weeks, and I've seen old timers with a Craftsmen Double Stack single bay turn 4 grand in a day. I'm sitting somewhere in the middle. I've got what I got, and when I can't fix something then I either ask the old timer, or I buy the tool. But you damn sure don't see me leaning on Jonny Fap-on's box asking for advice. He doesn't know **** except how to hand the tool dealer a 20$ bill every week.

 

[Ign]

Are you reading this thread HF?

Also a new saw and grinder. Interesting.

At least now you get the godly named grinder with 2 more foot of cord to strangle yourself with and for a lower price than the dewalt.

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Actually if power tool manufacturers are talking about cords I WELCOME it. This is one place they'll all try to cut corners if they need to, and they'll try to be quiet about it and hope you don't notice.

But just as important as length is the cord type, so if they put a longer but ******, stiff cord on there I see no benefit. I wish they'd spec SOO, SJO etc

Still, if companies are arguing this as a competitive advantage it can only benefit the consumer IMO. Bring on the cord length and quality wars!!!!

 

[Coach James]

Actually if power tool manufacturers are talking about cords I WELCOME it. This is one place they'll all try to cut corners if they need to, and they'll try to be quiet about it and hope you don't notice.

But just as important as length is the cord type, so if they put a longer but ******, stiff cord on there I see no benefit. I wish they'd spec SOO, SJO etc

Still, if companies are arguing this as a competitive advantage it can only benefit the consumer IMO. Bring on the cord length and quality wars!!!!

I would prefer they have no cord, just prongs where I can attach an extension cord.

Coach

 

[Ign]

I would prefer they have no cord, just prongs where I can attach an extension cord.

Coach

Bosch DirectConnect, no? Never owned one myself, also not sure if anyone else ever produced tools like that.

 

[zendriver]

I would prefer they have no cord, just prongs where I can attach an extension cord.

Coach

I have a leaf blower and hedge trimmers, with no cord at all.

Even with the little "hooks", it's an endless hassle, keeping an extension cord attached and connected.

 

[subarub4]

I was going to proudly say that Walmart nor Harbor Freight has made a dime on me. I have hit Home Depot a few times, but every damn time I go there for something simple, they don't have it. I needed some rubber fuel line here just the other day, go to Home Depot and they didn't have any at all....

Wound up going to the little mom and pop hardware where I didn't have to walk a mile and a half dodging gate blocked off isles. Went right to a display with at least 4 sizes of neoprene rubber line. I don't think I'll ever set foot in Home Depot again, friggin waste of my time! I know I'll be attacked for saying it, but huge franchises **** balls.

Man they do that to you as well??? It never fails it seems the one I need to go down they are just blocking it off or it's already blocked off.

 

[dnschmidt]

The best idea in corded tools ever was the Milwaukee Quick Lock. You could buy cords in damn near any length you wanted and they fit all Milwaukee Quick Lock tools instantly and very securely.

 

[Tanro]

At the end of the day, it's up to the consumer to vote with their wallet. If Harbor Freight alienates their main DIYer customer base with high prices, they are toast. For every new and improved item, they are going to have to justify their prices. Anyone who does their research will find out the prices on many of their new and improved tools are too high given the 90 day warranty nonsense. Even if you didn't have to pay for a proper warranty, there's a reason why a known quantity costs more.

I don't know where you are getting the 90 day warranty nonsense. Most of the new/improved stuff is lifetime warranty. The new ratchets, the newer pro series sockets, the the new line of pliers, the maddox branded auto tools i've gotten.

Now maybe the electric stuff isn't, but also.. why aren't you buying milwaukee, ryobi, or dewalt really no reason to buy HF electric tools when you factor in battery cost versus using another battery platform that has any tool you could need.

 

[Tanro]

My $200 hf cart fell apart after a little over 6 months. I promptly upgraded to a krsc46 snap on and after 2 years and with roughly double the tools inside it functions like new. While it's true that not everybody needs good tools to get by, some of us professionals do. When was the last time you saw an industrial electrician use a HF free multimeter? How about a contractor using black and decker power tools? At the end of the day snap on's slogan is true. There is a difference.

You must beat the ever living **** out of your tools and equipment.

I had a HF roll cart for 3 years, just upgraded to the series 2. Had 44" HF box I used for a roll cart for a while as well. Going to be getting the new series 2 of that, or 56" series 2... Probably last me longer than your snapon cart lasts you. Probably be able to spend the price difference on more tools as well. At the end of the day the box lets me secure my ****, the **** makes my money.

 

[techieman33]

A lot of the festool stuff doesn't have a cord at all. But of course they use their own proprietary connector and put a really fat markup on the cables. At least it's a locking connector. You can also buy them loomed into the dust extraction hoses, so you only have one piece to watch when your running a tool that's using it.

As for HF warranty a lot of the hand tools are lifetime warranty, but the power tools are 90 days or less. I've seen some that are only 30 days. That's fine when I'm buying a $15 grinder. At that price I expect to use it a handful of times before it breaks. But when I'm buying at $89 I would like to see a better warranty. The Dewalt they're comparing it to (same price) has a 3 year warranty on defects. And for the 1st year they'll fix it for free if you break it "under normal use." And sure the grinder goes on sale for $69 some times. Well the Dewalt is $71 on Amazon right now. So even "on sale" they're still at the same price point. So for me I'll gladly give up 2ft of cord for a much better warranty.

 

[Arneliron]

I know it's 2 years old but I had to compliment hf for donating all of there gloves to hospitals.
However it's disappointing to go in there see the prices and know for only a couple dollars more I can get something of much better quality for not that much more $
Yes they are increasing quality but not in line with price after all hf is a discount store they are going to have to remove that title soon

 

[PugetDude]

Probably the best measure of success is how many sales outlets are opening vs. how many are closing. HF is now up to ~1000 stores now. Sears is probably down to less than half of that.

Anyone know how many SnapOn trucks there are out there today vs. say 10 years ago?

 

[Handyandy23]

When I read that quote, my takeaway is that he's saying the tools don't make you smarter or better at fixing things. The Snap On truck isn't going to transform a poor tech into a good one, and a good one can get the job done with cheaper tools if they had to.

I didn't reread the whole thread, but by him saying he's somewhere in between implied to me that he uses both tool truck stuff and cheaper tools in his job. Seems reasonable enough to me.

 

[sberry]

Cman has never been near tool truck pricing and neither has H F. Not only that Sears got way cheaper over the years. In 80 they were 10 and 15% of snap, in the end some of it 5%.

 

[PugetDude]

Just realized I'd replied to a necro thread........... DELETE

Dave,
C'mon, it's not necrophilia if it's responding...

 

[M635_Guy]

it's disappointing to go in there see the prices and know for only a couple dollars more I can get something of much better quality for not that much more $
Yes they are increasing quality but not in line with price after all hf is a discount store they are going to have to remove that title soon

Can you give some examples?

 

[sberry]

They are doing exactly what they should do. Sears should have reached up instead of racing to the bottom.

 

[CafeTools]

HF is in business, not a charity. What they have been doing is smart for them, ***** for some. But I appreciate that high end tools and welder offerings. But shul they have the base line for those who want the cheapest.

 

[sberry]

Just spent 65$ there, was going to the store but said wtf and ordered a dozen screwdrivers, couple pliers and a 20 oz steel claw hammer. For some reason all the screwdrivers ran off for the last month or so, one of my buds said,,, where they all go. I expect some to get jealous now and come out of hiding.

 

[Ton ton]

Did you get your 20%off , Sberry?

 

[m6z]

I find it hard to hate on HF. Yeah, they sell some absolute junk, but so did Sears. Sears wasn't just Craftsman and the same can be said for most tools you find for sale at retail stores today. Most are trying to sell a price.

I try to buy quality tools when I can, but I'm not about to throw everything I've bought at HF over the years in the trash. Giant adjustable wrench you needed ONE time, pry bars, wall mount TV stand for $20, putty knives, shop towel holder, etc., etc.

Countless products sold are exactly the same, just branded a different name.

 

[sberry]

Did you get your 20%off , Sberry?

****, never occurred to me. Can I do it retro? ha

 

[bwringer]

Necro thread, but oh well...

The one thing I do not get at HF is why they have so many mutually incompatible cordless tool battery platforms.

There's some kind of high-end ninja marketing kung-fu here I can't even begin to wrap my brain around.

Why do Bauer, Earthquake, and Hercules all exist in the same furshlugginer store, with quite a bit of overlap in the tool lines?

Why are Bauer and Earthquake both red and black, yet incompatible?

 

[kody1234]

call me a fool,i have a 4 1/2 in grinder i have been using for over 20 yrs.sill use it.

 

[PugetDude]

call me a fool,i have a 4 1/2 in grinder i have been using for over 20 yrs.sill use it.

Probably the orange one?

I've been trying to assassinate one of these for 20 years and it just keeps on going. It's still alive, just like this "necro" thread.

 

[nadogail]

The only reason I seldom go to Harbor Freight is because I have accumulated almost every tool I need for what little work I do anymore.

I have made some good money using some Harbor Freight tools, but they were not my exclusive supplier. They sell some really decent stuff, in my opinion, and they also sell some junk too. The trick is to be able to tell the difference between the OK stuff and the Junk.

Their electrical test equipment is expendable and their free tape measures were good enough to loan out and not wait for someone to return it.

I bought some cordless tools in order to learn why I am better off with Makita tools.

I am not connected to the company and have not received, nor do I expect, any compensation for this comment.

 

[Farmall450]

Tekton recently raised prices too. Everything made out of metal is currently up.

Harbor Freight is moving upmarket with new ‘brands’ but for the most part the cheap option is still there (Chicago Electric for example). So I see it as more choice not them killing competition and raising prices. Certainly their margins are better on $40 angle grinders than $10 ones.

Ocloc makes a good point. The Pittsburgh Pro ratchets are pretty decent for the price but the sockets and especially the nasty Indian made wrenches need some love.

Yeah, he does make a good point. Granted, there is Icon for "premium," but it costs as much/more than actual premium tools.

 

[On-Wheel]

And of course we all know less and less items qualities for the 20% off coupons.

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I don’t even get 20% emails coupons any more?

Lately emails showing people using there tools.wtf

 

[sberry]

I wouldn't mind they pay me to pitch tools. Vote to hire me as farmer spokesperson for them.

 

[m6z]

Local store was wiped out. Must have be at 50% of typical inventory. Either the stimulus money is working or the slow boat from China is moving even slower than usual.

Completely out of the magnetic paper towel holders. I could always order it elsewhere for double or triple the price, but I'll probably just wait.

 

[schiada96]

Probably the orange one?

I've been trying to assassinate one of these for 20 years and it just keeps on going. It's still alive, just like this "necro" thread.

Me too!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Americancosworth]

The fact that we are having a discussion regarding HF having improved quality I think means that HF's marketing team has done there job.

 

[gearhead1]

I know it's 2 years old but I had to compliment hf for donating all of there gloves to hospitals.
However it's disappointing to go in there see the prices and know for only a couple dollars more I can get something of much better quality for not that much more $
Yes they are increasing quality but not in line with price after all hf is a discount store they are going to have to remove that title soon

Maybe that was the plan all along. Get the name out there and get people going there. Then raise prices. Makes me wonder......

 

[M635_Guy]

Maybe that was the plan all along. Get the name out there and get people going there. Then raise prices. Makes me wonder......

You're piecing things together. It's far more likely that they did the right thing as far as the gloves, etc., and at the same time they've taken a hit on their revenue as people have been sequestered and their supply line has been disrupted (though to what level is hard to know). So how do you make up the revenue? You raise prices. It's also entirely possible the price increases were planned already.