ekimneirbo
Well-known member
I have always given HF an even break, and felt that brands like Snap On were way overpriced. Everyone has their opinion as to what they think is ok. Let me admit up front that I am a confirmed "toolaholic" and have had my share of name tools, and I also have a lot of older specialty tools like a lathe, mill, sliproll,4' and 10' sheetmetal brakes, lots of aircraft tools, a Miller Tig,a Miller Mig, Esab mig, micrometers, dial indicators, and several homebuilt overhead cranes. The point is that I'm not a cheapskate or a newbe when it comes to spending money on tools. I don't care what it says on the tool, if its a decent tool for a decent price, I'll buy it.
When it comes to toolboxes, I usually bought Craftsman in the past but have had Kennedy (machinist) and some other brands. When I saw that HF was introducing its Icon brand with an eye toward putting a dent in Snap Ons stranglehold on the professional mechanic world. I was glad to see it.
So I bought some engines that I want to rebuild/hop up and I bought some more specialty tools that will let me do what I want. I decided that I wanted to purchase a tool box that would be located close to my engine stand/ workbench and I could put the specialty tools and stuff in an organized and handy place.I never needed, and still don't need a $5000 toolbox. I had a perfect spot to put a 44 in top and bottom box.
So the HF saga begins.........
They have a sale on a Blue 44" bottom box. I take the coupon to the store and they tell me its a "preorder" sale. I go ahead and buy it because its $60 off and its a nice box for $440. Then they tell me it will be a month before it arrives. I can't believe it takes that long, but the no-nothing associate gives me her best guess. It arrives 2 weeks later. They have no top boxes in stock either.....but they can order it. I decline and call the other local stores and one of them actually has one in stock.........but its dented. Turns out the dent is on the corner of a drawer and hardly noticeable. I negotiate a $100 off the $300 box and take it with me. A couple days later I'm putting tools in the boxes and fiddling with the keys for two boxes. I lay both sets of keys in a drawer and start organizing tools. I pick one set of keys up (top box) and leave the other there. As I open and close drawers, the bottom box locks and the keys are in it. Awsh** what a dumba** I am....but why did the box lock? I contact the store and they can't help. They tell me to contact HF on line. After the normal "we have a high volume" message,The "no-nothing" lady tells me they will send another key&lock assy. I tell her I just need a key and it has to be a specific key. She tells me all of the Blue 64446 boxes use the same lock and key....and they only send lock&key, not just a key. I tell her that doesn't sound right but she assures me that she knows what she is talking about. TWO WEEKS and 1 day later the lock and key arrive. Tracking shows it took almost 3 days for it to go out. They believe because a tracking number is issued, thats the same as actually shipping it. It ends up in Indianapolis where it shows being Received by FedX 4 times and once by the Postal Service. Somehow it gets to Louisville and is received by FedX. Thats about 15 miles from me. It took from Thursday to Tuesday and ended up being delivered by the US Mail. 15 DAYS. Then they sent me the WRONG lock&key. I called again and was told by the no-nothing on the phone that I just needed to remove the existing lock and put the new one in. I explained the difficulty involved, so still not grasping the concept she has referred me to another group and I am awaiting an email that will miracously explain how to change the locked lock.
Why am I writing this? Well the idea is that HF wants to step up to the big boy league in tools and toolboxes. I was under the impression that one of the big selling points was going to be "quality tools" WITH "a lifetime warranty". My perception was that if you bought an Icon tool you could simply return it to Harbor Freight and exchange it........BUT, actually I don't know that to be true. Maybe you are going to have to deal with the same no-nothing morons that I have to deal with, the same delayed shipping practices, and the same futility. WHile they may have improved some of their tools and some of their toolboxes, they still have the same morons in customer service.
When it comes to toolboxes, I usually bought Craftsman in the past but have had Kennedy (machinist) and some other brands. When I saw that HF was introducing its Icon brand with an eye toward putting a dent in Snap Ons stranglehold on the professional mechanic world. I was glad to see it.
So I bought some engines that I want to rebuild/hop up and I bought some more specialty tools that will let me do what I want. I decided that I wanted to purchase a tool box that would be located close to my engine stand/ workbench and I could put the specialty tools and stuff in an organized and handy place.I never needed, and still don't need a $5000 toolbox. I had a perfect spot to put a 44 in top and bottom box.
So the HF saga begins.........
They have a sale on a Blue 44" bottom box. I take the coupon to the store and they tell me its a "preorder" sale. I go ahead and buy it because its $60 off and its a nice box for $440. Then they tell me it will be a month before it arrives. I can't believe it takes that long, but the no-nothing associate gives me her best guess. It arrives 2 weeks later. They have no top boxes in stock either.....but they can order it. I decline and call the other local stores and one of them actually has one in stock.........but its dented. Turns out the dent is on the corner of a drawer and hardly noticeable. I negotiate a $100 off the $300 box and take it with me. A couple days later I'm putting tools in the boxes and fiddling with the keys for two boxes. I lay both sets of keys in a drawer and start organizing tools. I pick one set of keys up (top box) and leave the other there. As I open and close drawers, the bottom box locks and the keys are in it. Awsh** what a dumba** I am....but why did the box lock? I contact the store and they can't help. They tell me to contact HF on line. After the normal "we have a high volume" message,The "no-nothing" lady tells me they will send another key&lock assy. I tell her I just need a key and it has to be a specific key. She tells me all of the Blue 64446 boxes use the same lock and key....and they only send lock&key, not just a key. I tell her that doesn't sound right but she assures me that she knows what she is talking about. TWO WEEKS and 1 day later the lock and key arrive. Tracking shows it took almost 3 days for it to go out. They believe because a tracking number is issued, thats the same as actually shipping it. It ends up in Indianapolis where it shows being Received by FedX 4 times and once by the Postal Service. Somehow it gets to Louisville and is received by FedX. Thats about 15 miles from me. It took from Thursday to Tuesday and ended up being delivered by the US Mail. 15 DAYS. Then they sent me the WRONG lock&key. I called again and was told by the no-nothing on the phone that I just needed to remove the existing lock and put the new one in. I explained the difficulty involved, so still not grasping the concept she has referred me to another group and I am awaiting an email that will miracously explain how to change the locked lock.
Why am I writing this? Well the idea is that HF wants to step up to the big boy league in tools and toolboxes. I was under the impression that one of the big selling points was going to be "quality tools" WITH "a lifetime warranty". My perception was that if you bought an Icon tool you could simply return it to Harbor Freight and exchange it........BUT, actually I don't know that to be true. Maybe you are going to have to deal with the same no-nothing morons that I have to deal with, the same delayed shipping practices, and the same futility. WHile they may have improved some of their tools and some of their toolboxes, they still have the same morons in customer service.
