Harbor Freight Bling. Put on your sunglasses!

[jptbay]

https://www.harborfreight.com/merch...pecial-edition-gold-plated-ratchet-59786.html

For all the grill wearing Gucci lovers, HF presents this special edition 24k gold-plated professional ratchet.

Stock up now, if you can get one. I still haven't seen an Icon pliers wrench or flex head bit ratchet set available in store.

This one is going to skyrocket in value.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I did get a few bit ratchet sets & pliers wrenches but I think I will pass on the gold ratchet,lol.

 

[Gozo]

The whole world has gotten so weird that it’s hard to tell what’s an April fool’s gag from reality. The idea of a golden ratchet (from HF no less) is so ludicrous that it has to be a gag. But then again, I know folks that would drool over the thought of having one.

 

[Shiftless]

Not a gag.
Here is an ad from a year ago.

 

[Madjik Man]

I wonder if there’s a “Save $80 Compared to Nepros NBR290GL“ on the shelf tag.

 

[Rusted Nut]

I wish they had these out years ago. I spent thousands of dollars having all my ratchets gold plated back in the 70's.

 

[Fedwrench]

That's the new 1/4 drive version that comes with an Icon display mount

I guess Harbor Freight sold enough of the 3/8 versions to make it worth their while to release a 1/4 drive version.

I think Harbor Freight might be laughing all the way to the bank.

 

[Madjik Man]

Not a gag.
Here is an ad from a year ago.

GIANT LIQUIDATION

save 7%

 

[darkzero]

Now all the owners of the 3/8 gold one are gonna be like "how come we didn't get a stand before!?"

This is still my favorite review/comment from the 3/8" one.

 

[lardy1]

Perhaps PT Barnum said it best.........

 

[M635_Guy]

While I have several Icon ratchets, love them and highly recommend them, I do not understand the gold ratchets (including the ones I've seen from Snap On)

Now all the owners of the 3/8 gold one are gonna be like "how come we didn't get a stand before!?"

This is still my favorite review/comment from the 3/8" one.

''the pink finger"

 

[will335i]

I bought one last year for shits and giggles. I have a Nepros one too.

 

[mervyn]

Reminds me of that set of gold colored flatware we had back in the 70's
Horrendous

 

[Debcrow]

All of my ratchets are oil and grease plated. I guess I'm not in the "IN CROWD."

 

[m6z]

The display stand is a nice touch.

Looks like that 20% off Icon coupon has already expired though..

 

[zendriver]

The competing Snap On is $111 - without the gold plating.

Solid value instead.

 

[Robs94Bronco]

Got mine!

 

[AA/FC]

24k Gold PLATED ratchet for 49.99? That must be a MICROSCOPIC layer of gold? Maybe they meant to say Gold PAINTED?


lol

 

[darkzero]

Rant on:

Maybe I'm too young or something but I don't understand the appeal of gold plating. Ok I get it, gold is a precious metal & it's supposed to make something look expensive. But it's a thin layer of gold plating, not solid gold like jewelry. It ain't adding any value. Now if it were solid gold, that's q different story, still wouldn't want one which will never happen anyway.

Speaking of which, I don't wear jewelry, watches are the closest thing I own. I don't own any gold colored watches nor would I want one. Gold plating/coloring is the opposite for me, makes something look cheesy in my eyes.... in most cases. Remember gold "plated"/colored emblems on luxury cars? Not my cup of tea.

Ok I get it pt2. The gold plating is supposed to make it a special edition. I'm not ashamed to say it, I like HF but there are limits to things I will buy there. However, there's nothing from HF past or present that I would classify as a collectible, certainly not one of their ratchets.

I hope this post still exists 30+ yrs from now, who knows maybe HF will be big time & these ratchets might be worth big bucks then. Then I can call myself an idiot, slap the side of my head with my own hand, & print this post on paper so I can eat it.

 

[M635_Guy]

They're not for me, but no hate - they're fun.

 

[Bubba Fett]

Weren't these around $100 when they first came out? They keep dropping the price, which indicates that people are not falling for the ********. I feel like this is one of those things that everyone things will be super valuable, but isn't.

 

[darkzero]

I don't know about $100 but the 1st one to come out was 3/8 drive. The one in the OP is 1/4 drive which just came out.

The 3/8 one is currently $60. What's funny is that these are special edition yet the 3/8 one is still available after coming out 2 yrs ago. How will it become a collectable if they keep selling them for so long?

Well they didn't call them limited edition so maybe they don't plan on stop selling them or they ain't selling out as fast as they hoped. But if they weren't selling why come out with a new one?

 

[mepstein]

My buddy bought one of the Icons. If it makes you smile when you open up your box, it's worth it.

 

[Wyoming09]

Somebody near Grand Rapids has a bunch of gold colored plated Mac stuff for sale. They've been trying to sell this stuff for at least two years.

grand rapids tools "gold, mac" - craigslist

grand rapids tools "gold, mac" - craigslist

grandrapids.craigslist.org

 

[Ilikeike]

They're just try to cater to their clientele.

 

[AA/FC]

They're just try to cater to their clientele.

Harbor Freight clientele?


lol

 

[will335i]

I think there might be a market for items like this that is not being considered. Awards.

We have my grandfathers service awards from his time a Chrysler and IIRC they are gold plated Craftsman tools. There is a socket set, allen set and I think one other. I will have to look the next time I am down at the shop.

Shop managers could hand these out for performance or service awards.

It would be a lot better than some of the ******** service awards I have gotten over the years.

 

[Rinspeed]

Lol.

 

[zendriver]

Those folks like HF tools enough, that they buy them, use them, polish and take care of them, even buying goofy, fun promotional items - just like those who buy "real" tools.

This is what bothers people the most, IMO.

 

[M635_Guy]

Weren't these around $100 when they first came out? They keep dropping the price, which indicates that people are not falling for the ********. I feel like this is one of those things that everyone things will be super valuable, but isn't.

No.

 

[zendriver]

It's priced $20 more than the chrome plated model, so $20 worth of gold?

 

[M635_Guy]

Prices have driven up a bit, and I don't remember when they came out with the flex-head ratchets, but for regular ratchets (i.e. not torque) the 1/2" flex head ratchets are the only ones that I can ever remember being over $60.

And as much as I love my Icon ratchets, I do think they're a bit spendy without a coupon...

 

[Meursault74]

I wonder if he would buy one.

 

[Shiftless]

I wonder if he would buy one.

 

[Shiftless]

(I love it when a plan comes together)

 

[dchawk81]

Now all the owners of the 3/8 gold one are gonna be like "how come we didn't get a stand before!?"

This is still my favorite review/comment from the 3/8" one.

"Mr Fancy".

 

[dchawk81]

Perhaps PT Barnum said it best.........

Stttteeeppp right up?

 

[gfd_703]

Wouldn't it be interesting if 50 or 100 years from now that one of these gold Icon ratchets has become the collectable tool that brings several times what the Snap On version does just because of how few were sold. Not predicting this but stranger things have happened.