CHuDWah
Well-known member
The Harbor Freight website shows apparently identical items under different item numbers. Anybody know why that is? 
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Harbor Freight Item Number Question
- Thread starter CHuDWah
- Start date
General Geoff
Well-known member
they're similar but not typically identical. Different model numbers often denote different suppliers/manufacturers or for more complex items, slightly different configurations/parts suppliers.
Empty Pockets
Well-known member
Likely a different supplier, or a minor design change.
FMC1959
Well-known member
I know what the OP means. Look at this link, which is not an isolated example, I see it with so many HF items
http://www.harborfreight.com/tool-storage/tool-carts.html
1 & 2 are identical, price specs, picture, but different part number. The items 3, 4, & 5, again identical. Side by side, you cannot tell them apart.
When a HF, Sears, HD, TSC or any other big retailer has someone OEM something for the, they usually have only 1 part number. Whether it is 1 OEM or multiples, or they start with one and change to another. As long as the item in question is identical, because they are made to the exact same specs, why the multiple part numbers?
http://www.harborfreight.com/tool-storage/tool-carts.html
1 & 2 are identical, price specs, picture, but different part number. The items 3, 4, & 5, again identical. Side by side, you cannot tell them apart.
When a HF, Sears, HD, TSC or any other big retailer has someone OEM something for the, they usually have only 1 part number. Whether it is 1 OEM or multiples, or they start with one and change to another. As long as the item in question is identical, because they are made to the exact same specs, why the multiple part numbers?
Being in supply chain, we deal with this all the time at many different companies.
engineering wants one SKU. keeps it simple. one spec.
Procurement wants multiple vendors. and they want to split the business, sometimes every other order, sometimes by %.
the best and easiest way to do that in an MRP or replenishment system is with different part numbers, and dividing up the demand appropriately.
you typically can't have more than one vendor for the same sku, or the system doesn't know how to dreate the purchase orders. some systems have customizations to do that, most off the shelf software does not.
from a planning perspective, it is always easier to manage and when you have separate sku's.
and if it is an item that needs to be controlled for recall or other purposes, you need to know which supplier to go back to when their is a problem...
engineering wants one SKU. keeps it simple. one spec.
Procurement wants multiple vendors. and they want to split the business, sometimes every other order, sometimes by %.
the best and easiest way to do that in an MRP or replenishment system is with different part numbers, and dividing up the demand appropriately.
you typically can't have more than one vendor for the same sku, or the system doesn't know how to dreate the purchase orders. some systems have customizations to do that, most off the shelf software does not.
from a planning perspective, it is always easier to manage and when you have separate sku's.
and if it is an item that needs to be controlled for recall or other purposes, you need to know which supplier to go back to when their is a problem...
ovrrdrive
Well-known member
It really gets confusing when one item has 500 ratings and is a 2 and the same thing has 500 and it's a 4...
Sometimes I think they change the number to reboot the ratings.
Sometimes I think they change the number to reboot the ratings.
I just had reason to look at the specs for the 20 ton hydraulic shop press and found two of them. The photos are identical. One weighed 150 lbs, the other was 160. I saw a thread on the 5hp air compressor with somebody asking whether he should buy it. A responder said to buy it under one SKU rather than another because of some better component, in his estimation. I believe it is the same vendor. There appear to be differences. The last post before mine explained it very well.
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mbshop
Well-known member
Yep, same item but differant manufacturer. I got caught in that web. Bought a hf 4 cart. Thiught I was going to get the one with the holes in the crossbrace for long prybars, etc. Instead I got one without. Still not happy about it but I'll just live with it. So if you can, check your item before taking it home.
Rarified27
Well-known member
It really gets confusing when one item has 500 ratings and is a 2 and the same thing has 500 and it's a 4...
Sometimes I think they change the number to reboot the ratings.
As someone who actually reads reviews, this is infuriating.
As someone who actually reads reviews, this is infuriating.
That is why it is important to pay attention to details. Different SKU, different manufacturer or generation of the same tool. One iteration can be great, the next can be **** or vice versa.
The 20 HF press is one example. One generation/SKU had cast press plates that were a safety disaster. The next were 1" plate that were poorly flame cut, but really strong. Other then that the presses were the exact same. I doubt the bothered to even change the picture.
I was recently buying several of the rubber wheel chocks as a give-away at an upcoming car meet. There were two different sku's in the bin, and they were different in that one was very firm and the second was somewhat softer. The flyer listed both sku's.