Harbor Freight US General Series 2 question

[sucking chest wound]

Ahoy!

I just came back from Harbor Freight with a US General 26 x 22" black roller cabinet. Being able to use a 15% coupon on tool storage is nice, finally.

I have a couple of questions that I think other people may wonder about too, so I thought I would start a new thread that may help answer those questions.

My 2 questions are:

1. The SKU I bought was 64431. There is another SKU, 64432, which seems to be identical in every way. Why is this? I believe this is also the case for the other colors (red, blue; each color has 2 SKUs).

2. My box does not have any markings on the carton, or on the cabinet itself indicating that it is a Series 2, although some of the images on the Harbor Freight site show them with "Series 2" markings. Did I get a Series 2, or the older version? The carton does say the SKU is 64431, and the description on the website for this SKU includes "Series 2".

For $260 bucks out the door (with Massachusetts state sales tax) I am happy either way; it's a very nicely made box for that price! But I am just curious what I actually bought, lol.

 

[PelicanPines]

It's black... it's series 2.

 

[sucking chest wound]

That was fast. LOL, thanks.

In inspecting the box, I noted that one of the drawer's front bottom rounded edges is "smooshed" for lack of a better word. Imagine a metal tube with a slight pinch on one end. It does not appear to be shipping damage, it looks like a manufacturing defect. On a scale of 1-10 being noticeable, I'd say it's about 7. It bugs me a little but not enough to bring it all back.

If I brought just this drawer in to the store, could they/would they order me another, or do they only do full exchanges?

 

[Mr_B]

think that down to staff involved, good chance they would ...

 

[Craftfab]

My store only does full exchanges in store. Have had to take tool cart back before. I now open the boxes before leaving. But always worth a call to check.

The different sku for same items, according to a store employee, is to differentiate which factory they come from (I have no way of confirming but that was from an employee in store)

The “Series 2” you see in photos was just for marketing purposes. The gen 1 26” were not as deep either. About 18” only.

 

[sucking chest wound]

Great, thanks guys.

 

[71goldss]

I bought two of the black 56” Series II boxes a few weeks ago. Because the first store only had one in stock, I had to go to another store to purchase the second one. At the moment, one box is in my home garage, while the other is being stored at my girlfriend’s place until I have room for it at my place. They were both on sale for $649, so that’s why I bought both now and didn’t wait to purchase the second one at a later date.

Even though the boxes are currently not side by side, I did notice when unloading the second box at my girlfriend’s place, it has different casters than the first box I unloaded at my place. I then checked my receipts and found that one box is 64457, and the other is 64458. I actually like the appearance of the 64458 casters better. Another thing I noticed is that the 64457 not only has the plastic drawer latches, but the drawers also seem to have detents that require a light tug on the the drawers to release when opening. The 64458 doesn’t seem to require the same tug when opening, but I haven’t had time to investigate for detents yet. The drawers seem to just rely on the plastic latches only to keep them closed. I may be wrong on this, but I will investigate a little more this weekend when I’m at her place. If both seem to have detents, then I will probably remove the plastic latches to make the drawers easier to open when pulling from the center. My biggest concern is that the casters may not be the same height and cause the boxes not to be level with each other. If it turns out they are the same height, and they probably are, I plan to just swap the casters around so that all match across the front. No one will see the rear casters anyway.

Just giving my experience with different box numbers so far. I may find even more differences once they are both side by side at my place.

 

[Wamsutta]

In inspecting the box, I noted that one of the drawer's front bottom rounded edges is "smooshed" for lack of a better word.

Take it back and get another one. If it bugs you now, it will always bug you.

 

[PelicanPines]

I'm gonna be honest... I'm handy enough to do minor body work that is passable... I would just hammer it out (to coin a phrase).

I look at it this way... time is money... working making things better would make me feel good knowing "I fixed it". To some they want something handed to them until it's perfect (being entitled) Problem is they spend serious time and effort to get it.

Go ahead flame me.

 

[deluser-u]

Take it back, and get a new one with this coupon. Better than 15% off.

 

[ScottsGT]

I stopped in HF yesterday to take a look at these. I’m choosing between a 44” or two 26” boxes and then building a “chassis” to put them in.
I tried to pull out a drawer but it just wouldn’t release. But can the drawer guides/rails on these be rearranged so I could put the deep drawers on the top? Easily, I must add. I’m sure with enough work anything is possible.

 

[njc41980]

Go ahead flame me.

No flame here.

Nothing in this world is perfect - much less at the dirt cheap discount tool store.

I'm a perfectionist as much as the next guy, but taking something back for a minor cosmetic issue is a lot of work for me, and it seems awfully wasteful sometimes.

I appreciate good warranties, but I don't like punishing people with them.

 

[njc41980]

The “Series 2” you see in photos was just for marketing purposes. The gen 1 26” were not as deep either. About 18” only.

Thank you for clarifying that. I had the exact same question about my box.

 

[deluser-u]

To some they want something handed to them until it's perfect (being entitled) Problem is they spend serious time and effort to get it.

I spend serious time and effort to make the money that I use to buy goods that I expect to be in new and as advertised condition, not dented. If its dented it should be priced accordingly.

He should still take it back and save another $20 using the roll cab specific coupon.

 

[Mr_B]

^ difference is like 8bucks a cabinet
Think i'd take it back over the damage, don't really want be messing with visual finish repairs on new box.
I would compare 2 cabinets first and make sure 100% match and if any differences then maybe able make a swap out to 2 same manufacturer code .

 

[Mr_B]

I stopped in HF yesterday to take a look at these. I’m choosing between a 44” or two 26” boxes and then building a “chassis” to put them in.
I tried to pull out a drawer but it just wouldn’t release. But can the drawer guides/rails on these be rearranged so I could put the deep drawers on the top? Easily, I must add. I’m sure with enough work anything is possible.

rails not re-positional as don't stamp rail mount slots for multi layout like did on older model .
I guise you could mark out and cut the square holes but need be 99.9% accurate or you have a loppy mess .

 

[deluser-u]

^ difference is like 8bucks a cabinet

$247 with 15% off.
$229 with roll cab coupon.

$18 difference

 

[86k10]

$247 with 15% off.
$229 with roll cab coupon.

$18 difference

That difference is like not having to pay taxes.

 

[Mr_B]

$247 with 15% off.
$229 with roll cab coupon.

$18 difference

279.99 with 15% off is 237.99 !

EDIT, I take it the base price gone up 10bucks :-S

 

[James-W]

I'm gonna be honest... I'm handy enough to do minor body work that is passable... I would just hammer it out (to coin a phrase).

I look at it this way... time is money... working making things better would make me feel good knowing "I fixed it". To some they want something handed to them until it's perfect (being entitled) Problem is they spend serious time and effort to get it.

Go ahead flame me.

When I buy something new and pay full price for it, I expect it to be right. If there is a flaw in the item I am returning it and getting one that isn't flawed. If I wanted a flawed item I could buy a used one for less money. If the store wants to give me a discount on the flawed item, I MIGHT accept that depending on what was flawed and how badly. But why should I accept a damaged item when I bought it new and paid full price? Would you accept your new car if there were minor dents in it? Or would you figure your time is too valuable and it isn't worth it to return the vehicle, you can repair the dents yourself? I realize a car isn't a tool chest, but the principle is the same.

 

[PelicanPines]

When I buy something new and pay full price for it, I expect it to be right. If there is a flaw in the item I am returning it and getting one that isn't flawed. If I wanted a flawed item I could buy a used one for less money. If the store wants to give me a discount on the flawed item, I MIGHT accept that depending on what was flawed and how badly. But why should I accept a damaged item when I bought it new and paid full price? Would you accept your new car if there were minor dents in it? Or would you figure your time is too valuable and it isn't worth it to return the vehicle, you can repair the dents yourself? I realize a car isn't a tool chest, but the principle is the same.

Yep... but it's a value tool box... not a car... and at my hourly rate, which I'm not getting while I drive to fix something I can fix quicker than the ride there...

I'm not entitled... I value my time and effort. But I understand and respect those that are and don't.

 

[James-W]

Yep... but it's a value tool box... not a car... and at my hourly rate, which I'm not getting while I drive to fix something I can fix quicker than the ride there...

I'm not entitled... I value my time and effort. But I understand and respect those that are and don't.

Nonsense, you are entitled to get what you paid for, regardless of what your hourly rate is. If you can't afford to miss work, then take it back on a day you have off. Call them up, tell them the item you bought is defective and you want to return it for one that isn't defective, but you can't take it back until so and so date because you have to work. Besides that, if you can afford to miss work in order to drive to the store and buy the item, you can afford to miss work to exchange it.

 

[Blind1]

Take it back, and get a new one with this coupon. Better than 15% off.

Thank you! I just picked mine up today with this coupon. Size works great in my 20x22. Much better use of space than my previous 26” Kennedy stack.

 

[PelicanPines]

Nonsense, you are entitled to get what you paid for, regardless of what your hourly rate is. If you can't afford to miss work, then take it back on a day you have off. Call them up, tell them the item you bought is defective and you want to return it for one that isn't defective, but you can't take it back until so and so date because you have to work. Besides that, if you can afford to miss work in order to drive to the store and buy the item, you can afford to miss work to exchange it.

Again. Not worth my time. I would just fix it. Provided it is fixable. I retired 16 years ago... I currently get paid to sit in a recliner or in a beach chair... depending on the time of year. I can do all this because I didn't waste my time.