Harbor Freight... what do we really know???

[eschoendorff]

I tried doing a little research here... but I am sure that other may know more than I. Is Harbor Freight a publically traded company? Who's the head honcho? I mean, I know that the started in 1968 in CA, but I cannot really find much more than that.

I would be very interested to know exactly which factories overseas make their stuff. I did find a lead on their electric motors and generators: http://tradeshow.globalsources.com/...d/s/2808800002704/2008802364961/yananmotor.co

I'd also really like to know what the company's cost is on their tools. Not that it matters, I guess I am just nosy. But I have geard that the mark up on Chinese goods is incredible, and that even if they only charge $9.99 for an item, they are still making an incredible profit.

Anyone out there know anything more?

 

[dink]

All I know is that they are considered a wholesaler and that they carry my Enkay tool lines buffing wheel assortments

 

[Roadster J]

It's a privatly owned company:

http://www.hoovers.com/central-purchasing-inc./--ID__109818--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml



And the mark-up on the chinese goods must be incredible:

http://www.realestatejournal.com/columnists/private/20050228-private.html

 

[kartracer55]

"Mindong Yanan Electrical Machine Co. Ltd"

Ed, your mingdong is showing... HAHAHAHAH

Yeah, Im still not convinced that the stuff is quality though. So its made by a big company, so are lots of other things but it doesnt mean they are good. Just a mass production of ****.

Awesome detective work though.

And Roadster, your right, I cant imagine the markup on that stuff, 13 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms??????? Obviously doingwell for himself

Jim

 

[krooser]

Several years ago I bought a case of 4 1/2" grinders from a wholesaler in Chicago for $3.00 each ($36.00 per case of 12)....and HE made a profit before that AND the importer also made a profit before him...plus it had to be shipped 8,000 miles....I guess your cost per grinder is pretty low when you pay your people 8 cents an hour, have no environmental costs, you dump your used oils, heavy metals and such into the rivers, dump untreated and sewage into the streets and waterways and don't have the cost of OSHA to worry about...

OOPS....Sorry for my rant...

 

[chevy302dz]

Harbor Freight changes suppliers every so often just like everyone else. For example I have some Harbor Freight sockets from Japan. As far as markup I'm sure it is quite good since most things are already dirt cheap yet the always have stuff on sale for 30 to 50 percent off.

 

[dink]

okay guys here is the skinny on how us reps sell to a wholesaler

Usually....they are buying HUGE HUGE HUGE quantities.....not your normal 6 shelf pack like any normal tool or hardware store

and usually wholesale pricing can range from 10 to 80% BELOW cost when buying in case quantities

They are only making good profit margins because they all buy in huge quantities....


If you want wholesale pricing or cheaper....go to the ASD show in March 5 - 9th in Las Vegas and you too can get dirt cheap pricing on stuff


Here is the website
http://www.merchandisegroup.com/merchandise/asd_spring/index.jsp

 

[eschoendorff]

What I'd really like to know (but will most likely never find out) is whether or not any of HF stuff actually comes from any of those Chinese prison camp factories. And if they do conduct business with those factories, find out exactly which products come from such a place. But it's not like you are going to find a Chinese prison camp factory website.

Come to think of it, maybe I am better off not knowing. Not that it makes it right or okay...

 

[dink]

What I'd really like to know (but will most likely never find out) is whether or not any of HF stuff actually comes from any of those Chinese prison camp factories. And if they do conduct business with those factories, find out exactly which products come from such a place. But it's not like you are going to find a Chinese prison camp factory website.

Come to think of it, maybe I am better off not knowing. Not that it makes it right or okay...

American Tool
Grip


Look at those lines

 

[eschoendorff]

American Tool
Grip


Look at those lines

I'm not sure I follow... are you saying that those brands are definitively directly imported from Chinese prison factories?

 

[dink]

Defently American Tool

 

[maniac]

To give you an idea of profit, a friend of mine looked into opening a dollar store.

Everything in the store costs between 4 and 8 cents EVERYTHING.

So selling it for a dollar is almost 90% profit........not too shabby.

 

[REFLEXX]

Not buying Chinese made stuff is like standing in front of a Tsunami with a toy bucket. You cannot stop a tidal wave alone.

I was a BUY AMERICAN guy for years. I lost a good corporate job because of Chinese competition. I was spending ALL my money on high dollar / high quality stuff. A $80 wrench I used once a year.

Meanwhile 99% of "Americans" were shopping at Walmart/target/HD /Lowes/Kmart/etc/etc... Saving a TON of money to put in thier own bank accounts, for the day we'll all need it. Well now I'm doing the same.

I shop at HF all the time, I have a long list of what I want to buy, wait till it's on sale for 40-80% off and THEN I bring my 20% off coupon. IF I'm goning to give the Chinese my money, I'm gonna give them as little as possible.

Some of the stuff is pure garbage, but some is decent quality. Caveat emptor!

For all we know HF could give all thier money to the RED ARMY directly to buy nukes and me buying Snap-ON is going to stop this how??? The only change will come in China is when the people have a revolution. Think Glasnost or a very large North Korea.

I go to other stores and look at thier tools, it's still 80% made in China.

For me it's simple, less money spent on stuff, more money in my bank account. I can be a very in debt "All American Product" guy, or be like 99% of this country a sellout.

A crappy choice. China will be the lone superpower and I'm helping, not living in denial. They have a goal and there's nobody to stop them. Once they have all our money, they shut us down and sell to the rest of the world and themseleves (that little 2 BILLION person market)

---end rant.

 

[eschoendorff]

Not buying Chinese made stuff is like standing in front of a Tsunami with a toy bucket. You cannot stop a tidal wave alone.

Well, there are also very high quality Chinese goods. I am not saying that we should or should not buy Chinese product. There are already enough threads like that. I simply would like to know the true origins of the goods that come from Harbor Freight.

I go to other stores and look at thier tools, it's still 80% made in China.

Unfortuantely, that's the [depressing] truth. And some of those Chinese factories are ISO 9001:2000-certified and can manufacture to any specs that an OEM wants. I just want to make sure that if we are left to buy Chinese goods, that we can at least support only the legit factories and not necessarily the prison-factories. How we can isolate those facilities or trace the products, though, is beyond me.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I stopped by a friends place yesterday and looked at his new chinese made Lincoln floor jack made for Napa, it looked great, but all I can afford is the Harbor Freight $59.00 3 1/2 T floor jack, guess which one I will be getting?