Has Harbor Freight Lost Its Marbles?

[DennisH2014]

Between releasing multiple, overlapping lines of cordless power tools and increased prices easily rivaling quality brands, I think Harbor Freight has completely lost track of what made them so successful. I bring this up, because I just discovered the following new items...

1/2" 90-Tooth Torque Wrench: https://m.harborfreight.com/12-in-Drive-Professional-Click-Type-Torque-Wrench-64064.html
3/8" 90-Tooth Torque Wrench: https://m.harborfreight.com/38-in-drive-professional-click-type-torque-wrench-64065.html
8-Piece Snap Ring Pliers Set: https://m.harborfreight.com/8-Piece-Precision-Snap-Ring-Pliers-63841.html

Thoughts?

 

[Jim c]

I just read the reviews on the icon snap ring set. The reviews make me want to take a look at these snap ring pliers. Either hf has indeed lost their minds? Or possibly, hf has begun marketing a few decent tool lines?

 

[Yarpo]

Between releasing multiple, overlapping lines of cordless power tools and increased prices easily rivaling quality brands, I think Harbor Freight has completely lost track of what made them so successful. I bring this up, because I just discovered the following new items...

1/2" 90-Tooth Torque Wrench: https://m.harborfreight.com/12-in-Drive-Professional-Click-Type-Torque-Wrench-64064.html
3/8" 90-Tooth Torque Wrench: https://m.harborfreight.com/38-in-drive-professional-click-type-torque-wrench-64065.html
8-Piece Snap Ring Pliers Set: https://m.harborfreight.com/8-Piece-Precision-Snap-Ring-Pliers-63841.html

Thoughts?

Those torque wrenches are more than I'd probably pay for a HF torque wrench, but I dont think that's a bad price on the snap ring pliers.

Edit -> Nvm, 13 piece lang kit is still only 69.99 on amazon

 

[southalabama]

I think the new red handle pliers (Doyle I think) are a quality line comparable to dare we say Channellock. They are slightly cheaper and Tiawan vs US made.

Appears they are attempting to fill the void created by Sears/Craftsman. The next chapter for Craftsman is still in the works. More price points for tools.

 

[jd_1138]

Well those prices are still way less than the tool truck brands. The Doyle line of pliers looks good, though I have not used them yet. The Quinn line seems good especially for the price (lower than Doyle).

They probably want more of the pie. Hard to make profit off of 12 dollar torque wrenches. I paid 25 on sale for my Tekton torque wrench which is dirt cheap. That was at Family Farm and Home.

 

[zendriver]

Yes they must be hurting, that's why they open a new beautiful store often in a prime location about every other week.

Good tools at still competitive prices, liberal warranties and a physical store to walk in and shop.

Sounds like a business model that seems to work.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mfewtrail]

Those torque wrenches look nicer from the pictures, but those prices are not far off of USA made wrenches from PI or CDI. With only a $30 difference in retail on that 1/2'' vs. a 1/2'' PI, I'll take the PI every time.

The snap ring pliers look a hell of a lot better than their old offering, which isn't that surprising since the old sr pliers might have been as cheap as $10 for a set.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Not much new about corporate wanting to mine another market segment or tap another distribution channel.

I would be happiest if they would QC each product and solo source each one. That guess which identical appearing product is OK or a **** fest is for the birds. I am not going to be an unpaid inspector and drive 120 miles for the privilege.

 

[DFB]

Yup just seems like they are after the a segment of the market that's more commercial oriented than just the home gamer.


Hey you can still get the $10 one right

 

[M6erfan]

Yes they must be hurting, that's why they open a new beautiful store often in a prime location about every other week.

Good tools at still competitive prices, liberal warranties and a physical store to walk in and shop.

Sounds like a business model that seems to work.

Sounds like SEARS 20 years ago...

 

[Lassen Forge]

Plus there's huge money in tools, and if they can sell a wrench set that costs them 21¢ to make for $15 with a "Taiwanic Tin Tools" brand or for $75 with a "Aracanoc Tool & Die Co." brand on it, for the cost of printing a new label and maybe changing the casting dies...

 

[BMack37]

It's actually not a bad idea. The prices in their ads get people in the store then they feel how cheap the cheap tool feels and they look at the other line that's next to it but a little more expensive. Getting people in the door is the hardest part of making the sale. Why would you go to HD if there's a comparable product for a comparable price at the store you're already in?

Northern Tool has somewhat of a similar model in having both cheap tools and nicer tools available.

 

[jdoe213]

There must be millions of people that buy something just because it's a new version.
For me my 9.6 volt DeWalt drill still works just fine.

 

[jonesg]

There must be millions of people that buy something just because it's a new version.
For me my 9.6 volt DeWalt drill still works just fine.

You'll be sorry when I think up a reason why.

 

[aka Larry]

There must be millions of people that buy something just because it's a new version.

You sir have just stumbled upon Apple's business model. How else could you explain why someone would STAND IN LINE just to buy a damn phone?

 

[rpcraft]

Harbor freight is attempting to provide a pro line of tools to compete with the other big store product lines. I thought this was old news at this point in this forum?

 

[davethorik]

Harbor freight is attempting to provide a pro line of tools to compete with the other big store product lines. I thought this was old news at this point in this forum?

Old news for us that follow the forum and have read the hundreds of posts about it...op has been around a few yrs with a low post count, he probably doesn't sign on often, which leads to yet another thread on the subject...

 

[Davefr]

What's wrong with a "good", "better", "best" marketing strategy?

It's proven to be very successful over the years. However the pioneer of that strategy (ie Sears) has forgotten to use it.

 

[rpcraft]

I think with HF though it ranges from total garbage, passable with modifications, useful, and then you can beat someone over the head with it, LOL.

That being said I have been fighting the urge for the past 2 weeks to pick up one of those 5 drawer carts and the small Braun LEd light and the only reason I have been fighting is because I want it now but I dutifully convincing myself it will be so much more fun to assemble it in my new garage as soon as the house is finished.

I call it the new toys for the new House syndrome!!

 

[dnschmidt]

Within five years, maybe less, there will be two sources of tools in America. Harbor Freight and Amazon. If those wrenches are made by Torque-Tech in Taiwan they are every bit as good as CDI or Precision Instruments.

 

[CobraRed]

Am I missing something or do those snap-ring pliers, I'm guessing marketed to more of a professional customer, not even list the tip size? You could buy both AP sets for around the same price or less
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GE0PFDQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[finn]

Yes they must be hurting, that's why they open a new beautiful store often in a prime location about every other week.

Good tools at still competitive prices, liberal warranties and a physical store to walk in and shop.

Sounds like a business model that seems to work.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Do the new stores smell as bad as the old stores?

Just curious.

The smell in the main store in Camarillo is overwhelming, probably because it is attached to the distribution center.

 

[bczygan]

I'll stick with their $10 torque wrenches.

I don't think they ever sold marbles........

Bill

 

[zendriver]

Do the new stores smell as bad as the old stores?



Just curious.



The smell in the main store in Camarillo is overwhelming, probably because it is attached to the distribution center.

It smelled like a store, that sold rubber and plastic products, nothing overwhelming, but to be fair, my sense of smell is not the same as it was 50 years ago.

Smells exactly like the tire and Vbelt /hose storeroom of my dad's gas station, growing up, everything was American made.

I thought that's how all that stuff smelled.

It's a new store in Warsaw Indiana. Perfectly clean with really wife aisles really well lit

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

3/8" 90-Tooth Torque Wrench: https://m.harborfreight.com/38-in-drive-professional-click-type-torque-wrench-64065.html
Thoughts?

Their favorite bait is the 'Compare to Snap-on' BS

Why not compare to Proto?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002FCH8XI/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I'd gladly pay the $43.51 difference. Or, buy the cheap HF one...

 

[d.mcfarland]

That looks very similar to the Duralast tools ratchet type of tools. I'm guessing the manufacturer could be the same.

 

[Tallpilot]

As I always comment I appreciate these threads because it saves me the trouble of checking the world for new products. Most of us would choose to spend a few more dollars on something quantifiably better from a well known manufacturer and we spend several hours each week here reading and bloviating about tools. The average DIY person and even a decent number of professional tool users does not. For them these offerings provide a decent tool at a decent price instead of a complete piece of garbage for a price just under the false advertising lawsuit limit.

They also help keep the top end of the market anchored lower. As someone currently building a set of Snap-on (see, I punctuated it correctly that time) reversible ratcheting wrenches I wish the top end were a little more anchored.

Many people also don't have a big tool box or buy tools in anticipation of need. They go pick it up that day. This gives those people more quality options. Harbor Freight is expanding because they are filling needs other companies are not and winning in the marketplace. If you really feel strongly against it then open up a competitor and see if you can do better.

 

[jakemac]

What's wrong with a "good", "better", "best" marketing strategy?

It's proven to be very successful over the years. However the pioneer of that strategy (ie Sears) has forgotten to use it.

Ding ! Ding ! Ding !
This is exactly what HF is doing.
Sears spent decades building and maintaining sales based on the Good/Better/Best sales strategy until Eddy Lampert took over and raped the company. At that time, HF was building itself up using a different strategy that was under-utilized at the time. Inexpensive (cheap) tools for the masses.

Now that Sears dwindling, the door is open for someone to fill that retail market. HF started the process a few years ago with a move into the Good/Better market while they entered into a new expansion phase. Now they're stepping up again to the Good/Better/Best model.

I can only hope that HF doesn't follow Woodworker's Warehouse (a Better/Best model) into obscurity by utilizing debt to expand too quickly and burn out its market.

 

[guy48065]

Those do look like far better-made torque wrenches but they might want to re-think marketing them as more precise than the $15 version when they are in fact the same specification.

 

[zendriver]

Let's be honest.

The days of the cheap Chinese "potmetal" wrench is mostly gone for good. Even the handtools sold at Walmart, are at least of reasonable usable quality, at a low price.

Their manufacturing World is quite a bit different than it was 40 years ago, china's main form of transportation was a donkey cart.

If a quality Milwaukee cordless drill can be made in China then one of similar quality can be made there (maybe even in the same factory )with someone else's name on it and sold at a lesser price.

Harbor freight knows this fact better than anybody.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[engineer2]

a "good", "better", "best" marketing strategy

Better and best are higher profit margins than the Chinese version of "good"

 

[Davefr]

Better and best are higher profit margins than the Chinese version of "good"

Yep. Old Sears knew is well. Get them in the door with "good"and hopefully they walk out with "better" or "best".

 

[kctyphoon]

I respectfully decline to comment on the grounds that this was discussed months ago, a few times.. nothing new to see here..

 

[Two Door]

Edit -> Nvm, 13 piece lang kit is still only 69.99 on amazon

As I write, Tooltopia has them for $62.37. Shipping makes it a break-even, but if you buy another $13 you get free shipping.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I'll stick with their $10 torque wrenches.

I don't think they ever sold marbles........

Bill

About four years back; they had marbles next to the $1.29 wooden airplane kits.. Cat's eye marbles.. true honest not joking this time

 

[redvalkyrie]

I haven't handled those snap ring pliers but the pics look promising. Far better than the stamped steel units Craftsman sold. Until I handle them I can't say more but I have numerous sizes of Knipex and KTC and...from the pics...the HFs look good.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

No interest in their torque wrenches.. I have a bunch of Snap-on, and a 12 pair set of Lang snap ring pliers, plus others. But, looking at the pictures, I like the design of the snap ring pliers.. I think dummies like Me have no need to know what size the tips are, but I will maybe check that out anyway.



Take note that the torque wrenches are made for clockwise and counter-clockwise use

 

[JazzBlueRT]

Ding ! Ding ! Ding !
This is exactly what HF is doing.
Sears spent decades building and maintaining sales based on the Good/Better/Best sales strategy until Eddy Lampert took over and raped the company. At that time, HF was building itself up using a different strategy that was under-utilized at the time. Inexpensive (cheap) tools for the masses.

Now that Sears dwindling, the door is open for someone to fill that retail market. HF started the process a few years ago with a move into the Good/Better market while they entered into a new expansion phase. Now they're stepping up again to the Good/Better/Best model.

I can only hope that HF doesn't follow Woodworker's Warehouse (a Better/Best model) into obscurity by utilizing debt to expand too quickly and burn out its market.

Eric Smidt. the CEO of HF is loading the company up with debt.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...a-beverly-hills-xanadu-thanks-to-50-chainsaws

Every HF I have ever been to (at least 6 of them) has been just as empty as Sears.

 

[PugetDude]

Every HF I have ever been to (at least 6 of them) has been just as empty as Sears.

Go to the East Mesa, AZ anytime between November and April- the place is always packed with Snowbirds, a lot of them Canadian. Stuff is flying off the shelf as fast as they can restock it.

Sears, on the other hand...

 

[CJM8515]

I just read the reviews on the icon snap ring set. The reviews make me want to take a look at these snap ring pliers. Either hf has indeed lost their minds? Or possibly, hf has begun marketing a few decent tool lines?

I bought them on a whim, so far so good but only time will tell. They do appear quite nice for the money.