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HF blantantly copying Snap on look

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deberly12

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Why does HF constantly get refered to as a Chinese tool company. They were founded by Eric Schmidt who still runs the company from California where it started. Yes there tools are not made in usa but their hand tools are made in Tiawan not China.

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L.Cheapo

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Codejack said:
Um....


The 3/8" ratchet is SO, the 3/8" sockets are GW, the hex and torx sockets are Kobalt, and everything else is HF :eyecrazy:

Edit: Whoops! I have no idea what brand the spark plug socket is.
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That isn't cross shopping. Cross shopping is pitting multiple suppliers against each other for the best deal. The guy shopping at HF for an $8 wrench set isn't having a hard time deciding between it and the $450 set Snap On sells. But he might be swayed to buy a $19 set at HD, Sears, or Lowes. Therefore, he might cross shop Sears, Lowe's, HD, or HF for a wrench set.
 
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JimNC

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Codejack said:
b58e017816d574c0ef6f024831cd1455.jpg
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Every time you post this pic I mean to ask if the rings that you have your wrenches on have a closure, and if so where did you get them? I really like the idea for a traveling box.
 
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Snakebyt

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Might have to check out those screwdrivers, cant hurt to have some extras around. to be perfectly honest in my toolbox, husky are my go to screwdrivers, best $4 i have ever spent
 
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poriggity

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taumac said:
That would be awesome... finally a place where the HF owners can show off their tools.

I think they will definitely have to bolt some extra on the top to match the US babes. LOL
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I'm a HF fanboy, and I'm not afraid to admit it. Snap on is overpriced, imho. If I have to start a "show us your hf tools" thread, I will.

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Codejack

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JimNC said:
Every time you post this pic I mean to ask if the rings that you have your wrenches on have a closure, and if so where did you get them? I really like the idea for a traveling box.
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$2 for the pair at HF :)

https://www.harborfreight.com/2-piece-wrench-rings-37074.html

Yes, they close; it's just a big spring, you just squeeze and twist and they pop open. Pretty stiff, though.

All but the smallest size wrench will get over the catch, though, so you can use it like a big key chain and sort the size you want near the opening.

I'm thinking about getting another pair for my ratcheting wrenches.
 
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RivennHewn

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OMG. Harbor Freight is trying to copy Snap On?

I for one, am outraged! Outraged, I tell you!
 
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Codejack

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L.Cheapo said:
That isn't cross shopping. Cross shopping is pitting multiple suppliers against each other for the best deal. The guy shopping at HF for an $8 wrench set isn't having a hard time deciding between it and the $450 set Snap On sells. But he might be swayed to buy a $19 set at HD, Sears, or Lowes. Therefore, he might cross shop Sears, Lowe's, HD, or HF for a wrench set.
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I was getting suggestions, so I decided to try different things; I found that SO ratchet pretty cheap, so I nabbed it, then bought some HF stuff, and liked it almost as well...

I very well may try other stuff in the future, but for right now, it is doing the job, and that's all I really care about.
 
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Snakebyt

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I plan on buying one of the HF pro 3/8 flexhead rachets as soon as i can find them in stock. I dont need a flexhead very often, so no reason to spent 100+ from the tool truck. Ill probably get the 1/4 as well.
 
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Codejack

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Snakebyt said:
I plan on buying one of the HF pro 3/8 flexhead rachets as soon as i can find them in stock. I dont need a flexhead very often, so no reason to spent 100+ from the tool truck. Ill probably get the 1/4 as well.
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I've got the 1/4"; it's in the picture on page 2, along with the color-coded 1/4" sockets. I couldn't get just 1/4" extensions from HF, though, so those are Stanley.

I've put some force on it, though, and it has held up well.
 
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davethorik

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deberly12 said:
Why does HF constantly get refered to as a Chinese tool company. They were founded by Eric Schmidt who still runs the company from California where it started. Yes there tools are not made in usa but their hand tools are made in Tiawan not China.

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Click to expand...

Some of their hand tools are Taiwan. I think most are China. Some may even be India. They even have a few odds and ends that are made in USA, but not hand tools.
 
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Tallpilot

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zktk01 said:
I know they say "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" I don't think Snap-on is flattered with HF. I went inside HF yesterday looked around the Ratchets definitely looks like they copied from Snap-on, the new HF comfort-grip screwdrivers look they copied Snap-on Instinct grip.

I don't mind the import tools, I just wish HF could show some originality.
It disgusts me to see such blatant design copies. Seems to be the way, USA innovates, China Imitates. I left without spending a dime. I probably will not go back again, too many other imported tool manufactures to choose.
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I'm confused. Does China own Harbor Freight?
 
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d.mcfarland

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zktk01 said:
Seems to be the way, USA innovates, China Imitates. I left without spending a dime. I probably will not go back again, too many other imported tool manufactures to choose.
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It's not that I care that Harbor Freight copied one design, it's that every new tool release is an obvious copy of Snap On, then they compare them to Snap On in their flier. Basically using the Snap On name to sell their copies. I believe infringement is occurring.
 
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dogdog

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Tallpilot said:
I'm confused. Does China own Harbor Freight?
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LMFAO.... no, .... as if this subject hasn't been beaten to death.... the HF owner's last name is Smidt, a Chinese counterfeit...... The more I think of this, the more I think this is a troll thread....

Top200-17_-Smidt_1.jpg
 
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dogdog

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ganymede said:
So when an American retailer wants a bunch of screwdrivers with certain specifications, a Chinese tool manufacturer should say " No problem except for the handles. They look too much like Snap On" .
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A honest business men/women would have reject the order and commit seppuku for dishonoring snap-on, on behalves of the American retailer's order.
 
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openwheelracing88

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Now we are touting handle shape innovations? American innovation......of handle shape and colors? We invented red and black color schemes??? This sounds embarrassing if you ask me...
 
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oldtools

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openwheelracing88 said:
Now we are touting handle shape innovations? American innovation......of handle shape and colors? We invented red and black color schemes??? This sounds embarrassing if you ask me...
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Apple patent a shade of white. They also patent a rectangle with round corner, circular button. How innovative.
 
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bcradio

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Codejack said:
$2 for the pair at HF :)

https://www.harborfreight.com/2-piece-wrench-rings-37074.html

Yes, they close; it's just a big spring, you just squeeze and twist and they pop open. Pretty stiff, though.

All but the smallest size wrench will get over the catch, though, so you can use it like a big key chain and sort the size you want near the opening.

I'm thinking about getting another pair for my ratcheting wrenches.
Click to expand...

These look nice. I may have to stop by HF today.

Thanks :beer:
 
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cgaengineer

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I do buy some HF stuff, but not hand tools...and I will never buy a ratchet from any manufacturer other than Snapon


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apollo11

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zktk01

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d.mcfarland said:
It's not that I care that Harbor Freight copied one design, it's that every new tool release is an obvious copy of Snap On, then they compare them to Snap On in their flier. Basically using the Snap On name to sell their copies. I believe infringement is occurring.
Click to expand...

I agree, I should have worded the original post this succinctly.
 
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Doc

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I have many tools from countless makers. I really dont care who makes the tool as long as it does the job safely and reliably. My favorite Ratchets are from HF, My fav sockets are SO, My favorite 3/8 extensions are from a set that I got at a swap meet about 20 years ago. While I can appreciate having quality tools if I had to rely on them to feed my family, I just dont have that issue. I have tools for my hobby not livelihood.
 
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Witchkingofangmar

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Aug 2, 2017
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Planned on going to HF tomorrow since I just got a new 20% off coupon in an email today.

I own a number of their clamps. Super cheap and lifetime warranty. Why not?
 
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zktk01

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Witchkingofangmar said:
Planned on going to HF tomorrow since I just got a new 20% off coupon in an email today.

I own a number of their clamps. Super cheap and lifetime warranty. Why not?
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What kind of clamps? I got some woodworking clamps in the past they were absolute garbage every time I would go to glue boards together the clamp would come loose. I threw them away.

C Clamps should be fine
 
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Gmonkee

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The color scheme argument is interesting.

Red and black is used by AutoZone, Wurth, HF, Milwaukee and Snappy among a dozen others. I can't imagine any one of those was the first in history to use it either.

What would it take to legally protect a color combo in a global market?
 
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