To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

HF blantantly copying Snap on look

deberly12

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 7, 2017
Messages
383
Location
Lebanon County, PA
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.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

L.Cheapo

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 23, 2014
Messages
5,916
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.

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.
 

JimNC

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 9, 2017
Messages
580
Location
NC
b58e017816d574c0ef6f024831cd1455.jpg

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.
 

Snakebyt

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 2, 2014
Messages
1,075
Location
Lubbock Tx
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
 

poriggity

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 12, 2017
Messages
142
Location
Reno, NV
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
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.

Sent from my LG-H810 using Tapatalk
 

Codejack

Banned
Joined
Jul 21, 2017
Messages
838
Location
Chattanooga, TN
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.

$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.
 

RivennHewn

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 4, 2011
Messages
10,371
Location
PNW
OMG. Harbor Freight is trying to copy Snap On?

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

Codejack

Banned
Joined
Jul 21, 2017
Messages
838
Location
Chattanooga, TN
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.

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.
 

Snakebyt

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 2, 2014
Messages
1,075
Location
Lubbock Tx
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.
 

Codejack

Banned
Joined
Jul 21, 2017
Messages
838
Location
Chattanooga, TN
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.

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.
 

davethorik

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
4,992
Location
Norka, Ohio
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.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

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.
 

Tallpilot

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 13, 2017
Messages
2,384
Location
Orlando
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.

I'm confused. Does China own Harbor Freight?
 

d.mcfarland

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 18, 2012
Messages
6,570
Location
Western PA
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.

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.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

dogdog

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 15, 2011
Messages
12,711
I'm confused. Does China own Harbor Freight?

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
 
Last edited:

dogdog

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 15, 2011
Messages
12,711
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" .

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.
 

openwheelracing88

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 10, 2015
Messages
266
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...
 

oldtools

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 15, 2008
Messages
2,706
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...

Apple patent a shade of white. They also patent a rectangle with round corner, circular button. How innovative.
 

bcradio

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 30, 2012
Messages
6,017
Location
New Mexico
$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.

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

Thanks :beer:
 

cgaengineer

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2017
Messages
16
I do buy some HF stuff, but not hand tools...and I will never buy a ratchet from any manufacturer other than Snapon


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

apollo11

Banned
Joined
Aug 19, 2017
Messages
1,226
Location
State Of Reality
OP
Z

zktk01

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 22, 2016
Messages
809
Location
KY
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.

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

Doc

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 19, 2005
Messages
195
Location
St Johns, Forida
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.
 
Joined
Aug 2, 2017
Messages
14
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?
 
OP
Z

zktk01

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 22, 2016
Messages
809
Location
KY
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?

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
 

Gmonkee

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2010
Messages
2,794
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?
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom