Holy **** harbor freight....

[American Locomotive]

I'm really curious to see how DeWalt responds to them using the "20V Max" branding, and the fact that the Hercules batteries are basically direct rip-offs of the DeWalt battery.

 

[buffalobill]

I dunno, I try and stay out of harbor freights, but I went today. Haven't been in one in a while. They aren't the **** of any jokes anymore. There is still cheap throwaways in the aisles, but most of their nice stuff seems to be pretty decent. They have been getting better ever since they started with garbage tools for pennies. It also helps that everywhere else has downgraded somewhat. I don't see a big difference in hand tools between lowes, home depot, tractor supply, or HF, except the price. The power tools of longtime big brands are probably better, but I'll be damned if HF isn't a decent place to shop anymore. I used to be able to walk out laughing, not anymore. It doesn't even have the stenchance like they used to, man that store used to smell bad.

 

[edcantu9]

Maybe Dewalt, Milwaukee, etc will lower prices? Competition is good!

 

[09-JK]

If anything this only proves that all power tools are the same, only brand names and their reputation differ. There's really no reason to not buy the cheapest tool anymore.

Using your logic, all car brands are equal.

 

[franzdom]

My Tata Nano is clearly a superior choice to your Ford F150 considering how inexpensive it is!

 

[ptgarcia]

Maybe Dewalt, Milwaukee, etc will lower prices? Competition is good!

^ this. If the new Harbor Freight is as good as the spec than it's likely the other guys will start dropping prices a bit.

 

[Jazzman442]

I just went to my local HF to get this:

https://www.harborfreight.com/12V-M...iNzkuOTkiLCJwcm9kdWN0X2lk IjoiMTIxOTAifQ==

It is the ACDelco one. Built like a tank. its on sale right now for $79.99. That is less than half of the AC price. They had to get it out of the back as they just received these new cordless tools today. They are setting up new displays tomorrow.

 

[Jazzman442]

The ratchet here is the real concern for Milwaukee. The M12 ratchet has its place in the world, no doubt about it, but it has very little power. The 25ft-lb's claimed is at the outer limits of its ability. If this HF ratchet really can do 70 ft-lb as claimed that destroys the M12 by a very wide margin. Dewalt, Milwaukee and Bosch should be shaking in their boots if HF pulls this upscale move off. I've been in the electronics industry for over 40 years and I remember what Epson did to the American printer industry. TAKE THIS THREAT VERY SERIOUSLY.

This is what happens when you offshore your manufacturing. China has no concern whatsoever for intellectual property. They will freely steal it. What truly proprietary IP do these companies have that the Chinese can't steal. They obviously know what you're doing as they're building your **** they don't even need to reverse engineer it. You've given them the drawings and the engineering specs. Eventually, chickens come home to roost.

I do not think they are concerned. This tool made by Acdelco / Durofix has been out for a while and is a more powerful tool. Built believe it of not a lot stronger than the Milwaukee. It not even close to the same design.

 

[Ehrmantraut]

My Tata Nano is clearly a superior choice to your Ford F150 considering how inexpensive it is!

Lol. Apples to oranges and to argue otherwise is ridiculous.

 

[alinc100]

Hmm the battery in the 12v ratchet looks very similar to my Craftsman Nextec 12v batteries.May become a resource for a new pack on the discontinued Nextecs.

 

[PearlWhiteGT]

I just went to my local HF to get this:

https://www.harborfreight.com/12V-M...iNzkuOTkiLCJwcm9kdWN0X2lk IjoiMTIxOTAifQ==

It is the ACDelco one. Built like a tank. its on sale right now for $79.99. That is less than half of the AC price. They had to get it out of the back as they just received these new cordless tools today. They are setting up new displays tomorrow.

Let us know how you like it? I might have to purchase one just to try it out.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

I just went to my local HF to get this:

https://www.harborfreight.com/12V-M...iNzkuOTkiLCJwcm9kdWN0X2lk IjoiMTIxOTAifQ==

It is the ACDelco one. Built like a tank. its on sale right now for $79.99. That is less than half of the AC price. They had to get it out of the back as they just received these new cordless tools today. They are setting up new displays tomorrow.

It looks like the same ratchet, but the batteries are different, so don't think they will interchange.

I just came back from Canadian Tire, and some of their Mastercraft impacts have the same look to them. Not surprising, since Mobiltron/Durofix made some of their tools as far back as the early 2000's. The Maximum line at CanTire looks a lot like the Hercules stuff at HF.

My AC Delco ratchet is handy, but I wouldn't trust it to put out 57 lb/ft of torque. I snug it up by hand after running up the fastener. Still a great time saver though. They also make a 1/4" drive version.

 

[rjvjeepster]

Very interesting. I'm kicking around the idea of getting a powerful electric impact instead of rebuilding the battery on my Craftsman C3 one again.

 

[zendriver]

The ratchet here is the real concern for Milwaukee. The M12 ratchet has its place in the world, no doubt about it, but it has very little power. The 25ft-lb's claimed is at the outer limits of its ability. If this HF ratchet really can do 70 ft-lb as claimed that destroys the M12 by a very wide margin. Dewalt, Milwaukee and Bosch should be shaking in their boots if HF pulls this upscale move off. I've been in the electronics industry for over 40 years and I remember what Epson did to the American printer industry. TAKE THIS THREAT VERY SERIOUSLY.

This is what happens when you offshore your manufacturing. China has no concern whatsoever for intellectual property. They will freely steal it. What truly proprietary IP do these companies have that the Chinese can't steal. They obviously know what you're doing as they're building your **** they don't even need to reverse engineer it. You've given them the drawings and the engineering specs. Eventually, chickens come home to roost.

They might be, since Milwaukee was charging $175 for a Chinese made product, that a competitor, came out with one, more powerful Chinese made product, for half the price.

FWIW people and businesses liked Epson printers, which like most other Japanese made electronics products of the time, were affordable and better quality, than most products made here.

The chickens never came to roost then, either.

 

[kctyphoon]

Maybe Dewalt, Milwaukee, etc will lower prices? Competition is good!

Will never happen. That would be counterproductive to Milwaukee's market strategy. There's a reason why Milwaukee is always priced slightly above dewalt. "You get what you pay for" is what many people believe. If top tier brands want to be seen as top tier in the eyes of consumers, then they need to have a top tier price tag. Milwaukee will not even respond to something like this. They need to maintain the image of "you are beneath us". Any price drop is an admission to a threat, and customers will pick up on that and start to give HF a bit more attention before making a choice. A premium price attracts premium buyers and users.. the type of people that buy those tools is also what helps to drive sales. Snap on has mastered the manipulation of consumers using high prices.. they make more by selling less, and not many other companies can say the same. The brand is type cast as "the best". HF however has a much different stigma associated with them, which is WHY these prices are higher.. they are trying to change their brand perception.

It would only be until AFTR the competition starts to put a serious dent into sales figures that a brand like Milwaukee (or any others) would respond. HF would need to have a huge expanse in tool options before they would ever begin to compete.

HF also made a bad move in my eyes, as not having ALL of these new cordless tools under the Hercules brand and making them all battery compatible. There's zero chance of these batteries fitting into the Hercules tools. They are a completely different design.

 

[DFB]

So where is the $79 price coupon on the ratchet to found? Website shows $99 when I just looked.

I thinkI should get that and maybe the 3/8 impact kit on my next market tool run and see how it goes

Everbody loves cheap tools

 

[SilverBulletZ06]

So where is the $79 price coupon on the ratchet to found? Website shows $99 when I just looked.

I thinkI should get that and maybe the 3/8 impact kit on my next market tool run and see how it goes

Everbody loves cheap tools

No go for my area. 20% off does not apply to earthquake tools.

 

[redsand187]

Take the Hercules drill for example. $110, made in china, brushed motor, 1 battery, 90 day warranty.

DeWalt, $180, assembled and QC'd in USA, brushless motor, 2 batteries, 3 year warranty.

Add $30 for a 2 year warranty on the Hercules, $30 for a second battery, you save $10, have brushed vs brushless, 1 year less warranty, questionable Chinese quality.

I don't think anyone is scared by Harbor Freight's foray into "professional," tools.



Another thing to note, they now have Drill Master 18v, Chicago Electric 18v, Chicago Electric 12v lithium, Hercules 20v, (Hercules 12v appears to be on the horizon as the charger is labeled 20v/12v) Bauer 20v, Earthquake XT 20v, Earthquake XT 12v, Lynx 40v.

Harbor Freight's past/current offerings in cordless tools has been poor. With this much segmenting, I don't think we will see a large competitive offering. I would have preferred to see one cohesive line comparable to Ryobi One+ rather than have to piece together items from nearly 10 battery systems.

 

[JazzBlueRT]

Hmm the battery in the 12v ratchet looks very similar to my Craftsman Nextec 12v batteries.May become a resource for a new pack on the discontinued Nextecs.

Is the Nextec line officially discontinued? Should I ****** up a spare drill while I can?

 

[tarbellb]

Will never happen. That would be counterproductive to Milwaukee's market strategy. There's a reason why Milwaukee is always priced slightly above dewalt. "You get what you pay for" is what many people believe. If top tier brands want to be seen as top tier in the eyes of consumers, then they need to have a top tier price tag. Milwaukee will not even respond to something like this. They need to maintain the image of "you are beneath us".............

I think you make a excellent point, and usually it is this way. But there are cases where lower cost competition digs in and changes this structure.

One good and recent example: Verizon wireless

They finally caved in and lowered their prices, even go as far as saying they are "better value".

Im excited to see what these HF tools will do to the industry.

 

[Waterh20]

No go for my area. 20% off does not apply to earthquake tools.

Try coupon code 80128162

 

[chipper]

Any chance the batteries are interchangeable with milwaukee. Im heavily invested in m12/m18 but if the batteries work that would be great, im sure they'll sell some separate

 

[aspireguy95]

Just got this coupon code for 20 off any earthquake its 80861873

 

[DFB]

Well I tried both those numbers...not seeing it

 

[aspireguy95]

As soon as I add it to the cart on their website it applied the coupon automatically. Brings it to 79.99 plus tax

 

[DFB]

code #80861873


12V Max Lithium 3/8 In. Cordless Xtreme Torque Ratchet Wrench Kit
Earthquake® XT

Item #:63538

The item is excluded from certain coupon offers. Please check the coupon for detail



Well must be selective I even logged in under my account but still no go for me

Anyone else?

 

[aspireguy95]

Sorry I meant to say I didn't have to add the code it already appears once I added to cart. It's also a different code showing than he one I posted it's showing 80128162. Edit just tried and both codes work for me

 

[DFB]

Sorry I meant to say I didn't have to add the code it already appears once I added to cart. It's also a different code showing than he one I posted it's showing 80128162. Edit just tried and both codes work for me

Thks I got it by going to main page and clicking on $20 off ratchet offer

I have seen that happen before

Just adding the item at full price and then a code at checkout doesn't always work

 

[Hammer1963]

You know what I just read? A bunch of blah, blah, blah, blah. That pretty much sums it up after the first page of comments .....

 

[oldtools]

That 1200 ft lb break away torque sound too good to be true.

 

[Tech92420]

I really want to know if the Hercules 20 volt battery is compatible with dewalt 20 volt max tools. The 20v max battery and Hercules 20v battery look exactly the same. A 5.0ah batter from harbor freight is 50 bucks��. That is pretty cheap compared to the dewalt 5.0ah batteries. I would be all over those batteries if they work for dewalt.

 

[icu2tsx]

I really want to know if the Hercules 20 volt battery is compatible with dewalt 20 volt max tools. The 20v max battery and Hercules 20v battery look exactly the same. A 5.0ah batter from harbor freight is 50 bucks��. That is pretty cheap compared to the dewalt 5.0ah batteries. I would be all over those batteries if they work for dewalt.

 

[Farmall450]

shots fire against yellow and red team! Hahaha

I like how they add a bogus question/criteria (includes accessories) to break the tie. Or how there is a ~2% torque difference or how their jack goes .125" higher.

 

[pi_guy]

Any chance the batteries are interchangeable with milwaukee. Im heavily invested in m12/m18 but if the batteries work that would be great, im sure they'll sell some separate

That is not likely to happen.

Anyway DeWalt has a 60volt line of tools so HF needs another 40v to catch up.

You can create lo cost power tools using cheaper batteries and when one of these batteries decide to blow* all you saved will be lost.


*we all know how safe and stable Li batteries are....

 

[Loscaldazar]

The only part that worries me is the electronic break they come with! I'd love an electronic brake on my tools, but an electronic break whenever the trigger is released is just going to get expensive

 

[Tech92420]

Thanks for the link! I hope that guy makes a videos where he modifies a HF battery to work on dewalt. IDK for how cheap those batteries are, might have to hack one up myself.

 

[Jazzman442]

So where is the $79 price coupon on the ratchet to found? Website shows $99 when I just looked.

I thinkI should get that and maybe the 3/8 impact kit on my next market tool run and see how it goes

Everbody loves cheap tools

https://www.harborfreight.com/ front page.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

The only part that worries me is the electronic break they come with! I'd love an electronic brake on my tools, but an electronic break whenever the trigger is released is just going to get expensive

That is one hell of a Freudian slip!

 

[DFB]

The only part that worries me is the electronic break they come with! I'd love an electronic brake on my tools, but an electronic break whenever the trigger is released is just going to get expensive

 

[Waterh20]

[emoji38]_hitti

[emoji23] lol