383 240z
Well-known member
I bought a few of them for general shop use here at work. What do you want to know?
I Don't Understand The ICON Pricing Structure - Tool Chests
- Thread starter joey1320
- Start date
I bought a few of them for general shop use here at work. What do you want to know?
I bought two Snap-on boxes during the downturn in 2007 -- one was a deep KLR with metal top -- the other was the step down ... but, a bigger (wider) two box setup with hinged top. It was complete overkill for my needs .. and still is. I bought them from a dealer/ distributer that was having money issues.
Around that time HF came out with the red tall box on wheels with the hinged top -- front drawers and open storage bellow. Think I paid $150 for it (on sale w/ 20% off) .. they had and still sell the cheaper black one for a bit less. I was really surprised with the quality -- thinking .. if they make more of this line they will sell a lot. They did.
I had the same thought about the Icon line. Having the Snap-0n stuff -- the Icon is getting close to the Snap-on quality .. what's the practical difference?
I'm not knocking Snap-on products. I have some great Snap-on stuff and it makes practical sense to have good tools where you use an item day in and day out. That said -- it seems that many younger guys get pulled into this Snap-on world the same way they do with expensive trucks and end up with 30k of Snap-on products that they pay on forever.
IMO -- the Icon was a bit above the proper price point when it came out ..... I see they have deals that put the pricing a bit lower.
Around that time HF came out with the red tall box on wheels with the hinged top -- front drawers and open storage bellow. Think I paid $150 for it (on sale w/ 20% off) .. they had and still sell the cheaper black one for a bit less. I was really surprised with the quality -- thinking .. if they make more of this line they will sell a lot. They did.
I had the same thought about the Icon line. Having the Snap-0n stuff -- the Icon is getting close to the Snap-on quality .. what's the practical difference?
I'm not knocking Snap-on products. I have some great Snap-on stuff and it makes practical sense to have good tools where you use an item day in and day out. That said -- it seems that many younger guys get pulled into this Snap-on world the same way they do with expensive trucks and end up with 30k of Snap-on products that they pay on forever.
IMO -- the Icon was a bit above the proper price point when it came out ..... I see they have deals that put the pricing a bit lower.
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BrandoJames
Well-known member
I think Tekton more than any other tool brand has filled the DIY void in the post Sears-Craftsman world. But no DIY brand will ever have that dominant market share again. The tool market is way too competitive now.
The Sears Craftsman fiasco will be a case study at business schools for the next generation. One of the most valuable and trusted brands in American business just disintegrated.
justanengineer
Well-known member
There’s always been trash talking bc they sold more imported tools than other stores but the reputation and quality both did drop significantly mid-2000s bc their target customer changed. 80s-early 2000s half the store was professional domestic brands (Milwaukee, CP, etc). The other half was “lesser” known good brands (Phase II, Lisle), a few nationally known cheap imported brands (Buffalo, Cummins), and unbranded Japanese tools. Compared to Pittsburgh, the unbranded hand tools were awesome - pretty nicely finished and dam stout. Mid-2000s HF switched from catering to a variety of trades’ journeymen with a mix of good brands and dirt cheap, to catering to hobbyist woodworkers and mechanics. You no longer see 1k+ lb “real” machine tools in store nor uncommon specialty tools/fixtures. Instead, they sell every variety of common hand tool now, domestic products are rare, and pro brands nonexistent.
Maybe they’re trying to reclaim their former reputation/customer base a bit but good luck, the products are still hobbyist-centric no matter the quality. Old vs new HF is like comparing McMaster to Home Depot, two different companies for two different needs.
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BrandoJames
Well-known member
Whoa. Winner, winner--chicken dinner! (thanks, Eric O). This is the first GJ post I've seen where someone actually bought an Icon box. Can you tell us what other boxes you were looking at, why you chose the Icon boxes, and how do like them so far. Thanks.
240sxguy
Well-known member
You read my mind, they're filling the Sears void. There are no Lowes stores anywhere near where I live. Or any in WI as far as I know. HF really does fufill a need around here.
383 240z
Well-known member
I had looked at the Waterloo from I think Northern Tool and basically everything that I could get shipped in. Tool truck brands were out of the question (cost prohibitive for a couple of "community" boxes in the shop. Most of my guys came from the automotive/heavy equipment world and they work out of their trucks here. The ICON boxes are for the guys here without service trucks and the general labor guys.
What I needed was a strong decent box at a fair price that would stand up to several guys using it who didn't own it.
So far its been serving us well.
I was just going by the comparables pricing on the snap on website. $13k and up
What do you know, that they don’t? Tool truck mark itdown that far?
Toyotas are junk? I’ve had five of them over the last 35 years and they’ve always been good quality. they still win consistent quality awards to this day.
Harbor freight does not sell professional level tools? I see contractor trucks parked outside their store all the time,I could earn a living with there stuff easily
I respect your opinions, just curious what what you Base them on.
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I disagree.
Craftsman tools have never been considered a “tool truck equivalent” which is the market that icon is going for.
No doubt there are exceptions but over the years the only shop I’ve ever seen a wrench using craftsman tools was in a Kmart auto center.
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chrismenke
Well-known member
Everyone keeps making a 4k to 14k comparison. Everyone that is doing that hasn't bought a Snap-on box.
14k is MSRP. The Snap-on driver will never sell a box for 14k. Between adjusting for your trade in, his cost, financing options, etc. the cost of a truck box goes down a lot. If you pay cash on the spot, sometimes as much as 50%.
So now you're comparing the 7-10k Snap-on box to the 4k HF (which is 1/6 smaller on depth alone).
I get that Snappy boxes are pricey, but they're not as pricey claimed in this thread.
14k is MSRP. The Snap-on driver will never sell a box for 14k. Between adjusting for your trade in, his cost, financing options, etc. the cost of a truck box goes down a lot. If you pay cash on the spot, sometimes as much as 50%.
So now you're comparing the 7-10k Snap-on box to the 4k HF (which is 1/6 smaller on depth alone).
I get that Snappy boxes are pricey, but they're not as pricey claimed in this thread.
Lookin4'67Galaxieconv
Well-known member
justanengineer
Well-known member
Pricing varies by dealer but yes, it’s significantly lower than the MSRP on the website. The website also tends to show boxes with options costing more. That’s one of the big bald lies of HF advertising - they always quote SO’s site, but nobody buys boxes off their site.
Depends on the model, but that wasn’t my point. My point was that Toyota is known for a loyal fan base who will blindly swear to their superiority even for vehicles that are just as good or better. One of Bob Lutz’s more interesting observations near the end of his GM days was noting that their joint-venture rebranded cars received vastly different customer feedback. If it had a Toyota badge it was always excellent quality, with a Pontiac or other emblem it was ****.
Put enough effort in and you can earn a living with the cheapest tools, that doesn’t make them professional quality. Tools should be better than the tradesman’s ability to use them.
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Fair enough.
My only point on that is Harbor freight is trying to price their Icon products to compete with the high-end competitors, not the low-end ones as the OP (and others) would like. Specially, the ones they sell like USG
That has been their goal with most all their products, for several years now.
Otherwise, they would be competing against themselves which would make-zero sense
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Stuey
Well-known member
That's the thing - brand recognition? Harbor Freight is one of the most popular brands in the country.
Brand reputation? That's what they need to work on.
Tool brands can only gain a reputation for providing heavy duty premium tools if they make and sell such tools, or at least if they try.
Looking at the HF website, those 73" Icon boxes are $3039.
https://www.harborfreight.com/icon-tool-storage
There's also a coupon, although it's not clear whether you can apply it to the $3039 price or if that's built in already.
I always thought that Lista was the interesting one for comparing the value of marketing/EZ payment plans but this Icon business is good to throw in the mix so everyone carry on.
The fact that you can buy a new car, not much of one but still..., for the price of a Snap-on toolchest always interested me. There's a helluva lot more material, design, and magic smoke packed into an automobile.
bobcatdan
Well-known member
Where I see the Icon boxes missing the mark is they are 25" deep. For a pro box the depth has become pretty standard 29-30" deep. In comparing to snap on, the Icon looks pretty good against a 24" deep classic series since the Icon is speced to go after a master series. However once going against a master, the storage capacity is way less. Now on the other hand, if you look at all the other import toolboxes you can find online, you can buy a 30" deep box cheaper than the Icon. I suppose the big advantage Icon has is you can see and play with an Icon in store. With say an Extreme brand box, pretty much all you have is online pictures. One other thing that comes to mind, about 10 years ago Sears tried this. Anybody remember the giant yellow toolbox they had displayed for a year or so. From what I can tell these were very similar to the big Cornwell boxes of the day, both made by Waterloo. They flopped because nobody went to Sears to buy a $5,000 toolbox. I see HF in a different position than a dying Sears. The Icon tools seem to be pretty good and I think those will do fine. The toolboxes I can only say time will tell.
Black300zx
Well-known member
Just to play devil's advocate, are there any places to get a same-day warranty replacement on a Tekton tool? That aspect is where I think the HF-->Sears comparison holds water...being able to drive around the corner and get a replacement tool same day (if needed)
I frankly have just started looking at (and buying) Tekton and I've only seen them online.
Just playing the devil's advocate's devil's advocate, just how often do people break a wrench? Especially someone who buys Tekton tools?
Is it reasonable to expect a lifetime warranty on a piece of steel that costs about $4.00 retail? A person might as well expect a lifetime warranty on a spoon.
Just to put it in perspective, I looked up the cost of a 14-piece Craftsman wrench set in 1969. $28.
12-piece Tekton wrench set in 2020 (Amazon): $40
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Black300zx
Well-known member
Wrenches not so much, but I've cracked a handful of smaller 1/4" drive sockets.
My dad (lifelong mechanic, 35+yr shop owner) had quite a bit of Craftsman in his boxes (from what I recall from my youth) because he had a local Sears and could easily swap out tools if needed, and they were pretty good quality back then. Sure, his go-to wrenches and sockets that he used daily were probably higher end stuff, but I assume he had a balance of middle-road and high end tools that worked for him.
Now that he's near retirement (and probably trying to minimize tool expenditure), I've noticed a decent amount of HF around his shop, probably because he can drive 5 minutes around the corner and replace it on lunch break if needed.
Just simply saying that for many, convenience of exchange is definitely a factor.
MWEric
Well-known member
A similar sized Snap On is $14 grand.
That $3700 model is dirt cheap.
For the OP, what is a "fair price" considering most of them, including the Snap On are mostly just a matter of price markup?
Harbor Freight never has struck me as a stupid company. They have those Icons priced that way for a reason.
My KRL 1023 was $6800 off the truck. No one pays retail.
Good point, which is true of HF as well, since they offer 20% off the price of the Icon boxes.
justanengineer
Well-known member
That’s kind of a bad comparison tho, bc Sears went out of its way to warranty tools and supported their products forever. Collectors here can still exchange their 1950s Cman stuff for the newer comparable tool if they can’t get a rebuild, and Sears doesn’t even own it anymore. HF doesn’t support anything and plays the p/n and branding update game every few years to avoid warranty. Most hobbyists haven’t caught onto it yet bc their tools are fairly new but in a few years I suspect we will see hobbyists flocking back to Cman bc SBD chose to support the brand well. LOTS of hand tools are consumable over a decade or three, often consumed multiple times - sockets, screwdrivers, striking tools, pry bars, etc and good warranties do save a ton of money.
I don’t believe any store warranties Tekton. From what I’ve seen they’re mostly sold in department stores and truck stops. Here in MI I believe the biggest retailer is Meijer.
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MWEric
Well-known member
I probably shouldn’t even bring it up but being the op is in Ohio he should look at the Masterforce boxes at Menards. In my opinion they are the best big box tool boxes offered. As mentioned at home I have a SO KRL1023 and a KRL 722. At work it’s the master force 46” with a side locker and side box with drawers. My socket drawer is very heavily loaded and get used often and has held up really well for the last couple years. Plus I personally like the lift latch better than the USG or even the SO lock and roll. One more benefit, and someone can correct me, aren’t the USGs 22” deep. Masterforce is 24”.
Wasatch
Member
New Guy- First post...so no credibility, and I understand that.
This last spring I needed (wanted) to buy a new tool box. I'm somewhat old school in that I prefer a cabinet and chest combination setup. I researched the heck out of different options. Admittedly, I did not consider Snap-On due to price alone. And that also took Snap-On's tool truck competitors out of the picture as well (Matco, Cornwell, et.al.)
I spent a considerable amount of time looking at strictlytoolboxes.com, and I considered the Icon boxes as well. Make no mistake, this was not a pipe dream search. I had the money, and I was going to buy; the question was which box and from who.
I am a somewhat frugal guy in that I like to get good value for my dollar...and I hate paying taxes on the hard-earned money that's left AFTER paying Federal income tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax, and State income tax. That's another way of saying I hate paying state sales tax on top of all that. Depending on where you buy, or from whom, you should factor sales tax into the total cost of the purchase to make an apples-to-apples comparison.
One of the places I did my research was on garagejournal.com. But after all was said and done I bought a 72" cabinet/chest combination from rollcabs.com. The 72" cabinet is made by Extreme Tools to Rollcabs' specifications. Their version of the Extreme cabinet has upgraded drawer slides and sells for less than the Extreme branded version. Shipping was free and Rollcabs is a New Hampshire company. New Hampshire is one of the very few states that does not charge sales tax. That alone is a significant savings (roughly 7% to a Utah resident).
I have bought a fair amount of stuff from Harbor Freight, some of it's okay some is pure ****. In my experience, as a Harbor Freight customer you learn the wisdom of a quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin: "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the satisfaction of low price".
Many, many times I've bought something from Harbor freight only to discover it was broken, or missing pieces, or just plain cr*p when I opened it. Based on that experience, why would I suddenly be willing to pay multiple thousands of dollars on a Harbor Freight Icon toolbox? It was hundreds more than the Rollcabs combination, and that's before adding the sales tax I'd have to pay.
Like others on this forum, their Icon line perplexes me. It's supposed to be similar quality - but at a lower price point that tool truck brands. Okay, I'll agree that the prices are less, but I think the quality is less as well. Harbor Freight's warranty and customer service have been mediocre at best in my experience. So, in my opinion, I'm paying a premium price for a somewhat better product from a company that seems to be "all about the cheap" when it comes to sourcing their products from suppliers. And when I factor in my customer service experiences, buying Icon boxes from Harbor Freight was a reach I was not willing to make.
This last spring I needed (wanted) to buy a new tool box. I'm somewhat old school in that I prefer a cabinet and chest combination setup. I researched the heck out of different options. Admittedly, I did not consider Snap-On due to price alone. And that also took Snap-On's tool truck competitors out of the picture as well (Matco, Cornwell, et.al.)
I spent a considerable amount of time looking at strictlytoolboxes.com, and I considered the Icon boxes as well. Make no mistake, this was not a pipe dream search. I had the money, and I was going to buy; the question was which box and from who.
I am a somewhat frugal guy in that I like to get good value for my dollar...and I hate paying taxes on the hard-earned money that's left AFTER paying Federal income tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax, and State income tax. That's another way of saying I hate paying state sales tax on top of all that. Depending on where you buy, or from whom, you should factor sales tax into the total cost of the purchase to make an apples-to-apples comparison.
One of the places I did my research was on garagejournal.com. But after all was said and done I bought a 72" cabinet/chest combination from rollcabs.com. The 72" cabinet is made by Extreme Tools to Rollcabs' specifications. Their version of the Extreme cabinet has upgraded drawer slides and sells for less than the Extreme branded version. Shipping was free and Rollcabs is a New Hampshire company. New Hampshire is one of the very few states that does not charge sales tax. That alone is a significant savings (roughly 7% to a Utah resident).
I have bought a fair amount of stuff from Harbor Freight, some of it's okay some is pure ****. In my experience, as a Harbor Freight customer you learn the wisdom of a quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin: "The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the satisfaction of low price".
Many, many times I've bought something from Harbor freight only to discover it was broken, or missing pieces, or just plain cr*p when I opened it. Based on that experience, why would I suddenly be willing to pay multiple thousands of dollars on a Harbor Freight Icon toolbox? It was hundreds more than the Rollcabs combination, and that's before adding the sales tax I'd have to pay.
Like others on this forum, their Icon line perplexes me. It's supposed to be similar quality - but at a lower price point that tool truck brands. Okay, I'll agree that the prices are less, but I think the quality is less as well. Harbor Freight's warranty and customer service have been mediocre at best in my experience. So, in my opinion, I'm paying a premium price for a somewhat better product from a company that seems to be "all about the cheap" when it comes to sourcing their products from suppliers. And when I factor in my customer service experiences, buying Icon boxes from Harbor Freight was a reach I was not willing to make.
I think it is kinda funny that everyone calls HF ****, and while I don't think that's true for a whole lot of stuff they sell these days, when they try to make something genuinely higher-quality and charge for it people lose their mind.
I don't have a giant sample-size, but the two ratchets I have compare very favorably against their Snap On counterparts I own. I'm not beating them to death or wrenching professionally (in either case) but I have little doubt they'd perform just fine. A pro might not want to take the chance that HF gives up on Icon, or might prefer having a truck bring a replacement (vs. buying two or three spares and still have money left over vs. the SO price...), but whatever.
I've looked at the boxes in my local HF and they definitely appear to be a sizable upgrade to the USG boxes (and I think the USG boxes are pretty nice - better than anything at the same price point, which is why I bought one).
Their comparison is to the SO Master Series, and look to do quite well on paper. I highly doubt they're hiding anything noteworthy in terms of materials or performance. I seem to recall SO uses some welding in their construction, which probably adds to the cost, but it is meaningful in terms of performance? HF is (claiming) 8K# capacity - 1200 more than the SO - so my guess is they're making up for whatever they lose with welded construction in some other way.
As far as the 25" vs. 30" - I can't say as a non-professional whether that's a "what-you're-used-to" thing vs. real-world advantage (they claim over 800 sq.in. capacity advantage over SO).
If they'd done 30" everyone would be squawking about them copycatting.
At $1600 for the 36", they're still out of my home-gamer range (if I even had space), but I think that's not a crazy price compared to Homak or similar.
+1
and even more so as he interested in 72" size as masterforce 72" is about best price to spec 72" store box going if hold out for sale/rebate price .
BrandoJames
Well-known member
You make a valid point regarding the convenience of HF’s return policy, but the market has changed. IMO, buying tools online is the new ‘normal’. And the scenario given—emergency tool replacement— seems rather unlikely. Most DIYers on this board have backup tools...and a pro like your dad would definitely have backup tools.
Icon toolboxes are welded
FuzzyTiger
Well-known member
Its a halo line of products. Most companies have them. The point of the ICON brand is that regardless of whether you buy ICON or not, you'll see the ICON stuff and go "Wow. Harbor Freight actually has some decent quality stuff". It improves the reputation of all their products by association.
If I was part of their management, right now the goal of ICON would just be to get the name out there and have people talking about it. Compare favorably against your competitors and set a price expectation with consumers. A lot of people that would never have walked into a Harbor Freight because all their stuff was 'cheap ****' will be willing to stop by and check out the ICON stuff. And for Harbor Freight, part of their business model relies on the fact that if you walk through their doors - you are going to buy something beyond what you came to buy. Some random doodad or whatever.
Once the brand awareness exists and people expect it to be at a certain price point - they hit you with sales, because they've already convinced you that its "decent stuff and a decent value" and the sale makes it a "buy it even if you don't strictly need it" value. They'll be fantastic high margin loss leaders.
It also opens up marketing opportunities for the company. No one shops at Harbor Freight because they're excited about buying whatever they're selling. They go there because its cheap and they need it. So its not really worthwhile for them to advertise based off those items. The ICON brand gives the company something they can advertise and get people excited about and walking through the doors for. You can see that happening with a few of the YouTube mechanics being given ICON toolboxes. And it doesn't even matter if you want ICON stuff, as long as the name Harbor Freight stays in your mind, your brain will fill in some random thing you need to buy from there. They are also heavily pushing the comparisons to Snap-On and Matco and other expensive tool brands so that any time you think about the competition, your brain will remind you of Harbor Freight. A good chunk of people considering Snap-On (read: people with money to spend) will convince themselves to stop into a Harbor Freight to at least see how it compares... And regardless of if they go with the ICON tool, they're going to walk out with a few random purchases.
Another aspect has to do with how they can play with margins. Their cheap tools are probably pretty low margin items. They make their profit from volume not margin. Premium tools will likely have higher margins. What that means is that instead of selling a $20 tool and discounting it down to $10 to get you to buy it so they can make $5 in profit; they can take a $100 ICON tool, discount it to $50 while still maintaining $10+ in profit margin on it and they can leave their cheaper products at their regular price points. What will happen is that when someone walks in to buy that tool, they'll see the regularly priced $20 version and the $50 ICON tool at 50% off and quickly justify to themselves that its totally worth the price jump. At the same time, if you have a $100 item in your cart, you're a lot more willing to put a few more $1-5 items without really thinking about it. If you only had a $20 item in your cart, you'd probably think about those smaller things a bit more. Heck - if someone buys one of those $3000+ ICON toolboxes, I can bet you that they'll be tossing in all sorts of random smaller purchases which add up. As a sales tactic, once you get a customer to say yes once to a big thing, its very easy to get them to keep saying yes to little things.
If I was part of their management, right now the goal of ICON would just be to get the name out there and have people talking about it. Compare favorably against your competitors and set a price expectation with consumers. A lot of people that would never have walked into a Harbor Freight because all their stuff was 'cheap ****' will be willing to stop by and check out the ICON stuff. And for Harbor Freight, part of their business model relies on the fact that if you walk through their doors - you are going to buy something beyond what you came to buy. Some random doodad or whatever.
Once the brand awareness exists and people expect it to be at a certain price point - they hit you with sales, because they've already convinced you that its "decent stuff and a decent value" and the sale makes it a "buy it even if you don't strictly need it" value. They'll be fantastic high margin loss leaders.
It also opens up marketing opportunities for the company. No one shops at Harbor Freight because they're excited about buying whatever they're selling. They go there because its cheap and they need it. So its not really worthwhile for them to advertise based off those items. The ICON brand gives the company something they can advertise and get people excited about and walking through the doors for. You can see that happening with a few of the YouTube mechanics being given ICON toolboxes. And it doesn't even matter if you want ICON stuff, as long as the name Harbor Freight stays in your mind, your brain will fill in some random thing you need to buy from there. They are also heavily pushing the comparisons to Snap-On and Matco and other expensive tool brands so that any time you think about the competition, your brain will remind you of Harbor Freight. A good chunk of people considering Snap-On (read: people with money to spend) will convince themselves to stop into a Harbor Freight to at least see how it compares... And regardless of if they go with the ICON tool, they're going to walk out with a few random purchases.
Another aspect has to do with how they can play with margins. Their cheap tools are probably pretty low margin items. They make their profit from volume not margin. Premium tools will likely have higher margins. What that means is that instead of selling a $20 tool and discounting it down to $10 to get you to buy it so they can make $5 in profit; they can take a $100 ICON tool, discount it to $50 while still maintaining $10+ in profit margin on it and they can leave their cheaper products at their regular price points. What will happen is that when someone walks in to buy that tool, they'll see the regularly priced $20 version and the $50 ICON tool at 50% off and quickly justify to themselves that its totally worth the price jump. At the same time, if you have a $100 item in your cart, you're a lot more willing to put a few more $1-5 items without really thinking about it. If you only had a $20 item in your cart, you'd probably think about those smaller things a bit more. Heck - if someone buys one of those $3000+ ICON toolboxes, I can bet you that they'll be tossing in all sorts of random smaller purchases which add up. As a sales tactic, once you get a customer to say yes once to a big thing, its very easy to get them to keep saying yes to little things.
Black300zx
Well-known member
Yup, in his case the backup tool likely was "hey xxxx, can I borrow your 10mm socket"
and then swap the broken one out on his way home. And I'm glad that was his likely approach when I was younger because the exta $100 he may have saved by buying the CMan tool instead of SO probably put better food on our table or went towards a nicer vacation. By no means am I trying to paint HF (and their ICON line) as the best thing since sliced bread, just that they definitely have a viable target audience. I think some of the target audience may have been picked up when the future of Craftsman was fuzzy. I knowI certainly stopped buyijg CMan for a while. How it pans out in the future will be interesting.
If SBD is still warranting old tools, that's great and I wasn't aware. :Beer:
BrandoJames
Well-known member
Yup, in his case the backup tool likely was "hey xxxx, can I borrow your 10mm socket"
That was an expensive 10 mm socket, lol. I get what you’re saying but…I think there’s a qualitative difference between a DIY line like Craftsman/Tekton vs professional tools. If DIYers had to put their tools to work every day like a pro, we’d be shocked at how quickly our beloved DIY tools would break under daily stress. There’s a place in the market for DIY tools, and a place in the market for pro tools.
YouTube tool reviewer AvE made this point while tearing down a Snap-on impact gun: “Most DIYers would be foolish to buy a professional gun like this one. They just wouldn’t use it enough to get the added value that’s built into the price.”
I think that’s why Icon was greeted with such hostility on this board. HF rolled out the Icon line with the marketing gimmick, “As Good As Snap-on”. What followed was a series of incidents that underlined just the opposite: An immediate ratchet recall on Icon 3/8” flex heads. Terrible reviews from HF friendly YouTube mechanics like Justin Dow, who used Icon sockets in his shop for a month. Add to that HF jack stand recalls (twice over just a few months). OTOH, Tekton never made any such claims. Tekton has no problem with being a DIY brand, and they’re judged accordingly.
BrandoJames
Well-known member
I never heard of Extreme--you ought to post a link and pic of your new box. I own a U.S. General cabinet, and didn’t mind spending a few hundred for an HF box. For a retired DIYer like me, it’s fine. But if were to drop thousands on a box, I’d go used Snap-on/Mac/Matco. I wouldn’t consider an Icon box at that price point.
HF has always been hit or miss. I can see why a young DIYer, living paycheck to paycheck, would shop HF out of economic necessity. But the jack stand recall (actually two recalls in just a few months) was really damaging. I haven’t shopped HF since then. BTW, welcome to the site.
You’ve visited it this site often, but you finally signed up as a new member, just so your first post is to trash Harbor Freight (a place you shopped at regularly), then proceed to Hawk a website and a product not related to the discussion at all.
Welcome! You’re the perfect GJ member and don’t worry about the credibility at all .
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I've been saying since the introduction of the Icon line that they don't care if you buy those tool boxes or not. I don't believe Harbor Freight is selling Icon tool boxes. I believe the tool boxes are selling the Icon image.
I don't shop at Harbor Freight so I try not to get involved in the HF bashing. But I do make certain observations. And my observations are that those flashy tool boxes being sold at tool truck prices in the cheapest tool store in town is nothing more than a marketing ploy.
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seber
Well-known member
A similar sized Snap On is $14 grand.
That $3700 model is dirt cheap.
For the OP, what is a "fair price" considering most of them, including the Snap On are mostly just a matter of price markup?
Harbor Freight never has struck me as a stupid company. They have those Icons priced that way for a reason.
The competing Snap-on is the KMP 72". It retails for $1199. Actual cost from a driver is much less. HF is already above Snap-on price just for the mid level.
seber
Well-known member
I wish I could play with them. The two HF stores I can get to both keep their boxes locked. I won't even consider a box that cannot be opened. I wonder what they are trying to hide.
That’s an awesome mark down 15 grand to $1200 where can I get one? (Or five)
Finally, “snap on beats Harbor freight”
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typo !
main trouble with ICON is it offering next to nothing special/convenient for the price, some drawer options was a must really .
30 to 40% off was a must too as was a more professional launch and building a far more complete hand tool range .
All off their better brands suffer from not making most of a good tool brand/platform through lack of complete range/options .
earthquake 18V platform good example of this as is Pitts Pro hand tools that sat stagnant for years .
Wise 2 to 5K would be spent used truck brand as proven in durability, spares and negligible depreciation .
Mthomas1686
Well-known member
Back when I bought my snapon krl1023, they had a $4500 trade in credit (I didn't even trade a box in), plus another thousand rebate I believe....and came with a lower model Liberty gun safe. I sold the safe to my boss for $600 (now I wish I kept it)
But with that said i was into my box for $5600. I did finance it but hate paying interest....pains it within 6months and got a check back for the $240 interest I paid. Bought back in 2014 and have replaced one drawer slide (warranty of course). If you treat the tool guy good, they usually work with you.
I have us general, husky, and snapon boxes.....I'm sorry but I have not found the quality in the lesser brands.
For drawer slides I always remove the drawers and spray the slides with fluid film...I recommend this for any box you buy at minimum.
I can totally understand for someone who doesn't use the box regularly, but in a "professional" setting the cheaper boxes do not hold up to the years. This is my take on it anyways.
But with that said i was into my box for $5600. I did finance it but hate paying interest....pains it within 6months and got a check back for the $240 interest I paid. Bought back in 2014 and have replaced one drawer slide (warranty of course). If you treat the tool guy good, they usually work with you.
I have us general, husky, and snapon boxes.....I'm sorry but I have not found the quality in the lesser brands.
For drawer slides I always remove the drawers and spray the slides with fluid film...I recommend this for any box you buy at minimum.
I can totally understand for someone who doesn't use the box regularly, but in a "professional" setting the cheaper boxes do not hold up to the years. This is my take on it anyways.