ICON Tool Boxes at HF

[spike95]

I just walked in to HF to get some impact extensions and I see a huge new tool box. Apparently they just got it in last night. Brand is ICON.

My initial impressions... Really nice looking. The sales guy stood in the drawer just like he was demonstrating a Snappy box. Said they’re rated for 500lbs. The trim was very attractive. The drawers were a little tough to pull out because of their detent system, but this strikes me as something that might break in and get softer with time. So glad to see they are finally selling a hutch (which I really wish they made for the US General boxes). I think I would be quite happy to own one of these if I was the type of guy to pony up thousands on a box. No price tags yet, but they said $4k for the main chest, or $11k for the whole set. Definitely a different level than the USG line.

 

[VinceG]

already another thread about this https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=431256

 

[1982fxr]

Did he say anything about hf extending credit?

 

[LB-1911]

Did he say anything about hf extending credit?

Cut from pg 15 of Icon Tools Catalog link.

* Qualifying purchase amounts for 6, 12 and 36 month equal pay promotional purchases will be disclosed in early 2020 at the time the Harbor Freight Tools credit card is available and must be on a single receipt.

No interest will be charged and equal monthly payments will be required on each equal pay purchase until it is paid in full.

These payments equal the total equal pay purchase amount divided by the number of months in the equal pay period, rounded up to the next whole dollar.

These payments may be higher than the payments that would be required if this was not an equal pay purchase.

Regular account terms apply to non-equal pay purchases. Subject to credit approval.

For new accounts: As of 08/27/2019 Variable Purchase APR is 27.99%. Minimum interest charge is $2. This APR will vary with the market based on the prime rate.

Equal pay purchases do not earn reward points. We reserve the right to discontinue or alter the terms of this offer at any time.

 

[Professional Tool User]

The boxes look decent, but at the prices HF is trying to sell them at, I'd rather go hunt for one of those used Snap off boxes they are comparing their product to.

 

[spike95]

already another thread about this https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=431256

My apologies. I searched “icon tool boxes garage journal” on google and nothing came up.

 

[rtz]

Are they made in Taiwan?

 

[kythri]

Or Viet Nam? That was one of the tool box sources that Waterloo claimed in their "oh boo hoo, nobody buys our inferior tool boxes because Harbor Freight sells something better!" complaint to the FTC or one of the other alphabet agencies.

 

[Lassen Forge]

I noticed in their picture, they're trying to look like a truck tool brand, "just like the ones you see in your bud's shop", but the depth says it all... 24" is not 30".

 

[lugnut71]

Yeah their really well at copying.

 

[1982fxr]

I've never seen a big box advertised as Taiwan or any Asian country besides China. Not saying they don't exist, I've just never seen one.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I've never seen a big box advertised as Taiwan or any Asian country besides China. Not saying they don't exist, I've just never seen one.

IIRC my buddies Milwaukee box is from vietnam.

I noticed in their picture, they're trying to look like a truck tool brand, "just like the ones you see in your bud's shop", but the depth says it all... 24" is not 30".

Nothing like the look on her face when it's revealed you oversold your depth.

 

[Jtels85]

Harbor Freight just put a 20% off Icon tool storage coupon on their website. Type “Icon” and hit search, scroll down.

 

[Ton ton]

Any one buy one of these tool boxes?

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I noticed in their picture, they're trying to look like a truck tool brand, "just like the ones you see in your bud's shop", but the depth says it all... 24" is not 30".

This box is directly competing with the KRL 722 which is 24" deep.

I saw one today in person and I was very impressed.

 

[Vpick001]

The drawers have an adjustable-force dial for tweaking the drawers opening resistance, but it’s made of a very cheap feeling plastic that doesn’t inspire confidence. For $4,000 they could have spent the extra buck or two on metal. I’d expect little things like that on the US General, since they’re a pretty great value, but not when trying to compete with the truck brands.

 

[lardy1]

Who's trying to compete with the truck brands?

 

[1982fxr]

Imagine dropping the coin on these and then discovering Vidmar and Lista. Pain.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Harbor Freight just put a 20% off Icon tool storage coupon on their website. Type “Icon” and hit search, scroll down.

Yep, here it is.

 

[d4dawg]

I've never seen a big box advertised as Taiwan or any Asian country besides China. Not saying they don't exist, I've just never seen one.

The matt black tool chest and roller combo available at my local Costco are made in Taiwan. I was quite surprised when I first saw it.

 

[danski0224]

Imagine dropping the coin on these and then discovering Vidmar and Lista. Pain.

Pretty sure that either of those choices purchased new will be much more expensive than the Icon stuff... and to some, the mechanics toolbox "look" is important but not there.

One of the local HF stores has the Icon boxes on display, and i thought they looked decent.

 

[1982fxr]

Their standard 60" tall are about $2,500 ish new. They have more traditional mechanic style boxes but I didn't see prices on those with a quick Google. I'm guessing in the same price range as Icon?

 

[MrGoods]

Their standard 60" tall are about $2,500 ish new. They have more traditional mechanic style boxes but I didn't see prices on those with a quick Google. I'm guessing in the same price range as Icon?

The 56" 12 drawer roller with butcher block top has a "list price" of $5000+ but the tool guy I asked said he'd sell it to any decent customer for ~$3500, his cost is $3000.

There's a place near me in Commerce, MI that reconditions them and sell them "by the drawer" for about $70 (they really only get the standard cabinets). I bought two of my built-in cabs from them.

One of these days I'll be at an auction where they have a Roller/cart Lista and I'll get it for an insane price... or I can dream anyway!

 

[CafeTools]

Why in the heck are the icon boxes so outrageous in price? It's insane to think that they will ever sell one. I hope they don't sell at all. The us general boxes are 100x better value.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Why in the heck are the icon boxes so outrageous in price? It's insane to think that they will ever sell one. I hope they don't sell at all. The us general boxes are 100x better value.

The US General may be a better value, but the Icon boxes are much better, period.

 

[1982fxr]

Just played with the big cabinet at a store. Second set I've played with, same results.

Not sure if the whole cabinets are tweaked, but when you pull the drawers out they dont stop evenly. A bunch were short on the right side, and a cluster was all short on the left side. Different stores.

Tried to take a video but the box was too big to get a shot and really show it on my phone. The wide too drawer was the worst.

 

[allinon72]

I don't think this concept will last very long. At least when I buy a Snap On box, I know it will be worth something if I try to sell it. I doubt these boxes will hold the same value. Everyone likes to pretend that brand names don't matter but they do.

 

[RV8guy]

Saw my first Icon box today. I would say that it is nicer than the US General box but not 3K nicer. Maybe if they had gone to 30 in deep.

 

[Cgw1984]

I noticed in their picture, they're trying to look like a truck tool brand, "just like the ones you see in your bud's shop", but the depth says it all... 24" is not 30".

The competing snap on box is 24". Seems like a non issue.

Yeah their really well at copying.

Ya, the big, well made, rolling box concept is so unique. Darn hf for copying it.

This box is directly competing with the KRL 722 which is 24" deep.

I saw one today in person and I was very impressed.

Shhh.. thats stuff that people without bias and arrogance say.. cant have that!

The drawers have an adjustable-force dial for tweaking the drawers opening resistance, but it’s made of a very cheap feeling plastic that doesn’t inspire confidence. For $4,000 they could have spent the extra buck or two on metal. I’d expect little things like that on the US General, since they’re a pretty great value, but not when trying to compete with the truck brands.

Absolutely agree.

The US General may be a better value, but the Icon boxes are much better, period.

They really are. That said, id just buy the us general, as a home user its more than sufficient. But those overlooking the icon in favor of a mac, matco, cornwell, snap on box without researching are doing themselves a disservice.

 

[zendriver]

I don't think this concept will last very long. At least when I buy a Snap On box, I know it will be worth something if I try to sell it. I doubt these boxes will hold the same value. Everyone likes to pretend that brand names don't matter but they do.

My HF catalog has a Icon chest 20% off coupon, making one model $4000 verses the equivalent size Snap On priced at $14000.

At that relatively low price, it seems like the value of the Icon brand would hold up just fine, since there is already a $10000 savings, from the get-go.

 

[Mr_B]

^
Not really as those quoted snappy prices not the price you going pay if haggle a snappy dealer hard enough .

I think you need 30%+ off the ICON boxes .
I would take 3 to 4K on the used truck brand market .
You can get some cracking Matco Mac and some Snap-On used deals if you got the actual cash ready to go and gumption to be on the sales quick and haggle .
The ICON boxes not that bad but just not great value.
Buying used truck brand pretty much gives you no value loss and is about best used tool purchase you can do and well worth a days work as you can save thousands and have an item easily turned back to matching cash you put into it .
In my 30 years running an auto shop I have ended up with almost 200" of matco boxes that got paid for from funds buying and selling boxes over the years .

 

[Shane6377]

Honest question- do the mechanics in your area all really have tool truck boxes? The average auto mechanic in my area makes $30-35k and is not buying a tool truck box.

The last shop I was in had a Husky, 3 Craftsman a Kobalt and a US General. Not a single tool truck box to be seen. No massive boxes with hutches... 26" stacks or 56" lower cabinets.

I know some industrial and commercial maintenance guys that have Snap on and Mac but they are older and even they say with the other options that exist today, they would not buy at tool truck box.

I think perception is sometimes different from reality. I would imagine that the Icon boxes will do ok.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[lardy1]

Just a hunch here. And I typically stay out of the HF threads due to the inability of some people to look beyond their own situation. But my hunch is that within five years HF won't even be selling those boxes. I believe they took a big gamble on the ICON line and I think they will quietly let it die.

 

[Mr_B]

Honest question- do the mechanics in your area all really have tool truck boxes? The average auto mechanic in my area makes $30-35k and is not buying a tool truck box.

The last shop I was in had a Husky, 3 Craftsman a Kobalt and a US General. Not a single tool truck box to be seen. No massive boxes with hutches... 26" stacks or 56" lower cabinets.

I know some industrial and commercial maintenance guys that have Snap on and Mac but they are older and even they say with the other options that exist today, they would not buy at tool truck box.

I think perception is sometimes different from reality. I would imagine that the Icon boxes will do ok.

Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

the ICON would do fine in a shop but they 3 to 4x the cost of the Husky US Gen Masterforce you referencing being used and you can buy super clean used truck for same/less and that best buy you can do long term on a box .
The lad working for me bought 2 international at silly money on the clearance sale, He less than 1200 into 112" of storage and will upgrade in time to used truck brands when sees a deal .
Nothing wrong buying new if can afford it but buying new boxes on credit or trading a box is basically bending over for a dealer $ ****** and turning hard earned $ into a loss or financial burden .
Main reason I done well on used boxes is so many got done over by truck dealer and themselves then you got a pretty much new box up for grabs and a easy deal if you can deal and go all in 1 day with $ in the hand .

 

[Mr_B]

Just a hunch here. And I typically stay out of the HF threads due to the inability of some people to look beyond their own situation. But my hunch is that within five years HF won't even be selling those boxes. I believe they took a big gamble on the ICON line and I think they will quietly let it die.

Yeh most of the tool line is a piss poor effort .
Boxes are pretty decent, better than old international, better than Homak and equal to better than extreme etc .
Main issue is price too high for what it is and the brand image.
30%+ off and boxes good value, as is they not an appealable value option .
The second issue you got is if ICON boxes do fade the part support likely dry up or be a right ballache a decade or 2 down the road then you got 4K+ of scrap or invest your time fabricating/cross fitting parts .

 

[bigdav160]

Honest question- do the mechanics in your area all really have tool truck boxes? The average auto mechanic in my area makes $30-35k and is not buying a tool truck box.
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

You didn't list your location but in my area, a blind armless mechanic can make $30-35K

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Honest question- do the mechanics in your area all really have tool truck boxes? The average auto mechanic in my area makes $30-35k and is not buying a tool truck box.

The last shop I was in had a Husky, 3 Craftsman a Kobalt and a US General. Not a single tool truck box to be seen. No massive boxes with hutches... 26" stacks or 56" lower cabinets.

I know some industrial and commercial maintenance guys that have Snap on and Mac but they are older and even they say with the other options that exist today, they would not buy at tool truck box.

I think perception is sometimes different from reality. I would imagine that the Icon boxes will do ok.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

You didn't list your location but in my area, a blind armless mechanic can make $30-35K

The issue lies with the definition of mechanic, and that there is not one. Most of the 30-35k figures come from IRS and BLS data. However, it ignores title inflation. How many lube techs and tire guys list "mechanic" on their tax form, or when asked what they do for a living? Are jiffy lube employees mechanics? Or costco tire mounting employees? Do you have to have ASE master and L1? What is a "mechanic"? I know when I dumped oil, changed tires, and did the occasional alignment; I listed "mechanic" on my tax forms.

If we use a basic definition of skill, like being able to diagnose a lean code, I would imagine that income figure jumps up dramatically. Imagine doctors or lawyers having no regulating body. More people would claim to be such professions, lowering the average wage as pretenders to the throne wouldn't be making as much as someone capable of being a true MD.



IMO Icon boxes will do poorly, as tool trucks will sell KRL722s and the like for similar pricing. IDK, it really doesn't matter to me. Every box has a market. I sort of chuckle at the idea of anyone actually working out of a single bay box and claiming to be able to fix anything though. Unless you worked at a dealer which supplied 100% of diagnostic and specialty tools, a single bay is the bare minimum for basic hand tools.

 

[gearhead1]

I went to HF yesterday and saw the Icon setup with the hutch. Looks great! Appears to be good quality. I definitely don’t think it’s junk.

That being said, there’s no way I’m paying $3k for that when I could get a good used Snap-on/MAC for that.


I personally think they’re missing the boat. Most people aren’t going to pay the same price for one of their products when I can get an established name brand for the same price or close to the same (like a cordless drill). HF has a marketing department and you’d think they’ve analyzed all this. Time will tell whether the market supports it or it doesn’t.

I went there to get a couple of the 12” adjustable wrenches on sale, but they were out. Even had them look in the back and that was difficult. Then it was the same way for a couple other things. They have people working there that don’t know a wrench from a screwdriver. I think they’re getting out of their niche and customer service quality is sliding.

 

[zendriver]

Just a hunch here. And I typically stay out of the HF threads due to the inability of some people to look beyond their own situation. But my hunch is that within five years HF won't even be selling those boxes. I believe they took a big gamble on the ICON line and I think they will quietly let it die.

Is there some reason, folks should be concerned about the situation of others?

If, in five years the "Icon" brand goes away, it will likely be replaced with something better, so their customers will just buy that and get on with life, because that what HF customers do.

What's the "gamble" they are taking? Just curious since they are basically slapping a name on somewhat common Chinese made products, sold under other "brand names", as well. This is something they have always done, literally since day one.

 

[zendriver]

I went to HF yesterday and saw the Icon setup with the hutch. Looks great! Appears to be good quality. I definitely don’t think it’s junk.

That being said, there’s no way I’m paying $3k for that when I could get a good used Snap-on/MAC for that.


I personally think they’re missing the boat. Most people aren’t going to pay the same price for one of their products when I can get an established name brand for the same price or close to the same (like a cordless drill). HF has a marketing department and you’d think they’ve analyzed all this. Time will tell whether the market supports it or it doesn’t.

I went there to get a couple of the 12” adjustable wrenches on sale, but they were out. Even had them look in the back and that was difficult. Then it was the same way for a couple other things. They have people working there that don’t know a wrench from a screwdriver. I think they’re getting out of their niche and customer service quality is sliding.

Do we really want everybody scouring CL FB, and tool trucks to scarf up every used tool chest available?

Seem like that "$3K" price, could go bye-bye, rather quickly, once the supply drops.