I think this was planted buy a Harbor Freight employee so they can say their tools beat Klein. How's that for a foil hat
Shots already fired with the DOYLE PLIERS BEATS KLEIN ad insert when they introduced Doyle line, but that was the only Klein specific "comparison" I recall. I know they pitted the Daytona jack vs. Snap-on. They also had a Vulcan welders vs Lincoln Electric, and Bauer vs Dewalt cordless tools, maybe some others I'm forgetting.
HF took the opportunity created by Sears selling Craftsman to SBD, and IMO they are in an ideal position to grow into some of Craftsman's market share. That being said, I personally think it's silly for them to actively target premium brands.
Shops serviced by the Snap-on truck are most likely going to keep buying Snap-on, even if both jacks may or may not come off the same assembly line. I think in this instance, HF going for the HF/SO hot button many of us on this forum are aware of seems like a cheesy pot shot. Does HF offer the convenience of a truck? Absolutely not.
Is it really news to anyone that HF is cheap tool king? Again, absolutely not. Cheap tools sometimes a better option than more expensive, for a variety of reasons beyond personal preference. Slapping a different BS generic sounding brand on the tools isn't going to change that unless you've been living under a rock the past 2 decades, or don't know any better.
I don't really see a lot of electricians, telecom, and lineman types suddenly throwing their Klein tools in the garbage and doing a full changeover to Doyle pliers, or HF screwdrivers. Even among general contractors- Klein tools are held in high regard. I enjoy using my Klein tools, I use them to make a living and they are a known quality...and I also prefer USA made tools when/if possible.
Klein is going to have to experience a major downward spiral and decrease in quality, or IF they offshore all USA production and keep prices the same for me to consider never buying them again, bottom line.
In the months since Bauer cordless has been out, and has been hashed out here a few times, take a wild guess how many Bauer tools Ive seen on jobsites? I've seen exactly NONE. I see mostly Dewalt and Milwaukee, and equal amounts Makita, Metabo, Ryobi, Hitachi, hell even B&D. You know where I have seen Bauer? For sale on Letgo and Craigslist, usually NIB...so yeah, that is quite some market penetration...golf clap, HF...tweakers buy them and then sell for a few bucks to fuel their habit.
Dewalt has adopted the classic Stanley doublespeak term "made in USA of US & Global components", which is a good thing imo...some domestic jobs are better than none...and based on occasional price checks, Dewalt seems to be slightly cheaper than a similar Milwaukee model. Having used both, I honestly would never be tempted to buy a HF cordless electrical tool. I am not a huge Ryobi fan, but if I for some reason wanted to forgo my Milwaukee platform and needed inexpensive replacements...Ryobi any day of the week. Of course that won't happen anyway, more than happy and satisfied with my M18 tools.
Bottom line, HF can try to pull the wool over consumer's eyes claiming it's offerings compete directly with premium brands, but I feel they would be better suited to go after the low/middle level homeowner grade stuff, and flourish in the vacuum left by Craftsman's absence.
I'm sure there are some who will always be "Give me Craftsman or Give me Death", but I know this ordeal has soured some folks opinions on the brand, and well...sounds like opportunity for HF to me.
