Markromeo
Active member
Did anyone else notice huge Harbor Freight increases? I just bought a wheel bearing press the other day, $129.99 its 159.99 today. 4-drawer rolling cart usually 179.99 or so I think? Today 279.99.
Massive Harbor Freight Price Increases
- Thread starter Markromeo
- Start date
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
yatg
Well-known member
Another reason not to go there. Stopped in last week to buy some welding rod and ratchet straps. No straps and there was one checker and the line was 6 or 7 deep. Left rod on a shelf and walked out.
Negen
Well-known member
The prices have not really changed just need to make use of the catalogue due to their lawsuit a few years ago about the sales prices being the normal prices.
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Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using The Garage Journal mobile app
swamplife
Well-known member
I went to link someone to a small 12v compressor I use. Went from $65 to $99! No thanks!
niget2002
Well-known member
It doesn't surprise me. From what I understand, product flow from China has slowed down due to lower production. Less product with same demand leads to hire prices. And didn't something with our trade agreements with them change in the last year? Might finally be seeing increases from that.
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Just priced a plate compactor this afternoon and about crapped my pants. Im pretty sure its a $200 increase.
Like $875 now.
Like $875 now.
nadogail
Well-known member
As long as demand exceeds supply, you can expect to pay for the privilege of acquiring a given item.
Sale prices are used to meet competition or build market share.
Who is competing with Harbor Freight?
Sale prices are used to meet competition or build market share.
Who is competing with Harbor Freight?
isb cornbinder
Well-known member
Someone slapped tariffs on all that made in China stuff.
mjchamp
Well-known member
looks like the prices are back to "normal" now on their website
Might be a back up pricing strategy if a tariff hit hard...some one mention the preview of a pricing model .... so if you needed HF now go get it before the Tariff mess you up. Like me with the 2x4s all F-ed now with this mis-management.
logical
Well-known member
When stores (or parking lit tents) like this first came into existence they sold cheaply made stuff cheap because that was the only way they could convince people to buy imported no name tools.
That was 40 years ago. People care a lot less about where something come from because in many cases they have no choice. They could stand their ground but they'd have to do it in a house without TV, computers and other pretty common items.
I don't really buy much at HF beyond nitrile gloves (back when they were in stock), moving blankets and tarps but I do look around. Between my visits and watching the forums its clear the "quality" is better than it was. I see a lot of good, better, best options. Expect the "good" line to fade away now that they have people conditioned to see HF as an alternative to name brands and not just a disposable tool store.
The point is...they will raise prices because they can. They don't need to be half the cost of the competition any more, they just have to be slightly lower.
Sent from my garage.
That was 40 years ago. People care a lot less about where something come from because in many cases they have no choice. They could stand their ground but they'd have to do it in a house without TV, computers and other pretty common items.
I don't really buy much at HF beyond nitrile gloves (back when they were in stock), moving blankets and tarps but I do look around. Between my visits and watching the forums its clear the "quality" is better than it was. I see a lot of good, better, best options. Expect the "good" line to fade away now that they have people conditioned to see HF as an alternative to name brands and not just a disposable tool store.
The point is...they will raise prices because they can. They don't need to be half the cost of the competition any more, they just have to be slightly lower.
Sent from my garage.
Ever heard of Amazon or Ebay... no they are not dominant in the market place. Brick and Mortar stores are no match for online stores. In marketing, every product have it's target market, just like Snap-on truck don't stop by your garage at home for a reason....... There was a thread or article or post about Amazon going into the HF's target market in the cheap tools ...and can easily compete if they find it profitable for them... I think it was the Bear that have mentioned this... pretty good analysis on the market situation IMO....
yep, the lag of the tariffs kicking in was/is intentional so most would NOT connect the dots with the price increases.
I believe what we are seeing is only the beginning...
jmo,
edcantu9
Well-known member
CN Spots
Well-known member
Waiting for Snap-On to do a "Compare to Bauer" ad.
jarhead
Well-known member
Laughing my *** off about now...
Bauer makes fair hockey skates but I have always preferred CCM.
I went to HF and picked up furniture dolly's and a comment the bolts were a different length the nuts were not the same on the same dolly and many of the bolts and nuts were rusty.
Ries
Well-known member
If I need to use a specialty tool once or twice... I’m buying it at HF. If it’s something I’m using a lot and need reliability... you can bet I’m buying something that has a warranty and brand recognition to go along with it.
logical
Well-known member
tfinniii
Well-known member
Nothing like a catalog with 3 different prices on the same item!
brandonsmash
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2016
- Messages
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I was just there the other day and noticed that some items seemed way out of line with normal prices. That's not great.
I'll buy HFT tools when they're warranted (non-essential tools, tools I don't need to use often, etc.) but with price increases some of their tools seem now to be comparable in price to, say, Tekton but I'd rather spend the money with Tekton in that case.
I'll buy HFT tools when they're warranted (non-essential tools, tools I don't need to use often, etc.) but with price increases some of their tools seem now to be comparable in price to, say, Tekton but I'd rather spend the money with Tekton in that case.
Dustball
Well-known member
Same for me. If buying an infrequently used tool from HF is close to the cost of renting it, I'll buy it from HF. A perfect example would be their cement mixer- I bought it for $180 to use on my post footings and I didn't have to worry about getting my work done to return the rental tool on time. Rental costs would have exceeded what I paid for it outright and the mixer is still in great shape if I want to resell it.
Same reason I was looking at buying the plate compactor. Use for my garage addition. use it and sell it for $150 less than I paid for it.
That way I didn't have to rush to get it done. The initial price increase caused me to go to Sunbelt and get a week rental, which went back in a shorter time frame. They refunded me the extra and I was out less than if I bought the HF unit and tried to sell it.
The glitch in the system saved me time and money.
finn
Well-known member
When tariffs are added to imports from a country, that country doesn’t foot the bill.
The price increase is footed by the ultimate consumer. It also reduces competition, so other vendors from other regions, as well as domestic suppliers can increase prices to pad their margin.
Look at laundry equipment. Used to be pretty inexpensive... not anymore..
The price increase is footed by the ultimate consumer. It also reduces competition, so other vendors from other regions, as well as domestic suppliers can increase prices to pad their margin.
Look at laundry equipment. Used to be pretty inexpensive... not anymore..
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yep I have noticed a price increase. At least I got my hydraulic press before all this happened.
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ixlr8
Well-known member
A few weeks ago there was a massive yacht (150+ft) in Penobscot Bay here in Maine. Somebody I know talked to the captain. The boat belonged to the owner of HF and the crew was just here to check out the area. Apparently he was thinking of visiting and he wanted them to do a preview tour. He needs to pay for that somehow.