So HF emailed me...

[american lockpicker]

So any HF tool that's gotten generally positive reviews... By people too stupid to know the difference?

Perhaps. I've used HF tools(screwdrivers for example) before and they are junk.

At least this statement isn't hogwash.

Why do people continually misplace their blame? Why does a successful capitalist venture become the one at fault for this?

Here's another fact: HF, Walmart, all of these successful businesses that the neocommunists like to blame for the economy couldn't have happened if your elected officials hadn't passed legislation that allowed the cheap imports in the first place.

Place the blame correctly.

Actually Walmart started out selling affordable American made goods and then they got greedy... Also just because a company can sell cheap imports doesn't mean they should.

 

[eborcim]

Anyone remember when HF had SK Tools for sale occasionally in their catalog?

 

[kythri]

Actually Walmart started out selling affordable American made goods and then they got greedy... Also just because a company can sell cheap imports doesn't mean they should.

No! A BUSINESS trying to maximize profits and lower expenses?! SAY IT AIN'T SO.

The American consumer got greedy and wanted cheap imports for cheap prices rather than domestic goods for higher prices.

Just because the American consumer can buy cheap imports doesn't mean that they should.

Walmart can't sell things the customers don't want. Contrary to the picture that you're trying to paint, the greeters aren't sticking a gun to your head and escorting you to the checkout lane.

 

[Ghostrider]

I say do it and sign me up for a reviewer slot!

 

[american lockpicker]

No! A BUSINESS trying to maximize profits and lower expenses?! SAY IT AIN'T SO.

The American consumer got greedy and wanted cheap imports for cheap prices rather than domestic goods for higher prices.

Not all consumers did but now we have most US companys selling chinese/mexican made goods at US prices. What we really need is for the government to tax(not some small percentage but something that makes the price 10x, 20x, 50x or possibly even higher than what it is now) all imports(even this would effect me as I love stuff from Europe/Japan) so that its more profitable for stuff to be made here.

 

[JMcFly]

Keep it on topic guys

 

[Jeeprz!]

Keep it on topic guys

on topic = I just got back from HF, I picked up a 1/4 composite ratchet (last one they had) for $6 n change with a 20% off coupon and a 18" magnetic tool tool holding bar for $4.49 - and now I shall test them

 

[trboxman]

Anyone remember when HF had SK Tools for sale occasionally in their catalog?

I remember when they had Quincy air compressors in their stores.

 

[diesel research]

You're going to be disappointed, then. HF tools are designed to provide basic features at a cheap price. "Good enough" at a cheap price is their philosophy.

There in lies the problem. I am not a regular reader of stueys blog, but from what I have seen, it is not centered around "cheap" or "good enough" for the most part. I don't recall reading many taglines like "most bang for the buck"

To top it off, it seems to be more based around wood and carpentry for the most part.

So, what service does it do for his regular readers (target audience)? Especially since a lot of it is electric power tools?

I tried this drill, it seems to work ok. Isn't the quietest or most comfortable, but it does seem to make holes so far

Doesn't seem to coincide well with his usual content. If it doesn't work so well, what will his viewers conclude? Valuable content? Elitist? Stating the "obvious"? (***not saying it is the obvious, rather asking if his audience would believe as such)

Then again, he also does talk about "deals", and the newer imported craftsman/kobalt, so perhaps there is some room for discussion on his blogs...

 

[Stuey]

There in lies the problem. I am not a regular reader of stueys blog, but from what I have seen, it is not centered around "cheap" or "good enough" for the most part. I don't recall reading many taglines like "most bang for the buck"

To top it off, it seems to be more based around wood and carpentry for the most part.

So, what service does it do for his regular readers (target audience)? Especially since a lot of it is electric power tools?



Doesn't seem to coincide well with his usual content. If it doesn't work so well, what will his viewers conclude? Valuable content? Elitist? Stating the "obvious"? (***not saying it is the obvious, rather asking if his audience would believe as such)

Then again, he also does talk about "deals", and the newer imported craftsman/kobalt, so perhaps there is some room for discussion on his blogs...

I write with 3 audiences in mind - returning readers, the GJ audience, and Google visitors. My own interests usually overlap, but sometimes I'll focus on something that probably only I care about.

If anything comes of this, I'll treat it on a case by case basis. And if not, I can still head down to HF (time permitting) with $100 and hand-pick a few tools I'm curious enough to evaluate.

To be honest, I don't care about whether a tool is inexpensive or top-shelf. But I do have low tolerance for cheap tools.

I've been getting emails asking for more thorough evaluations of some of the new Craftsman and Kobalt hand tools, so I put a few more tools on the queue for testing and project use. Then again, I'm not a pro mechanic or advanced DIY wrencher, so my natural inclination is towards mid-level wrenches and sockets.

 

[NinetyTwoFifty]

If it comes to that, maybe I'll ask one or more GJers to help me out w/ an objective guest review.

If so, please keep me in mind. Sounds pretty interesting to me, and I consider myself to be pretty objective.

 

[rslaback]

When I was younger, my father and I worked in construction together. During that time we obviously had higher demands of tools and as such we had our favorite brands and purchased those tools pretty much because of the name on the box. Your reviews would have honestly been of little importance to me at the time.

Fast forward to now. My father is retired and I am teaching technology ed in a small high school. I have a much better understanding of living on a tool budget now than then. If I can save a few dollars here and a few there that means more tools available to the students and more money for supplies for better instruction. For that reason I have started to dabble in a few harbor freight tools both at home and in my school shop. Screwdrivers, ratchets, wrenches, a sandblast cabinet, welding gloves, a 20 ton press, hammers and punches have all found there way into my school shop. My garage at home sports a HF toolbox, Earthquake impact, numerous screwdrivers, a floor jack, a/c gauge set and vac pump, 12 ton press etc.

Most everything I have purchased I have been happy with, some of it pretty much a steal. That said my brother bought me a 12" sliding compound miter saw a few years back and it is a last resort tool.

I wouldn't have believed you 15 years ago if you would have told me I would rely on items from harbor freight.

Having reviews from a trusted tool blog would be a great thing for people like me. There are plenty of tools at Harbor Freight that are worth having-regardless of your status as a pro wrench turner or a weekend warrior. Unfortunately right now there isn't a go to source for information on which tools are worth the investment and which aren't. Which tools are usable and which are out of the box junk. You could be that source.

 

[Spam16v]

HF is probably soon to surpass CM's quality & durability it seems...

 

[Stuey]

So HF is no longer interested in working with me. They were supposed to get back to me a month ago but left me hanging. Only after I outright asked if their silence was an indication of disinterest did they get back to me with a 'yes'. "Oops, sorry for the delay." How unprofessional.

My gut tells me that it's because they're afraid I'll review their tools and find them to be "ridiculous quality tools at low prices" rather than "quality tools at low prices."

In any case, I've been amassing coupons and will probably pick up a few items at one point to test out. Maybe. Definitely not power tools - I don't trust bottom-shelf power tools.

 

[Outlawmws]

So HF is no longer interested in working with me. They were supposed to get back to me a month ago but left me hanging. Only after I outright asked if their silence was an indication of disinterest did they get back to me with a 'yes'. "Oops, sorry for the delay." How unprofessional.

SNIP

HF; the "Craigslist" of tool companies...

 

[chris142]

Anyone remember when HF had SK Tools for sale occasionally in their catalog?

I remember SK wrench sets and sockets in a glass case by the registers.

I'd love to get to test tools. I use common stuff like wrenches and sockets daily.

 

[jjjrmx5]

S

My gut tells me that it's because they're afraid I'll review their tools and find them to be "ridiculous quality tools at low prices" rather than "quality tools at low prices."

Stuey, you have integrity.

Now keep in mind that I also offered to send you the cheapest POS ratcheting screwdriver with case and bit set I have ever received as a gift from Car and Driver magazine years ago to cutup and do an autopsy on. Not a review mind you, but a slice and dice. Pics only.

And you still refused. LOL

Now that is integrity.

And that damn thing still sits in my bottom roll cab dwr. ...still looking for a home as it is too awful to give to anyone I in any way love or respect.

The reviews you do are very fair and very enlightening thus I think you have your answer.

 

[wreckerman5357]

I have bought a few things from them and have always been amused about how HF stuff either lasts forever or fails miserably the first time its used. Reviews would be like w pass or fail system.

 

[Stuey]

Stuey, you have integrity.

Now keep in mind that I also offered to send you the cheapest POS ratcheting screwdriver with case and bit set I have ever received as a gift from Car and Driver magazine years ago to cutup and do an autopsy on. Not a review mind you, but a slice and dice. Pics only.

And you still refused. LOL

Now that is integrity.

And that damn thing still sits in my bottom roll cab dwr. ...still looking for a home as it is too awful to give to anyone I in any way love or respect.

The reviews you do are very fair and very enlightening thus I think you have your answer.

One thing I'm considering is reviewing a couple of HF tools on April Fools day.

Reviews, or even tool dissections do take time, so I try to avoid anything that there's no strong demand for in terms of reader interest, general interest, and personal interest.

These days I'm trying to severely cut down on my mountain of tools. Gave a Wera screwdriver set to a colleague today. I bought the darn set 3-4 years ago and used it maybe twice.

One thing I've seen is that HF throws massive amounts of money towards marketing. Maybe they figured a couple of hundred were better spent on more ads than review samples for a blogger/web publisher.

A couple of months ago they invited several writers from a magazine publishing group to one of their facilities. All of the online "articles" reeked of a fishy arrangement. So although I was eager to work with HF for a couple of objective reviews, their unknown intentions made me a little nervous.

 

[oilslick]

FWIW Kent I complain about Snap On, and any other brand that outsources. I bash HF a lot after all they only bring in cheap **** tools, they have put a decent tool store in my county out of business, make Sears lower their quality(Evolv and that generic **** by their registers) even further to compete and other stuff. I will admit they do a few things right though first off they are honest about COO. All HF tools I've seen have a COO on them also their name implys its imports. Irwin and Snap On seem to think its cool to outsource and leave COO off of things and say they are American.

Man you hit that nail on the head. I hate paying brand name (Snap on)price for ****, so long as harbours **** stays so cheap I cant resist, I will keep buying earthquakes and watching as each person who runs them shakes their heads in disbelief!! Snap on had some work gloves for 45 bucks made in china by some gifted children way better than the harbours, how long till harbour find those kids and gets them gloves knocked off!! On a different subject isnt this all playing out with the Ipad2, I believe china is sueing us in california for copyright!!! Ha wadda joke on us.

 

[bimmerZ5]

Let's face it... If it says "Snap On", you can be pretty confident in the quality without a review,

that's not necessarily true. there are several products that license the "Snap On" brand that may or may not meet the quality standards many assume of the brand. some times it's even on products made outside the US.

 

[GoBlue]

ok...for anything you buy on a Snap on truck you can be pretty confident in the quality. Lets not get into the paint scraper and T shirt stuff again. I think Jim85IROC was referring to actual Snap on tools...and i would tend to agree with him. While i don't necessarily think they are always the best...i do think they are always amongst the best for the most part. An example is their screwdrivers. I dont think they are the best. I prefer the Witte made Matcos or even the U.S made Kleins...but to deny the Snap ons are in the same league would be in error. Just my opinion...ymmv

 

[geologist]

Do it! Do it NOW!

 

[nsherman2006]

The big problem with HF reviews is the inconsistency of their product line. I love HF tools sometimes. Other times I hate them. But, for example, their combination wrenches have mixed reviews across boards, especially the stubby and long handle combo wrenches. My stubby's were made in India, and they are not of the smae quality as the ones most people raved about, which were made in Taiwan (I believe). I ended up buying a Gearwrench long pattern set because I didn't want to shell out for HF's set only to find out that all the good reviews for those were also for a "different" product.

If they made the same tool in the same factory for a longer time, instead of switching things up on a regular basis, it would be much easier to follow which are the "gems".

 

[Danglerb]

So HF is no longer interested in working with me. They were supposed to get back to me a month ago but left me hanging. Only after I outright asked if their silence was an indication of disinterest did they get back to me with a 'yes'. "Oops, sorry for the delay." How unprofessional.

I think you got it the first time, unprofessional. Could be whoever had the bright idea there in the first place is gone too, cost cutting.

For the most part I think the pass/fail thread does fine. Sometimes it might be good to have more of "review" of some tool, but few items there are incredible, most are either good or not good.

The "everything is wonderful on the Snapon truck" crowd seems to forget that everything on that truck is priced like gold, ten times the price of many HF similar tools. Even if a HF tool is junk, it usually works well enough to see if you like that type of tool, and whether or not its worth the money to get a better one.

 

[Stuey]

I think you got it the first time, unprofessional. Could be whoever had the bright idea there in the first place is gone too, cost cutting.

For the most part I think the pass/fail thread does fine. Sometimes it might be good to have more of "review" of some tool, but few items there are incredible, most are either good or not good.

The "everything is wonderful on the Snapon truck" crowd seems to forget that everything on that truck is priced like gold, ten times the price of many HF similar tools. Even if a HF tool is junk, it usually works well enough to see if you like that type of tool, and whether or not its worth the money to get a better one.

Their first email to me, albeit in more formal words, was "sup, we represent a tool company and are doing research - how do you choose tools to review, and where do you get them from?"

And the whole time I feel like I'm talking to a marketing intern. No last name, no introduction, and the contact has a generic non-personal @hf email address.

With how unprofessional and uncourteous he/they've been, there's a near-zero chance I will work with them any time soon even if they change their mind. I'm way too busy to deal with, as Outlaw called them, the "Craigslist" of tool companies.

 

[Al Bundy]

I love a good HF bashing.

 

[kippieland]

I wouldn't expect anything else from a company like that...They aren't a tool store....they are a dollor store that happens to carry tools!