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Something to be said for HF...

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Just_George

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Nov 11, 2012
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265
Location
Ypsilanti, MI
I know, there's lots of Harbor Freight bashing on this site, and to be honest, they're generally not my first choice when shopping for tools. However, I have discovered one redeeming value to HF: they stock a much better selection than almost everybody else.

I spent all morning running around town trying to find a set of deep offset, metric box wrenches. Needed them today, so ordering not an option. No luck at Napa Auto Parts, Lowes, Sears, Advance Auto Parts....nobody had them. Harbor Freight normally has them, sadly was out of stock today (arrrgh!) They didn't appear to be great from a quality perspective, but at least they normally stock them. So sad as it may be, when you gotta have it right now, Harbor Freight appears to be the best bet in terms of selection and availability.
 
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zkling

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Jan 23, 2007
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As can be backed up by many threads on here, HF produces a few gems and a number of flops. They have their place, and I will leave it at that.
 
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shanny19

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May 24, 2014
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1,209
Location
PNW
OP is right on. If I want to buy a first quality version of most of what HF stocks on the shelves in the way of specialty tools, say pullers or bearing drivers, i have to order online.
 
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sberry

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Jun 18, 2005
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Brethren, Michigan
They made it so cheap its affordable and foolish not to get something you need or can use now. Its super good stuff at the price that it is.
 
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jd_1138

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May 8, 2013
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17,066
Location
NE Ohio
But HF didn't have the tools he needed; they were out of stock. But he still praises them because they normally have them. lol

Being out of stock is a sign that someone at HF isn't doing inventory correctly.
 
OP
J

Just_George

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Nov 11, 2012
Messages
265
Location
Ypsilanti, MI
jd_1138 said:
But HF didn't have the tools he needed; they were out of stock. But he still praises them because they normally have them. lol

Being out of stock is a sign that someone at HF isn't doing inventory correctly.
Click to expand...

True, they didn't have them and I ended up not finding any. BUT....they normally would have them, just out of stock. Nobody else, nobody, stocks anything even close. Even the wrench selection at Sears is nowhere near what it used to be. So yes, today would have been one of those times I would have settled for the lesser quality just to get the job done.

I won't kill them for being out of stock - it happens. They have a 10' display of wrenches of all kinds - the ones I wanted were the only open space. :(
 
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bcradio

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Jan 30, 2012
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6,017
Location
New Mexico
jd_1138 said:
Being out of stock is a sign that someone at HF isn't doing inventory correctly.
Click to expand...

Nope!

They could have just sold much more than normal for whatever reason and just be out. You obviously don't know retail very well. :thumbup:
 
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toolmutt

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Sep 5, 2009
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Texas
My NAPA, Sears, Home Depot, and Grainger (Proto) all have them in stock right now. Pick your level of quality. :dunno:

EDIT: Okay, so a check shows that Grainger doesn't have the Protos in stock. They did when I got mine. My mistake. But I've been in the other three this week and seen them.
 
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valentine

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Oct 27, 2008
Messages
239
I work a lot around saltwater; Boats, ships, docks, etc. There are lots of opportunities to drop tools in the water where they are virtually unrecoverable. Snap On or other high priced tools would make no sense at all in these situations. Inexpensive tools from Harbor Freight get these jobs done everytime. I actually can't believe the abuse we've put some of their stuff through. It just keeps going until it gets lost. Then we simply pick up another one for cheap. I really can't knock Harbor Freight.

-Valentine
 
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jim whitney

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Sep 30, 2015
Messages
113
Location
Winchendon ma.
I bought a metal cutting bandsaw at hf 2 yrs. ago, I also bought 2 extra blades thinking that the blade probably wouldn't, last I use it all the time and haven,t even had to change the blade yet. It,s just a small central machinery saw but I love it!
 
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bobcatdan

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Jan 4, 2011
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9,948
Location
Kaukauna,WI
While I'm far from a lover of HF, I don't hate them either. Generally speaking, quality has come up there while readily available tools at other local locations has dropped. At the end of the day if it gets the job done, its OK.
 
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Cato

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Mar 16, 2012
Messages
636
Location
Alhambra, California
Yes, their selection is great. I don't buy much there, but I did find a set of eye loops that I find useful for wrist watches.
 
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Ponchoguy

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Jul 27, 2014
Messages
3,399
Just_George said:
I know, there's lots of Harbor Freight bashing on this site, and to be honest, they're generally not my first choice when shopping for tools. However, I have discovered one redeeming value to HF: they stock a much better selection than almost everybody else.

I spent all morning running around town trying to find a set of deep offset, metric box wrenches. Needed them today, so ordering not an option. No luck at Napa Auto Parts, Lowes, Sears, Advance Auto Parts....nobody had them. Harbor Freight normally has them, sadly was out of stock today (arrrgh!) They didn't appear to be great from a quality perspective, but at least they normally stock them. So sad as it may be, when you gotta have it right now, Harbor Freight appears to be the best bet in terms of selection and availability.
Click to expand...

The freebies with the coupons are the best thing about HF :thumbup:
 
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unslow1

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Joined
Mar 3, 2012
Messages
7,880
Location
Illinois
Not my first choice in tools but they have had things in stock that got me out of a jam. An example would be a 9mm allen socket when I was in the middle of a brake job on an Escape. I spent almost 2 hrs trying to find that before going there.
 
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toolmutt

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Sep 5, 2009
Messages
2,020
Location
Texas
Just_George said:
Interesting. Neither NAPA or Sears had those sets in stock. The Husky set looks like a standard offset - I'll have a closer look when I go to HD tomorrow. Thanks for the links...
Click to expand...

Your welcome. My NAPA has a huge Carlyle display but they don't keep any of the long zero degree double box wrenches that I kinda want. If I could fondle them in the store, I'd probably break down and buy them.
 
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jn50308401

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Joined
Sep 7, 2015
Messages
315
I went to HF today for disposable paint cups. 5.00 bucks and I can finish my little paint work on my tool box with using 5.00 bucks in acetone to clean the supplied cup for my HLVP gun.
It's an oddball thing I needed and I didn't have to wait until next week to get it from the Internet.
I have no heart burn With HF offering me a product that I needed now and at a good price.

Does all their stuff always work great or is the best quality? Nope its not but I was happy with my purchase.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
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turfgnome

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Joined
Jun 30, 2013
Messages
258
They are great for testing if a tool would work or for those that rarely use tools, however most mechanics hate the harbor freight tools from a catastrophic failure at some point from a harbor freight tool that caused them pain or ruined his or her day. Now truth be told I still bet most of us have at least one harbor freight tool in the toolbox that has worked well for us.

Hell admit it, if harbor freight made great tools why would anyone buy anything else. And if everything them made was total junk then nobody would buy anything at the store.
 
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