Today's Northern Tool Experience...

[baucom]

We always hear peoples' customer service horror stories, but I'd like to give Northern Tool credit for providing excellent customer service today.

My wife gave me a set of Titan reversible ratcheting wrenches for Christmas, and the 8mm was broken straight out of the package (ratcheting end spun freely). I finally carried it into our local store today and approached the manager about replacing it under warranty. These wrenches aren't sold in open stock at Northern, only in sets. Not only did he open a set and replace the wrench without question, he also gave me a spare 10mm out of the set just-in-case because it's "used on a lot of stuff now" and sent me on my way.

Some stores would've asked that I exchange the entire set under warranty so they didn't have to break up a new set, costing me either an argument or an extra trip. I thought that was great service from Northern.

 

[sk farmer]

i have had nothing but good experiances with them. i wish they had more us stuff in ther stores though. i have thier northstar generater and a pressure washer. love them.

 

[the spyder]

Sadly there are none around here

 

[sk farmer]

Sadly there are none around here

they have a great catalog. order one.

 

[baucom]

I have a NorthStar pressure washer too, and it's been great. It was the best deal I could find on a quality PW. Mine uses a Honda GX engine and Comet pump. Most of the other NorthStar equipment is pretty good too--they tend to use quality components to assemble it.

 

[chub chub]

Nice to hear. Has anybody ever bought one of their compressors? I'm looking at this one...

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_290946_290946

It has a Leeson motor, but I don't know who makes the pump. I sent them an email, but haven't heard back.

 

[ZRX61]

I throw their catalogs straight in the trash since the time they wanted to charge me $147 shipping on a $120 kids toolbox...

 

[autoace]

Northern tools is kinda like an expensive Harbor Freight, with high shipping costs. Some of their tools are pretty good, like their 3/4 inch drive socket sets, much better fit and finish than HF sets and not too expensive.

 

[sk farmer]

I throw their catalogs straight in the trash since the time they wanted to charge me $147 shipping on a $120 kids toolbox...

kind of seems a little drastic to me. they have a lot of things that are hard to find or difficult to source locally for me. if you have a store anywhere close by the will usually put in with their next shipment for little or nothing. you had the choice of wether or not to buy from them and the majority of the shipping probably did not go to them anyway. if nothing else the catalogs are good referance and reading material. lots of nice quality pics. they also send out a hard cover catalog on occasion. who does that anymore?

 

[crewchief888]

ive only bought stuff from northern tool once. i had some rewards points from test that i had taken at the delaership i worked at. the points are redeemable through many different stores, but the only thing that interested me was northern i cashed in my points for northern gift cards, and recived them via the mail about a week later.
i had $200 in gift cards so i sat down and picked out a few useful items. bought a couple sets of cheapo "vise grip" welding clamps, 2 sets of spotweld clamps, a cheap autodarkening hood and some spare cover plates, and a couple of tin signs to hang up.

mostly stuff that i could do without, and wouldnt have bought unless it was free. the shipments arrived over the next couple weeks, one or 2 items at a time. as an earlier poster said, it's sorta like an online HF. to me same quality plus added shipping. i'd rather see my el-cheapo tools in person i guess