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Warning: Harbor Freight Shipping Alternate Lesser Tool

twohawks

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Nov 21, 2014
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Sierra Nevadas
Hi All, New member here...

It is unfortunate that my first thread here has to be something negative (not my style), but I thought I should post this for others sake (hey, that's a positive thing ;^)...

Some of us do not live close to a town, so we buy stuff online (and hope for the best).

I ordered:
1/2 in. Drive Indexable Head Ratchet
Pittsburgh Professional - item#96090

On my order it states:
1/2 in. Drive Indexable Head Ratchet Item #:96090
[Replaced by SKU: 62315]

So rather than email me telling me I have to wait till its in stock, or request a refund, they send me a 48T in stead of the 72T I ordered. About the only notable difference ...though they do have differently styled handle grips.

Nice, huh.

The representative over the phone acted very matter-of-fact that HF would simply send me a substitute - even if it is a slightly different or even seemingly slightly lesser value tool.
Of course, he offered me a refund, i.e., to send me a return envelop, and then when that processes they would credit my card on file that was used for the transaction.

Now, I cannot say for certain if the 42T is a lesser value -- it happens to be listed for more money than the 96090. All I know is I wanted the 72T version.

I decided to keep the 62315, and I will be contacting a 'local' HF to find out if they carry any of the one I want in stock. Maybe I can get a sympathetic manager to place it on hold or some such.

Purpose of this post is to let others know that HF's policy, as explained to me, is to substitute 'any similar tool' if the one you order is not actually in stock. So if you order carbide tipped screw driver set on sale, you might get those aluminum/tin ones if they run out! (I don't know if they actually carry either of those, its just a "stupid is as stupid does" example.

I let HF rep know that my concern was that this policy was inappropriate and should be changed. I.e., it is inappropriate to send me an orange because right now they are out of apples ...just because the orange is a fruit and about the same size as an apple. Instead they should contact the customer with information and appropriate options. I would have preferred to keep my order pending shipment when the proper item comes in, rather than simply be sent a lesser alternative without so much as a how-do-you-do.

Okay. Done for now I guess. Not a travesty (the sky isn't falling), thank goodness. I hope everyone is having a great holiday.
Cheers,
Twohawks
 
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wild cowboy

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it is 48 tooth, not 42, and yes I would pitch a ***** if I were you, that's ridiculous!

also, the 48 tooth has no feedback from users, so we don't know if it is great like the 72 tooth is.

also, the only reason the 72 tooth is cheaper, is not because it is somehow lesser, it is just on clearance right now - it is the better ratchet, ignore the prices.

If you want the 72 tooth, there are a ton of Garage Journal members here that would be happy to arrange to send you one, some of us are practically walking distance to our nearest HF store and visit it several times/week!
 
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creativecars

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Indiana- where horse and buggies still roam
Twohawks,
I just got through dealing with Gearwrench for a similar thing. One item was out of stock and their idea of a replacement was a joke. A month and a half later they made it better, not great, but better.
Sorry to hear about you deal, but to let you know that it happens at many companies.
 
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twohawks

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Sierra Nevadas
Thanks for chiming in, guys.

Yeah, I agree with everything you mention, WC, ...I figured its the better ratchet, but not explicitly "knowing" I wouldn't want to presume to push my assumption about that.

They also sent me a replacement for
3/8 in. Drive Indexable Head Ratchet
Item #:62316

And instead sent 96092. No link available at HF, so I posted that one.

You can see from the specs they are considered identical except for the handle style, though I have to say that I was certain that was a 72T I ordered. Thing is, I did my research and as I recall it was only the 1/4" one that does/did not come in 72T... so I went a-hunting for these two trinkettes.

Have to admit, I likely got it wrong, or how would that old standby link have 48t listed - right. I'll be doing some rabbit-holing to find out more.

I agree with everything you mentioned WC, and thanks for mentioning the member support potential. I'm going to see if I can get any sympathy from the "local" HF, and if so, I'll make a list to make the trip/gas-cost worth going out there.

;^)
 
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twohawks

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Just fyi, yeah it was my bad on the 3/8 model... I evidently did not read the description and instead went according to a member posting here from 2013 (not worth hunting down the link again - it was a simple mis-reference). I found a posting for it on eBay confirming the 48t only. So they must only have made one 72T version of their indexable line, and that was the 1/2 incher.
 

wild cowboy

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sounds like you need to grab 72 tooth in ever size you need now, as they seem to be discontinuing it.

same goes for their torque wrenches that are currently on sale for $9.99 with coupon, need to buy them now in each size, because they are transitioning from sourcing these from Taiwan to China, HUGE difference!
 
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twohawks

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AND ANOTHER ONE...

Ordered
3/8 in. Drive Click Type Torque Wrench
Pittsburgh Professional - item#61276

Sent
3/8 in. Drive Click Type Torque Wrench
Pittsburgh Professional - item#807


Probably no big deal... there's no diff in the specs. I remember trying to choose which one of these to pick up and went with the one where the finish looked better in the pic ...as if it mattered.

Anymonday, just reporting.
 

383 240z

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Findley Twp. Allegheny Co.
Just a little insight from a guy with more than a few years in a catalog/internet/mail order company.

Here is what I think happened, It's near the end of the quarter, a sales manager is just a few dollars short of the next bonus tier. So he pulls an open order report, passes them out to his crew. They are told to close and ship what ever they can.

If the part on the order is out of stock, and a similar item, that is just a few bucks more, and within the gross profit margin needed, you ship it. My company did it all the time. At least on simple things that is. Say you needed a heater cable for a 1984 CJ-7. You ordered the Omix-Ada brand for $11.99 It's out of stock, but I have the Crown brand for $13.99. I'm marking the price down and getting you the part you need.

Now if it's something major like say you want 35" Mud Tires. You want the Mickey Thompson Baja Claws, but they are on national back order, Pro-Comp Xterrains are in stock any only $20 each more. On that my guys would call you up, and see if you wanted the tires NOW and offer to split the extra cost.

I don't think there was any intent to cheat you out of your 72th ratchet. I'm pretty sure it's just a case of the CS rep who doesn't know the difference between the ratchets, saw the slightly more expensive one and sent it to you, thinking you would be happy you got the more expensive one. I'm not sure how the software at HF works, but in the software we used, during a phone order, when you added an out of stock item to an invoice, interchange part numbers would show up, you could then either sub out the part, if the customer was OK with that, or leave the back ordered part on, then you just needed to remind the customer that he would get it at a later date. Keith
 

paranoid56

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Dec 18, 2008
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Location
San Diego, Ca
AND ANOTHER ONE...

Ordered
3/8 in. Drive Click Type Torque Wrench
Pittsburgh Professional - item#61276

Sent
3/8 in. Drive Click Type Torque Wrench
Pittsburgh Professional - item#807


Probably no big deal... there's no diff in the specs. I remember trying to choose which one of these to pick up and went with the one where the finish looked better in the pic ...as if it mattered.

Anymonday, just reporting.

you got the better one, the one with the lifetime Warranty, the one you bought is only 90 days :D
 
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twohawks

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Sierra Nevadas
@WC:: Yeah, gotta admit I was kinda doing that. Got some decent deals on some ratchets at HF, however, I couldn't bring myself to do the ...I think its the 61277 (20-200 ft lb or so) Pittsburgh (think its 1/4"er) Torque wrench. The reviews all around on HF torque wrenches put me off on these in general, and I figured the Craftsman Micro-Clicker 25-250 #31423 at Sears was the better deal in the mid/hi-ft-lb range need. For $40, and until I can afford some better/more-real torque wrenches, should work out ok.

I picked up the Digital Torque Adapter for $22.50, and the 61276/807 for $11.99, and I have a monster torque wrench coming out of storage soon to complete the interim set/need.

I did pick up that set of...
3 Pc Flex Head Stubby Ratchet Set
Pittsburgh - item#46742
..for 9.99
Couldn't resist. Anyone looking for some inexpensive stubbies should check these out.

Hopefully I will get those instead of, say, pencils or something.
 
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twohawks

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Sierra Nevadas
@383 240z: astute assessment, I have no doubt.

@paranoid56: thanks for pointing that out. I should pay more attention to which items are lifetime and/or not. I assumed (there I go again) these were all lifetime.
 
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twohawks

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Sierra Nevadas
UPDATE:
Most of you folks who track this stuff probably already got the "red-handle" memo...
Looks like 'wild cowboy' is right... Store manager told me that this model is discontinued, and its all about the ones with the red handles now.

So it makes sense they sent the one they did (here, have our new one!).

No biggy... gives me an excuse to simply pick out an Armstrong, Williams, or Proto indexible. Headed in that direction (with my tool-up) anyway.

Appreciate your guys chiming in, and support.
And especially franzdom who reminded me what its like to drink coffee backwards out through my nose.
 

Tronyadorable

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Sep 25, 2014
Messages
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Man. Whatta shame.
200_s.gif
 

angrystroker

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Earth
I did not think there were any tools out in the world that could be much worse then the HF brand. Must be some piece of **** to lose that battle.

Quote:
Can't see spending $11,000 for a box that does the same damn thing as a box that's just as big and does the same exact thing as one for $1,000....

What y'all think?

:lol:I think only a fool would come to that conclusion. That's what I think now that you asked.:lol:
 

DekeT

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Aug 12, 2011
Messages
2,234
Location
USA
I did not think there were any tools out in the world that could be much worse then the HF brand. Must be some piece of **** to lose that battle.

Quote:
Can't see spending $11,000 for a box that does the same damn thing as a box that's just as big and does the same exact thing as one for $1,000....

What y'all think?

:lol:I think only a fool would come to that conclusion. That's what I think now that you asked.:lol:

Your money do what you like with it. No need to call others names that don't agree with you.
 
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