Walmart (seriously), Amazon, eBay, Home Depot, Lowe's, Menard's, Ace, True Value, Do It Best, Direct Tool Outlet, Tractor Supply, Rural King, Family Farm and Home, Farm and Fleet, etc.
Really, though, there isn't much special about HF anymore. If there's one close to you and you need something specific right now for one job, okay, great. But if you want something that will last, there isn't a HF nearby, or you can wait a day or two, there's probably another option that is better or equivalent. I used to shop there more but I rarely have any reason to go out of my way for HF tools now because things have changed.
HF donated a crap load of supplies during the first wave of covid. I personally seen their gloves and got a face shield from my hospital that was DONATED by local HFs.
Gas may not be $2 a gallon anymore, but you can buy a moderately priced car that gets 50mpg, if that's a priority for you. When I got my first car, gas was like 89 cents a gallon, but minimum wage was $4.25.
Their low-end/cheapest stuff is still often the cheapest you'll find locally, you're right. The head scratcher with them is how or why they started offering multiple "brands" and grades of a lot of tools. Like you said, if you need a cheap tool for one job today, HF is an option, but I'm literally never going to buy, say, their drill that is 2x or 3x the price of the cheap one and around the same price as a Ryobi, Dewalt, Rigid, Milwaukee, or whatever.
For me, the draw used to be maybe 80% price and 20% immediate availability. Now a lot of their prices have crept up into the same ballpark of reputable competitors' tools, and I can get most things from other brands today too, or within 2 days if I buy online. So without the freebies and promos like they used to offer, there's much less reason for a lot of us to go there. I won't say I'll never go there anymore, but I definitely don't shop there as much as I used to.
Completely agree. I have no interest in buying a Bauer drill or Earthquake impact. I'm not paying the price for their "ICON" line.
But for a Pittsburg set of impact sockets, a set of 3/8-to-1/2 in socket adapters or the like...can't really beat ~$8. You can eventually find a deal on Kobalt/Craftsman/Husky/Gearwrench, but these are rare. If I need to do a suspension job this weekend, can't wait for a slickdeal on Husky.
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10-16-2021 at 10:28 PM.
Quote
from NoelV7557
:
Lots a HF bitterness going. Gas isn't $2.00 a gallon anymore, damn you Arco!
Reality is you can scour/monitor SD's for the occasional "deal" for a tool you need and find great quality/price on say Leviton or the like. If you need the tool tomorrow, your options are Amazon w/ 3 day shipping and hope you find comparable price/quality, take your chances at HD/Lowe's for $30 Kobalt set of universal joint socket adapters or head over to HF and pay $11.
Unless you're a mechanic/contractor, that $11 set from HF will do just fine to get at those spark plugs.
It is what it is, and isn't what it was...that's life. Name me some better (cheaper/better quality) options...I'm all ears. And those "YMMV" deals don't count. Some clearance sockets in Ocala, FL don't do me much good in CA.
You don't get it.
HF Chinese tool prices are getting too close to the real branded durable tools..... that's the problem. HF has lost the identity where they are significantly cheaper because it was a place where to get disposable 1 time use tools. . A lot of us have things to fix but only for 1 time and this is where HF comes to play. Now, their prices are way too high almost as high as the real thing so why not just get the real thing.
From the time they stopped the 20-25% coupons and freebies, I somewhat stopped going to their store because there's not much incentives as is used to be.
I bought the 46" Yukon cabinet last January using the 15% store wide coupon and it cost me $289. The cabinet at that price was good for light duty storage, except for the casters are bad. I put a magnet on the bench it sits under to hold it steady wile I open the drawers. At the new price of $400 - 10% = $360 it is not a great deal.
.
Try comparing to all other stores. Fact is, the increased cost of freight in the past year has added between $200 and $350 for each imported tool box, sofa, dresser, etc. Otherwise, anything that is bulky went up, as you can only fit so many in a container. Just the cost of a 40' container has risen 400%, while shipping costs to the USA from Asia have went from about $4,500 to $24,000 as over a hundred ships sit offshore waiting to be unloaded. Add a shortage of trucks, the increased cost of new trucks and maintenance, as well as the 60% increase in fuel since January, one might gamble and wait for the backlog to clear out, while the next administration may see lower costs for energy supplies.
Btw, you bought the cheapest model they had, so expecting Snap On quality is on you.
Just wait for a slickdeal on Ryobi. Far better quality, warranty, ongoing availability of batteries, brand reputation, etc for probably less money.
I wouldn't touch HF for cordless tools unless I only needed an enormous impact wrench and absolutely nothing else.
.
The poster did not ask for an opinion for other brands that absolutely cost a lot more for 'around the house tasks.' Nothing from even entry level Ryobi tools can be purchased as cheap as a drill, lithium battery and charger for around $25 from Harbor Freight.
Your battery powered "enormous impact wrench" would be the last power tool I would entertain from HF, or any other brand besides Milwaukee and DeWalt. But, a cheap battery drill for around the house to hang a picture or whatever, there is no reason to spend more. While Ryobi does not qualify, bragging rights that empty a bank account that one seldom, if ever uses is beyond ludicrous.
Meanwhile, 30 years ago, the cheapest battery tool from HF today would have been futuristic technology. Many here can remember the 7.2v and 9.6v expensive Makita drills that lasted about 10 minutes and you often had to help those by hand.
Walmart (seriously), Amazon, eBay, Home Depot, Lowe's, Menard's, Ace, True Value, Do It Best, Direct Tool Outlet, Tractor Supply, Rural King, Family Farm and Home, Farm and Fleet, etc.
Really, though, there isn't much special about HF anymore. If there's one close to you and you need something specific right now for one job, okay, great. But if you want something that will last, there isn't a HF nearby, or you can wait a day or two, there's probably another option that is better or equivalent. I used to shop there more but I rarely have any reason to go out of my way for HF tools now because things have changed.
i never bought tools at HF. but i do buy oscillating tool blades which are far superior to dewalt or anything else at home depot and are like half the price. my Bauer blade has cut through who knows how many metal pipes, nails, frames, etc and its still going strong. the dewalt and milwaukee trash that i've purchased wouldn't last more than two times before all the teeth would wear out. so for me, its good for small shit, but i do agree, if its anything that's motorized and whatnot then yeah i'd buy a brand name.
i did buy a compressor, Fortress brand, at HF last year. read good reviews on their site and it works ok, but after some uses its not really keeping the pressure steady. after about 20 or so minutes of non use, the pressure slowly drops. however, i do think that compressors from HD or Lowes are just as shitty honestly. if anything, buying a more professional compressor is the way to go, something like Jenny or J-Air
I've been needing a new ladder, but am hesitant on buying a ladder from HF. Anyone used the ladder below? Is it worth it to wait for a different deal on a different multi-position ladder?
If I were going to buy an air compressor from HF it would be this one[harborfreight.com]. Sale price $404.99 or ITC $382.49. This price is pretty good especially with ITC. I found this coupon from 2017 to prove it.
And because some like to complain not fair that HF is making a profit, heres a similar spec air compressor at Northern Tool[northerntool.com] that costs quite a bit more even on sale.
I almost bought the HF air compressor some years back but caught a killer deal on a Craftsman that had the same specs. At the time I believe the HF price was around $325 or so and unless on sale it was excluded from all coupons. I'm a firm believe in air compressors that use oil. That said I do own this Dewalt[lowes.com] air compressor. I got it for the plasma cutter. It does a good job but if I decide to use the metal sheers with it I have to wait for the tank to fill every few minutes.
I seldom go there anymore since they started this ITC B.S..I have some nailers and minor power tools from there,only stuff I rarely use like my oscillating tool. That's about all they are good for.
where are you going then for the cheap seldom used tools or cheap items that harbor freight pushes/sells? I too find HF less attractive since the China import tax and it seems to go further down hill as the ports/covid create price inflation, but still find somethings "necessary" to buy there.
Got one of these Quantum flashlights for $3.50 https://www.harborfreight.com/215...58569.html and a 12 piece Warrior t-shank jigsaw blade set for $9. For some reason it gave me the ITC rate even though I'm not a member. No clue why but not complaining.
I buy a few of those lights every black friday. They last a few months of occasional use and will start to flicker, especially if dropped. The magnet base will scratch paint so be careful in automotive uses. I used to put duck tape on the base to protect paint but the newer ones have weak magnets and don't stick through the tape.
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Really, though, there isn't much special about HF anymore. If there's one close to you and you need something specific right now for one job, okay, great. But if you want something that will last, there isn't a HF nearby, or you can wait a day or two, there's probably another option that is better or equivalent. I used to shop there more but I rarely have any reason to go out of my way for HF tools now because things have changed.
Their low-end/cheapest stuff is still often the cheapest you'll find locally, you're right. The head scratcher with them is how or why they started offering multiple "brands" and grades of a lot of tools. Like you said, if you need a cheap tool for one job today, HF is an option, but I'm literally never going to buy, say, their drill that is 2x or 3x the price of the cheap one and around the same price as a Ryobi, Dewalt, Rigid, Milwaukee, or whatever.
For me, the draw used to be maybe 80% price and 20% immediate availability. Now a lot of their prices have crept up into the same ballpark of reputable competitors' tools, and I can get most things from other brands today too, or within 2 days if I buy online. So without the freebies and promos like they used to offer, there's much less reason for a lot of us to go there. I won't say I'll never go there anymore, but I definitely don't shop there as much as I used to.
But for a Pittsburg set of impact sockets, a set of 3/8-to-1/2 in socket adapters or the like...can't really beat ~$8. You can eventually find a deal on Kobalt/Craftsman/Husky/Gearwrench, but these are rare. If I need to do a suspension job this weekend, can't wait for a slickdeal on Husky.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank kherbinoskie
Reality is you can scour/monitor SD's for the occasional "deal" for a tool you need and find great quality/price on say Leviton or the like. If you need the tool tomorrow, your options are Amazon w/ 3 day shipping and hope you find comparable price/quality, take your chances at HD/Lowe's for $30 Kobalt set of universal joint socket adapters or head over to HF and pay $11.
Unless you're a mechanic/contractor, that $11 set from HF will do just fine to get at those spark plugs.
It is what it is, and isn't what it was...that's life. Name me some better (cheaper/better quality) options...I'm all ears. And those "YMMV" deals don't count. Some clearance sockets in Ocala, FL don't do me much good in CA.
You don't get it.
HF Chinese tool prices are getting too close to the real branded durable tools..... that's the problem. HF has lost the identity where they are significantly cheaper because it was a place where to get disposable 1 time use tools. . A lot of us have things to fix but only for 1 time and this is where HF comes to play. Now, their prices are way too high almost as high as the real thing so why not just get the real thing.
From the time they stopped the 20-25% coupons and freebies, I somewhat stopped going to their store because there's not much incentives as is used to be.
Try comparing to all other stores. Fact is, the increased cost of freight in the past year has added between $200 and $350 for each imported tool box, sofa, dresser, etc. Otherwise, anything that is bulky went up, as you can only fit so many in a container. Just the cost of a 40' container has risen 400%, while shipping costs to the USA from Asia have went from about $4,500 to $24,000 as over a hundred ships sit offshore waiting to be unloaded. Add a shortage of trucks, the increased cost of new trucks and maintenance, as well as the 60% increase in fuel since January, one might gamble and wait for the backlog to clear out, while the next administration may see lower costs for energy supplies.
Btw, you bought the cheapest model they had, so expecting Snap On quality is on you.
I wouldn't touch HF for cordless tools unless I only needed an enormous impact wrench and absolutely nothing else.
The poster did not ask for an opinion for other brands that absolutely cost a lot more for 'around the house tasks.' Nothing from even entry level Ryobi tools can be purchased as cheap as a drill, lithium battery and charger for around $25 from Harbor Freight.
Your battery powered "enormous impact wrench" would be the last power tool I would entertain from HF, or any other brand besides Milwaukee and DeWalt. But, a cheap battery drill for around the house to hang a picture or whatever, there is no reason to spend more. While Ryobi does not qualify, bragging rights that empty a bank account that one seldom, if ever uses is beyond ludicrous.
Meanwhile, 30 years ago, the cheapest battery tool from HF today would have been futuristic technology. Many here can remember the 7.2v and 9.6v expensive Makita drills that lasted about 10 minutes and you often had to help those by hand.
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Really, though, there isn't much special about HF anymore. If there's one close to you and you need something specific right now for one job, okay, great. But if you want something that will last, there isn't a HF nearby, or you can wait a day or two, there's probably another option that is better or equivalent. I used to shop there more but I rarely have any reason to go out of my way for HF tools now because things have changed.
i did buy a compressor, Fortress brand, at HF last year. read good reviews on their site and it works ok, but after some uses its not really keeping the pressure steady. after about 20 or so minutes of non use, the pressure slowly drops. however, i do think that compressors from HD or Lowes are just as shitty honestly. if anything, buying a more professional compressor is the way to go, something like Jenny or J-Air
I've bought a lot of their stuff and it's mostly very cheap, but that floor jack knocks it out of the ballpark.
https://www.harborfreight.com/17-...63419.html [harborfreight.com]
And because some like to complain not fair that HF is making a profit, heres a similar spec air compressor at Northern Tool [northerntool.com] that costs quite a bit more even on sale.
I almost bought the HF air compressor some years back but caught a killer deal on a Craftsman that had the same specs. At the time I believe the HF price was around $325 or so and unless on sale it was excluded from all coupons. I'm a firm believe in air compressors that use oil. That said I do own this Dewalt [lowes.com] air compressor. I got it for the plasma cutter. It does a good job but if I decide to use the metal sheers with it I have to wait for the tank to fill every few minutes.
If you need something smaller this Craftsman 3 gallon [searshometownstores.com] is great. Also comes in a 7 gallon [searshometownstores.com] version. If you live near a hometown store they might have stock. I have the 3 gallon I picked up at kmart years ago for $75. Those cheap pancake air compressors don't last. I had a Porter Cable [amazon.com], piece of junk.
where are you going then for the cheap seldom used tools or cheap items that harbor freight pushes/sells? I too find HF less attractive since the China import tax and it seems to go further down hill as the ports/covid create price inflation, but still find somethings "necessary" to buy there.
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I buy a few of those lights every black friday. They last a few months of occasional use and will start to flicker, especially if dropped. The magnet base will scratch paint so be careful in automotive uses. I used to put duck tape on the base to protect paint but the newer ones have weak magnets and don't stick through the tape.