Posted: 5/15/2005 10:11:54 AM EDT
| Is this a good store, or is it just cheap Chinese tools? ..or something in between? |
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Yes, Yes and Yes. to answer all your ??? I pick up tools there that I will only use once or not very often, that will be left where they can be stolen or tools that I need to modify for special use. They do have quality tools and equipment there also. I got my bench vise there its about 50lbs with a 6" jaw and an anvil back for around $30.00 on sale, it is made in china but its hell for stout and more than enough vise for me. DD |
| Mostly the kind of tools for guys that don't work them hard. More on the level of recreational use as opposed to professional use. BTW, you're better off dealing with them online. Purchases over $50 get free shipping and no sales tax. Also, the retail outlets prices are a little higher than catalogue or online prices. I've been dealing with them since around 1980. Customer relations have been good so far. Just remember, you're not buying really high zoot stuff. |
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Most of the hand tools at Harbor Freight feel cheap. For the shadetree mechanic, it seems like it's hard to beat Craftsman for common hand tools. I bought a 4 ton Come-A-Long at Harbor Freight that is a pretty good unit. Also recently purchased a 2 ton shop crane/engine hoist but it's still sittiing in boxes. The cheapie engine stand I bought there gets the job done, but I'm now looking for something better. They seem to have decent hydraulic jacks and jack stands, too. |
I'm all for escaping sales tax, but I'd be pretty surprised if they aren't charging state taxes for sales to states where they have a physical stores.
I was pleasantly surprised to find the price of the engine hoist I recently purchased to be $50 less in the store than what was advertised on their website. |
| It seems to have already been covered, but they have cheap tools. Great for something you aren't going to need very much, or some wierd specialty tool that you'll only use once. I buy stuff there occasionally, but if it is something I know will be used very often then I go with Craftsman. |
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I'll second the idea of the tools being more recreational use grade. I bought my shop press there for building AK's. It does a good job with that, but I wouldn't ask it to do anything heavy. If you get anything electric, expect a very low duty cycle. I had the same experience as Boomer with my recent purchase. I found the item to be $50 cheaper in the store than online. |
| Like everybody said, they are fine for the casual user. I have a shop crane, 12 ton press, 9x20" lathe, engine stand, tranny stand, and misc tools that I use for the car (engine & tranny work). I don't use them that often, and they're fine for my purposes. I can't afford the good stuff, and the HF crap is cheaper than paying a shop to do the work once. |
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I was just in the Everett store earlier today. Its not top quality stuff, but I haven't had any issues with any of the tools I have bought there over the past 10 years. They are a value seller, not a top performance tool seller. Lots of the items are US or CDN made. I'd say the quality was average or better. I have seen much worse quality equivalent items at bigger chain stores. Its worth a look. |
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Quoted: I'm all for escaping sales tax, but I'd be pretty surprised if they aren't charging state taxes for sales to states where they have a physical stores. The no sales tax is amazingly true...It even applies to buying CDs from Tower Records Online (in both cases there are physical stores in state but no tax for online orders). |
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I have purchased a few metal working tools from them over the years, I paid 19.95 , 5 years ago for a 4.5" angle grinder that I have and continue to use very hard personally and commercially... it's very durable. I also have a bench top drill press and a 14" chop saw that has given me excellent service as well. I would say I haven't been dissapointed with the price to quality ratio as of yet. Is it a top of the line name brand? No. Does it work for the job? Yes. Do I EXPECT it to last forever? No. Will I continue to shop there? Yes. |