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And The Employee of the Month Is --

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 7:59 pm
by Turkeytop
Harbor Freight today. I returned unopened a soldering gun I bought a few days ago. Told the guy there was nothing wrong with it, I just hadn't needed it after all for the job I was doing.

The guy says "The next time you buy one of these, go to Home Depot. These are no good."

A already have one exactly like it I bought at Harbor Freight last year.

"As a matter of fact" the guy says. "I wouldn't recommend you buy any tools here. They're all junk."

I wonder if he talks like that when the boss is around.

Re: And The Employee of the Month Is --

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 8:51 pm
by Realist
He’s right. My folks bought me a car jack from there to jack up my Camaro when I store it in the winter time. I used it twice a year and it lasted about 3 years before the fluid leaked out of it and it became inoperable. My dad bought a battery saver last winter for one of his vehicles and it shorted out the first time he used it. All they sell is cheap Chinese made inferior junk...

Re: And The Employee of the Month Is --

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 9:41 pm
by Turkeytop
I shop there a lot and I'm usually satisfied. I don't expect professional grade tools. I don't need professional grade.

Sure their stuff is made in China. So is everyone else's
That's why their prices are up sharply this year. The tariffs.

Re: And The Employee of the Month Is --

Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2019 11:48 pm
by Bryce
I would think you would shop somewhere that you could buy tools that were union made.

Personally, I go out of my way to buy American made products whenever I can.

Re: And The Employee of the Month Is --

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 12:51 am
by Turkeytop
Please tell me where.

Re: And The Employee of the Month Is --

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 10:54 am
by tapeisrolling
I use the rule of thumb my engineer neighbor told me. If you only need the tool for a couple uses then go Harbor F.
If you are going to need it on a regular basis then go buy a good one at the appropriate store.

Re: And The Employee of the Month Is --

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 11:50 am
by Turkeytop
I met a contractor in there one day buying up tape measures. He said he buys them for his crew because they always lose them anyway,

Re: And The Employee of the Month Is --

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 8:29 pm
by Bryce
Turkeytop wrote:
Thu Sep 19, 2019 12:51 am
Please tell me where.
https://www.usalovelist.com/american-made-tools/

Re: And The Employee of the Month Is --

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 9:01 pm
by TC Talks
I like tools that have no moving parts from Harbor Freight.

Disposable gloves, media, hoses, jack stands, monkey wrenches

Re: And The Employee of the Month Is --

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 10:25 pm
by Circle Seven
We have many people where I work that go buy their tools at Harbor Freight.
And when it breaks, they go to Stores (what we call the warehouse/tool crib) and swap it for a good quality tool.

Re: And The Employee of the Month Is --

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 8:27 pm
by Turkeytop
I got my cordless drill at Harbor Freight about three years ago. After going for months on end, unused in the Florida heat, the battery was getting a little tired. I was in the store last week and saw what looked to be the right battery. I picked up the battery and a drill like mine and asked the woman if it was the right battery. She said it was.

When I got it home it was too tight a fit for my drill. They must have made some small change in the dimensions. I returned it to the store. With the 20% coupon I was able to exchange the battery for a complete new drill for an extra $3.

The new and old drills are the same model and look exactly the same, but the batteries aren't interchangeable.

Re: And The Employee of the Month Is --

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2019 8:22 am
by Calvert DeForest
I've never been to one of these Harbor Freight stores, although I see there's one on the west side of Lansing. Might be worth a rainy day drive just to check it out.

Re: And The Employee of the Month Is --

Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2019 8:38 pm
by Turkeytop
Calvert DeForest wrote:
Fri Oct 18, 2019 8:22 am
I've never been to one of these Harbor Freight stores, although I see there's one on the west side of Lansing. Might be worth a rainy day drive just to check it out.

You really should. You'd like it.

You know you're in a good store when there are no women there. Women hate Harbor Freight. No fancy curtains, No cute shoes. According to my wife, it smells bad. I've never noticed that about it.

It's like Pottery Barn for men.