An interesting note on Harbor Freight Tools

dave54 wrote:
Neighbor bought a couple of HF car stands a few years ago, and was showing them to me. I commented the metal looked pretty flimsy and I wouldn't trust them. He scoffed and said they were fine.
A few days later I heard yelling coming from outside my house, and I saw my neighbor, pinned under the car in his driveway. Both the HF stands had completely collapsed under the weight of the car.

After I extricated him (no injuries) he threw the HF jack stands away. They were bent and ruined anyway. He was so angry he did not want to even try and get his money back.

Do you have the factual events that lead to the bending of the HF jack stands like their specs, weight of vehicle, did it roll while on the stands, etc.

We have used our six ton stands under the rear of the MH that weights about 5 tons with no twisting or bending but we did not permit it to move while on the stands.

Neighbor bought a couple of HF car stands a few years ago, and was showing them to me. I commented the metal looked pretty flimsy and I wouldn't trust them. He scoffed and said they were fine.
A few days later I heard yelling coming from outside my house, and I saw my neighbor, pinned under the car in his driveway. Both the HF stands had completely collapsed under the weight of the car.

After I extricated him (no injuries) he threw the HF jack stands away. They were bent and ruined anyway. He was so angry he did not want to even try and get his money back.

Many of the tools sold at HF are of decent quality, but not something you'd purchase to use as your professional equipment. I worked for 30 years as a press line mechanic and the only tools I had in my toolbox from HF were a small set of pin punches. Everything else was old Craftsman, Proto, SKWayne, and some specialty tools. I never did care for the Snap-On hand wrenches, too thin, too slippery when oily/greasy. Tried 'em, didn't like 'em.

The guy was smart enough to realize that not everyone needs a super quality tool for the rare job that comes up.

I hope he pays his home staff well.

I am also not sure of the meaning of the post. But I too applaud him. I have bought a number of things from HF over the years and all have served me well.

Interesting post. I used to like to read those Forbes big buck types an how they made it so to speak. Did the article state if he made it on his own or were parents already well off? I like those that make it on there own. I especially like those that also made others rich in the process.

Not me I bought a few things like 15 or 20 years ago and realized i should have spent the money on beer. I still had to go out and buy decent tools a week or 2 later. One person or even a tv add once said buy the one to which all others are compared. Complain about the price not the Quality.Buy the best and you won't be dissatisfied or unhappy. I have tried to buy the bargains but every time I do I end up spending twice as much money as if I would have bought the best first. MY $0.02.

So because this guy has found a niche in the market place and made quite a success at selling cheap (for the most part) tools I should make an outcast out of him? I applaud him and his ingenuity. If I misread your post, forgive me.
I think its pretty darn neat that someone can find that niche in a market and make a success out of it.

I know my $56.00 purchase the other day helped his wealth!