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SidecarFlip's avatar
SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Jul 25, 2017

Harbor Freight/Honda smackdown....

I see HF is now offering a 3500 (maximum) watt PSW inverter with all the bells and whistles for $700.00 (regular price.

Even looks like the Honda that retails for $1999.00

the HF puts out a bit more power, is lighter (substantially), 100 pounds HF, 131 Honda and has the economy control.

I may buy one.. Plus it's electric start.

Guarantee is questionable but HF does accept returns on defective merchandise.

Opinions please?

180 Replies

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  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Jul 29, 2017
    Old Club San Diego. Those days I had a Price Club card, then when the boys in the back room downloaded Price Club into a few hard drive copies and ran off into the weeds and founded Costco I joined Costco. John Booth now of senior Costco management in Kirkland told me the story when he was manager of the Reno store.

    Costco's no nonsense return policy has been not mentioned here. To me it is a plus. That Wal-Mart pimple-faced-hamburger-flipper and his ten dollar cheese grater load tester and utterly ignorant protestations over a Wal-Mart dead cell was only surpassed by Wal-Mart's insane asylum denial of tire tread wear warranty. That is one scow that is headed for the rocks.
  • n7bsn's avatar
    n7bsn
    Explorer
    Jul 29, 2017
    MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
    Memberships are not cheap and each year have gone up considerably.. (COSTCO MEMBERSHIP)

    Here it is 500 Mexican Pesos

    $27.78 and yes the card works fine in the USA, Vancouver and Bangkok, and at the gas pumps up there.


    I've been a CostCo member since they opened the first location.

    The saving on my first answering machine paid for one year's membership

    The savings on a set of tires paid for two years membership.

    Then their competitors starting paying attention to Costco's prices and dropped their prices closer to Costco's.

    Today I have the Citi branded Costco charge card, the 4% rebate on my gas alone paid this years membership. The rebate on the rest of my Costco purchases is pure profit in my pocket....
    ...and the stuff I buy is still cheaper at Costco then anywhere else.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2017
    Memberships are not cheap and each year have gone up considerably.. (COSTCO MEMBERSHIP)

    Here it is 500 Mexican Pesos

    $27.78 and yes the card works fine in the USA, Vancouver and Bangkok, and at the gas pumps up there.
  • KMLsquared's avatar
    KMLsquared
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2017
    SaltiDawg wrote:
    Tyler0215 wrote:
    There's a reason it's half the price.

    What is that reason?


    Honda's are over priced by 100%?

    LOL
  • joshuajim's avatar
    joshuajim
    Explorer II
    Jul 28, 2017
    Gdetrailer wrote:
    Thats YOUR "stupidity for buying "extended" warranties.

    I reread my post and no where did I state that I buy extended warranties or recommend others do the same. BUT, if one supplier offers me a 3 year warranty at NO additional cost and HF hopes that theirs will last 91 days, it's a no brainer!

    Why do you feel it's necessary to call other people stupid?

    The engines CAN be repaired extremely cheaply, for instance, the carbs, ignition systems can be easily found on Amazon. Carb costs $20..

    Just how "cheap" will it be if on day 91 the block gets ventilated or the generator head has a short?

    I have a generic Chinese import gen sold under the Buffalo Tools brand, took a gamble nearly 15 yrs ago, been dead on RELIABLE. Does not owe me a penny..

    Wait a minute, didn't you just berate me for going off topic and then you go off topic. Hmmm...

    You also do understand in three years if you need to return your bargain "Firman" Costco will not have ANY to replace it with?

    Apparently you are not familiar with Costco Return Policy, so I'll post it here.



    Costco wil refund your money at any time in the warranty period with no questions asked, I have personally used this benefit.
  • Gdetrailer's avatar
    Gdetrailer
    Explorer III
    Jul 28, 2017
    joshuajim wrote:
    Gdetrailer wrote:
    joshuajim wrote:
    Just to throw a wrench into this discussion, why not consider the Firman sold by Costco at $549 including shipping. It's a 3000 watt inverter and comes with a 3 year warranty.



    To throw a "wrench" into your post, that $549 DOES NOT INCLUDE COSTCO "MEMBERSHIP FEES" either, making that more expensive than the $549.. You HAVE to be a "member" and not "everyone" is a member of Costco..

    Harbor Freight however has NO MEMBERSHIP FEES REQUIRED TO GET THE ADVERTISED PRICING..

    I could most likely get a inverter gen at a similar price at my local Sam's Club, but once again, not everyone has a Sam's membership..

    Memberships are not cheap and each year have gone up considerably..

    I remember our first yr at Sams for a mere $29, now it is something like $49 and they keep beating you over the head with trying to get you to upgrade to their $100 membership :M

    Besides why bother muddying the waters of this post with other brands, OP mentioned two specific brands..


    BUT the HF gen is $549 + $129 for a 2 year warranty thus costing $678 or considerably more than the Costco membership and you get an extra year warranty with the Firman. Looks like a much better deal to me.


    Thats YOUR "stupidity for buying "extended" warranties.

    The engines CAN be repaired extremely cheaply, for instance, the carbs, ignition systems can be easily found on Amazon. Carb costs $20..

    Takes standard off the shelf plugs that cost a whopping $2.

    The gen portion most likely could be crossed to OTHER BRAND NAMES.. Most of these gens SHARE the same design and parts.

    Owning power equipment demands SOME understanding of how they work and how to FIX the basic problems.. If you are nothing more than a gas splasher and cord puller then yeah BUY the stupid warranty, you WILL use it.

    I have a generic Chinese import gen sold under the Buffalo Tools brand, took a gamble nearly 15 yrs ago, been dead on RELIABLE. Does not owe me a penny..

    You also do understand in three years if you need to return your bargain "Firman" Costco will not have ANY to replace it with?

    Try to get your money back..

    Warranties in general are a joke and a waste of time, the sellers WILL find ways to weasel out of what they promised..

    Costco is a wholesaler, and like any other wholesaler they are not in the business of warrantying stuff, they will tell you to take a number and call the manufacturer.
  • Gdetrailer's avatar
    Gdetrailer
    Explorer III
    Jul 28, 2017
    joebedford wrote:
    If I buy another portable generator, it has to have 240V for my house water pump.


    Which IS the reason I have TWO DIFFERENT generator wattages.

    4Kw Buffalo Tools Honda clone gen and a 8Kw HARBOR FREIGHT gen.

    The BT is a 120V only non inverter and the 8KW is a 120/240V gen

    The BT goes in my truck bed for overnighting and rest/food stops and the 8Kw is in my tractor shed 20ft from my home waiting for any power outages..

    Needed 240V to run my water well which the 120V only could not do.

    Two different "tools" for two different "jobs"..

    Not EVERYONE runs their gen IN A RV PARK..

    Got the BT for $200 nearly 15 yrs ago, runs perfect other than my fault for dumping the last of a gas can into the tank that had water in it. Cleaned the carb and replaced the plug and back in business. Does the job, starts on second pull and is very quiet compared to old Briggs type gens..

    The 8Kw HF, bought it two yrs ago for $529, has electric start and will start on the first pull with the recoil.. Its a beast and yes it IS loud, but priceless when the POCO loses power :B

    Not everyone can or wants to spend THOUSANDS of $$$ on something that gets used occasionally..
  • joshuajim's avatar
    joshuajim
    Explorer II
    Jul 28, 2017
    Gdetrailer wrote:
    joshuajim wrote:
    Just to throw a wrench into this discussion, why not consider the Firman sold by Costco at $549 including shipping. It's a 3000 watt inverter and comes with a 3 year warranty.



    To throw a "wrench" into your post, that $549 DOES NOT INCLUDE COSTCO "MEMBERSHIP FEES" either, making that more expensive than the $549.. You HAVE to be a "member" and not "everyone" is a member of Costco..

    Harbor Freight however has NO MEMBERSHIP FEES REQUIRED TO GET THE ADVERTISED PRICING..

    I could most likely get a inverter gen at a similar price at my local Sam's Club, but once again, not everyone has a Sam's membership..

    Memberships are not cheap and each year have gone up considerably..

    I remember our first yr at Sams for a mere $29, now it is something like $49 and they keep beating you over the head with trying to get you to upgrade to their $100 membership :M

    Besides why bother muddying the waters of this post with other brands, OP mentioned two specific brands..


    BUT the HF gen is $549 + $129 for a 2 year warranty thus costing $678 or considerably more than the Costco membership and you get an extra year warranty with the Firman. Looks like a much better deal to me.

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