An interesting note on Harbor Freight Tools

Vapor Trails - "I'm wondering what is your point?"

There really wasn't a point, I just thought it was an interesting fact. Should I have had a point? (Actually I have a highly seceret, nefarious and dastardly point that no one has discovered yet....)

Bill

This is the RV you can have when you sell lots of cheap screwdrivers:

12 volt Air Compressor

Some of there tools are noticably lower quality but they do have some fairly decent items. We have used one like the above air compressor for over ten years on two campers and tow vehicles with out an issue. It still airs the tires as necessary for each trip.

Do you remember the famous ABC radio commentator Paul Harvey?
ABC Radio April 3, 1965 an amazing prediction.
Paul Harvey prediction 47 years ago.

You can spend big bucks on tools from Snap-On or Sears or Matco, or you can buy low cost tools from Harbor Freight. In the end, they are all made in China - read the labels...

Someone put a lot of work into it for sure.

Back in the '50s, goods made in Japan were automatically labelled "cheap Japanese junk," and they were. Cheap in price, cheap in quality, knock-offs of US or European goods. Then an evolution occurred. The Japanese brought their quality up to world-class standards, took the electronics market from the Germans and the US, automotive market from the US, camera market from the Germans, watch market from the Swiss...
How did they do that? They kept working at it until they got it right while the rest of the world sat back happy with what they had. Any of you have a Grundig, RCA, etc., stereo setup? How about a US-built TV? Where is your camera made? Oh, and your binoculars? Formerly a joke, tools now made in Japan and Taiwan are world-class.
The same evolution next happened in Taiwan, then in Korea, is now happening in
Indonesia and China. Won't be long until the Chinese get their quality up to standard, and then high-priced US-made goods will be a thing of the past.

GM

More power to him he is probably pretty old by now........ still have the first tool I bought from them in the early 1980s.......... they were called Harbor Freight Salvage back then didn't have stores on the east coast then either it was all mail order out here..

belfert wrote:
I try to buy American too, but when all the name brand tools are made overseas what is one to do? Craftsman mechanic's tools are now made in China, but the price didn't go down.

I bought a pair of work boots made in China a few years ago. They see limited use and are falling apart. I just bought last night a pair of American made work boots. I had to do a lot of searching to find them at a decent price. American made stuff isn't necessarily better. It can be junk at a higher price than the Chinese junk.

I have bought from Harbor Freight for disposable items like nitrile gloves. I would never buy anything electric there.

Red Wing still makes some (though not all--you need to check) boots in the US...I'm wearing a pair right now.

My father in law LOVES his HF air compressor and welder, though most of his hand tools are (old) Craftsman or MATCO. My tools are mostly Craftsman, usually the "Craftsman Professional" line. I only have two REALLY high-end tools, both Snap-On: a 1/2" drive impact and a "clicker" torque wrench.

Even my uncle has some HF stuff...most of his hand tools are Snap-On, air tools are Chicago Pneumatic. His air compressor is a 40-year-old Craftsman.