An interesting note on Harbor Freight Tools

[Trackrig]

Since Harbor Freight Tools comes up quit often on the forum, I thought I'd pass this along.

In the Sept 3rd edition of Forbes magazine there is a short article titled BILLIONAIRE BLUFF which lists the billionaires living at North Beverly Park in LA.

It lists Eric Smidt's house (the owner of Harbor Freight Tools) valued at $17.5M. It has two lots totaling six acres with amenities including French-style formal gardens and a 16,000 sq ft garage with a bowling alley, but he has to do without a swimming pool.

I'm sure you're all on his Christmas card list.

Bill

[Trackrig]

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

[Mocoondo]

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

[Bonefish]

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.

[2012Coleman]

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...

[Gale_Hawkins]

Someone put a lot of work into it for sure.

[Grey_Mountain]

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

[Gale_Hawkins]

I had forgotten about that era but found this thread on the subject.

[Oaklevel]

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..

[Jarlaxle]

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.

[Jarlaxle]

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.

[belfert]

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.

[69_Avion]

I really try to buy American when I realistically can. I have shopped at Harbor Freight for very particular items. I like their drill bits when they are on sale. Especially the 1/8" bits that I go through fast enough. I like the paint sprayer that is a copy of a Binks (?) because they work fine and when they go bad I can throw them away instead of rebuilding them. I have bought odd impact sockets that I will probably only use once every 10 years. Most of my tools are quality American made products. Those fine tools are becoming harder to find. I noticed that my favorite Milwaukee Porta Band Saw is now made in China. We wonder where our jobs went, but we buy the Chinese products. I'm guilty of buying some of them, but I do make an effort to buy American when I can find a reasonable deal. I will pay more for an American product, but I won't pay 3 or 4+ times more for an equivalent product. My recent solar panels are American made but my controller may end up being Chinese if I can't find a reasonable American controller.

[Laman]

Cloud Dancer wrote:
The wealth is held by 10% of the people.
Hopefully, there will be an actual distibution of wealth (instead of just talking about it).
The 90% group will make out like champs. Are there any 10% members here? Sorry

Wow that is funny! You do realize that all of the 90% will consider you to be part of the 10% because of the toys you own. How soon will you be distributing your wealth?
I will stop there because that kind of thinking makes me ill. My wealth, be what it is, was earned by years of hard work and believe me there is enough taken away yearly to be spent wastefully by the powers that be.

To stay somewhat on topic I have purchased tools from HF since 1978 when they would call you on the phone with the specials. I bought a 36" pipe wrench that is still in use on my cousin's farm as is the 1" drive socket set and the drill press. They do have some junk so just purchase wisely.

[Grey_Mountain]

If all the world's accumulated wealth were put in a pile and each of the world's five billion or so inhabitants were given an equal share, in a relatively short period of time, those who had nothing or very little before the redistribution would again have nothing or very little, and those who had more than "their fair share) would again have more than their fair share.
The first group would then again scream for "wealth redistribution"

GM