Harbor Freight Tools... Inverter Generator

otrfun wrote:

westend wrote:

otrfun wrote:
Wow, you guys/gals are certainly down on HF. There's a reason they're a very successful company. They do offer value for those consumers who don't have the highest checking account balance. I agree sometimes it may be little difficult to find the values, but they're there at HF. I have top-of-the-line woodworking equipment for situations where I need this precision. If I purchased top-of-the-line, ego-expanding, tools for all my woodworking, I'd be broke.

The only reason the doors aren't closed is that Americans shop by price and they can offer lower prices because what they sell is imported from Asia. As was stated, choose carefully and be prepared to make a return trip when the product fails.

There is a regimen posted about using the HF two-cycle generators, nothing too special but it increases the longevity of that model. I would guess as the 4 cycle units are put in use, user-based modifications will make them workable.

The process is called capitalism---the freedom to buy junk if we so choose. As an American I absolutely wouldn't want it any other way. If we as Americans didn't "shop by price", we would have "closed the doors" on Toyota, Honda, and Sony, back in the 50 and 60's.

I think you might have misunderstood my post. I'm not against any type of pricing, nor marketing, nor quality control/lack of, or any other classification of consumer enterprise. What I mean is that WE (the collective Americans) as a culture, shop by price first, in most cases. This is different than other cultures. If you shop in Europe, you won't see every store with "SALE" banners hanging from every nook and cranny. Prices may be listed on a shelf but the print is small and very few shops have "clearance" or "now only..$$", "savings of xx$$", etc.. My experience is that folks from other developed countries shop by quality and use, first, and price is secondary. Of course, they are aware of the price and may make choices based on that but price alone doesn't make shopping into a destination like HF, here.

FWIW, I buy stuff at HF. Some of their goods are just the fit for what I'm doing. I am always aware, though, that what I buy is close to the bottom of the barrel for quality. The only store worst than HF is Northern Tools. I have a store 5 miles away and won't go into the place. I've been burned too many times.