Harbor Freight is one to avoid

[Fritznbud]

Hi all, If any of you get the harbor freight catalog, the prices are unbelievable. However, very few people ever recieve any merchandise from this fraudulent outfit. Check out epinions and read the horror stories, 47 of them. BBB has over 100 complaints. Beware, my friends.

[noR]

That's kinda weird. But then, I guess I don't mail-order stuff from them. They have a phyisical store in my location.

The tools they sell are chinese, and cheap, both in price and quality. But it's great for buying a tool you'll only use once.

Then again, if they don't ship, it's no use. Bummer that.

[marvins_dad]

They are alot like Northern Tool...at least we have them locally. I have purchased from NT and noR is right, they are cheap, but for a fraction of the cost of a tool that you will only use for a short period of time it is worth the gamble.

I got a $100 framing nailer from there with something rediculous like a 2 year warranty...meaning they will exchange the broken one for a brand new one in that period. Did the entire job I purchased it for and it is still humming fine, and I didn't have to spend $300 on a name brand.

http://www.northerntool.com/

[jazzcat]

been using them for years both via mail and going to the stores and aside from the quality of the tools i haven't had any complaints or gotten scammed out of anything

[DannyRandomState]

You get what you pay for.

If sub standard tools are what one wants, then that's what ya get. Cheap Chinese carp. The only thing I've bought from them in the past was grinding wheels, and cut off wheels.

[Ghia_Roadster]

i have no problem useing cheap tools. but they do stay out of my craftsman stuff.

[Porkchop]

I've been buying stuff from Harbor Freight for over 10 years. They have 2 retail stores in the Atlanta area, one 30 min from my house.

Yes, lots of cheap chinese stuff - but for some of the specialty tools that you might use once every 2 or 3 years aren't going to break anyway. Plus, most everything has a lifetime warranty but the catch is you must have your receipt (not like Craftsman where you can buy a broken wrench at a yard sale and take it and get a new one...). I just keep a folder full of Harbor Freight receipts - I staple the receipt to the packaging that shows what it is and the lifetime warranty legalese blurb... but I've never actually had anything break so I haven't used my folder yet. And I definitely USE my tools.

Harbor Freight is also great for shop supplies.... wire brushes, chip brushes, Storehouse sets of nuts, bolts, nitrile O-rings, etc. I get coupons e-mailed to me weekly and stock up. Oh, I also buy shop carts, jack stands, tool stands, etc. - never had any problem with any of that stuff. Of course, it helps to see and feel it all in the store before buying...

Which is why, as far as buying from their catalog and having stuff shipped - I can't imagine doing it. The shipping takes a lot of the price advantage away and you definitely want to touch and feel before buying.

Some of the great deals.... 3 foot long auger drill bits (for running Romex) - a set of 3 for $20. At Home Depot, one bit usually costs $30 (with no warranty....). Pair of jack stands for $10. Rolling steel shop cart for $25 with coupon... I've sat an air cooled VW engine on the thing with no ill effects...

So I love Harbor Freight and have had nothing but positive experiences and have probably spent a couple thousand dollars at their store over the past 10 years. And I used to ONLY buy Craftsman... but after I bought a Torx bit set (the only one Sears carries is Lisle, there isn't even a Craftsman version) and one of the bits split on me... and there was no warranty, I realized being a tool snob is just too dang expensive. My ball end, long reach torx set from Harbor Freight? Hasn't broken yet....

[Lnzbug]

There's a store about 10 min away & we get stuff there with no problems. You do get what you pay for. If you're going to be a craftsman snob you'll miss out on some great deals.

[RMakowski]

yeah their stuff is cheap, but my father and I have stocked our garage with a lot of stuff from there. Stuff we use on a regular basis, wrenches, lifts, etc, and I the only problem that I have encountered was breaking a wrench. Everything else works well compared to spending 4 times as much from matco, or craftsman.

In my opinion, for the weekend warrior harbor freight cannot be beat, but if you a mechanic, then not so much.

[Fritznbud]

How can you go wrong walking into a store?? Were talking shipping here, so all of you walk-ins haven't a clue, do you." I live by one and there just great" doesn't cut it. Order from them and add many weeks of waiting. If it's something you need, forget them. If it's something you want and you have the time to wait, then go for it. You cant beat their prices.

[noR]

Agreed. Just added my personal experience for those who are interested.

Good luck w/the BBB.

[lkchris]

I have the harbor freight tire changer plus motorcycle attachment.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=34542

I originally bought it for motorcycle use, but have used it a LOT to dismount/mount car tires.

This way I get to nicely clean the wheels and mount the tires in the proper balance location, which never happens at a tire shop. Also--being very anal--I get to install German air valves with the cool metal caps. Usually buy them at BMW shop.

Matched Mounting: http://www.yokohamatire.com/pdf/tsb-...ting-12803.pdf

Then, I just pay a tire shop for balancing.

Makes the whole Tirerack purchasing thing a piece of cake.

Threaded inserts in my garage floor are necessary to keep the thing solid.

Just installed MXV4 S8s on nice new Houston wheels from eBay.

[VWNBNH]

Harbor Freight is fine for what it is.They source stuff from all over,put their own name (or sticker) on it,and sell it in volume.I have had many angle grinders burn up (course,I have smoked Black and Decker ones too),but otherwise that its been fine.Their Russian cutoff wheels are some of the best around at the price I have found.