Leak-Down Tester at HF for $39.99

Motorhead-45 · 07-24-2006, 01:35 PM

The new Harbor Freight sales flyer was in my mailbox today and I noticed they are now carrying a cylinder leak-down tester kit under part #94190. Regular price is $59.99 but on-sale in the flyer for $39.99. I haven't seen it in person to verify the quality(most HF stuff is from either China, India or Pakistan) but probably worthy of looking at.

PCA7GGR · 07-24-2006, 01:41 PM

Thanks for the heads up - I'll have to check it out.

Craig 930 RS · 07-24-2006, 02:08 PM

They deliver the news - regarless if it is good or not

Motorhead-45 · 07-24-2006, 02:47 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Craig911
[B]They deliver the news - regarless if it is good or not

60%!!!! OUCH!!!

Craig 930 RS · 07-24-2006, 02:53 PM

60 is the reminaing it was *only* 40% (I'm being facetious....)

Motorhead-45 · 02:59 PM

Whew! Man you were lucky! 40% loss isn't nearly as bad as 60%.....

Zeke · 07-24-2006, 03:08 PM

I'd be careful in any dealings with HF from now on. They have changed their shipping policy, traking is not possible and the customer service dept is definately in one of those 3 places and useless unless you can make yourself understood and the answer is in a script Plus, they are out of stock on many items and deliver weeks later, if at all. (I'm still waiting for one item from 2 months ago.)

See this before you buy:
http://www.writebyte.net/writebyte.dll/GetPage?PageId=HarborFreight

Motorhead-45 · 03:26 PM

I'm lucky enough to have a B&M (brick and mortar) Harbor Freight pretty close so no need to mail order. Customer service for me is as close as the front counter at the store. As long I can speak redneck I'm good to go and I speak fluent LA (Lower Alabama). By and large I think the days of good customer service are fast becoming extinct for the most part....with the exception of Pelican

and a few other select businesses. The fact is that HF is about low price...NOT QUALITY! I would think HF's customer service probably matches their prices....LOW! But to be fair have you tried customer service from your local airllines for example or Dell computers customer service and many others?....nonexistent!

Typical customer service these days...

rusnak · 07-25-2006, 10:05 AM

hahahahaha

slow&rusty · 07-25-2006, 04:49 PM

Quote:

[i]

Typical customer service these days...

[/B]

Hey thats my uncle...watch it!

LOL

Yasin

rusnak · 07-25-2006, 04:55 PM

I went to Harbor Freight today to go buy the advertised leakdown tester, and all they had was a different model with a different number. They wanted to charge me $59.95. I was like "forget it". I know Tavia makes one for about the same price. Longacre makes one for about the same price. Snap On makes a really nice one for around $300. I'm still looking, but I know I can find one that has a good balance of price and quality.

911Mac · 07-25-2006, 05:01 PM

Was there some kind of code on the flyer that would let you order it online for 39.99?

Thanks,
Mac

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

Ask for the manager - they will find the $39.99 one - you just have to make enough noise.

rusnak · 07-25-2006, 06:24 PM

I think I'm getting older and smarter, so quality matters more now than before. Harbor Freight is a matter of convenience for me since they are close by. But I'm not going to go out of my way to buy some made in China POS.

Motorhead-45 · 07-25-2006, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rusnak
I went to Harbor Freight today to go buy the advertised leakdown tester, and all they had was a different model with a different number. They wanted to charge me $59.95. I was like "forget it". I know Tavia makes one for about the same price. Longacre makes one for about the same price. Snap On makes a really nice one for around $300. I'm still looking, but I know I can find one that has a good balance of price and quality.

Sounds pretty "typical" of the customer service we were speaking of. Maybe this ad is regional or something? Ad says Sale Ends 8/14/06 and in very small print says "AD08"

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

Same thing when I went to buy a 19.2 torque wrench. Said the 39.99 was sold out - but the 49.99 was available. I asked for a manager, and voila, they had the 39.99 in the back.

rusnak · 07-25-2006, 06:31 PM

No Motorhead, I got the same ad in the mail. The had those in the store too. I was like "I want to buy that one". And they were like "this one is what we have. Pay us $59.99". I thought to myself "that thing is going to fall apart in a few years". Sooooo, now I'm thinking about buying something that will last for around the same amount of money.

Motorhead-45 · 07-25-2006, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rusnak
I think I'm getting older and smarter, so quality matters more now than before. Harbor Freight is a matter of convenience for me since they are close by. But I'm not going to go out of my way to buy some made in China POS.

I can't tell you whether it's a POS or not. You really need to put eyes-on and make that decision yourself. I bought mine 6 months ago elsewhere , paid $100.00 for it and it has "Made In the USA" stamped all over it. For all I know the only 'Made In the USA" part of the kit is the sticker proclaiming it's heritage!

Zeke · 07-25-2006, 06:40 PM

I was trying to find the info on Google to substantiate that the owner and founder of HF bought a multi, multi million dollar house here in LA area. Can't find it right now. But, the way he got where he is is not the way they do business these days. He started here in the Long Beach/ LA Harbor importing cheap tools and I think he bought damaged and salvage goods at one time down in the harbor. Today, it's a freaking empire of manufacturing, importing and sales. No telling how much of the manufacturing he controls and sells to other retailers. I'll bet it's significant.

Still, his own retail operation could use an overhaul.

rusnak · 07-25-2006, 06:44 PM

Yeah it's irritating when the same tool shows up at HF for less than you paid elsewhere, but you can't get that pro-quality leakdown tester at HF. When I was going to college in Irvine back in the '90s you really could find good quality cheap tools quite easily. But el-cheapo stuff has taken over. Just be careful when shopping at bargain tool places.