Harbor Freight Tools rant....

[john70t]

Heard Walmart has a new customer count computer system they use for employee scheduling: the employee gives WM their available hours, and they get called in when they are needed.

No more consistent part time pay to feed the baby and pay the rent.

[johnco]

Wow! just one mention of Walmart gets you guys stirred up. wondering how many Walmart haters are actually secret latenight wallyworld shoppers. Until Walmart starts selling and installing pools or contracting out carpenters or whatever type of work I'm doing at that time, not much they could do would affect me or anyone I know.. Except move out of town or double their prices. If people take Walmart jobs knowing their employment practices, shop there knowing the way they operate, then I guess not everyone is bothered by all these claims. Not everyone can be an engineer, lawyer, doctor, etc., etc.. someone has to greet people at the door, push baskets, stock shelves, etc. Not everyone wants to shop at overpriced, overrated stores and wear silly brand name clothes at twice the price. if I have to have a name on my clothes, it'll be the name of my company, not some limp wristed "designer". I would wager that not one average person shopping at WM spends a split second thinking about the predatory purchasing practices or their employment issues. get in, get what you need, get out. unless you run into all your neighbors or friends doing the same thing. then it's a while BS'ing. pretty much the same thing as the supermarket, hardware store, steakhouse. The average joe doesn't really care about Walmart's operations. same for Costco, Target, Kmart, lowes, Home Depot, etc. it's just a store where they buy things to most people. Chinese products? couldn't care less is they were made by Eskimos, pygmy bushmen, one legged Mexican dwarfs. if it's what they need, price is right... it's good enough.. back to the original subject.. Harbor Freight sells low quality tools. bought too many cordless drills that lasted a few days.wrenches I've snapped in half, tools that lasted just long enough to get the job done. I wouldn't drive 90 miles to go there to buy a tool, but if I'm in the area and I need something, it's cheaper to buy a throw away tool I can use only a few times than it is to drive 180 miles to go home and back to get the quality tool I forgot at my shop. I guess that's the reason I have so many duplicate tools. if I could find them. I could not name one guy I know that doesn't enjoy looking at all those tools, regardless of the quality or country of origin. you can never have too many tools.

[RallyJon]

If you're a small businessman, and Wal-mart puts you out of business selling the crap they do, maybe it wasn't the best business to be in.

Lots of small towns are like inner city slums. Just a couple of retailers selling basic stuff at high markups, taking advantage of the lack of competition. It's a nice deal while they can get away with it, but it sure doesn't give them any moral high ground.

[VINMAN]

Originally posted by 911pcars
Don't be a tool snob. I suspect some here shop at Griot's?
Sherwood

Griots is a joke. Everyone needs a $150 car wash bucket.. Definately the ultimate auto snob place.

[VINMAN]

As far as Walmart goes. I'm no big fan of them. But honestly, whats the difference between shopping at Wallyworld, or shopping at your local big chain supermarket?? Or Target or big home center. How many people here can say they buy groceries from the mom and pop joint down on Main st in town?? Or buy tools from the little hardware store on the corner. Very, very few I would think.

[legion]

Our "local" hardware store is open from 9:00 - 4:00 M-F, and 9:00 - 12:00 on Saturday and is clear on the other side of town.

I work 7:00 - 4:15 M-F.

That gives me three hours, one day a week that I can effectively go there. I've been there dozens of time...and sadly have never found what I'm looking for.

[Eric 951]

We have a HF store near here. Everytime I drive past, I am compelled to stop and snoop around--usually always end up buying somthing--1.50 for a set of (4) picks--can't pass that up.

[nota]

H F or china freight as I call them has mostly junk
china made stuff has very very poor metallurgy

I look for taiwan made stuff at a minimum
I really like to hunt swap meets and garage sales
for older american tools as a beat to death rusty
snap on or SK or even crapsman is way better
then the china or viet or indo tools
but by far the worst in metallurgy is india
they must use old pot metal instead of iron

BIG LOTS has some good close outs on desent cheap tools sometimes BUT you never know whats in stock there

[berettafan]

I had some cheap pics. Bought a set at Sears after fooling with them and the difference is night and day! The tip doesn't bend on the first use. One instance for me where the money was well spent.

[sig_a]

A good place to buy new and used high quality USA manufactured tools is ebay. Mac, Snap-on, SK and Craftsman.

[Por_sha911]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Please show me one instance of a HF jack stand failing?

OK, I bought a pair of HF 2 ton jack stands and one of them failed on the first day I used them on my 911! I was seconds away from having my head under the car. The manager didn't sound shocked when I brought it back. He gave me a new one and a full refund for both stands. I've still got them in the boxes unopened in the garage. I went out that day and bought two 2 ton Craftsman stands. They are a lot heavier look like they are 5 times the strength.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally posted by sig_a
A good place to buy new and used high quality USA manufactured tools is ebay. Mac, Snap-on, SK and Craftsman.

or a pawn shop but then again it will most likely be stolen and sold to feed a crank habit.

[911pcars]

If you open up your latest electronic box, be it TV, MP3 player, IPOD, computer, VCR, stereo, you'll see a lot of "Made in China" labels. I installed a DVD RW player in my G4 Mac today and saw several Chinese labels.

Apple Inc., as do other manufacturers, has components made to their specs. I suspect the same source for stuff inside HP, Dell, Toshiba, etc. Not all "made in China" merchandise is cheaply made. It all depends.

Sherwood

[74-911]

Originally posted by 911pcars
If you open up your latest electronic box, be it TV, MP3 player, IPOD, computer, VCR, stereo, you'll see a lot of "Made in China" labels. I installed a DVD RW player in my G4 Mac today and saw several Chinese labels.

Apple Inc., as do other manufacturers, has components made to their specs. I suspect the same source for stuff inside HP, Dell, Toshiba, etc. Not all "made in China" merchandise is cheaply made. It all depends.

Sherwood

China is today as Japan was in the 1950's and 1960's. Everything "Made in Japan" in those days was considered junk.