Harbor Freight! (Page 3): Most "American" products are made in China.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Ollieboy wrote:

By the brand name. Not too hard to figure out.

Most "American" products are made in China.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I have been buying tools from Harbor Freight for a few decades now. Mostly tools that I need for a short project but not for anything really important. You have to have an eye for quality. They have some stuff that has lasted me a few decades, and they have some stuff that lasted less than a week. They sell stuff online too, so if you're 45 minutes away from a store like I am, that might be a viable way to buy something you need (but if you haven't scoped it out previously, you take your chances on quality).

I have a set of SAE and metric wrenches that I have been using for 30 years now. The pliers and screwdrivers I buy from them are more likely to be misplaced than broken. I don't generally buy power tools there.

But the store is a nice place to browse when you have a half hour to kill.

You might want to take your wife there to make up for all the times she has taken you shopping in one of 'her' stores.

sgt hop Loc: baltimore md,now in salisbury md

jerryc41 wrote:

While I was in town yesterday, I saw a new sign, "HARBOR FREIGHT." It's in the building that used to be Office Depot, so it's huge. I'll have to get a good night's sleep and fortify my sales resistance before I visit for the first time.

over all everything i bought there has worked fine for me....but as one fellow said,,,,good for casual home use,but pro's need good quality tools.....got about just about anything you may need.....the batteries i got there did fine for me....

Chiroman8

Store has very good sales but like anything else to be a good shopper you must know prices & quality. Glad more competition coming in.

BebuLamar

I really want to know what Jerry thinks of the store. I think he would like it but too bad he rarely go to town so it may be a long wait.

Tomkat101

Harbor Freight: The place you go to buy something you don't need to get something free you don't need.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

Tarps are cheap and there’s a good variety of sizes. Dollies and stuff like that are good, too!

Ollieboy

BebuLamar wrote:

How do you tell if a tool is made from Chinese steel or not by the brand name? The brand name tells you nothing about how and where it's made or where the material comes from.

Again. It's not hard to get that information. Please go beyond the price tag info. Do a little and I mean a little research. If the tool is made is made in China and there is no reference to the materials, it's Chinese steel.

Ollieboy

jerryc41 wrote:

Most "American" products are made in China.

But not all use Chinese steel. Famous knife makers use German steel while manufacturing them in China.

piloto caliente

jerryc41 wrote:

While I was in town yesterday, I saw a new sign, "HARBOR FREIGHT." It's in the building that used to be Office Depot, so it's huge. I'll have to get a good night's sleep and fortify my sales resistance before I visit for the first time.

Several years ago I needed a hammer drill to drill some holes in concrete. Home Depot wanted $35 to rent one for three hours. I went to Harbor Freight and bought one for $25. I still have it, and it still works.

tomad Loc: North Carolina

Jerry, I've read most of your posts for a while now and I don't think you have any sales resistence to fortify... (-;

BebuLamar

Ollieboy wrote:

Again. It's not hard to get that information. Please go beyond the price tag info. Do a little and I mean a little research. If the tool is made is made in China and there is no reference to the materials, it's Chinese steel.

Then a lot of the tools sold in Lowes are made in China. Some from Taiwan. Very few made in the USA.

BebuLamar

Ollieboy wrote:

But not all use Chinese steel. Famous knife makers use German steel while manufacturing them in China.

And in this case do they indicate made in China with German steel on the box???

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

jerryc41 wrote:

While I was in town yesterday, I saw a new sign, "HARBOR FREIGHT." It's in the building that used to be Office Depot, so it's huge. I'll have to get a good night's sleep and fortify my sales resistance before I visit for the first time.

I've bought several things from HF over the years. My wood splitter is still going 15 years later.

bwa

Ollieboy

BebuLamar wrote:

And in this case do they indicate made in China with German steel on the box???

Yes, look at Amazon listings. They tout it as a badge of honor.