Harbor Freight coming to MI.

ronjhall · Mar 13, 2003

Being an addict to tools and gadgets. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I now have another store to spend time searching for that ultimate piece of equipment that I don’t really need. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Harbor Freight is coming to Michigan with 3 stores. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
The new Flint store is having its grand opening March 18th. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Harbor Freight

gmason · Mar 13, 2003

I just picked up a 3.5cf concrete mixer at our HF store for sale price of $179 and saved $70 off the reg sales price. The sale lasted about 2 weeks. I bought the year additional warranty for $18. I've seen some really cheep stuff coming out of China, but I've also seen some decent well priced stuff too.

Just be sure to check out the tools first to see how well they're made.

gary

chrisjbell · Mar 13, 2003

Yup, you can get some really decent stuff from those guys. You can also get some real junk.

Buddy of mine got their "best" engine stand to use for a rebuild. He got the motor out of his car (a Dodge Charger - don't know the CI, but it was a V-8, and a big one) and put it on the stand. Went in for the night and the next morning when he went to the garage found that the stand had buckled and dropped his motor to the floor - still attached.

But I just picked up a bunch of stuff from them from the catalog. The prices are so good you can almost afford to make a bad purchase, although I haven't yet.

Come to think of it, I have quite a bit of stuff from them that works just fine. In fact I use my air sprayer from Harbor instead of my Sears sprayer - I just like it better. And I just lubed up the FEL and backhoe on my Kubota with the (absolutly wonderful) air powered lube gun I got from Harbor (I think I paid $14 for it /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif).

So yes, be careful, but they really are a great outfit overall.

WCarlson · Mar 13, 2003

Based on my experience. I have learned to be careful of their edged tools, they don't seem to hold up. On the other hand, if what you are looking at is going to be limited to infrequent use, their tools are great. Wish we had one here in Central New York.

Bill

yooperdave · Mar 13, 2003

They just opened up a store in Green Bay, WI of all places /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

They also have a web page. They email me special deals a couple of times every week. The internet site is not quite the same as the retail facility. You need to print out the special ad and bring it in to get the price.

Yooper Dave

Slippy · Mar 14, 2003

Yeap...HF has some great prices. I have found it is usually better to shop at a local store than catalog if you watch for the sales. HF in my area just had one of two sidewalk sales. Got a 5 horse air compressor for $145. But, as others have said, got to really watch what you are buying. They sell alot of Pittsburg hand tools. Have warranty that comes with them life time to purchaser.

Wingnut · Mar 14, 2003

Alright!
Except that this means my Harbor Freight orders become more expensive ... free shipping and no tax was a good thing ... with the amount of income tax we pay, I have a rabid dislike for sales taxes.
Hopefully they're putting the Flint store somewhere easy to get to from I75 north?

pete

RobS · Mar 14, 2003

<font color="blue"> Hopefully they're putting the Flint store somewhere easy to get to from I75 north </font>

HF seems to be going for cheap real estate. Our local store is in an older strip-mall working on it's third or fourth generation of tenants. I wouldn't look for them in prime interstate exit territory. 'Course this is one of their ways to keep those prices down and that's a good thing /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif