Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

I just went round and round with HF over their new brushless Bauer 4.5" angle grinder. I have (had) the older brushed version which I gave to a friend who also has Bauer cordless tools (I have quite a few of them and they all work as advertised except the brushless angle grinder.

All the local stores were out of stock so I ordered one online and when it came, I popped on a fully charged 5AH Bauer battery pack, slid the switch and viola, NOTHING. Called HF, they sent me a pre paid Fed Ex return label and it went back. Meanwhile my local store received a few so I trundled down to the local store (with a fully charged battery) in my pocket and grabbed one (it's a tool only deal), took it out of the box and 'road tested' it right in the store. Worked fine so I bought it. meanwhile I get an email from HF that they were on backorder in their California headquarters so I cancelled it and they credited my HF credit card for the charge.

Talk about a hard way to get one...

First time I've had any issue with a Bauer 20 volt cordless tool. Hopefully the last time too.

I've been wanting to get the Bauer 20 volt handheld shop blower (for blowing out the radiators on my tractors) but they are also not in stock which means to me that they are out in the bay off San Diego on a container ship waiting to unload.

Nothing beats supply chain economics today.

 

[5030]

Didn't know it but HF has 2 distribution centers, one in California and one in North Carolina or Georgia, not sure which.

 

[Pixguy]

Didn't know it but HF has 2 distribution centers, one in California and one in North Carolina or Georgia, not sure which.

 

[jjeff]

These Maddox hf test leads have come in very handy, wiring/ troubleshooting a trailer, and diagnosing hard to reach areas when you need to see your multi meter readings.

 

[daugen]

if any of you have rv's this will be interesting
I concur on the wheel chocks, heavy rubber, durable, have three for my utility trailer.

not sure I'd want a propane tank in the back of an open pickup held down only by one blue stretch bungee.
Get into an accident and that tank goes airborne and has a lot of weight to it.

 

[5030]

View attachment 760031

I wonder if HF leased or bought the old, defunct JC Whitney distribution center warehouse in Joliet?

 

[California]

I wonder if HF leased or bought the old, defunct JC Whitney distribution center warehouse in Joliet?

If the fixtures - shelving, chutes, etc - are still there that could be a good fit.

I see Moreno Valley, California mentioned. That must be a new one. Camarillo on the coast north of Los Angeles/Long Beach harbor was their location since forever.

Moreno Valley is 70 miles inland on the principal highway from Los Angeles to the Midwest. Also rail traffic between California and the east goes through there so its a natural shipping crossroad. Sounds like they applied Amazon-level logistics analysis to select these new locations.

 

[BukitCase]

"Camarillo on the coast north of Los Angeles/Long Beach harbor was their location since forever."

Yup, when I bought my first 4x6 bandsaw that was their ONLY store in the entire US -
And, it's still going strong - more than I can say about some of their newer stuff... Steve

 

[5030]

...and Grizzly is shrinking oddly.

 

[o2batsea]

Maybe it's been mentioned but I recently got a Diamondback tile saw which was about, what 350 or so? It works great. Dunno if it'll last a long time or what but it saved me thousands on a recent bathroom project so even if it fails tomorrow it was still a good buy

 

[Diggin It]

14 Gallon Bauer Wet/Dry vac for $99 on coupon ($109 Reg) vs Rigid (Home Depot) 14 Gallon 6HP Wet/Dry for $119 less discounts

Preferences?

HD also has a Ridgid 16 Gallon for $80 and a 12 Gallon for $99

 

[California]

14 Gallon Bauer Wet/Dry vac for $99 on coupon ($109 Reg) vs Rigid (Home Depot) 14 Gallon 6HP Wet/Dry for $119 less discounts

Preferences?

Those might be identical.

When I bought a cheap table saw, HF's and Skil at Lowe's were identical. Except HF charged extra for the base that was included with the Skil. I bought the Skil with base and saved some $20 compared to HF's ITC sale price.

 

[Diggin It]

Hmmm, I have a $25 off $150 coupon from HD. I was thinking about getting more than one Vac anyways, one for inside and one for the yard/shop.

I could do the 14 and 16 from HD that would put me over the $150 mark and get $25 off, plus the other 10% account discount ... IF they'll stack ....

 

[5030]

I tend to avoid Home Despot like the plague. 'Sales Associates' that don't know squat, dirty stores and cluttered merchandise on shelves.

Reminds me of the defunct K-Mart in a lot of ways.

 

[Oaktree]

I tend to avoid Home Despot like the plague. 'Sales Associates' that don't know squat, dirty stores and cluttered merchandise on shelves.

Reminds me of the defunct K-Mart in a lot of ways.

Maybe it's just your local store. One near me is fine. Agreed the employees don't know much other than to direct you to the aisle containing what you're looking for, but that can be said for 'most any box store.
Doesn't remind me of K-mart in the least.

 

[Wakey]

14 Gallon Bauer Wet/Dry vac for $99 on coupon ($109 Reg) vs Rigid (Home Depot) 14 Gallon 6HP Wet/Dry for $119 less discounts

Preferences?

HD also has a Ridgid 16 Gallon for $80 and a 12 Gallon for $99

I think Rigid has a lifetime warranty. I was picking up some DeWalt impact drivers the other day and the associate was telling me about rigid and he used the vacuum as an example. He said he bought one like 15 years ago and has exchanged it since he said even the batteries for Rigid power tools can be submitted under warranty for replacement when they start getting weak.

 

[daugen]

even the batteries for Rigid power tools can be submitted under warranty for replacement when they start getting weak.

Wakey, that sounds too good to be true. They are providing perpetual batteries for one low price?

thankfully my Makita batteries last a long time and the clones out there aren't bad. I just never charge a clone battery without
keeping an eye on it.

they would really have to build in some extra product cost to pay for that battery replacement. Doesn't seem feasible.

 

[Diggin It]

^^ Ryobi has a 3 year guarantee on their batteries. I've have several replaced by them at no cost. I wait until about 34 months, then call. By then, the performance is reduced enough that I can legitimately get them replaced.

The replacements have an "R" burned into them by a brand (Reconditioned) so those can't be replaced again.

 

[daugen]

3 years seems fair.
where do the old batteries come from that get reconditioned? Not like they have core charges like car batteries.
Most battery testers won't handle odd voltages of cordless batteries, how do we know we received a good battery or one with
a quarter of its life gone? without a load test, not sure how to do that. Did that old battery get tested before it was stamped Reconditioned?
just curious

lot of stuff at box stores get returned, so lots of batteries floating around if they utilize return batteries. Just don't know how it works.

 

[newbury]

Somebody else will probably jump in and correct me BUT most of your power tool battery packs are composed of individual smaller batteries (almost AA size). quick link
So they CAN tear those apart and replace individual cells.