on 11/25 Real Tool tested and published online their review of HF's newest Earthquake XT 1/2 gun and the Snap On MG725 which HF is comparing it to in their recent advertisements
Snap-on - VS - Harbor Freight ( MG725 / Earthquake XT ) 1/2" Impact Wrenches - YouTube
That really stirred the pot with brand loyalists
Darn it that led me off into a 3 hour review of videos linked from there. Where did this evening go? :laughing: I ended the evening with a welding instructor demonstrating no difference between Lincoln and HF flux-core wire on weld . com.
I was surprised the $129 (coupon) HF Earthquake XT and the similar $500+ Snap On tested identical. You would need to pay extra for the HF 2 year warranty to match Snap On's but on the other hand you could just buy a couple extra for spares and still be under the Snap On cost.
Going down through the comments was interesting: many owners of the Snap On had their tool fail early on, then they had to wait for the truck to come around again before they got a warranty exchange. There were fewer owners of this new HF model but failures of the existing HF Earthquake seemed to be much rarer according to the comments. The reviewer pointed out with the HF you don't need to be down waiting for the truck to come around, just stop by HF for a warranty exchange or replacement and get back to work. I'll add to that - if I worked someplace where I would get canned if I couldn't keep up production, I would keep a spare HF out in the car and run get that instead of waiting a week for the tool truck to arrive and replace my 'pride-of-ownership' $500 Snap On.
Another factor I didn't see emphasized like I thought it should be: The HF with identical capability weighs a half pound less than the 5 lb Snap On. After long ago swinging a framing hammer nonstop during every 8 hour shift I was employed, I'll ALWAYS go for the tool that beats me up less. A lighter tool with the same capability is going to look more and more attractive as the day progresses.
The 'brand loyalists' were interesting. Arguments pro were inevitable. Arguments against brand loyalty pointed out you could probably retire years sooner if you bought by specs alone and banked the savings.
One more anti-Snap On point was made, I can't believe this is real: Many of the sales off the Snap On truck are on revolving credit with a nasty catch in the contract: Once you start the credit contract if you lose your job and can't pay for the most recent stuff added to the contract, they will repo everything you ever bought under that contract from the beginning regardless of how much you have paid in. The contract itself is declared broken and all purchases recoverable. Wow. Not sure I would want to support a company like that - assuming that the commenter knew what he was talking about.
Since this is a HF thread I'll summarize that the reviewer showed HF's new Earthquake XT is at least a strong competitor to Snap On in a commercial environment, and probably a better choice due to cost in any less critical use.
