how can northern tools compete against harbr freight?

[aczlan]

I care because I would rather buy American made products. But it is getting so hard to find items made in this country, shame!

And its even harder to find US made stuff which is enough better to warrant the extra cost. Why pay $50 for a US made piece of junk tool that will break in 6 months (just after the warranty ends) when you can spend $10 for the same quality tool at Harbor Freight and get a lifetime warranty?

Aaron Z

 

[LD1]

And its even harder to find US made stuff which is enough better to warrant the extra cost. Why pay $50 for a US made piece of junk tool that will break in 6 months (just after the warranty ends) when you can spend $10 for the same quality tool at Harbor Freight and get a lifetime warranty?

Aaron Z

Agreed.

If I was a millionaire (which I am not), I would probabally buy american made stuff just because I can.

The difference for me however, when we are talking about that much of a price spread, And I just cannot afford the american version(wether good quality or not) is to either own the cheap china too or NOTHING at all. THAT makes the difference to most of us. The fact that we would rather have a garage full of cheap disposable china stuff vs nothing at all.

 

[3930dave]

Last channel locks I bought were Channel Locks. Found a price I could live with while traveling in upstate NY, in all places, a grocery store. I will pay a little extra, selectively, for particular items. AND, for the same product performance (or preferably better), I would like to support a true local manufacturer.

As a Canadian, I have shopped, and will continue to do so at HF. Great prices, and a better selection than our Princess Auto here. Product quality at HF has improved in some areas, and I now see they have upped their tool warranties - hard to argue with that, unless you are a pro 12+ hours a day tradesman.

Concerning tools, as a contractor I know puts it (including big expensive stuff) "The guys that work for me, what they don't steal, they break or lose". Even if you have the money, that is quite a dis-incentive to buy high-end stuff.

Depending on who is around your neighbourhood, us "honey-do" guys may have the same issues.....

Many companies have off-shored their production long ago, and continued to play the shell game of obscuring where they are made. Taking the profits, laughing all the way to the bank.

I've noticed many times what Soundguy describes - one Chinese factory will typically supply most of the N. American market, with box and label switches only.

As more consumers perform proper Due Diligence on this game, many more will refuse to pay premiums for a nicer cardboard box.

Rgds, D.

 

[Bird]

Northern tool sells the same Junk as HF. You nget what you pay for. JMOP.

That's true for some items and not for others. I have more time than money, since I'm retired, so I frequently waste more money on gas going from one to the other shopping, but I enjoy it.:laughing: So I've got tools and equipment from Sears, Northern Tool, and Harbor Freight.

 

[PapaPerk]

I care because I would rather buy American made products. But it is getting so hard to find items made in this country, shame!

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[PapaPerk]

And its even harder to find US made stuff which is enough better to warrant the extra cost. Why pay $50 for a US made piece of junk tool that will break in 6 months (just after the warranty ends) when you can spend $10 for the same quality tool at Harbor Freight and get a lifetime warranty?

Aaron Z

You have specific example of that?

 

[Agent Blue]

Local northern tool store must not train their people very good. Spoke with three of them looking for a PTO shaft. Tried to explain the different ends I needed. They looked it up on their site but could not find any. I had to give them the store number I found on the internet ... then they did not know when they could get it or even if it was in stock there or another store. Called the main office and they never replied. Guess they never cared or thought the wages they pay doesn't come with a wealth of knowledge. Bought from another store who were happy to send one out the same day.... and actually knew the difference between them.
I am not a customer of northern tool any time in the future.

 

[KENSFM]

How can Northern Tool compete against Harbor Freight? Simple I will use your vise prices as an example:
Northern Tool $129
Harbor Freight $52
My estimated wholesale cost $30
Northern Tool makes $99 on the sale, Harbor Freight makes $22. In simple fuzzy math calculations :confused2: Harbor Freight has to sell 4 1/2 vises
to equal one vise sale at Northern Tool. Also because NT has less sales volume they need lower inventory, smaller wearhouse space,
and fewer sales people, etc. all which means additional profit. So the answer is lower volume and higher profit. I would say Northern Tool
is laughing all the way to the bank. :laughing::laughing::laughing:
Ken

 

[Bird]

How can Northern Tool compete against Harbor Freight? Simple I will use your vise prices as an example:
Northern Tool $129
Harbor Freight $52
My estimated wholesale cost $30
Northern Tool makes $99 on the sale, Harbor Freight makes $22. In simple fuzzy math calculations :confused2: Harbor Freight has to sell 4 1/2 vises
to equal one vise sale at Northern Tool. Also because NT has less sales volume they need lower inventory, smaller wearhouse space,
and fewer sales people, etc. all which means additional profit. So the answer is lower volume and higher profit. I would say Northern Tool
is laughing all the way to the bank. :laughing::laughing::laughing:
Ken

Are they really the same vise? Some years ago, the Homier traveling tool sales outfit came to our town about once a year. One year my brother and I bought what was, theoretically at least, identical 4" vises to mount on our workbenches. His actually broke in two the first time he tried to use it. Mine still worked fine several years later. I bought a re-conditioned Campbell-Hausfeld staple gun that never gave me any trouble, but I also bought a few things, such as some snap ring pliers that were worthless, a bench grinder that lasted about 2 days, etc.

Sometimes you win; sometimes you lose with cheap tools.:laughing:

 

[crazyal]

I'm guessing HF also buy in much larger volume than NH from the Chinese. But HF prices are not as good as they once were. Something are priced very cheap while others are not.