Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[sixdogs]

Routine coupon price for that caliper is $9.99! HF's pricing is bizarre. The jumbo shop dustpan costs nearly as much, $8.99.

Those calipers are previously mentioned--at $9.99--as a best buy. And they are.
They are accurate and if you remember to turn it off the battery will last a long time.

 

[lostcreekranch]

HF replaced the previous blue "Western Safety" work gloves with these Mechanic's Gloves X-Large a few months ago. I really liked the blue ones and the manager of my local HF Store saved me a half dozen of the Blue ones as they were being replaced. Got them for $2.99 a pair.

Bought a couple pair of the new black ones to see how they wear. One thing I liked about the old blue ones is that they could be washed in washing machine and dried on top of the dryer. Haven't tried that with the new black one yet.

 

[Threepoint]

Those calipers are previously mentioned--at $9.99--as a best buy. And they are.
They are accurate and if you remember to turn it off the battery will last a long time.

Love their digital calipers. I usually don't reach for them often, so I just pop the battery out and keep it in the same case. Seems to last much longer, that way, even though I always turned them off before I started doing that. Not sure why.

 

[Threepoint]

That's my experience, they request a phone number at each purchase and that keeps the mailers and email coupons arriving.

Also after I leave the store they email me a copy of the transaction receipt. Are they doing this nationwide?

The store nearest me here in No. VA started doing that a few months ago, without notice. It's actually a pretty nice thing. Easier to file a receipt electronically with a couple of clicks for an item you think may need it for later.

 

[bcp]

I was told that the "OFF" button only turns off the display, not the measurement sensor.

Bruce

 

[sixdogs]

Love their digital calipers. I usually don't reach for them often, so I just pop the battery out and keep it in the same case. Seems to last much longer, that way, even though I always turned them off before I started doing that. Not sure why.

I was told that the "OFF" button only turns off the display, not the measurement sensor.

Bruce

Mine is FIVE years old and original battery. Beats me. it doesn't get a lot of use but I turn off when done. Is the battery a hard one to find?

 

[JRobyn]

I never turn my HF calipers off; they do that themselves automatically. I have 3, all different vintages, they all do this. The oldest is well over 5 yrs old now, and still on the original battery. Have never touched any of the extra replacement batteries that are included with them.

 

[California]

The caliper batteries are on Ebay. A card of 10 batteries doesn't cost much. They are a common type.

This caliper sees very little use. I've had to replace batteries at about 3 year intervals.

 

[ArTrvlr]

A couple years ago they started asking me to bring in my mailed flyer so they could scan the label to insure I continued to receive them. Now they ask for my phone number when I check out, and they verify my name and address on most purchases. I think this is to keep mailing ads to customers who are using them. I get plenty of mail from them.
On their website, at the bottom under Customer Service, there's a link to Request Catalog. You can sign up for mailed catalogs and for emailed coupons.

That's my experience, they request a phone number at each purchase and that keeps the mailers and email coupons arriving.

Also after I leave the store they email me a copy of the transaction receipt. Are they doing this nationwide?

When they started putting the bar code and the note to bring in the flyer to scan for continued mailings, I complied, like a good little shopper. Then one day, when I gave the clerk the flyer and asked her to scan it, she told me my phone number accomplished the same thing. I haven't had one scanned since, and they come every month, like clockwork.

I also get the regular emails, and an emailed receipt.
jp

 

[Threepoint]

The caliper batteries are on Ebay. A card of 10 batteries doesn't cost much. They are a common type.

This caliper sees very little use. I've had to replace batteries at about 3 year intervals.

That's a good run, especially if turning them off only shuts off the display, not the sensor circuit, as Bruce reports.

My HF calipers (a few years old) use 303/357 batteries, silver oxide, available locally in 3-pks for about $5, but in online in 10-pks as you say for under $5, some places even less. I guess there may be an issue with freshness from some vendors.