Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

They must have inventory in Carmarillo. Wife just ordered 5 flags (Inside Track Club) and they shipped the next day. Nothing in the local store at all and I'm still waiting for the Bauer 20 volt transfer pump that has never materialized. I will say HF shipping is dirt cheap. Could be the Chinese embargo will put HF on the skids. Mr' Schmid is the Chinese connection.:laughing:

 

[Diggin It]

Prices in the email I just got seem really high.

 

[5030]

Schmid needs to be careful. There is no allegiance to HF far as I know except price. Once the prices match everyone else's he's done.

 

[5030]

Prices in the email I just got seem really high.

Understandable with the flow of goods from China getting choked from tariff's and Covid. I see HF is carrying more and more domestic stuff all the time. Problem is, the domestic stuff for the most part is no bargain.

 

[5030]

I thought the president banned Chinese imports at the start of the virus. Has the ban been lifted?

Wonder how Grizzly in Bellingham, Washington is doing. 95% of their machinery is imported from you know where. Old Baloloa has probably chewed his nails off...

 

[dragoneggs]

Wonder how Grizzly in Bellingham, Washington is doing. 95% of their machinery is imported from you know where. Old Baloloa has probably chewed his nails off...

I was just there a month ago for the first time picking up a Nova (Australia design) drill press. 2.5hr drive vs. paying for shipping.

What a huge grand showroom! Of course they are primarily a mail order house but I was flat out amazed at their showroom... I had no idea. Weird thing was that I was the only person in the store. I felt like a VIP.

 

[3Ts]

The Grizzly tools I'm aware of are from Taiwan (the other China). I'm not sure what the import status is from them, but probably not the same as from mainland China.

 

[dragoneggs]

The Grizzly tools I'm aware of are from Taiwan (the other China). I'm not sure what the import status is from them, but probably not the same as from mainland China.

Know that grizzly.com sells many tool brands including Makita, Milwaukee, Festool, Kreg, Fein, etc. Products made in China, Taiwan, Japan, Germany, USA, and elsewhere. As such, I think they will survive even if there is a dip on Grizzly sales.

 

[5030]

I was just there a month ago for the first time picking up a Nova (Australia design) drill press. 2.5hr drive vs. paying for shipping.

What a huge grand showroom! Of course they are primarily a mail order house but I was flat out amazed at their showroom... I had no idea. Weird thing was that I was the only person in the store. I felt like a VIP.

Couple years ago they closed their PA showroom and distribution center. I think Baloloa realized that he needed to keep his operations closer to the west coast container ports. All his stuff (except the domestic stuff which really isn't competitively priced, comes in containers.

Don't have any Grizzly machine tools. All mine are domestic, Bridgeport, LeBlond, Cincinatti, K&T, etc.

He is a big fan of F Class precision shooting and is a Grand Master F Class (308) 1000 yard competition. I've met him in the past at the Camp Perry Nationals. Interesting bird.

 

[5030]

Got a Braun LED foldable LED worklight for my birthday (next month) early from my wife. Nice light, well made and charges with a USB cable. Was on sale (what is new there, everything at HF is always on sale) for 30 bucks.

Has a magnetic base and the light bar is flexible and has a built in LED flashlight at the end. Much better alternative than the old school corded trouble / work light. very bright too.

She ordered it direct in as much as my local store is picked pretty clean lately. Shipping was cheap too. Much less than the usual ship cost. Came USPS parcel post in about a week.