Harbor Freight tools that DO suck

[lilranch2001]

Everything in life drifts, those that think it doesnt are some what blind of reality!

 

[Oaktree]

What I'm patently curious about is how Schmid will absorb the increased cost of being a China importer and still be competitive in an extremely cost driven marketplace.

There is a definite tipping point and when HF exceeds that, they are for all intents done.

Hf needs to be cognizant of the fact that once the emporium of cheap becomes not so cheap anymore, sales will go south quickly.

But keep in mind that 'most everybody's tools are made in the same place as HF's, so their prices will go up too. I agree that the prices on some of their new, supposedly better models aren't much different than the name brands, we'll see how they stand up quality-wise, and whether models come and go quickly. Someone here mentioned that they'd heard the Lynx line was being discontinued...how long has that been around? 2 or 3 years maybe? So 4-5 years from now when your otherwise perfectly good Lynx tool needs a new battery, where ya gonna go?

Their whole business model is changing.
Gone are the large selection of freebies.
20% coupon restrictions keep going up.
Prices no cheaper than other retailers.

Lots of % off coupons here: Harbor Freight Tools Coupon Database - pct coupons, freebies, free with purchase, free tools, free stuff, inside track club coupons

One of the emails they sent out in the last couple of months said there would be no more printed catalogs mailed. It would all be available in digital format though. Not sure if that's temporary or permanent, but I'm OK with less junk mail.

I don't get that much junk mail, so I didn't mind the catalogs, even though it was pretty much the same stuff every time. I do miss the 20% off coupons, even if they're online, it's a PITA to have to print them out rather than just clip and keep in my wallet. I miss the freebies too, but again it was the same stuff all the time, toward the end it was nothing but blue flashlights. Think I've got a lifetime supply of them at this point. :laughing:

 

[5030]

We do too. In fact we quit taking them. Must have 20.

Haven't a clue how it will play, all I know is I won't be getting a Synchrony HF card.

HF is morphing from a place to buy cheap oriential one use tools to something else. Not sure I like the transformation.

 

[dragoneggs]

And if somebody snatches your phone, they are 'good to go' with all your financial access.

What? Hard seeing that happening. Maybe you haven't tried it. The phone doesn't leave my grip and you wave it at a credit taking machine. Way safer theft wise than handing a credit card over or swiping a 'loose' card in a machine. Don't even need to touch it. :confused3:

and you'll be forever in debt...

Again, huh? Better than a debit card as you get to use interest free money for a month. :thumbsup:

 

[Diggin It]

I do miss the 20% off coupons, even if they're online, it's a PITA to have to print them out rather than just clip and keep in my wallet.

Save a picture on your phone. They can scan that.

 

[California]

Save a picture on your phone. They can scan that.

Or just leave up the page where the coupon appears. Flip through those pages as the items are rung up. The cashier can scan the picture on your phone same as scanning a paper coupon.

 

[reb]

Not if you pay the card off in full each month...

My philosophy, too. Problem is with the mail system. A few months ago my payment apparently did not get to the card company. A significant fee was applied to the next bill. Changed cards, for a different reason, and it looks like the same thing again. Will know more later this month.

 

[dragoneggs]

My philosophy, too. Problem is with the mail system. A few months ago my payment apparently did not get to the card company. A significant fee was applied to the next bill. Changed cards, for a different reason, and it looks like the same thing again. Will know more later this month.

Electronic banking... and can't remember the last time I stepped into a bank. Whether it be everyday banking, home loans, escrow, whatever.

 

[lilranch2001]

I had to just purchase my second book of forever stamps.
I am not sure how long ago I bought the first book, but it has to be close to 5 years ago

 

[dragoneggs]

I had to just purchase my second book of forever stamps.
I am not sure how long ago I bought the first book, but it has to be close to 5 years ago

I have a hard time just finding the barely used book of forever stamps bought about that long ago. I try to keep up but it is becoming a real challenge keeping up, as times must be changing faster than I am.

 

[Diggin It]

My philosophy, too. Problem is with the mail system. A few months ago my payment apparently did not get to the card company.

My payments all go digital, on the due date. Pay my electric and phone bills that way too to get the points.

Won't be going for a store card here though.

 

[John_Mc]

And if somebody snatches your phone, they are 'good to go' with all your financial access.

Actually, no. They would need access to my phone, which requires them knowing a 6 place alphanumeric code. Too many wrong guesses While attempting to access it, and the phone shuts down. Further, if my phone is lost or stolen, I can shut it down remotely and basically turn it into an expensive paperweight for whomever finds it.

That said, I still do not use my phone for any online shopping or use it to pay for anything. In fact, I have never entered the information which would allow it to be used for payments. I'm more concerned about malware or someone snooping on a public WiFi network than I am about someone stealing my phone.

 

[5030]

My philosophy, too. Problem is with the mail system. A few months ago my payment apparently did not get to the card company. A significant fee was applied to the next bill. Changed cards, for a different reason, and it looks like the same thing again. Will know more later this month.

Try remitting in a more timely manner, not on the deadline when due. I make all my payments via the mail but I pay them when they arrive here. I don't like electronic statements and have none. Everything is a paper statement, mailed to me, monthly.

We quit getting the local rag (newspaper). The went digital but still wanted to charge us the same prices as carrier delivery so they lost us as a subscriber. I use the read newspaper for many uses, cleaning glass, lining the little box, starting my chunk charcoal in the BBQ and so on.

I'm old school, want a paper copy. Electronic statements are just another way for the seller to save money and make more profit.

 

[Diggin It]

^^^ Which helps avoid price increases.

Plus, I hate the waste of paper for something I may only look at for a few minutes. And I hate digging through files to find something. Digitally, I can keep copies of bills for years and pull them up for review in seconds if I need to.

And then there are the checks and postage for outgoing payments. Books of checks aren't free other than what some banks offer on opening a new account. With electronic payments, I'm not giving anything to the Post Office either.

 

[reb]

Try remitting in a more timely manner, not on the deadline when due. I make all my payments via the mail but I pay them when they arrive here. I don't like electronic statements and have none. Everything is a paper statement, mailed to me, monthly.

...

I'm old school, want a paper copy...

That is basically the way I do it. The new card has sent an email when a payment is received. None this month, so I am concerned. If they did not receive it, I will send future payments from a different post office.

I also want a paper copy.

 

[lilranch2001]

I always worry when I send a payment through the USPO, so I watch my back app to see when and if it clears, not had a problem with a check in a long time, when I use my banking app, after setting up an account I always send 1 dollar the first month to make sure everything clears correctly

 

[5030]

I quit taking credit card payment for my products I sell on the net and from the shop and no pay pal unless the customer pays a surcharge and I tell them up front, it's 5% for a pay-pal transaction. I quit with CC's when my portal fee was raised from 3% to 5%. Just not in the cards for me to accept credit cards anymore.

I have no issue with a personal check or Postal money order or cash.

Hard enough gleaning a small profit the way it is. My materials cost basically doubled in the past 6 months. Least with farming, things remain relatively the same.

 

[Big Barn]

I quit taking credit card payment for my products I sell on the net and from the shop and no pay pal unless the customer pays a surcharge and I tell them up front, it's 5% for a pay-pal transaction. I quit with CC's when my portal fee was raised from 3% to 5%. Just not in the cards for me to accept credit cards anymore.

I have no issue with a personal check or Postal money order or cash.

Hard enough gleaning a small profit the way it is. My materials cost basically doubled in the past 6 months. Least with farming, things remain relatively the same.

What about bank etransfer? No cost to you and depending on the bank the transfer only takes minutes. Email notification when it’s done. All done on an app.

Approximately one third of my sales are done this way. The rest cash. NEVER checks. Easy to ask for a deposit when someone says they want it but want you to hold until the weekend. In those cases I ask for full pop if under $100. 25 percent for larger purchases.

This is just for excess stuff I have around the shop or items I refurbish and get bored of.

 

[5030]

^^^ Which helps avoid price increases.

Plus, I hate the waste of paper for something I may only look at for a few minutes. And I hate digging through files to find something. Digitally, I can keep copies of bills for years and pull them up for review in seconds if I need to.

And then there are the checks and postage for outgoing payments. Books of checks aren't free other than what some banks offer on opening a new account. With electronic payments, I'm not giving anything to the Post Office either.

I have no issue supporting the Post Office at all, unlike you. Out here the PO is about all you have other than UPS or Fed-Ex and they charge an outrageous amount to pick up packages.... and I sent a lot of packages. The PO charges nothing for a pickup and I get very good tracking as well.

Been using USPS for 15 years to deliver my products worldwide (even China...lol) and in 15 years, I had one lost shipment and the PO reimbursed me for not only the postage but the item itself.

I have a European distributor in Geneva, Switzerland and he told me long ago that USPS was the best bet (and cheapest way) to send packages worldwide. Like he said, when my stuff 'lands' in Geneva it comes in with everything else, every carrier shares the same cargo plane so why pay an inflated rate.

I get usually, 5 days to Australia, 4 to Germany and 4 to Japan and China.

The Covid crap has slowed down deliveries, I will admit that but I know exactly where my stuff is, all the time. Far as domestic mail for bill paying, so long as you don't wait until the last minute to mail something, it's all good, least with me it has been.

 

[5030]

What about bank etransfer? No cost to you and depending on the bank the transfer only takes minutes. Email notification when it’s done. All done on an app.

Approximately one third of my sales are done this way. The rest cash. NEVER checks. Easy to ask for a deposit when someone says they want it but want you to hold until the weekend. In those cases I ask for full pop if under $100. 25 percent for larger purchases.

This is just for excess stuff I have around the shop or items I refurbish and get bored of.

My commercial bank guarantee's 100%, 2 methods of payment, personal check and postal money order so that is what I go with and I do use Pay-Pal with the 5% surcharge and wire transfer the pay-pal funds to my commercial account, and of course cash too.

Basically locked into pay-pal for offshore stuff but again, a 5% surcharge to offset the pay-pal fees.

In 15 years, never been stiffed and don't plan on it happening.