Tiller A Tiller at Harbor Freight???

[patrick_g]

I was just suprised at the hefty price tag. I'll bet they get fewer takers, then their inventory will build, so they will be forced to run a "sale".

Until we get reports from users, I'd be leary of the quality and availability of parts. On the other hand, the more providers of equipment, the more competitive the prices, overall.

Well said, more competition is almost always a good thing. My observations and interpretations of same indicate that items come out at a "standard" price and then often go on sale for just a while and then go back to the standard price again sometimes to oscillate in this manner for years. It is a preplanned pricing strategy unrelated to stock levels. Of course it is altogether reasonable that they would also have "nonstandard" sales if they were especially "long" on some item.

It does seem as if there are simultaneous conflicting price policies. You might get a flyer with one price the same day you get a catalog with a different price and find it on their web site for yet a different price. I phoned in an order a couple weeks ago because there were some items at very deeply discounted prices in a flyer but when I put the stock number in the web site search engine I got a significantly higher price. When I called in the order to someone speaking pidgin English richly infused with a Hindi accent I gave flyer prices, catalog prices and web prices with their respective item numbers and got the best price in each instance.

Not that I am a total cheapskate but I buy some of the items when deeply discounted for gifts. For gifts I prefer items that I have previously bought and used myself so I know it isn't junk. I can't help it, a digital multimeter for under $3 that agrees closely with my good test equip seems to be an authentic bargain. If I should accidentally drive over it or drop it in between the radiator and fan and shred it, I haven't lost much. I'd be upset if it were a $200-300 dollar meter that for trouble shooting trailer lights or automotive electrics isn't really any better.

The good news around here is that there is a NEW HF store in Norman, OK the home of Oklahoma University (GO SOONERS!) Which saves me round tripping across Oklahoma City since we are south east of OKC.

Pat

 

[SkunkWerX]

Pat g,

I agree with what you are saying, everything you indicated has been my experience with HF.

Our store is about 20 mins from my door, and 15 mins from my work.
Keeping the Store prices seperated from the On-line ads and also the mail flyers can become quite entertaining.
But I also think it is a strategy, of sorts, if people see it on-line for one pirce, then the store runs it at a reduced rate, they move stock, which is what it is all about, volume. And, they also know some poor schmuck will , in fact, buy it at the higher price.

The good thing is that it doesn't take much homework to find what their real "Sale" price is. Once I determine an item is regular price is $69.99, but it goes "on sale" every 6 weeks for $49.99, then I consider the Sale price more of a "fair market value".
So, for instance, if this tiller is regularly $1329, but goes on SALE for $999, then we really know what it's worth. At $999 it may be a worthy value, at $1329 i don't see how it compares to a gear-drive KK 48".

Our Store started carrying the the 3-Point Quick hitch, so, I am wondering if we won't see the Tiller, and possibly other items appear on the showroom floor, eventually?

For heavy equipment items, I have to be able to "kick the tires" and see the thickness of the metal before I'd ever consider a purchase.

My real curiosity is whether we will see this as the beginning of a CAT1 equipment line-up they start carrying.

 

[bjr]

Say what ya will 'bout KingKutter stuff but at least the local Western wear/tractor supply place "Can Order Parts" for it. I've had them get KK parts, at what I feel is a reasonable price. I've adapted some of their parts on shop built implements that turned out pretty good. In particular I like KK tiller tines, cause I abuse the crap out of them and they hold up. Now if HF supports their tillers and it holds up, they may have a market. The big dealers around me get top $$$ for their "Quality Replacement Parts" and I don't patronze them, so, I guess that makes me a bottom feeder in their eyes, but I have to hang on to as many green backs as I can to buy fuel for the tractor and maybe a couple hotdogs for me. bjr

 

[patrick_g]

BJR, HEre is an example of parts at HF...

I bought a compressed air regulator filter thingy. On a subsequent trip to the store I asked the manager where the replacement filters were since the filter is not made to wash/dry/reuse but is a throw away type and I knew eventually I would need a replacement. Brace yourself for uncontrolled laughter!

There are no replacement filters. I asked so what do I do when mine needs changing. He says bring the old unit in, complete, not just the filter and he will exchange it for me with a new one!!!!!!!!!

They sure have this one worked out, huh? Except for some of their power tools coming with a set of extra brushes, they don't do much in the way of replacement parts.

I would not expect that they would have any repair parts for the tiller. If the bearings aren't able to be matched to standard parts at a parts store you would be out of luck.

Yes, there are a few down sides to buying at HF and REPAIR PARTS is a biggy.

Pat

 

[flusher]

BJR, HEre is an example of parts at HF...

I bought a compressed air regulator filter thingy. On a subsequent trip to the store I asked the manager where the replacement filters were since the filter is not made to wash/dry/reuse but is a throw away type and I knew eventually I would need a replacement. Brace yourself for uncontrolled laughter!

There are no replacement filters. I asked so what do I do when mine needs changing. He says bring the old unit in, complete, not just the filter and he will exchange it for me with a new one!!!!!!!!!

They sure have this one worked out, huh? Except for some of their power tools coming with a set of extra brushes, they don't do much in the way of replacement parts.

I would not expect that they would have any repair parts for the tiller. If the bearings aren't able to be matched to standard parts at a parts store you would be out of luck.

Yes, there are a few down sides to buying at HF and REPAIR PARTS is a biggy.

Pat

Same thing with the $40 HVLP spray gun I bought a HF. No replacement paint cups available.

I don't expect to repair the stuff I've bought at HF ($90 air compressor, $99 sliding compound miter saw, 6-in 1 framing nailer, etc). I use them, maintain them and then junk them when they wear out or break.

 

[VABlue]

I once paid $2.88 for a set of HF punches. The first time I used one - the very first hammer blow - the point mashed in and didn't even dent the material! All I could do was laugh since I didn't expect much out of them to begin with...

Point = you get what you pay for, so be careful what you get...

 

[patrick_g]

Same thing with the $40 HVLP spray gun I bought a HF. No replacement paint cups available.

I don't expect to repair the stuff I've bought at HF ($90 air compressor, $99 sliding compound miter saw, 6-in 1 framing nailer, etc). I use them, maintain them and then junk them when they wear out or break.

Oh, I agree with your and VABlue's comments. I don't really expect much repair parts support but a filter designed for a throw away element but no replacement elements is a bit tacky! It would be like having a non-standard blade in a miter saw not available through regular channels and no replacement blades available from HF, just use it till it gets dull and toss it? Would yo be a bit surprised if you bought a genset from them and found that there was no way to get a new spark plug? Just run it till it needs a plug and toss it?

Not every part (and I think a replaceable air filter element is a legitimate example) is a repair part. Some are items that are expected to be changed several times before the "main"unit is worn out or should be replaced.

I have had disposable flash lights. The batteries were not meant to be replaced. I'd be disappointed if I bought a flashlight with what looked like "C" cells in it but later when trying to replace them found them to be an odd under size not available in our market and the flashlight just a little too small to take a standard "C" cell.

Taiyo Electronics Corporation of Japan sells radio locator buoys used to find your nets after deploying them at sea. They sell a model for the US that takes readily available US made batteries. They sell one that takes batteries NOT AVAILABLE in the US also. American fisherman "find" these at sea, pick them up, and then discover that they can't get batteries for them. I call that justice.

Not having standard "wear" parts for devices obviously made for interchangeable components (like air filter elements) is just plain dumb. In the rush to market, intelligence was neglected. I call that greed. Greed trumps customer needs nearly every time.

Pat

 

[rickmacheske]

That tiller looks exactly like the chinese tiller that I bought for $450. It lasted about 10 feet before the gear box exploded. The one at HF doesn't look like a deal at all.

 

[gemini5362]

Depends on what you buy at HF I bought a winch from them and basically through my own ignorance broke the coupling from the motor to the winch. I called them and had them order a new one. I was warned that they had to order it from china and that it would take about three months. I ordered it and about two months later it showed up.

 

[Skyco]

I love Harbor Feight and Northern Tool...have both in my area now and they put a serious dent in my paycheck You have to really watch and judge what you are buying at HF particularly, some of their stuff is junk but some is well worth the price. Frankly I don't see how they sell some of that stuff so cheap, looks like it would cost more in materials let alone ship it from China than what they sell it for
Anyone noticed Northern seems to be lowering their prices on some stuff? I think HF and TSC may be hurting them....