Harbor Freight Stores Proliferating

[Bird]

Many years ago, before the days of the Internet, I ordered some tools from Harbor Freight in Calfornia. I don't know how long they've had stores in this area, but I only learned of the one in Irving, TX, about 10 years ago, and I've bought a couple of things there. Then a couple of years ago, I learned there is one in Carrollton, TX, and I've shopped there a few times. Today, I learned there's a new store in Denton, TX, that is even closer to me. I didn't buy anything today, but did spend some time wandering up and down the aisles; nice store and lots of interesting stuff there.

Apparently they are quite successful and continuing to grow.

 

[Clint S]

Back when I was a teenager (in the 80's ) I would buy tools from them through the mail. They were cheap even with the shipping and I could get some specialty stuff I could never afford from sears. I still have a brake flaring kit some wrenches and an even an angle grinder that are 20 to 25 years old, still function fine. I can't count the # of cheap multimeters I have smoked form there. We have one here in Syracuse NY for a few years now. I buy some stuff from there usually stuff I will only use once or twice and it is usually cheaper than renting one. Bought a tile saw for $100 and tiled my whole house

 

[Katahdin]

None in Maine yet, I hope that changes soon!

 

[DFB]

I like to see one here...nearest one to me is in Albany NY according to the store locater.

 

[Bird]

Back when I was a teenager (in the 80's )

When you were a teenager, so were my two daughters.:laughing: And yep, about then was when I bought a half inch air impact and 3/8" air ratchet and an air chisel and a few other things via mail order from Harbor Freight. I sold those things in '89 when we became full time RVers, but now that we no longer travel, I have an Ingersoll-Rand impact that I bought from a pawn shop, but my 3/8" ratchet, angle die grinder, farm jack, oil filter wrench, etc. came from Harbor Freight in the last 7 years.

 

[flyerdan]

My dad turned me on to HF way back in the early 80's. Back then their mailings consisted of 3 or 4 letter sized pages with description and price mailed in a #10 envelope. They would pay the shipping on orders over $50, even on motor freight items. I still have a lot of stuff I ordered from back then.
We got our store here in Salem in 1998, it was packed on opening day.

 

[texasjohn]

Yep, one in Austin, too. Been there lots. Love their assortments of stuff...cotter pins, lynch pins, grommets, zerks, etc....I have a bunch of them, bought not knowing when I would use them...and, then, suddenly, I needed something from an assortment I just purchased....soo handy to have so progress on a project can continue

 

[Mickey_Fx]

My dad turned me on to HF way back in the early 80's. Back then their mailings consisted of 3 or 4 letter sized pages with description and price mailed in a #10 envelope. They would pay the shipping on orders over $50, even on motor freight items. I still have a lot of stuff I ordered from back then.
We got our store here in Salem in 1998, it was packed on opening day.

You must be talking about the store on the N side of town, an old K-mart store. There was a HF in town before they moved to their current location. Old store was a few blocks away from the fairgrounds.

Living on the left coast, I can't recall when there wasn't a HF store not far away. Currently, I'm about 8 miles from one. Little further if I want to cross the river to save on sales tax for any big item purchases.

Bird, your mention of Carrollton brought back memories from 20 yrs ago. Used to travel there on business for a while.

 

[jinman]

Many years ago, before the days of the Internet, I ordered some tools from Harbor Freight in Calfornia. I don't know how long they've had stores in this area, but I only learned of the one in Irving, TX, about 10 years ago, and I've bought a couple of things there. Then a couple of years ago, I learned there is one in Carrollton, TX, and I've shopped there a few times. Today, I learned there's a new store in Denton, TX, that is even closer to me. I didn't buy anything today, but did spend some time wandering up and down the aisles; nice store and lots of interesting stuff there.

Apparently they are quite successful and continuing to grow.

Bird, I forgot that they had put a store in that shopping center. I guess if you can slip in there off of the I-35 access road and then go out to Colorado Blvd without having to deal with Loop 288, it would be worthwhile. I was just down the street at Bank of America and over at the University Dr. Sam's Club today. We had to be back here ASAP, or I would have given you a call. I'm gettin' a hankering for Chinese Food and I thnk you told me there was a good restaurant not far from the HF or in that area.

 

[RobertN]

I wonder if there are a bunch of tool store in China named Port Freight, that sell cheamo US tools?

 

[DT86]

I wonder if there are a bunch of tool store in China named Port Freight, that sell cheamo US tools?

I do know a guy that exports top of the line North American made tools to China.

 

[Bird]

Bird, I forgot that they had put a store in that shopping center. I guess if you can slip in there off of the I-35 access road and then go out to Colorado Blvd without having to deal with Loop 288, it would be worthwhile. I was just down the street at Bank of America and over at the University Dr. Sam's Club today. We had to be back here ASAP, or I would have given you a call. I'm gettin' a hankering for Chinese Food and I thnk you told me there was a good restaurant not far from the HF or in that area.

Jim, I found that new Harbor Freight store by accident this morning when I was going to Locke Supply and didn't know they'd moved from up on that hill to a new place out on Ft. Worth Drive.:laughing: And yep, I did just as you said, came off I-35 access road, right in front of the Chinese Buffet King that faces the freeway, saw Locke was gone, visited Harbor Freight, and went out onto Colorado. And we haven't been to any of the Chinese buffets now in quite some time. Going to meet our kids at one in Irving this coming Sunday afternoon, but we're usually ready to go most any time.

 

[bcp]

Some interesting stuff here:

Harbor Freight Tools - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Harbor Freight Tools CEO Eric Smidt is the founder and president of the Smidt Family Foundation, which donates significant contributions to the University of Southern California and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

In 2012, Smidt began seeking out a way to extend his philanthropic efforts utilizing the success of Harbor Freight Tools. With severe budget cuts negatively impacting Southern California’s public education system and subsequent vocational training programs, Smidt saw an opportunity to support vocational education. Smidt stated, "For far too long, vocational education has not been given the attention and funding it deserves. At a time when a well trained workforce is essential to compete in the global economy, the United States too often falls short."

Starting locally, Smidt discovered that the Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) Career Technical Education programs budget was cut to one quarter of its previous annual budget. Through Smidt’s initiative, Harbor Freight Tools invited LAUSD’s industrial career education instructors to visit the company’s Pasadena store to compile a "wish list" of tools and equipment they would want for their programs to thrive if budgetary allocations allowed. This list amounted to more than 55,000 items capable of filling 15 forty-foot trucks.

On January 9, 2013, Smidt, through Harbor Freight Tools, fulfilled the entire list and donated $1.4 million of tools and equipment to the LAUSD Division of Adult and Career Education.

 

[cqaigy2]

Now that is so refreshing to see someone champion vocation training, and do something about it.:thumbsup:

 

[mikehaugen]

I do know a guy that exports top of the line North American made tools to China.

I work with a guy from Iran, he says that we get the "premium" chinese tools. In his country, the quality is worse according to him :shocked:

 

[20 20]

I like to see one here...nearest one to me is in Albany NY according to the store locater.

That's a fairly nice store was there a couple weeks back

 

[3930dave]

Some interesting stuff here:

Harbor Freight Tools - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Harbor Freight Tools CEO Eric Smidt is the founder and president of the Smidt Family Foundation, which donates significant contributions to the University of Southern California and Children痴 Hospital Los Angeles.

In 2012, Smidt began seeking out a way to extend his philanthropic efforts utilizing the success of Harbor Freight Tools. With severe budget cuts negatively impacting Southern California痴 public education system and subsequent vocational training programs, Smidt saw an opportunity to support vocational education. Smidt stated, "For far too long, vocational education has not been given the attention and funding it deserves. At a time when a well trained workforce is essential to compete in the global economy, the United States too often falls short."

Starting locally, Smidt discovered that the Los Angeles Unified School District痴 (LAUSD) Career Technical Education programs budget was cut to one quarter of its previous annual budget. Through Smidt痴 initiative, Harbor Freight Tools invited LAUSD痴 industrial career education instructors to visit the company痴 Pasadena store to compile a "wish list" of tools and equipment they would want for their programs to thrive if budgetary allocations allowed. This list amounted to more than 55,000 items capable of filling 15 forty-foot trucks.

On January 9, 2013, Smidt, through Harbor Freight Tools, fulfilled the entire list and donated $1.4 million of tools and equipment to the LAUSD Division of Adult and Career Education.

Always great to see somebody "Walk the Walk", esp. today.

Really good to hear that he got direct input on the solutions they needed from the Instructors, instead of just writing a cheque.

There is a whole range of Chinese products available now. Princess Auto here (Canada) has pulled up their socks a lot, compared to years ago, but I can see where some HF products are a little better here and there.

Rgds, D.

 

[CBW1999]

I like to see one here...nearest one to me is in Albany NY according to the store locater.

I love walking through the store... but 6.99 flat shipping has worked out well for me- including the farm jack (which I thought was going to be more).

My brother lives close to the store in Worcester, Mass. so, I get to got here when we visit him.

I would think that sooner than later, One would show up in Vermont. With Albany, Worcester and Manchester having locations, Southern Vermont would fit right in.

 

[mikim]

Early 80s I got to go to their warehouse / store in Camarillo Ca. My sister lived in Ventura and she thought I was nuts wanting to go see HF Tools on our sight seeing tour. The "store" was a small corner in the warehouse where the public could come in and buy. We were the only ones in there for the 30 minutes it took me to look around. I didn't get to buy anything cause whatever I wanted wasn't going to fit in a planes overhead bin.