Baystate Jeepers

Went to Harbor Freight yesterday and only spent $40 on stuff I don't need but gotta have!

Printed out a fist full of coupons and I was a man on a mission! Got the Pittsburgh 52 piece socket set for my trail bag ($9!!!!), air horns (my XJ horn is pretty sad), a tire repair kit, pair of LED flashlights and other misc chit that I HAD TO HAVE!!!

I'm thinking of starting a bus service for HF, like they do for the casinos. Load up the bus with Jeepaholics and deliver them to HF. You may walk out with empty pockets but you'll have something to show for it. Plus you won't have to lie and tell everyone you 'did OK' and 'broke even'

At some point I was thinking of buying some of their chain binders to add to my trailer kit when I passed through Worcester.... Which I haven't done yet.

JW

I've been stricken from going into Fall River w/o a chaperon do to the store that's located there. it's 5 minutes from my house and the gravitational pull is unbearable at times.

Does anyone know why their tools are so affordable??

Regarding strength/longevity.. I wonder how a Craftsman socket set (sockets only) would compare to a HF socket set??

I love stores like that, never been to harbour freight but have been to R&R in hooksett NH and its awesome. Im pretty sure they sell alot of the same stuff. I always come out with a bunch of stuff i dont need but know someday I will.

Chris wrote:Does anyone know why their tools are so affordable??

Some of their stuff is not all that cheap$$... most is though. It's all foreign cheaply made stuff. The make the small stuff like the tire plug kit really cheap to draw you in and they make more money on the grinders and air tools that you MUST HAVE.
I bought the bearing puller, slide hammer type and broke one of the cast fingers the day i got it... the puller was ~$40.
They also try to get you on the "extended warranty" on most of the tools.
I got a grinder for ~$12 and they wanted to sell me a 2yr guarantee for $7. If it breaks after the 30 days I'll buy another one... No warranty for me.

Chris wrote:Does anyone know why their tools are so affordable??

Regarding strength/longevity.. I wonder how a Craftsman socket set (sockets only) would compare to a HF socket set??

I've learned over the years to stay away from MOST of the HF wrenches and socket sets (3/4" drive and impact sockets are O.K.) The regular sockets/wrenches tend to bend, split, round off nuts. They're just not worth the $$ in the short run.

For trail tools, keep an eye out for Master Mechanic (Tru-Value Hardware Stores). They hold up pretty well and you can find sets on occasion for less than Craftsman.

Carl,
Even with coupons how'd you manage to only drop $40 ???

Last time I went there I think I dropped close to $500. But hey, everyone needs a gantry crane with a chain fall, right??

F.Y.I. All of Craftsman tools are made by Matco. Thats why they have a replacement policy . Good quality and U.S.A. is the way to go. I have a full set of Matco and the tool guy comes to my driveway ! Spend 40k you should get some kinda treatment ! Or you can buy some thing built by , say, TOYOTA ! FjR68

johnsxj wrote:Carl,
Even with coupons how'd you manage to only drop $40 ???

wasn't easy! I mean, come on.... who doesn't need a spare winch.... especially when it's only $300???

I'd like to say it was self control but I can't. I walked in with a little cash and no credit cards

Carl McFly wrote:

johnsxj wrote:Carl,
Even with coupons how'd you manage to only drop $40 ???

wasn't easy! I mean, come on.... who doesn't need a spare winch.... especially when it's only $300???

I'd like to say it was self control but I can't. I walked in with a little cash and no credit cards

thats a smart way to go in, almost never get out of HF or Home depot for under 1oo...

johnsxj wrote:

Chris wrote:Does anyone know why their tools are so affordable??

Regarding strength/longevity.. I wonder how a Craftsman socket set (sockets only) would compare to a HF socket set??

I've learned over the years to stay away from MOST of the HF wrenches and socket sets (3/4" drive and impact sockets are O.K.) The regular sockets/wrenches tend to bend, split, round off nuts. They're just not worth the $$ in the short run.

For trail tools, keep an eye out for Master Mechanic (Tru-Value Hardware Stores). They hold up pretty well and you can find sets on occasion for less than Craftsman.

The Sears Essentials store in Londonderry is closing next month. All tools are 20-25% off (as of last week, could be even more now).

DOUG wrote:

johnsxj wrote:

Chris wrote:Does anyone know why their tools are so affordable??

Regarding strength/longevity.. I wonder how a Craftsman socket set (sockets only) would compare to a HF socket set??

I've learned over the years to stay away from MOST of the HF wrenches and socket sets (3/4" drive and impact sockets are O.K.) The regular sockets/wrenches tend to bend, split, round off nuts. They're just not worth the $$ in the short run.

For trail tools, keep an eye out for Master Mechanic (Tru-Value Hardware Stores). They hold up pretty well and you can find sets on occasion for less than Craftsman.

The Sears Essentials store in Londonderry is closing next month. All tools are 20-25% off (as of last week, could be even more now).

i went there today seeing how its only a 10 min drive to get there and all tools and power equipment is 25% nothing metal is 50% off apparently

oh and anything electronic is gone... but clothes soda FOOD!!! and tools are still available... oh and a craftsman lawnmower with a 32" deck is 25% off

Frank wrote:F.Y.I. All of Craftsman tools are made by Matco.

Some of the product lines overlap, like the Craftsman pro's and some Matco's, but they are both manufactured by Danaher tools. When I worked at Sears, Stanley was one of the manufacturers. Stanley and Danaher are the major tool players.

http://www.danaher.com/business/strateg ... asp?key=12