Lumax Grease Gun

[luvrbus]

Even HF sells a premium grade now, including tool boxes.

I saw those still not going buy anything I plan on keeping from H/F.lol a kid told me in H/F their 4 inch grinder 5 amp was better than the DeWalt 11 amp grinder  not happening in real life.I will say the H/F tool box Van has in his H-40 bay is a nice smooth sturdy box and I have a H/F roll around with the wood top that was a present it is a nice box too 

[dtcerrato]

HF has their place in the market no less than Amazon or Ebay has it globally but a physical store to walk in & BS with other buyers has it's cool aspect.

[windtrader]

HF as a company is an extraordinary example of really knowing their products and market. Obviously, they did sell cheap china tools that are high value and excellent return and extended coverage options.

Then they started upselling by introducing GOOD BETTER BEST lines. I'm on the fence about how that goes but apparently they are doubling down so it must be a buy for some at higher price levels. Like mentioned the prices are getting closer and closer to name brands so will see how they do competing in that arena.

I'd never bet against HF and it would not be an impossible idea that some day HF will be a go to store for all tools. It'll just have a history of decades earlier starting out selling dirt cheap tools and great customer service.
I'd love to invest in HF if it were a public company. I like TSC too as it has over the years taken over the consumer farmer crowd

[luvrbus]

HF as a company is an extraordinary example of really knowing their products and market. Obviously, they did sell cheap china tools that are high value and excellent return and extended coverage options.

Then they started upselling by introducing GOOD BETTER BEST lines. I'm on the fence about how that goes but apparently they are doubling down so it must be a buy for some at higher price levels. Like mentioned the prices are getting closer and closer to name brands so will see how they do competing in that arena.

I'd never bet against HF and it would not be an impossible idea that some day HF will be a go to store for all tools. It'll just have a history of decades earlier starting out selling dirt cheap tools and great customer service.
I'd love to invest in HF if it were a public company. I like TSC too as it has over the years taken over the consumer farmer crowd

I thought TSC was owned by a Kuwait holding company ,I know they had ties to Exide Batteries when I did a remodel on a store.H/F will have a public IP offering someday and the owner will walk away with a boat load of cash,Joe Albertson had over 2000 grocery stores before he took Albertsons public   

[Jim Blackwood]

I still buy the cheapest HF angle grinders and sometimes they go on sale for around $15 which is a good time to stock up. I consider an angle grinder to be perishable tooling. It will wear out and have to be replaced so there is little reason to invest money in a premium item like Milwaulkee because although that may work a little better and last a little longer, it will also be many time more expensive, enough so that the cheap HF grinder represents a much better value even if it takes a half dozen of them to equal the life of one Milwaulkee grinder and usually they do a little better than that. Primary failure mode is brushes but they often fail in other ways. I tend to have between 4 and 6 of these on the bench at any given time and often a few more in the boxes under the bench.

But that's perishable tooling and for the items that can be expected to last longer I like Milwaulkee tools very well. The 18 volt ones do me just fine and I'm pretty impressed with the new brushless tools which should last even longer. I have one of their grease guns and it does quite well. Overall they are professional tools and as such live up to expectations. That's worth the premium in my opinion in most cases. With the exception of perishable tools like angle grinders.

Jim

[luvrbus]

I buy my cutting disks from a welding supply they cost me $6.00  ea and 1 will last longer than the 10 pack from H/F,I have a couple of the H/F 5 amp grinders probably never have anymore since H/F won't replace the grinders any longer, they don't have any power compared to a 11 amp DeWalt or Mikita   

[DoubleEagle]

Grinders can last. I have a commercial one that I bought used from a welder back in 1985. Not sure what brand or model it is because everything identifying it is worn off. I have used it for heavy grinding hundreds of times and dropped it many times. It still grinds away, and it is heavy. It even ground a notch in my kneecap back in 1986 while cutting off muffler brackets on a loader. The wound self-cauterized from the heat.

[windtrader]

I still buy the cheapest HF angle grinders and sometimes they go on sale for around $15 which is a good time to stock up. I consider an angle grinder to be perishable tooling.... That's worth the premium in my opinion in most cases. With the exception of perishable tools like angle grinders.

Jim

That's funny, Ji. That is one of the tools I plan to upgrade. Turns out that HF angle grinder gets a lot of use, so convenient to make easy work of lots of jobs. The poor old orange thijng rattles so much I feel sorry for it and want to give it a proper burial. Unbelievable how much value that thing delivered.

Clifford - https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/tsco?mod=search_symbolWith the turmoil in the stock market, tractor supply has been steady eddy, doing very well the past few years, immune to all the craziness. Good investment, no drama.

[chessie4905]

3tsc is starting to get serious competition. Locally, Rural King opened with same and greater variety than TSC at competitive prices. Have also seen Blain and a couple others in our travels. I do get my propane refilled at TSC. Some places use a hand held so I don't have to go inside to pay.

[luvrbus]

It's a lot easier for H/F to expand than TSC, H/F stores are mostly inventory in a rented building in shopping centers, I don't recall ever seeing H/F ever building,TSC has a few rented buildings most are in company owned buildings and property

[chessie4905]

Their stores around here have really stepped up the quality of interiors and especially restrooms.
We have Ollies stores around here that used to be cheezy locations. The new ones have reallt stepped it up also. I think leasing stores is a better deal most of the time as locations can deteriorate customer volumes and maybe tax purposes. Now with so many malls having empty spots, its tough if you are stuck in a dying one. But it can provide opportunities for new businesses when a Sears, Pennys, etc close

[windtrader]

The HF closest to me is in a standalone building on its own lot with large parking lot. Others recently visited are in strip malls. Agree it is a lot quicker and less costly to move into existing space. They have lots of locations already in CA but surprised to see them opening more up all the time.

Our Journey  Our journey began in 1977, when Eric Smidt and his father launched Harbor Freight Tools. 40+ years, 1300+ stores, and over 40 million satisfied customers later, not only are we still family owned, but we've stayed true to our mission. We've continued to deliver an incredible assortment of quality tools to pros and DIYers alike at prices that are up to 80% less than competing brands.

[luvrbus]

The HF closest to me is in a standalone building on its own lot with large parking lot. Others recently visited are in strip malls. Agree it is a lot quicker and less costly to move into existing space. They have lots of locations already in CA but surprised to see them opening more up all the time.

The H/F in Bullhead City is in a stand alone building too a old Hasting Book Store both leasing and owning a build has it's advantage,owning adds to the value of a company and leasing is 100% tax deductible,Walmart does both, but the leased building is built to Walmart's specs new using W/M's contractors.I done several W/M buildings Sam's brother in law Frank Robinson owned that were leased to W/M .Frank owned the number 9 W/M building located in Pryor OK a old metal building we tore down   

[chessie4905]

They advertise that they are opening 2 new stores every week.
https://newsroom.harborfreight.com/corporate/2022/08/harbor-freight-tools-named-the-fastest-growing-retailer-in-the-u-s/

[luvrbus]

They advertise that they are opening 2 new stores every week.
https://newsroom.harborfreight.com/corporate/2022/08/harbor-freight-tools-named-the-fastest-growing-retailer-in-the-u-s/

Selling better tools may hurt H/F  at one time Sears was the largest supplier of tools in the USA