The One Thing Everyone Does Wrong When Buying Tools At Harbor Freight
Harbor Freight has an enormous range of tools and equipment to choose from, and finding everything you're looking for in a single store is obviously convenient. That said, one of the main reasons many people shop there is undoubtedly the competitive prices. Whether you're new to DIY and trying to put together a basic household tool kit for under $100 or you're splurging on a bunch of power tools, there's a good chance you'll save money when compared with buying from many other tool stores and big-name brands.
So knowing how to get the best deals at Harbor Freight can see you having more cash left in your pocket than you might have expected, and there's nothing wrong with that. However, the thing everyone does wrong is to buy the cheapest tool available without doing research first. Making your choice based solely on price can lead to disappointment and frustration.
More often than not, Harbor Freight offers products from two or three brands that appear very similar at a glance but have different price tags. This is because each offers different performance and build quality. To get the tool that lives up to your expectations, it's important to consider the specification as well as the dollars and cents. Fortunately, Harbor Freight's renowned value-for-money means you should still get a good deal even when you don't buy the cheapest tool. Let's look at a couple of examples.
You can pay a little more for your Harbor Freight tool and still get value for money
Harbor Freight has three cordless drill brands: Warrior, Bauer, and Hercules. If it's a tool you'll only use occasionally, the Warrior model might be the right tool, but Bauer is aimed at more enthusiastic DIYers, so if you're going to use it regularly, you should spend a little more. If you're looking for a pro-grade tool, invest in the Hercules model.
The same is true of Harbor Freight hand tools. If we look at wrenches, then Pittsburgh is the brand for light use, Quinn for those who like to look after their own vehicles, and Icon is for the professional mechanic. If you're shopping for a welder, Harbor Freight rates Chicago Electric as "good," Titanium as "better," and Vulcan as "best."
Yes, you'll pay more as you go up the scale, but you'll get the tool that's right for the job, rather than something that might let you down in the longer term. The benefits of upgrading are underlined by the results of the top 10 Harbor Freight brands ranked by customer popularity. It's seldom the cheapest tool that wins, so be careful you don't make that mistake next time you are shopping at Harbor Freight.