Topic: Harbor Freight disappointment

[fmctm1sw]

Picked up a 25% off card a week or so ago and made the trek there this morning.  After seeing all the cool things you guys are doing with welding, I spent till the wee hours of the morning last night deciding between a mig and an arc welder.  Both were around $100.  Into the store I go with my card.  I soon hear a conversation between a cashier and a guy that tried to buy a open box tig welder with the card and they wouldn't let him use it.  I stopped the lady as I was walking around the store a little later and said, "hey did I hear you talking about this 25% off card and welders?"  She said yes, welders, compressors, and other things didn't qualify for the 25% off.  She said headquarters came down on them because they were always supposed to be doing it and never enforced it.  It's in small print right on the discount card.  Rules are rules I guess but they created an expectation that isn't going to be met now.  So I came away with nothing, except a 5 gallon jug pump 

[74cb750]

bummer!

[myhondas]

How about 20% off... there are a lot of coupons out there for that.....and they are good for any single item purchase.

[754]

 I cant see a lot of welding getting done on a 100$ machine, maybe some real small stuff...

[Alan F.]

Yup, they only have DC welders too, so mild steel only for most of them, some can do stainless for 3 or 4 times that price.

[tramp]

sorry it didn't work out
i guess you have to read the fine print

[Stev-o]

At the risk of getting flamed, I am dissapointed nearly every time I go to HF.

Most everything they have is cheap china crap! [ccc]

While for some jobs this is fine, I prefer to buy tools that will last and not need replacement anytime soon.

[Really?]

Had a disappointing time with them on Thanksgiving day.  Went to a newer HF over by me.  I had to leave about 6-7 items on the counter.

I usually go the older one.  When I go to the older one, I print of about 10 coupons and I make about 10 separate purchases.  They have been doing it for the last few years.  I have purchased a bunch of stuff.  At the newer one, I lay my items down and say these are all separate purchases.  He tells me one coupon per purchase per day.  I ask him when they started doing this and he looks at me like an idiot and says it has always been that way.  So I got one item and left the rest on the counter.  I stick make a stink all the way out the door, he won't forget me.

It was too late in the day to go to the other one.  Yanno, I really didn't save anything on that trip because it took me three tollways to get there and back.  They lost $150 in sales that day.  I hope these stores are franchised so I know that fool loses my money.

And that 20% off link on their site is not there anymore.

[754]

Awwww... dont get all pissed when they finally start enforcing all the rules..

 Its lowend stuff anyway..

[dhall57]

If you want cheap, low quality tools, etc. for occasional use HF is the place to go. But if I were a professional mechanic of any type needing quality stuff shop elsewhere. Since buying my 750 I needed 2 tools that I've never had a need for a impact driver and a chain breaker. I found both at HF. Impact driver $5.95, chain breaker $9.99. Yeah there cheap low quality, but know more than I will be using them they should hold up fine. Why pay double or even more when you don't need to. In todays economy we all have to cut corners where every we can. Don't you agree.

[fmctm1sw]

I cant see a lot of welding getting done on a 100$ machine, maybe some real small stuff...

I don't know.  I read the reviews and a lot of people are happy with them.  I'm sure you're not going to weld up a car frame or anything but hackers like me don't need the $1000 driver...

[cobra2411]

I know someone who got a cheap wire feed welder from HF and it was a disappointment. Main complaint was that the wire is live all the time... It was also very hard to dial in and be consistent. I guess if that's all the money you have and just need something for tacking or very occasional welding.

IMO you can find a cheap used real welder on CL easy enough. Heck my brand new Lincoln was only a hair over $400 new at HD with a 10% off coupon. I can upgrade it with a spool gun for aluminum if I want.

I used it and 4lb of wire to whip up a nice little bike trailer...

[bill440cars]

      When I worked at a VW dealership, I used Snap-on tools with some Craftsman. Then, after I got out of that and doing stuff at home, I still went with those names in tools, for a while. Then I bought a few select things at HF and (knowing they weren't 1st rate tools) they have pretty much done their job. You just have to realize their capabilities. I bought a wire welder from WalMart for a little over $100 (Campbell Hausfeld) and it's done all right for me and I can add the changes to do aluminum as well. I think it's ALL in what the individual needs. my 2 cents. 

[754]

 A better welder, is easier to use and will do more.. a very basic one will do things, but I wouldnt want to modify a frame with one..

 I do like having the capabilty to tack something.. to take to a welder though..