Hmmm...this is new, Harbor Freight

[Caryc]

Sitting watching TV the other day and I saw the first Harbor Freight commercial I've ever seen on TV. It was on Directv's Discovery channel. Anyone else seen a Harbor Freight commercial?

 

[Butch(OH)]

Yep

 

[timcasbolt]

Yes, I've seen Harbor Freight commercials on tv for a long time.

 

[MJMJ]

They’re on almost non stop. Especially on Youtube.

 

[Gambles]

I’ve been seeing the same HF commercial for a few weeks now. Since they’ve moved from $4.99 socket sets to tools that they think can compete with Snap-On, the money is obviously rolling in. Google can verify this, but he’s had a former president visit his home and he’s got a brand new huge yacht to play with.

 

[Caryc]

I’ve been seeing the same HF commercial for a few weeks now. Since they’ve moved from $4.99 socket sets to tools that they think can compete with Snap-On, the money is obviously rolling in. Google can verify this, but he’s had a former president visit his home and he’s got a brand new huge yacht to play with.

Who is "he"?

 

[Gambles]

Who is "he"?

“He” is the owner of Harbor Freight.

 

[stevieb49829]

“He” is the owner of Harbor Freight.

Does that make him the "Harbor Master"?

 

[timcasbolt]

Eric Smidt

 

[Mule Meat]

Eric Smidt. He started harbor freight when he was a teenager. His dad once sued him for taking money from the company to finance his lavish lifestyle.

 

[bc]

Just as well figure on another dollar added to the price of a tool to pay for the commercials. Won't be long before Snap-on is cheaper than HF.

 

[GMCSierra1500]

HF has 2 or 3 levels of quality (and price). Some are made under patents purchased from Snap On.

 

[wore out]

Does that make him the "Harbor Master"?

GOSH, what do you suppose the CEOS of Snap On, MAC tools, Stanley, etc. are doing while all this fun and giddyness is going on at HF?

 

[caterpillar guy]

I could be wrong . I read where Harbor Freight owns Snap-On now. Mac is owned by Stanley now as well as a bunch of others.

 

[timcasbolt]

It's true that Mac is part of Stanley. That acquisition took place in 1980. From what I can tell, Snap On is not part of Harbor Freight.

 

[Ultradog MN]

I stopped by HF the other day. Didn't go in tho. I never go in there.
I went to Dong Yang where we buy our soy sauce.
This kind is the best.

 

[TerryfromSWIowa]

Saw that commercial and they were peddling a different tool not Pittsburg brand.

 

[Mule Meat]

HF has three brands of hand tools of different quality.

Pittsburgh - Bottom of the barrel.

QUINN - Mid grade. Not the greatest or the worst tools made.

ICON - Top of the line. Actually not bad. I would buy them before I bought Stanley, Craftsman, Kobalt, Crescent, MAC or a few others.

 

[Gambles]

Saw that commercial and they were peddling a different tool not Pittsburg brand.

You probably won't see them peddling the Pittsburgh brand much anymore. That name is their low-cost, entry-level name. The names you now see being pushed are Quinn, Icon, Bauer or Hercules. These are their names that allow the owner to buy a $350 million dollar yacht.

 

[1948CaseVAI]

You probably won't see them peddling the Pittsburgh brand much anymore. That name is their low-cost, entry-level name. The names you now see being pushed are Quinn, Icon, Bauer or Hercules. These are their names that allow the owner to buy a $350 million dollar yacht.

I am happy for him and his ability to purchase nice things! He had a vision and idea and followed thhrough and made it successful through hard work. I am always a bit surprised (and for sure disappointed) by the ability of Americans to show envy in the face of well-earned success.