OT Cheap tools in important situations Options

[Unobtanium-inc]

I'm a big fan of Harbor Freight, but there are times when cheap tools are a bad idea. I grabbed the wrong jack before a road trip a few weeks ago. So here I am, 1000 miles from home, looking for the plug that flew out of my cheap HF jack, damn you Harbor Freight!

[mepstein]

I really don’t think there is much difference between the made in China tools from harbor freight and the made in China tools from everybody else.

[Unobtanium-inc]

I really don’t think there is much difference between the made in China tools from harbor freight and the made in China tools from everybody else.

The problem with HF is that they actually have decent stuff, but it costs more, sometimes a lot more, so you invariably roll the dice on the cheap one, and pay the price. For example, this jack was under $100, I bought it on the road one time when we needed one in a pinch, but when I went to replace it I bought one from HF for almost three times as much. Northern Tool has China stuff too but usually doesn't have the really cheap option. Another example, you can buy a cutting wheel at HF for $9, but the one I used cost about $150, from HF.
I just have to remind myself to not fall for the okey-doke low price.