Harbor Freight

[Chuck B 2004 Windsor]

To those who think Harbor freight tools are great.

To the Harbor Freight Community:

I'm writing to apologize. I often reach out to tell you about Harbor Freight's commitment to quality and all the investments we've made to deliver quality tools at the lowest prices. Your trust matters deeply to me and I'm proud of how far we've come. So when we have a product recall, it hurts.

A few months ago, we recalled our Pittsburgh 3 ton and 6 ton steel jack stands (SKUs 56371, 61196 and 61197) due to a manufacturer's defect. We asked customers to return them and receive a gift card that could be used to purchase replacement jack stands. I felt terrible about that recall because you should never have a concern about the safety of any of our products.

Today, I feel even worse. I'm disappointed and embarrassed because we've identified a welding defect in a small number of the Pittsburgh 3 ton steel jack stands (SKU 56373) that replaced the recalled jack stands. We're now adding these jack stands to our recall. Unfortunately, this defect wasn't discovered during the initial recall investigation. If you own these jack stands or any of the jack stands in our original recall, whether or not you have had an issue with them, please stop using them immediately and bring them back to your local Harbor Freight Store for a full cash refund or store credit (see details here).

We have investigated all of our other Pittsburgh 3 ton steel jack stands (SKUs 56371, 56372 and 57308) as well as the Pittsburgh 6 ton steel jack stands (SKUs 56368, 56369 and 56370) and Pittsburgh 12 ton steel jack stands (SKUs 56374 and 56375) and did not find the defect. Although none of these other jack stands are being recalled, if you own any of them and have any concern whatsoever, please bring them back and we'll give you a full cash refund or store credit for those as well.

I want to apologize to all of our customers. While we've dramatically grown our team of engineers and inspectors, and intensified our tests and inspections, I assure you that the lessons learned from this will drive further improvement.

As the owner and founder of Harbor Freight, I want you to know that we stand behind every product we sell and that safety will always be our top priority.

Sincerely,

Eric Smidt
Owner and Founder

[Guest Cruzbill]

Years ago, not long after we bought our 30' fifth wheel, the dealer called to say they are recalling them due to a possible faulty weld in the goose neck. They made the repair and all was well when we traded in the 5ver on our motorhome 5 years ago. I use HFtools with caution, but have found that, within reason, they are an outstanding value for the money. Do I wish I had a shop full of Snap-On? Yes. I applaud Mr Smidt for the honesty in his post, now I'll have to review my jack stand inventory! 

[Chuck B 2004 Windsor]

Through out my years in life, I have got to know you get what you pay for in goods and service.  I thank God that no one has had their RV fall on them due to faulty jack stands.  Snap on tools are guaranteed for life.  If they become defected for any reason, they are replaced free.  Same for Craftsman tools before Sears folded.   

[Paul J A]

Many years ago, a person i respected said, "You buy the best, or PICK from the rest" I have never forgotten that. 

Compromising will always bite you in the Butt. 

Paul A

[Dennis H]

I like a lot of their tools, but my dad always drummed one thing into our kids heads. I can hear him shouting down to me from heaven as I type this. "NEVER COMPROMISE SAFETY".  HF tools are cheap, use them toss them, but for safety items, buy the best you can afford.....Dennis

[OhReally]

Chuck, even the 12 ton jack stand would be useless on my coach. I hope everyone knows the actual weight of their coach and will always add in their own safety margin when choosing tools to work on their coach.

-Jamie

[Hypoxia]

1 hour ago, sjamiejones said:

Chuck, even the 12 ton jack stand would be useless on my coach. I hope everyone knows the actual weight of their coach and will always add in their own safety margin when choosing tools to work on their coach.-Jamie

Curious why you say that?   I know the weight, 47,000 and use 12 ton stands frequently.

[OhReally]

The 12 ton stands from HF simply don't meet my personal safety margins. We have a market that is flooded with Chinese products claiming to meet known US standards but  in actuality have no pedigree to prove it. A mechanic puts a lot of faith in stands when he is working under a vehicle and I'm sure most weight rating don't include any rocking, shaking or slippage that might occur and cause jack stand failure.

-Jamie

[woodylmiller]

I had to return 3 sets of the 1/4 drive nut drivers to HF.  The magnets had fallen out of a few of each set.  I live 75 miles one way to the nearest HF so I don't get down there that often.  I  take what is left of each of the 3 sets thinking they will just replace the sets.  No, they replace each of the bad ones.  So I ask they guy, "you are going to open that package and just take out one of the nut drivers"? , he said yes they only replace the bad nut drivers individually.  So I ask, what will you do with that set of nut drivers now that the package is open and one of the nut drivers have been removed.  He said they will mark down what is left in the package.  I think that is pretty stupid if you ask me and I tell him so.  That left a sour taste in my mouth after driving down to get a replacement set of the bad nut drivers.  Seems to me that if you are selling a set in a package, why not just give me the set?  Why open the package, take one out, and then try to sell what's left?  I have never seen one of those marked down open packages at HF.  These things are cheap, $5 bucks, they cost HF maybe $2 bucks, and they are going to open a package and take one nut driver out?  I won't go back.  I know going in that it's chinese crap, OK, I get it, I'm not paying Snap On prices.  And Snap On breaks too.  I have a 3/8 ratchet that I need to have replaced.  But come on, breaking open a $5 buck package of nut drivers?  As to the jack stands, I use a 20 ton bottle jack and timbers to place under the frame, I would never use any body's jack stand for that.  When I use jack stands on my pickup I use two sets in case one fails. 

[Dennis H]

Every HF I've gone to has a mark down bay, usually at the back of the store. One of your drivers failed and they gave you a new one. Depending on the warranty time etc. they might have simply said sorry. That they make you whole again shows they did the right thing. Now if you returned the entire set and they simply gave you a new one then that would be fair also. That they will try to make a few pennies on the open package should be of little concern to you. You could have asked them what they will be marking it down to and maybe purchase it then that might be an alternative. How far you have to go to get to the store is irrelevant....Be safe, go camping....Dennis

[Guest Cruzbill]

I think some are missing the point: The head guy at HF not only issued the recall, he said they'd reviewed their other stands as well, and (as they say), out of an abundance of caution, they would offer refunds for their 6 and 12T stands as well, although those units are not in the recall. He also issued an apology; When was the last time a corporate CEO issued an apology along with a recall? Good job by HF. The guy at the top actually knows what is going on in his company, and takes responsibility for it. 

As for me, I don't work on the undercarriage of my MH, as I lack the space and tools to do it safely.  

[birdshill123]

The cheap jackstands are rated in pairs. Quality units are rated for each stand. OTC has a secondary line of jackstands that are excellent.