Harbor Freight first teased about their new line of Icon professional-grade tool storage products at the end of 2018.
Well, Icon tool cabinets, top chests, and accessories are nearly here.
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Go head, check them out on Harbor Freight’s site, and then raise your jaw.
The 8-drawer cabinet shown above, measuring 36″ wide and 25″ deep, has a list price of $2700. While most Harbor Freight shoppers might say “it’ll be cheaper with a coupon,” percent-off coupons don’t work on Icon tools or premium storage products, and an online search doesn’t turn up any active coupons and only a few expired ones.
When Harbor Freight first announced their line of Icon professional tools, they listed an early price of $2499 for their 56″ x 25″ x 45″ tool cabinet, comparing it to a leading tool truck brand’s $6775 price. When fully accessorized with a work center, end locker, and other add-ons, the total price was $7294 compared to $18,125 for the tool truck brand’s comparable setup.
At this time, with the Icon tool cabinets first launching on Harbor Freight’s website, the 56″ x 25″ cabinet has a $4000 list price. It’s unclear to whether the price difference is due to tariffs, a change in production costs, or other factors.
What hasn’t changed is that Harbor Freight is still taking on Snap-on, with Icon marketing showing competitive and even favorable specs.
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New Icon tool storage products are not yet available at Harbor Freight stores, or at least not where we’re based, but they should be heading there soon. When you order a cabinet in-store, the boxes will ship directly to your home/workshop/destination. On their website, Harbor Freight says that all Icon tool storage products come with free door-to-door delivery.
Features of the 36″ roller tool cabinet include 2,000 lb load rating per caster for 8,000 lbs total, 14 and 16 gauge steel framing with double wall construction, and each pair of drawer slides are rated to 265 lbs. There’s also an exterior power center, at the front by the top right corner, with AC outlets and USB charging ports. Each drawer also has adjustable drawer latches that control opening force.
The larger Icon tool cabinets have interior outlets, a power tool drawer with holsters for air and power tools and also interior electrical outlets.
When I spoke with Harbor Freight’s Wes Harmelink last week, he described how the Icon tool storage products would be extremely well-built and premium-featured.
I expected the new Icon tool boxes to be premium-priced, but I still recoiled from sticker shock.
Will there be promos? That’s hard to predict.
Harbor Freight’s new 36″ tool cabinet is better spec’ed than Proto’s 34″ tool cabinet. That Proto cabinet is just a completely higher level of quality compared to consumer tool boxes.
These new Icon tool storage products are not consumer products. Enthusiasts might aspire to own one, but from the features, specs, and price tags, it does look like Harbor Freight really is aiming to grab market share away from Snap-on and other premium tool truck brands.
For Icon, the tagline is Tool truck quality, unbeatable prices.
Harbor Freight’s new catalog describes Icon as the ultimate in tool storage systems.
The new system is also said to be modular, with end lockers, top chests, hutches with doors, optional overhead compartments, light bars, stainless steel worktops, and slot wall accessories such as tool and document holders.
The new Icon tool cabinets and storage combos are way outside my price range for personal use. For professional use, I’d like to see Harbor Freight tackle Lista-style stationary storage! If Harbor Freight can get things right with their Icon tech boxes and workstations right, maybe they will enter into more industrial and workshop stationary solutions as well.
Select stores will have Icon tool storage on display, but you can order them anywhere.
Also, we’ve learned that Harbor Freight will launch a new store credit card in 2020, and will offer up to 36 months of 0% financing for qualifying purchases.
This is very uncharacteristic of Harbor Freight, but I’m happy to see it. If they can truly offer higher quality at competitive or better pricing, that could have trickle effects into their other tool lines.
Flotsam
There is a link where you can get more details about entire Icon line https://images.harborfreight.com/media/brand/icon/ICON-Catalog-Locations.pdf
They have a list of locations where i guess you can see them, but unfortunately none are near me. Not in the market for a new box or spending thousands on something that is essentially storage, but it doesn’t hurt to look.
Mike
*Full Disclosure* I work for Harbor Freight. I just finished putting our Display together and it isn’t cheaply made. Compared to our US General, this is definitely not aimed at DIYers and bargain shoppers.
Carlos
Would be nice if there were more colors like Dewalt Yellow!!!
James
There are 3 colors, red/green/blue
Daniel
I have used lots of professional toolboxes. Matco, snap-off etc. I recently picked up the general 44″ roller chest for my electrical shop, and a mechanic buddy of mine got the next larger one for use at his dealership. Honestly they are some of the finest toolboxes I’ve used. They certainly outdid themselves. So much that the icon line seems useless at 4x the price or more. The icon logo screams “cheap” in my opinion. Any mechanic that needs more than a US General, is a brand whore and icon ain’t gonna cut it. They need a big brand name to “snap it off in ’em” icon is an ok name. But really, it doesn’t tickle the 4x $ bone. I am afraid HF will be butt hurt that no one buys icon and they will cheapen up the general boxes to encourage icon sales. Just my 2 cents……
Sal
if you push the weight capacity of the drawers you’ll quickly find out the general boxes struggle. i have the older 44″ (42″ actually iirc) and the main drawer is screaming for mercy. it seems to be of at least the same grade construction as the newer box but the advantage is that its a few inches shallower meaning its naturally a bit more rigid. that being said its fully loaded with sockets. literally. fully loaded, and all vertical. if i dont use the exact center of the drawer to open and close it, it racks and binds up, if i was a mechanic and was in and out of that drawer 100x a day it would fall apart quickly. i usually only a need a few sockets a day and open and close it less than 5x a day. i have the newer gen2 26″ box as well and have a ton of my machinist tools in it. my setup blocks, workholding… huge end mills, huge drills, even on that narrow box, the weight is taxing on the box. there is a reason why industrial/professional level boxes are built they way they are, its for people that require absolutely massive weight capacity without falling apart. the deeper the drawer gets the more of a challenge this becomes, and generally, the entire box doesnt need to be constructed that way, but there are going to be a few drawers that absolutely get pushed to the limits. the slides on the icon boxes and drawer reinforcement with the most recent price drops have me seriously considering the icons now. previously they were priced in the used snap on masters series range. now that they are well under that it makes them a good choice, another problem is that depending on where im working im usually going to run out of wall space before i run out of depth so a deeper box can hold more before im out of space.
Dave
Dude craftsman or kobalt is way better made than general tool boxes sorry you don’t have the ability to tell the difference! Icon is way better than all of them!
Alain Mabru
I bought a 56 with the work station, side cabinets, side drawer, stainless top, and also the above the work station unit, all very well made, not so easy to attach as anticipated but we will figure it out.. the problem is that we paid more than $7000 for the set and the delivery was a nightmare, calls from them to schedule, on a business open regular hours, then when they finally arrived the aluminum trim on the work station was dented.. driver was able to take some pictures and stated that he will report the delivery damage, after few days trying to get that part I convinced myself that was better for me to order the part and dismiss this claim.. the problem is not as simple, nobody wants or is able to take my order, I was in the phone about 2 hours, my office about 3 hours, we then drove to the store, and they claimed that it will take 4 to 6 months to get that part, but not sure if it will become available.. 🤯
Ken
I’m curious about the locations chosen and what that says about the target consumer for these boxes. Washington only shows Walla Walla and Port Angeles.
Ben
Kevin,
Fully agreed. I started looking through the store list and it starts out strong….. until you get to WA. Baffling that they won’t be selling these things at the Seattle store.
Sure, you’re not aiming at DIY – but given these locations they’re also not aiming at 90% of the population of WA state. Other states don’t seem to have this problem (just my quick scan).
Leo
They have them at the Tacoma store now.
salmon
Five times the price of the US General cabinets?
It had better be every little bit as good as a Snap-On box. And man those wheels are ugly.
Russ
What is harbor freight thinking. People not going to walk in and pay 7000.00 for a. Tool chest. I don’t think there going to sell to many of them . I think. They have a hard on for snap on and it’s going to bit them in the ass………..
Paul
I agree
Snap-on or bust!
Exactly !
Brad
This
Snap-On started in 1920 and have built name recognition including through times like the great depression, WWII, and the auto boom to just name a few.
ICON thinks they ARE name recognition. Almost Illusions of grandeur. Not saying that the boxes are bad, but they are not Snap-On good.
Here is the $4000 question. Do you buy
1) One New Icon 56″ rolling cabinet
2) FIVE US.General 56″ rolling cabinets. (with coupon, maybe six!)
3) Look for a used/older Snap-On on Craigslist and maintain credibility.
Carlos
Wait for the no exclusion sale at Harbor Freight and use the 15 % coupon. because the Large American General cabinets do not go on sale, just listed in the flyers.
David
20% off coupon for storage units expires 10/31/19.
Ken
I’ve not seen that sale – does it happen same time every year? When? Thanks!
Michael C Larson
I just spent 24,000.00$ on a SNAP ON TOOL chest. I dont care what anyone else has to offer I own the best. And I paid in cash!
Snap on or bust ?
That’s the way I see it as well, most REAL mechanics I know including myself don’t have time to go to Horrible Fright and buy substandard tools.
Curtis
I’m not a real mechanic. I buy a few tools at Harbor Freight and some I won’t touch. I’ve been burned on Chinese drill bits in the past. Anything that requires serious precision or metal tempering is not something I trust to no name Chinese manufacturing. Cheap throwaway paint brushes, sand paper or crowbars are the kind of things that even China can’t screw up too badly.
My Harbor Freight auger has been great as has the predator motor I repowered my wood splitter with. Multi thousand dollar tool chests I wouldn’t even consider buying from Harbor Freight.
John Lepkowski
I think of this compared to what I did years ago when buying a car instead of buying a Camry I bought a Hyundai. My wife’s got a Camry. Savings wasn’t huge but it was noticeable and you do get a lot more features with the Hyundai than we would have ever gotten for the money with Toyota.
Skip forward a couple of years. Hyundai has about a hundred thousand on it and it’s starting to fall apart. My wife’s Camry has about 230,000 miles on it and it’s still going strong as a rock.
I feel the difference between snap-on and icon is going to be a similar experience. One has a long history of producing solid vehicles and the other came along and compared themselves and features. When it’s time for another new car I’m going to spend the extra money and buy the Camry. Not. The Hyundai was bad, it wasn’t as good and therefore cost me more money in the long run
chad w
This is an old post, but the nonsense about “not snap on good” was, at the time, and remains, utter nonsense. These icon cabinets are too high priced, but they are every bit the quality of snappy boxes (of which i have 3). The fact this was posted before these boxes were even AVAILABLE shows the original posters bias, and laughable.
Flotsam
but seriously is the list price for an item really what anyone ever pays at Harbor Freight? right now all you see are list prices and gifted reviews on YouTube. Gotta wait till real product ships before you can make any real judgement.
Mark Myword
Snap-On over the last 5to 10 years has gone from “THEE MECHANICS TOOLS” to Overpriced, Outsourced Relate led Products and just plain TRASH.
The only people who dispute this are the nut huggers who are so thick in the head not to look at what’s in front of them. These people are brand loyal idiots the type of people that Snap-on has built their reputation with. You people are sheep and are the only things that keep snap on in business today keep throwing your money away the only thing you know to do correctly.
Take a look at Snap-on Tools ask your driver who manufactures the tool look it up they don’t make any of their own shit anymore. The original versions that they’re just rebranded with snap-on’s names are usually 1/3 of the price of what Snap-on sales and 4 for the exact same item with a different jacket on it and a different colored wig. Usually with the same warranty but don’t be stupid you can buy three of the original items for the price of one and I promise you you won’t go through all three of those in your lifetime.
Most mechanics are loyal to Snap-on because they offer them credit that they don’t have fine get your business established in once you do have credit don’t spend your money foolishly.
I’m glad Harbor Freight has a hard-on for snap on Snap On tried to sue them for their Jack and lost their ass. Snap-on try to have big balls and take on Milwaukee and their lawsuit and lost their ass Snap-on is not what it used to be it’s not what your grandfather used it’s not what your father used but it is what idiot incompetence sheep continue to use.
The only thing that stupid people have the complain about is the wheels are ugly are you serious, seriously are you serious you’re not looking at the construction how it holds double the weight those Wheels have suspension built into them not like Snap-on. If the wheels are what bothers you you’re beyond trying to talk sense into.
Good luck with your future.
Snap on or bust ?
I’d rather be a sheep than a Troll, it’s been my experience that someone defends a product that they do not own and not even really out in the market place yet is a miserable Troll.. apparently you have suffered a repo at the Hands of Snap on due to your own inability to pay for something you couldn’t afford in the first place.
Bub
The name of the tools does not make you a professional mechanic. It’s like putting lipstick on a pig and calling it a runway model. I’ve seen plenty of so called professional mechanics that have the 100k plus Snap on tools and couldn’t diagnose a pimple to save their ass. But at least they got the cool tools.
No-one's Business
Snap-on manufactures their own tools in Milwaukee, Elkmont, and Elizabethton. There is SNA Europe that does a very small percentage of their SKU’s (flush cut pliers and adjustable wrenches, to name a few). An even smaller percentage is made overseas from Taiwan or China – simply because at over 12,000 part numbers that Snap on sells, you simply cannot have it all. The fact that over 90% of Snap-on branded hand tools AND their toolboxes/carts are made in the USA is a testament to their commitment to the American workforce. You can argue if the price is worth the value, as that is truly up each their own; however, much of what you said is simply factually inaccurate that some simple research can disprove.
So, really, who is the fan boy idiot here….?
Rion
Couldn’t agree more mark !!! Snap on tools have become extremely overpriced , and truly have left an opening for a competitor to come in and steel a large karket share from those of us that get that . I will go on vacation with the extra money i save , snap on fans can keep enjoying that weekly tool truck vist to hit them up for there weekly payment . Well wishes from Hawaii. Aloha.
James
To be fair Snap on is a bit over priced but everyone and then a good deal comes around. This Icon box is nice but to be honest not many people are gonna buy it. Extreme tools has been around much longer and built in the USA and are much cheaper than these boxes. People need to shop around. I got one of my tool boxes off a snap on truck and it was a used krl722 which gos for 7k for only 2300 including tax in great shape cause I knew old owner. Just be patient and try not to impulse buy is my advice!
Steven Thomas
Our store has had them for quite awhile, yet to sell one town of 45k
bob u
well, i remember an attempt by harbor at the tablet based high end OBD2 scan tool market. Highly hyped, but seems to be a shelf queen now. Notice its down to $995 now from a earlier price of upper teens. Built it and they will come might work for ball fields, but not necessarily harbor freight tools. Harbor needs to realize who its target market is. what they needed to do is build a heavier duty better hardware version of tool chests at x2 to x3 the cost of these current offerings. Those might have had more of a chance to sell.
Randy Wood
I priced out the wall unit yesterday.Nice system but the complete wall unit was 28k.I about die
Daniel
I agree! The US General boxes are phenomenal. I’m worried they will cheapen them to encourage icon box sales. I feel that the US General is all a “non brand whore” will ever need.
aerodawg
not sure I’m ever off roading my toolbox such that it needs shocks and springs…..
Chris
Then you ain’t really toolboxing homie
Mark Myword
You ever roll over a seam in concrete or a divot? Apparently not but when you have over a thousand pounds and tools those shocks make a difference.
You ever been riding in someone’s SUV or Car with 22″ – 24″ wheels and 25 serires tires? You feel every pebble in the road even when these vehicles are not lowered just because of the profile of the tire.
Then again maybe you don’t have enough tools that it should really matter in that case load them up on your big wheel and carry on Soldier.
Daniel
Does Snap-off have suspension? Not on the ones I have used.
Wayne R,
I don’t understand how such things can be so expensive. I get it that they’re “premium” but still…
Kk
The manufacturing costs are a few hundred dollars including raw materials and manufacturing, in china. Everything you see in the picture
Jim Felt
….the wheels are ugly… Yes. They seem to telegraph “consumer” iconography.
I’ve personally seen many carts and heavy boxes lose a wheel over time and this doesn’t look good to me at least…
And it’s kinda like the big Genesis being directly compared to a big Benz. And only time will tell.
Greed Snodstrom
Interesting reference – by the account of nearly every reviewer in the car biz, the Genesis G90 is 90% of the S Class for %75 of the price with Motor Trend placing it above Lexus and BMW sedans (second to the Benz).
Daniel
But it’s a Hyundai! I’ll take the Chrysler which is a benz at half the price! Plus it has a hemi.
Julian Tracy
Considering that 54” Snapon Box can be found used for between $1800-3400 easy on Craigslist all day long, I’d probably just buy a used Snapon or other truck brand. A used box won’t lose any value, a used Icon box will immediately be worth about 35% of new immediately.
neil
They will be discounted once they realize they are selling a product that is too highly prices for their clientele. I wouldn’t stretch and spend that much for any toolbox much less one from Harbor Freight.
OH and you get free shipping 🙂
Steve
In a conference room somewhere in Harbor Freight’s headquarters in the recent past:
West Harmelink: “Alright guys. I need you to come up with a brand name for this new line of professional mechanics tools we’re coming out with, we’re trying to compete with Snap-on here, and their an icon, so be creative! Hey! Put the dart board away, think this time! I’ll be back in an hour, you better have something by then!”
Chad
Well steve, in this fantasy convo, do you think they would use the correct “they’re”?
Mark
Since it was a spoken conversation, it’s always the correct “they’re”
Steve
I’m making a funny and typing it fast on my phone which uses auto complete in a place where you can’t go back and edit, seems I have offended the grammar police. Oh, well.
Dust
Their will always be people whom feel the knead two correct strangers on the net four a meager feeling of superiority. Why pay them mind.
John
England in 1587 put a note in a bottle, and it says “a fool and his money is soon parted.”
Are these made in China or elsewhere? No mention of manufacturing location.
Chris
Is there literally anything sold by HF that isn’t made in China?
Jim Felt
Their Storefonts?
Chad
Chris- yes, most of the well reviewed stuff is made in Taiwan. Not at all the same as “china made”. Ive no idea where the box is made, dont really care, tbh. Even if chinese, the quality can be better than snap on or worse than dollar general. It all depends on the specs, qc, and material, same as anywhere else.
Mopar4wd
As I understand HF was started as import company buying things from China Taiwan etc mostly from damaged containers and auction sales of unclaimed merchandise. They just kind of settled on tools as a market after doing it a while. (they company is actually from the 60’s but the website leaves out early history until 77 when they started focusing on tools. ) So yeah their focus has always been on imports. So I assume a change to US made items would be a major shift in the company, so it’s pretty safe to assume almost everything in the store is imported.
Now that they are slowly positioning themselves as a tool superstore of sorts instead of just a cheap tool dealer, I could see them expanding their sourcing to the US but time well tell.
Stuart
Their buckets are made in the USA.
Brad
If my memory serves me correctly, they did sell SK for a period of time.
Curtis
If you think Harbor Freight quality is bad now, just wait until they start sourcing their products from India and Pakistan. China makes some horrendous junk, but compared to the Indians and Pakistanis they are like Swiss master craftsmen.
Mopar
The fact that they say “designed in the USA” is a dead giveaway that they are not MADE in the USA.
Snap-on or bust!?
Dead give away for sure! I just can’t see them selling these to the Professionals they are targeting with these, don’t get me wrong the boxes look good, but you can’t judge a book by its cover.
Brian A
8000lb weight capacity is a little unbelievable. Someone needs to test and load it up that much.
Tim
They’re beasts of a box though.
Nicer than any of my snap on stuff was honestly.
Snap on or bust ?
So, how long have you worked for Horrible Frieght?
?
bayou
better look good at them snap on tool almost all of the new ones I have got from the truck in the last few years all say snapon on one side and made in Taiwan on the other
Snap on or bust ?
Well Mine don’t, you must be buying some knock offs or something? ..most of the older blue point stuff used to be made in Japan, now a lot of blue point is made in Taiwan, in my opinion Taiwan makes better tool’s than China, China made tool’s issue is the steel they use is substandard and sometimes referred to as “Sand Steel” Snap on uses only virgin Steel in their wrench’s, sockets etc.
carl
And you know that how ??
pr20de
I saw these yesterday in store (they were being set up) and they are heavy duty looking for sure. That being said, the logo and wheels do look kinda cheesy.
I would never pay this much for a tool box (much less Snap-Op prices) when excelent, cheap alternatives exist. I have two Husky 61″ workbenches that I have loaded to the brim and have never felt that they were not sturdy enough. One was $600, then the price went up to $800 for the second one. Still a great deal.
My friend whom had bought a $4000+ Snap-on box a few months prior regretted his purchase after seeing and using my workbenches.
I do like nice tools and own very nice ones in some categories that do require them, but sticking to one brand because of its prestige (i.e. Snap-on) is just a bad way to spend money. I have plenty of harbor freight tools that I would see no benefit in spending 4x as much for the Snap-Op equivalent.
Go take a look at the Tekton socket sets and let me know in which way I would benefit from getting the Snap-On equivalent for a lot more money.
pr20de
My reply wasn’t directed at you. For some reason it appeared as a response to your post instead of the whole article.
Frank D
Premium products at a discount store …
That will be worse than trying to sell premium vehicles for some car brands. A segment of the population will pay a premium price for things, but not for an HFT brand.
teicher
Couldn’t agree more. HF made a huge mistake in bringing in the high end tools into their existing stores at this price point, instead of starting a new store/online brand where they aren’t bound by their low cost reputation.
ktash
Don’t they always say not to buy a house that is much more expensive than others in the neighborhood? Kinda reminds me of that.
It is always good to see better quality, but their tool boxes already were one of their better products. It will be interesting to see what happens with this. Maybe it’s a move to upgrade their image. I think it does that in a subliminal way.
Justin
Honestly, I like to see someone bringing in variety. Home Depot and Lowes have really disappointed me with Husky and Kobalt storage solutions. I had an older Snap-on box and spent a couple years trying to find a larger, USA made box that fit my needs and budget on the used market. I couldn’t find anything that wasn’t trashed or overpriced. I gave up chasing USA made, but I was struggling to find a quality imported box that I liked.
Last summer, I bought the store demo 56″ Series 2 bottom chest from Harbor Freight. Came back a few months later to buy a matching top and a handful of the 26″ roller cabinets to store parts and specialty tools for my European cars. For my total investment, the current HF offerings under the US General name are leagues better than Husky or Kobalt, even Craftsman. I’ve been super impressed and have no regrets about any of those purchases.
My regional Runnings store has Homak on display, but it’s a real haul for me to get out there. My local NAPA stores have Homak as special order item, but no boxes on display. I actually like the Homak boxes a lot, and they are a little different, more industrial looking than the US General line, which fits my tastes better. If I had a Homak dealer closer, it would have been my first choice, but I wanted something that would be convenient if I needed to seek warranty assistance. So far, so good.
That said, the Icon line, at full retail, does not suit me, but I would consider it if I needed the 73″ box with the hutch or accessory lockers available.
David
I’m not sure where you live. If you have have Menard’s, Fleetl Farm or Northern tool you might want to check them out. Fleet Farm depends on the location. Some carry OEM boxes.
Rick
Napa slings Homak
Adabhael
I know car manufacturers sometimes go for a “halo car” (e.g. Ford GT) Of course it is about marketing, but you usually expect it to combine R&D (chance for your engineers to go wild and learn something) with some real performance to get “serious” car people to pay attention. I guess this box has…4 wheel independent suspension? On the flip side, here are a bunch of pretty serious tool users talking about HF, so maybe marketing mission accomplished?
Mike
I guess if Toyota could do it with Lexus…..
Matt
I couldn’t pay that much for a tool box that didn’t say “Made In USA”. It would need to say Craftsman Industrial too….
Jim Felt
Yep. And would have been what Kennedy in their heyday at the once classic era of Sears?
Matt
I love those! Probably my favorite era of tool box.
Chad
Shame. You miss out on some fantastic boxes then. The last 3 snap on boxes ive looked at have been turds. But, im very sure the tool truck man will be happy to take your money.
Randy Kramer
Ignorance is bliss
Eric
I am surprised by the prices and the COO (PS- HF style, there is already a 20% off coupon on Icon storage). I would have thought a line with pricing differences this big could be manufactured domestically. I imagine these will sell a lot of US General boxes.
I buy a lot more than I thought I would from Harbor Freight and it generally works a lot better than I feared it would. I buy selectively and avoid a lot of things and go higher end elsewhere, but HF certainly has a place. I am not sure if that place involves $5k toolboxes, but let’s see where it goes.
Justin
Although I am a fine tool snob, I am similarly surprised with Harbor Freight’s increased quality and market presence. My 56″ US General tool boxes are filled with all the premium brands, but the odd tools I do buy from HF are really quite nice, dollar for dollar. I think they made a really big effort in the last 10 years to change their identity and it shows.
Honestly, what I love about my local Harbor Freight store is that the folks who work there are knowledgable and friendly. It is better organized and maintained than my Home Depot across the street. Savvy tool-buyers will recognize which brands at HF are rebranded from other retailers. I’ve grown to like the cheesy incentive coupons and frequent discounts. My local store has killer deals on open box stuff that makes a weekly trip on Thursday or Friday a fun way to go broke while saving money.
Bob
Mechanics will pay the outragous prices for the truck brands for a couple reasons: They come to the customer, usa produced (for the most part), warranty, availability of replacement parts basically forever, and the main reason…… Financing!!!!
Horror Freight has none of these things. The credit card is a good idea tho. But even on that, a legit credit card company will only give you a card if you have decent credit. Snap on will finance anyone because they know they can repo your box/tools and still get their money back. Not retail but their wholesale costs selling your stuff used.
I don’t know any retailer/brand that had gone from value oriented to premier. Make a new brand/store if you are going up market. Remember that $80k VW sedan that tanked a while back. The proven route is do the Honda/Acura, toyota/Lexus thing.
I do wonder why all the changes at HF? Their proven recipe has worked well for a long time. Do they fell they can’t get to that next level while being a discount chain?
ToolGuyDan
> The proven route is do the Honda/Acura, toyota/Lexus thing.
So, like US General / ICON?
> They come to the customer, usa produced (for the most part), warranty, availability of replacement parts basically forever, and the main reason…… Financing!!!!
Come to the customer: ICON boxes include free door-to-door delivery.
USA-produced: maybe you’re made of cash, but some of us demand value. Most of the cost of a Snap-on box is profit margin. That flows to the stockholders, not the employees. I can think of a better use for that extra $10k for a full system build-out than lining some billionaire investor’s pocket.
Warranty: ICON boxes have a lifetime warranty.
Replacement parts: “a full line of replacement parts is available”, per HFT.
Financing: as you said, the credit card covers this.
Toolfreak
I definitely agree that this is a step in the wrong direction for a store whose stated primary goal to sell tools at the lowest prices.
You can’t sell fake “premium” tools/storage for anywhere close to what the actual well-established “premium” tool truck brands sell for and expect your customers to suddenly want to spend more. If they had more money to spend, they’d probably have spent it on the tool truck brands to begin with.
I’m ok with this being a total disaster for HF when this stuff doesn’t do as well as they hoped in the long run, and the people who do take out the credit line to buy stuff they can’t actually afford wind up -surprise- not being able to make the payments and HF doesn’t get the money after all.
I guess this is a desperate move during the Craftsman Sears/Lowe’s transition and Stanley bringing core tools and the Waterloo storage back to the USA.
They would probably have been better off just upgrading the quality of their tools overall, keeping prices low, and not shooting for wanna-be-tool-truck-quality status.
ToolGuyDan
> I’m ok with this being a total disaster for HF when this stuff doesn’t do as well as they hoped in the long run, and the people who do take out the credit line to buy stuff they can’t actually afford wind up -surprise- not being able to make the payments and HF doesn’t get the money after all.
That’s not how credit cards work. The issuing bank takes the loss, not HFT, unless they’ve taken the unusual step of structuring the deal such that they get part of both the upside and the downside. As a rule, nobody does that, because the assumption is that the bank is better at gauging and pricing risk of default than any other business would be.
Adam king
I gotta say. A bunch of people a putting it down but I never dreamed I would see a new toolbox create this much BUZZZ!
Adam king
There hasn’t been a new toolbox that’s ever created anywhere near this kind of buzz.
Jeffrey Hubbard
Bottom line is..these are a Snap on knock off made in China , those sobs would copy your wife and sell if they could, I’m not buying anything from China if I can Help it, they are trying to take over the World using our ideas, designs and intellectual property and our $$$ to do it! Don’t let them succeed! Buy American!!!
Sco Deac
For how long has the marketing machine, through online influencers, been telling us US General is so superior in value with significant quality sacrifice? Their old marketing approach tells us not to buy the Icon doesn’t it?
Steve
I thought of this as well and I do find it funny. It used to be: “US General BEATS Snap-on! $399! Now: “Icon BEATS Snap-on! $3,999! According to their old marketing who would buy the new box?
Not saying the new boxs is bad or will fail for them, just chuckling at their marketing.
Tu wela
I own a snap on box but the tool vault 72″x 30″(not 25″ like these) with hutch is only $4,100 shipped and theyre beautiful box’s. There is also an 84″x30″ with hutch for like $5,200. If i couldnt afford my box i would have chosen the tool vault over these…
Evadman
I believe I have that 72×30 box you are speaking of; the tool vault elite. I researched for more than 2 years, looked at probably a dozen different brand names and price points before getting the toolvault box. It’s actually 5k shipped with a top chest instead of a hutch. I didn’t get the 84″ version because all the trimwork and accessories are different from the rest of the line; limiting choices. I am really happy with my decision so far.
The top chests on icon are a real stand-out. I want those.
Blocky
Icon not believe it.
peter b dragin
your drunk clearly u never owned snapon then u had stackon
Darren O
I give HF credit from starting at the bottom of the barrel and working the reputation UP the ladder. So many negative forecasts via their own customers! I bet there’s very FEW people who haven’t been to nor own something from harbor freight. I’m not a fanboy, just a realistic bargain shopper, I own/(and owe) thousands of $$ to snap-on tawainese parts AND some of their “offbrand” BLUE-PoiNT tools (for those who don’t know, that’s rebranded tools! Same stuff HF does!)
I Have 3 HF witching 45min of me in any direction if I need something VS my Snap-on guy is visitor once every two months if I’m lucky. Warranty takes me months if it’s not on his truck!
Purchase “happily” and research what you’re buying. That “made in Taiwan “ stamp is most likely the same factories and metallurgy as the big $$$ names. In the meantime I’ll keep stuffing my “husky and Milwaukee boxes” with quality tool deals from ANY manufacturer. And I’ll continue to use my $$ savings on flipping vehicles because you can’t DRIVE a $8k toolbox lol
David
They do have 20% of coupon for ICON brand tool storage. Good through 10-21-19.
Continue on.
Joseph
Marketing WIN! Seriously, if they don’t sell a single toolbox, they’ve still won. Can you show me one tool related site that isn’t talking about these? How much does a good marketing campaign cost? This one is targeted and pervasive.
Mopar4wd
I guess I don’t think it’s that dumb. So HF ended up taking alot of craftsman sales as they went down the tubes. Lots of Pros don’t want to spend tool truck money. They used to buy Craftsman (Sears credit cards helped that so the CC is a good idea) HF ended up with lots of those customers, I noticed electricians at work the other day had a mix of HF and Kobalt tools (with some Klein), The diesel tech working on the gen was the same plus some Snap on (including his impact ) .
I assume this showed management they could sell to pros, so now they are going for a direct assault. I don’t think Snap on has a ton to worry about, but I think more Pros shop HF then people think, particularly now that their quality is going up.
Nathan
Yeah but no credit card is the same as what snap on or mac or others do for financing.
Unless this has changed their interest rates were way lower – and they would work out as much as a 3-4 year payment schedule. with discounts for students and other bits.
One reason you see so many of them – nearly every SAE tech that went to a school or every A&P mechanic (aircraft) that went to school got a early discount and hooked on the tool truck pricings system.
I suspect very few actually pay retail price for a box anyway. To that end – it will get other people into the stores – sure it will. Are they maybe made in the factory that makes the snap on box – possibly.
Thom
If I ever spend that kind of money at Harbor Freight please take all my tools away and never let me fix/build anything again.
Bob
You make some interesting points however I disagree.
>Brand separation
A separate store is needed for the brand disparity to work. Example:they don’t sell $12k Toyotas next to $80k Lexus. Different dealerships required for the percevied premium product scheme to work.
>delivery to a house (or work) via freight is not the same as the truck brand servicing the account.
Freight carriers damage stuff all the time. Truck brands are hand delivered to customer at their convenience, fully assembled and with little time lost on their part. They don’t have to deal with the hassle of returning busted, broken, missing stuff. Also if something does break a lot of times the truck brand guy can drop off a new tool the same day and handle the warranty claim on his time. One need not leave work, go to Harbor Freight, find the receipt and hope they have a tool on the shelf.
>Warranty/Replacement parts
Will Icon even be around in a couple years?Will Harbor Freight for that matter? Will they change Chinese suppliers and have a different toolbox? Already did it several times with US general. Good luck getting replacement parts is my point. A guy can still get replacement parts for 60-year-old truck brand tools.
>Domestic production
Not sure what my financial situation or my value disposition has to do with Harbor Freight but the fact that USA produced goods have a percieved premium on oversease produced goods is indisputable.
>Financing
We agree the Harbor Freight credit card is a good way to help sell a high priced (relative to that retail segment) product. My point is credit card will help but only to those with good credit/established credit record. The kid just out of trade school starting out is probably SOL because he or she is young and doesn’t have a credit track record.
A bank/lending company will determine the suitability of the recipient to receive financing. Harbor freight will have little control of who is approved and who is not. Truck brands on the other hand own their financing companies. They are more lenient with credit applications because they are extending loans with collateral. Less risk on their part so guys with poor credit can still buy product.
Most of the cost of a box is not profit margin. Building a high-end product with premium materials in first world production facilities adhering to stringent environmental, legal and financial demands while utalizing a wadge protected work force and delivering through a franchised exclusive distributer and a unique and premium customer experience is not cheap.
I’ve not bothered to research the distribution of the stock of Snap-on for example. So I cannot speak to any billionaires controlling a majority stake in stock. Suffice to say it is a publicly traded company and anyone can buy stock and share in profits and loss. Other main brands are the same. MAC is owned by Stanley Black and Decker. Matco is Fortive.
Bottom line the truck brands charge more because their customer values the premium construction of the products, near bespoke customization, customer serviece and user experience. If you do not percieve the services/build quality to justify the price you buy something else.
Harbor freight, can claim none of these things, sources an overseas produced knock off. A reasonably good quality knock off (haven’t seen one in person to confirm) but still a knock off. Icon is cheaper than the real deal but in my opinion not cheap enough to be successful.
Contrast the new Icon with US General boxes. The US General are a less premium knock off but at a substantial price delta to the genuine and is a success.
In short I do not think the Icon boxes are cheap enough compared to truck brand boxes to be successful.
Mopar4wd
Well to be fair there are 100k Corvettes in showroom with 14k sonics. And 100k GTR with Nissan Versas. So it does happen.
On the knockoff thing well I’ve been surprised in the past. I used to work on Yachts, you know how many are made in China? Quite a few actually. Why, well because even on something that’s well over a million bucks people can’t resist saving 20-25% by going with something that looks the same but isn’t quite the same.
Nathan
yes but that’s the same brand name. Halo car next to the mass market device.
That’s not a chevy sonic next to a caddy ATS or a Nissan juke next to an infinity QX.
That’s his point.
Mopar4wd
True but around me the Cadillac stores are also GMC so you do get a terrain next to a Cadillac.
Really for what ever reason HF seems to be using the RV industry theory of a brand for every taste. I think that may be a mistake thou.
RCWARD
More of the shift in image that HF is going after. They know most people look at them as a Chinese junk tool store at this point. It would be nice to see some more quality stuff being sold there . Me? I have no need for a toolbox costing that much no matter who makes it.
Mopar4wd
So I stopped at HF around lunch time to grab a few little things. They had some ICON tools there but it’s not one on the list for tool boxes. While there some one browsing the toolboxes asked about ICON boxes, then while checking out the clerk got a call asking if they had an ICON box in stock ( no, order only for this store per her manager) . So it seems it may be working marketing wise.
Jalopy_J
If the boxes are as nice as HF says they are and not as cheap as the US General or HD Husky boxes, I don’t really see a problem with pricing. I can assure you I would have definitely been interested in the $5000 73″ to replace my well-used 20 year old Matco box, if HF had only paid attention to the depth. A toolbox as wide as the competition might be able to sell lots of toolboxes to average consumers for their garage. HF and Home Depot have done this with success on their US General and Husky lines, but it’s not going to sell these Icons to mechanics or whoever. Anyone who makes a living out of their toolbox knows the depth is just as important as how wide it is. The Snap On model HF is comparing that 73″ Icon to is over 29″ deep, while the Icon is only 25.” Many a lay person might not realize it, but that is a huge difference in tool storage capacity. Pros will notice. Shallower boxes obviously save a ton of materials cost and smaller amounts on things like transportation, etc, and it appears this is where HF skimped to beat the truck vendors in price. Unfortunately I’m out though. I’ll keep dreaming of winning the lottery and buying a new huge new Mac or Matco.
Charles Hansen
I was asking a HF employee about the new boxes a few days ago, and the associate actually said “They are made in the same factory as the Snap On boxes.”
I politely called B.S. and walked out.
Will wait to see what happens if someone actually puts one to a loading and stress test. At those prices, I doubt it will happen.
Hopefully Snap On will buy a few and do testing like they did when they were pushing the KRL series really hard a few years back.
Snap on or bust ?
Snap on boxes are made in their own Factory in Iowa, icon boxes are More than likely made in China or Taiwan.
EDDIE Mendez
By this taking place with Icon may take Harbor Freight Tools to a whole new level.
HFT is always in competition and only get better and better. When we die we are not getting buried with tool boxes or tools?. Most of us hardworking middle class people do not need to spend extravaganza amts of dollars to own tools when we can be more productive spending our monies on other important personal assets. Its all on how you use the tools! I give harbor freight tools credit for stepping up to the plate?
DC
Sorry pass on the Icon. I love my Snap-on Heritage Box both designed and Made in USA – Algona, Iowa. My driver delivered it and set it up in my home garage shop. If I were to move he’ll pick it up and deliver it to where I’ll be.
firefly
I am excited about it. As long as they offer Snap On quality at a fraction of the cost. It will sell.
I buy a lot of stuff used. I love hunting for bargain when it come to personal stuff. The used market isn’t always great when it come to purchasing something that I have an immediate need for. Sure I’ll take a quick look to see if there is something that would be of a bargain. But that’s not always the case, the great deal goes quick.
Lynyrd
These in no way are Snap-On quality or build components. Are you all really believing HF marketing? C’mon Man.
Bob
Whole heartedly agree about depth of box.
Ironicaly the trade ruling requiring new imported boxes to be 21+ inches deep probably helped sell more US general boxes. The 44”and 52” boxes were only 18” deep in version one. The 72 was always deeper. Now they are all 22” deep I believe.
Makes the top work surface bigger too. Cus I sure need more space to pile crap on my benches lol. Deeper box especialy if using a hutch is nice.
Lynyrd
These in no way are Snap-On quality or build components. Are you all really believing HF marketing? C’mon Man.
In reality they are comparable to Tool Vault, Homak, and Extreme Tools at best.
No I am not a Snap-on Homer either.
IF when comparing to say “Strictly Tool Boxes” (website) you’re getting a good deal, then okay, go for it.
Trippy
20% off coupons available for Icon storage. In store only.
Jim Felt
I guess I better not mention my made in the USA Gerstner hardwood boxes… ;-)~
Though clearly they’ve added an “import” selection now many years ago.
HugeHobbit
There aren’t too many old Machinists lurking here.
Gerstner beats Kennedy any day of the week… Done
Ok, now back to watch those dirty Wrench Hangers argue…..
bob u
well, you got to look at the target audience and the supermarket shelf factor.
There is only so much internal real-estate inside a harbor fright store.
they have a lot of nice affordable tool box and work tables that are affordable
and good enough for HF’s core buyers. Why would you want to put the way overpriced and only sell a few high end product in the space of product you
sell a shit load of?
Harbor is never going to be a snap on. It does NOT have to be. its good in its own
successful nitch in the tool arena. I don’t think you will ever see ar harbor freight tool truck.
Nothing wrong with harbor up scaling there tool quality. But if i was them, be careful what you wish for.
ralf-who
LISTA or VIDMAR (or similar) stationary tool drawers deserve more attention. They are expensive NEW but (more) reasonable USED. Theyt last forever and are available in zillions of drawer sizes and chest heights.
They all run on heavy duty ball bearings and are 28″ deep.
If you need to make them mobile, add some HF 5″ casters.
Chris
I’m curious how many they have actually sold. It might technically be equivalent or better than a Snap on KRL box, but it would be a pretty hard sell. Most of the tool boxes Snap on sells are on credit accounts. Most mechanics don’t have that kind of money lying around to buy a tool box. The immediate value depreciation would also be an issue for me. My local stores have the tools but no tool boxes. I was mildly interested in the Icon tools, but put them back on the rack because you cant actually look at them without taking them out of the packaging. I don’t really think this price bracket works well with their business model.
Chris
Also worth noting is that Snap on heavily discounts their tool boxes. I paid 50% off MSRP for mine. Pretty sure that’s fairly common. That would put the Icon in an odd spot, being more expensive than the snap on box, but without a real tool company standing behind it.
James
I just looked at the new ICON lineup. I have to say I am HIGHLY IMPRESSED!!! I’m a jet mechanic by trade and in the market for a new setup. I’ve looked at snapon, matco,mac,lista,homack,kobalt,craftsman, and many more.
The ICON specs absolutely CRUSH the competition. The steel guage, drawer capacity, caster wheels, add-ons, paint, overall weight capacity far exceeds anyone else.
I’m actually shocked with the quality. I already had my mind set on my next setup …… until I walked into HF for something unrelated and saw the beast displays screaming for me to oogle.
The only downfall i could notice is the lack of drawers ‘QUIET SLIDE’ and in order to install the left cabinet it requires lifting the entire left side of the box to attach. Otherwise, this is my next purchase when I get the best discount!
Piaredneck
i always look at price and warranty, i’ve been a mechanic and a remodeling contractor now retired my construction company last yr of 20yrs, and as i always say u get wat u pay 4, harbor freight used 2 b my go 2 till they started changing like many others get the cheapest product while they up the prices, so i don’t buy much from them anymore i used 2 spend thousands with them and then they lost their way now their trying 2 make a come back, but their gonna have 2 do alot better cause l am buying snapon not alot but i have a very good dealer that cuts me some rlly good prices since i started up another mechanic shop after over 20 of having my last shop, yes they are high but harbor freight not gonna show up 2 my door every week 2 replace a busted tool like my dealer does and their not gonna give me a charge acc right off the bat like my dealer has either, im dont abuse my tools but i use they hell out of my tools and i work on diesels and very old equipent that my have either high torqe values or bolts and nuts that have been turned 4 as much as 50-60 yrs and i have bent many of the new harbor frieght tools so when it comes 2 use of tools pick wisely and price at same time cause some times thats wat it comes down 2 as 4 the new icon i price their big setup at over around $10k, then i heard about the new add they had some1 make 4 them it has been removed as the guy was standing in a drawer and it collapsed have yet found it since 1st released, i know the kind of weight and abuse a snapon tool box will take i seen drawers that take 2 ppl 2 remove and put cause their use them as nut and bolt storage, but i wont pay their price and they know it so they will come up with a good deal cause they know i buy if the price is right i always do.