Harbor Freight Tools is a great place to buy tools and equipment. You can find all sorts of tools for your garage, lawn, or farm.
One of Harbor Freight’s main competitors is Snap-on. With the two companies offering similar tools and having the same business models, you may wonder whether they are connected. This post will examine whether the two companies are related to help you understand them better.
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Is Snap-On Owned By Harbor Freight?
No, Harbor Freight does not own Snap-On. Snap-On is an independent company with no affiliation to Harbor Freight, although they overlap in their product lines.
Snap-on is part of Snap-on Incorporated – a public company that uses the symbol SNA. The company has been around for over 100 years, and it continues to be a top-quality tool brand. Their tools are known for their durability, excellent ergonomics, and quality features. The company makes professional-grade tools that are perfect for home or commercial use.
Harbor Freight is privately owned by Eric Smidt. The company sells tools, parts, and accessories at very low prices. They are known for their wide selection of products, including small hand tools and large industrial appliances.
Did Snap-On Sue Harbor Freight?
In 2016, Snap-on sued Harbor Freight in a California court for patent infringement. According to Snap-on, Harbor Freight copied Snap-on’s floor jack design to make its Daytona FJ3000 and proceeded to sell it as their invention.
In the lawsuit, Snap-on sought an injunction to stop Harbor Freight from selling the said jacks. However, Harbor Freight filed a counter lawsuit accusing Snap-on of misleading customers by stating that their jacks are USA-made while some parts are from China. After the judgment, no party disclosed the terms of the settlement.
Are Harbor Freight Tools Made By Snap-On?
Snap-on does not make Harbor Freight tools. According to Harbor Freight, the company sources its tools from the same factories used by its competitors. This way, the company can sell the tools at competitive prices since it gets them directly from the manufacturers.
Snap-on Incorporated manufactures Snap-on tools. The company has tools manufacturing plants in Wisconsin, Tennessee, Elizabethton, and Milwaukee. Snap-on also sources some of its tools parts from oversea countries such as China.
How to Buy Tools at Harbor Freight?
You can buy tools at Harbor Freight whether shopping in-store or online. To purchase tools in-store, go to your nearest Harbor Freight outlet and select the tools you need. You can search for the nearest store location by entering your zip code, city, or state on the store locator on their website. You can also ask a Harbor Freight store assistant to help you purchase the tools.
To buy tools online, follow these steps
- Go to harborfreight.com
- Sign in to your Harbor Freight account. If you don’t have an account, you need to register one before you can proceed. Alternatively, you can shop and pay as a guest without creating an account
- Click on Shop
- Select the type of tools you need. You can sort your selection by the use of the tools, brand, and new tools
- When you find the tool you need, click on it and select Add to cart
- Click on View Cart and Checkout
- Confirm that all your tools are in the cart, and then click on Start secure checkout
- If you have a coupon, enter the code and confirm
- Enter your shipping information. This includes your name, phone number, and physical address. Click on Save and continue
- Choose your delivery method. Harbor freight uses USPS, FedEx, FedEx Ground, SmartPost, and others to ship your purchases
- Add your payment information. You can pay using Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or Harbor Freight gift cards
- Review your order information and submit it to complete the transaction. You will receive an email that states your selected delivery method and the expected delivery date and time
Do Harbor Freight Tools Have Good Quality?
Harbor Freight has a reputation for selling affordable and good-quality tools. With the company getting their tools directly from the manufacturers, they can cut the middle man and sell their tools at affordable prices.
Harbor Freight tools also have a favorable return policy that lets you return your purchases within 90 days for a full refund or replacement. All their tools also come with a lifetime guarantee.
Although their tools are good quality, there are other expensive and superior quality tools in the market. Ultimately, buying Harbor Freight tools will come down to your needs. They are excellent options if you are on a budget.
Harbor Freight Tools customer reviews and feedback
Harbor Freight tools have poor reviews from customers who have used the products. They have an average rating of 1.91 out of 141 reviews on SiteJabber. Most of the reviewers cited poor customer service and problems with credit card payments.
In other reviews, the tools have an average rating of 1.6 out of 201 reviews on Trustpilot. Customers complained of bad customer service and misleading adverts on the part of Harbor Freight. Customers pointed out that the company advertises for products that are not available in retail stores.
According to customers, Snap-on tools have better quality and variety than Harbor Freight ones. Harbor Freight tools score highly for their affordability, friendly warranty, and return policy.
FAQs
Is Snap-On buying Harbor Freight?
There has been nothing to suggest that Snap-on is acquiring Harbor Freight. Harbor Freight remains a privately owned company by Eric Smidt, while Snap-on operates under Snap-on Incorporated Company.
Is Daytona a Harbor Freight brand?
Daytona is a Harbor Freight brand. Harbor Freight sells various tools under the Daytona brand, including floor jacks, jack stands, and headrest creepers.
Why are Harbor Freight tools cheap?
Harbor Freight tools are affordable since the company gets them directly from the manufacturers. In so doing, they can eliminate the middleman who would lead to an increase in the final prices.
What alternative stores can you buy tools from aside from Harbor Freight and Snap-on?
There are various stores where you can get good quality tools apart from Harbor Freight and Snap-on. These include
- Home Depot
- Ace Hardware
- Lowes
- Lockler
- ToolUp
- Northern Tools
- Menards
- Grizzly
- Zoro
Conclusion
Harbor Freight Tools does not own Snap-on tools. Snap-on Incorporated is the current owner of Snap-on Tools Company, while Eric Smidt privately owns Harbor Freight. Both companies operate a similar business model and have been competitors for a long time.
Harbor Freight gets its tools directly from independent manufacturers, making them quite affordable. Snap-on makes its own tools and has various manufacturing outlets in the US. It also sources some of its tool parts from China. Harbor Freight tools are cheaper compared to Snap-on tools.
