Quite a few people seem to find this alarming. Do they want to return of the bad old days when tools were prohibitively expensive and hard to get? They often cite the claim that the tools are of inferior quality. Well yes, they are almost certainly not at the level as some that you would buy from Snap-On, Mac Tools, or even the Sears Craftsman line. Do home shop enthusiasts and shade tree mechanics always need Snap-on quality? Probably not. If you use your tools every day to make your living, then you may need expensive tools, but if you rebuild one engine every five years as a hobby it may be much wiser to buy a less expensive tools.

And what about the quality of these imported tools? They have gotten much better in the last few years and the trend seems to be accelerating.  History tells us that this is what we should expect. I can remember when Japanese products were considered inferior. Who would argue today that companies like Toyota, Honda, Panasonic and Sony don’t make world class products and that we haven’t benefitted from it? Chinese companies are on the same path. 

In the mean time, I’m buying tools and outfitting my shop in ways I never thought possible. Harbor Freight isn’t the answer to all my tool needs, but they have certainly provided me with some real bargains. Nothing wrong with that!