A couple of years ago – if you could call 5-1/2 years “a couple” – I posted about Google trends, along with a few interesting tool-related comparisons. One of those trends I looked into was a search interest comparison between Craftsman and Harbor Freight.
While Craftsman is a brand, and Harbor Freight a retailer, the two entities could be considered in the same light. Craftsman tools’ product catalog likely matches or maybe even dwarfs the size of Harbor Freight’s. They also have that long history of theirs.
Here’s what the search interest trend looked like back in 2009:
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And this is what it looks like now:
You can view the Google trend here.
That note is just a mentioned that Google updated their geographical assignment, so it’s not of much impact.
What this means is that many more people are showing in interest in Harbor Freight and their tool brands.
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It doesn’t necessarily mean that interest in Craftsman is waning – and that doesn’t really look to be the case. It just looks like interest in Harbor Freight is on the rise, while interest in Craftsman has remained relatively unchanged.
It’s also quite clear that interest in Craftsman peaks around April, May, and June, with interest being highest in May and then June. If you do a trend comparison between Craftsman and “lawn mower,” you’ll see a very distinctive pattern emerge:
It looks like interest in Craftsman peaks in correlation with the lawn and garden shopping season, particularly lawn mower season. But… it also looks like interest in Craftsman isn’t rising along with search interest in lawn mowers, which does make sense – there are currently a lot of rising stars in the market, especially when it comes to cordless battery-powered ones.
These trends are all open to interpretation. There’s no underlying message here, or at least not that I’m trying to convey. I had looking through older posts, and felt it would be interesting to revisit the Google Trend comparison that we looked at so long ago.
If you play around with Google’s Trend engine, and find an interest comparison, please share a link or keywords with us!
Nathan
OMG lawnmowers cause an increase in the incidence of Craftsman!
Also, Sears searches cause Christmas, but the pattern is fading. Christmas is doomed!
PS Strangely enough Canada tops the US in Sears searches.
Allen
Father’s Day ?
For years father’s have been saying “just get me any tool at Sears, they will always be good.”
(Loud sigh)
SawdustTX
I don’t know how these analytics work, but I wonder if the Craftsman numbers are diluted because there are multiple ways to search for Craftsman tools – “Sears”, “Craftsman”, and “Sears Craftsman”. I suspect HF is only searched as just that – “Harbor Freight”.
fred
It might be that HF also gets searches on their “American-Sounding” brand names that they slap on their Chinese tools – ones like Chicago Electric and Pittsburgh
SawdustTX
good point.
Stuart
These are just for keywords that include Craftsman and Harbor Freight. I don’t think Google’s algorithm can intelligently link HF with their brands.
DanG
I have just gotten so disgusted with Sears that I no longer shop with them any more. Their prices are high and their merchandise is total junk. I have had many bad experiences with Sears that I just through in the towel and said the heck with it.
As far as Harbor Freight, I would not even give the a nickel for their merchandise. The stuff they sell. It is cheap garbage that is made by the lower class workers in China. The stuff rusts easily and falls apart after a short time of usage. I usually choose Online tool companies and Home Depot to find better quality merchandise. Sometimes I’ll check out Lowes just to do some price comparisons.
Hang Fire
There was a recent thread in GJ about the big HF air compressor with an American tank and Italian compressor assembled in the USA. A lot of their better tools come from Taiwan now, like their impact sockets, and have a really good reputation. There is still some China wrenches and even junk Indian stuff like their deep offset wrench set. Their racing car jacks consistently get rave reviews.
If HF is not your cup of tea that is fine, but if you’re going to rant, at least get your facts straight.
rx9
Sears has actually been posting some really good deals on occasion. With their old coupon system and their new shop your way system, I’ve scored a few great sets of ratchets and wrenches (particularly gearwrench). Harbor freight has been my source for a lot of good hand tools as well. Seriously, chromoly steel is chromoly steel. it’s not like Hf mixes butter into their impact socket alloy to make them weaker than snap on.
Common sense
The HF impact sockets are great for someone that uses them on occasion. I do heavy equipment repair for a living running my own shop for 22yrs. Yes I have snap on mac Cornwell and several others. I also have some of the HF stuff. When I need a socket 12″ deep I simply cut a HF socket and weld a peice of tubing in. The softer steel welds great and gives some before tearing up the nut or bolt The draw back to HF VS big tool company is to get close to same strength with cheaper materials is the sockets wrenches etc. are thicker limiting clearance to surrounding parts the big tool company’s can build a socket a third of thickness and twice as strong but your going to pay for the better material and processes that take to make the tool.
Simply saying yes I use HF in moderation
As the old saying goes you have got to be smarter than the tool you are using, and if not then you become “The TOOL”
Blythe M
I would be terrified to shop at HF if their website didn’t have reviews. Some of the stuff is junk, some is outstanding, and you can very quickly find out which is which by the reviews
fred
I’m a fan of looking at online reviews but I’m also wary at times. With Amazon (or HF etc.) – if there are a statistically significant number of reviews – you might be able to read between the lines, attempt to discern something about the reviews, the reviewers and their perspectives and then form an opinion about how the tool might fit your set of needs. Even with this caveats – it is sometimes hard to tell. Are the very negative reviews indicative of a Quality control problem ? Or maybe the reviewer was just had unrealistic expectations. Are the positive reviews based on considerations that are not applicable to your intended use? Are there any reviews that were posted after longer-term use – or were most likely posted based on what the tool looked like when the box was just opened ? When there are only a very few reviews posted – I become more cautious – and might even wonder if some reviews (negative or positive) are truly legitimate.
Pablo
One often overlooked aspect too, is Harbor Freight improves on their tools (whether they do it themselves or bring the feedback to the supplier) based on user feedback and releases improved versions.
It’s pretty remarkable how they’re so forward with their business, while Sears continues to hack and burn both with diminishing product quality, and by closing stores as many stores as possible without sounding alarms (oh wait, that already happened).
Jon
When I first learned of Harbor Freight, I was excited about cheap tools that I could afford. Plus … coupons! What red blooded American doesn’t love the ubiquitous 20% off coupon HF throws around like dollar bills at a strip club?? Plus random free items!!
Then I went to HF. Man, was I deflated. Most of the stuff there seemed like Kmart discount rack merchandise — disposable tools, essentially. And the staff? I wouldn’t trust them to competently make me a hamburger, never mind direct me to the appropriate tool for a particular job. You get what you pay for.
Maybe it’s not a coincidence that the particular HF location I went to is no longer in business.
Zachary
When did you go to yours? They got some diamonds in the rough there, composite ratchets are nice, I own a 1/4 one and I love it, the pro flex head and low profile ratchets are pretty nice from what I have heard on the GJ. The us general boxes are really nice for the money too as long as you avoid that $150 kennedy knock off pos. Not saying everything they sell is gold but they got there share of nice tools for the price.
Toolfreak
The increased searches for HF may have a lot to do with new stores opening. Over the last few years they have opened new stores in many cities, and moved some stores to new locations since rent dropped like a rock in a lot of markets with a glut of commercial property vacancies.
Jay k.
HF does have what you need in a pinch most of the time though… sometimes that’s worth more than the money…
T
(rant) Numbers dont lie. HF has SOME exceptional tools for the money, they even mingle well with top shelf truck brands and boutique euro tools. Nobody else, I know of, offers 1/4″ drive impact 1 piece torx bits, and their 1/2″ impact allen and torx bits are an exact profile match to some other primo brand pieces that also live in my box.
10 years ago, i wouldnt be caught dead with anything from HF’s mailorder, after actually seeing tools in person after a store opened nearby i changed my tune.
Things change, tool world included. Craftsman’s (Sears) model of bells & whistles, personality fluctuations and pretend expertise has grown long in the tooth and expensive to maintain, HF’s model of “take it or leave it, cheap” has proven more popular and efficient. I dont care if the kid at the counter knows anything other than how to run the register anymore, HF doesnt charge extra for the same level of service Sears offers. Heck, HF does a better job of organizing their tools, Craftsman department currently has ratchets 2 isles away from the sockets, lol. I know more than any of them anyway – good conversation with the proprietor of your local hardware/tool store is long gone in most place… Interwebs is taking its place.
Btw, the Sears in my area is about 40yrs old.. Years of loyalty and patronage were ruined within last 5 years for me, for a multitude of unsolvable reasons. My first set of reliable safe tools to an adult profession spanning nearly 2 decades without consideration to my dad or other family. I used to give Craftsman tool sets as gifts… Numbers dont lie.
rx9
You’re definitely right about the Internet. I honestly could care less how knowledgeable the sales representatives anywhere are. If I want valid information, all I need is to hit the forums and review sites.
Joey
If I want crap customer service, or no customer service and low priced tools, I’ll visit HF. If I want crap, to no customer service and high priced tool, I’ll visit Sears.
I have hand tools from both, granted more from Sears because of a longer time of shopping there, however the few tools I have from HF I still use. Extension bar sets are inexpensive, compared to Craftsman and just as good quality. Still there are things I’ll buy at one place, versus the other. Just depends on what I plan on doing with the tools, and the length of time I plan on using them. Both companies have their benefits, and also their negatives.
Harbor Freight has a few employees in each store (depending) that know some of their products, well and some not. Same with Sears. Sears people just read their stuff off the placards that the price tags are on, or check the website. Heck, I’ve had to go in and “save the sale” by locating products for a customer, because the employee didn’t know what the customer needed, nor where it was.
Rob
I shop both. I’ve been going to HF more often now that i have a local store. I’m a coupon guy so I love using the 25% off coupons that come up now and again. I just used one on one of their biscuit joiners. Think i paid right around $45 for one out the door…
Thanasi
Sears and craftsman better start reinventing themselves or else chapter 11 will soon follow. They need to start making inovations with there tools like millwaukee. Craftsman has to start making tools like snap on but with the customer service like llbean.
Joe
Back when I first discovered HF, they where very little known to the masses. Not a lot of people here in Houston new much about that place.
Now I see ads on maxim magazine. I see their tools being used by even, supposedly, “professional” reviewers/testers.
The bad side about getting more “popular” it seems that they are raising their prices as a response. I bought this butane torch, which I still have, for $5 back then (in store) http://www.harborfreight.com/micro-torch-42101.html now it is $9.
They seem to have both 6in. and 8-1/3in priced the same.
http://www.harborfreight.com/micro-torch-42101.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/butane-micro-torch-60645.html
For me as a “hacker”, HF is no problem. That torch will last me till the butane tank breaks and I don’t see it happening any time soon.
Joe
Back when I first discovered HF, they where very little known to the masses. Not a lot of people here in Houston new much about that place.
Now I see ads on maxim magazine. I see their tools being used by even, supposedly, “professional” reviewers/testers.
The bad side about getting more “popular” it seems that they are raising their prices as a response. I bought their 6 in. butane torch, which I still have, for $5 back then (in store) now it is $9.
They seem to have both 6in. and 8-1/3in priced the same.
http://www.harborfreight.com/micro-torch-42101.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/butane-micro-torch-60645.html
For me as a “hacker”, HF is no problem. That torch will last me till the butane tank breaks and I don’t see it happening any time soon.
Tom Sharp
When I first started going to Harbor Freight, I took one look at their tools and made a rule to never buy any power tools there. Then after disappointment after disappointment my rule extended further and further from “anything with moving parts” to now where the only thing I’ll buy there must be constructed from a single chunk of metal. So, essentially, my rule limits to only buying log-splitting wedges, cold chisels, and wrenches (but not adjustable wrenches, since those have a moving part which will inevitably break in some usually unfathomable manner).
Plus, their prices for their power tools are REALLY not all that great. Compare some things like their high grade angle grinder with the lowest end angle grinder that you can find on the HD or Lowe’s websites and you can often find a Black and Decker, Skil, etc. in a very close price range. Plus, you might actually get some decent accessories with the B&D.
As far as their web popularity goes, they are master e-mail and online marketers, since you would be nuts to shop there without going to their website or getting their e-mails in order to get huge price reductions. Even when you are standing in their store you can use your phone to get a coupon code. There is no financial benefit to going to the HD or Lowes or Sears websites prior to a visit. So, not only is this a retailer versus a brand for web comparison purposes, one also “pays you” to visit their website.
JP
Well since Craftsmen went to China to build all their tools I now shop elsewhere. I figure why buy China made tools at Sears when I can get the same junk somewhere else but cheaper with the same lifetime warranty. Menards is now carrying many tools Made in USA but not the vase variety that Sears or other brand tools carry.
Ali
We are reviewing our clamping line @ Sears and would love your input!
What do you feel is missing from our assortment?
What are competitors providing in their assortment that we are missing?
If you are a woodworker how often do you shop for clamps?
Any other points of view or information on the assortment would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Ali