HarborFreightToolsBxRdsOpen2020
from
SituationalAssessmentTemplate2017
Introduction/Definition/etc
Next to AldiBXRdsGrandOpening2019
which was a BabysRUS with the
ToysRUS across Rt7 about a block in,
a new to this area tool store,
not a HomeDepot / Lowes,
AceHardware, Browns,
but have some tools,
mostly their own brands
(Chinese with USA like names
Pittburgh, etc not that Craftsman
etc aren't made in China, also...)
Low prices, some is crap,
others ok, but starter tools,
my Welder, mostly not used
was from there...
240V limited duty cycle
doesn't compare well to the
school Miller ones, but likely a 10th
of the price...
Body
Original Text
So been watching since they made
a big hole in the wall next to Aldi,
and then Harbor Freight
Coming Soon signs,
then opening, turns out Soft
5/26 right after Memorial Day,
tried getting gMaps2019
pin added (and credit for it),
but didn't take mine,
said there already was something
(create anyways!)
but not displayed and
didn't have exact address,
(later photo of door,
Masks recommended, but
Friday's Governor's order made it
required...
Oddly my bandanas are mostly from
competitor's Northern Tool down in
Fredericksburg, VA, likely other places,
some differences, some similarities,
mostly duplicate carry around tools,
less worried about getting lost, as
much less expensive, but also quality,
suffers, plyers (sp?),
metal not shaped as well,
Over the years, mostly along
WeldingBasics2013
Solar Panels, bought a few,
biggest is a 13Watt BriefCase solar
charger seems to be older cell technology
higher capacity/ density, likely exists,
so big for what portability i'd like,
flexible, and they have other ones,
some new flexible i think came out...
The
angle grinder
Chicago Electric,
their now lower brand model
got me started owning
some power tools,
took it to class and try it there,
same with the welder,
an inverter for ~$200 iirc,
but duty cycle,
finding parts,
as needed gas regulator for TIG,
doesn't do AC so no aluminum,
but small and portable until need
high power to run,
and all the safety,
doing it on your own,
the running criticism was
tools broke off in your hands,
which may be possible
FUD (Fear Uncertainty Doubt)
xenophobic/ nationalism/
obsessive brand loyalty
also but likely lose body parts
if that happens, though don't
know many/any cases of same,
power tools and quickly
gets into Home Improvement
Tim Taylor More Power! Grunt
testosterone poisoning,
machismo/ macho,
but there are smaller,
lower power too,
smaller than Dremel like rotary tools,
for $10 but what parts,
not EZ snap on heads,
chock, collette (Sp?)
and other limitations
(watts/amps, variable speed?),
corded, noticed new (to me)
heads / bit like things to put on it,
cut off, shaped grinding, etc,
i'd need to find the part number
and photograph for more detail...
There is
No Store App
Android nor Apple
as a discount like place,
mostly paper ads, but have
coupons, which i used to get
and draws you in for what would
be one small free stuff,
until you buy that big thing
you've been wanting on impulse
or other stuff you may not need,
nor use, just find gadgetry interesting
neat, geeky, etc...
Two very small purchases so far
,
as late in the month started going,
$0.57 box cutter,
by checkout
to buy something on first in store
visit on the 28th or so,
before that was signs on the doors,
remember hours, policy, address,
etc...
Prove to gDrug they had
actually opened, but still no pin...
Next was a flashlight keychain
(Hoping to remove the magnet
before it erases cards, etc)
includes two CR2032 batteries
and at $0.99 makes the batteries
about half price,
they have a 4 pack of CR2032
for $3.98 or so, so easier than
going all the way to MicroCenter
in Vienna, VA
or RockVille, MD for those
at that price...
Battery Center was seemingly
misplaced by auto,
as small batteries
and a couple other places
in the store, (Flashlights, etc)
Solar section has an AGM
car size 12Volt battery
for solar use, not small enough
for motorcycle nor really moped/
eBike, etc...
Staff (and Privacy Problems)
was overly helpful,
one guy talked to was overly
interested in my bike/ moto
and for safety, already been
totaled once and brought back,
then trashed again for thousand,
on Christmas night,
so rather careful
who i tell what about,
then they want your phone number
and say your name
(to confirm) at the register
instead of please type it in
the card scanner...
Getting as bad as MicroCenter
HeartBleed
Privacy wise,
as many don't want their name
broadcast
to those in checkout within earshot,
the last visit a guy behind me
was too interested,
and said someone sent him in,
not sure if for my ThinkGeek
armed Space Monkey t shirt
given riots, eBike which got a lot
of questions by a couple,
and "did you find everything?"
when money is more the issue,
waiting on Uncle Sam and
stimulus check watch out,
other guys seem to think it's
a male toy store,
Two main
toys
actually in stock
mini drones empty shelves
so a SlingShot
and HeliCopter
both manual,
a Daisy on the first,
which broke in my hand,
the band, so finding replacements
Dangers
gun storage, knives, razors,
etc, some rather sharp
and dangerous
stuff,
can't take in schools,
community centers, libraries, etc,
leave in the car/ locked,
but those without
cars,
have problems just getting around,
safely with belongings
like the ToysRUS now a
FoodStar
with a Bag check policy, finally went
in there, usually boycott those with
that policy, since February opening
not walked by there without bags
until a day or so ago...
The
masks
, were donated in April
(before this store even opened)
to hospital(s), so that part is empty,
the sign says, gloves they have many,
mostly laborers, some welding,
leather, and mechanics,
some nitrile (sp?) likely,
safety hearing protection including
something for just over a certain
decibiles (Sp?), masking/ countering sounds?
the 3M Folding i bought at HomeDepot
Lowes, etc broke, so been looking to replace
that, mostly for fire alarm testing,
rather loud, but used to block annoying
stuff, the backup sounds of food delivery
trucks likely my biggest pressing need
to replace those...
Inside Track
is a memberships savings thing,
for ~$30 for one year,
or $45 for two years,
you get discounted prices
on (certain) items
but figuring out if you save,
when break even is
and paying up front to join to save
is rather annoying, to me...
The math doesn't work out
easily either, guessing how much
one would spend, to make it worth it,
like gambling, how high and Hearts
getting rid of big cards, discard
and be left with the least
instead of highest is an inverted
sort of feedback to me...
Like a half gainer, start out going
forward twist backwards,
not back flip,
some things i don't process well...
No Returns There
Seems like ConVid19 restricts
what they will take back there,
likely have to send away,
Return authorization and
shipping type problems,
not sure what the policy was
before, Aldi and many others
Target, etc
are doing similar, so if it doesn't work,
you change your mind, find better,
you're stuck doing more with it
to get anything back, think Aldi
AldiAmbiano9In1ProgrammablePressureCooker2019
(or the other link, rarely get that one right)
though maybe less seasonal
AldiCantFind2019
than there...
An example buy at Aldi
a worklight lipo charger,
for $15?
$38 #56163 1250 Lumen
(brightness v, _ mAh
battery)
higher end elsewhere
and
online comparison
LitSolar.com
at $100
down some discounted...
and charges wirelessly
(Qi?)...
Dutch Oven with legs
Aldi's Double Dutch like is
coated enamel/porcelean (sp?)
HFT's is likely metal all the way,
with legs, not sure about double
use on the lid as a skillet,
maybe more suited to camping,
with the legs, not sure
how it would work in the home/
range (legs scratch range?),
more campfire like...
WalMart or somewhere else
is likely best for the original
Lodge Double Dutch stuff...
The aluminum light weight
but surface and lit make a difference
to me, to carry say bicycle touring,
CastIron would be a Pain,
literally, lighter good,
but scratch/ dent/ etc
issues likely...
HandiCapped
the unpopulated
AldiWelbyRollenator2020
or similar they have a
rolling walker at ~$50-70+?
and a wheel chair,
two types of grabbers,
a hearing amplifier,
a big shoe horn,
like don't have to lean over much,
big digit visual thing(s),
and some other stuff
to check out details on sometime
before i'm too old to notice/
read fine print...
Bike Tools Etc
A pump
Rear Lights
Most bike specific
tools needed are
Park, or other companies,
which they don't carry...
Much less supplies,
tubes, cables, etc...
plenty of hex/Allen wrench/
keys, (T handles are nice
but to have hex on the ends
Too?)
some padlocks, keyed mostly,
iirc, but nothing really ULock
like, iirc... Matching say a
Metric Hex bolt might be possible
but have to buy a random
collection box, and see if
it's in there, and likely not
very outdoor/
weather resistant
anodized coated well...
Cart Dolly & Caster Wheels
up to Trailer 4 lug
12 inch (maybe more
16 seen ad for one)
gets big for my purposed
a folding trailer with 1k+ pound
capacity,..
Northern has more of
a design your own type components
which goes to my three wheel
trailer/sidecar project
which hasn't gotten much of any
time on in years...
Recently
SamHolmesSailing
was in a hardware store
HomeDepot afaict
getting the parts for something,
using the wrench and returning it
before buying the adapter pressure
gas can diesel modification
for a leaking tank after he cleaned it
the hole reopened,
already had a powered siphon,
transfer motor for the contents, etc...
Anyways, not marine quality,
closest thing HFT has is a sextant,
for $20 brass and decorative,
not been tried, manually reconnoitering
with sun/ stars, and calculating,
Food Scales
Recently found they had
two small scales
(CenTech? $13 and $15)
some i might try buying
similar to MicroCenter one(s)
500g or 1000g limited and small
surface area so putting
a big pot on, plate,
package, and too big to see
the display(s)...but if fits in a pocket
and can take with means eating on the run,
likely better and keeping track
for consumption, calories calculation,
portion control, etc...
whatever
Flyers
Monthly(or a little more)
a sales flyer this at the door,
i used to get them mailed to me,
and saw on my receipt i can
text to get it texted to me,
the coupons likely,
which i used to see more
free, stuff to lure in,
not yet tired...
eReceipts
the reason to give a phone
number is they have your email
too, if you submit say from their
website, and get an eReceipt
of your purchases,
as likely can't find
or paper gets wet,
need duplicates for taxes,
etc...
Modified Text
What's Missing?
What Can Be Found?
What Can Not Be Found?
How To Analyze?
Lenses
Assumptions
Having a tool helps,
knowing what you're doing
PriceLess
Time Limits
Crunch getting gMaps2019
pin added, as Soft Opening
but nothing with hours,
and their own HarborFreight.com
didn't have their new store,
still probably doesn't...
Monthly like sales
flyers time limited...
Monthly money
but weekly/ daily wants/
needs...
Opening Time (soon 90 degrees?)
Closing time
safety in the area?
Book Data
ISBN
Bound
CopyRight
Pages
index
Links
doesn't show the new store
as soft opening
difficult for gMaps2019
to verify, they have a phone number
on there pending, it tried dialing
got no answer nor machine...
AldiBXRdsGrandOpening2019
AldiCantFind2019
NorthByNorthEast2018
RobotFest2017
RobotFest2016
RobotFest2015
NoVAMakerFaire2019
...
NoVAMiniMakerFaire2016
SubUrbanMade2015
GodsEgo2013
Autreat2012
(there was one above Johnstown
and bought a few things there
and then, camping nightly
in Pennsylvania parks...)
WeldingBasics2013
PedalCartAlternatives2016
PedalCarts2015
PhoenixBikes
MicroCenterMonopolyMoney2018
RPiTouchScreenDisplay2018
RPi3in2016
GeekingOutWithRaspberryPi2012
FlossManualsNetClassActs2019
OneLaptopPerChildoplcorg
and many more likely
these above not all in chronological order
more of a tree and lumped together
more by topic
/GoFish
find more related and wonder why
didn't occur to me off the top of my head,
by name, too clever to remember over time,
never broken up into blurb style
smaller topic only pages, etc...
Conclusion
Summary of experience or similar
Glad to have one closer by,
than Sterling, Fredericksburg,
(or is that just NorthernTool?
etc...)
but stated issues with them,
limited in what they carry
have some screws, bolts,
fasteners, but mostly would need
to go to a regular hardware
store, say needed plywood
for looting, cover windows
from a storm, but might find
the chainsaw to cut limbs
after a tree went down,
and trailer to haul it off,
some spraying and painting,
moving supplies/ dolly/ hand
trucks in multiple options
and not that far from UHaul
where day laborers hang out
not to mentioned 7-11 and the
MonCure HomeLess Shelter
so maybe people can prep
for a day task/ job
with personal protective stuff,
load up and off to work, early
but not too early, as only open
at 8am most days
or 9 am (Sunday?)
and closed by dark, anymore
8pm? check online/gMaps...
Discussion
A place for feedback on the page presented
What tools do you have?
Basic change a flat stuff?
Charge your car battery?
BatteryTender (tm elsewhere)
Change plugs/ gapping spark plugs?
Adjustable wrench set?
plyers
Screw driver set?
Socket set?
Watch case press?
Compressor?
Air hose?
Painting tape?
Gloves?
Eye Protection?
Tinted?
Ear protection?
the basics,
or advanced
Welder(s)
Impact wrench?
Drill press?
CrossCut Saw?
Reciprocating Saw?
Battery powered?
or plug in?
How many amps?
extension cords,
Fluke like MultiMeter?
Automobile diagnostic machines?
etc...
License
Creative Commons Share and Share Alike,
Non Commercial, Non Derivative,
for the whole site's contents
unless otherwise explicitly stated
Page History
20200602 Jerry
- Jerry created this page to
- log a geeky type store
- but other issues too...
-
- from
- FrontPage
-
- Using TempSitUpdating
- to make situations uniform across cases...
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