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HarborFreightToolsBxRdsOpen2020

Page history last edited by jerry 3 years, 10 months ago

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

 

gMaps2019

https://goo.gl/maps/HmXDiqSyiKhn87VN8

 

HarborFreight.com

 

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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