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Tool Chests -China or USA?
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2025 9:44 am
by Sir Henry
I’m in the market for several large tool chests. I currently have a snap-on, Craftsman and DeWalt. The Snap-Ons are much to expensive as they would cost $40K for what I want. Craftsman and DeWalt would be around $2K. I could get some China made ones that are close to Snap-On quality for about $4K. Craftsman and Dewalt are good but they are not the best.
So should I but the China ones sold at Harbor Freight? If I buy it will be in the next week or two.
Re: Tool Chests -China or USA?
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2025 10:11 am
by Hatchdog
I’m thinking that with residential use rather than commercial use the lower quality chests would most likely serve you well. Plus add in the number of years your personal use needs. Interesting times right now with prices possibly heading upwards.
Re: Tool Chests -China or USA?
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2025 11:13 am
by BigAl52
What about used? Maybe there is someone locally that is trying to sell some.
Re: Tool Chests -China or USA?
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2025 11:58 am
by rickhem
There's a range for the HF tool chests too. They have Icon, Yukon, and US General brands, and pricing is very different for each line. I am not sure which is top or why, but I'd find out if going that route. Also see if you can get one of the 25% or 30% coupons from HF if you buy one of those.
I have a HF tool cart, the little cheap four drawer one by US General. I took my time assembling it and it's been fine for the years that I've had it. I keep looking at bigger ones, and I'll probably get one eventually.
Big Al has a good point about buying used, some great deals pop up at garage sales, and some on-line classified sites.
Re: Tool Chests -China or USA?
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2025 12:50 pm
by daytime dave
Gene, just my thoughts, but I'd buy the one that someone made in our home country. I'd buy Canadian if I lived there, German if I lived there, etc.
Re: Tool Chests -China or USA?
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2025 1:34 pm
by HenryFan
I hate to buy chinese products but often it becomes necessary when no equivalent American-made product is available.
In your case, if the need is not time sensitive, maybe shopping for used may be a solution.
Good Luck.
Re: Tool Chests -China or USA?
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2025 3:22 pm
by GFK
That is the question of the day. Of course, most would like to get the best that they can for the money. For me, I try and keep as much money at home (home country) as possible. The way that I look at it: if we don't have money at home, how will we be able to live? At some point, people may not even have money to buy the things that are being sold here. Will I be around to see it? Who knows. Just my 2 cent.
Re: Tool Chests -China or USA?
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2025 3:27 pm
by Sir Henry
I’ve looked at used and they are few in between and almost always very beat up. I ended up ordering two Craftsmen 52” bottoms which will come in this week. And I ordered four Craftsmen wall cabinets which is several weeks out. I will put the 52” chests back to back and have a custom made wood top made. I will use it as an island.
Re: Tool Chests -China or USA?
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 8:27 am
by Sir Henry
I ended up ordering two more 52” chests.
Re: Tool Chests -China or USA?
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 9:29 am
by daytime dave
I think they will be neat as an island. Made in USA I believe too.
Re: Tool Chests -China or USA?
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 9:34 am
by Sir Henry
daytime dave wrote: ↑Tue Apr 08, 2025 9:29 am
I think they will be neat as an island. Made in USA I believe too.
Yep. This is one I bought when I first moved to Wisconsin.
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Re: Tool Chests -China or USA?
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 8:54 am
by DsGrouse
Nice. Last year, the wife and I picked up the Harbor Freight ones for my office.
I use them daily, and have enjoyed them. They have a passel of stickers on them now.
Re: Tool Chests -China or USA?
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 9:34 am
by GunnyGene
daytime dave wrote: ↑Tue Apr 08, 2025 9:29 am
I think they will be neat as an island. Made in USA I believe too.
As of today, you won't be able to buy
anything made in China, unless already on the shelf, or in some US warehouse.
Re: Tool Chests -China or USA?
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 3:00 pm
by Mags
GunnyGene wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 9:34 am
daytime dave wrote: ↑Tue Apr 08, 2025 9:29 am
I think they will be neat as an island. Made in USA I believe too.
As of today, you won't be able to buy
anything made in China, unless already on the shelf, or in some US warehouse.
I heard this morning Amazon was canceling orders of products from China.
Re: Tool Chests -China or USA?
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 5:00 pm
by GunnyGene
Mags wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 3:00 pm
GunnyGene wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 9:34 am
daytime dave wrote: ↑Tue Apr 08, 2025 9:29 am
I think they will be neat as an island. Made in USA I believe too.
As of today, you won't be able to buy
anything made in China, unless already on the shelf, or in some US warehouse.
I heard this morning Amazon was canceling orders of products from China.
Beach chairs, scooters, air conditioners, etc.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amazon-a ... 00250.html
Amazon (AMZN) is canceling some wholesale orders from Asia that it directly imports and ships to its warehouses as it begins to respond to President Donald Trump’s trade war, according to a new report.
Bloomberg, citing a document and unnamed sources familiar with the matter, said that Amazon has canceled some orders on which it would be responsible for paying tariffs. The orders, which include air conditioners, beach chairs, and scooters, were nixed after Trump announced his sweeping tariffs last week on almost all of the country’s trade partners.
Amazon, which hasn’t commented on the canceled orders, did not cite the tariffs as a reason for the decision, but vendors believe it is directly related to the trade policy upheaval due to the timing.
Scott Miller, a former Amazon vendor manager who now works as an e-commerce consultant, told Bloomberg many of the companies he works with in Asia saw order cancellations.
“Amazon really holds all of the cards,” Miller said. “The only real recourse vendors have is to either sell this inventory in other countries at lower margins or try to work with other retailers.”
Miller and a different vendor who spoke anonymously to Bloomberg explained Amazon was axing wholesale inventory orders that it buys and then distributes to its warehouses. Direct-buy items make up about 40% of Amazon’s products.
While many CEOs have criticized Trump’s trade war, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos — who donated to Trump’s inaugural committee and attending his inauguration — has been silent on the new policy. Amazon’s stock has dipped more than 12% since the April 2 announcement, which Trump deemed “Liberation Day.”
Re: Tool Chests -China or USA?
Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2025 5:36 pm
by Sir Henry
Four of the 52” chests came in today. I ordered two 42” chests today when I picked these up. My trailer is sure getting used.
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Look for the unboxing in the garage/shop thread.