HF decreasing Stock? 14in Bandsaw not offered.

[leehljp]

Yesterday, I searched for HF's 14" bandsaw I it did not show up as a stock item. I checked again today and did not see it. They have been greatly reducing their stock items in the past year. A few years ago, they offered several electric motor sizes; It seems that they used to offer many more tool options than they do now.

But to cut out the 14" bandsaw is headed in the wrong direction, IMO.

[dbhost]

It would appear that a good number of their woodworking tools have hit the chopping block over the last couple of years. Most notably first the 8", then the 6" jointer. Now even their bench top jointer is gone. I fear for the lathes as well...

Even though they were cheapies, the HF big tools I got from them, cast iron bed lathe, 14" band saw, and of course the dust collector have all been real winners. Likewise I am quite pleased with my 29 gallon air compressor, and Earthquake impact wrench. Much less thrilled about any of the drilling accessories I have gotten from them...

[sweensdv]

Big heavy labor intense tools all of them with quality levels lower than competing product equates to more than the normal amount of returns. Double and triple handling of heavy product has got to cost them a bunch in labor alone let alone the other expenses involved. My guess would be that they figured out that it cost them a lot of money to sell those tools and the profit margin wasn't enough to warrant the expense of selling them any longer.

[cwsmith]

I've also noticed a few things, mostly in thier smaller tools though. They no longer carry that smaller, clamp-on woodworking vise, the little corner chisels, and the two-inch wide, aluminum "yardstick".

There's probably many other items too, most without any kind of notice. The problem of course is whether there are similar replacement coming, or are these items just gone forever.

I would think that the entire product line undergoes evaluation from time to time. Some of it may be subject to availability from suppliers and surely "turnover" would factor into whether shelf-space could be better served with something else.

CWS

[tommyt654]

Might have a lot to do with this as well , http://www.homechannelnews.com/artic...harbor-freight , even tho its old news it may have very well effected whats going on in stores today

[cabinetman]

Yep...the 14" seems to be bye bye. But, they still show its little brother.

.

[Lonnie in Orlando]

tommyt -

I looked into buying stock in HF a few years ago. The company is not publically traded. The family feud was going on back then, too.

Too bad about the bandsaw. The latest model seemed beefier - more like an old Delta, but the price has also increased. I bought mine, with the older/thinner table for about $200 ten years ago.

- Lonnie

[JoeyGee]

Interesting. It's listed in the December 2012 flyer (Issue 8161) but the stock numbers listed are not found on the site.

[jdon]

I don't know whether it's an industry-wide or corporate-wide trend, but I've noticed that local BORGs and Lowe's, and Sears all seem to be scaling back on stationary tools on display. At HD, e.g., the only table saws are portables.

The only places left to "tire kick" and drool are Woodcraft and Rockler, but most are out of reach $-wise.

[JSUPreston]

Makes me wonder if I should try to find the cash and get one of the lathes while they're still available.

[JoeyGee]

Stopped by my local HF earlier and they had the BS--the floor model at least.

[leehljp]

Stopped by my local HF earlier and they had the BS--the floor model at least.

Joey,

I noticed that the flyer had it in there as you wrote earlier, but it is not on the web site. I wonder if they are simplifying their inventory or they are about to introduce a different one.

I am concerned that they are looking at the bottom line and that is "what sells best, most and most profitable" - What I learned in college as "cost accounting". The large tools draw me in and I usually end up spending $30 - $50 every time without buying a "big tool". But without the big tools, I won't be going there.

[sweensdv]

.........
...... The large tools draw me in and I usually end up spending $30 - $50 every time without buying a "big tool". But without the big tools, I won't be going there.

Didn't your mother tell you to always tell the truth?

[tommyt654]

This has gotten me too thinkin (a very dangerous thing) and I wonder if perhaps they are going back to the 17 inch style bandsaw from yrs past into a 14 inch style similiar to the Rikon and Craftsman and perhaps they are phasing out the one we are all used to. Remember these the HF 17 incher,(I secretly wanted 1 of these,but could never find 1)

[dbhost]

It might be a simple retooling of their website too. In the past the website hasn't always had what was in store, or vise versa. I was in my local HF on Friday to pick up a ball joint press for my truck, they had the green 14" bandsaw with the hinged doors, and the 6" jointer. Neither of these tools are in the web site.