NGWClub®, Inc.

I live very close to Calabasas if you want me to drop the letter off in person

next HF will tell you that you over loaded the life

Harbor Freight here in the Atlanta area is having a tent sale this weekend...Friday through Sunday. The table lift
is on sale for $299.95.

$30.00 cheaper than I paid a month ago of course.

Wow. I'm really late getting into this thread. I bought the HF lift, in I think April of 2013. Might have been May. I have the old style with the thicker base and bars. This "new" design must have been released right when you bought it. I have no problems with the older lift.

The name Eric Smidt has been mentioned in this thread. The whole harbor freight story is a sad one. This guy is a complete tool. It's worth a google and a read. Basically, he stole the company from his dad. He then squandered most of the company's money away on stupidity.... Wikipedia is useless as it has obviously been supplied info from a new company clown....

its terrible when the most useless are raised to the top ....

Sounds like another spoiled rich kid pulled the rug out from under his parents.

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/jul/19/ ... g/?print=1

His father was a smart guy - he jumped on the import business early and capitalized.

tomk1960 wrote:Sounds like another spoiled rich kid pulled the rug out from under his parents.

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/jul/19/ ... g/?print=1

His father was a smart guy - he jumped on the import business early and capitalized.

something i will never have to worry about the pulling the rug out thing

Eric Smidt, possibly spelled differently, is also the name of one of the co-founders of Google.

I have an older HF lift I bought used from a neighbor who used to make a custom ride out of a 98 valk. I have used it now about 6 times with no issue keeping my 97 valk up for extended periods of time. The best thing I did do was to install the HF wheel chock. I am satisfied with this set-up for now.

I thought I'd wait until my 'litigation' with Harbor Freight was wrapped up before adding anything to my original thread. It was a rather drawn out process and I didn't want to make this tedious. So, here's the results of this issue:

Numerous emails between myself and Harbor Freight's Customer Support group resulted in no apology, no resolution and no reimbursement. Disappointing to say the least. So, I then did two things at once: I filled a complaint with the Consumer Product Safety Commission and another with the Better Business Bureau. I've yet to hear anything from the CPSC however, the BBB complaint got an immediate response from Harbor Freights Corporate HQ in Calabasas, CA.

In the BBB complaint, I gave a full account of the issue and asked only to be compensated in the amount of $297 for 'out of pocket' expenses (which would more than reimburse my friend and I for the cost of new support bars and frame reinforcements for both lifts.) After a couple of back and forth emails, an actual phone call occurred (I was stunned) during which they agreed to send us a check for the full amount if we'd agree to sign a product liability release form. We agreed. (I found this part amusing as the lift was 'unsafe' in it's original state and 'safe' after the modifications. Also, they felt the need to be 'off the hook' for any further liability issues with me.)

So, here's how the dollar figures broke down:

Original retail cost of each lift (on sale with an additional 20% off coupon): ........ $365
'Good will' amount deducted from the price of each lift by local Harbor Freight store
for having to return one damaged lift: ................................................... $106
New 'cost' of each lift: ...................................................................... $259
Actual cost of new support bars and frame modifications per lift: .................... $95
New 'cost' of each lift: ...................................................................... $354
Reimbursement per lift from Harbor Freight due to BBB complaint: .................. $148
New 'cost' of each lift: ...................................................................... $206

So, in the end, each lifts actual price went from $365 to $206. Not much satisfaction for the effort I expended on this but, I did learn some things about Harbor Freight and it tracks with most large corporations: They won't do a thing for you until they're in danger of receiving 'bad press'. I've also had my faith in the BBB renewed (once again) as any time I've used them I've had immediate and positive results from the company that was causing me grief.

It's unfortunate that as consumers we are forced to 'go to war' with companies to receive any satisfaction and, for the most part, first-level customer support personnel have so little ability (or willingness) to resolve situations on behalf of their company.

wow placerville ...

Placerville, I would like to add the reason larger businesses will respond to a BBB complaint.

Not only is it bad press, but BBB reports are sought by several business rating agencies that can also influence lending costs for future capitol expenses based on product liability. Investors are interested in lending to companies that have good track records in safety and reliability and do want want to invest (or lend) to companies that may be potentially sued for large settlements.

mcgovern61 wrote:Placerville, I would like to add the reason larger businesses will respond to a BBB complaint.

Not only is it bad press, but BBB reports are sought by several business rating agencies that can also influence lending costs for future capitol expenses based on product liability. Investors are interested in lending to companies that have good track records in safety and reliability and do want want to invest (or lend) to companies that may be potentially sued for large settlements.

Nice to know that the BBB will go to bat for us. Based on your efforts you expended to resolve, you have a nice $1500 lift there.

Does this kind of lift make any sense? Northern tool sells this a $99, rated 1500 lb