Harbor Freight Automotive Tool Jack Stand Scam Warning Controversy

A recent review about Harbor Freight jack stands recently sold on sale has an interesting warning shoppers should pay attention to when picking a box off the shelf: Look-alike versions might be inferior to the ones you may have seen advertised with positive reviews.

A Tool Review Warning About Identical Tool Versions

If you are like most DIY home mechanics, you will have done your due diligence in shopping around for both quality and price when buying your tools.

In fact, I've reported in several articles that for most automotive tool needs, there are significantly less expensive tools that offer the same, if not almost the same, quality as a name-brand tool.

Your due diligence likely included checking multiple reviews of a particular tool to ensure that the tool ratings you observe are not merely marketing trickery where reviewers are paid to promote a product.

This includes video reviews.

Unfortunately, after your review search is complete, there is an added problem: relying on the product box appearance and SKU number as you pull a product off its shelf, guarantees that what you see is what you want based on the reviews.

Case in Point: A Harbor Freight jack stand review from the Shop Humor YouTube channel that exposes this problem recently discovered following a Harbor Freight tool sale.

Host Says This is a Scam

Follow along with the host in this short video as he compares two versions of look-alike 3-ton and six-ton jack stands side-by-side. One version of each pair is significantly lower quality, meaning you will get less for your dollars spent.

The problem with these, is that Harbor Freight is selling two very different versions of the same product and doing their best to hide that fact from the consumer. These sure look similar and if you didn't know any better, you'd think they were the same product... The two versions are built to different standards and one version is inferior."

In the video, you will learn the following key points shared between both the 3- and 6-ton inferior pairs:

1. Both versions are packed in almost identical boxes, differing only in some specification numbers.
2. Both versions have identical SKU numbers.
3. Both versions are "Made in China".
4. The inferior and superior jack stands appear to have the same weld quality in their build.
5. Both were priced the same on sale recently.
6. The inferior jack stand is slightly shorter than the superior jack stand.
7. The inferior jack stand weighs less than the superior jack stand, showing that less metal was used during its manufacture.
8. The inferior jack stand is slightly shorter than the superior jack stand.
9. The inferior jack stand wobbles on its base, whereas the superior jack stand rests solidly on a flat surface.
10. The handle of the inferior jack stand is shorter and thinner, whereas the superior jack stand handle is longer and thicker.
11. The inferior jack stand post is cast poorly, shorter, and thinner than the superior jack stand post.

Here is the video for additional comparison details:

The Harbor Freight Jack Stand Scam

Why This Is a Problem…or Not

The host states that what he found matters because although both jack stand versions should still be okay to use, the principle is that not only are consumers led into believing there is only one version, but this results in a loss in quality per dollar spent by the consumer.

Related article: The Harbor Freight Tool You Can Do and Buy Better Elsewhere

Is This Really a Scam by Harbor Freight?

While the review shows that the two undisclosed versions sold can be misleading, whether this is intentional or not is unknown.

Comments on the video make the point that rather than being a scam, it is more likely just a way for Harbor Freight to cut costs by reusing the same box design and that it is using multiple factories with differing specs or QC levels to build what should technically be the same jack stand.

But is this kosher?

Here is a sampling of comments made:

A SKU is tied directly to a Manufacturer and Model. Check for any similar items in a Home Depot or Lowes. A 15a white light switch can't have the same SKU if one is made by Leviton and one is made by Eaton... it doesn't matter how alike they look or if their specs are the same. HF is paying for these products to come in from multiple suppliers but are packaged and labeled as if they're coming from the same place. It's not counterfeit if it's not a copy of an existing name-brand product, but it can be considered fraud to have two very different items sold as the same. Buy one of each, put them under a hydraulic press test....bet you could take HF to court with the results ―@markm5827

Insert quote marks: HF did something like this a while back. They had an outstanding branch lopper. But when it wore out and I got another one, the new one - with the same SKU and for the same price, was 30% thinner and the thing just bent the first time I tried to use it. But this was not side-by-side concurrent sale it was a replacement of the great one with a shitty one ―@natehill8069

To put it in another light, what if a business that sells portable car lifts does the same thing? Would you be hesitant to choose the lighter-built model if you knew it was not exactly the same tool as your tool search reviews recommend?

Tell Us What You Think: Does version differences for the same product matter to you? What is your experience with how SKUs should be used by stores and whether Harbor Freight use of SKUs is misleading.

Please let us know in the comments section below.

For additional Harbor Freight-related tool articles, here are a few for your consideration:

1. Harbor Freight's Dirty Little Secret Revealed Helps DIY Mechanics
2. New Harbor Freight Impact Wrench Torque Test Will Change Your Mind About Harbor Freight Tools
3. Insider Secrets, Tips, and Dumpster Diving Advice at Harbor Freight

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Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair" for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.