For me it was “buy high quality pillow” because you sleep for one thrid of a day etc. I needed a new pillow anyway so I came to the store and bought the best they had. And it was … ok. Like it’s a fine pillow but my sleeping haven’t improved really, it’s basically the same. So I was disapointed :(

So, which life pro tip disappointed you?

    • Steve@startrek.website
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      1 year ago

      Obligatory I’ve been using the same $20 impact socket set professionally for 20 years and its fine

      • Fondots@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I’ve always been partial to “hazard fraught”

        I disagree with it being garbage though. It’s true, most of their merchandise isn’t the highest quality, but when you need a tool for just one project that you don’t already own and can’t seem to borrow from anyone it’s a great place to get that tool on the cheap, and for some oddball tools there’s may be no convenient place to track them down.

        I was recently working on a small project I needed a router for. In this case I was able to borrow a router from a friend but he only had one bit for it and it wasn’t one I needed. If you haven’t priced out router bits recently, they tend to go for like $20-30 a piece from the usual big retailers.

        I was able to get a set of 15 bits from harbor freight for about $30-40 and they did exactly what I needed them to.

        I’m sure they probably won’t last as long as the good bits, but for how often I need a router these will probably last me the rest of my life.

        Needed a rivnut tool for a different project a few months ago, and nowhere else around me carries them, beat waiting a couple days for one from Amazon.

        Also have a bike rack from them that’s doing the job just fine, and a handful of little weird tools for various hobbies.

        I wouldn’t trust them for anything my life or livelihood depends on, but for little incidental things I can’t borrow or find anywhere else they do just fine.

        • eighthourlunch@kbin.social
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          1 year ago

          Both of the tools I tried from there failed hard and fast. The first was a rotary tool. I ended up keeping the plastic and using a motor from a printer instead until I bought my Foredom.

          The second was a vibratory tumbler. After running it for a few hours, I walked into my garage to find it filled with smoke and the acrid smell of burning electrical equipment.

          I took it back to the store for a refund and the manager threatened me, saying that he wouldn’t let me make any more returns after bringing back an obviously defective piece of garbage.

          Glad you had a better experience, but that place is definitely not for me.

      • HelixDab2@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Hand tools are fine 99%. Cutting tools–the part that actually does the cutting–are usually fine. Power tools are very hit or miss. Like, I would definitely not buy any cordless or corded tools there. Air tools are generally okay, but don’t work as well as other, more expensive air tool brands. OTOH, I’ve used a Harbor Freight flooring stapler that failed in under a day of use, while the Husky branded stapler did just fine for a few years. Impact sockets are good, although they’re limited on sizes (I don’t think that they have anything bigger than 22mm). I’ve been using a Harbor Freight floor jack and jack stands for a few years now without issue.