Who Makes Lynxx Tools?
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If you follow the tool market, you’ll find out quickly that there are a few top players that hold a lot of cards, i.e., manufacturers. For example, Stanley Black & Decker Inc., the industry leader, own Powers, Bostitch, and DeWALT, among several others. That’s also the case with Lynxx Tools. California-based Harbor Freight Tools (HFT) is the corporation behind this manufacturer.
The relationship is unique because HFT doesn’t make tools. Instead, it’s a brick-and-mortar retailer with a strong online presence. Lynxx Tools is one of 1,076 companies that it owns. Others under its umbrella include:
- Haul Master
- Chicago Electric
- S. General
- Pittsburgh Tools
- Central Pneumatic
- Drill Master
- Master Tools
In many ways, HFT is not unlike big-box home improvement retailers like Lowes and The Home Depot in that they buy their products directly from the manufacturer and rebrand them. For example, Lowes has Kobalt—and soon to be Craftsman—while The Home Depot has Ridgid.
HFT Corporate Profile
We’ll begin by saying that HFT is a private company. Some information is hard to come by as a result. It is a family-owned business started by Allan Smidt and his son, Eric, in 1977. The pair ran a mail-order operation called Harbor Freight Salvage. They opened their first retail outlet in 1980. Then, Eric became the company’s president in 1985.
Eric took the reins as CEO in 1999, a position he holds to this day. Through his leadership, the business flourished. It’s safe to say that the company has come a long way since opening its first store now with over 1,100 locations across the country. It continues to expand its portfolio with new acquisitions.
HFT’s corporate office is in Calabasas, California. The $4-billion company’s portfolio of products is diverse and spans several industries, including automotive, power tools, plumbing, lighting, and hand tools. HFT has a presence in retail, mail order, and e-commerce in both domestic and global markets.
Forbes has had high praise for HFT, calling it the number one business that is Best Employers for Veterans 2020. HFT also ranked #83 on the organization’s America’s Largest Private Companies 2020, with over 20,000 employees across the country.
HFT Retail Outlets
HFT has a reputation for affordable prices. The company claims its business model of cutting out the middleman and dealing directly with the manufacturer allows them to pass on the cost savings to consumers. A comparison of prices on the HFT website compared to other e-commerce sites revealed substantial differences with the company offering the best deals.
It’s worth noting that while e-commerce sites like one SKU, HFT gives three additional ones for the Drill Master 69651 model we researched. They included 62873, 68239, 62868. Power tools come with a 90-day guarantee against defects with some terms and conditions.
Lynxx Tools
It’s worth noting that there is speculation that HFT is dropping Lynxx Tools. The parent company has seen a significant revenue decline corresponding to the COVID-19 outbreak. A search on the retailer’s website turned up only three Lynxx products, and all were marked as clearance items, albeit with the 90-day guarantee. An exhaustive web search failed to locate the manufacturer’s location.
The majority of the products we managed to locate were home and garden equipment, such as its 40V Lithium Cordless Pole Saw and 40V Lithium Cordless Chainsaw. The items are well-made and geared toward the DIYer.
We hit similar dead ends on other popular e-commerce sites. Some products are available on eBay. However, some speculation points to Ningbo LERA Electric Appliance Co., LTD in China as the manufacturer of at least some of the product line. It appears that Lynxx is only the brand name that HFT gave these items.
Final Thoughts About Lynxx Tools
HFT has successfully positioned itself as one of the industry leaders in power tools and the machinery industry. Lynxx Tools were a reputable product line if just for a short time with the company. While we located some replacement parts and batteries online and on auction sites, it appears that Lynxx Tools has since its final days with the business. Fortunately, HFT has several others to take its place.
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Featured image credit: Free-Photos, Pixabay
