Harbor Freight DA Polisher - New

[CCC4me]

Ok here's the break down of the kit GG vs. HF:

1 Griot’s Garage Random Orbital Perfect Starter Kit 169.99
1 LC-75-6PACK - 6 Qty 5 ½ x 7/8 Inch Lake Country Bevele 34.99
1 LC-43-125DA - 5 Inch D.A. Hook & Loop Flexible Backing 17.99
2 GG-3003 - Professional Grit Guard - Yellow 14.98
1 G-17216 - 15.2 oz. Meguiar's Ultimate Compound 10.99
1 AUCOUPON - 10% Discount -24.89
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Sub-Total: 224.05
Tax: 0.00
Shipping & Handling: 0.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL: 224.05

Harbor Freight Kit:

HF DA polisher - $65 w/ 1 year warranty
1 LC-75-6PACK - 6 Qty 5 ½ x 7/8 Inch Lake Country Bevele 34.99
1 LC Flat Pad - 3 Qty 5 ½ x 7/8 Inch Lake Country Bevele 20.97
1 LC-43-125DA - 5 Inch D.A. Hook & Loop Flexible Backing 17.99
2 GG-3003 - Professional Grit Guard - Yellow 14.98
1 G-17216 - 15.2 oz. Meguiar's Ultimate Compound 10.99
1 Wolfgang Pad Werks Pad Care Combo - $29.99
1 Supreme 530 Microfiber Towel, 16 x 16 inches 2 Qty. - 15.98
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Sub-Total: 210.89
Tax: 0.00
Shipping & Handling: 0.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL: 210.89

I try to match what GG kit have with the HF.

You forgot the coupon savings on the HF--both Harbor Freight's on the unit and Autogeek's on the pads and stuff.

[BigWorm]

You forgot the coupon savings on the HF--both Harbor Freight's on the unit and Autogeek's on the pads and stuff.

The price i put for the HF is already discounted for 20%.
Original price $54.99 - 20% = $43.99 + 1 yr extended warranty of $19.99 ( $35.99 for 2 years) = $63.98 + 8.75% tax = $69.58.

HF kit with 10% discount on autogeek supplies:

1 LC-75-6PACK - 6 Qty 5 ½ x 7/8 Inch Lake Country Bevele 34.99
1 LC Flat Pad - 3 Qty 5 ½ x 7/8 Inch Lake Country Bevele 20.97
1 LC-43-125DA - 5 Inch D.A. Hook & Loop Flexible Backing 17.99
2 GG-3003 - Professional Grit Guard - Yellow 14.98
1 G-17216 - 15.2 oz. Meguiar's Ultimate Compound 10.99
1 Wolfgang Pad Werks Pad Care Combo - $29.99
1 Supreme 530 Microfiber Towel, 16 x 16 inches 2 Qty. - 15.98
1 AUCOUPON - 10% Discount - $14.58
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Sub-Total: 131.30
HF DA polisher: 69.58
Tax: 0.00
Shipping & Handling: 0.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL: 200.88

Here you go i forgot to add the 10%. Like i said $20 more i get the same kit vs HF with lifetime warranty and better polisher.
I'm new to detailing and DA tools. My original plan was to get the Meguiars DA power system bundle for $79.99 + Sears corded drill $30.

[Kyle_Elantra]

The HF warranty is $9.99 for 2 years, no clue where you got your numbers

[BigWorm]

The HF warranty is $9.99 for 2 years, no clue where you got your numbers

Here's the receipt. I'm not sure where you get $9.99, but here in cali it's $19.99 for 1 year or $35.99 for 2 years.

[CCC4me]

Regardless of what you ended up with or how much you spent, I'm just glad you're joining the detailing world using more than a drill with an attachment!

[Kyle_Elantra]

I feel bad.

Return it and order it by calling them. You should have been charged the warranty fee for the price point after the discount, not the $129.

I paid $9.99, as did many others in this topic, for the 2 year warranty.

[ski2]

BigWorm--Don't have the time right now to go through all the figures, but the immediate thing that got my attention is #1 there is allot of things in the kit you don't need and #2 why would you buy a Griots kit with a 6" backing plate and three 6.5" pads then also add a 5" backing plate and 5.5" pads. I'll look at it more closely tomorrow. Don't get me wrong--the Griots is the "way" to go if you're willing to pay for it, but the HF is a good alternative, but don't waste money on things you won't use.

[InsaneDiego]

My 1st post! Long story short, got a new Kia Soul (BLACK!) and got back into the swing of exterior car care. Been restocking and trying all kinds of new products since my last foray in this area over 1/2 a decade ago.

My '99 F-150 needed some desparate love so I clayed, polished and waxed it using my dual 10" Orbitals. The job sucked because of me more than my equipment. I heard of DA's, read some stuff, saw the videos and said I'm going to take the leap and get a PC. Just before ordering a friend said HF had one for <$60 and I said ya, I heard them talking about it on the forums and there is even a coupon.

Well again, long story short I picked one up for $44 and to the other poster who said the warranty is $10 (which I've heard before), in the store and/or Calif it's $20 1 yr and $35 for 2/yrs.

I reclayed the entire F150 (with Medium clay as the light clay just didn't get it all), polished and waxed everything except the tailgate and roof (next week's task). Took about 15 hours or so as I more or less did it by the book (small sections). The HF DA rocks! It did exactly what it was supposed to.

I didn't use the crappy HF pads though. Got the 5.5" Hex Logic's and backing plate from CG and was working with M105 and M205. I've subsquently got the 3.5 inch backing plate and 4" Hex Logic and those work great too. Last night I ordered out a 6 pack of LC 5.5 Flat's and a set of microfiber bonnets from AG. I completely waxed my '06 Fusion tonight and the HF DA rocks! It's so dang cheap that on Thurs I'm going to get another so I can have my 5.5 on one and 3.5 on the other. That's 2 DA's for 2/3 the price of a PC. Will it ultimately last? Time will tell. But as a complete noob to this area/power, it made it easy on the pocketbook to jump in.

I've lined up my neighbor's 1990+ White Toyota Truck to polish/wax this week as it's in good shape and I was hoping he wouldn't mind a noob touching it since it's 20 years old. He said no problem. "But if you really want something extra, how about doing my wife's 2000+ Silver Honda Accord". It's all jacked up he said. I took a look and the paints in good condition but there are swirls and scratches everywhere. Told him I'd do it for free because I need the practice before I do my Fusion and ultimately my brand new BLACK car. I'm stoked and looking forward to seeing how it all comes out. All I can say is my F-150 hood is completely swirl free (M105 is awesome!) and I haven't seen it shine like it is now in almost a decade!

[Kyle_Elantra]

That's awesome! I'm glad to hear you had a positive experience, and look forward to you being on the forums and tackling your new black car.

That's why I'm here too, a new car. Wish I had beaters to test on lol.

[BigWorm]

Regardless of what you ended up with or how much you spent, I'm just glad you're joining the detailing world using more than a drill with an attachment!

Yup that's the plan Tnx

I feel bad.

Return it and order it by calling them. You should have been charged the warranty fee for the price point after the discount, not the $129.

I paid $9.99, as did many others in this topic, for the 2 year warranty.

I think im good with the GG

BigWorm--Don't have the time right now to go through all the figures, but the immediate thing that got my attention is #1 there is allot of things in the kit you don't need and #2 why would you buy a Griots kit with a 6" backing plate and three 6.5" pads then also add a 5" backing plate and 5.5" pads. I'll look at it more closely tomorrow. Don't get me wrong--the Griots is the "way" to go if you're willing to pay for it, but the HF is a good alternative, but don't waste money on things you won't use.

#1 - 5" backing plate, extra pads,MF towels,grit guard? I think from what i've read so far these are all recommended items i need?
#2 - The GG polisher comes with the 6" backing plate as standard. I asked AG to swap the 6.5" pads that comes with it with the 5.5" pads. So the kit now comes with 3 orange, 3 white, 1 blue, 1 black , 1 yellow. I have a 8 year old van that never had any detailing since day 1. I just got a 2013 accord also a month ago.
I'm sure im not throwing away my hard earned $.