Up date on HF jigsaw purchase

Well yesterday morning I went out in the shop to use my new Chicago Electric jigsaw. It has a rotateing locking mechanism to hold the blades in. I couldn't get the blades to lock in. I tried both Dewalt and Lennox blades and none would lock. I filed the powder coat off the edges of one and it seamed to hold, but as soon as I started cutting the locking collar broke into 3 peices. GERRRRRRR.
Well off to HF I go. Got there and explained my problem to checkout girl and she called over the manager. They wanted to know if I wanted another one, and I said yes, if it will lock the blade in place. I took a new blade with me. Manager pulled a new one out of a box and neither of us could get a blade to lock into the replacement either. Went back to the checkout and the girl credited me for the tool and the warranty policy that I bought.
From there I went down the street to HD and checked out their selection of corded jigsaws. The Ryobies had rotary locks and wouldn't clamp a blade either. The Milwulkees and Dewalts with lever locks and they worked, but cost way more than I wanted to spend. They had a cheepy homeowner B&D that just looked flimsey, so I walked out of there and drove up to Lowes I looked at their selection and found a B&D comercial grade tool in the price range I wanted to pay, and it had a lever lock. Bought it with the extended Lowes warranty and came home.
I put it rite to work, and am very pleased with how smooth it cut. I'm cutting out 4-3/8"D holes in 12g steel for Grote recessed lights. It cut the arcs without binding and jumping like my Craftsman was.
Whew;;; wasted a day, but progressing forward again now.
Loren

ACG I don't want to be a jerk (I like you) BUT how much is your time worth dealing with a $50-100 item? We buy HF for cheap made in Hong Kong and wonder why it don't work!!! Why not get a good name brand? I bought some Milwaukee tools recently. The industrial shop that sells them also fixes them and they had a 5 year warrantee!!!! My theory is in 5-10 yearS I am still using the tool, its money well spent. OH THE 3/8 DRILL I BOUGHT WAS ON SALE FOR LIKE $65!!!! I received some HF dead blow hammers as a gift, first clip one flew in a million pieces too bad so sad!!! My helper did brake a snap on one and they gave us a new one. (that dang thing probably cost $50)

I too bought a cheap one. Did the job, but not very good. I borrowed an expensive one from a carpenter, what a difference! I threw the cheap one away. My new one runs smooth as silk with a light and blows away the dust.

The money on the Bosch is well spent. It is probably my favorite power tool. It may be higher priced than most but it is top quality.

Back when I was a building contractor I wouldn't mess with HF power tools, because my time was based on production, but now being retired and haveing health issues my time is limited and an expensive tool setting in the tool cabnet most of the time makes no sense to me.
When I'm dead the expensive tool won't be worth one penny more to me than the cheep one.
Loren

Well shucks!!!, I just turned 67 and have never been to Harbor Freight although I drive by one 6 or 8 times a year, kinda had that penciled in to my bucket list. Guess I'll leave well enough of alone.

My first jigsaw was a Crapsman; it was just junk. Bought an inexpensive Skil that is still working good for me.

i have a bosch also and lve it. has the quick change blade too, nice feature.

Were you using the T shank blades? My Ryobi cordless has a rotary chuck and it's designed for T shank only.