Harbor freight return policy

[Aaron_W]

That makes me feel a little better about it. I guess if that's what they are doing, it's similar to the Amazon warehouse deals.

I have a fair number of HF tools, and I've never received anything new that looked like it had been used. HF usually has a fairly sizable "discount" table and most of the stuff has damaged boxes. I'm assuming most were returns, shoplifted recoveries or damage during shipping. I suspect they even move new items with significant box damage to the table just because it looks bad to have beat to **** boxes on the shelf.

If they want to let people be honest about "renting" a tool and I can buy it at a deep discount I'm fine with that. I just bought a Bauer heat gun for $15 which is less than the price of the bottom tier Warrior heat gun. Probably one of those used once things someone returned. I don't have a lot of need for a heat gun, but now I've got one if I need it and I didn't pay much if it sits for 6 months or a year before I have a need.

I've not been subject to a restocking fee, but seems like their policy is pretty simple, if the box has been opened and or the item used you pay a fee. If the box hasn't been opened, no fee. If you return an item and buy an upgraded version of the same type, no fee. Of course no fee if replaced under warranty.

You get 5 days to return an item from the discount table. Basically test it when you get it home and bring it back if there is something wrong.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I got out of retail in 1988 - never again!

 

[Aaron_W]

It takes a despicable human to buy something. Use it. And return it for a refund. Anybody justifying it is just as bad.

Agree if the plan was to use it and return. I don't have a problem with somebody buying something and deciding that it didn't work like they wanted it to.

I suspect the second option is why they allow upgrading without a restocking fee. Someone buys the cheapest version of a tool they have, finds out why that is the cheapest version then buys something better and is happy. Much better for them than being hardnosed and having that person tell everyone they know HF ***** because a $20 cordless drill and it isn't as good as a $150 Milwaukee.

 

[Aaron_W]

I got **** years ago at Target for returning a box of lightbulbs, which I returned because 3 of the 4 lightbulbs were bad.
Normally I would not have bothered, but I was pissed off, and going back to Target anyway.
The customer service person had no knowledge of whether it was possible to check the lightbulbs for how long I had had them, and I even had the receipt, and all the bulbs were the proper brand, wattage, etc.
I would presume people did return used bulbs as just purchased and new, but presuming that revery single customer is doing so makes a retailer seem like cheap dishonest cheats.
I still shop regularly at Target, and I presume the facial recognition and Target App that presumably tracks customers helps me avoid bullsh!t nowadays, since Target knows I’m a regular customer.

I have no doubt that there are people who buy a box of lightbulbs, replace them, then put the bad ones in the package to return. I long ago stopped being surprised at the amount of effort some will expend to be cheapskates.

 

[shwarmapolice]

No, but that seem dishonest for a sales rep to say something like that, it seems doubtful HF really wants to sell used merchandise as new

The floor clerk is making $15 an hour. They’re doing something they think is nice for you without considering for even a moment the wishes of the bosses. Because $15 an hour.

 

[dchawk81]

^ I got out of retail in 1988 - never again!

Do you need the box? I think it'll fit in a Delorean without the box.

 

[vwishndaetr]

I actually saw Sears do this with a pair of Facom pliers I returned a couple decades ago.
I returned the pliers because the cutters would not cleanly cut a paper clip in two, and I even explained the issue.
I actually saw the sakes person look the pliers over, and return the pliers to the hook.
This must have been a fluke, since this issue has not come up with any subsequent Facom pliers I have bought, including some of the same model.
In some states it is illegal to sell returned items as “new” however, it is still somewhat common, especially from smaller retailers.

I don't doubt it happens here or there. I do doubt it's standard policy though.

 

[zendriver]

The floor clerk is making $15 an hour. They’re doing something they think is nice for you without considering for even a moment the wishes of the bosses. Because $15 an hour.

Maybe they should toss some items into their trunk out the back door.

They're only making $15/hr

 

[shwarmapolice]

Maybe they should toss some items into their trunk out the back door.

They're only making $15/hr

"They should personally engage in theft" is a rather different argument.

You said it was "dishonest" of the rep. At no point did a sales rep lie to you about Official Harbor Freight Policy. They said you can do it and it will be fine. No, they don't care what the c-suite execs think or how it might impact the store manager's year end bonus. They care about making their life easier and sometimes that involves getting on customers' good sides.

That said a remarkably good first step in limiting employee theft is, in fact, paying them enough to care about keeping the job.

 

[YoshiMoshi3]

Just buy a $0.59 paint brush to get your free item. Then go back after the giveaway is over and return the paint brush and keep the free item to get FREE STUFF. I did this, the past weekend. I returned six paint brushes. They didn't bat an eye. But the brushes were brand new, never opened, never used.

 

[Cheesy1]

I’m not sure how some people sleep with what should be on their conscience.

I’m all about a good deal, but obvious exploitation just “because I can” is deplorable.

The commentary about returning something that was obviously bad or didn’t perform to expectations has nothing to do with my gripes.

 

[Cheesy1]

Just buy a $0.59 paint brush to get your free item. Then go back after the giveaway is over and return the paint brush and keep the free item to get FREE STUFF. I did this, the past weekend. I returned six paint brushes. They didn't bat an eye. But the brushes were brand new, never opened, never used.

You really took them to the woodshed.

 

[YoshiMoshi3]

Trying to return an item that you used only once, that there's nothing wrong with, and you already opened - is ok? I wouldn't do that knowing that they will put it back on the shelf as "new" and somebody else will buy it thinking it's new. But if it is in the return policy, and allowed by the store, I don't see why you can't do it, don't know that I would do it though. It's basically just renting the tool. Why not just do a proper rental?

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

If it is their policy, it’s their policy. Personally, it doesn’t give me much confidence in the supplier/dealer when these items are then sold as new again/ without disclosing. If they are in a clearance aisle/ come with a tag or something and are priced accordingly - I wouldn’t care. However I would still generally question the policy, but what do I know.

You could look at it from different angles though. Personally I’m extremely careful with buying clothing online, I only buy things where I’m between 98 to 99 percent sure it is going to fit and I’m going to keep it - because I know even if I repackage with the outmost care, neatly fold, put the hanger back i.e., there is a very high possibility it’s going to a process center and another chance it goes to a burning facility. (Although laws and regulations here try to pushback heavily on that.) And then I have to say, I’d rather see the item actually being sold again - but obviously when it comes to clothing it is unused/ not worn then.

Coming back to the pressure washer to close the circle, I’d rather see it being re-sold, than HF simply writing it off and in the trash it goes.

But again, they probably have figured it out why & how they handle this.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Callelle]

It takes a despicable human to buy something. Use it. And return it for a refund. Anybody justifying it is just as bad.

I'd like to add to that, people that warranty entire bit sets at HF for breaking one bit.

 

[YoshiMoshi3]

I believe when they have freebies that require a minimum purchase for ITC they use a prorated system when there is a maximum refund amount applies to the freebie and the item bought at full price. So if you return the non-freebie you get only a partial refund instead of a full refund. So if the $20 free item, they will have a max refund of $10 on the free and the cost of the non freebie - $10. So if you return the non-freebie you don't get a full refund unless you also return the freebie.

 

[bwringer]

....Be sure to open up every single box and inspect that set of spark plugs you're buying at O'Reilly's. I've dumped out boxes full of used plugs. (Or any other part, for that matter.)

Yup, I've been handed some thief's used busted garbage many times at every auto parts store chain. I always, ALWAYS open each box and look.

I've even caught used oil at Walmart; someone took the return without bothering to look at the bottle seal, and someone else put it back on the shelf.

Never trust; always verify.

I have no idea what the store policies are. At the auto parts stores, maybe it's a safety thing because sometimes people get violent when you catch them stealing. (Or maybe the employees aren't paid enough to put up with thieves yelling at them.)

And at Wally World, maybe they're not trained to look for the seal. And in both cases, they're certainly not paid enough to give a rat's ***. Or maybe their metrics somehow take a hit when they catch an "inventory problem".

The Lowe's nearest me is horrible at this; they are routinely out of the most common stuff because it's all been stolen or lost or vanished somehow, and apparently no one is allowed to document the loss and re-stock. Nothing but filthy, empty shelves. It's clearly a management decision, and I'd bet it comes down to idiotic corporate metrics; no one wants to be the store manager left holding the bag, so the store stays dirty and empty and the inventory and labor cost metrics still look fine on paper.

I'd like to add to that, people that warranty entire bit sets at HF for breaking one bit.

Yup; the incomplete tool sets on the HF discount table or shelf are almost always there because some gorilla broke a socket or bit. And there's always lots of banged-up used stuff as well, obviously bought to get one job done then dragged behind a truck for a while, stored in a pond over the winter, then returned after spring thaw.

What frosts my cookies is that the discounts are always so meager. Who the heck is actually buying this stuff when they only knock off 10% from a greasy rusty set of sockets missing the two most common sizes, or a 1/2" drill smelling of overheated windings, covered in paint and drywall dust?

 

[neophyte]

I'd like to add to that, people that warranty entire bit sets at HF for breaking one bit.

Sometimes store chains require this, or the managers at the individual stores require this, possibly as a means to avoid having to warrantee the item, since a customer might have lost individual set items.
With warrantees, plenty of stores are perfectly willing to put draconian procedures in places to avoid anything that might cost money, including warrantees they have heavily advertised.
I have sadly worked for multiple entities pulling **** like this. (And the employers were then also perfectly willing to screw over employees and managers as well).

 

[zendriver]

Just buy a $0.59 paint brush to get your free item. Then go back after the giveaway is over and return the paint brush and keep the free item to get FREE STUFF. I did this, the past weekend. I returned six paint brushes. They didn't bat an eye. But the brushes were brand new, never opened, never used.

How much did you spend in gas?

 

[Callelle]

Sometimes store chains require this, or the managers at the individual stores require this, possibly as a means to avoid having to warrantee the item, since a customer might have lost individual set items.
With warrantees, plenty of stores are perfectly willing to put draconian procedures in places to avoid anything that might cost money, including warrantees they have heavily advertised.
I have sadly worked for multiple entities pulling **** like this. (And the employers were then also perfectly willing to screw over employees and managers as well).

It's more that bits are a consumable item, not something that should be warrantied out at all.

 

[whateg01]

Just buy a $0.59 paint brush to get your free item. Then go back after the giveaway is over and return the paint brush and keep the free item to get FREE STUFF. I did this, the past weekend. I returned six paint brushes. They didn't bat an eye. But the brushes were brand new, never opened, never used.

That seems pretty trashy. It's weird that you're proud of it.

 

[Uncle murph]

It takes a despicable human to buy something. Use it. And return it for a refund. Anybody justifying it is just as bad.

Its the same as stealing,maybe not the entire amount but whatever value has been lost has been stolen.