Harbor Freight - Bait and Switch

[coolguy]

I have had "orange" press for about 3years now. Have never had a problem.
if you like "silver" just buy a can of silver paint !!! LOL

 

[paranoid56]

OP, i had to look at the coupon. as you can see, it lists two part numbers, one is the old orange and one is the new silver. you could have gotten the orange for the same price. still not a bait and switch.

 

[-Brent-]

OP, i had to look at the coupon. as you can see, it lists two part numbers, one is the old orange and one is the new silver. you could have gotten the orange for the same price. still not a bait and switch.

Actually, Paranoid, look a bit closely and you can see IT IS bait and switch. I didn't realize it until seeing the coupon for myself.

 

[paranoid56]

, nice ps skills

 

[jeffmoss26]

Hey! A 0 lb capacity engine stand!!

 

[KingCobra98]

Actually, Paranoid, look a bit closely and you can see IT IS bait and switch. I didn't realize it until seeing the coupon for myself.

where did you get this add?

 

[LB-1911]

where did you get this add?

Refer to quote below

, nice ps skills

ps is also known as Photoshop
http://www.photoshop.com/products/photoshop/what

 

[KingCobra98]

Refer to quote below


ps is also known as Photoshop
http://www.photoshop.com/products/photoshop/what

sorry I didn't look at the "photo shop" I was talking the coupon for 149.99.. I could use that coupon. and I don't think it will print out well enought if I use that picture.

 

[rice rocket]

Just print it out and see what the cashier says.

 

[KingCobra98]

I was going to try that anyway lol

 

[2drx4]

If the bar code can be scanned, you should be good to go

 

[Scott r c]

Okay... still not sure how that makes them a non-reliable source for business ratings.

Because its a racket. They fall under there name to come off as an official agency when in reality they are just a business that people pay off to look good. I kicked the BBB to the curb a long time ago.

 

[paranoid56]

the add was from the current issues of one of the off road magazines as i just used it to buy that cheap engine stand.

 

[JerryB]

While I didn't find the actual coupons the OP was trying to use, I did review several HF coupons.

Everyone of them contains the phrase, "Offer good while supplies last." That seems pretty clear, whether they had none, three, or a thousand.

A little reading and comprehension usually goes a long way.

OTH, being nice and persisting at HF has usually worked in my favor.

 

[brownbagg]

i bought the grey one last week, well couple weeks ago when it was on sale. but looking at the orange one, i think its a better unit. its all welded, the grey one is bolted.

 

[brownbagg]

bbb is a joke, i had a lady tell me at the bbb,
members pay a membership due, complainer doesn't, which one you think we going side with. consumers always lose with the bob

 

[WVBrady]

bbb is a joke, i had a lady tell me at the bbb,
members pay a membership due, complainer doesn't, which one you think we going side with. consumers always lose with the bob

They helped me get my money back from McAfee when I couldn't get their anti-virus program to work. After three unanswered letters, I contacted the BBB and sent them all of the records. I played telephone tag with McAfee's customer service rep (she didn't realize that WVa was in a different time zone than Calif.). I mailed her all of the info and two weeks later she claimed that she still hadn't received it. I then asked the BBB to send her a copy of what I had sent them. A few days later, I got a check from McAfee; no apology, no explanation, not nutthin'.

 

[bobbycos]

I'd use the rain check and difficulties you've had to experience with the corporate headquarters to discuss with the store manager on the possibility of a discount on the available model instead. They could probably knock a bit more off the price to make you happy.

Go in on a Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon when it's not busy and ask to chat with the manager, asking them if they can help you out. Don't go in making complaints or demands. You'll go a lot further with the manager that wants to help you versus one that feels that they have to help you and resent you for it.

^^^^^^^THIS EXACTLY ^^^^^^^^^^^^

the manager at my local HF and I are on very good terms and he will knock a dollar or two off the price of the regular stuff and the "open box" stuff

 

[Tucko]

I still can't believe you drove 100 miles round trip to a Harbor Freight....

 

[2drx4]

I still can't believe you drove 100 miles round trip to a Harbor Freight....

Without phoning ahead, to boot.

 

[nicksnothereman]

OP was probably upset that the laser guided paintbrush, 16" manual chainsaw, and the 50' garden hose/extension cord combo weren't in stock either, but he just didn't want to admit that he really went there to buy those things.

Quit giving them ideas!

Actually, manual chainsaws are a thing, they typically call them exhaust cutters (in the mechanical world). Trust me, it's a thing. Probably works well too but harbor freight probably don't sell them.

 

[sloppy]

Quit giving them ideas!

Actually, manual chainsaws are a thing, they typically call them exhaust cutters (in the mechanical world). Trust me, it's a thing. Probably works well too but harbor freight probably don't sell them.

Pretty sure they do indeed sell a manual chain saw at HF.. If I recall most ***** about it sucking..

Yep they do..
http://www.harborfreight.com/long-reach-rope-chain-saw-97092.html

 

[Koken]

20-Ton Shop Press (read lot number)

http://www.harborfreight.com/

The area manager said that my store will receive a delivery of the silver one, #60603, tomorrow and one will be held for me.

 

[Surreal001]

I think its bait and switch too, but you're not going to win against them. I noticed the same tactic with their grinding wheels (of all things). The trick is to pay attention to the item number on sale. Inevitably there will be the same item next to the grinding wheels on sale packaged differently with a different item number. Thats how they get you.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

 

[wssix99]

This is just bait with no switch. All retailers do this - they lead a sale with an unbelievably low price to get you in the door so you will buy that item and other junk - or just other junk. It's the same reason a Corvette is parked at the entrance of the Chevy dealership - to get you in to buy the Malibu.

Retailers have purchasers (employees) who buy the stuff for their stores. Sometimes, they will have a "special purchase" item that they buy in bulk and carry in stores just for one sale. (These items then get rationed off to the stores.) In this case, the press is probably made in China and shipped over here by boat. Since they can't just drive down to Toledo and have a manufacturer make more, the purchasers will ration what they have in their distribution centers to the various stores while they wait 6-20 weeks for the next container ship to hit our shores. When they do this, the larger stores with more volume will get these in-demand items before the smaller, slower ones.

Usually, these stores will plan their sales months in advance and order extra of these parts. (Because they have the pint sale circulars printed far far away and several weeks in advance, also.) Maybe a container shipment got delayed or damaged? If so, the sale might come back very soon when they receive a glut of the presses?

Until we stop shipping our goods from half-way around the world, this is just life.

 

[Lewisthepilgrim]

The BBB won't do **** for you. They are not there to help anyone, businesses or consumers, they are there to help themselves to extortion money.

yuuuuuuup

 

[SASORacing]

They didnt have it in stock, it happens. I like harbor freight!

 

[T-Mac]

FYI just bought the 20 ton press-#32879-it is gray,the top of frame is welded not bolted and the press plates look cast-had to return part of the first one I got because the frame and jack were orange and the other box was gray-they asked me what color I wanted when I swapped them and I said gray so I guess its like a box of chocolates when you buy this press!They told me the orange one was discontinued but I guess they didn't tell china that.

 

[Two Speed]

Does your rain check expire? If not, just drop in unannounced when in the area and see if what you want is there.

Depending on how close to the loss-leader line it is, you may never get satisfaction if you rely on them to get one or inform you when they get one. I had a similar experience with Harbor Freight of the North (Princess Auto), item was 60 or 70% off. Got my raincheck. Never got the phone call. Did have a floor manager try to keep my raincheck during the process (in order to match up the order with me... I told him write up a new raincheck with the same info and keep that. I'm sure I'd never see my raincheck again if I complied with that request. I'm guessing it was a real loss-leader given the runaround I got). Eventually got what I wanted thanks to me dropping in and seeing the items on the shelf, just took 'em to the cashier with my raincheck and done deal.

Alex.

 

[tpiro]

I too yesterday 12/06/19 got hit with a bait and switch. I called HF to check on an item #5907 - 3-in-1 Shear, Brake, Slip Roll and they said they had one in the warehouse. I told them I had a valid till Dec 31, 2019 - 20% coupon and they told me I could use it. Well, I went there, picked the item 5907 and at check out they said they couldn't use the coupon b/c it said it couldn't be used with Central Machinery in tiny, tiny wording at the bottom of the coupon. Now.. mind this- prior to this visit I have purchase thousands of dollars of tools, equipment, etc., and Central Machinery stuff many times using coupons with no problems and now- they told me that HF just started this with Central Machinery. That is total BS and you would think they would be educated enough to tell me that before I drove to and from almost 2 hours to get that item. At the store the manager asked if I still wanted it and of course I had to get it b/c I had work to do an was there already. Now, if that ain't Bait and Switch.... I don't know what is. I told the manager that I will never, ever shop there again and she didn't say a word... WOW.. how about that customer service. Never again.. harbor freight... you lost my business. Thanks, TP in La Vergne, TN.

 

[Jeepster04]

Unfortunately I couldn't use the 20% off on the 20 ton press. Either way, Ive used it twice in the few months that Ive had it and it raised my excitement 20%, so I guess were even. Its so nice being able to do stuff in your own garage so you dont need to screw around with local shops.

I took a video of me pressing a bearing on an axle shaft and I bet Ive watched it 20 times.

 

[DFB]

After receiving a sales flyer in the mail three weeks ago, I drove (45-50 miles one-way) to my nearest Harbor Freight store to purchase the 20-ton Central Machinery Shop Press #60603, on sale for $154.99. The manager told me that they were out of the item, and to call back in a week. I asked for and received a rain check. I called back every week for the following two weeks. I called today and the manager told me that he only received a delivery of three of the older style orange ones. I asked if he could order the one I want and he said "no", and further advised that all orders for the store are created by the main office. Store managers are prohibited from determining or ordering what stock a store needs. I call customer service and speak with a manager and he confirms what the store manager said. Both told me that my only option is to purchase it online, forcing me to pay an overweight delivery charge of $90.00. When I asked to speak with the customer service supervisors supervisor, he said he would fill out a customer complaint form and an area supervisor would contact me with the next 24-48 hours.

Has anyone else experienced this? If they don't make good on it, I will be contacting the Department of Consumer Protection and the BBB.

It's also more than 50mi trip to the store and back for me too and one miserable drive at that


I had the same type of problem but with their 12v Earthquake sander polisher. Basically the AC Delco unit like found on Amazon.

Anyhow was on sale for $89.99 from like $129. Store inventory showed 3 and one was the wall display they told me and they cant sell that one.

But of course nobody could find the other two.

Got a rain check... went out of my calling back occasionally virtually the entire season here, even got my raincheck renewed.

Inventory continued to show 3, I questioned how would they ever get any more in if nobody corrects the computer... just dumb looks. Said they have no control on inventory they just get what is sent. Emailed HF online got a run around that they had no control over individual store wtf!

Finally gave up purchased the Milwaukee M12 one instead and what I should have done in the first place anyhow.

You should by from some other place online like Jegs

Edit: I just realized how old the original posting is

 

[Keithinsc]

I too yesterday 12/06/19 got hit with a bait and switch. I called HF to check on an item #5907 - 3-in-1 Shear, Brake, Slip Roll and they said they had one in the warehouse. I told them I had a valid till Dec 31, 2019 - 20% coupon and they told me I could use it. Well, I went there, picked the item 5907 and at check out they said they couldn't use the coupon b/c it said it couldn't be used with Central Machinery in tiny, tiny wording at the bottom of the coupon. Now.. mind this- prior to this visit I have purchase thousands of dollars of tools, equipment, etc., and Central Machinery stuff many times using coupons with no problems and now- they told me that HF just started this with Central Machinery. That is total BS and you would think they would be educated enough to tell me that before I drove to and from almost 2 hours to get that item. At the store the manager asked if I still wanted it and of course I had to get it b/c I had work to do an was there already. Now, if that ain't Bait and Switch.... I don't know what is. I told the manager that I will never, ever shop there again and she didn't say a word... WOW.. how about that customer service. Never again.. harbor freight... you lost my business. Thanks, TP in La Vergne, TN.

Caveat emptor? The Large Print Giveth and the Small Print Taketh Away.

So you are calling bait and switch because you were too busy to read the fine print, and instead trusted the minimum wage clerk that answered the phone?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Caveat emptor? The Large Print Giveth and the Small Print Taketh Away.

So you are calling bait and switch because you were too busy to read the fine print, and instead trusted the minimum wage clerk that answered the phone?

I'll agree with Keith,


That's not bait and switch. You had the coupon in your possession. All you had to do is read the fine print and you would have known that it couldn't be used.

 

[SGKent]

read the fine print. Assume it always applies. I keep a magnifying glass around to be sure I can see it clearly because I know it will be programmed into their system. On occasion when we've used a one-item off percentage coupon for multiple items, they have always put the discount on the most expensive item, giving us the best savings. I have no beef with HF and their tools are substantially better than they were 15 - 20 years ago.

 

[kbs2244]

If it is still offered online then it is a current item.
Not a replaced item number.
You should be able to have the online order takers get one, for hold in your name, sent for no shipping, to the store.
Since you pay for it when ordering it , you own it
That will keep the store from selling out from under you.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I've had raincheck items with them and had to wait, too. Never had any of the issues the OP listed. I've also noticed when you want something and there's a coupon for it in the flyer, you have to look over the entire flyer because they will sell the same part number for different prices, on different coupons in the same flyer.

Tommy

 

[PugetDude]

Patience, grasshopper.
It isn't like it won't be on sale again next week.

Sorry, but it's an inventory issue, not bait and switch, IMO. YMMV

 

[PNWguy]

This vegetarian restaurant doesn't serve steak!
ONE STAR - HORRIBLE PEOPLE.

I love those reviews on Yelp.

 

[Daedalus]

I love those reviews on Yelp.

I love people offering advice to the OP who started this thread 5+ years ago. I'm sure he has moved on. I hope the rest of us can too.