Harbor Freight Tool Chest/Cabinet delivery times?

[pago cruiser]

On Feb 17 I went in one of my local (Tucson) Harbor Freight stores and purchased (2) 56" cabinets, and a top and bottom 44 Tool Chest. They only had a single 56" in stock, and ordered the other items. The manager said it would be about a month. Got them with the IT discount, and opened up a credit card to save another 10%. Not fantastic, but good enough. Paid the $2700 bill off at the first billing.

Called them Monday this week, and they are now saying "April 22; hopefully no longer. Maybe earlier".
Well heck, that was helpful.

Yet I can go online to the (2) other local stores, and their websites show these are in stock - at the full list price.

Seems my options are:
1. Continue to wait.
2. Go back to the store I purchased and cancel the sale - or if they give me grief just call my credit card company - I was promised 30 days, and now it...might... be 60 days. Or more. Or maybe less. Then go to the stores with them in stock and pay appx $150 more for each piece, and drive off with them.

Option 1 *****.
Option 2 ***** more.

I know there had been severe "supply chain" issues in the past; but I thought most of that was behind us?
Anybody else seeing this?
I can wait, it's not that I have to have these right away; but... really?
Why is my order being delayed for literally months, while identical stock rolls into and out of other stores on a weekly basis?
At this point, I am not sure if this sales tactic is a bug or a feature of Harbor Freight...
Sigh.

 

[toolenthusiast]

I thought most of that was behind us?

Lol

 

[larry_g]

Have the manager arrange for you to pick them up at the other local store?

 

[pago cruiser]

Tried that.
Even though all the stores are company owned, the Manager at the Oracle store indicated they do not intership.
Don't know why; or just have me pick up the stuff from another store - they are all within 10 miles of each other.

 

[Garcky]

Tried that.
Even though all the stores are company owned, the Manager at the Oracle store indicated they do not intership.
Don't know why; or just have me pick up the stuff from another store - they are all within 10 miles of each other.

Depends how much you want that other box, really. If you need it now, cancel the current order and head over to the store that has one in stock. Except, i guess, you'll have to pay list price for it.

If you don't need it today, you can wait for the one you ordered to come in. Just remember that the store might not be able to get one based on the sale price, and will lose money on the sale now. So they might not be that eager to complete the sale at this point.

I think it's really up to you to decide what you want to do and whether timing or money are the most important to you.

 

[pago cruiser]

Garcky - Yea, I get that.
But I am curious if this is a tactic they are using, or if it is just a random incident.
If random, ok then.
But if others are experiencing this, then it would be good info (to all) to never let the Manager order something for you, if it is in-stock at a nearby store. A month I was fine with, as I was/am still finishing the interior of my garage. 2 months... ok, but now the locating of these boxes is beginning to impact the placement of Lift Posts.

 

[71goldss]

When I purchased my (2) 56” boxes back 2018, I had to purchase them separately at two different stores on the same day because of stock on hand. It wasn’t till I had them both home that I began noticing some differences between them and then discovered they were two different sku numbers (made at two different factories). A month later I was able to exchange the second 56” for a matching one at the opposite store from which it was purchased. Both stores worked together with each other over the phone to process the exchange. I could have just returned for a refund, then purchased again at the other store, but I chose to exchange in order to keep my sale price!

If I were you, I’d talk to a manager or call corporate and see if they can help. I once had to call Home Depot corporate from my car in the parking lot after receiving a flat out ”NO” from a manager in the store. I knew the rules for discontinued items on display, and he didn’t want to honor it. While on the phone I was put on hold while they called my store, then they came back on the line and told me to go back into the store and ask for a specific manager by name. I went back in, and it turned out the manager that told me no was the same guy. This time he had to eat crow and gave me what I asked for! Was a pretty funny and rewarding experience!

Good Luck!

 

[rpcraft]

Sometime soon they are about to release the series 3 on those units. Chances are they will not ship if they are out of stock. From what I have seen on prices it looks like they already increased the prices in anticipation of those newer units. If they do not have the stuff you bought I would get a refund and wait a little while. No idea how long until they release but I sure wouldn't want to pay the new price for the old items.

 

[Renegade1LI]

When I bought my 72 top & bottom they said 30 - 45 days, came in in a week and a half. I would sit tight,they really don't have good info. They may just give worst case times, just picked up a side cabinet they said 30 days, got it the next week, hopefully that will be your case as well.

 

[kmacht]

Buy the boxes at store 2, return them to store 1 and then have them fulfill your order with the returned merchandise. It will take some driving around but will get rid of the excuses.

 

[yellowbox]

Wait.....

 

[diernosaj]

Which stores you talking about?

What did they tell you when you ordered it?

I would have them source the boxes in stock for you from the other stores or let you go pick them up yourself.

edit: nm /reading is hard

 

[pago cruiser]

Thanks for the info all.
It really looks like the stores are just winging it, per Renegade 1L1.

Called and talked to the Oracle Store Manager today - he confirmed - again - that they do not intership.
He also indicated that the reason the other 2 stores may have identical merchandise rolling through and being sold is that they were
ordered earlier - before my order. Sounds legit - I guess.

Had him check his system again, and now all my boxes (56" and the 44 top and bottom) are scheduled for Mar 24 - not April 22. After which he said "Thats interesting - we do not have a truck scheduled until 1st week in April."

Guess I'll just wait and see what happens next... Although that idea of buying them from store #2 and returning to store #1 to fulfill my order would be fun to try...