Harbor Freight Tools, I quit.

[jim faston]

The staff at mine has always been very good. As of late the store has been perpetually out of stock on a number of items I've been looking for. They always will issue a raincheck, but of course there will always be another coupon or sale anyway. I've been told that since they are a receiving store only they can't order specific items or even request replenishment of out of stock items. They also seem to be dropping more and more items as of late but you can usually find an equivalent on Amazon or elsewhere. I've never ordered from them on line but I think I'll give it a try. Shipping is 6.99 if not oversize or overweight. Between gas and my time that might not be a bad way to go.

 

[ssdave]

I don't go in often, occasionally go in and open the drawers on the tool boxes and decide, yes I can do better elsewhere. But, the store is neat and clean, the help is polite, they seem well stocked. Except for the merchandise quality, would be a good place to shop.

 

[BarryWells]

Thwe employees are fine. It's the coupon idiots showing the 20% coupon to the cashier on his $1000 i-fone 14 to buy a bag of shop rags and a bungee I wanna kikk the shiit out of.
Then he waddles out to his 2019 F450.

 

[finn]

I have never been to my local Harbor Freight

It’s in Wausau. Only ~200 miles.

But just think of the money you’re going to save!

Thank God for Amazon Prime.

 

[rijndael]

It's the coupon idiots showing the 20% coupon to the cashier on his $1000 i-fone 14 to buy a bag of shop rags and a bungee I wanna kikk the shiit out of.

Why does saving some money, even if it's just a few cents, bother you so much?

I use digital coupons with every purchase I make at HF, using my $1K iPhone that work paid for...

 

[reader2580]

I have been to Harbor Freight about a dozen times in my life. The closest store was too far to go since I moved. That store is in an old building and they basically set up shop without any sort of updating inside. Everything seems jammed in there and a pain to shop. I never really liked going there.

Recently, HF opened a brand new store not far from my house. It is bigger and very nice since it is a new building. I noticed that the building is a prefab steel structure and they didn't do anything inside to hide that fact. Nothing wrong with that as it is clean and well lit with nice aisles.

I never would have gone to the store had I not needed something only they seemed to have.

 

[fartymarty]

I've always have had a good experience with the employees at my local store. Sometimes it is hard to find one available however. They seem to always have just one or two short of what I think is needed for the number of customers in the store. I've had good luck asking for them to check in the back for something not on the shelf, even though they didn't find any, I peered in and watched them do a thorough search each time. I was just expecting a quick glance around before they said "no, we don't have any" but I saw them actually moving stuff around and lifting boxes and looking underneath stuff. The answer was still "no, we don't have any", but I know they actually looked for what I was seeking. A week later what I wanted was on the shelf.
No, I don't have any problems with the employees, but I wish the manager would lower the setting on the store thermostat, it's usually too warm in there and I don't see how they keep the employees that they have in that environment.

 

[Alpine4x4]

If its not a constant use tool I feel the need to buy a proline of, I have zero qualms shopping at HF. Friendly staff, usually full inventory, happy to do exchanges and warranty. I barely browse tools elsewhere now.

 

[jumpstart]

There are many shop items many people would be unable to afford without HF or someone like them. There was a time that only professionals and businesses could afford a shop full of tools and equipment. If you think about it, HF and other Chinese products have democratized ownership of so many items. In my own shop there is a parts washer, a motorcycle lift, moving Dollys, 4½" grinders, an engine hoist and so much more. Friends have engine stands, jacks, jack stands. Many of us are fortunate enough to have 2 or 4 post lifts. The list is endless, really. Everyone is free to shop where they want and buy the products they like manufactured by whom they like.

In my case, I've only done what all the largest corporations in the world have taught me to do: source whatever I need from the lowest cost providers available. Why would I pay more for it because it has a famous name emblazoned on it? I'm not interested in funding a CEO's bonus, 10th vacation home or retirement. I'm interested in funding my own retirement. Shoot, not even HF gets all my business. When I can source something better or cheaper elsewhere, I do.

Very well stated. I research what I want/need and decide to buy it where I want. Some things don't need to be top end quality. I just try to make an informed decision on what works for me.

Thwe employees are fine. It's the coupon idiots showing the 20% coupon to the cashier on his $1000 i-fone 14 to buy a bag of shop rags and a bungee I wanna kikk the shiit out of.
Then he waddles out to his 2019 F450.

Why wouldn't you use a coupon to save a couple bucks?

I will say that one issue I've run into is the line at the register. It can be a bit lengthy timewise. But I do understand that some customers aren't bringing up every item they're buying. Getting something that has to be brought out from the back stock area can hold up the line, but **** happens. Imagine the potential thread if HF were to install self checkouts.

All workers I've interacted with were fine. Some better than others, like every other place on Earth. And I'm not qualifying their efforts based on their pay.

 

[txvwnut]

I’m over their coupon ideas as in everything you’d want to use the coupon for is on the no list. As far as the tools, you get what you pay for. Sometimes it’s just that and sometimes you hit a home run, as in the Predator generators and the Earthquake cordless half inch impacts. Both of those are well worth the money and then some. The local store to me has about average staff, some go out of their way to help and then there’s the ones that pretty much just point and grunt.

 

[marduk101567]

Real money for a HF product of it can be modified to actually be usable. Such as blast cabinet and abrasive blast pot both of which I have upgraded and modified to work like the high end ones


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[Arcoril]

There are three Harbor Freight stores local to me and the staff at each location is always friendly and helpful. I have no issues shopping there.

 

[fartymarty]

Thwe employees are fine. It's the coupon idiots showing the 20% coupon to the cashier on his $1000 i-fone 14 to buy a bag of shop rags and a bungee I wanna kikk the shiit out of.
Then he waddles out to his 2019 F450.

First of all, I don't waddle! Second of all it's a Samsung not an i-fone.
No need to kikk me, I'll give it to you for almost free, you supply the paper.
Here, wait, I have a coupon for the paper...just a minute while I search my phone for it......

 

[jd_1138]

I do buy their tarps, batteries, pick and hook sets, breaker bars, impact sockets, tool carts. A lot of their hand tools are alright. I would rather have HF tools rather than nothing. If someone's on a budget, the tool sets are a nice purchase. Better to have the tool you need even if it's not the best quality.

I do have some HF tools -- not too many though. I have a full set of SK, USA Craftsman and USA Powr-Kraft already.

Some of their newer higher quality lines are OK, but I'd rather buy better brands. But I do own some of their newer higher quality tools.

 

[Retroman]

Never used to go to HF but recently purchased a Daytona floor jack and a set of ramps need to get the jack stands next. Service has always been very good and friendly people.
I have no qualms about shopping there. I have a Home Depot 1 stop light away and HF is 2 miles so HD is my first choice.

 

[Formula]

The staff is ok. It's the products they carry is what I have an issue with.

I don't buy any real tools from them. Last few things I bought from them were a couple moving blankets, a few tarps and some bungee cords.

 

[Tica]

I have a rule and it has worked fine. If I need a hand tool I do not have, I will buy it there with the understanding it may be for one time use. I refuse to work under a vehicle supported by HF jacks or jack stands or lifts. I do not buy anything electronic or expensive there.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I would rather have HF tools rather than nothing.

This pretty much sums it up.

What tool store equivalent to Harbor Freight ever had highly knowledgeable employees? Sears? No, never that I have seen. Maybe some Canadiens can comment about Princess Auto. Their goal is not to have knowledgeable employees, rather, it's to sell as many products as possible at the lowest prices. Same as Wal-Mart.

 

[peteco]

Staff at mine are friendly and help me find stuff. I have never asked any technical questions. For the most part what I have purchased has served the purpose and saved me time instead of trying to track down a higher quality, more expensive item.

 

[Aaron_W]

HF serves a very small niche for me. They have some really cheap tools that are perfectly adequate hobby tools for models. Then they have some cheap "industrial" tools that are perfectly adequate for the light use of most home shops where "name brand" would be cost prohibitive. It makes no sense to buy a top end sheet metal brake appropriate to a working Fab shop to make a 1/2 dozen bends a year.

I buy higher quality hand tools (not HF), but most HF hand tools are just fine for making light duty around the house tool kits for the less DIY inclined. No reason to spend $50 on a hammer, to hang a picture, or drive single digits of nails now and then. Some are better than only light use.

I've got a couple of their "engineer" hammers and they do the job of driving stakes into the ground, the few times I need to do that. Pretty hard to screw up a hunk of steel on a wooden handle that gets used max 10x a year.

Yeah, some is kind of ****, I bought a small anvil. Tried to straighten a screw, and now the anvil has the impression of a screw in the face. I didn't have high expectations of a $15 anvil, but was a little disappointed.

My local HF has never been out of anything I wanted. Staff has been excellent. IS THERE ANY POINT TO THESE ENDLESS "I HATE HARBOR FREIGHT" THREADS. They are NOW the dominant player in the tool marketplace. Get use to it as that's only going to get worse. It's Harbor Freight, Home Depot and Lowes and that's about it for brick and mortar. Amazon for everything else. Cry all you want, reality doesn't change.

Not sure what basis you claim for HF being dominate, certainly not sales $$$ with the low end product they sell. There are well over 2x the number of HD, 2x the number of Lowes, 5x the number of Ace and just short of 2x as many Tractor Supply.

I could quite easy get along without HF, I probably make less than 3 "large" ($40+ is a large HF purchase to me). I have many options beyond HF, HD and Lowes and I'm in a semi rural area.

I have 2 independent hardware store / lumberyards, an Ace Hardware / lumber yard, Tractor Supply and 2 independent Ag stores and 2 welding supplies, this in addition to a Home Depot and most within 15 minutes of me (HF and Lowes are about an hour away). HD gets business from me, because the store is decent, and close, but if it closed I could get by just fine.

For me HF serves a narrow niche, and I'm quite pleased with how it performs that niche.

If I replace the words HF with another store on this thread, you wouldn’t know the difference.
HD, Lowes, Walmart.... all have the same problems.

Yep, low pay, low standards. I do have several stores in the same market, with better quality employees, they are also better paid and held to higher standards.

I have occasionally found knowledgeable help at my local HD, but most are at least friendly and try to be helpful.

 

[Y00PER]

It’s in Wausau. Only ~200 miles.

But just think of the money you’re going to save!

Thank God for Amazon Prime.

By the time you add in gas, lunch, dinner, etc. probably be cheaper to buy Snap On

 

[wildbill23c]

I've got several HF products, 99% of them work just fine, the other 1% a drill bit sharpener and a 3" x 18" belt sander failed within a couple uses...several power tools, hand tools, and pneumatic tools that I have they have served me well for many years with no complaints. I am just a home DIYer though, but if I were in a commercial shop setting making too much money I'm sure I would have some other brand name Chinese tools instead LOL.

 

[WittHay]

This pretty much sums it up.

What tool store equivalent to Harbor Freight ever had highly knowledgeable employees? Sears? No, never that I have seen. Maybe some Canadiens can comment about Princess Auto. Their goal is not to have knowledgeable employees, rather, it's to sell as many products as possible at the lowest prices. Same as Wal-Mart.

Princess Auto has a hydraulics section where they make up hoses. Also a drive line section with Honda motors, pumps. Plus trailer tires and axles. You can go into Princess Auto and build your own car trailer, pressure washer or air compressor just from parts. There are a few knowledgeable people working in each store along with just the regular staff similar to Home Depot

Its also service oriented. My local one has 8 cash registers plus a service counter with 2 people where you take returns, warranty stuff or just general questions.

I have never been to a HF store but my guess Princess Auto is closer to a big box rural supply store than the more urban based Harbor Freight

 

[finn]

I was given a HFT media blasting cabinet, and I replaced the gloves in it, no issues with their longevity after a couple of years.

I'd say I'm in one or another of their stores about every two weeks. I keep current coupons in the truck, so I can get the 20% off and the free gifts, though it seems like they're only offering the LED blue 'bar of soap' flashlight, "free with any purchase" any-more. I stick 'em on the side of one of my tool cabinets, it looks like an invasion now, I think they multiply/breed when the lights are off.

Looked at my HF gloves again. Right one is fine, but the left one is completely dry rotted.

Typical of my experience with HF.

 

[Notgrownup]

I have had more good than bad experience at HF. I rarely rely on staff for help except general direction...I choose my battles there and buy disposable products mostly.
I did build my whole shop with the 21Degree framing nailer from there and it still works after years, I do have fails fir sure but not many.

 

[driz]

I put their stuff where craftsman used to be.


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[MJ_]

So many good comments in this thread. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and humor too. Maybe the thing for me to do is order my stuff online, stock up when I can, and tell myself that the cost of shipping is preferable to going down in person.

driz said "I put their stuff where craftsman used to be." and I think this a good idea.
Like many, I've bought HF tools that were good values and ones that were just a waste.
The 18gauge nailer/stapler has been extremely useful, while the recip-saw was terrible and temporary. Their 2 inch chip brushes - I purchase lots of those and avoid their tape measures altogether after I discovered mine had misprints.

 

[MJ_]

Princess Auto has a hydraulics section where they make up hoses. Also a drive line section with Honda motors, pumps. Plus trailer tires and axles. You can go into Princess Auto and build your own car trailer, pressure washer or air compressor just from parts. There are a few knowledgeable people working in each store along with just the regular staff similar to Home Depot

Its also service oriented. My local one has 8 cash registers plus a service counter with 2 people where you take returns, warranty stuff or just general questions.

I have never been to a HF store but my guess Princess Auto is closer to a big box rural supply store than the more urban based Harbor Freight

This sounds like a very good store to have around. Thanks for sharing the photos. I wouldn't mind visiting a Princess Auto myself.

 

[Coach James]

Does anyone out there actually enjoy giving business to Harbor Freight Tools?
In your opinion, do the products you receive outweigh the potential (and likely) cons of dealing with a HF store and the staff employed there?

Myself, I have nothing nice to say.
After the umpteenth time of trying to save a few dollars, only to have my afternoon and energy wasted, I've decided to try and quit this nasty HF habit of mine and put my money somewhere else.

Do you have good experiences at your local HF?

Almost always, yes.


Do they stock the product you are wanting or just perpetual emptiness?

Again, they almost always have what I went there for.


Are the staff friendly and knowledgable, or are they bunch of bobble-heads?

I know what I am going there for so the staff only needs to know where it is if I can't find it.

Do you leave the store satisfied or disappointed?

Usually leave satisfied.

I've been in HF stores in four different cities and never had a terrible experience in any of them.

Coach

 

[vanapplebomb]

Although harbor freight does sell a lot of low quality tools, there are some hidden gems. For example, the Pittsburgh Pro Chro-Mo 1/2 and 3/4 drive impact sockets are gold. Every bit as good as many more expensive name brand sockets. Good stuff. You just have to figure out what’s hot and what’s not.

 

[driftpin]

I've been in HF stores in four different cities and never had a terrible experience in any of them.

Coach

I've been to five different HFT stores in three S.E. Florida counties, and have had good experiences. The one I visit most-frequently, I've been there often-enough that the managers know me, and the floor people too, when they see me on the floor, they come-over and say "hello" and offer their assistance. It's not the closest store to our primary house but it's next to I-95, so it's easy to get in/out quickly, and it's close-to a home we own. Recently I bought a Vulcan OmniPro 220 multi-process welder (using my class-action lawsuit gift card $), and the next time I saw a woman supervisor who had helped me on that purchase, she asked me about my experience with it since the purchase.

I like the cards of small-size drill bits, the blister-packs containing multiple bits, I keep 'em in a jar so when I wear-out or break one, I have multiples on-hand to replenish my drill index.

 

[Nineeightyone]

Not everything in my local store is great, some of it can be hard to find, and sometimes they don't have what I want in stock.

With that said, there's a cashier there, older guy, who knows me on a first name basis. He's always nice, makes small talk with myself and my wife when we're in, which I feel speaks volumes -- it's hard to find people who engage both of us, instead of immediately assuming that she's only along to try to keep me from spending too much. He's also pretty proactive with coupons, he tries to help anybody who comes through to save a couple bucks.

I've had a handful of returns/warranty exchanges, and it's always been a painless experience. My overall feeling is that while I don't expect the tools to last forever, if I need something basic to do a job, I'll pick it up at HF and see my buddy John.

 

[inane2]

Don't have a Harbor Freight in my town, but I commute about 45 mins to work and there are 3. Actually now there are 4, they opened the newest one last week and it was the 1,000th HF store. Supposed to have a nice celebration with the grand opening.

I'm in there at least once a week, keep plenty of 20% and misc. free coupons in the car. Nice being able to quickly use HFQPDB on my phone while in the store. Friendly staff, the one store I usually go to actually seems to have little turnover so everyone is knowledgeable. If by chance they're out of something, one of the others typically has it. Cashiers are cool with the phone coupons and are patient when the one guy in front of you wants to play coupon bingo.

One day I got a good chuckle out of the older gentleman in front of me. He bought a couple of small items and after he paid, he started towards the door. He stopped and came back to the cashier and said "I was to understand I'd get a door prize if I bought something". The cashier quickly grabbed a book and let him pick out his free item - the orange tape measure!

I have two customer based issues: I've witnessed some customers go absolutely crazy attempting to "incorrectly" apply coupons, like using a 20% on a US General toolbox. I mean flat out rude, using poor language, etc to the cashier. It's all right there in the fine print.

Secondly is some of the shady returns that go down. You can usually spot them coming in the door. The HF staff has been very accommodating with the returns and that item usually winds up at the next parking lot sale. Shady like buying a generator on Friday, use it all weekend and return in Monday saying "Yeah, ended up not needing it". But, that is in retail everywhere, not just HF.

 

[PugetDude]

Look at it this way..as far as bricks and mortar choices.

Sears is gone. They only have one store left in the PHX metro area. Why would I drive past a dozen HF stores to go there? Their warranty is now meaningless if they don't have stores to support walk-ins.
Lowes is now selling Chinese Craftsman
Home Depot is selling Chinese Husky
TSC is selling Chinese Mastercraft.
Auto Parts stores are selling Chinese Performance Tool
SnapOn, Mac and Cornwall can't, don't or won't sell to DIYers
Napa is hit or miss.
Meanwhile HF has over a thousand retail stores and buys product from the same manufacturers that supply their competition. Quality is comparable. Service is better, stores are conveniently located.

Online is different, the OP is on his high horse about local retail.

 

[phule]

My question, what do you expect when entering a harbor freight? I dont live close to one. When I am going to a harbor freight I am looking for a specific item that I have researched to confirm it's worth the price(i.e my 44" gen 1 box). I go in with appropriate coupons printed & my free item coupon. I find it I check out I'm done. I dont assume this is a hardware store or a tool truck. It's a retail store with minimum wage employees. If you dont expect much you wont be disappointed.


However my free electric bug zapper just snapped in half after 3 years & a overzealous battle with a black fly. I should make a bash thread about that.

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[dogdog]

My question, what do you expect when entering a harbor freight? I dont live close to one. When I am going to a harbor freight I am looking for a specific item that I have researched to confirm it's worth the price(i.e my 44" gen 1 box). I go in with appropriate coupons printed & my free item coupon. I find it I check out I'm done. I dont assume this is a hardware store or a tool truck. It's a retail store with minimum wage employees. If you dont expect much you wont be disappointed.


However my free electric bug zapper just snapped in half after 3 years & a overzealous battle with a black fly. I should make a bash thread about that.

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Only if you have a near death experience from smacking your face while it is energized.... otherwise it won't qualify...

Seriously some one did just that, misuse a 20T press took pictures, then stated he/she almost die from the cheap Chinese press... a silliest warming to his internet brothers about these cheap junks almost killed him... It was re-posted here I think, back in 2016... or something. Originally posted in some other forum...

 

[kngelv]

Pretty much every larger brand home improvement, and hardware stores sell predominately Chinese tools so I see no reason to single out Harbor Freight for complaints. For example they are miles better on hand tool warranties than Lowe's is on Kobalt tools. Harbor Freight has plenty of gems like the Pittsburgh Pro impact sockets, U.S. General tool storage, Earthquake air tools and others. The Doyle and Quinn stuff is decent but too close in price to Channellock and Klein for me to ever consider buying They also have some junk. One thing I am still quite surprised that they still sell is the godawful made in India wrenches. Complete ****.

James

 

[Nineeightyone]

Pretty much every larger brand home improvement, and hardware stores sell predominately Chinese tools so I see no reason to single out Harbor Freight for complaints. For example they are miles better on hand tool warranties than Lowe's is on Kobalt tools. Harbor Freight has plenty of gems like the Pittsburgh Pro impact sockets, U.S. General tool storage, Earthquake air tools and others. The Doyle and Quinn stuff is decent but too close in price to Channellock and Klein for me to ever consider buying They also have some junk. One thing I am still quite surprised that they still sell is the godawful made in India wrenches. Complete ****.

James

I bought a set of the full polish wrenches from HF, and I'm pretty sure they aren't good on anything that's more than finger tight.

They're in the junkyard bag, safely away from the Tekton full polish that I absolutely love for the money, and my shiny (for now) OEM ratcheting reversibles, so they can't take on any bad nut-rounding habits.

 

[Dave in Mass]

Was too ****** hot to do anything real productive yesterday so wife and I took a ride to HF (about 45 minutes). I needed a box of Nitrate gloves and 3/8" drive metric deep sockets. Scored on both. Picked up some miscellaneous sanding sheets and palm sander sheets and a couple of more cheap tape measures.

Don't go all the time, but good place to stock up for me.

I have bought tools there as well with no real complaints. Multi saw is loud but at 19 bucks, it has worked flawlessly the several times I have needed it.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Princess Auto

You never know what you'll find or if you will find it again. A lot of manufacturer's clearance stuff. They had the last of the American made Pony F-clamps for instance. It's worth while to cruise through every once in a while. Dangerous though, like Costco, they don't let you out until you spend $100, chuckle.

Their customer service is legendary. They started out on Princess street in Winnipeg, thus the name.After the war they sold mail order surplus to prairie farmers. Build your own welder from a bomber generator. Parts for you Jeep or Power Wagon. Big tires for you liquid manure spreaders. Some of the things in their catalogues when I lived up north. They stock more stuff now on a regular basis now, better quality I might add, but aren't as much fun.