Harbor Freight

[z28toz06]

I bought a retractable hose reel on sale. (I know, what isn't on sale there)

I opened it today to hang it and the thing was used. I don't mean someone took it out of the box used. I mean hung it up and used it for a while, flossed under a few greasy cars with the hose and bent the fvckin' reel, used.

You would think the tools that work there would look at the stuff people are returning. If you're gonna stand behind your stuff and take it back, sell it in the $hit rack or something. Don't put it back on the shelf you touch holes.

 

[djurgensen]

You might want to see if the hose reel works. After all, its already broken in for you.

Has a nice patina to it.

Aged like a fine wine.

Lucky you didn't have to pay extra.

d.j.

 

[Abbott]

Yeah, that would piss me off to. I took back a set of router guides a few weeks ago because they were messed up. I noticed that they just re-stocked them.

 

[Falcon67]

I would not blame HF in general for that, that sounds like a local store issue to me. OR - a customer that used the item then carefully repackaged it for return. That's a stretch. More likely some kid working in the store put the thing back on an inventory shelf instead of in a return junk location.

 

[wafrederick]

They screwed up an order on me once.I ordered a set of 1/2 drive impact swivals and they sent me a set of 1/2 drive deepwell chrome sockets.It got straightened out easily.Sent the chrome sockets back and they sent me the impact swivals

 

[Indy_500]

I would not blame HF in general for that, that sounds like a local store issue to me. OR - a customer that used the item then carefully repackaged it for return. That's a stretch. More likely some kid working in the store put the thing back on an inventory shelf instead of in a return junk location.

It is a local store issue. I went to one in Wausau, WI and there was like 5 tables full of clearanced stuff. As in the stuff that people returned. None of the other HF's i've been to has that.

 

[mikebramel]

turned in a 1/2" torque wrench (stopped clicking), she slides the cardboard on the old one and puts it on the shelf LOL get home, put it to 30lb doesnt click (like the old one) put 7/8 socket on and put it on a lug nut, jump on it.... nothing... gotta go back

 

[beelsr]

i've seen returned stuff at a few HF stores - but it's always been a set where one item was warrantied or similar, at a discounted price. Same thing I've seen at many stores...

 

[Rickster]

All those returns at $2.88 a gallon of gas has got to add up at some point to a big "not worth it".

 

[TA^Guy]

I bought Dewalt tools from Home Depot. I got home to open the box and realized the box was taped shut with packaging tape. None of the tools were in the original packaging inside and it was missing the batteries.

So it's not just a HF thing, it happens everywhere.

 

[beelsr]

if it was a special trip, yeah. wife and i go out (most weeks) once a week and when we do, we hit all the stores. special trips for "just one thing" are anathema!

 

[kywildcat]

How would everybody rate Harbor Freight Tools in General. Everything from Air Compressors to hand tools???

 

[NWphotog]

You would think the tools that work there would look at the stuff people are returning. If you're gonna stand behind your stuff and take it back, sell it in the $hit rack or something. Don't put it back on the shelf you touch holes.

When I've returned stuff with the packaging they haven't asked if it was working or not. I always assumed they packaged it up and shipped it off. That said I see very few returned items on the shelf. More at Sears honestly.

 

[NWphotog]

How would everybody rate Harbor Freight Tools in General. Everything from Air Compressors to hand tools???

Many many many MANY existing threads on that question.

 

[robertgreen79]

How would everybody rate Harbor Freight Tools in General. Everything from Air Compressors to hand tools???

Check out this thread. Tons of good info:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27192&highlight=harbor+freight

 

[kywildcat]

Thanks Robert!!

 

[bobadame]

I've heard of people buying paint, refilling the buckets with water and returning them for cash.

 

[LawnDart79]

I've heard of people buying paint, refilling the buckets with water and returning them for cash.

What a cleaver idea.

But then the question would be, "Is it worth having a criminal record just to get a free $20 gallon of paint?"

In my opinion "NO!"...so I won't be doing that any time soon.

 

[Daddy_Rabbit]

why is it people purchase items from an organization that has the reputation for selling questionable quality products and then ***** because they get a questionable quality product?

 

[pipeyeti]

I love my HF tool boxes, some of the ratchets I've bought and a few other things. But I never ever leave the store without opening the package and checking the item over. The price I pay for saving some $$ at HF.

 

[JerryTX]

I personally really like Harbor Freight. I openly admit they sell a lot of cheap stuff that is absolute total ****. But the prices enable me to do projects I wouldn't otherwise take on. If you read the reviews and can tell the difference between a good product and a bad one then you can save a ton of money.

Their prices are lower than comparable featured products; torque wrenches being a great example... they're about 60% less regular price than other stores with the same +/- 4 ft lbs accuracy.

And now it seems like all the tool stores are importing most of their products and they're likely made in the same factory... so why would I pay x3 more to get Craftsman on the side of it? (No offense to Craftsman tools, I own quite a few of them.)

My rule of thumb is that if I use it enough to break it then I need to buy a better quality tool.

 

[Vinko]

All those returns at $2.88 a gallon of gas has got to add up at some point to a big "not worth it".

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[reznunt]

Don't put it back on the shelf you touch holes.

what's a touch hole

 

[therealwormey]

How would everybody rate Harbor Freight Tools in General. Everything from Air Compressors to hand tools???

i rate it made in china,nuff said

 

[StinkyBunny]

How would everybody rate Harbor Freight Tools in General. Everything from Air Compressors to hand tools???

One thing to ABSOLUTELY avoid is their strut spring compressor. I almost lost my right nut when the nut on the compressor failed and came off the all thread, bounced off my work table and laid me out in the floor.

 

[djkyle65]

Harbor freight ***** the new coupon makes it pointless to shop there anymore especially sense i can buy better quality products for the same amount. Cannot be used on " compressors, generators, tool cabinets, welders , floor jacks, Campbell hausfeld products, open box items, parking lot sale items, blowout sale items, day after thanksgiving sale items, tent sale items" ... im done with Harbor Freight

 

[DropZoneNET]

Harbor freight ***** the new coupon makes it pointless to shop there anymore especially sense i can buy better quality products for the same amount. Cannot be used on " compressors, generators, tool cabinets, welders , floor jacks, Campbell hausfeld products, open box items, parking lot sale items, blowout sale items, day after thanksgiving sale items, tent sale items" ... im done with Harbor Freight

I feel the same way.

I guess they don't quite understand what it is that makes people buy their stuff. If they continue to up their standard (and sale) prices, as well as remove more and more items from the coupon, the stores are going to see what people really think of their products.