Harbor Freight Tools

I went shopping at Harbor Freight Tools and had a coupon for a free item after purchase. Twice, the item was not available. The clerk refused to substitute the item. It seems like they intentionally limit the amount of free items just to draw you in there and shop for other items. After reading about other complaints about Harbor Freight Tools, it seems like it is common practice. I specifically asked the clerk for a rain check and she refused to give me one. I believe my obligation was already met, but theirs was not! Disgruntled in Escondido, CA.

This is an electrocution hazard warning for the old style electric drain cleaner (model number 46769). The unit has an open electric circuit in foot switch. All commercial models of a similar drain snake, have pneumatic foot switch, which has rubber coating, which is worn off after several uses. Drain cleaning is a wet job. During my last use, I was seriously electrically shocked by the foot switch. So far, Harbor Freight is stonewalling me on a retrofit, or replacement of this item. If you own 1, stop using it for your own safety! Harbor Freight is currently selling a similar unit with a pneumatic foot switch.

Harbor Freight has always had very poor customer service especially if you try to contact them at their Camarillo, California headquarters about problems with orders. But now it's almost impossible to get someone on the phone. On their website, they list an 800 phone number for problems, but that number is disconnected! You have to be tricky and call their order line and then tell them you have a problem. If you finally get someone, they will jerk you around reading back every word on the order (name, address, phone number, email address, item you ordered, item number, order number, when ordered, etc.) until you are about to explode and then try to get a straight answer as to what happened with your order.

In my case, they showed the item shipped/order completed. I needed the item quickly so paid for FedEx express shipping. They led me to believe the item shipped but FedEx said they never received the package from Harbor Freight. After I started yelling on the phone, the guy said the item was back ordered from China! It never shipped, the order was never completed, but they sure charged my credit card immediately. This whole thing took more than a week. I told them it was too late and I didn't need the tool any more, so cancel the order and refund the charge and he said they would. I am still waiting for the refund!I

Not only that, but for the past couple of months, I've noticed that their local warehouse store is not restocking. I've been in at least six times in two months and each time, there are more bare spaces on the shelves and the employees keep getting less friendly, less helpful and fewer in numbers. Some areas in the store are about 30% empty! In my experience, empty shelves, no restocking, and unhappy, surly employees point to a business that is going under. I would not order on the internet or phone again because I don't want to be caught holding the bag when they go under. I suggest that anyone wanting to buy from Harbor Freight call a local store before making the trip, if anyone will answer the phone. Everyone I know agrees and has for more than 30 years that Harbor's tools are junk but they are cheap so if you break one, you can just throw it away.

Also, I've seen them having sales on small electric generators lately. They have pallet loads but I also see many people bringing them back within a week and saying that they worked once and quite or never worked at all, so you can pretty much guess they are ** and not worth taking home. Unfortunately, Harbor has put a lot of smaller discount tool joints out of business with their low prices and now, in many areas such as mine, they are the only game in town.

The address above is the closest location. My purchase was done online.

I purchased one of their trailer kits online back in September. It was delivered in the expected time. I began to build it up over the next few weekends. One of the last steps was to install the wheel hub assemblies. At this point (mid October) is when I discovered that both of the hubs were defective. The flange was not welded perpendicular to the axis. This caused the wheels to wobble severely. I called their support line and sent some replacement hubs. These however were not complete assemblies like in the original, but just the bare hubs without the wheel-bearings.

I had to call again. They then sent the bearings and seals so I could assemble the units. Taking great care to do it correctly, I made the effort to press the bearings into the new hubs and pack the bearings with grease etc. I then went to install them on the trailer in place of the originals. This is when I discovered the replacements were as bad as the originals. Because I had a break in my work schedule, I used the opportunity and took care of the DMV processing, figuring I would get proper parts from Harbor Freight soon.

I actually drove the trailer to DMV to get the ID number confirmed. During this drive, I could not drive above 30 MPH without it shaking severely, and sometimes would sway back and forth dangerously. I called Harbor Freight support. I reported that the replacement hubs were also defective in the same way as the originals. Since then, their support organization has asked me to send videos and photo documentation showing the condition of the hubs. I have sent several batches of photos and videos that clearly illustrate the defect in the hubs. Their repeated reply is that they forwarded this content for review. It has been three months without resolution.

I bought a Power Washer that did not meet my needs, so I tried to return it unused. When I tried to return it without a receipt, I was willing to accept credit instead. I had to talk to the manager who said no. I then emailed customer service who said that they would get me a duplicate receipt, so I provided them my credit card #, date of purchase, and amount of purchase. Three months later, I'm still getting the run around and the last time I emailed, I received no response.

I ordered the 2" Clear Water Pump with 212cc Gas Engine, Item # 68375 which is manufactured by Pacific Hydrostar. The item was represented on the Northern Tool web site, as having a 2 year warranty. I also downloaded the manual for the pump from the web site. The manual also said that the pump came with a 2 year warranty.

When I received the pump, among the papers in the box, there was a page saying, "This page must be substituted for the final page in the manual, the warranty page." It went on to say that the pump was covered by a 90 day warranty, not a 2 year warranty.I checked the Harbor Freight web page to be sure that I had not misread the information and verified that a selling point. I noted in two places, there was a 2 years warranty.

I called HF's customer service number and said that the pump was misrepresented on their site. That a selling point was the 2 years warranty. I was told that I could buy an extended 2 year warranty for $49. I stated that the pump was advertised to include a 2 year warranty. The customer service agent said all she would do was to sell me a 1 or 2 year extended warranty. Four days later the web site still shows the pump comes with a 2 year warranty **. A second complaint has not received any action.

I purchased a hot glue gun from Harbor Freight a few months ago (still have receipt). Well, I used it correctly a few times, then I went to plug it in, and a huge shock up my arm, and blue ball of flame, and a loud "pop" The Chicago glue gun caught on fire,and shocked me so bad, I could not drop it, not to mention it blew our computer which was plugged in, and to this day that outlet does not work. I called their 1-800 number and got someone who barley spoke English. They never asked my name just said "sorry". I called the store I got it from, talked to "Les", store manager. I wanted it tested so they could recall if needed. He said he would contact me right away. I took the glue gun to him per his request and that's it, their done. My computer and outlet still do not work.

Parking lot sale started on 6/11/10. The sale ads had 10-inch miter saw with blade for $49.99, Product SKU# 91995 and the regular price is $89.99. There were none available to purchase. I asked for a raincheck, and they did give me. They told me to call every Monday to see if any came in. Now it's been 1 3/4 months and they still say that they don't have it in.

They have ran 3 more ads since then, same miter saw, same SKU#, but a higher price. How can they advertise items that they don't have? Tonight, I got on an internet site for them and found that they have them available in 1 to 2 days shipping and they offer them for $79.99 plus a tax and shipping fee of $10.99. But the store has none. It's a false advertisement. A lot of people are not going to get one. This isn't right. It's making me very upset, calling and getting a big run around. Then just to find out that the only way to get one is through online shopping, but for a higher price. It's just not fair.

Their Pacific Hydrostar 1" clear water pump has an impeller housing cast of rough iron, which rusts and clogs the impeller. Perhaps, it should carry a warning "Do not use near water"? This is my second one, they rusted after short usage. The pump jammed from the rust.

a motorcycle tire attachment #42927-5vga which fits onto the portable tire changer.I received the portable tire changer in 2 weeks,after three weeks I called and was told the motorcycle tire changer was back ordered,in February I got a card in the mail from Harbor Freight saying it`s now back ordered till the end of March.I figured I have to wait because I paid for the portable tire changer already.I call in the beginning of March to check on it`s status and was now told it would probably be in at the end of April,this B.S.- so I had enough and canceled my order

I tried to return an item and was informed that their return policy was good for 30 days. The box was unopened and in resaleable condition. There is nothing posted about returns on receipts, except: NO RETURNS WITHOUT THIS RECEIPT. No sign in the store and no return policy on their website.

Replaced a blown fuse on a 2001 malibu with a fuse from Harbor Freight. The wire harness under the dashboard caught fire. The plastic part of the fuse melted instead of just breaking the metal link.

Luckily nobody was injured as result of the fire but there was $2500 of damage to the car and took two weeks to repair.

I ordered a hammer stapler and two boxes of staples. When my carpenter went to use the stapler it would not set the staples. So I returned everything in the original boxes they came in. Two boxes of staples in one box and the nailgun in another. I received return labels from their customer service department. I mailed these USPS at 11:07 3/6/07 out of an Alexandria, VA post office. They received the staples but only credited me with returning one box.

Called customer service and finally got the second box of staples credited to my account. After calling three times, 2 emails and a letter, I still do not have the credit to my charge. They said they did not receive the nailgun so we will mail you a form to fill out and mail it back in. I did this and still no credit. This was two weeks ago. I told them that the nailgun was mailed back with their labels and they should put a trace on it. I am not happy with their service.

I have had to send email after email and have called at least 3 times and fill out a stupid form as if I am trying to steal their stupid nail gun that did not work, had a cracked case and was missing an Allen Wrench. I asked twice when my charge card was going to be credited. I received no response.This has been going on for almost a month and a half now.

I placed an order with Harbor Freight.They offered 3 free Magazines for 3 months if I wanted. ok. After 3 months the magazine charged my Discover Card with the magazines. ?? How did the magazine get my credit card number?