Harbor Freight Tools
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199 Harbor Freight Tools Consumer Reviews and Complaints
Dont bother trying to call HF customer service. Reps only read from scripts and have ZERO common sense. When asked a question not part of the script they hang up. Happened 3x in a row. Deal with reputable companies only, not fly by night RIP offs.
Purchased 5 electric chainsaws and I received the recall notice - The worst of the worst. I went to the store with the notice which I received telling me to stop using the chainsaws I purchased (and surely they could cut you because the manual switch does not work, the saw runs continuously until you pull the cord out of the outlet) and the store refused to exchange the product. They said, I do not understand. Why do you guys do this, if I know that the product I sold is defective and could cause damage because does not stop, then I will replace it right the way. Just wanted to ask you guys kindly to help with replacement because I do not want someone to cut himself with the chainsaw. Thank you for your understanding.
I am very happy with this Earthquake XT 3/8 drive impact gun for the coupon price. It is my first cordless impact. I was skeptical at first but I was pleasantly surprised using it for the first time. It packs a nice punch for its size and I've tackled some rather nasty mid-size fasteners with it. The convenience of no air hose sold me right off the bat. The build quality seems really good and I plan to get a 1/2 drive model after seeing how this holds out.
Poor customer service. No IT department at all!!! If you want to get hassle and waste your time and temper, place order with this company and worse than that if you have any question or problem then forget it. You are going to get hard time for the rest of your day. Save your life and maybe pay a little more and buy from descent companies. Not this one!!!
My most recent run in with Harbor Freight Tools started off like every other visit. I walked in and immediately try to find what I need amid a semi organized mass of stuff. After walking through the isles a few times I was down to my last item that I absolutely had to get assistance with because I just could not find it. I ask the young lady at the counter for the item and she walks me outside to the sidewalk sale... and wouldn't you know it... the item was NOT there. So she gets on the radio and asks for help from her co-worker. This is where it really got interesting. The lady on the other end was really not having a good day. The store was being remodeled and stuff was even more disorganized than usual.
The lady standing with me relayed to the lady on the radio that I needed an item that I saw on the website that should be in the store. After a few back and forth statements over the radio the lady on the other end shrieks "I don't have time for this!" Really?! You don't have time for this? Really? Isn't customer service the majority of what your job description reflects? She ultimately found the item, and there was more confusion as to size. That too was somewhat adventurous, but I should not criticize the fact that not everyone can process the fact that 3/4" is larger than 5/8". Not everyone is good at math.
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I tried to return a unopened box containing a 14 inch electric chainsaw. I had the original receipt, and they also still were selling the same product in their store. It was over 90 days and they said the store policy is no returns after 90 days. They can always change store policy if they want to. It was never used and not even taken out of the box. And I still had the original receipt. I have taken back products to other stores and they at least gave me store credit when I had the original receipt. Poor customer service and I will never shop at Harbor Freight Tools again. If they would have given me store credit I would still be shopping at Harbor Freight, but not now.
Coupons - Mother's Day 25% off did NOT state it wasn't good on a Badland winch. Drove 40 miles to store (Springfield, IL) to be told it wasn't good on winches. Show me where they are listed in exclusions! They COULDN'T! Very poor business practices.
I purchased many items in June 2017 totaling over $1400.00. Two of the items were a Bauer planer and a 12-inch sliding miter saw. On March 2018 (not even a yr) the planer had to be returned as defective (loud noise), since I purchased it in Oregon and now live in WA. I tried to exchange it and they said I needed to pay a sales tax on it. And I would need to purchase a new warranty, the 2nd warranty I purchased for $79.99 was used up by returning the product that was only 9 months old.
So now to have a warranty I have to spend another 80 bucks besides paying tax on a defective exchange and not a purchase. Unbelievable! Now it's April 2018 and the bearing in the saw went bad. 10 months old and now I have to use up 2 yr warranty I purchased for $39.99. And purchase a new warranty and pay tax on a defective exchange. Tim to contact legal or Consumer Affairs... done with Harbor Freight. Ps. Both sand have already scrapped out. And I have only built one wine rack, one wishing well planter, and 10 planter boxes. Such CRAP.
After making several calls, I am no closer to talking to someone than I was when I started. With an average wait time of 12 minutes, I have been hung up on, because they say they can't hear me, and I have used two different phones, have been hung up on without any response, and the one time I actually talked to a person, the call dropped. I have been trying to reach them for well over an hour. I need information on a replacement part for a tool.
Harbor Freight Tool Box Review [11 Drawer Roller Tool Cabinet (US General)]
Purchased a 10in sliding compound saw. Model #61971. Was using sliding compound saw to cut trim. Not sure what happened but while using this saw the blade guard caught the blade and flew off, taking out the laser guide with it. I looked at reviews only to find the plastics used in the blade guard are inferior. After comparing them higher name saws I realized this is very true. The Chicago Electric Guard is very flimsy and will shatter if contacted. Add note: I think I found out why the blade contacted blade guard. A bolt with a nylon lock nut had loosened up just a little causing the blade to shift ever so slightly allowing it just enough movement to catch the blade. Seems like a true safety hazard to have plastic getting thrown around.
When you buy from this company they ask for your phone number, name address, etc. On my most recent visit a store manager named Wayne was checking me out. I had my flyer with my name and address on it but he asked for my phone number. I have a poor memory disability and since I never call myself I couldn't remember it. He got belligerent and kept insulting me about my memory problem. I should have walked out but continued with the transaction. I later returned it as I was very upset and decided to never do business with Harbor Freight until this man is fired or moves on. Most of Harbor Freight's people are very polite and I enjoyed shopping there. No more.
I purchased a 2 Ton Hydraulic Engine Lift from Harbor Freight over 15 years ago and it had helped me pull numerous Engines from my vehicles without fail. Well my Hydraulic Pump on it finally gave up the ghost this weekend so I pulled the unit and headed to purchase a replacement. Harbor Freight had a replacement Pump for around $80.00. I checked with the manager to make sure I had the correct unit for my lift and he told me that it was indeed the correct part and that if I gave him my old unit, he would refund me $72.00! Well I now have an engine lift that works again and it only cost me around $8.00... You can't beat that after over 15 years! A lot of people think they sell junk tools, but I have had very good luck with all the tools I have purchased from them. I no longer spend $$$ buying Snap-On or Craftsman unless I need a specific tool. They will keep my business for good. Thanks.
Annual in-store shopper at Harbour Freight Tools. As I had a relatively larger order, with big items, and Harbour Freight offers zero assistance in trucking or delivery services from in-store, the store employees suggested 1) Shop online; 2) Sign up for Insider Tracking Club for further discounts; 3) Shipping to freight forwarders was allowed with online orders ONCE it was to a USA address and not to a PO BOX address. Having done all as instructed, and I created my online account; which then took several phone calls to Customer Care, and a 48 hour wait to get account activated. Then order would not go through. Several days of trying, then I placed order over the phone. Only to be asked if that was a business address or a homeowner's address. Answer: A business address, it is my freight forwarder. HF Response: "Oh, we don't ship to freight forwarders. Only to homeowner's addresses."
After a very frustrating phone call, HF Response: "We only will ship to a freight forwarder IF it's going onto Canada or Australia." Beyond mind boggling. Requested a refund for my Insider Tracking Club fee (as it is of NO USE) - HF Response? "You would need to go back to the store you got it at." The reasoning, the lack of customer care, IS PATHETIC.
Received a letter from HF stating a tire recall was mandated by the National Traffic & Motor Vehicle Safety Act for the tires on my Haul Master trailer, tire 12" Innova. The letter states to go to your local HF store and the tires will be replaced. Called my local store in Melbourne, FL, was told they have gone through their tire stock for replacements and no idea when/if they will be securing additional inventory. Was offered a $30 gift card. Responded, "HF is mandated to replace the tires," told, "Sorry we are not able to."
Sent in a request to the HF customer service email address gained from their website. A few days later response was the tires are on backorder with no firm or estimated date as to when they would be received. I sent a response what was HF plan for trailer owners until the tires were received, a response was never received. This is not the level of customer service expected when tires are a critical component of a trailer, where a failure can be a major safety incident. The recall notice from HF is called: Trailer Recall - NHTSA Recall Number 17V-638 dated Nov. 24, 2017. The date is now Feb 17, 2018, HF has not provided a solution as yet.
U.S. General® Pro 61427 30 in. 5 Drawer Glossy Red Tool Cart - None of the holes lined up to assemble. Had to redrill every hole. Short on bolts and nuts. Brackets for compression closer were welded on backward. No way to install them. Piece of junk... Took three hours only to find it will never close... Do not buy it. You will regret it.
Harbor Freight, you have changed your protocol of using the 20% and 25% coupons to where we "CAN'T" use them on one product in your ads. We used to be able to do this, but now, your managers at your store locations will fight you tooth and nail trying to prove their point that this has "ALWAYS" been your policy. They get rude, get up in your face as though they would fight you right in front of other customers at the counter check-out.
I've seen customers walk out after seeing how I was treated and talked to trying to use a coupon, and I'm 65 years old. If your Managers don't have any respect for the elderly, then people begin to walk out. Others don't want to have to argue with a Manager who treats his customers like he is the "BOUNCER" in a bar. I have followed your sales solicitations in emails, and in your mail out catalogues. You lie to your customers about them being such a blow-out sales and they save so much percentage wise... but it's the same old prices you have all the time. There may be one or two items that are cheaper but most all are the same old prices. Only difference is, is that you have stopped your customers from being able to use the 20% coupons on one major item if it is one of the so-called sale items.
So your gimmick is simply to make you more money. Tell the unsuspecting customer you're having a blow-out sale, that they can save up to 75% or more on all items, and you have the 20 and 25% coupons in the add but you won't allow them to be used in the sale. Just a sales gimmick to get the unsuspecting customer to come in and buy.
I went to the Conroe, Texas store after it had been open a few months. The check-out clerk would not allow me to use the 20% coupon with an electric drill, said it was on sale but it was your normal everyday price. Then she called the Manager up front. He came up there like he was the bouncer in a bar, dressed like a Harley Biker, got right up in my face and in my personal space, hollered at me and called me a liar. You had about 15 customers standing in line at the 3 stations to check out. As they watched and listened to how I was being treated and talked to, not to mention physically threatened... you could see they wanted no part of the Biker Manager, and saw that they also would not be allowed to use the 20% discount coupons that they had in hand. They began to leave their baskets at the counter and walked out of the store. I told the Manager I would never come back in that store again. His reply was "Fine, leave."
I called the Corporate office and asked to speak to the District Manager over the Conroe, Texas store. They said he, Jeremy **, was on vacation. I then asked to speak to the Manager taking his place during his absence. She said it was Rob ** but she would not transfer me or give me his number to call him. She said she would send him an email and see "IF" he would step in and call me back.
Mr. ** did call me back a few days later after I called a second time and a third time for him. He listened to what I had to say about the treatment in the Conroe Store. He said to go to the Lufkin Store (closer to me) and he would called ahead and tell the Manager there to give me the discount. All I would need to do was to carry the receipt with me. I did as he instructed but when I got to the Lufkin store, no one knew about my situation, not even the Manager and he flat refused to do anything the District Manager said for him to do.
I then called the return number of Dist. Mngr. ** and put him on speaker phone in front of the Store Manager to allow him to hear that I was not lying. I asked Mr. ** why he didn't call this Store Manager like he said he would. He gave some excuse but then said, "I'll call him and tell him to do what I told you I would do over the phone." I said, "Here's the Manager standing right here, let me hand the phone to him and you can tell him now." I left the phone on speakerphone.
Mr. ** told the Store Mngr. to do as we had discussed on the drill and a multi-position ladder. The Manager hung up my phone and began to work on the cash register to make things right. I thanked him and left, but after getting about 10 miles down the road, I told my wife to look at the sales receipt and see if the Manager did everything right as per the District Manager. He did on the drill, but charged me full price on the ladder, even after the Dist. Mngr. instructed him too.
I turned around and went back to the store, asked the Manager why he refused to follow the instruction of the Dist. Mngr. He said, "He's not my Manager. My Manager is Jeremy **." I replied to him that Mr. ** is on vacation and Mr. ** is handling this in his stead. I asked him to call the District Manager back and tell him he refused to obey his instructions. What he did was call Dist. Mngr. Jeremy **. I asked him to put the call on speaker so I could hear and he did. Mr. ** ran me, the customer down and said NOT to do as Mr. ** had instructed. Then I asked the Store Manager to let me speak to Mr. ** and he handed me the phone. After our conversation, he agreed to tell the Store Manager to follow Mr. ** instructions.
This is all appalling treatment to your customers. I have bought a lot of high dollar tools from your store, but now I refuse to pay my hard earned money to a Store that would treat me like your Managers and District Managers have done. They've lied to me, insulted me, threatened bodily harm to me, harassed and embarrassed me in front of other customers, and charged me more than I was supposed to be charged. I have seen in the News where your organization has been sued for false advertising and pricing to your customers. You just don't seem to learn even after being taken to court.
In these two circumstances, I went through the lower process of calling your Corporate Office, making the District Manager aware of the threatening and wrongful treatment, trying to get this resolved at your local level. Only to have to call again and again, being lied to by District Managers, and humiliated by Store Managers, and them not following the directives of the Dist. Mngr. I will not use your local level complaint to handle things ever again. It will immediately be escalated to the Local Police Department and the Local News.
If I ever go back into one of your stores, I will have someone with me to video everything that is said and is done by your staff, especially if one of your Managers threatens bodily harm to me and gets up in my face invading my personal space. The local Police now call this a Terroristic Threat. I will immediately call the Police, file a complaint of threat and bodily harm, I will take the video to the local News and see if they want to put your Store on the 5 O'clock News. The publicity you get will hopefully do justice for the treatment you give to many of your loyal customers.
I've had several problems with Harbor Freight over the years but I've ignored the issues. Not now. Recently order item and requested "second day" shipping for an extra charge. Ordered on a Friday and it's Thursday and guess what, no item. When I called and confronted the customer service guy, he hung up when I advised him it was illegal in the State of Arizona to "Mislead customers into charging extra shipping fees and not delivering as promised." I also looked into classaction.com to start a group effort to take this company down for making a lot of money off shipping charges. If it's not going to be here on the "second day" because it takes them several days to process the order, then it needs to be called "3-4" day shipping so people are not given the false impression of faster delivery. Or at least refund the customer's extra postage. It amazes me companies ignore such complains and often end up in million dollar settlements.
While Harbor Freight has been a cheaper solution for those unable to purchase expensive tooling, the quality has reached an all-time low for consumers. I wouldn't recommend purchasing even the basic tools from Harbor Freight; you will just be wasting your money. The products are of such low quality, that you'd be better off burning your money than spending it at Harbor Freight.
I purchased one of the big central pneumatic compressor. It's about a year and a month or 2 ago. I use it every 2 or 3 times a month. I had nothing but problems with it. I replaced the air safety valve twice, it's broke again and now the air pressure switch is bad. I keep the oil level where it is supposed to be, I drink the water after each use and check it before I use it. And now I have to have it rigged up to get the thing to even start up.
I called customer service 4 times over the past 6 months and each time I have to sit and be put on hold for 20 minutes before I get aggravated and hang up. I buy tools from them in the past year and a 1/2. I have spent a lot of money I norm that 1 of you their biggest customers but I probably dropped a $1000 there and it's the worst piece of junk I've ever seen in my life. And trying to get ahold of somebody at their customer service member to complain about it forget it you get somebody they say always as a product complaint or a store complaint and when you say product they switch you to a deadline that you sit for 20 minutes to get nothing. I was reading something from Harbor freight this is a buy quality tools they buy quality crap at this point I would rather pay 10 times the amount that have to do with any more of their stuff.
I had been a fan of this company due to its low prices. However after numerous issue with their power tools and air tools, I have to admit that I am done. The final straw came when I recently had purchased a $23 pin nail gun. After a single use it stopped working. I tried to swap it for a new one, but the manager refused because I couldn't find the receipt. He told me I should have purchased their warranty plan. Clearly they don't stand behind their product. Since then I have completely washed my hands off this company. I will happily spend the extra money at Home Depot or Lowe’s for a product that I know isn't going to break after one use. And if it does break, they will stand behind the product.
Attempted to return defective air compressor, met with nothing but hostility because I lost the receipt. Offered credit card, still gave me a hard time, got mad & told me what I could do with my compressor. Mgr & his wife/clerk were both 250 lb walruses with attitude to match.
Just got a recall letter about bad tires on the Haul Master 1195 lb Trailer. I called HF to ask if they want the whole wheel or just the tire. I was told to return just the tires for exchange --BS. The kit comes with the tire on the rim and balanced, so to change my tires I have to go to a tire store, have them remove the tires, go to HF for the exchange, back to the tires store and have them put the new tires on the rims and balance them. I should exchange exactly what I bought and not have to break down the parts to replace a bad one. Cost me more than the complete wheel??? Be careful of what you buy from HF.
Received a circular in the mail advertising a Poulan Pro chainsaw and decided it would make a great gift. Foolish me drove 50 miles only to discover the Knoxville store was sold out and not getting another shipment in. So, back home I go have to admit (another 50 miles). Ordered the chainsaw online with no problem and received a email. So, I wait 2 weeks and nothing. No chainsaw, no emails with shipping info, etc. (Plenty of advertising emails though.) Well, today I called only to get the same story, no more chainsaws.
How can such a large company send out beautiful glossy fliers advertising an item with such a limited stock? Do they think they can dupe customers into the stores, not having sufficient advertised items, expecting us to buy other items? And to have salespeople put smirks on their faces as they tell us they are sold out and no more will be shipped in? Sorry! Well, I'm sorry too. When 3 out of 4 experiences with Harbor Freight are not pleasant I won't shop with them again.
I bought a case of trash bags (50 count 1mil thickness 55 gal) in mid September 2017 at the store on Telephone and Wayside in the Sellers Plaza to be use at my home for a bigger lightweight trash instead of using too many small trash bags, but on the process of cleaning leaves and small pieces of tree limbs come to find out that the bags ripped too easy. Cannot even hold regular house trash without being ripped, so I decided to return them to the store and talking to the store manager he ask me for the receipt in order to exchange for something else due to the poor quality of the plastic the bags was made with (I showing the bad quality of the product and almost complete 47 bags still in the box).
So since I didn't show the receipt or proof of my purchase the manager refuse to take my return back knowing that every time we purchase any products at the store the cashier clerk ask for your phone number, knowing that is records under your phone number, very bad customer service for a return of their own product and very poor training of the manager... They can keep their products and sell them to someone else but not to me, I learn my lesson... Be careful buying poor quality products from them, you're just wasting your money!!
I purchased a wet saw to cut some glass tile. I attempt to cut one tile and it just chewed up. The glass crumbled it. I cleaned it up just as I bought it. Disassembled it and put it back into the packaging. They told me that I have to pay restocking the product $11. Are you serious. When I purchased it the young guy did not tell me if I return it it's a restock fee and I didn't bother to look at my receipt. Until the date of return. This was for Harbor Freight Kissimmee Florida 1317 East Osceola Parkway.
I purchased a dust collection system with the collector/vacuum, hoses, additional parts including connectors for the vacuum hose online on 10/17 (first deception). The hose connector is a necessary item if you want to use the system. After recovering the parts over the period of about a week in 3-4 different shipments I found that the vacuum hose attachments were missing.
I called the firm to find out they were on backorder. Never told this while ordering and was given no alternatives but told it would be the 10th of Nov. I was unhappy but what can you do. No offer to compensate for my time or delay. System is installed and on 11/20 after still not receiving the parts I called and told the parts were actually not available until the 14th (second strike). Now I am told that the product was shipped on the 16th but will not be delivered until the 22nd (third strike). This is over a month after my card was charged. No apology. No offer of any sort. I buy a ton of product at the stores but the online part of HF is deceptive and misleading in their practices. DO NOT USE THE ONLINE SERVICE AT Harbor Freight. I am very disappointed. Never again.
Please note my review on October 15, 2017. My complaint was that I had been charged a restocking fee on a defective air compressor I purchased at Harbor Freight. I had paid cash and returned a gift card instead of my cash back. So, today October 20, 2017 I received an email from the store manager. It was a letter of apology and stated I should not have been charged the restocking fee and should have been refunded the entire amount in cash as used in my original purchase. So, there's hope for anyone else out there that experienced the same or a similar situation with Harbor Freight. I am now once again a satisfied customer of Harbor Freight and I will continue to do business with the company.
Returned a manufactures defective product and was charged a 20% restocking fee. So, Harbor Freight must put defective items back on their shelves and sell them again. Seems to me this is a consumer scam, wouldn't you say? But that's not all! I purchase the product with my DEBIT CARD and they would not give my cash back! They would only issue their GIFT CARD as my refund! Seems to me this is another consumer scam. So, with this in mind and considering I'm posting this on CONSUMER AFFAIRS WEBSITE. What can or will CONSUMER AFFAIRS or any other Buyer Protection Agency Do About This?
Updated on 10/20/17: So, today October 20, 2017 I received an email from the store manager. It was a letter of apology and stated I should not have been charged the restocking fee and should have been refunded the entire amount in cash as used in my original purchase. So, there's hope for anyone else out there that experienced the same or a similar situation with Harbor Freight. I am now once again a satisfied customer of Harbor Freight and I will continue to do business with the company.
I bought a Portland power washer online from Harbor Freight Tools. I received what looked like a returned and re-packaged item. I tried it out and there was no pressure. I went to return it to a local Harbor Freight store. They said, because this is an item people rent, they will charge a 20% restocking fee. They had no interest in the fact that the item did not work. I feel Harbor Freight sells poor quality and/or defective products and then charges a 20% restocking fee, knowing that a customer might return the item.
I ordered $9 worth of crap and paid $11 for 2-day shipping. Order completed online on a Wednesday. Order filled and shipped on Thursday but guess what? THEY DON'T DELIVER on WEEKENDS. I called them and they said "That was business days" and "That's FedEx's call". Um, whatever. FedEx works for you and I GUARANTEE they deliver on Saturdays. Even the POST OFFICE delivers on Saturday. UPS Delivers on SUNDAY. So paying $20 for $9 worth of crap for 2-day shipping and it's going to take 5 days for me to get my stuff. What a load of crap. No wonder everyone orders from Amazon. At LEAST Harbor Freight had what I wanted, so that's why I gave it 2 stars instead of 1.
Harbor Freight Tools Company Information
- Company Name:
- Harbor Freight Tools
- Website:
- www.harborfreight.com
