Harbor Freight Tools
Reviews and Complaints

It's our policy. Why not call corporate instead? I am a cashier at Hft in Texas and I get yelled at all the time by customers. I see your point and I completely agree but when customer after customer takes it out on the cashier it gets frustrating. We're just following rules. Why don't you complain to people who actually can do something about it? Corporate and customer service?

etal, you are probably one the idiots that do this crap.

I was sold a cupon on en item that has been discontied.it cant be purchased.they want me to pay for this cupon anyway.the date on this cupon elapsed 2/ 15/2011.do i still have to pay for this.

I had a hard time trying to make sense out of what you wrote. If I understand what you're trying to say, the customers are upset because they cannot do returns without a receipt, because you view the majority of customers are trying to scam the store (use and return when no longer need it). So you're complaining about the customers you have to deal with, not the company. Welp, tan my hide. If'n them dang custumers say harbor freight sucks cause you will not do returns with out receite, then who needs 'em! You is too dang importent to mess with them ingrates anyhow.

I think that it ought to be illegal for Harbor Freight to give you a coupon that says you can use it for almost anything, and then refuse to honor it when you get to the register. That's blatant false advertising right there!

Really! this is the best you got! you are complaining about the carts pull to one side, and the music is too loud, the clerks were stocking shelves. go to Sears

we too have been mislead with there sale price and + a 20% off the item coupon and yes i read the small print on the coupon went there and was told that sale price in the magazine was for a paid membership but, the 20% off coupon could be used on our receipt they deducted that from the old price that was slashed off as was this price so we did not even get our 20% off! what a scam.

visit http://img.grim.cc/HFT%20Coupons.html
Harbor Freight uses coupons to get you in the store, like a lot of stores. You should know before you head out to their store, the coupon that prompted your visit is likely not valid for the item you had in mind. Maybe they think you will buy the item anyway. If you read the fine print on the coupon. (This requires a microscope) You will be amazed at the huge number of things that you cannot use the coupon to purchase.

Just one instance: Coupon [protected] has the following bolded text that is printed at the bottom of the coupon and occupies less than ½ square inch (about half of a postage stamp). This text was provided via a corporate customer service person as the usage limitations for coupon [protected].

“Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased.*Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, Gift Card, open box item, 3 day parking lot sale item, Compressors, Floor Jacks, Saw mills, Storage Cabinets, Chests or Carts, Trailers, Trenchers, Welders, Admiral, CoverPro, Daytona, Diablo, Franklin, Hercules, Holt, Jupiter, Predator, Stik-Tek, StormCat, Union, Vangaard, Viking. Not valid on prior purchases, Non-transferable, and original coupon must be presented”

Do they really expect that someone would actually read the fine print?

I was trying to purchase this Tool Box/ Cart (actually called "Roller Cart") using the above 20 percent off coupon. Notice the word “Carts” in the description of the disallowed items. A cart is pretty much anything with 4 wheels. According to the customer service person, the coupon was disallowed because it was a “cart” and a chest and a storage cabinet “and Storage Cabinets, Chests and Carts are disallowed” Notice that tool boxes are not disallowed. Am I silly or is this a tool box with wheels?

I asked the customer service person if I could purchase this Welding Cart using the same coupon and get the 20% off. I was told “Yes the coupon would be valid for 20% off the purchase of the welding cart", and it clearly is a “Cart” used to Store welding stuff. Interesting huh. No logic just words. Maybe it only comes with 3 wheels.

So clearly the 20% off coupon is good for some things, and the list of limitations could be used to disallowed any single item and just to make sure we have the"*Cannot be used with other discount" catch all. This would clearly disallow any item in the store since every single item in the store is discounted as compared to "retail". You might want to call and ask to see what interpretation of the words are at any given point in time.

visit http://img.grim.cc/HFT%20Coupons.html

RE: Harbor freight tools false advertisements. After researching and comparing product, warrant and prices for water pumps, I purchased a water pump from HFT. When unpacking the pump, I found a NOTICE claiming the 2 Year Warranty had been replaced with an implied 90 day Warranty. With out the 2 Year Warranty, this product is not at the top of my list to be purchased. This notice was published 6/01/11 and a few people decided to take this action instead of having a Comp. Tech change the FALSE ADVERTISING on the their web site over 3 months ago. I believe these people are not quite stupid but deceptive and have used this as a ploy to get customers in the door. This is a scammy and something close to a bate and switch (would you like to purchase an added warranty at the door) NOT WHEN I ALREADY PURCHASED ONE WITH THE PRODUCT AS ADVERTISED ******GET YOUR FREE FLASH LIGHTS SOMEWHERE ELSE

I have worked at HFT for over a year now. Indeed, we do stock many flashlights - but the coupon is for a specific flashlight, sku # 65020, as the first comments author stated. Each store gets a specific number of these lights - they are black, not red, not blue, but black. The red lights are in a two-pack. If you went to a car dealership and they were offering a rebate on a Ford F150 would you expect to get the rebate on a Ford Focus because you didn't want to wait for them to have the truck in stock? No.

The coupons say "while supplies last". The reason many stores run out of the "free" light is greedy customers who come into the store day after day to snatch these lights (and other freebies for that matter) up in multiples. Before the "with purchase" requirement was added we would even have people who tried to redeem the coupons in multiples on the same day! I have even been yelled at and called ignorant, among other less savory names, over a freebie item that I knew the customer had already received. On many occasions I was told by customers that it says "per visit" on the restrictions - so they were leaving the store and re-visiting us in 5 minutes!

I too was scammed with this FREE FLASHLIGHT nonsense. My coupon stated with $20 purchase or more. When I got to the counter with over $75 worth of items they told me the flashlights were out of stock YET they had hundreds (WELL A LOT OF THEM ANYWAY! should have just paid the $3 or so for 2 I know) on the racks. Well that kinda got to me, I went back and put all my items back on the shelves and left the store. I know it is trivial but the scam bugged me ya know? Sorry... Must be I did not need Harbor Freight stuff after all, well I did and paid a little more at Lowes. The principal of the thing. I may be making a big deal but Harbor Freight should advertise without lies please ! Same thing happened with a 20% off coupon for air compressor yet store refused and said coupon was printed wrong, later had store sheets posted around saying 20% was only for lower priced items. Bought a better compressor at auto parts store for less than their list.

the fact that you people make as big a deal about a FREE flash light is almost sickining. its a free flash light and the fine print on every coupon states clearly while suplise last. harbor freight gave away over one million dollars worth of flashlights and in order for those of you how felt it nessisary to claim five or six caused a pay freeze for every employee who had to deal with people being very rude and disrespectful because they didnt get something for nothing. i never thought id see the day that people expected a free item to be instock for every customer to walk in with a coupon. i guess some people just dont understand what it means to be respectful to someone just trying to follow pollicy and make there paycheck. i highly doubt that harbor freight will miss the buisness of someone who feels they shouldnt have to pay for there items. stop complaining cause i havent ever seen home depo give you anything for free.

i worked at harbor freight for two years and it had become corporate policy not to OPEN the red and blue sets of flashlights as they were not only not the flashlights that were offered in the add, but due to the high number of people claiming coupons opening these packages and splitting them skews the inventory so bad its not even funny.

there is a sku number on the coupon for the flashlights, it is 65020. and there is a sku number on the red and blue flashlights, it is not 65020. any questions?

I am interested in hearing what happen after all of this transpired, only because a similar situation happen to me and after I called and complained there district Manager called me back into the store and gave me a free flashlight, set of screwdrivers, seven function mutimeter, pair of sissors, a 25 foot rope. and a twenty percent off coupon to boot!

harbor is the biggest rippoff ever, order from hong kong same ### for 20%.

why would you deal with [censored] supporters?

What harbor freight tools don't tell you is that after so many returns of their faulty tools they ban you from future returns.

TELECHECK TO PAY $3.5 MILLION FOR FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT VIOLATIONS
PENALTY MATCHES FTC’S SECOND-LARGEST EVER IN AN FCRA CASE

TeleCheck Services, Inc., one of the nation’s largest check authorization service companies, along with its associated debt-collection entity, TRS Recovery Services, Inc., have agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

The penalty matches the second-largest ever obtained by the FTC in an FCRA case. Earlier this year, another check authorization company, Certegy Check Services, Inc., agreed to pay a $3.5 million fine to settle FTC allegations similar to those made against TeleCheck.

TeleCheck, based in Houston, Texas, is a consumer reporting agency (CRA) that compiles consumers’ personal information and uses it to help retail merchants throughout the United States determine whether to accept consumers’ checks. Under the FCRA, consumers whose checks are denied based on information TeleCheck provided to the merchant have the right to dispute that information and have TeleCheck investigate and correct any inaccuracies.

The FTC’s complaint alleges, among other things, that TeleCheck did not follow proper dispute procedures, including refusing to investigate disputes. The complaint also alleges that TeleCheck failed to follow reasonable procedures to assure the maximum possible accuracy of the information it provided to its merchant clients as required by the FCRA, and failed to promptly correct errors on consumers’ reports.

In addition, the complaint alleges that TRS, which handles consumer debt taken on by TeleCheck and furnishes information about consumers to TeleCheck, violated the requirements of the FTC’s Furnisher Rule, which requires entities furnishing information to CRAs to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the information provided.

“If CRAs like TeleCheck provide merchants with inaccurate information, those merchants may wrongly deny consumers the ability to buy even the most essential items, like food and medicine. The FCRA gives consumers the right to dispute and correct inaccurate information, ” said Jessica Rich, Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The Commission takes violations of these rights seriously.”

The order settling the FTC’s charges requires TeleCheck and TRS to alter their business practices to comply with the requirements of the FCRA and the Furnisher Rule in the future. This case is part of a broader initiative to target the practices of data brokers, which often compile, maintain, and sell sensitive consumer information. Consumer reporting agencies like TeleCheck are data brokers that sell information to companies making important decisions about consumers, such as their ability to get credit or pay for goods and services by check.

Information for Business

The FTC has information for businesses on the Furnisher Rule, which can be found on the Commission’s website. Information regarding what businesses should know about consumer reports also is available.

The Commission vote approving the referral of the complaint to the Department of Justice and consent in settlement of the court action was 4-0. The complaint and proposed consent were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on January 16, 2014 against TeleCheck, Inc. and TRS Recovery Services, Inc. The proposed consent decree is subject to court approval.

NOTE: The Commission authorizes the filing of a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. Consent decrees have the force of law when signed by the District Court judge.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP [protected]). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2, 000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2014/01/telecheck-pay-35-million-fair-credit-reporting-act-violations

CONTACT INFORMATION
MEDIA CONTACT:
Mitchell J. Katz
Office of Public Affairs
[protected]

STAFF CONTACTS:
Katherine Armstrong
Bureau of Consumer Protection
[protected]

Kristen Anderson
Bureau of Consumer Protection
[protected]

And each on of your checks are photo copied and sent to California so that you receive more ads. God only Knows how many people have seen yours acct/routing #'s.

The number one reason checks are declined in retail establishments is due to the driver's license number being presented to the cashier conflicts with the information provided by the bank - or the owner of the driver's license has a negative report on the check verification service's records.

So what is your complaint? That they use paper for their advertisements?

I'm with all the above DO NOT BUY FROM HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS THEY DO NOT TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT ANY THING. I have a Router Table, and a 16 ' FLOOR DRILL PRESS. BOUTH TOOLS ARE USE LESS. Because I can't get parts for them. The ROUTER TABLE I was told was DISCONTINUED so the parts where no longer available, BUT they still sell it in there stores as of this day. An as for the DRILL PRESS they said they had the part and that they would send it as soon as I payed for it. Money sent Told PART would be here in two weeks over a month still no part.

I bought a 3 gallon pneumatic oilless air compressor, model 95275, for my husband & was told it had a 1 year warranty. The warranty booklet states it is warrantied for 1 year for the pump & defects in materials & workmanship. He never used it until recently & it worked only once... when he tried to use it again 2 weeks later, it wouldn't build up pressure...there is a leak between the pump & where it was attached to the housing...defects in materials &/or workmanship. We took it back & the cashier said the warranty was only 90 days. I showed her the receipt & warranty booklet & she still argued. We got the manager involved & he kept saying the same thing. I told the manager he had just lost a customer & hopefully, some of the people in line who heard us as well. I tried to get customer service on the phone but that is impossible...everything you try sends you to the web which won't get you there either.
I will tell everyone I know they are dishonest & to never go there.

This past Monday (2/7) I looked up an item I wanted to purchase thru Harbor Freight. I saw a ratail flyer showing it would be on sale running from 2/10 to 2/14 (Pres. Day sale flyer), so I waited. I looked it up on Tuesday and Wednesday as well just to see the add was still there as I was really wanting to order the item. It was. I went to order that item on Thursday morning just to find the ad had been removed. When I called, I was told that sale ended a long time ago and wasn't valid. I feel like they had false advertising and that I was lied to. I would not trust anything that Harbor Freight says. Print out of get EVERYTHING in writing (make sure its correct too), or GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! We should only give our business to honest businesses which are few and far between these days!

I was in a Habor freight tool store on 11-15-10. I was looking to buy a new air compressor and some other things to go with it I found one that I liked. But they kept on trying to sell me something I did not need they told me the one I wanted would not work and I told them that I new that it would because I used a smaller one than the one that I was going to buy but the man kept on arguing with me. By this time he has other cutermers looking at me and laughing he kept n raising his voice in till every one there could here what was going on then he told me that it was my money. And I have to admit by this time I was pretty ticked off and I told him he was right it is my money and that if he would of kept his mouth shut I would have spent at least 500.00 dollars there that is when he tried to be nice to me then I told him I was done and that I was going to go to Sears and spend the extra cash there I will never shop there ever again. What ever happen to the saying the custermer is always right. I have a lot of friends that shop there and I plan on telling every one of them to go to Sears we are all Veterans and we all will get a discount there. I bought every thing I needed at Sears and paid less for what I wanted and needed. I have to say the only way that I would ever shop there again is if the man publicly apologizes to me. Thank you very much.

Harbor Freight sells reputable products in our area, Tulsa OK. I have bought many items (tools, motor) from them and it is a great way to save money.

I purchased a cement mixer from them. It took four hours to assemble. It mixed two sacks of cement before the motor quit working. They would not replace just the motor. Instead, they wanted to exchange for an entire unit in the box. Why wouldn't they exchange the motor out of the box? Was I to spend four more hours assembling another unit to find it was junk also. All of their tools are single use only. None of their tools or equipment are even medium quality; all are very low quality.

I take it you are a "Bonehead", right? I suppose when you go to the car dealership and they are out of your part, you ask them to take it of a new $30, 000 car because you are spending $100.

If you wanted it today, you should have bought it last week.

The employees were misinformed. They could not sell you the assembled trailer because it is against the law. They are only licensed to sell unassembled trailer kits. they should have told you that instead of just saying no.

Harbor freight will rip you off. BUYER BEWARE. The tools are crap and never work. You use them once and then return them. DO NOT BUY FROM HARBOR FREIGHT>