Harbor freight really has jumped the shark

[Beachbourbon]

Stopped by harbor freight today. They emailed me about a huge Labor Day sale, and had a huge sign for the same in the parking lot. I went for one item I have wanted and that was on sale when I checked earlier this week. I got there and the item was not on sale and I couldn’t find any harbor freight coupons.

I asked store personnel that stated there we no more coupons, just more sale prices. I explained that the coupon is helpful when the item you want doesn’t have a sale price. Blank stare. I explained my situation and asked what he could do to help. Blank stare. I stated that harbor freight just lost a customer. Blank stare. I shouted to my son 20 feet away, “let’s go, they don’t hav good deals here anymore.” Blank stares.

I went to Lowe’s and found a better version of what I wanted at a better price.

I won’t be going back to harbor freight.

[firemedicmark]

I have an app HFcoupons it is free in the app store. Has lots of coupons including the free ones. Updates every month or so.

[NJKris]

Originally Posted by Beachbourbon

Stopped by harbor freight today. They emailed me about a huge Labor Day sale, and had a huge sign for the same in the parking lot. I went for one item I have wanted and that was on sale when I checked earlier this week. I got there and the item was not on sale and I couldn’t find any harbor freight coupons.

I asked store personnel that stated there we no more coupons, just more sale prices. I explained that the coupon is helpful when the item you want doesn’t have a sale price. Blank stare. I explained my situation and asked what he could do to help. Blank stare. I stated that harbor freight just lost a customer. Blank stare. I shouted to my son 20 feet away, “let’s go, they don’t hav good deals here anymore.” Blank stares.

I went to Lowe’s and found a better version of what I wanted at a better price.

I won’t be going back to harbor freight.

The funniest part of this is you seemed to expect more than a blank stare from a minimum wage worker! I haven't been to Harbor Freight in years.

[browser5031]

They haven't offered the 20% coupon for some time now.

[18LT]

Yup, since March. They announced in January or February that the 20% coupons were going away in March, as well as all the little freebie coupons.
I've only seen coupons associated with their club thing and their credit card offer.
I still go there though because they have advertised items on discount in their mailers. I'm a big fan of their $14 top feed paint spray guns. Air hoses too.

[Beachbourbon]

removed by site team

I would be willing to bet the vast majority of forest river products owned by members of this forum have at least one product from harbor freight in them that was purchased by the RV owner for their rig. Plus the original thread which is now past the reply stage had quite a bit of activity. I will admit this thread is no “keep a word, change a word” but would say this thread is relevant to the forum.

[paverdave]

Originally Posted by Beachbourbon

I would be willing to bet the vast majority of forest river products owned by members of this forum

Yup....count me in..Harbor Freight has saved my bacon more than once...

[Virginian]

Originally Posted by Beachbourbon

I would be willing to bet the vast majority of forest river products owned by members of this forum have at least one product from harbor freight in them that was purchased by the RV owner for their rig.

Yes, I have their wheel chocks, solar panels, and 2 generators. Bought them all last year with the coupons.

[bikendan]

removed by site team

This Forum is not here just for FR products. It's primarily for owners of FR products but we have many here who don't own FR products and they are welcome to be members.
And many here, including me, buy things from HF for our RVs or for camping.
And the OP posted this thread in the Dollars and Cents sub-forum, which is the perfect place for the topic.

[James Ww]

Originally Posted by Virginian

Yes, I have their wheel chocks, solar panels, and 2 generators. Bought them all last year with the coupons.

How have the solar panels worked for you? I debated between them and realgy from Amazon.

[D W]

Originally Posted by 18LT

Yup, since March. They announced in January or February that the 20% coupons were going away in March, as well as all the little freebie coupons.
I've only seen coupons associated with their club thing and their credit card offer.
I still go there though because they have advertised items on discount in their mailers. I'm a big fan of their $14 top feed paint spray guns. Air hoses too.

It is what it is. The economy has changed from what it was 7 months ago. Prices have increased and your dollar is worth less. The OP was looking for "a deal", but none was to be had. Sometimes this happens. You can't win all the time. The OP exercised the free market and found a better deal. If I blacklisted every store that I couldn't get a deal on a certain purchase, I'd have nowhere to shop.

[MR.M]

HB the china store deals are not always good deals . the old saying you get what you pay for . you want cheap throw away products to get by then HB may be for you . their prices are not all that great for a lot of items . the one time use tools that you need for that project then great . But if i want something of quality that will last with use then i shop else where .

[Virginian]

Originally Posted by James Ww

How have the solar panels worked for you? I debated between them and realgy from Amazon.

They’ve worked very well for me, but I’m not one of the “technical” users that you’ll find here. I’m not using any battery monitoring device other than the solar charge controller that came with the panels, or a multimeter.
I have the 100 watt 4 panel set, and when boondocking, I’ll use the battery power sparingly, but as needed. I have a single 105 ah Group 31 battery. I’ve gotten by just fine for 3 or 4 days at a time by setting the panels out in the morning and moving them to follow the sun throughout the day. Of course, if it’s cold and I have to run the furnace some, I’ll need to fire up one of the Predator generators for a little while.
It’s worth comparing prices, because when I bought my panels, they were considerably cheaper than they are currently.

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by Beachbourbon

I will admit this thread is no “keep a word, change a word” but would say this thread is relevant to the forum.

The “keep a word; change a word” thread is very relative to this forum as it is in the “Off Topic” sub-forum — right where it belongs.

Bruce

[D W]

Originally Posted by MR.M

HB the china store deals are not always good deals . the old saying you get what you pay for . you want cheap throw away products to get by then HB may be for you . their prices are not all that great for a lot of items . the one time use tools that you need for that project then great . But if i want something of quality that will last with use then i shop else where .

I used to think the same thing, but you buy the quality tool for that one project, use it, then it sits on the shelf in the garage and you never use it again. Sooner or later it becomes yard sale material and you wind up getting pennies on the dollar for it.

[rsdata]

HF has it's place... often the only store around for the tool that you need for that afternoon project. I cannot afford a DeWalt or a Milwaukee for every tool that I use maybe once or twice or maybe even for a full project.

You used to have a Craftsmen or Sears store around that had a lot of tools, but have not seen any of those for 10 years. My local ACE Hardware alwys seems to be out of what I am looking for.

Yep I miss the 20% OFF coupons...

[MR.M]

Originally Posted by D W

I used to think the same thing, but you buy the quality tool for that one project, use it, then it sits on the shelf in the garage and you never use it again. Sooner or later it becomes yard sale material and you wind up getting pennies on the dollar for it.

That's why i mention if you want a through away . ie one use for that one project then HF is great . but if you need quality for continued use then best get else where . they do have some items with lifetime warranties that are worth it . like my 1/2 drive toque wrench lifetime warranty all ready replaced it once . just grab another off the shelf . But over all cheap products.

[myclmac]

1BLT, Better hurry in to HF. Your $14.99 spray gun is on sale for $12.99.

[U.S.ArmyVeteran]

removed by site team

Doesn't FB also have a chronic malcontent section?

Well over a dozen responses and no one else is crying about it.

The old adage that read if you don't like the channel switch the channel applies to the internet also.

Sorry everyone else. But this crap is uncalled for.

[KyDan]

I have a 15 year old HF compressor. It's been great all that time. I'd buy it again if I had it to do over.
The pressure switch diaphragm blew out last year but found an exact replacement on Ebay for a few bucks.


I have a HF breaker bar with rubber grip that I use for my WD hitch bars. Money well spent.
Same for the set of impact lug nut sockets I've used for years.
Their gold drill bits are OK quality.
The mechanics gloves work well for me. I use a pair all summer pulling weeds and the finger tips do not wear thru.


They're not Craftsman but hey Craftsman isn't Craftsman any more either....