Harbor Freight Tools

Look if you want the best tools in town it’s not the best place to get them but for me the prices are great especially if you need a specialty tool right now!
The staff is friendly and helpful, the cashier usually asks what free item you’d like if you check out with a coupon.
This is my go to spot when I don’t have the $ to throw at a $ 30 Phillips Screwdriver (Snap-​On) or just to check out what they have.
They refund/​replace just about everything, within rrason.
I had broke one deep impact socket and took it back to get a new one, they asked me if I had the set and I told them I did. They then proceeded to tell me just bring back the set and we’ll replace it. Hell yea! I had this set for a while now and I get brand new for free, sure I’ll take that.
So in conclusion, quality tools, not really, will it get the job done si señor!

Manager was super shady. Lead me to believe I was saving ten dollars all the while just scanned a coupon anybody walking in the store can pick up right by the entrance and then snuck in a «Inside Track» membership and didnt even inform me. I enjoy shopping at Harbor Freight but I wont ever return to this one solely based on the managers style of business.

Harbor Freight is one of those shops and places you go to that you have to always remind yourself that you get what you pay for. The deals here can look absolutely fabulous and I have not ever been let down myself but buyer beware. Always take a look for coupons for great free offers and 20% off of your purchase.
I have purchased an air compressor, battery powered tools, wood clamps, tarps, etc SO much stuff. Keep in mind I am not a pro, I am not using these things even remotely once a month, but when I do the tools generally don’t let me down. Especially for the price paid. Store always smells like rubber from tires or something and the line up for checking out can be confusing for some (which always annoys the people that do line up properly). Overall, I like that I live kinda close to one and find it a unique little tool shop that has decent tools at decent prices.

I only give the two stars for cleanliness. However, there was no one on the floor to assist. I observed a customer peep into an office and ask a question. It was answered and the door closed right after. Two associates were talking in the office meanwhile there was a long line and customers not being assisted. I had to get in the long line to ask my question. I walked the store for several minutes looking for someone to assist. Very disappointed.

The management and staff are great here. I bought a tool chest here and after putting it together I found one broken piece. Came back and they took a good piece of a new one still in the box and replaced my broken piece. Great job people

I have to say that coming here can sometimes be annoying because my boyfriend’s idea of going out is here or Home Depot but I must admit that they do have great tools. I mean it’s not top notch but it lasts a long time and what are the odds of you using it until you actually break it. The funny thing is that I started coming here on my own and actually started to like the store as much as my boyfriend does. They have random things from a blood pressure monitor to gloves to pill cutter, all sorts of tools; just basically useful things and the customer service is always great and they always have the best deals!

Shitty management, crappy product displacement, very limited amount of product and unknowledgeable staff ESPECIALLY! The female cashiers who are either what looks to be like an ex chola and an older Hispanic woman with heavy accent and bad English grammar they have absolutely no idea what they are selling ! DO NOT SHOP HERE !!!

This is a no-​frills hardware store that carries all kinds of cheap tools for the do-​it-​yourselfer. As Steven M. mentioned, these products are made in China, which helps to explain why the prices are discounted.
Upon entering the store, you’re hit with the peculiar aroma of rubber (and whatever other chemicals are in that smell). The store is well laid-​out with the aisles clearly labeled by categories of products.
Coming here on the weekend can be a zoo. The last time I was here (4^th of July weekend) it was rather busy and there were only 2 checkstands open with the lines going deep into the main aisles of the store. Thankfully, by the time I got closer to the front, they opened a third checkstand and I immediately made a beeline for it. :-D
They have all kinds of coupons in the local circulars plus you can get them if you’re on their mailing list. These can come in handy if you’re a frequent buyer.
Parking is shared with other neighboring shops and can get crazy on the weekends.

It’s a good place to go if you need fairly inexpensive tools or odd tools, like the ratchet set I have where the wrenches pivot at the head. The have a lot of truly weird stuff, pet stuff, household bits and do-​dads, model boats and planes, and some stuff that is out and out junk, like an air pump I bought for $ 10.00, noisy and not very effective.
On the other hand, the coupons are nice, and can save you some bucks. They have a few brands that are exclusive, like Chicago Electric for power tools, which are okay for light use, but are not on the same level as even some of the big box store brands.
This is not a knock… not everyone has money for a $ 50 dollar drill to use around the house.
The have some reasonable household tools and some tools that home (auto) mechanics may find useful. Occasionally the have coupons for free goods. Evey once and a while they get some truly weird stuff, like the chinese-​made bugles they had some years back.
Weird but nice.

Decent place for free promos and discounts on tools and hardware needs. The store was smaller than I expected and reeked of rubber and plastic. I felt like I was going to get sick just waiting in the long line to check out with my 3 items. I would prefer not to come back here but I’m sure I will if I find something useful on sale. I wonder if they sell breathing masks?

Free coupons! Free coupons! Just the thought makes my heart flutter & my prostate weak ;p
Harbor Freight Tools regularly has advertisements in the Sunday LA Times which include free coupons for various items. Things such as head lamps, LED flashlights, tarp, measuring tape, scissors etc. Sometimes with purchase & sometimes with no purchase necessary, which = Happy Birthday, Rodney!
Seriously, I’ve stocked up for the Zombie Apocalypse with the free items I’ve acquired from Harbor Freight. I guess I’m part Doomsday Preppers & part Extreme Couponing. Nothing wrong with being both vigilant & frugal, you know what I’m sayin?
Harbor Freight doesn’t carry name brand, professional quality tools, but what they do carry are tools that will do the job for not much dough. I’m not quite the handyman, but I do need to swing a hammer or whip out the screwdriver from time to time. I’ve checked out their various items for sale — greenhouses, solar panel systems & rechargeable batteries etc. The small size of the store makes finding what you want a cinch, compared to big box stores like Home Depot, which can feel like a maze while you’re shopping for what you need.
Service has been good the times I’ve been here. There is usually a line because 1 – 2 registers are operating at any given time. Parking is in a shared private lot with HomeGoods, Alin Party Supply & Centinela Feed & Pet Supplies.
While eating breakfast & reading the Sunday paper, don’t forget to scope out the Harbor Freight Tools advertisement for their free coupons. At the very least, you can score some cool merchandise for your bug out bag & perhaps find some inexpensive tools that you just might need around the house.
Recommend!

Love coming here. A lot of great deals on house hold items. This is like a mini hardware store.

There are those people out there for whom their tools are very important, like a professional auto mechanic or someone who works in construction for example. These people and others, who rely heavily on their tools for their livelihood, won’t buy their tools at Harbor Freight. Why, I hear you ask? Keep reading.
Harbor Freight has a lot more than your basic wrenches, sockets and screw drivers too. They have tool boxes, hand tools, air tools, power tools, generators, plasma cutters, floor jacks, transmission jacks, pallet jacks, engine stands, jack stands, wood lathes, metal lathes, air compressors, pressure washers, cement mixers, bearing pullers, folding trailers, propane torches, battery chargers, siphon pumps, tubing benders, air hose reels, bench grinders, hammer drills, infrared thermometers and ultrasonic cleaners among many, many, many other items.
CUSTOMER SERVICE: While there seems to be relatively few staff in the store at any time, they have been generally helpful when I needed assistance with something. However, they very rarely have more than one register open at ANY time, unless it’s a big sale weekend, then they’ll have two registers open. This means you often have to wait in a slow moving line.
Harbor Freight is more for the backyard mechanic or home owner or others, who needs tools but either can’t afford the good stuff, or are too cheap to buy the good stuff. In my case, they were having their big bi-​annual «parking lot sale» and I picked up a few tools I needed for a one time job and couldn’t justify the need to spend 3 – 4 times the $$ on I will only use once or MAYBE twice.
Bottom line? Harbor Freight has a really great selection of mediocre tools at pretty reasonable prices.

This store is what it is… a Big Lots for tools. Definitely not high end and not professional quality, but most times you don’t need that. The selection is small, but it manages to jam-​pack that little store with all sorts of goodies.
I actually like swinging in there for little things that cost a buck or so and would cost me double at Home Depot or Lowes. But I think that if I go for tools I’ll go to Lowes.
I priced online a buffer here, thinking it would be way cheaper but Lowes actually was cheaper, $ 10 cheaper. So, it’s not always budget.
Hit and miss, little things and big… it is what it is.

It’s only been recently that I’ve been in tune to just how great Harbor Freight can be when it comes to tooling, hardware and other DIY needs and necessities. The amount of stuff they have and especially the price really stands out for me… but I seem to have a problem each time I come in — customer service.
I will challenge Steven M’s remark about not expecting top notch customer service because it’s a «discount» hardware store. I would expect the same customer service here as I would at any other establishment looking to have me as a paying customer. So when I come in and see several wondering shoppers with confused looks on their faces (including myself) and one customer service helper nowhere to be found, I get agitated… frustrated…pick your word. And as a customer who is spending money at an establishment, it becomes a pain coming back time and time again. On one hand, I love their prices… I love the selection… on the other hand, I hate dealing with trying to get help if I can’t find something.
That too is a problem… finding things. There’s no real flow to the store. The isles have tags telling you quite generally and vaguely what’s in each isle. So if you’re looking for something in particular, it might take you a good 10 – 15 minutes of cruising down each isle to find it… or you can wait for someone to help you (good luck).
What is the saving grace of this review (besides the selection and prices) is when you do get help, it’s usually quite good. My last visit I went to the front after searching for some help and in an obviously frustrated manner I expressed my need for some help finding a few items. I eventually was greeted by a gentleman who helped me find what I needed. Getting back to the front to checkout and pay for my items, the man I asked for some help asked if I found everything I needed. I was happy to see that they at least attempt to care what the customer is feeling about the level of customer service that’s attempted to be provided.
In a time where people are out of work, why not have more than one customer service rep on the floor? It’s not like Harbor Freight is a «mom n’ pop» shop… this is a large chain!!! No reason why you can’t have 2 – 3 people helping customers out.
I like coming here when I KNOW what I need, but there’s much to improve upon.

Didn’t bother to find a coupon for today. I’m a fan, started going to Harbor Freight last year. The heavy-​set, elder gentleman was very friendly and helpful. I also took his recommendation on purchasing a set, which they sell a lot of at low/​decent prices. I don’t plan to use the tool I purchased too long but they will work just fine when I do.
I haven’t had any issues with products I’ve bought, but I’ve heard people complain and say the products they sell will fall apart more quickly than known name brands. If you feel that way, just go to Home Depot and pay for whatever brand you want or whichever costs more, ENJOY!

Is it that hard to at least pretend to care about your customers?
I find what I want and walk up to the registers. Two are open and there’s someone being helped at both and a guy waiting in line at one, so I walk over to the other one. I stand there for about 5 minutes waiting and when the customer in front of me finishes I step up to the counter. , The guy behind the counter, who’s badge said his name was Philip and that he’s a freakin’ manager, tells me that the other guy has been waiting and is next. I’m like, but he’s in that line. Then Philip tells me with a bit of attitude, that one line feeds both registers. I’m totally confused and ask how I was supposed to know that because there’s no signs or anything. Now he’s totally over me and he says, the GM took them down because they were causing confusion.
Way to blame somebody else dude. You’re a manager and you’re acting like I’m the idiot because I didn’t know you had some sort of invisible line system?
So I back up and let the other customer walk up to the register I’d been waiting at. Not his fault this place is idiotic and if he’d been waiting, I’ll wait my turn. Then I see the other register is now open but as I walk over towards it, another customer strolls right up and they begin helping him. Philip sees this go down but he doesn’t say a word. I know he saw it but this time he didn’t feel like being «Mr. In-​Charge».
I realize at this point that Philip has no desire to keep me as a customer so I set my stuff down on the counter and walk out.
If this is the caliber of people that get promoted to manager at this place… geez, not good.
Way to go Philip, I won’t be back.

This is a bare bones… discount store for tools, etc so don’t expect a lot of help or customer service here. You get cheap prices because it is all made in China and no one there makes enough money to care to help you lol.
Knowing that… this place is great for many of your tool needs. The thing I hate most about this store is that awful stench of new rubber and who knows what else… kind of hits you in the face like a sledgehammer as you walk in the front door! GAG! Makes me want to shop faster tho so I can escape that nasty odor. Good coupons (sign up for the email flyers), good prices, and convenient for me.

I’ve been a HF customer for YEARS and have spent ALOT of money during that time; HOWEVER, they just lost ALL of my future business.
I purchased a tile saw last week at the Lakewood Store. After opening it I discovered that it did NOT include a blade, so I placed it all back in the box with the original packing and receipt only to be told at the Covina store that I would be charged a $ 12 restocking fee for the $ 60 item because the box had been opened.
WTF???
The cashier told me that I would have known that if I would have read the back of my receipt.
That won’t be necessary since I won’t be shopping at Harbor Freight any more.
I hope HF enjoys the 20% fee they charged me on a saw which they will just place back on the shelf and sell to someone else.
I subsequently went to Lowe’s and purchased a higher quality, american made, tile saw, which when you consider included a blade, was less expensive than the Chinese crap that HF peddles.

The Toyz R Us for tools. Its a big store with lots of selection and a good amount of stock. I buy tons of tools from here and I pay a fraction of what it cost on a tool truck. Granted some things don’t have the same quality, you’ll get away with 90% of the tools they sell. Look for their coupons online, usually 20% off and your golden. Most if not all hand tools have a lifetime warranty, so I’m a fan.
Girls if you want to buy your boo something, give him a gift-​card here and he’ll love you forever! Just hope mine reads this.