Harbor Freight Tools

they have some decent stuff at great prices. Worth walking all the aisles as the selection is really interesting. But oh God the customer service is just so bad. Is it so hard just to be nice?

I’d never been to a Harbor Freight store before, ever, despite being over 50 years old. I went in because I saw their price on 2032 «button» batteries was very good, around $ 1 each; while everyone else charges $ 5 to $ 10 each for these.
I walked around, they have a lot of cool stuff. Mostly tools. I also bought a 4 pack of nine volt batteries for my little guitar amp for $ 7.99, a battery operated nose hair clipper for $ 4.99 (yes, after you reach middle age you will need one) and a folding knife for $ 4.99. Good deals.
At the cash register I was asked my phone number, I said «911» because I don’t just give out my phone number on demand. This triggered some kind of traumatic flashback for the cashier because as soon as I paid, she clammed up and just left my four items sitting on the counter and walked away. I put them in one of their fancy handle bags, as she should have. I’ll never visit this store again due to the rudeness of their employee.

They have cheap tools at a cheap price. If that’s what you can afford they are great. You usually get what you paid for.

Great customer service! The store manager just helped me fix my chop saw and replace the blade. Every other store I called said they «can’t help». Thanks!

I rarely get angry and frustrated but this store almost pushed my limits to the edge. I originally bought a gift card for my Dad around Christmas time a few months ago. The store is is a fucking hot mess. Why the hell do you want my phone number and information? It’s just a gift card purchase. Anyways… My sister then found a tool my dad would like that was on sale. Since them damned 20% coupons are always floating around, it would be a great bargain.
Boy do bargains are a total shit show…
My sister called the store and the guy on the phone sounded like he got his shit together. The item was placed on hold and all I had to do was go in and talk to an employee to retrieve such item. That is when things went downhill…
I go in and I talk to the cashiers. They had no fucking clue what I was talking about. I started to get agitated and showed them what I needed from the store. The dimwitted guy searched the computer then took a slow ass stroll around the store finding the item. Minutes later, he said there were 3 in stock but he couldn’t find it. I was in total disbelief. Did he go the extra mile and try to find it, hell no!
Since I’m pretty good at finding items based from past years working in retail, I asked the manager and she pointed me where the item was. I found the item in plain site and it wasn’t hard to find. I grab the item and head back to the cashier line.
I realized then this place sells utter and complete crap. A few customers kept coming in the store wanting to return items but they didn’t have a receipt. The cashier just said there was nothing they could do and offered no alternative solution. Again what is the point of asking for customer information when buying their shit in the first place? You would think it would be in the system. The manager that somewhat helped me earlier actually dealt with a return after a few rejections from past customers.
After paying the damn item and telling the guy I found the item he was too stupid to find, I went home and told my sister what happened. She was pretty confident it was the right store I went to and the cashier knew what he was talking about when he supposedly put the item on hold. This location in particular is pretty bad, the workers have no usefulness besides ringing people up and collecting customer’s info that will do no positive good!!!

I’ve been waiting for some time for a Harbor Freight to open up in SE Portland. SO it was exciting to see the «Opening Soon» banner up.
I’ve been in the store probably a dozen times since it opened up. I was pretty impressed when I walked in and saw how big and clean the store was. It appears bigger than any of the other stores around Portland. This store is able to stock their entire catalog, and then some.
As far as the customer service reviews I’ve been seeing, I have yet to run into the issues that any other reviewers have had. I’ve always been able to find somebody when I had a question. Once in a while the checkout line stacks up pretty quick, but they usually get on their radio and call for another checker.
One reason the line backs up, is because they are one of those stores that wants all your info. «Please fill out this card», but if you’re a regular shopper there, you know that the stuff they send you is worth the filling out of the card. They send you coupons for 20% off, and usually a couple of free trinkets. (they might be cheap, but they are free, and I always cash in on them. Who can have too many flashlights and screwdrivers?)

I love Harbor Freight when I’m in need of a cheaper tool to use every now and again. This location is pretty much on par with any other one I’ve ever visited. Clean, decently organized, and the lines move quick enough.
Worth getting on their mailing list for the 20% off and free item coupons.

I don’t know about you but I’m a fan of Harbor Freight. It’s one of those love/​hate relationships. I love the store and all the inexpensive tools and items they have, but I also hate it for the same reason. I spend too much money when I go there. But if you have the coupons for free stuff and the 20% off coupons on an items. It works out.
I didn’t even know this store existed until earlier today. I’d never really been south of Holgate. This has got to be the cleanest Harbor Freight I’ve ever been in. I picked up a tarp and it barely took me two minutes to find it. Most all their stores are easily laid out and to be honest, I’d rather just wander and see what I don’t need but want to buy. It’s sad.
I’ve ended up with work horses, a sander and a drill that way. Bring on the circular saw!
If you’re a home repair person or you just are handy and like to tinker (like me) You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get some decent quality merchandise. Enjoy.

After several visits and only a few purchases I have found the staff to be rather poorly trained. They walk past you throughout the store I have seen them walk past older folks trying to get things from the shelves with out offering even a positive word. When checking out it takes an incredibly long time. They over socialize with customers in a way that is not customer service but rather customer annoyance. Couple of the staffers can hardly keep a conversation with you as they jump from topic to topic almost as if they are on drugs. One younger female staffer was great but in 7 visits I only dealt with her once. I have yet to find an employee that really knows where things are in the store that they work in. have not heard of one employee that actually knows what the tools are used for. I spent about $ 150.00 in the first month and have officially spent the last dollar that this store will get from me. I may try again down the road.
Lots and lots of room for improvement.
The floors are clean. The parking lot is clean. Plenty of bums out front to give your change to and drug dealers to give the employees their crack. South East can be a slum. Businesses like this don’t elevate that perception when staffed with such lacking folk.

First of all, welcome to the neighborhood, glad to have you. We need you, don’t screw this up. The store and parking lot is super clean.
It would help everyone involved if you had an expediter that knows where everything is located standing in front, watching the cashiers giving them a quick hand if they need it. I mean I have to stand in the cashier line just to ask a question, that’s so frustrating. Your cashiers don’t have the support they need, they’re doing a two person job for one paycheck. Now you know why you have such a high turnover rate.
Please fix the main door already, it’s getting louder every day. We both know the noise is not going to fix itself. You’re going to have to fix it sooner or later, why not just fix it and get it over with. Also one of the fans on the ceiling has bad bearings.
Change the management and give them the proper «tools» and a decent budget, get someone that cares, it will change everything overnight.
I don’t like your quality, or customer service especially, but I like the prices and for that reason alone I will keep coming back and voting with my money.
To those of you that abuse Harbor Freight, shame on you, what are you going to do when they go out of business? How long do you think they can take your abuse? Don’t be cheap, spend some money with your coupon, get off the freebie bus, it’s appalling what HF has to put up with. Look at them, they can’t even fix their doors and you keep trying to get stuff for free without even buying one item. Shame on you… Don’t let them go out of business, we need them.