Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[chopped]

I have a new store 'near' me (60 miles) I can only assume this is why I no longer get catalogs from them.I used to buy several times a year from them and got a catalog almost every two weeks. Now nothing, And I dont get a newspaper so I would miss the sales.

 

[sixdogs]

I have a new store 'near' me (60 miles) I can only assume this is why I no longer get catalogs from them.I used to buy several times a year from them and got a catalog almost every two weeks. Now nothing, And I dont get a newspaper so I would miss the sales.

Sign up for emails and you will get updates, coupons and sales.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I think in their minds, they are dead serious about taking over the 'America's tool store' role that Craftsman once filled. Broad lines of everything you might need for a small-business shop plus of course the home workshop crowd. Everything short of the premium tool-truck lines.

But they definitely have a way to go.

Two things are happening. HF keeps getting better, and everyone else keeps getting worse. They won't be the quality that Craftsman used to be, but I'll bet it's not long before they're as good as Craftsman is at the time.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I think in their minds, they are dead serious about taking over the 'America's tool store' role that Craftsman once filled. Broad lines of everything you might need for a small-business shop plus of course the home workshop crowd. Everything short of the premium tool-truck lines.

But they definitely have a way to go.

Sorry, I could not help myself, but the first thing I thought was "China's tool store"...:laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I have a new store 'near' me (60 miles) I can only assume this is why I no longer get catalogs from them.I used to buy several times a year from them and got a catalog almost every two weeks. Now nothing, And I dont get a newspaper so I would miss the sales.

They are now charging for them...

 

[Grateful11]

Something has changed recently about HF, but I can't quite put my finger on it. There's the new emphasis on the coupon policy, the odd push for extended warranties, a LOT of advertising, and the new website. It all points to some kind of philosophical shift for the company. It feels like when a company gets bought by a corporate holding company trying to "flip" it.

Yeah we found out the other day when we went to get my nephew a low profile 3 ton floor jack on sale for $80 and had a 20% off coupon and we didn't read the very fine print that coupons can't be used on floor jacks, compressors, etc. They said it started in Nov.

 

[Grateful11]

They are now charging for them...

Here's a link to all Flyers:

Retail Flyer

 

[chopped]

Yeah we found out the other day when we went to get my nephew a low profile 3 ton floor jack on sale for $80 and had a 20% off coupon and we didn't read the very fine print that coupons can't be used on floor jacks, compressors, etc. They said it started in Nov.

I hear ya on the fine print, much like tractor supplys fine print.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Yeah we found out the other day when we went to get my nephew a low profile 3 ton floor jack on sale for $80 and had a 20% off coupon and we didn't read the very fine print that coupons can't be used on floor jacks, compressors, etc. They said it started in Nov.

The guy at my store says the policy has been in place all along, but they are getting more strict about enforcing it. I guess the higher ups know that there are suckers out there like me who will buy the stuff anyway even if I can't use a 20% coupon.

 

[CBW1999]

It does sound like there are new players higher up in the company. It would make sense that they would work to enforce store and coupon policy- seeing as it probably was causing a noticeable decrease in the bottom line for profits.

it is not unheard of that a company will hire someone to come in and clean things up a bit. Usually to avoid further decline or to avoid bankruptcy, although I wouldn't think harbor freight would succumb to that.

I have worked as a supervisor before and first hand have seen what complacency may do to a business. The more employees that don't care, the worse it gets. Multiply that by many different stores........

I hear a fair amount of people complain about working for a small business/owner because they (owner) usually are involved and don't let people slack. Same employees seem to be happier when part of a larger crowd and can operate "under the radar"

This will be a good thing for HF. As they improve, I'm sure it will become better for everyone