Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[PJSprog]

The only reason I have started to give them my phone number, is that if I do, and need to return something, I don't need to bring the receipt with it- they can look it up on their system.

Once I found that out, I started giving them the #, although, I guess I could give them a fake number as long as I was consistent about it, now that I think about it.

...Prior to that, we had just given them the truth, which is that my phone number is unlisted.

Yeah, this has come up in conversation here before as well. They don't call you. I've never gotten a phone call from them ... ever. It's just an account reference number for them.

 

[California]

they'll even thumb through a flier to find a coupon for things you may have missed.

Opposite here. 1) they have refused to do that. 2) A few weeks ago the cashier kept a coupon for the battery-powered LED 'wall light switch' that was still good for another month and said 'limit 6' or something. I thought I saw her put it in the bag along with receipt and the switch I bought, but it wasn't there when I got home. I had intended to use it next time.

I get the impression from seeing the store managers and the visiting regional managers that there is a lot of pressure pushed down from HQ through these levels resulting in sullen cashiers, and it's 50/50 whether an employee found on the floor will stop long enough to answer a question.

 

[PhysAssist]

Opposite here. 1) they have refused to do that. 2) A few weeks ago the cashier kept a coupon for the battery-powered LED 'wall light switch' that was still good for another month and said 'limit 6' or something. I thought I saw her put it in the bag along with receipt and the switch I bought, but it wasn't there when I got home. I had intended to use it next time.

I get the impression from seeing the store managers and the visiting regional managers that there is a lot of pressure pushed down from HQ through these levels resulting in sullen cashiers, and it's 50/50 whether an employee found on the floor will stop long enough to answer a question.

Hey Cali,

How do you like that light switch thing?

Thanks,
PA

 

[California]

Hey Cali,

How do you like that light switch thing?

Thanks,
PA

Much brighter than expected. Extremely handy. I put it on the inside of a barn door that goes in to where the first light switch is 8 ft in. And the washer/dryer set is at the back of that stall, so we go in there often after dark. Much handier than carrying a flashlight to find that light switch.

I plan to put one in each tiny closet in the eaves of the attic spare bedroom, again, preferable to going into those with a flashlight.

Another similar item I just bought is 0.3 watt night lights that plug into an electrical outlet. Ideal for a stairwell or bathroom but actually these are too bright, they kill your night vision. Ten cents of electricity used per year.
LOHAS Plug in Night Light with Dusk to Dawn Sensor, .3W Daylight LED Night | eBay (Off-topic: drop-shipped overnight ! from local Amazon; seller based in Thailand).

I'm still looking to buy more of what was a freebie from the utility company, a plugin with soft green light that draws under a tenth of a watt. Someone gave me one that finally faded to useless after 5 years. It was ideal in the stairwell.

 

[PJSprog]

I have a few of those light switch thingies as well. One is in a small utility closet in the basement. Perfect for that. Two more are in a storage facility we rent. We can't drill any holes or permanently mount anything in there, so I stuck one each to the 2x4s on each side of the overhead door. Lights the space just fine. They are indeed brighter than expected.

I see those things for sale at other places now, like our local Rural King. Even at $2.99 each, they're probably a good deal. Free at HF is even better.

 

[bigtiller]

I chose this one over the 4 drawer, I liked the idea of a second shelf better than more drawers for rolling to a project. Very happy and definitely doesn’t suck.

Agreed!
After I got all the washers placed behind the nut and tightened it is a lot stiffer. Why they put them on the head of a carriage bolt is beyond me. Didn't they see that little square thingy?

It looks to be a pretty stout cabinet now.

 

[sixdogs]

Yeah, this has come up in conversation here before as well. They don't call you. I've never gotten a phone call from them ... ever. It's just an account reference number for them.

Well, maybe. I believe they target that to your credit card and address for targeted mailings. There have been enough "coincidences" for me That I'm suspicious. They don't get a number any longer.

I once paid cash with a coupon and gave my phone number. Came back in the store and gave no phone number but paid with a credit card and coupon and they declined the coupon by saying only one coupon per person per day. Hmmm.

 

[sodamo]

Hey Cali,

How do you like that light switch thing?

Thanks,
PA

I have 2 of those in my Tractor/utility shed where my off grid solar electronics are. This space doesn’t have any installed lighting. I really like them as the magnets keep them handy at my inverters and quite easy to just grab if I need the light a bit brighter somewhere else.

 

[sodamo]

Being as we don’t have a local HF, I’m a bit envious. But I have visited the store in Corona, CA when visiting SIL and always give my # which evokes a comment or two. Bottom line, the clerks have always responded positively and very helpful. I’d get more stuff online, but sometimes the shipping $ is a killer. Better than they used to be.

 

[prichard]

Being as we don’t have a local HF, I’m a bit envious. But I have visited the store in Corona, CA when visiting SIL and always give my # which evokes a comment or two. Bottom line, the clerks have always responded positively and very helpful. I’d get more stuff online, but sometimes the shipping $ is a killer. Better than they used to be.

My FIL has to go there and the refurb tool outlet any time he comes to the mainland. We send a lot of USPS flat rate boxes to Hilo.