Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[crazyal]

That's why I only pay with a credit card. Simply calling VISA will usually result in stopping the payment. Usually that gets the attention of the seller. In this case it would force HF to pay to have it shipped back to them. If the HF is close returning it there wouldn't be an issue but the closest one for me is about an hour away. Only one wouldn't require crossing a state line. After stopping payment I would "request" HF send someone to retrieve the saw and if not done in a timely manor then I would call it a gift.

 

[slckeys]

I will never order from HF online again. First time I tried was to order the 12" sliding mitre saw. They came back a week later and said it was backordered and had no ETA.
I immediately called a HF store and they had one left in stock. I picked it up and replied the same day more than ten days ago to HF customer service to please cancel the order since I had bought the exact item locally and they had no idea when it would come in. Well, they shipped it to me today, and when I called, they confirmed they had my request to cancel, but it was only a "request" and not a guaranteed cancellation, whatever that means, and therefore nothing apparently was done. What terrible customer service. I have a very bad back and this is a very heavy box to deal with.
Aggravating beyond words that they would acknowledge my request more than a week ago but did absolutely nothing in response.

Btw, the saw is fine.

Just tell the delivery driver you no longer want the package and say you refuse it and have it returned to sender. Or leave a note with the tracking number listed and saying refused; return to sender if you won't be home. A competent delivery driver can complete that simple task. I have many times. And should be no charge to you since you never took delivery. You won't even have to deal with harbor freight with getting them to have it picked up...

 

[Jim Nelson]

I have never needed to order anything from H.F. on line but every time I've had an issue in their stores, and there have been a few, their customer service has been excellent. Most often way above what I expected. I guess that it boils down to anonymity behind a key board and face to face.

 

[Cougsfan]

http://www.radialarmsawrecall.com/
Things to remember - just because your radial saw AND table saw both use 10" blades, you definitely should NOT swap blades between them - radial and miter saws cut from the TOP, and have a tendency to LIFT the board because they cut from UNDER the board - for this reason, those saws need a blade with a NEGATIVE hook angle to reduce board lifting AND reduce kickback. On a big enough radial saw, they can actually "run across at you" if you're trying to cut too fast - ONCE was all it took for me to lock THAT "no-no" into my head

Thanks for the long winded answer, Steve. I learned a lot. You say, "Things to remember"... That's funny. You can't remember what you don't know in the first place. I never even knew that "hook angles" exist, yet alone which I should use where. So I looked at several blades for sale on Amazon and I can't even see where they mention hook angles in the blade's specs. Tomorrow I will look at the blade on my Radial saw to see what hook angle it has. I am sure it is a crosscut blade. I have a slew of blades and some work much better than others, now I know why. I'm definitely going to pay more attention to the blades I buy now (once I figure out how to pay attention).

I have done considerable ripping over the years the my radial arm saw (the one without the recall implemented). It isn't a pleasant thing to do, and I have had some scary incidents early on that taught me to always use 2 long push sticks (one to push, the other to hold the cut area of the wood down and against the fence), and NEVER stand any where close to behind the blade. It does have a wood hold down & kickback prevention mechanism for ripping mounted to the blade cover that does help, particularly on 3/4" and under boards. In fact, what prompted me to buy the table saw was to avoid having to rip with the radial arm saw.

 

[BravoXray]

You should have refused the shipment, told them to send it back.
BTDT

 

[5030]

Just tell the delivery driver you no longer want the package and say you refuse it and have it returned to sender. Or leave a note with the tracking number listed and saying refused; return to sender if you won't be home. A competent delivery driver can complete that simple task. I have many times. And should be no charge to you since you never took delivery. You won't even have to deal with harbor freight with getting them to have it picked up...

Better yet, take one of them back to the store and get a refund. All store bought merchandise has a 30 day money back guarantee

 

[BukitCase]

Cougsfan - that "things to remember" comment was a gift from the best boss I EVER had - that man knew more things about more subjects than anybody I've met before or since - but he had that way of putting "lessons" so you never felt talked down to or dumb; just grateful.

If you haven't already found it, here's more info on hook angles and why it's important

Saw Tip Angles Explained

HTH... Steve

 

[daugen]

Thanks for advice guys, I haven't received it yet, only notice that it shipped.
I'll try leaving a big note as Sickeys mentioned but usually they just drop and run.
This is a really big box; I needed help getting in my car (headed for lower back operation in two months...) and doing anything
with it is a serious pita. What really annoyed me was their saying my request to cancel was only a "request" and not a guarantee. Huh?

I will call their CS if they do deliver it here and will ask for a pickup. I'll see what they do. This thing has to cost a ton of money to ship so it's
a big loss of money to them. Yes, I have found the employees in the store very helpful, in Flemington NJ he was eager to help me load it in the car and they had set
aside the last one just as he promised me over the phone. All good.
And with a Freud Diablo finishing blade on it, the saw cuts marvelously. I'm hooking a shop vac up to it today, without it it throws sawdust far and wide.
The quality of the metal castings on it are pretty crude but functionally it's fine, nice to have the little light shining down on the cut area.
For 200 bucks it's a nice power tool and easily cuts the 1x10 boards I'm using for birdhouses. Definitely speeds up build time.

 

[Diggin It]

Don't put the delivery driver in the middle of it since it isn't their fault.. They need to get it off the truck and move on.

First thing would be to call HF back and demand they stop and recall the shipment.

Second would be to call the carrier and see what they can do to reroute it. Since you're not the shipper, they may not be willing to. UPS and FedEx allow addressees to reroute a package to their local terminal/office for pickup. From there, you may be able to return it without handling it. Neither of those will put the burden on the route driver.

 

[daugen]

Don't put the delivery driver in the middle of it since it isn't their fault.. They need to get it off the truck and move on.

First thing would be to call HF back and demand they stop and recall the shipment.

Second would be to call the carrier and see what they can do to reroute it. Since you're not the shipper, they may not be willing to. UPS and FedEx allow addressees to reroute a package to their local terminal/office for pickup. From there, you may be able to return it without handling it. Neither of those will put the burden on the route driver.

Harbor Freight CS said they could do nothing and suggested I try to refuse the shipment, which is what I'm going to do..., but I hear you.
Calling FEDEX at this time of year isn't likely to end well or accomplish anything.