Harbor Freight Tools Reviews

I like HarborFreightTools because it's all that's needed to get what I want in tools and equipment. Other than the initial screen attempting to get me to subscribe to flyers that I already receive, there aren't any annoying popups or other garbage that many others include. I always wondered why this didn't come out sooner and now I realize that HF made sure that it would work. HarborFreightTools is outstandingly simple, and the search engine is effective and efficient. Forever ago I started ordering out of a small mail order catalog or off the pages of car magazines and waited and waited for my order to arrive. I've been ordering for so long that I even had a lifetime insidetrack membership, until I screwed up and renewed it. Now with a local store and HarborFreightTools I can check inventory and get almost anything they have in a few minutes.

So my point of view when I am rating this review is coming from the perspective of someone who actually works for the company. I use HarborFreightTools frequently at the register when I’m trying to find coupons for customers or trying to sell memberships. Usually whenever you search up an item number on HarborFreightTools it would show you if there was any coupons or ITC discounts associated on that specific item. Recently however when I search up specific items, the coupons and ITC discount information doesn’t show up immediately with the item search. Now I know this doesn’t sound like a big deal but when I am working with a customer I need to know quickly whether or not there are ITC discounts associated with that item so I could use that information in a sales pitch to try to sell a membership. If there was anything that could be done I wish it could just go back to where if you search up an item, coupons and associated with that item would show up immediately. I think this would not only be beneficial for employees like myself, but would also be beneficial for customers looking to find coupons and get a good deal. It would make customers happy and be more willing to come back and HFT stores program numbers would be better. This is just my personal feedback that I feel would make HarborFreightTools better.

I really like HarborFreightTools! seems like they must have listen to some customers or they had to fix something and realized the huge gap in NOT being connected with their customers. I can’t believe how many things I didn’t think they carried only to discover them on HarborFreightTools. Plus the way you can tap the heart icon on the coupons that creates a shopping list to go with the coupons. Everyone appreciates not having to flip page after page of the monthly catalog of coupons at the checkout lane. The two year deal for the ITC has saved me more then the fee, although not sure if it saves me any more cause I probably spend more cause of the deals, but having the coupons automatically taken off the items and getting an emailed receipt so I never have to look at another paper receipt that always seemed to be the wrong one I needed to return one or more of the failed or no time to refine the item to work as intended... but that is happening less and less lately with the better products HF has been putting out. Just wish the better quality wasn't diminished by the higher prices... which continues to make HF a secondary option rarely ever the first.

If HF has what I need I can find it, sometimes I have to change areas but I think that is a marketing trick to expose new products and product features. I find it hard to keep up with technology on things like battery chargers, welders, etc. Sometimes the base products are dropped to support new products. That’s about the only reason I would down rate the HF products. I’m a DIYer, retiree, engineer. All my skills were picked up as an apprentice under my dad who was an advanced DIYer.

I enjoy listening to nonprofessionals having a debate about the merits or demerits of a tool or product. They seem to get side tracked on less then important issues. Every once in a while a pro will chime in and make the children play nice and get things back on the track. I’ve talked to contractors that use HF tools. They say what you give up in quality in made up in cost of stolen and lost tools. Some guys buy life time warranty knowing that the machine will die. The trade off pays off.

I find HarborFreightTools easy to use very informative and guided to both professional pro to non pro everyday people. I can usually find everything I need and then so that I forgot I needed to do my job. Also I can pickup or have shipped depending on my needs at the time. What I really appreciate is when I get to store I can ask ALL the questions I want without being made to feel they are in hurry or plain to irritated to help find items for me and that I not Stupid for asking and being a Woman. That is One big reason I shop here I have great selection of tools and supplies without the cost sky high and not paying for something I really don’t need. So I will always shop here and loved my mailed coupons keeps me use to date and what’s on sale. I know long but Thank You so much for all that your staff does and keeping the prices Low and store CLEAN.

I do not normally write a lot of reviews. I am more of an old school type of person. But when I was asked to participate in writing review I had to make an exception. Harbor Freight is a fantastic store to shop in. I have shopped personally in the new store in Beaufort, South Carolina, and Rincon, Georgia.
I mentioned both stores because every associate in either store was polite, helpful, courteous. Managers in both stores should be proud that they have such good associates. If that wasn’t enough to send you to HarborFreight. They have fantastic deals on quality products for a DIY’er. Plus, an app to help you determine what’s in stock at a particular store. As well as a fairly new credit card which gives your points back as well as no interest deals when you make an expensive purchase.

So far it seems like HarborFreightTools is working great. I can see all the coupons (I don’t think it has insider track stuff) and search tools through HarborFreightTools . I’ll be using this a lot if it continues to work.

Update:
It’s been about 5 months now and they did update the look a little and they do have the ITC deals. There are actual coupons out there for Harbor Freight but not a single one is in it. If you want to buy something, you still have to go to the website. You can’t link your account up with it, but to be fair, you can’t really do that online either. I can add my membership information online but I have to do that each and every time. Their system is severely lacking and I guarantee between that and not being able to order online to go pickup at the store definitely hurts some of their sales. I originally gave them a 5 star because it was new and was just happy they had something. They don’t get that benefit anymore.

There are many items that are a great buy. Quality and built to last. Then there is some items that are built for one use or until you cross the curb. When buying tools there are two qualities, Professional and Homeowner (junk). Professional will cost more, you buy once, and is built to last. With Homeowner you can count on breaking and buying again. When buying again you will step up and pay a little more and buy the Professional quality that you should have purchased to start with. So it would have been be cheaper to buy the Pro quality to start with. Keep in mind, that any item that is Pot Metal, plan on replacing it. Harbor Freight has the two grades of items. Shop wisely. I am 69, I started buying my tools 50 years ago. I still have those tools because I purchase by quality not price.

HarborFreightTools is fair at best ! This company with over 1100 stores are making huge mistakes ! The tools are only fair in quality at best! What’s the percentage of coupons no longer available in the mail today I am spending $4200 with Home Depot because of that that’s money they are losing and there are thousands of other people going to do the same thing! Only good thing about HarborFreight are the toolboxes and that’s what I’m buying today elsewhere because I don’t have a good price when you take away the coupons and take away the deal it’s not worth even going there! I can get the exact same items on AliExpress 75 to 300% less! HarborFreightTools is just one of those things for school to clog up your phone because you less you buy tools every single day it’s not worth it! Goodbye and bad luck to you! Please forward this to Harbor freight if you need to have your eyes examined you’re losing millions every day please do not use my name email phone number or anything else.

HF is the first pIace I visit when needing tools , and supplies for them. Recent purchases of portable electric tools ( belt sander, hammer drill, toe keep kick saw) were reasonable price, work well and each came with replacement carbon brushes in the box even though I never need them. Air tools and hoses last forever, most recent is the Banks coil roof nailer ( never a jam 15,000 nails) and the Banks 2 in 1 flooring nailer flawless for 6000 sq ft of oak flooring. The store brand nails are of equal quality to name brand big box tools and nails but cost 30% cheaper. One other tool stands out I bought last year was the Lift Master drywall panel hoist. I bought it instead of renting from HD because a 4 day rental was more expensive than BUYING it from HF. Quality was excellent and worked without a slip for the whole job. Now I have a tool for life that I had rented dozens of times over the years

The new system has been very problematic. I’m sure HF is saving a ton of money while reducing waste, but at the expense of customer service and frustrated associates. I’ve made three large purchases with multiple digital coupons and everyone of them has a roughly 25% fail rate on the coupons being correctly appt. I’ve been made to track the codes and verbal them whilst the line kept growing and the cashiers made snide remarks to shift the blame on me for their lack of ability to process the coupons. ‘How dare I use so many at once’ . I frankly don’t give a crap and expect the advertised prices and at least mediocre customer service. I’ve seen other customers just walk away from frustration.
Dear HF. Please streamline this process and retrain the associates on basic service skills like being professional and ownership of their jobs. This process is creating a rift on client relations that will cause some to change their minds about doing buisness with the company.

Love Harbor Freight stores and products. I’ve been a customer and shopping there for many years and am in there monthly if not weekly. Since COVID-19 has swept the nation it has changed the shopping atmosphere all around, which has made certain shopping experiences a hassle, if not impossible! But through it all I’ve always had pleasant experiences with the staff and people in Harbor Freight, and with HarborFreightTools it just adds to the delight of shopping there to be able to order online and grab quick paperless access to all the coupons and my list. So much quicker and easier!! Keep up the Great work!

Sincerely, One happy customer!
Tim W.

As someone who likes to see what’s new and happening at my local Harbor Freight, I appreciate the convenience of HarborFreightTools . We all know you can get on the internet and go to the web page, but it is nice to click HarborFreightTools on my iPad, and I’m there just like that. One touch takes me to all the current Inside track deals and sales. It functions well. The only flaw is the search engine, and it isn’t limited to HarborFreightTools alone. It can often be hard to locate a specific item with the search bar because the search engine isn’t very smart, it doesn’t intuit what you’re looking for by common name or broad searches, so it depends on how an item is entered into the system. That is an issue shared by the website and app though, so I definitely recommend HarborFreightTools if you are a Harbor Freight shopper.

GREAT TOOL QUALITY!!!(When the tools are used properly and not improperly)!!! You can get OE Grade tool’s and I like how you can specifically search for the exact brand name of hand tools, specialty tools, power/battery operated tools, and the electrical automotive tools. I’m able to work and complete any and all of the task’s at hand. But the best is how if I can’t get it in-store I can order it through HarborFreightTools and have it shipped directly to my house. It comes swiftly and it’s always exactly what I ordered plus , the prices are fair. You also can see price comparison’s as you shop or search for tools along with the option to buy the tool that it’s comparable to or compatible with. Great Site/App 100%!!!!!!

UPDATE: 11/20, YES YES YES! HF, you are listening, you added a dedicated ITC icon to HarborFreightTools , and under, DEALS OF THE DAY, a ORANGE ITC banner, click on it and you don’t even have to enter your info, which was a pain because you just need to see the discounts, plus on every revisit, it did not retain the info, meaning you had to re-enter all your info again!
GREAT JOB HF, I’m luvin HarborFreightTools, and spending with glee!

Sent many emails and no reply’s to the question, are you adding ITC MEMBERS SECTION, to HarborFreightTools ? On the web page the ITC section is there, and it’s a pain, because every time you enter it you constantly have to add all your info!

It used to work on my iPhone 13. Now I just get the harbor freight splash logo and that’s it. HarborFreightTools loads nothing. iOS 15. So it’s useless until they fix it. I tried deleting and reinstalling HarborFreightTools . No change.

UPDATE: developer reached out to me after above review and asked to be contacted to resolve the problem. But as of now it started working again in its own. It must have been an outage on their server. So that is good.

The only remaining issue I have is that sometimes when you click on a coupon, if it says unavailable it does not let you search for it in other stores. It gets into an unclickable state where you can’t get past the coupon itself.

HarborFreightTools is great and all but what's the point of adding items to the "My List" section if the list keeps getting cleared/reset every few weeks? Over the months that I've had HarborFreightTools, I've probably created four to five lists so I can remember what to look out for when I have time to visit a store. For whatever reason, each of those lists have been cleared away. Why??? My list is empty yet again! Do you guys want my money?!? I'm getting tired of searching through all the categories and creating the list over and over and over and over and over again! You guys already don't have a cart to add items to and this is the best favorites list you guys can come up with??? I have tools to buy to have handy around the house and money to spend. You guys want my money or what?!?

I use the HarborFreight app to review current sale prices and to compare tools (i.e. Icon, Doyle, Quin & Pittsburgh). I then go to my neighborhood HarborFreight in Robinson Pa. to pick it up, usually finding something else to get. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. They go out of their way to help & give advice. This HarborFreight is down the street from my job so I’ll go in even when I’m not shopping for anything and check HarborFreightTools . It’s a great resource for checking availability of items before driving out to the store as well.

Who would be my personal opinion since I’ve been around for over 60 years in the contracting business for that long it seems, Harbor freight itself is a great place to find inexpensive working tools. Out of the several years I’ve been involved with this company I have had very few returns. The bad part is Customer service! That seems to be where everything is falling behind the cracks, in my opinion. Richland branch in specific. As far as the products go I said before I have had very few returns and had excellent luck with them enjoy hope you have the success that I have had thank you. Lynn D.
Candy Mountain contracting LLC.

I’m thrilled that HF finally developed &!launched their very own app, it certainly makes viewing products a lot easier and quicker than shopping through a mobile web browser.
What I didn’t expect & am extremely disappointed by is the lack of an account link / sign in. Other than the store finder & instant coupon feature this apps only other working function is the usual make & save shopping lists. I’m hoping they’re just working out any would be privacy vulnerabilities and that account access / management will be a thing any day now.

I assume HarborFreightTools is in its infancy, as it lacks many functions that is included at the Harbor Freight’s Web site.

(1.) Not all products sold at HF are listed in this Application, and what is listed have very little description along with no link to download product manuals.

(2.) The customer reviews aren’t availing inside HarborFreightTools. This feature is critical and resourceful; many HF consumers depend and study the reviews frequently.

(3.) HarborFreightTools doesn’t offer you an option to create an account; the only personal feature that it does is enable a user to create a shopping list and to search for current coupons or promotions.

(4.) Likewise, as already mentioned in two other reviews, there is no Inside Track information, including the Tract’s monthly specials.

(5.) There isn’t any means to put items into a cart or to order through HarborFreightTools. At minimum, HarborFreightTools should link to HF’s website for the instant accessibility in order to use features that HarborFreightTools is currently lacking.

In summary, perhaps due to HarborFreightTools ’s infancy, I don’t see any advantage or usefulness to use HarborFreightTools over HF’s and the hfqpdb coupon websites. It’s not much of a task to screen capture any coupons that one anticipates to use while shopping.

I will edit my review, if and when HarborFreightTools lists all HF’s products and the products’ reviews.

Edit - looks like it got updated. Has the coupons and all the items. Should be a very useful app now

HarborFreightTools literally says it is coming soon when you open it. You can click a link to the mobile site though which is just as easy as going to the internet.

Easy to use and make a shopping list by ❤️anything you like. My local store doesn’t have WiFi but it was easy since it was saved on HarborFreightTools . Thanks HFT!

HarborFreightTools works fast and I am getting notifications when new coupons are published. I also like that this is the “official” HFT app and not some 3rd party app.

Downloaded HarborFreightTools this weekend....found some good coupons and redeemed them in my local Harbor Freight. No issues...

It’s so great to see Harbor Freight continue to innovate and listen to customer feedback. Quality Tools, lowest prices and now best app.

Thank you for putting this together.

For some reason I don't seem to be able to link this to my account-- as in there is no option.