I went into Harbor Freight and purchased a Predator 2000-Watt Inverter Generator on October 29, 2024, in the amount of $641.99. I was told that if returned it could not have any fuel in it and there was a restocking fee. On Friday November 8, 2024, a friend that happens to have a vast knowledge base regarding these items set up the generator and was preparing it for use. Turns out the unit was defective. It would not start. Tried and tried, but it just would not start. My friend drained the gas from the unit, and I went into Harbor Freight to return the defective unit. My intent was to obtain another Predator 2000-Watt Inverter Generator. I was told by the person working the register that they did not have any on hand. I asked her to order one for me. I was told that they could not do that. I was told they had a truck coming in on Tuesday or Wednesday and there was supposed to be a Predator 2000 on the truck, but they could not guarantee it. I asked that they call me and let me know if they received one. I was told no they couldn't call me I had to call them to see if one had come in. I reminded them that the unit was already paid for. That didn't matter one bit. The clerk at the register called a gentleman to help bring the unit into the store. In speaking with him about their policies I was told that these were all corporate policies and there was nothing they could do about it. He had spoken with the General Manager and the Regional Manager about some of the store policies and they didn't care about his concerns for customers. He told me that a woman in her 90's had come in to return a unit, but they wouldn't except the return as it still had gas in it. What in the world was this woman supposed to do, hire someone to drain the gas out? She's in her 90's. How completely inconsiderate of Harbor Freight. I had no idea why she was returning it, and I didn't ask, but he was very upset that he couldn't except the return for her. We walked outside to get the unit and I was expressing my displeasure at their very poor customer service. He let me know that if I returned it now, they would just refund the money, but if I waited for the new unit they could just to a straight trade. The new unit for the defective unit. I decided that that was what I would do. I returned home with the defective unit intending to call them that Tuesday about availability. The more I thought about Harbor Freights poor attitude and customer service I decided that I had no wish to do business with such a company. On November 10, 2024, I took the defective unit back to the store and let the same register clerk know that I was not happy with their customer service and that I wanted to return the defective unit. She got on the phone to someone. Once she was finished with her conversation, she told me to drive around to the back of the store and they would take the unit from me. Again, this company seems to be all about convenience for them with no care given to the customer. I just stood there with my mouth hanging open. I let her know that I was parked in a handicap spot right outside the front door. She grabbed a cart and just went out the door. I could tell she was angry, but hey so was I. She put the unit in the cart and brought it back into the store. She called someone else. A gentleman came to the cashier area and began processing the refund. He handed me a receipt for the return in the amount of $521.99. What was owed to me from the purchase was $641.99. I pointed this out to him, and he proceeded to tell me there was a $120.00 restocking fee. I never imagined that they would charge a restocking fee on a defective unit. They were going to restock a defective unit. Really? I expressed my shock and displeasure with their illogical process. I let him know that it made absolutely no sense to charge a restocking fee for a defective unit. He said, they would check the unit, make any necessary repairs, and then restock the unit. Really? On my dime and at my expense? That is beyond ridiculous. It makes no difference that they had "subject to restocking fee" (with no amount noted) on the receipt. That shouldn't be carte blanche for taking money from customers. It would be understandable if I was simply returning the unit because I didn't want it or for any other reason besides the reason I was returning it. That was not the case. IT WAS DEFECTIVE, NOT WORKING, BROKEN. As I wanted my money returned to me, I signed the return receipt. I needed that money to buy a working generator. I let him know I would file a complaint for this unreasonable practice. Again, he didn't care. He simply said, "That's your prerogative." Not an ounce of understanding, compassion, or reasonable logic at Harbor Freight. Since I was told that these were all corporate policies, I decided to take this up with the corporate office. Not sure now why I bothered. I called the corporate office at 800-444-3353 read more

Inexpensive options, but be careful. I wanted to like Harbor Freight because of low prices and reasonably large selection. But, I bought a 4 1/2" bench vise. It didn't get used often and was still like new when the cast metal broke. I took it back to the store (about 6 mo this after I bought it). The manager said there is nothing he could do as far as a return. He said it could be due to misuse or improper mounting. Wrong in both counts! I left feeling like it was a manager problem; not a product problem. Today, I went back and bought a tire changer. We followed the mounting instructions and it seemed to work as advertised for the first 6 tires. After that the base plate bent and the cross members colapses. This is clearly a product problem. My advice - don't expect good quality at discount prices. They may have some fine products. Maybe my experiences were exceptions and not the rule. Be careful! read more

If you look in the dictionary under weasel, you will see a picture of the manager of this store. If feel bad for the other employees that have to cary out his dirty work. I went to buy a trailer. Raleigh location didn't have one, oh well, no big deal. They were really helpful, actually called to see if the trailer was in stock so I would waste an hour drive to get there. The manager said the had both models including the heavy duty one. One hour later, I arrive and they let him know I'm there. He doesn't say anything to me and 45 minutes later has a very nice lady at the cash register talk to me. They asked who did we speak to as if they never got a call. I said I didn't know. I was then told they said the only had a regular one. I said I specifically asked for the Heavy duty one. They said, oh well they were only given the sku number. They don't know who got the call but they know they where only given a sku number, hmmm. Truth is the manager looked in the system and was to lazy to go see if they actually had it, unlike the store in Wilson where I wound up getting the trailer. Yes another hour of driving due to this weasel. I really like Harbor Freight. The people are really helpful with the exception of the one lazy manager that cost me almost 3 hours of my Saturday because he's a lazy and didn't have the curtsy to talk to me directly and let me know what was going on. I understand things happen but when you hide behind your employees and don't own up to a mistake, that really sucks. read more

Certain tools are very good--some aren't. Guys too often reflexively finger HFT as junk. Quality at HFT is now muscling up, nonetheless. Even certain Snap-On tools are made in the PRC, too! (Golleee!) So.... Some guys here on Yelp absolutely are right--really stupid gimmicks, leading to having cashiers look up discounts in paper flyers or lists. You can do the QR in advance--if you can find it! Frankly, I tend to check out the store thoroughly--noting anything that's new! As I understand it, the eccentric billionaire owner is in favor of this idiotic coupon and direct mail gimmickry. Stupidly, at the register, getting back on the road is tedious and difficult. If one "belongs" to the HFT discount system, the cashiers still have to find the discounts, in the same manner. It's just not automated: Virtually any other large biz would create the searchable database necessary--they would note the annoyance and wouldn't stand for them! I love the company, and it's been decades: The owner must now realize that S&H Green Stamps and Gold Bond Stamps left us decades ago. He must realize too that everyone has a limited time on this plane of existence. It would be far better for HFT to automate member discounts. Many people here, and those too often in back of me in that checkout line also, agree with me about this owner: He needs to get on with his life, too!: Let us leave, pretty-pleeeze! read more

Harbor Freight is what it is... Great prices on tools and gadgets, like a Manly fix-it Dude's dream come true. Some of the stuff they sell, the quality is lacking, but most of the stuff is heavily discounted and great deals are to be had throughout the store. read more

Harbor Freight Tools - Hardware Stores Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

I was in the Asheville,NC area and needed a pump, which i had replaced a couple of times over the past 13 years, cheap pumps around $100 so its not a problem. I was directed to the pump section by an employee who was obviously over worked loaded stuff in the warehouse. Just pointed to the pump isle, I saw the pump i usually get but the price had jumped up to $154.99...then i saw a smaller pump for 123.99 looked like it would do the job. went to the check out line. The young lady checked everything out, 20% discount etc. I signed the receipt not looking at the prices because the ink had run out on the print out. Then she said how much, $176.** I said how come its that much? she commented the pump is $189.90 I said what is says $123.99 on the shelf and there are several pumps on that shelf. She says go check it out. So I go and there is a shelf price a few pumps down $189.90 but those are different pumps, so i check the bar code and the pumps are all in the wrong place. I go back with the pump I was going to purchase originally for $154.99... back at the check out, I say the pumps are on the wrong shelves, she says so what do you want me to do? I say change this pump for this cheaper pump. She punches the keys, you owe $3.00 I say what, how can that be its about $30/$40 cheaper. she punches the keys again, how does $29.99 sound, I say I think it should be more than that. She speaks into the mic, I need a LOD or something like that. The young guy comes that directed me to the isle. Whats the problem he says, I explained, so now he's on the WTF attitude. I say how can you read the receipt the inks out, he says so whats your point,sir. I explain, the girl walks off, the guy says its a 29.99 credit, thats it. I say ok thats fine. he walks off. I look around for someone to take the original pump out of the cart. there is no one anywhere, I look around the store is deserted, I call out, nothing. So I think, what a way to run an operation. After about 5+ minutes the guy comes out. He says you have a problem sir, I say could you take the original pump out of the cart for me. He takes it out, puts it on the check out desk and leaves. I leave the store, Totally disgusted. I use HF all the time in Florida and they are great. This store needs some serious training. read more

I've been a customer there for years. I've spent thousands of dollars there, and I generally disregard that their tools are cheap Chinese junk because of the price and close proximity to my home. This weekend I had an experience that showed me that not only are the tools low quality but so is the customer service. I am in the store so much that many of the employees know me by name. I bought a spool of .030 welding wire there. When I got home it wouldn't feed, and actually damaged my Miller welder's liner (which will be about $100 to repair.) I took the spool out and looked for the receipt, only to discover that it had been tossed in the garbage with the other bags, receipts, etc from grocery store, Wal Mart, etc. I thought, well, as much as I'm in there, and I still have the package, surely they won't give me a big hassle. The cashier (newer employee) said she couldn't help but that if I wanted her to she would get the manager so I asked her to do so. He came over, looked at the product I was returning, asked if I had the receipt, and when I said that it had been thrown in the garbage after we unloaded the car. I explained to him that I am in his store quite often and spend a LOT of money there. He admitted to recognizing me and in the same breath said "I can sell you a replacement at a discount but that's all I will do." So I went home, dug through my garbage and found the receipt and went back. They looked at the receipt, wadded it up and tossed it in the trash, then gave me the refund. That was the part that really made me angry. Horrible customer service, I will not be back. I would rather go without, wait to buy from an internet vendor, or pay twice as much elsewhere. I will drive 30 minutes to Northern Tool before I darken the door of Harbor again, which is 3 minutes from my house. read more

Barring a span of about a year, I have been going to this Harbor Freight since it first opened. Two things I absolute can't stand: 1) Purchase tracking and subsequent "direct" marketing 2) Overzealous individuals that seem to think that relentlessly cramming said "offers" down your throat is "part of their job". Up until today my opinion has been that Harbor Freight is synonymous with both, the latter to a much lesser degree. After just leaving here, the relatively new employee XXXXX, proved me very wrong. Now, let's get this out of the way, Harbor Freight is cheap because the products are cheap. Many of these items are ONLY made in low QC manufacturing facilities in China because no-one is out there looking for a $10 wood handled wire brush that will last a lifetime. This particular example, the wire brush, is available here for around a dollar I believe, and the EXACT same one is available from other local sources for 4-5x that, with their particular company name on it. It's absurd to pay another chain more money when it is all coming from the same place. Currently the lowest rated review of HF is frankly calling a toddler out for double dribbling a basket ball. It is low rent, it is cheap, they work with what they have. I don't expect to come in here and find experts on any of the tools or items that are available. You know what you want, you walk in, you buy it, you find a bunch of doo dads you DIDN'T even know you needed, you buy them, you go home. I do not expect the staff to be able to do anything more than point me in the right direction, should I need it, or find someone who can, period. Given these examples and preface, I also understand that although there is a tremendously low overhead on items such as these, they are still operating under a business model that allows individuals to purchase these no frills, elemental tools and equipment, cheap. I understand that this likely doesn't allow for extensive on the job training and likely does not extend beyond the most fundamental of tasks like running the register. I also understand that operating at this level, any sales advantage would be paramount to all else, and therefore the cashiers are surely encouraged to get the customers information, so as to directly market to them. I have worked in positions (mostly commissioned or phone sales) where there was nothing more promoted than the "upsell", "Add-on" or "Hard sell", that being said, in the most BRUTAL of sales jobs, the key is also knowing when to back the hell off. You can't win, here. If you say you don't have the "membership" they push it. If you say you don't remember what it's under, they will spend 10 minutes looking for it, even if you say you don't want to. Usually, it's no more than mildly inconvenient. Today was an example of a time I POLITELY replied that I did not get the coupons in the mail and that I did not want to receive them either, thank you. I was buying ONE $4 item, and within the minute or so that I was standing there she continued to push it on me 3 more times, interrupting my objections with the next pitch....... Finally, as she was too busy trying to cram this junk mail into my mailbox, she wasn't paying attention to my form of payment. When realizing that I was paying with credit she said "You'll have to sign for that". "I said, are you sure, it's not usually for things that small?" "Oh yeah....trust me, I KNOW what I'M doing, I do this ALL day long......." I know you're fairly new, I know they likely push this but there is certainly a point of diminishing returns, here.... Given the amount of travel I do, I pass several Harbor Freights on a weekly basis, I think that, at least for a while, I'll go to the others if I should need a left handed screwdriver or bungee cords......... read more

Harbor freight is awesome bought a bunch of tools all if them worked well and the ones that didn't I was a able to return and upgrade to the next best thing. DIY made easy read more

This Harbor Freight Tools store has a great stock and a very helpful staff. You get what you pay for: i.e. cheap prices on cheap Chinese tools, but I often find that there are several items I need that don't have to a lifetime guarantee or made in the USA that fit my needs. read more

This is a great store for when you're in a pinch and need a particular tool to finish something you've started. It's also a great place to get very affordable tools for the occasional use person. An auto mechanic wouldn't necessarily want to bet the whole bank and get all of their tools here that they use day in and day out. I have tons of tools and other supplies that I've purchased from Harbor Freight over the years that still work great, like when I first bought them. I am a mechanic, but I do not do it for a living anymore. I've even purchased a welder from them for the occasional small job and it has worked perfectly for me every time. Keep an eye out for their sales papers because they have tons of coupons with items marked well below MSRP. read more

Customer service is absolutely horrible on the management level at this store. I've spent thousands at Harbor Freight but they won't see another dime from me. Not at this location anyways. read more

Friends have told me about Harbor Freight and I thought I would give it a try myself. That was a huge mistake. The first words to me was....Is that a return? My reply "No it is not", I had seen an add at home that said the item I wanted to purchase was on sale for $59.99. Then the cashier in her hateful tone said well you should have brought the add. Ok, but it wasn't a planned trip I took my entire lunch break to come pick up the item and the customer behind me had a copy of the add that she could have scanned. She wasn't about helping anyone. I'll never go back into that store. I've worked retail my entire life and I don't treat any of my customers that way, because they are the reason I have a job and get a pay check. If they treat everyone how they treated me they shouldn't be in business or maybe she shouldn't have a job! My time is important to me and it took me an hour to make that trip. Anyway save your time by shopping somewhere else! You will be glad you did. read more

I just had my very first experience at harbor freight had I read the reviews prior to going I would have missed out on the cost saving I experienced. I had a wonderful gentleman help me I needed a few different tools and I didn't want to invest in these in case I became frustrated and failed my projects. Purchasing these tools at the prices listed saved me I am able to do the work at a fraction of the cost . If it goes well and I decide I will try and do more I may invest in a better tool then again if all the tools work well then I dbont need to look any further and so far so good.. I believe if you are going to say it's junk then why do you shop there to begin with? Sort of like complaining about the dollar tree or wal mart . You get what you pay for it may not be the caddy of tools but I'm just a woman that needs to get some home projects complete and this suits my needs fine. Maybe the tools I purchased have flaws but since I am not a craftsman I would never no but have still been able to complete my projects with no problems.. the staff were very helpful and friendly no one pushed me into purchasing anything . I was the one requesting other products . The one box was fairly heavy for me and before I could even ask another gentleman was putting on his coat to help me to my car. Thank you harbor freight for everything I'll be back! read more

A poorly run store with the nastiest and uncaring employees I have ever seen. They don't have a clue as to what the definition of "customer service" means and "nice" is NOT in their vocabulary. read more