It's no secret that you can always find what you need to get a job done at a great price at Harbor freight!

So Like other reviews say, you have to be discerning and realistic in what to expect from knock-off tools. It took me a few times to realize that just because it says "Compare to Porter Cable" does not mean you should. That's just Crazy talk! If your job or REPUTATION depends on the outcome of a project, best not to cheap out. I once was on a job and had purchased a knock-off Sawzall type saw at HF. I did not finish the 1st cut when the motor smoked and seized! Thank goodness I also had my Milwaukee with me! I bought it new in the 1980's, and it has literally been 20' to the bottom of the delta and just keeps on working. I've since bought a new Milwaukee, for my main Sawzall. If I added up all the money I've wasted on cheap crap at Harbor Freight, it would have paid for many high quality tools. DUH!!!!! As HF's prices have gone up and their COUPONS NOW EXCLUDE ALMOST EVERYTHING, It is easy to just go straight for quality. My quibble is more with HF corporate. I am inundated with HF ads, almost daily with fine print so tiny, it can't be printed legibly (get out your HF magnifying flip-up googles with the light that never worked) If you can read it you'll find it expires almost immediately, but worse, read the exclusions! Pretty much no power tools are allowed. But that's actually good news because they are mostly what will let you down. The supposed discounts are ridiculous because no one with a brain would ever pay what they claim their regular price is! I'm looking at todays ad now. It has a Franklin Brand (probably one of HF's new "house brands") 17' ladder for $109,"Compare to Little Giant" I have looked at both ladders closley and Little Giant is FAR superior and it is on sale right now at Costco for $149 ($40 off). It's way more than $80 better IMHO. What is your life worth? Just sayin' HF does have a nice little Snap-on style 1/4 inch drive ratchet with the swivel head-perfect for fuel injectors. The Snap-on is $100! (but made with good steel, etc.) The HF knock-off is less than $20!!! STILL TOO HIGH! (See tip #2 below) If it is mission critical, don't cheap out... but for cheap one-off's, they do have a large selection of niche tools at reasonably low prices. Tip #1: Tired of finding that your HF coupon is expired? get your coupons out of magazines (I'm thinking Popular Mechanic's, AAA magzine, and others). The are dated a few months out as opposed to the one in your mailbox today that is good for a few days only. Tip #2: NEVER TRUST HF RATCHETS!! I HAVE HAD MORE THAN ONE BREAK AND YOU CAN BE SERIOUSLY INJURED, or at the least, all cut up. Always push with your palms open, or take similar safety measures. For light work like injector rails they are ok. I mainly keep old American made tools or some Japanese tools for my use. Steel matters. Quality, not quantity. Tip #3: ALWAYS BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR ANYTHING WITH MOVING PARTS. When it dies prematurely (And it will) they will replace it with another of equally dubious quality!) If it's so bad that you end up returning the tool, you can return the warranty too if it hasn't been used I think (read the terms). Good luck and happy cheap skating! read more

So here's the deal. It's harbor freight. Right? That means lesser quality Chinese made stuff. But don't knock it altogether. Personally I don't buy anything with too many moving parts from them. But: pullers, hammers, tarps and wrenches are fair game. Sometimes it's cheaper to buy a one time tool from these guys than to rent it. Fuckit. You just might use the damn thing more than once. I dig harbor freight. It is what is. Subtracting a star. Bought a piece of equipment from this location and it was missing a very crucial part. Discovered this when I was in the middle of a project. Had to drop everything and go all the way back to the store for the part. Also, I bought a come-a long and it broke. Starting to think I shouldn't shop here anymore. Was looking at another piece of equipment to buy, and there were all these pictures of the equipment broken or leaking fluid, posted by folks who had purchased it already. read more

IF you know what to look for, MANY deals to be found here. Had to check it out. The last time I stepped foot in a Harbor Freight was 10 years ago in Phoenix AZ. What did I leave with today? That plastic panel tool set that's $25 on the Snap-On or Matco truck? $6. Oh yeah... That plastic-cast orange scraper used for removing stick-on wheel weights that's $15 on the Snap-On or Matco truck? I got four a dem bitches for 10 bucks. My $20 Chicago Pneumatic 90 deg die-grinder that I bought 10 years ago and expected to throw away after the first week? Still going through boxes of scuffing/cutting wheels. Thank you Harbor Freight! read more

I have been purchasing items from Harbor Freight for many years. The lessons I have learned make up this rather poor review. Most power tools are junk or near junk, with few exceptions. I am an amateur wood worker and have purchased several power tools in this category. My latest was a chop saw. It is essential that a chop saw cut at accurate angles. This one was so bad it never made an accurate cut. With about two hours of use the blade guard somehow struck the saw in mid cut splintering the plastic blade guard. I just put it in the garbage and purchased a Ryobi that cost about $40 more than the HF. I could not be happier with this saw. Currently the only other power tool that still survives in my workshop that was purchased from HF is a plunge router, but unfortunately the plunge lock is just about ready to fail. If you need a non-power tool you will probably be ok with HF. I have learned not to purchase anything that requires accuracy, durability, or has a motor. My other complaint with HF is their "fake" coupons. If you read the fine print, there are exclusions on many many items. Typically, these items are on the expensive side. You can save a few dollars using a coupon on a hand tool but I have not found any savings that is significant on a larger purchase. I feel that their 20%-25% coupons at best are unclear to consumers and at worse are a planned bait and switch tactic to get consumers into the store and not provide them with a discount on all items. read more

Dogs can shop here!!! I went there with my parents today. Yeah, they are cheap skate people and can only afford tools in this store. According to dad, this store tools are 20-40% cheaper than the ones from Home Depot. They don't have the variety but they have the price that poor people like my folks can pay. The staff are dog-friendly but they don't carry dog biscuits...shit.. Their cheap floor kinda made me feel nervous about slipping, but I managed to shop there without having a panick attack (I have issues with slippery floors). If they have dog biscuits for me next time I'll give them 5 stars despite the floor. read more

Yes, Harbor Freight stuff is cheap and works (from my experience). I always end up buying quite a few things and always cheaper than the other places. Parking is pretty decent. Staff is mostly nice and helpful. There is always a sale! read more

This Pleasant Hill store is one of the newer locations to the chain. It's a welcome addition that alleviated the drive all the way to Vallejo we use to make. This store is clean and bright, and pretty well maintained. Parking is good always. Staff is helpful and friendly. Prices are low. Sales are even better. Sounds good right? We all know the deal....you get what you pay for. That being said, don't expect too much. Also, be selective on your choices. There are things you buy as "throw away", items that don't matter who makes it cause it just doesn't do much, and items you just don't touch. If you're planning to use power tools really hard, beware. Tough metal items, like drill bits, won't last terribly long from here. You just kinda learn what to drop pennies on and what to avoid. Buy everything on sale! I'm on the email list and get coupons to further the savings. Still, the weekly specials are worth it. I love tarps and gloves on sale! Tarps always rot over time, so I avoid paying full price on them. Hunt the sales and you can usually save 2/3 over other stores. Surgical and nitrile gloves are so nice to have on hand (no pun intended) when you gotta touch drains and chemicals. Whatever you're looking for, see if it's on sale. Shop online! There are many items that they only carry online. With a little planning and a watchful eye for online sales, you can save big here too! Don't be afraid to haggle! It's a discount store and prices are already low. That doesn't mean they don't care about customer satisfaction. There are items they occasionally don't have in stock or even in that store. I have negotiated prices for alternative items on more than one occasion. Everyone walks away happy! Returns are easy! Anything can break. Cheaper anythings can break more often. Regardless, if something broke, you want it replaced without a giant hassle. This chain is very cool with returns. Have a receipt and a reasonable explanation and you're set. If it means anything, I will say that every time I drive by this store I want to go in. Even on a budget, I can always find something that I need for less $$$$. read more

Cheap. Chinese made. Hit or Miss. I have no other words for this place, but there are some things here that will surprise you. I was able to buy an American-made Goodyear air hose for $15/25ft. which is a damn good deal compared to Home Depot. So for things I don't expect to use all too often, this place rocks. You still can't separate me from Craftsman and Snap-On for the essentials. read more

Wow I understand that they have bargain prices tools, But do the register clerks have to be so rude and ghetto? read more

I have been buying from Harbor freight for years in Indiana and Ca. Always good useful power tools with good warrantees. Love this place.

I've been to Harbor Freight Tools only twice. First time i didn't buy anything, and the second I spent over $130.00 where I bought a nice floor jack. . First of all.. I liked the store, the staff was super nice, and I got satisfactory help. Things were well organized except for the flashlight area which was pretty messy. I did get the free flashlight with I have been using. Again..the staff was super nice. read more

Cheap priced tools, good coupons, seems like cheap quality. I ended up buying a chain saw for like 40 bucks, and I didn't even really need one. We will see how it turns out. you end up buying tools you don't need. No big deal... read more

Totally dig this place for all sorts of cool little tools (of course) and miscellaneous odds and ends at some pretty great prices. Yeah, the prices! Quality won't be fantastic, but it is what you would expect. The staff is always nice and helpful and quick to get you out the door. Easy return policy. Plus, it's easy to just browse thru the store for cool little gadgets that won't break the bank. You won't be stuck in a giant maze-like a home depot either since the store is relatively small. Now that I live close by, I'm sure they'll see me here often. read more

You have to know what to buy at this place. Avoid the tools. The staff are always super helpful. They don't ask questions if you return anything. read more

The type of items I purchase here are the ones I use less. It isn't Craftsman or Snap-On material. This is the type of store you go to to get that certain tool that you really don't want to pay a lot for... but remember don't expect too much of high quality. I have used their coupons and to tell you the truth.. it was a great deal. I have purchased a multi meter, O ring picks, automotive brushes for cleaning, torx bits, hoses. I am glad we have a store like this in the area. Browse here and you'll know what I'm talking about. read more

Cool stuff at low prices. But only if you're looking for light duty, one time use, or only once in a while tools. They have something that will finish your project. They're not premium high quality tools. That's not their business read more

Good selection of tools, good prices. However I waited an extremely long time while in line to pay. It could have been because it was Labor Day but the line went to the very back of the store and there were a few employees standing around seemingly doing nothing. Would return in the future if I need to find a tool. read more

First, remember you get what you pay for. Second, if you buy cheap, it's not going to last. That being said, I have had great luck with Harbor Freight. I buy from them (in-store and online) because of price. And because of the price I do not expect the product to last forever. But they have some of the lowest prices and have given me refunds when I found coupons for the products I purchased after I had already taken delivery. Email works best, but they have always been very responsive. If you are looking for really high quality tools, go buy Snap-on, Matco or some other highly rated product, but expect to pay the price. If you want inexpensive tools that do the job and you won't mind loaning them to your neighbors, check out Harbor Freight. read more

While I wouldn't go to them for screwdrivers and such, they sure do have a selection of tools. From pickle forks to buffers. Love the work gloves. Also, love that they guarantee some tools. We brought a wrench set back in that was broken, and they simple swapped it out with a new one; no questions asked. read more

I come here often for tools and materials for our business. They have great sales from time to time. Their hours are great, they open early enough for me to swing by right before starting work. They have a great selection and I always leave with more than I expected to. They also have great warranty on their tools. read more

I dropped by this store during a road trip. It was 4th of July and with their 25% off coupon, the store was a bit crowded. Picked up 2 items, I was looking for. The sales associate helped with using 2 coupons. read more

Great prices on tools. Staff is not always very friendly. They always make me give them my phone number or email, but when they are running a coupon, they will not give you the discount unless you have a copy of it. Even though they look up your info and know that they send you the coupon. They have spoken to me very condescendingly when i inquire about the coupons. read more

We've used Harbor Freight in the past for many different tools, both cheap hand tools and higher priced power items. Here's the deal with our experiences: Short tool life whether it's a hand tool or a power tool. I don't know what their purchasing system is but it has to be a core member of buying shit off the boat that has been made elsewhere and shipped and priced to sell knowing it was substandard when it left the manufacturers. We used to buy concrete drill bits by the gross and discovered that the brittle nature of the bits was an absolute travesty. Yet if we purchased the same brand name at a home depot or a Lowes we would get at least the minimum of what was expected from a drill bit. Every cordless power tool we have ever bought has had one third or less of the battery staying power of items bought at other big box hardware stores. Bottom line is you may be paying half as much as at other hardware retail outlets but if you're actually in the construction industry you already know that Harbor Freight Tools is for the weekend handyman who has no use for a tool lasting any longer than said weekend. read more

What a neat little place- if I can avoid it, I will chose this place over Ace every time - much better prices!

Went to HF today to get three items. They only had one item. I have to go to Home Depot now. Service was poor. But it is consistent with my prior shopping experiences at HF. The staff looks the other way when customers need help. They dodge questions. One of the employees actually said "can't wait till 4pm" and it is only 9am! I guess they don't like working here. It definitely shows. But the prices are low. They usually give a free item with purchase, but not for me today (I forgot my coupon as the employee not so gently informed me). My guess is they could do a lot better in sales volume if they had better customer service employees. I mean what retail can even afford to give poor service nowadays. read more

There are some good and helpful employees there. But if you try to pick up the free multimeter, flashlight or screwdrives, some of the cashiers put an extra one in your bag and charge you one of them. I thought it was an accident at first until it kept happening. Even if you stop them they still try to charge you for one. read more

You get what you pay for. Cheap Chinese crap... if you are a weekend DIY warrior, you can pick up what you need for a lot less, but I rather get used quality tools for around the same price at a swap meet. I wouldnt go out of my way for this place. Dont be fooled by low prices. read more

We all know that you get what you pay for and you don't pay much at HarborFreight. It is what it is. However, some things can't be ignored and one of those is rude customer service. I've done a lot of shopping at HF but this has just about put me over the edge with them. I went in to the Pleasant HIll store yesterday. Finally got up to the cashier after about 5 minutes in line. She had turned around and was in what appeared to be a personal chat with her fellow employee. I stood there for about a minute waiting but she didn't even acknowledge my presense. Finally, I decided to go to an adjacent cashier who was not busy. I said to her, "I guess she isn't ready to work." My new cashier, who apparently was watching the whole thing, responded in agreement, "I guess not." There would be some headband tightening if I were the boss. I did get the cheap allen wrench set. You get what you pay for; unattentive and rude cashiers and absent management. read more

Great place to find what your are looking for . The staff here are friendly helpful and know where every thing is , the lines here are short it never not to busy . Their have great sales items and the prices here are reasonable read more

POOR customer service. 2 cashiers, 15 customers waiting. One cashier is fighting to stay awake, the other, which helped me was mean looking and lazy. I wanted to enter my phone number for my Inside track club card. Her reply to me was "is your item discounted?" I said I don't know. She said "this isn't Safeway, you have to tell us cause we don't know!" I though that's what my club card was for? Rude people. read more

Worst store ive ever been too. The checkers do not understand how to use the machines, the tools are shotty and the employees do not know anything. They are lazy and have no respect for their job. The line was 2 people long yet it took 30 mins before we decided to leave our place and not give them any business. Buying a 300$ tile saw isnt enough for them read more

Was here about 4 weeks ago, had a bad experience then and again yesterday. I walked around for 20 minutes trying to find an item that an employee directed me to (color camera system) I saw on the website, couldn't find it, then I walked around and their was a bigger lady in an office I walked in a asked where the system was, she was rude like I was bothering her and told me it was on 9. I walked over there and finally found it, it said to take a ticket to the register, so I did, the line was about 10 people and only one cashier. Figured, and when I got up to the front they of course didn't have it, the cashier seemed irradiated when I asked if they where going to get them in again, he said yeah maybe next week. So I waited and I came back 4 weeks later because I had a on-site job I needed to do so I picked up a few tools and asked to see maybe if the system came in. Cashier was rude, took 30 min to get through the line. Horrible customer service horrible store. Sometimes takin the cheaper route anit always the best read more

Yes, cheap tools, all knock-off's. So knowing that, don't buy stuff here that requires significant durability or precision. As for service at this store: - advertised specials are often not available in the store - they're good about telling you that a product is in the store when you call - they've been good about accepting returns within the policy period - they're good about finding things if you need them As for the harbor freight business model: I'm personally not a fan of their catalog and flyer system, which uses pictures more than descriptions and is hard to search (a) to find things; and (b) to see if they have it. About the only thing I do is go there when I need something (and check they have it), and then browse quickly for anything else that's helpful. Oh, I should add it's not clear to me that they treat their employees well; I get good service, but I feel like it's more a matter of personality than training or camaraderie from being well-cared-for. read more

HFT has plenty of sales and sends out a lovely flyer with coupons, however, this store has failed to stock two of the items listed for sale. The pleasant staff keep saying that these items will come in 'during the next shipment'. I've been told that dealing with HFT stores is painful and now I believe it. I actually ended up going to Home Depot and got a better quality item for a bit more money than HFT was charging. It's highly unlikely that I will do business with this place again! read more

I think I saw Dexter in here last week buying lots of plastic sheeting and saws. Very cool!

Cheap prices on tools!!!! Helpful staff. Always good parking. Check their sales .... always a sale happening. I've been surprised at what I found. I personally won't use any power tool from though. And too bad they won't carry Makita read more

Harbor Freight is the place to go if you are looking for tools at an inexpensive price that you are not going to abuse or use very hard. I find I go their quite a bit for those one time projects that I need a special tool for. The tool quality is not bad but most of them are of a lesser quality than professional grade. One advantage they have is that they carry a large assortment everything from tools, tarps to tie wraps all at cheap prices. The customer service at this locations are nice and helpful. read more

Cheap tool store. Prices are great, tools are weak. Here you may get slightly more than you pay for. Mechanic tools are great for, "do it yourself" types and are guaranteed forever. Power tools are not to be counted on by contractors, or construction workers, home use, yes. If I could afford it, I would have one of everything in the store. A few things I may want more than one. Don't shop here if you want your purchases to be, made in America. Though the prices are good, a little piece of my soul dies every time I buy one of their Chinese products, especially in this economy. read more

if you are careful about what you get and save the receipt you can get some awesome deals at harbor freight and its always fun to wander around the store ! read more