Harbor Freight Coupons

[Dave Fritz]

Has Harbor Freight discontinued it's coupons for merchandise? It looks like now it's only on select items. I'm not finding coupons in the magazines I used to either.

[Perry Hilbert Jr]

There has been some general 10% off coupons on-line for a few limited weekends, but that is pretty much it. They seemed to have done away with the monthly 10% and 20% coupons about a year ago.

They were the subject of some kind of consumer or class action suit that never made any sense to me. About the time that came to a head, they stopped the coupons. I have had few complaints, if any about items I purchased there.

I know some idiot "consumer" advocacy outfit sued Lowes because 2 x 4's are do not measure 2 inch x 4 inch. Almost every one with a 4th grade education knows that and why. Next they will be suing the power company over whether voltage sold is 110 or 120.

[Tom Stenzel]

...I know some idiot "consumer" advocacy outfit sued Lowes because 2 x 4's are do not measure 2 inch x 4 inch. Almost every one with a 4th grade education knows that and why. Next they will be suing the power company over whether voltage sold is 110 or 120.

Last year I bought some 2 X 2 furring strips from Lowes for a shiplap ceiling in the laundry room. There already was some 2 X 2's in place from a previous ceiling, I just needed to fill in some gaps.

All of the 2 X 2s from Lowes measured exactly 1 3/8" by 1 3/8" making them useless. I didn't see that until I had cut them into sections and started installing them. Didn't sue but I sure haven't set foot in the store since.

They made good kindling for the fire pot.

-Tom

[Stan Calow]

They stopped mailers and newspaper inserts a few months ago, here. I was told that they would now only be emailing coupons to customers on their mailing list. A cost-effective measure.

[Gary Ragatz]

Last year I bought some 2 X 2 furring strips from Lowes for a shiplap ceiling in the laundry room. There already was some 2 X 2's in place from a previous ceiling, I just needed to fill in some gaps.

All of the 2 X 2s from Lowes measured exactly 1 3/8" by 1 3/8" making them useless. I didn't see that until I had cut them into sections and started installing them. Didn't sue but I sure haven't set foot in the store since.

They made good kindling for the fire pot.

-Tom

That's interesting. On the Home Depot web site, the specs for their 2x2 furring strips are 1.375 x 1.375. But both Lowes and Menards list theirs as 1.5 x 1.5. I suppose in most cases it doesn't matter, but still ...

[Perry Hilbert Jr]

Since 1969, the standard size for a 2x4 has been 1.5 x 3.5 inches as mandated by the US Dept of Commerce., But there were various larger "standard sizes before that. standard 1x lumber is actually 3/4. a double thickness would be 1.5 inches.

[Matt Day]

I believe the HD got sued a few years ago for not properly listing the actual dimensions of lumber.

HF got sued for listing excessive “compare at” prices, falsely claiming you saved a lot over the competition.

HF is trying to go legit it seems. Less total junk stuff, and they have a cheap, medium, and expensive version of every power tool. I stopped by the other day waiting for another store to open and came out with only some magnetic hooks to hold feather boards from my Uni.

[Stan Calow]

I got some 2x4s that were 1.5 x 3 3/8 a few years ago. I couldn't remember which store I got them from to complain about it.

[Jim Koepke]

That's interesting. On the Home Depot web site, the specs for their 2x2 furring strips are 1.375 x 1.375. But both Lowes and Menards list theirs as 1.5 x 1.5. I suppose in most cases it doesn't matter, but still ...


Since 1969, the standard size for a 2x4 has been 1.5 x 3.5 inches as mandated by the US Dept of Commerce., But there were various larger "standard sizes before that. standard 1x lumber is actually 3/4. a double thickness would be 1.5 inches.


I got some 2x4s that were 1.5 x 3 3/8 a few years ago. I couldn't remember which store I got them from to complain about it.

Dang, that will make me have to be more careful when purchasing lumber. My usual practice is to buy lumber when not needed or more than needed on a project so eventually there is enough left overs to take care of an emergency project or whim without having to run into town.

My recent purchase of 2X2 clear cedar looks to be 1-1/2. Now my tape measure will have to come out.

Curiosity got the better of me. The cedar 2X2s measured 1-7/16".

What is the world coming to?

jtk

[Jim Becker]

HFT uses email for promotional purposes now for the most part, rather than paper coupons in publications. Most coupons have significant limitations on what you can use them on, too.

[Jerome Stanek]

Harbor Freight really went down hill here and the e mails are more ads then deals

[Erik Loza]

I imagine HF is in the same boat as most of us in the tool manufacturing industry: Margins were never great to begin with and the ongoing raw materials/supply chain price increases need to get passed along to the consumer. Not really surprising that they are offering less deals.

Erik

[Jerome Stanek]

Their power tools are not any better price then good ones but their quality isn't as good

[Jim Becker]

Their power tools are not any better price then good ones but their quality isn't as good
I've actually been pleasantly surprised with the Bauer 20v stuff I own. Is it up the the level as my Festool gear? Nope. But it's certainly right there with the box-store focused cordless stuff. I think they have upped their game on a lot of things, but as always, shop carefully.

[Erik Loza]

I've had a HF hammer-drill and jigsaw for years and they have served me fine. The hammer-drill has actually been used to drill the anchor bolt holes for two CNC routers so far. One was a 14" 5-axis machine. Their bits are probably junk (I buy Bosch) but the tools have been fine.

Erik

[Rich Engelhardt]

I thought of this thread yesterday.
I got a message on my cell phone that I had some coupons from HF.
I'm pretty sure the message came via the Harbor Freight app I installed on my cell.

Speaking of HF - they are putting in a new one near me - about 100 yards away from a Home Depot.

[Curt Harms]

I've pretty much heeded the advice that if a Harbor Freight item has a power cord or cutting edge, beware. I did buy a dark red Harbor Freight buffer for a single use. It worked but if I were going to use it much I'd have wanted some sort of anti vibration gloves. Labor and production costs have gone up in China which I'm sure squeeze Harbor Freight's margins. I do have open end/box end wrenches and sockets from Harbor Freight which seem fine for occasional use.

[Jim Becker]

I used to feel that way, Curt, but my actual experience has been very good with the Bauer 20v stuff I've purchased. Surprisingly good for the money. Of course, these are not heavy use tools like my Festool stable, either. With a store in Warminster now, they are a lot more convenient to visit. If there's been anything I was unhappy with, they immediately issued a refund without any extra effort on my part.

Which reminds me...I need nitrile gloves as I'm down to the last few pair of the thinner version in the shop. :)

[Matt Day]

I was in my local store a few days ago and the cashier said that they are no longer doing 20% coupons or freebies. Sad to see that go away!

With all their new upper shelf stuff they’ve been releasing, I think they are trying to be more of a legitimate tool shop instead of the cheapest of the cheap.

[Alex Zeller]

I had a rule that I broke. I wouldn't buy anything from them that had an electric motor that was one of their brands. I had seen some of their tools let the smoke out after light use so I figured I wouldn't even tempt it. But I needed a tile saw while building my house and couldn't find one to rent close by. So I broke down and bought one from HF. It had a motor on top of it and belt driven so I figured I could always replace it. The saw may not be industrial quality but it has tiled over a dozen houses now and still going strong. Since then I've added more HF stuff.

I use to get emails and magazines from them with coupons but I haven't gotten either lately. I suspect that with COVID shortages they have no need to offer discounts. Even before the 20% coupons went away they had so many restrictions that I hardly used them. The funny thing is I rarely go tot he store now. When I do it's for a specific thing or two and nothing more. Without the coupons to draw customers in I wonder if business has dropped.

[Jim Becker]

They are doing their promotions via email these days and there are still "coupons" as well as occasional sales that even include offers on their brands that were not participating in the 20% type coupons anyway.

[Stan Calow]

Anybody have reviews on their new higher level line of power tools?

[Jim Becker]

Anybody have reviews on their new higher level line of power tools?

I'm really happy with the Bauer so I'd think that the next level up (blue I think) should be similar or better. I've not tried them because, well...I already have the red ones.

[Curt Harms]

I used to feel that way, Curt, but my actual experience has been very good with the Bauer 20v stuff I've purchased. Surprisingly good for the money. Of course, these are not heavy use tools like my Festool stable, either. With a store in Warminster now, they are a lot more convenient to visit. If there's been anything I was unhappy with, they immediately issued a refund without any extra effort on my part.

Which reminds me...I need nitrile gloves as I'm down to the last few pair of the thinner version in the shop. :)

It sounds like the Bauer stuff is perfectly adequate for typical weekend warriors. HFs air tools get pretty good reviews, I bought a T50 thin wire pneumatic stapler from Harbor Freight and it seems to work just fine, will sink 1/2" staples flush in oak no problem.

[Jim Becker]

It sounds like the Bauer stuff is perfectly adequate for typical weekend warriors. HFs air tools get pretty good reviews, I bought a T50 thin wire pneumatic stapler from Harbor Freight and it seems to work just fine, will sink 1/2" staples flush in oak no problem.

I don't have any of their pneumatic tools but, yes, folks have posted favorably about many of them over the years. The first Bauer I bought was the impact driver as I had what I thought was a one-time need. I use it a lot more than I expected, although not in the shop. More for home improvement, etc. Then I got the blower. That begat the weed whacker and later the hedge clipper. Somewhere along the way, the portable circular saw came along, too. I use that a lot more than I expected, too...'got it so I could break down long boards at my rental storage for transport, but it's been a trooper for backyard projects since there's no readily accessible power back there without a really long extension cord. Oh, and the little 10" chain saw.

[Rich Engelhardt]

Everything from HF is just like voting.
You hope the idiot you vote for is better than the idiot you didn't vote for.

At HF, you hope the stuff you get there is better than the low end stuff the big box stores carry.

In the end it doesn't matter - all of them will let you down one way or another.

[Stan Calow]

Rich, true enough, but I look at it a bit differently. Value being considered as the cost for the expected usage. If I'm buying a tool I may only use once or twice a year, than yeah, some things are "good enough" even if they are cheap. But I'm not a professional, and my livelihood doesn't depend on it, so I can "afford to be cheap".

[Kev Williams]

7 years ago I spent less than $30 total for THREE of their cheap angle grinders to work on our houseboat. While I don't exactly work them to death, they DO still work just fine...

[Rich Engelhardt]

Stan,
I can do the same with some things.
Other things, like cordless tools, add another dimension.

If I just want a cordless screwdriver, then HF might be a good choice.

I can't really say I'm a professional - but - I do use my cordless tools for a business reason most times.
Putting that aside, I have far more than just a cordless drill. I have a cordless router, track saw, impact driver, hammer drill, mf tool, circular saw, weed whacker and ..I can't remember what all else.
HF doesn't - as yet - offer all the cordless tools Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee or even Ryobi offers.

For the most part - I like HF - but - quite a few things rom there have left me disappointed - air fittings for example - HF has terrible air fittings. Far worse than Lowes - which are pretty bad.

[Curt Harms]

For the most part - I like HF - but - quite a few things rom there have left me disappointed - air fittings for example - HF has terrible air fittings. Far worse than Lowes - which are pretty bad.

True about air fittings. I've had some HF air fittings too prone to leaking, in particular air couplers.