Harbor Freight experts needed!

[maxreloader]

Greetings!

Please enlighten me in the ways of getting maximum discount(s) at Harbor Freight. I already know about the 10% off if you open a charge card with them... but.. there has to be a secret squirrel discount member code or something "better" available. If I was to find a way to get 25% off in total I just may bite on a larger ticket item from them. Any and all suggestions will be considered.

Thank you all!
Max

[Winger Ed.]

If they won't give you the double brother in law, with a preacher's discount:

Shop in a big blue city and just steal what you want.

If it's less than about $750. the govt. won't prosecute.

[farmbif]

it confuses me how so many of us are pretty much anti china and continue to support this giant Chinese sales agent to send our dollars to them. as more and more companies try to ramp up made in USA production I think its of utmost importance to support them even if the goods I might need cost more.

[BamaNapper]

Check out their inside track club. Depending on how much you're buying, it may be worth joining.

[justindad]

Harbor Freight is garbage. I bought an auger there to build a 350 ft chain link fence. I’m 75% done and I am on my fourth return after these things break. The time lost returning these things is not worth the discount price. Absolute garbage.

[Shawlerbrook]

If you sign up for their advertising online they occasionally send 25-30% off coupons as well as other coupons for specific items. I am not a fan of most of their motorized tools but their hand tools suffice for occasional use.

[Winger Ed.]

it confuses me how so many of us are pretty much anti china and continue to support this giant Chinese sales agent to send our dollars to them.

It's the same mentality as the green freaks and liberals in general.
You're supposed to get off of petroleum and modern technology because it pollutes---- but not them.
Your cars and guns are bad, but not theirs.
You aren't supposed to hire illegal aliens, but they can because they're cheaper.

[Thin Man]

A few days back I was shopping in a local hardware store. The clerk told me they were out of the item I needed, then added I could probably find a reasonable substitute at Harbor freight. I answered back, "Oh, you mean China Freight?" He looked back at me with a grin and just nodded his head. And so it goes.

[brassrat]

I bought the cheaper, battery charger and a heatgun. Both got returned quick and their more expensive replacements are doing fine. I bought two more chargers too.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Since they quit the paper flyer coupons, the best there is, is signing up on their website and giving them your email address, so you get the advanced notice of when they run their 20%, 25%, and 30% e-coupon deals...read the small print, they have more stringent restrictions on those, then they use to.

[Recycled bullet]

I like the Daytona floor jack better than the Snap on floor jack. I regularly use both.

I have a mostly complete set of snapon swivel sockets from 7mm all the way to 24mm in 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch square drive. You don't want to know what it cost.

I use the harbor freight sockets to knock universal joints out with a hammer. I do not use them to turn bolts they are inadequate for heavy commercial use.

My point is sometimes you roll the dice with hf. I like the hf ball peen hammer and since it cost three dollars I don't mind periodically soaking the handle in antifreeze to tighten the head.

I would never have to put up with that crap with better made tools.
The snap on hammer is over a hundred dollars.


I've had hf 14 mm wrench snap changing engine mount and passenger side axle in a Toyota Rav 4 and smashed my head and almost broke my right hand because of it. The entire wrench set is thirty dollars.

In comparison the snap on 14mm wrench is so strong that I can wrap the handle with a rag and do pull ups with it, with out it breaking

or do stupid stuff like using a three foot piece of exhaust pipe on it as a cheater pipe and I weigh 225 pounds. I am strong enough to make the wrench visibly flex. The one wrench cost almost 50 dollars.

Up to a point you get what you pay for and in my case since I am a automotive mechanic full time in a shop..I'll pay extra not to break my fingers and lose work because of it.

There's a time and place for everything.

[DougGuy]

I bought one of the miniature torx tools, about the size of a Zippo lighter with 8-10 bits that fold out, says "Pittsburgh Pro" on it ya right LOL..

I used the smallest one, the T5 on a tiny screw and it simply rounded itself off never loosened the screw, it was too soft to even booger up the screw. I took it back and they made me take a store credit instead of cash or refunding back to my debit card. I try to limit my purchases there to ZERO.

BTW, a small allen wrench I had easily removed the torx screw without issue.

A box of mostly Stanley sockets, several sets, was taken out of my truck one evening by some low life burr head, I would prefer the Stanley over anything at Horrible Freight. I'm hunting now for the right Craigslist or fleabay or Marketplace deal to replace what was stolen.

[elmacgyver0]

The discounts used to be good on everything, if you read the fine print, you will see they are no longer good for the bigger items like lathes, mills, welders etc.
It seems like a lot the American made stuff is actually made in China if you check carefully.
I blame our politicians more than the consumer, it was their policies that forced manufacturers to move to China, Mexico or wherever.

[Winger Ed.]

It seems like a lot the American made stuff is actually made in China if you check carefully.
I blame our politicians more than the consumer, it was their policies that forced manufacturers to move to China, Mexico or wherever.

Between the EPA, OSHA, zoning regulations, and labor costs that made it impractical--
Very little metal casting is done for larger items in the US any more, and hasn't been for a long time.

[Omega]

I will buy made in the US stuff when I can, and when the price is right for what I get. But much of the stuff I need is either not made here anymore, maybe assembled, but not made here, or priced beyond my needs. And the price, IMO, doesn't match the quality many times. Many companies price their products high just because of the logo on it, not because of it's quality. There are some things worth the price, no doubt, but they are rare.

[kerplode]

In my experience, the best way to save money at Harbor Freight is to not shop at Harbor Freight.

Unless you're looking for something you really will only use once, you're better off eating ramen for a week and buying something that isn't disposable Chinesium crap...

[dverna]

I have some junk and some JUNK form HF.

I have had one of their heat guns for 10 years. Lent it out a couple of times, used a few times myself and for $15 I have no complaints.

Same for a 4 1/2" angle grinder. Used it a lot more and it was $10 on sale. Have had it for 10 years or so.

If I was using something a lot, I would invest in a better tool but sometimes good enough is good enough.

Seems like a lot of people use their cheap little cut off saw to shorten .223 brass for .300 BO. Maybe there is a better option?

Not sure if my "devotion" to Dewalt cordless tools is justified but I keep buying them. They have served me well, except for the 18V NiCad battery life. The Li-Ion 20V seems a lot better. But now I have a bunch of "useless" 18V Dewalts. Not sure I gained much over buying "useless" HF tools that were less than 1/2 the price.

[Rickf1985]

If you check you will find that 20 volt tools are actually 18 volt. And as far as Harbor Freight goes, They have good and they have bad. The Daytona jacks are used at pro shops all over now. Just as good as Snap on at a fraction of the price. And a neat little thing I found out, if you take the drawer out of your 1500.00 Snap on toolbox you will find it slides right into the same size US General box, perfect fit. Know what that tells me? Same manufacturer. I paid 450.00 for that box. Granted, if you buy the bottom line tools that is what you get, bottom line quality. But they usually have several differing grades of each tool.
I am a firm believer in Buy American BUT, Most of the comparable American stuff I am seeing nowadays is no better quality, and sometimes worse, than the Chinese stuff and substantially more expensive. I understand supporting America but I also understand the fact I have a very meager pension. I need to evaluate what I am buying and get what I consider the best product is for the money, regardless of where it comes from. Sorry to say that but sign of the times for some of us.

[Old Two Wars]

I bought a Harbor Freight laser transit tried to just shoot a level box with it to pour concrete couldn't even make it to set up wihlthout failure also thought about a gas driven air compressor from there NOPE got A Ingersoll Rand from Tractor Supply. No No No on any more Harbour Freight.

[slim1836]

I get cheap batteries from HF for my grandsons' toys, y'all know why. He does not turn things off and we can't keep up with it. I got a cheap heat gun for Carnauba Red lube and heat shrink tubing and it works well. Will not buy hand tools as my Craftsmen tools work for me along with what I already have.

Slim

[gunther]

If you enjoy looking around flea markets, you can find really good, old American tools. At reasonable prices. Much more satisfactory than Chinese. Battery powered tools are almost all Chinese, but have heard several folks say Milwaukee is worth the extra. Don't know where they are made. If you intend to get some use out of them, they are worth it.

[deces]

HF has really changed since covid, they dont even mail their fliers anymore. here is a site that has just about every coupon they have active.
https://www.hfqpdb.com/gallery/pct

[kerplode]

Not sure if my "devotion" to Dewalt cordless tools is justified but I keep buying them. They have served me well, except for the 18V NiCad battery life. The Li-Ion 20V seems a lot better. But now I have a bunch of "useless" 18V Dewalts. Not sure I gained much over buying "useless" HF tools that were less than 1/2 the price.

DeWalt makes a nifty plug and play battery adapter that'll let you use the 20V Li-Ion packs in the 18V tools. It's not super cheap, but it's cheaper than buying a new tool...

I have a bunch of them for my old 18V stuff...They work great! Something to consider...

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-18v-20v-Adapter-DCA1820/dp/B016K1UD0E/

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

If you enjoy looking around flea markets, you can find really good, old American tools. At reasonable prices. Much more satisfactory than Chinese. Battery powered tools are almost all Chinese, but have heard several folks say Milwaukee is worth the extra. Don't know where they are made. If you intend to get some use out of them, they are worth it.

China

[missionary5155]

Just another "grab bag" (HF) in the one world takeover. Bring everyone to the same level of nothingness.
Americans can make America Great.

[Winger Ed.]

Milwaukee is worth the extra. Don't know where they are made.

They've gone to Chinese production a few years ago too.
DeWalt still makes some things here, but not all. You have to check 'em by model number.

[deces]

They've gone to Chinese production a few years ago too.
DeWalt still makes some things here, but not all. You have to check 'em by model number.

I believe China's TTI owns milwaukee now, I could be wrong about that.

[Winger Ed.]

I believe China's TTI owns milwaukee now, I could be wrong about that.

Probably so.

Chinese laws are a little different from ours.
You can contract with a Chinese outfit to make your stuff for you there, but foreigners can't own the factory.
We can also make a deal for them to produce our stuff under license with our company's name on it, and get a comission.
Or, buy a controlling interest of stock- then make & sell whatever trash they want with that old American brand/trade name on it.

[n9tkf]

Probably so.


Or, buy a controlling interest of stock- then make & sell whatever trash they want with that old American brand/trade name on it.

Craftsman tools owned by Stanley but probably made in China comes to mind. Any stores selling Craftsman anymore?

[deces]

Craftsman tools owned by Stanley but probably made in China comes to mind. Any stores selling Craftsman anymore?

Lowes and some Ace hardwares.

[shooterg]

Lowes and some Ace hardwares.

I have lots of OLD Made In USA Craftsman stuff mostly because I AM old ! But heard somewhere back tht someone else bought the name and was gonna make 'em in TX ?

But even before Sears bit the dust they were giving Chinese made replacements for broken stuff. I still buy the old stuff when found at the flea market but I'm not using tools much anymore - too old, too lazy, too broke down !

Power tools no matter the brand are most likely foreign made . Only production here is the printing of money! Can still find shoes and clothes made here but they cost me more.

[megasupermagnum]

You missed the boat on harbor freight, simple as that. The place used to have insanely low prices. Today the prices just make me shake my head. There are some things in there that are decent if you are ok supporting China, but you really have to know what you are buying. For the most part today most China tools are all the same, and similar price. You may as well buy the stuff anywhere. Support a local hardware store is viable again. Their sockets are decent. Their ratchets are knuckle busters. Their more special sockets like torx, e socket, etc. are decent. I've heard good things about their welders, but only certain models. Their welding helmet will blind you. Their floor jacks are actually pretty good.

As for USA made tools, there are tons, but you need to actually seek them out. No single store sells only USA made tools. No single brand makes only USA made tools. Basic hand tools are easy to find like sockets, wrenches, and punches. Hammers and such are easier than anything, most stores carry Estwing or Vaughan or both. Power tools are trickier. Lots of electrical components are Chinese, so nobody can put a made in USA label on them. There are made in USA with USA and global components though. Currently DeWalt is the biggest name. Most of their power tools are made in the USA with some foreign components. Milwaukee used to be the top dog. Today they are mostly China. Their older stuff was mostly USA. For example, one of the best angle grinders ever made was the older Milwaukee heavy duty series. They were made in USA, and they take a real beating. They can be found on eBay for very reasonable prices. I bought one NOS in the box for less than a brand new Chinese made one costs.

[deces]

You missed the boat on harbor freight, simple as that. The place used to have insanely low prices. Today the prices just make me shake my head. There are some things in there that are decent if you are ok supporting China, but you really have to know what you are buying. For the most part today most China tools are all the same, and similar price. You may as well buy the stuff anywhere. Support a local hardware store is viable again. Their sockets are decent. Their ratchets are knuckle busters. Their more special sockets like torx, e socket, etc. are decent. I've heard good things about their welders, but only certain models. Their welding helmet will blind you. Their floor jacks are actually pretty good.

As for USA made tools, there are tons, but you need to actually seek them out. No single store sells only USA made tools. No single brand makes only USA made tools. Basic hand tools are easy to find like sockets, wrenches, and punches. Hammers and such are easier than anything, most stores carry Estwing or Vaughan or both. Power tools are trickier. Lots of electrical components are Chinese, so nobody can put a made in USA label on them. There are made in USA with USA and global components though. Currently DeWalt is the biggest name. Most of their power tools are made in the USA with some foreign components. Milwaukee used to be the top dog. Today they are mostly China. Their older stuff was mostly USA. For example, one of the best angle grinders ever made was the older Milwaukee heavy duty series. They were made in USA, and they take a real beating. They can be found on eBay for very reasonable prices. I bought one NOS in the box for less than a brand new Chinese made one costs.

I have always been found of the American owned Ridgid brands. Ridgid is a subdivision of Emerson and out of that there is Ridgid's red line of plumbing tools and Ridgid electric that is all about the other tools. What got me into them was the then lifetime warranty on their power tools, since then it has been changed to a life time service agreement, which is still unbeatable in the industry.

With the partnership between Emerson, Home Depot almost all of Ridgid electrics tool are subcontracted out for manufacture by TTI, the same company that owns Hoover, milwaukee, AEG. The Produce tools for Ryobi and even the old Craftsman C3 line. There are dozens other brands included.

Since covid, I have noticed many of the tools coming out of Vietnam instead of china. I think a lot of companies are trying to distance their manufacturing from china.

[Bored1]

Discounts now at harbor frieght depend a lot on what the item you're looking at is. Coupons now have quite a few excluded items in the fine print.check out the inside track club, paying for the membership may be worth the discount, i know my local store was giving 30% off to inside track members this last weekend, but again a lot of fine print to see if what your looking for was excluded. Occasionally, I've had luck with them taking competitor coupons from Northern Tool or Tractor Supply. That's hit or miss and having a comparison ready to show them of the item and price at the competitor helps a ton!

[jonp]

only took a couple of posts to get to the "HF is made in China and it's junk" stuff. I have had ok luck with them. Some of the power tools were not worth buying, a hammer drill and sawzall with a rotating handle work fine as does the generator. The compound miter saw on sale was less than half a Hitachi or DeWalt and works just as good. Mini drill press runs fine for what I want. I have a bunch of hand tools and they work fine especially the occasional use tools and small nitpicky stuff like gloves, zip ties, crow bars and bungy cords. Just bought a grow light to start seedlings for half the price of Lowes and it is working fine. The transmission jack worked just fine and saved me a few thousand over having a shop do it. Buy the Pittsburg for rarely used stuff, the ICON for daily use and something else for tools that make you money.

The paper discounts, I think. will never come back. I get their emails with sales and discount coupons. If I see something I need like neoprene gloves or zip ties I'll cruise in and look at the flyer right by the counter. If you sign up for a credit card you get 10% off first purchase so if you need a generator or wire welder right off and can't wait for a sale, sign up at the store, get the money off and promptly cancel it.

[Bored1]

Without knowing exactly what your looking at I can't suggest best way to get a deal, but remember they have a 90 day return policy. My local store is great at returning things IF YOU KEEP THE RECEIPT and decide you don't like it. I think it may actually be 30 days, but the local store here everyone always says 90 so that's what they honor. Worth asking while you're looking around the store.

[GhostHawk]

If you make your living with the tools, by all means buy the best you can. When I was working as a plumber I had almost all Rigid tools. Still have them.

But if you just use a tool once or twice a year it is hard to beat HF. I have a chicago Electric 4.5" angle grinder that is 25 years old and still going strong. Paid 16$ for it back in 96. But I only use it once a year if that and I don't abuse it.

I am a big fan of the Bauer line of cordless tools, 20 volt. I have 3 cordless hammer drills, a small skill saw, sander, the drain cleaner, the inflator. I have yet to have a lick of trouble with any of them. Some of those are with my RV in Louisianan.

One cordless drill was running a 3" hole saw cutting a hole in my floor. When it came through it caught. Drill rotated caught me one in the ankle. Handle seperated and was at an angle. So I went and replaced it.

Came back and worked with the old one a bit pushing it back into place. Parts snapped back into place. And it still works. But I do keep it on light duty.

Instead of paying 7-8$ per spool of fly tying thread 100 yards long I bought poly thread in a wide range of colors and 550 yards per spool for 20$ for 30 spools.

When one of my bobbins runs empty I match the color, chuck the empty spool into my drill and refill it. I have a small hex shafted hole punch that just wedges into the spool perfectly.

Of course tying flys with thread like that is sacrilidge to fly tyers around the world You can't do that the fish might be offended.

HF has its place, its good buys, its cheap stuff. Use a little common sense and it can treat you well and save money.
Trying to fight the big multinational corporations is only going to hurt you.
and they have decided that USA wages and unions cost too much so the tool will be built elsewhere. More money for their pocket.

[toot]

do they give us veterans a discount?

[Ed K]

I drive a 1995 Dodge RAM2500 with 5.9 Cummins and run a 1942 made in Springfield MA Van Norman mill to support this hobby but the $7 special Makita knock-off 4-1/2" angle grinder I bought there in 2002 is still going strong (with case, grinding wheel, sandpaper w/backer pad arbor and segmented diamond blade). I actually have an original Makita but which one do you suppose I let get beat up?

No real advise to give on coupons - don't really use them much myself. It would be nice to have a 30% coupon for this:

https://www.harborfreight.com/saw-mill-with-301cc-gas-engine-62366.html?_br_psugg_q=portable+saw+mill

Edit: Wow Ghosthawk I missed your post on the grinder. I guess I was there on a good day! I try to buy older, used tools however when I cannot I usually shoot for Japanese first, then S Korea or Taiwan before "made in China". India? Don't get electrocuted or cut on a busted casting :roll:

[MrWolf]

They started excluding way to many brands which puts them right up there with most other places. Not worth the discount you used to get. By local and USA made if possible. The days of a 25+ % discount are gone as they are only applicable to a very few brands and a lot of the more expensive is junk. Their Bauer stuff is decent but not getting any great deals anymore.

[farmbif]

well your on the computer now so might as well dig a little deeper. there is a guy on YouTube goes by the name project farm that does excellent testing and evaluation including price of all sorts of tools I would much rather know what I'm getting and get the most value for my dollar from a made in USA or from another NATO country than send what few dollars I have to commie china. the most recent tools I got were some 1/4" drive 6" Torx sockets. turns out the best quality and lowest price were whia made in Germany but now they have factory here in Minnesota. this is becoming a trend factories are being built here in USA, lets support them.
most of my life I had respect for OTC tools till about 5 years ago when I was in need of a new compression tester kit. I ordered the $80 OTC kit online thinking it would be made in USA I was wrong it had made in china sticker on it and was probably built in factory that makes the harbor freight kit. never again unless it cant be avoided I will dig a little deeper to know where my dollars are going. sometimes it cant be avoided like when buying aftermarket kits for zama carburetors the old hedge trimmer and some other gas engine power tools carb kits from zama would cost way more than the old tools would ever be worth. a new gas engine hedge trimmer is about $400 with tax I can get aftermarket kit for about the $3 if I send my money to china and there are dozens of sellers of the same product here in the states that sell the same brand made in china kit for $7. if someone were to make the kit here in USA for $10 I would gladly pay reasonably higher price to buy made in usa but it is not an option, yet.

[jonp]

"...well your on the computer now so might as well dig a little deeper. there is a guy on YouTube goes by the name project farm that does excellent testing and evaluation including price of all sorts of tools...."

Todd's channel is a must stop for anyone that uses anything useful.