***WARNING Harbor Freight Discount Coupon Scam WARNING***

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 09:35:54 GMT

go to see Welding Machine for ***WARNING Harbor Freight Discount Coupon Scam WARNING***

Went to Harbor Freight today to use a gift card my wife gave me.  I also had a 15% off one item coupon.  I bought a Porta Power hydraulic ram kit ($200) with the discount coupon, $30 off.  While there, I also bought a couple of other small items that I had specific coupons for.  When the clerk rang up my stuff, I told her to apply the 15% off to the Porta Power, which she did.  It rang up as expected, $30 off.  The total price was a lot higher than I expected, but I paid it because there were 10+ people in line an only one register open.  I looked at my receipt on the way out and my $30 discount had been voided!!!I asked the clerk about it, and she said, "Oh, yea, well you bought something else that had a discount coupon, which voids the other."  I explained that the coupon was only for one item, and the other coupons were product specific and shouldn't affect my main purchase.  She called the manager, who told me the same nonsense."If you read the coupon, it says it's not valid with any other offer," he said.  I agreed that you couldn't use 2 coupons for one item, but a dollar off a $3 item shouldn't void my $30 discount.  I told him to refund my money for the nickel & dime stuff and I'd just take the Porta Power by itself.  He repeated his nonsense, and I told him to give me ALL of my money back, all $315.  He saw things my way and voided the original ticket and gave me two separate tickets.Be careful when you use a 15% off one item coupon!  Don't let them pull this scam on you!America Needs AMERICA'S Oil!!!"Global warming is the greatest scam in history ...There is no run away climate change. The impact of humans on climate is not catastrophic. Our planet is not in peril."--John Coleman, Founder of The Weather Channel
Reply:hi im a truck driver and i buy a lot of tools for friends at hf i bought a couple of chop saws last year they were 39.99 so this year my dad wanted one ,i went in the store they re sign saidregular price 80.99sale price     69.99i told the guy they were 39.99 this is bull !! he laughed so he said ok 59.99 ,told him give me twowhen i got to the register i told the other guy is friend told me i could have them for 49.99 theyre was a line in back he just said ok now i got the reciept 49.99 eachnow the plan is im gonna use this reciep to negotiate good deals!!discount coupon is just bull
Reply:I think that the store manager has a lot to do with this. I don't buy a lot HF stuff for myself but I buy a lot of HF stuff for work. The store manager has always with me and has even applied coupons in ways that I was sure would not be allowed.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Replyo they have any products made on this side of the Pacific.Or any thing worth owning? We don't have a HF in Alaska and I have only seen the web site. Looks like the crap sold out of the back of a truck in East LA. lol
Reply:Originally Posted by Fat BastardDo they have any products made on this side of the Pacific.Or any thing worth owning? We don't have a HF in Alaska and I have only seen the web site. Looks like the crap sold out of the back of a truck in East LA. lol
Reply:Originally Posted by steve45Went to Harbor Freight today to use a gift card my wife gave me.  I also had a 15% off one item coupon.  I bought a Porta Power hydraulic ram kit ($200) with the discount coupon, $30 off.  While there, I also bought a couple of other small items that I had specific coupons for.  When the clerk rang up my stuff, I told her to apply the 15% off to the Porta Power, which she did.  It rang up as expected, $30 off.  The total price was a lot higher than I expected, but I paid it because there were 10+ people in line an only one register open.  I looked at my receipt on the way out and my $30 discount had been voided!!!I asked the clerk about it, and she said, "Oh, yea, well you bought something else that had a discount coupon, which voids the other."  I explained that the coupon was only for one item, and the other coupons were product specific and shouldn't affect my main purchase.  She called the manager, who told me the same nonsense."If you read the coupon, it says it's not valid with any other offer," he said.  I agreed that you couldn't use 2 coupons for one item, but a dollar off a $3 item shouldn't void my $30 discount.  I told him to refund my money for the nickel & dime stuff and I'd just take the Porta Power by itself.  He repeated his nonsense, and I told him to give me ALL of my money back, all $315.  He saw things my way and voided the original ticket and gave me two separate tickets.Be careful when you use a 15% off one item coupon!  Don't let them pull this scam on you!
Reply:Originally Posted by tresiyep, it is all Chinese.
Reply:Brrr Ruger... I'd take stuff made in communist slave-factories in china any day over products from that company...
Reply:Originally Posted by Fat BastardI don't get it why would any one bother. I guess I value my time too much. I have tried many of the knockoff products from China, Junk for the most part. I went into a WalMart for the first time back in 2005. I was amazed at the collection of crap, and the morons pushing and shoving  to get at it. The gun section had real firearms made by name brand makers S&W Ruger...and the prices were good. But the clothing and shoes OMG why would anyone thing that stuff would last. I did buy a pair of work boots had the CAT logo all over it, got them wet the second time I wore them never got a third.... But for $29.85 what did I expect. I guess I am too old school for the modern world I will go with out and save my Dollars than spend them on crap that wont last and hurts my neighbor. So to the OP I guess if you'll do business with an outfit peddling junk, you got to expect to get junk service and petty restrictions. That anyone would put up with this is beyond me.  Makes me think of the junk peddler on "Green Acres". Good luck to you all
Reply:Originally Posted by d94joncaBrrr Ruger... I'd take stuff made in communist slave-factories in china any day over products from that company...
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammI used to have a Ruger Security Six.  I still regret the day I sold it.  Best damn .357 I ever had.  SOB was built tough
Reply:There are separate threads which list GOOD Harbor Freight tools, as well as BAD Harbor Freight tools.  While most of HF's products are Chinese, they carry a number of American made products, as well as India, Taiwan, etc.Some American brands I've purchased at HF include:  Goodyear, LPS, CRC, Skil, Goop, McCulloch, Norton, & MicroPlane.America Needs AMERICA'S Oil!!!"Global warming is the greatest scam in history ...There is no run away climate change. The impact of humans on climate is not catastrophic. Our planet is not in peril."--John Coleman, Founder of The Weather Channel
Reply:"If you read the coupon, it says it's not valid with any other offer," he said.  I agreed that you couldn't use 2 coupons for one item, but a dollar off a $3 item shouldn't void my $30 discount.  I told him to refund my money for the nickel & dime stuff and I'd just take the Porta Power by itself.  He repeated his nonsense, and I told him to give me ALL of my money back, all $315.  He saw things my way and voided the original ticket and gave me two separate tickets.Not saying that this is a scam or not but harbor freight is not the only place the puts those little fine print things in there. If you and expect all this money off and dont' read the fine print.?wouldn't make since to use those coupons at different times.  People buy from these places because the price is cheap but you know you get what you pay for.  I have shopped there myself and i don't expect a lot of there stuff to be quality.I see a lot people complaining about cheap like these but bottom line you shopped there. Maybe just avoid these place completelyLast edited by cambosoup99; 12-31-2008 at 12:16 AM.Reason: add statement.
Reply:Originally Posted by steve45  When the clerk rang up my stuff, I told her to apply the 15% off to the Porta Power, which she did.  It rang up as expected, $30 off.  The total price was a lot higher than I expected, but I paid it because there were 10+ people in line an only one register open.  I looked at my receipt on the way out and my $30 discount had been voided!!!I asked the clerk about it, and she said, "Oh, yea, well you bought something else that had a discount coupon, which voids the other."
Reply:I don't get it why would any one bother. I guess I value my time too much. I have tried many of the knockoff products from China, Junk for the most part.I went into a WalMart for the first time back in 2005. I was amazed at the collection of crap, and the morons pushing and shoving to get at it.The gun section had real firearms made by name brand makers S&W Ruger...and the prices were good. But the clothing and shoes OMG why would anyone thing that stuff would last.I did buy a pair of work boots had the CAT logo all over it, got them wet the second time I wore them never got a third.... But for $29.85 what did I expect.I guess I am too old school for the modern world I will go with out and save my Dollars than spend them on crap that wont last and hurts my neighbor.So to the OP I guess if you'll do business with an outfit peddling junk, you got to expect to get junk service and petty restrictions. That anyone would put up with this is beyond me. Makes me think of the junk peddler on "Green Acres".Good luck to you all
Reply:Keep buying Chinese junk from Harbor freight and you will have to go to China to find a job!
Reply:Originally Posted by -lecroix-I always find it funny that someone who doesn't like Harbor Freight products will take the time to come into a web forum distinctly titled HARBOR FREIGHT and commence to tell everyone that is willing to read his post why he doesn't like Harbor Freight.What's even more funny is he actually believes someone actually gives a $hit about what he thinks of harbor freight.
Reply:I dont think its a scam, I think its due to the fact that there computers look like there from the 80's and dont have the ability to do more than a couple tasks at a time. Here at my local HF they have figured out that if they ring up the ITEM that you want the the 20% or 15% coupon off of first, than scan that coupon, that they can go ahead and ring up all of the other stuff with the nickle and dime OFF coupons.I think people should stay focused on the OP and not bash others for where they shop, this computer that Im pounding on is made no where near the states and i dont believe any of yours is either so with that being said..... to each is there own.
Reply:I learned a while ago - from an attentive HF cashier - that you should always ring up your 20% off coupons seperately from any other purchases if you're using any other coupons etc.I don't see this as a scam at all. At worst it's an inconvenience, and I agree that it's probably due to a shortcoming in their computer system.For those of you who make such a point of bashing HF stuff... OK, that works for you, and it's way over my pay grade to criticize you for that opinion. I would appreciate your consideration likewise.I make no claim whatsoever to the quality of HF's stuff. Some is good - some is bad and it's up to the buyer to decide if a particular item is good enough for what he needs. I have a lot of varied interests but I don't have the money to buy every toy at the Starrett level. Like many others, the stuff I use every day I go top shelf, but the stuff I may not use more than once a year... I'll see whet HF offers cause elsewise, I'd do without.
Reply:Buy chinese. they thank you for it.Tim Beeker.
Reply:Originally Posted by tnjindBuy chinese. they thank you for it.
Reply:When my wife and I moved back from the country I took a job at Harbor Freight for a couple of months. We took all the coupons people had. If a coupon was expired I'd find the best price the item had been sold for in the past year and gave them that price......Unless the people were total F' Heads. I wouldn't do **** for them.
Reply:worst case scenario.......you buy 1 item at a time and take them to your car....walk back inside and buy your next item and use the next coupon.
Reply:Originally Posted by tresiyep, it is all Chinese.
Reply:Originally Posted by garyhgaryhNot true.  I saw some milwalkee tools.Originally Posted by Fat BastardDo they have any products made on this side of the Pacific.Or any thing worth owning? We don't have a HF in Alaska and I have only seen the web site. Looks like the crap sold out of the back of a truck in East LA. lol
Reply:Re HF coupons - It is really variable from store to store how they are honored.  Just be happy with what you can get. Make separate purchases if you like.  Even the 'printable' coupons from their website say in the fine print 'cannot be copied or printed on a computer' - go figure!If you have to buy an HF item over $50, just make sure you have a 20% coupon.  Go to any newsstand and look in any hotrod or pop mechanics or auto mag, etc.  Start in the back and work forwards - you will always find one.  In a doctors office, etc, look for such mags and take the coupons.
Reply:Yea they got me the other day and after making me spend the time filling out the information on the coupon they didnt use it but they took it from me . You have to ask now if the coupon will work with the item so they dont pull their bs. its funny because now everything in the store is already on alleged sale so coupons are pretty useless
Reply:Wow that's taking "not valid with any other offer" to the extreme. I wouldn't be surprised if other places do the same thing, it's funny that the 1 dollar off voids the higher discount and not the other way around. I guess I'll have to pay more attention to that sort of thing, thanks for the heads up!
Reply:Originally Posted by PandemoniumYea they got me the other day and after making me spend the time filling out the information on the coupon they didnt use it but they took it from me . You have to ask now if the coupon will work with the item so they dont pull their bs. its funny because now everything in the store is already on alleged sale so coupons are pretty useless
Reply:I wish our local managers had that flexibility. There seems to be a standard policy of 'No more than what the rules allow'. I wonder if some stores are manager-owned while others are corporate-owned.
Reply:Originally Posted by CaliforniaI wish our local managers had that flexibility. There seems to be a standard policy of 'No more than what the rules allow'. I wonder if some stores are manager-owned while others are corporate-owned.
Reply:Originally Posted by garyhgaryhNot true.  I saw some milwalkee tools...  Gary
Reply:Or they could be bandit illegal knockoffs of real Milwaukee tools Careful F.B. Don't be too clear about what U think here...   I said what most here have posted about a  week ago, and got jumped and character assasinated and sarcastic snide crap dumped on me by some snivelly nosed kid who has posted NO good comments and a total of about 5 mean mealy mouthed ones  overall. I think he goes around doing this on bulletin boards to get his jollies, ?? didn't like me posting my usual long winded half baked opinion in what he thought was his personal HF tools thread,  U and I have had some friendly knock downs but U never once demeaned me personally, to your credit!  And hopefully I'm usually positive and not a jerk to anyone personally. Then Steve (who started the thread and is the legit manager of it) decided to throw me off the thread because I don't shop there... I respected that request  honestly so ?? I guess, I shouldn't have an opinion on any tools from there  Ok who cares most if not all of their stuff is a very poor buy, dangerous etc.  We get that I don't need to interfere, and I'll stay outa itBUT, for fun I did think a good thread would be ~Made in U.S.A. tools to search for/buy/own~ because they're  so good.  Could be new ones, older, used out of date or available at any store today.. then when U see something you can say... hmmm a classic USA tool I better get it while I still can. first ex for me might be: Irwin/Vice Grip 11r. I'm comparing the U.S.A. one to the Chinese ones,  still made by "Vice Grips" but not nearly as good.  One post and then I'll open her up for Americans to post their favorite tools... should be funLincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Originally Posted by steve45Many Milwaukee tools are now made in China.
Reply:Originally Posted by PapaLionOr they could be bandit illegal knockoffs of real Milwaukee tools Ok who cares most if not all of their stuff is a very poor buy, dangerous etc.  BUT, for fun I did think a good thread would be ~Made in U.S.A. tools to search for/buy/own~ because they're  so good.  Could be new ones, older, used out of date or available at any store today.. then when U see something you can say... hmmm a classic USA tool I better get it while I still can.
Reply:Yes, that is a big problem when U buy something now U search all over box and the item to find out where it is made. And a lot of the time it is "packaged" or "assembled" in the USA but not really made here.  HF is a bit more honest on that point I guess I dunno,  just want safe well made  USA goods in my hand if i can find them.ps: Next older Milwaukee item I come across I'll keep my wallet handy, thanks for that tip.Lincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
ReplyapaLion , i cant believe u even steped foot in this section , lolz-i have to use the "original" brand  "Vice Grips" too......the chineze ones dont compare.....sometimez the stuff just doesnt cut it......sometimez it barely does and that's enough        thermal arc 252i  -  millermatic 350P -   miller XMT, cp300ts, 30a 22a feeders, buttload of other millers, handfull of lincolns, couple of esabs  -   Hypertherm 1250 G3
Reply:I try to be on my BEST behavior over here on these posts    No use being a horses a@#.  I have been in the store 2x with friends... They got stuff, I just wandered aboutLincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:I've found that you do have to "play the game" at HF.  We have two stores in the Milwaukee area.  One store consistently has better prices than the other and is much more lenient on coupon redemption.As far as Milwaukee Tools, I own a set of the M18 variety.  I purchased them thinking they were made in the US.  Oh well, they are very high quality tools backed by a quality company.  My drill/driver, impact driver, circle saw, vacuum, and sawsall have been beat up and abused but still doing strong.  I'd recommend them highly even if they are made in China.FWIW, Based on a quick "look-see" it was pretty obvious to me that the HF drill/drivers and other battery tools weren't going to cut it for me.  They aren't designed for the type of use I dish out so I'll not waste my money on them.