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Business Profile

Hardware and Tools

Harbor Freight Tools

Headquarters

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

Find BBB Accredited Businesses in Hardware and Tools.

Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Harbor Freight Tools's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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Harbor Freight Tools has 273 locations, listed below.

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 331 total complaints in the last 3 years.
    • 82 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

    If you've experienced an issue

    Submit a Complaint

    The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

    Sort by

    Complaint status

    Complaint type

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:09/16/2024

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Canceled debit transaction and no refund given

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:09/12/2024

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Harbor Freight Tools imposes a restocking fee. This is disclosed on the back of the receipt in the terms and conditions, but also states the fee will be waived if the item is unopened and in new condition. Despite this, we were still charged a restocking fee for an unopened package.

      Business Response

      Date: 09/18/2024

      We have received Ms. ********** complaint and would like to review it further. To proceed, could Ms. ********* please provide us with a copy of her sales receipt and a photo of the unopened item. 

      We will be happy to review this further and address her concerns once we receive the necessary information.

      Thank you as well for providing this opportunity to respond.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:09/10/2024

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I purchased an air dryer online (sku *****) on 6/13/24. Ive had it hooked up for 1 month now and its leaking from the inline filter. Ive tried to reseat the o-ring but it doesnt work. I paid a lot of money for this and cannot seem to get help. Ive submitted an inquiry through your website and also sat on hold for over 2.5 hours and still never got anyone to speak with. This is ridiculous that I cannot get any service. I just want a replacement so I can continue to use it.

      Business Response

      Date: 09/23/2024

      I am in receipt of the complaint filed by Mr. ******** Upon review, the customer is receiving assistance by our product support team. 

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:09/09/2024

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      On 9/5/2024 I purchased a predator 3500 super quiet inverter, brought home and tried to start it and did not work ,brought it back with in one hour to be told they were charging me ****** for restocking it , I was not told this when I purchased it ,I was told I had 90 days to return it if there was a problem never was told their would be a restocking fee it was not till I went to return it that I was told this and it is on the receipt which you do not get till after you buy it ,I think this is wrong that they do not inform customers before they purchase something

      Business Response

      Date: 09/23/2024

      Thank you for contacting Harbor Freight.

      In response to ******** complaint. Some items do carry a 20% restocking fee. The policy is listed on the shelf below the price tag, on the receipt, and on the website, under Product Overview. If you have any further questions regarding the policy, it can viewed here: ******************************************************************************************

      The policy states the conditions under which we waive the restocking fee:
      - Item is unopened and in new condition
      - Item is exchanged for an upgraded product in the same category
      - Item is replaced under an **************** Plan
      - Item is replaced under Manufacturer Warranty

      It none of those conditions are met, the return is subject to a 20% restocking fee. We apologize for any frustration or inconvenience this causes.

      Please let us know if you have any additional questions. Thanks again for contacting Harbor Freight.

      Thank you as well for providing this opportunity to respond. 

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/28/2024

      Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I am a contractor who purchased a gantry crane today and was unable to use it because it was too small to fit around my boat and therefore couldn't lift a motor out or in. We took pictures of the size inadequacy and promptly disassembled the gantry crane and brought it back to the store in the original packaging, unused and with the receipt and same credit card used for the purchase only a short period of time earlier in the day. I was denied the return of approximately $1,000 after taxes simply because I had purchased other items in the past and returned them UNUSED and with the original receipt. This is very poor business practice from Harbor Freight and as a veteran-owned small business, I expect better local customer service. I expect that if I purchase an item that doesn't work for my needs and is unused I should be able to return the item. Again, I'm a contractor and we don't always end up using an item that we purchase to potentially use but we need to make said purchase for the intent of use... we shouldn't be prevented from returning that unused item as a punishment for having had to return other unused items in the past. Harbor Freight is using a 3rd party to tell me that I'm stuck with a several-hundred pound item that I can't even use.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/26/2024

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I bought a tool from a harbor freight store. It was the only one on the shelf and already opened. I decided to buy it anyway because I needed it. However, when I got to my jobsite, the took wouldn't work as it should. It started smoking and appeared to catch fire. I immediately turned it off and it continued to smoke for another 5 minutes or so. I returned it to the store and told the associate that it wouldn't work and started smoking. They proceeded to charge me a restocking fee I didn't know existed because I wasn't informed there was one. The associate who checked me out at a different location didn't inform me there was a restocking fee. Additionally, the receipt says "subject to restocking fee" but it doesn't explicitly state the amount or percentage or whether or not a restocking fee would actually be applied. It's pretty bogus that I was charged a restocking fee for 1. A tool that was pre-owned and 2. A tool that caught fire.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/23/2024

      Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      On August 22, 2024, I was making purchases from the Harbor Freight Tools store in ******** (Store #***, *************************************************************), one of which had an *** member sale price which was $20.00 less than the list price. While I was checking out another employee came over and said something to the effect of Have you considered getting an *** membership? Were having a special, and I can get you a membership for instead of the normal $29". I asked them a question about the offer, and they again stated they were running a special, and that the *** membership cost was .I agreed to purchase the membership and completed checking out. The total was higher than I expected, and the receipt shows I had indeed received the the expected $20 discount off the product which was on a member-only sale; however, I had also been charged the full $29.99 cost of the *** membership. I again asked them what was the special price of the annual membership, and they again said it was . When I showed them on my receipt that I had been charged the full price they explained that the $20 dollars Id saved on the member-only sale item partially offset the cost of the membership, resulting in an effective membership cost of . I replied that that that isnt how it works; they had told me the special membership price was , which has nothing to do with any savings on member-only sale items. The employee again explained that the savings from the sale-priced item offset the membership cost, resulting in the special price of for the membership. I believe making misleading statements that a membership is being offered at a reduced price, then inappropriately using an advertised sale discount to 'cover' that membership discount, may fall within the realm of deceptive sales tactics. I ask the Better Business Bureau for their interpretation, and to follow up with this store, as appropriate.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/23/2024

      Type:Order Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Company counts display model as inventory so when you look online or even call to check that what I want is available it says yes.When you get to the store the only one there is the display that they can't sell you. I have asked.I called corporate to complain and was told that this is a known problem and there is nothing more I can do. If you know that there is a problem, then fix it!This has been going on for years.I waited for over a year to get a work cart and the only way I finally got it was the manager took my info and called and put it aside for **** tried for more than 6 months for a cherry picker and finally had to get one elsewhere.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/20/2024

      Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I purchased a set of tools from this business w/my debit card & decided they would not be the best suited tools for the current job I was on, so, I still had the original sales receipt & the tool set-completely unopened. I began trying to return them to the location I purchased them from- as well as another- on the 3rd day & both locations refused to give me my money back- as I no longer had the debit card in possession bc my wife found 3 unauthorized charges that were made online. We of course immediately canceled the card & had not yet received another. This companys corporate policy states that if purchased with debit within 90 days unopened w/original receipt, the customer can be issued a cash refund. I went to the store, I called corporate, 4x, THEY TOLD ME THEY ***** CARE WHAT THEIR OWN POLICY STATES THEY WERE NOT GIVING ANYONE CASH BACK OVER $50. This is FALSELY ADVERTISING & INTENTIONALY MISLEADING CONSUMERS. UNETHICAL. ILLEGAL. I spoke with Will.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/19/2024

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Bought an ************** self-propelled mower, the extended warranty, and a total of two batteries, and a charger on May 8 and the second battery a couple of weeks later. ***** worked well then began to fail or labor, cutting off frequently. I've had to pay others to finish mowing my yard. I haven't saved money I've lost money. Now the mower will mow a small strip then cut off. I am told by Harbor Freight customer service that the problem is a faulty PBT or ********** ie the brain of the mower. It is suggested that I return the mower for a replacement. In checking online, this problem has been around since at least 2022. I don't want another same mower and HF doesn't sell another type. After countless waisted hours and money spent to have others mow my lawn, I want a full refund upon the return of all items.

      Business Response

      Date: 09/11/2024

      Concerning Ms. ****** purchase referenced in this complaint, we have contacted the customer directly and taken care of her specific concerns.  We hope we will have another chance and are confident the next experience with Harbor Freight Tools will be a much better one.

      Thank you as well for providing this opportunity to respond.

       

    Harbor Freight Tools is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

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