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Business Profile

Hardware and Tools

Harbor Freight Tools

Headquarters

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

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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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    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.

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    Complaint status

    Complaint type

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/19/2024

      Type:Customer Service 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.
      date of transaction: 1/30/2024 order#********* total:$123.58 We ordered a "1/2 HP CAST IRON TRANSFER PUMP SKU# *****" on January 30th, 2024. When it arrived on February 6th, 2024 we immediately noticed that the box was so damaged that it looked like it was thrown down a cliff 5 or 6 times on it's way here so that was very upsetting. 3 days later, it was late at night on Friday February 9th when we were trying to use it to pump our flooded basement we spent hours trying to get it to turn on and had to take parts off our old one to even make it work for the first time. That night, when I tried to call the number on the box to ask for a replacement, the customer service center was closed. So I went on the harbor freight site and filled out a support request regarding the issue. I got no response whatsoever. When I did get ahold of customer service, by phone the first time he gave me the link to the return form on the harbor freight site to complete for the pump and I submitted that TWICE with no response. Eventually the pump completely stopped working completely a few days ago and I called customer support AGAIN. After talking to two people who were understanding, tried to send a replacement because of our situation but while trying to get approval from a supervisor some really rude and unprofessional lady gets on the phone and says because I don't have any proof of the forms I submitted there's nothing they can do. Even though what she was asking for wasn't possible because no confirmation email or response at all is sent when you submit those forms or support request tickets on the site. we bought the more expensive pump this time thinking it'd work better, but it ended up being nothing but a nightmare. We're home owners, we shop at harbor freight for everything normally so we were extremely disappointed by this whole experience. All we want is a pump works like it's supposed to from the time it gets here unlike the one we purchased which never did.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/14/2024

      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.
      on 6-5-24 purchased online Harbor Freight 2 items: aluminum ramps sku# ***** & max trailer cart sku# *****. Price cart ******, ramps ******. Shipping *****. Tax *****. Ramps were delivered on 6-11. They were fine. The cart was delivered on 6-10. It was in rough condition. On 7-8 I went to put cart together. Metal panels were bent. I was concerned all parts present but manual does have parts list. On step 3 of assembly I notice no hitch support sku# ******, reading out further I discovered missing rear corned brackets sku# ******. On 7-9 called Harbor freight. I was given choice to pack up and send back but this 50 cart was not going **** in that box and nearest Harbor freight to me is ********************************************************************** order confirmation # P13336882. Rear corner brackets delivered 7-12. Have called twice over past month waiting for Hitch support sku# *****.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/14/2024

      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.
      Transaction occurred on 08/12/2024 I had purchased a "Pressure Water" for ****** ... Got it Home did 2 bricks it stopped working ... i took back to store ... and said i had a bad taste in mouth about brand and was talked into a larger gas powered device for ******. On return they stated 249 device had a restock fee of 50 .... they waived this fee cause i was upgrading to larger device of 399. I decided to return the 399 on 08/13/24 and they have decided to charge me a restock fee of 80. ..... My complaint is the following ... the 2nd device was never opened ... i can see them hitting me with 50 -- original fee but the new fee of 80 as this is unopened box ...This is evidently policy ...Now customer service listened and was able to credit most of this back as part of a gift card ...I would like BBB to confirm policy, and deal with complaint abovce

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:08/05/2024

      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.
      On August 3, 2024, we purchased a Predator 5000W Super Quiet Invertor Generator from the Harbor Freight of ********. With this purchase, we purchased a 1-year repair plan and a 5-gallon gas can. The total of the purchase was $1,364.22. After the purchase, we bought 5 gallons of required and approved gasoline, the required and approved oil, and the required fuel additive. Once home, we followed all steps to begin the setup process for the generator per the provided manual. Once we began, the remote start and push start were did not work. The manual crank did. We allowed the generator to run according the the manual. On 8/4/2024, we started the generator back up. The remote start and push start still did not work. We went to Harbor Freight because we felt it could be the battery. We were informed they did not have one. We then went to an auto parts store to purchase a battery charger. This did not fix the issue. We then drained the oil and gas from the generator to return it to the store. Once there, we were informed we could not return it because there was too much gas in it. We were told we could buy a gas pump from them. We did not. We took the generator back home and pumped less thatn an ounce of gas out. We returned it. They refused to take it back after the ongoing issues unless we paid a restock fee. They did exchange it. This has been the worst experience and rudest company we have ever dealt with. No one was helpful and they refused to do their best for a customer. We spent money in which we saved for this purchase and chose this business. We will not return. The associates are rude. The business refuses to make things right. We have spent more money and time in less than 24 hours than we should have been required to and the business continues to refuse help. We have called and emailed to impose a complaint. We were told they may or may not call us back. Terrible service. Terrible associates. Terrible company. Will not do business with them or recommend.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/31/2024

      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.
      I purchased Predator generator July 7th, 2024 at 4:53PM, upon trying to get the generator to work. I was having increasing issues with it as the item was malfunctioning and defective. I called ********************************** July 27th, 2024 at 5:40 PM. The associate informed me they would refund me my money for the defective generator and to bring it in. I proceeded to the ********************************** on July 29th2024 to return the defective generator and they changed stories saying they would charge 20% restocking fee for returning the generator. I am highly displeased that the store associate already told me they would refund my money no problem for the defective generator and then upon arriving changed the return policy suddenly changed saying they would charge 20% restocking fee. How can a business be saying one thing for return policy and then doing another. It is very unprofessional and leaves me to wonder if the employees are Unskilled, Untrained and are Discriminating against customers as they like choosing who and when they apply a charge of a restocking fee. Upon purchasing this generator on July 7th 2024 at 4:53 PM, NO associate Neither manager disclosed any potential restocking fee for this purchase, and if it is defective to bring it back and they would refund me my money. On July 29th, 2024 the manager said the store associate (or) manager should have highlighted the return policy on the receipt at time of purchase on July 7th, 2024 that they Failed to inform me of the twenty percent restocking fee return policy, also, Failed to highlight the twenty percent return policy on the receipt, as well as Failed to inform me during phone call about twenty percent restocking fee for returning the generator. I am at a loss of words for the Discrepancies Ive experienced and Unprofessional of Harbor Freight. All I want is my Full refund of my money back for this defective generator and as a customer feel like being being discriminated against due to the inconsistencies.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/30/2024

      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.
      I placed an order for a new toolbox top and bottom on July 23rd and the cashier which ended up being a manger did my order and said it would take a week or two for the toolbox to come, but after going back down there on July 28th and talking to another employee they told me that my toolbox would not be there until September or October and didn't know why the lady that did my order said a week or two. So now I wanted my money back and they told me that they can't do a return until the order arrives in the store. And I can't take the receipt to another store and pick it up myself because they don't work that way and they can't transfer the toolbox from a other store because they don't do that either. So now I don't know what to do. I just want my money back and be done with the store but they won't give me my money back. And I spent ******* in total

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/29/2024

      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.
      Upon returning a welding machine unopened to harbor freight store #***.. the cashier wanted to charge me $250 restocking fee despite being unopened, I called customer service while in store, July 27 at 1:15 spoke with ******, she noted that new merchandise does not acquire restocking fee, and when i asked her to explain to cashier she refused and told me to ask for a manager The manager came and said call customer service It is not any service to the customer to toss them around like that, The manager noted that he will not return item unless he charges restocking fees because we used the warranty exchange before and the process warranty exchange as returns He also refused to waive the fee as a courtesy and was very unprofessional, manager name is ********** am requesting refunding the unjust charges of $250 asap It is not the customer fault if the system count warranties as returns, also such charges cannot be solely based on a person discretion and against policy

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/29/2024

      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.
      Purchased Micro Torch SKU ***** on 7/25/24 and did not use it. Went to store on 7/26/24 and was told item is not refundable. Item is unopened, in its original package, unused, and clerk says "the receipt states the item is not refundable".There was no restriction displayed on the shelf where item was placed. The clerk that took paid did not mention said restriction, but today clerk refers me to the "receipt".If the item had been displayed with the "Warning - Final Purchase - No returns", I would not buy it.This is misleading marketing, customers check prices on Receipt not restrictions not mentioned in the vicinity of the product.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/29/2024

      Type:Delivery 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.
      Order Order Date:Mar. 29, 2024 Order #:121728315 Compressor is defective had compressor oil to full level 40 mins into running it seized a bearing or cylinder head. It will not turn and everything is in alignment with the belt system. I have never had issues with harbor freight products and been a customer over 10+ years. I am requesting a manufacture exchange the product for the same item and honor their defective product. No compressor should size up with a few hours of run time. Product sat in a box for 2 months in good conditions inside and was not installed till a week ago. Please honor your commitment for a working product and I will remove my complaint. Most products have 1 year warranties and this only claimed , 90 days If I can not receive an exchange I will take future business elsewhere.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/24/2024

      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.
      I was sold a defective product: 12oz Blaster Shield lubricant. The can was leaking from the side due to a gap and messed up all my clothes when trying to use it as it leaked all over the place. I took it back to my local store in **********, ** to ask for a refund for it or a replacement from the cashier (*******) and he refused to offer me either a refund or a replacement because he stated the company policy does not allow for refunds / replacements for lubricants so I am stuck with the defective bottle. I also reached out to Harborfrieght website last week and sent a message to customer service (corporate with above email address) but receieved no reply since.

    Harbor Freight Tools is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

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