Hardware and Tools
Harbor Freight ToolsHeadquarters
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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
Customer Complaints Summary
- 331 total complaints in the last 3 years.
- 82 complaints closed in the last 12 months.
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Submit a ComplaintThe 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.
Initial Complaint
Date:06/18/2024
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- 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 power washer on 6/6/24. After only a couple uses, the unit stopped working. I returned to the store on 6/13/24 to exchange it but they did not have one to exchange. Instead they stated I had to pay a restock fee of $80.00 or drive an hour away to another store to get one. Both options are insane since I did not damage the item and it was not my fault they did not have another item to exchange with me. The store and corporate have not been cooperative at all. I do not feel I am at fault, and as the consumer I should have been given a full refund.Initial Complaint
Date:06/18/2024
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- 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.
Purchase date 4/15/24. Order # *********. Purchase price $64.99+ tax. Delivered 5/3/24. Product has a 90 day warranty. Product is a portland 1750 psi 1.3 gpm pressure washer purchased online at harbor freight.com. Product worked for 5 minutes. Cleaned my bbq. 2 weeks later i tried to wash my truck. Turned it on. It made a bad noise and started leaking profusely from the trigger on the wand and no longer sprays out of the wand tip. I called the customer service center and explained the problem. The said they will accept a return. I dont want another one after reading over 800 reviews of similar problems. I want a refund. They said there is a 20% restocking fee. I told them its not fair to charge a restocking fee on a defective product that is still covered under warranty. Is that why it broke because i got a defective one that was restocked? Will the new one also be a restocked defective product. I was told that i could bring it back to a local store and it would be up to thier disgression to charge the restocking fee. The bohemia ny store would not waive the restocking fee. How can it be legal to charge a restocking fee on a defective product? How can it be legal to restock a known defective product? I feel like this is unfair business practices and im being taken advantage of. Thanks in advance for any help.*****Initial Complaint
Date:06/18/2024
Type:Product IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- 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 a product at Harbor Freight (over $300.00) value. New in box, ****************** Drain Cleaner. Never opened to use until 6/12/24. Metal shavings came out of power cable feed when trying to use product. Now entire cable feed is locked up with metal shavings. Trouble getting cable to rewind and metal shavings continued to come out of product. Requesting a full refund, $305.99 plus tax. Have original receipt. Item Number ***** with power feed. Thank you,Houston ******* ************Initial Complaint
Date:06/17/2024
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- 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 have copied my original complaint to the company to give them a chance to help with my issue.On 06-0-2024, purchased a ***** Transfer Pump from Store # *****. Along with the aforementioned items, purchased accompanying items, 1 ea., item ***** ***** 20V Battery ***** and 1 ea. item ***** ***** 3A *********** Charger. All at a total price of $189.84. The items never worked. I took them back to store # *****, and received bad customer service information that this store, Harbor Freight Tools has a policy of not excepting returns of purchased pumps. The Service Rep asked me, Did I operate it? (This seemed like a stupid question. ...I guess he meant, "did I test it, operationally?"). As a retired BBB Agent and ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Compliance Auditor, I find disbelief that a nation-wide company that operates in the 21st century, has a 'service, point-of-encounter set-up that requires the (User-Customer) to validate that their products are tested and operational prior to sale and purchase. Another meaningful note. Although, I am technically qualified to review manufactured and engineered products, in the ******************, that was programed & scheduled I tested because it was my appointed purpose. Not every "************ Public" user- customer has technically testing qualifications.What is your audit trail for resolute actions of monetary refunds and/or replacements? Your customer service people are courteous, customer-focused, and provide definitive ***** to user-customers' inquiries. Many thanks.I have not received any feedback from the company.Initial Complaint
Date:06/17/2024
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- 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 Wood lathe from Harbor Freight not a month ago if that, T34706 is the part number, and while using it the other day a set s**** flew off popped me right in the mouth an broke both of my front teeth, THAT I HAD TO PAY TO GET FIXED, AND AT THE SAME TIME MY PITTBURGE 301 PIECE TOOL SET THE *** WAS ALL SMASHED TO H*** AND BACK AND I WAS INSTRUCTED BY HARBOR ****** TO SEND IT BACK WHICH I DID I CANT REMEMBER THE NUMBER BUT IT WAS IN ****** SC ON OLD RACE RACK RD AND HAVE YET TO GET MY REPLACEMENT, BECAUSE OF THIS THING BREAKING BOTH OF MY TWO FRONT TEETH I COULD BE ASKING FOR ALOT MORE BUT IM NOT, AND IM ALSO NOT GONNA TAKE THIS TO COURT IF THEY REPLACE BOTH OF MY TOOLS MY TOOL SET AND MY WOOD LATHE ***************************************************************** IS MY ADDRESSInitial Complaint
Date:06/10/2024
Type:Product IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- 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 trying to open an Commercial Account but the application was withdrawn because harbor freight does look at the emails I was sending them I had gotten a email stating Hello ********** Greetings ******* Support.Please accept my apologies for the delay.Could you please kindly provide the documents confirming that this is the email address you used to apply for the account? This information will help us resolve the issue more efficiently.Once you send me the necessary documents, I will promptly forward them to appropriate department. Thank you again for your patience and cooperation. Awaiting your kind reply.I had replied immediately to it with screenshots of me showing them the email that was used to create it as the email they were trying to contact is not monitored 24 hours a dayInitial Complaint
Date:06/10/2024
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- 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 attempted to return an item purchased 5 days earlier because it was not on sale.This was done at the ****************************************************The manager told me infront of several other customers and employees that I can return the item which I purchased 5 days earlier at a higher price but, in his words, "I won't let you purchase another one in my store at the new sale price".I was shocked and the cashier, ****, was also shocked and later told me that I could take it to another store and return it. I did just that without any conflict.This manager needs to be reprimanded or replaced with **** as the new manager.Thank you *********************Initial Complaint
Date:06/10/2024
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- 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.
The date of the transaction of the chainsaw disc for a grinder was right around the 26 th of May 2024. It was a gift from someone else that knew I was looking at it before. The resolution is compensation without having to go through litigation straight up settle out of court because this thing didn't have sufficient warning on the pack that was out in sight. This things need to be taken off the shelf as well. Now when I say compensation without having to go through litigation I got all the time in the world. But I promise harbor freight does not and they owe me for this pain and suffering I'm going through. I got a severe laceration report about my toll and I'm needing to go back to the doctor *** because I think it's actually broken as well. They need to have A claims adjuster that represents their insurance company to contact me ASAP and start getting the ball rolling and get me a claim's number. If not I'll just take him to court and they'll have to pay all them costly court costs and pay for a lawyer in the end pay for my lawyer and that I have to pay compensation as well when we can bypass all that.Initial Complaint
Date:06/03/2024
Type:Product IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- 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 pressure washer on the evening of 6.1.24 after getting it home and reading reviews decided this was not an item i would be interested in keeping the next morning I returned the item and manager ***** assisted with getting off my truck ripping the box to pieces before fully removing as i get to the register the cashier states we would have to be charged 20% restock fee of $180 this is totally unacceptable and i dont have extra $200 to donate to this store I had the item less than 24 hours and should have a right if I dont want it to return for my full refund I am disputing this restock fee i tried calling customer service spoke to ***** who was so rude and basically advised there is noting that can be done i need this rectified asap or I will dispute with my bank as well.Initial Complaint
Date:05/31/2024
Type:Service or Repair IssuesStatus:UnansweredMore info
Complaint statuses
- 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 charged for an ***************** membership by the cashier despite my consistently responding that I was not interested. We moved to ******* as part of a military move, and I was clearing out some receipts and found one from the day we moved into our home. That day, I ran into the ******* location on ************ to purchase a ladder. I was in a rush, wrangling a large ladder and the salesperson added the charge without asking for permission. This is a terrible thing as I never taken advantage of a membership I did not know I had, nor did I request. This company is very deceitful and I want my money back. I used to really like this store but now I will NEVER shop there again and warn everyone about their shady practices.
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