A candy store for the Handyman. See my video.
Written: Feb 02 '08 (Updated Feb 08 '08)
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The Physical Store
Harbor Freight currently has store locations in 41 U.S. States. I have been to the Vineland, NJ store 4 times now and have made multiple purchases. It’s located about 25 minutes away from me.
I can’t speak for all Harbor Freight locations but I would describe the Vineland store as follows:
- Clean, with friendly employees.
- Similar in size to a large drug store like CVS or Rite-Aid.
This store location is packed wall to wall with products (tools) in multiple aisles. Most of the walls are even filled with products to at least 8 foot high. Bargain bins are located near the front of store where cashiers are and always filled with ridiculously low priced items. The very first time I walked into Harbor Freight tools in Vineland my eyes were amazed at how many tools they fit in one store. I spent over one hour just trying to take it all in. They offer an absurd amount of tools at excellent prices. I’m guessing their overall product selection easily numbers in the thousands.
The store and online website offer the following tool related items:
Automotive, Shop Equipment, Hand Tools, Air Tools, Power Tools, Outdoor, Home Workshop, Metal Working, Welding, Woodworking, and plenty more.
Personal Experiences
Here are just a few of the items I have purchased so far:
A remote controlled radio helicopter $50 pre-tax:
Web Address (not clickable per Epinions Policy, please copy and paste into browser)
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95125
--Thoughts:--
RC Helicopters can easily cost hundreds of dollars. I had no experience with these prior to purchase. I purchased this cheap one just to get a feel for what one was like. This copter is very cheap in price but control is excellent. Don’t take it outside on windy days because it is ultra light and can easily be swayed by winds. It took me a few minutes to learn how to control the copter inside my house. It is safe enough to be used inside, blades are rounded plastic. For only $50 this copter rocks. However I did crash it too many times into walls and other objects. The blades can take some bumps, but repeated blows will eventually weaken and break them. I used some glue and tape to fix. The copter still works!
8 Gallon Central Pneumatic Pancake Air Compressor $149:
Web Address (not clickable per Epinions Policy, please copy and paste into browser)
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94355
--Thoughts:--
I price compared air compressors at multiple stores. $149 for an air compressor of this magnitude was unbeatable by a long shot. It’s oil free. 2 HP, 4 cfm at 90 psi & 6 cfm at 40 psi, 77lbs, & 125 psi max.
This is not a lightweight air compressor it can easily inflate a vehicle tire. I have personally used it to fill vehicle tires, power an impact wrench to remove tires while doing a brake job, attached it to a paint sprayer and painted, used it to easily clean the basement rafters of cobwebs and debris, and clean out window sills.
1500 Watt Heat Gun w/ Dual Temperature $9.99
Web Address (not clickable per Epinions Policy, please copy and paste into browser)
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96289
--Thoughts:--
My purpose for buying this gun was for paint stripping on some wooden molding in my home. I plugged the Heat Gun in and used a metal scraper and it worked beautifully at removing old paint. I have not completed the job yet but I had to know if it would work nicely. I was not let down! And it only cost $10 – unbelievable.
I have purchased more items than mentioned, but I think you get the idea of how good pricing is by now.
The 3 items I purchased and listed above are in the video I created on YouTube, see the review section below titled: “Video by Me on Youtube”
Email & Catalog
You can request a product catalog be mailed to your home. I have not done so.
I did sign up for “Retail Specials” to be regularly emailed to me via the website. I get one (sometimes two) emails per week containing sale items with pictures.
If you are interested in receiving the email specials, go here and fill out the form (you can opt out anytime):
Web Address (not clickable per Epinions Policy, please copy and paste into browser:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/taf/catreq.taf?f=catform
--Thoughts:--
This address will ask you to click on a javascript link which will open a small browser window asking for some info. You will be able to choose what you want.
Example: “Web Specials Email”, “Retail Specials Email”, “Retail Flyer By Mail”, & “Catalog By Mail”
Here are some of the advertised specials with prices contained in the last email I received on 1-28-08, title of email was”Winter Clearance Sale”:
1/2 inch air ratchet wrench / $12.99 – Regularly $19.99
Foldable Clamping Workbench with Movable Pegs / $9.99 - Regularly $17.99
Motion Sensing Wall Outlet / $9.99 - Regularly $14.99
10 Speed High Speed Steel Titanium Nitride Drill Bits / 99 cents - Regularly $3.49
Plus, 20 other coupons not listed.
All coupons in the email are printable and can be used at a store location.
All emails I have ever received look very professional with nice pictures included.
Purchasing and Returns
I am unsure if the store accepts checks. I have personally used the following with success: Cash, Credit (both Visa and Discover), and I have used a Bank ATM card.
I only returned a purchase once and it was a spray gun (for painting with air compressor). I did an exchange. I was told I have 14 days to make a return. I complied and the return process was easily accepted in store.
The Website
http://www.harborfreight.com/
--Thoughts:--
Appears to be semi-professional. I have seen much better in regards to visual appearance. The primary shopper on this website would most likely be a “handyman” type individual who would not be looking for a pretty website. The site has a ton of content available for online secure ordering.
Cons
I am so close to giving this store 5 out of 5 stars for the happiness it has provided me. Alas, I will only give 4 stars because….
Some tools are cheap and poorly constructed. Not many of them. I would suggest going to a store to get a good look at the tools you are interested in. Play with them, get a feel, and ask questions to the employees. Then make up your mind. If you order online you can still find plenty of good stuff, but you are taking a small risk by basing a purchase on looking at an internet picture.
Ultimate Opinion
The chances of you getting burned on a (cheaply constructed, easy to break) product purchase are small. I have purchased some excellent items which have brought me happiness and/or a job well completed. Visiting a store location is like being an 8 year old kid at Candyland, you can’t help but get excited thinking of all the cool things you could buy at affordable prices.
Video by Me on Youtube
I posted a video on YouTube which shows the 3 products I specifically mentioned purchasing from Harbor Freight in the “Personal Experiences” section. I already provided the hyperlink for those specific products to be seen/purchased on Harbor Freights web site.
Harbor Freight Video URL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIjEIb7KGgc
My Profile page on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/NoneDude4Epinions
My username: NoneDude4Epinions
I plan on adding more product videos in the future, please feel free to subscribe to my channel, I welcome anyone to do so. Videos are edited with simplicity; I do not have the time to spend making them look very professional.
Thanks for reading my review!
--Other Reviews by me with videos--
Gator Grip Universal Socket Wrench
Keeper Ratcheting Tie-Down
Haynes Honda Accord Manual
Sharkbite Compression Fitting
Sharkbite Disconnect Clip
Blitz Rhino Ramps
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? RC Copter, Heat Gun, Air Compressor
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nonedude
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Member: Mike
Location: Glassboro, NJ
Reviews written: 81
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