Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[stuckmotor]

Thanks. That confirms my experience. There were two near-identical HF90's at the time and I chose the one where its two heat choices were near identical. That was a mistake. With .030 wire I characterized the two settings as Too Hot and Way Too Hot. Like you, I found it worked best with .035.

Come to think of it, this was the welder that came with unusable flux core wire. It would only spit globs and there was a flood of customer return 'near new in box' HF90's on Ebay at the time from a single resale vendor, until they cleared that batch of wire. I replaced the wire immediately, after reading about the wire issue. Big improvement, now it would weld beads. 'Some Assembly Required' to make a HF tool work per its specs was the norm back then.

I suspect that was the wire that spawned the famous customer recommendation to throw out the wire that came with the welder and replace it with Lincoln wire.

 

[thepumpguysc]

I got antsie & CALLED HF about my tool carts.. Told him who I was & my carts shoulda been in by now.. He said, HHM, I'm not seeing anything w/ your name on it ..BUT we have 8 in stock..
I say, GREAT.. how about flagging 2 for ME & I'll be there tomorrow.. He said, They should already be flagged in the back.. WTF!!??
U just told me u didn't see anything w/ MY NAME ON IT.!! He says, OH, THAT doesn't mean anything.. I said, Thanks..& hung up..
What a d!ck..
So I'm on my way to get my 2 carts & abunch of other "stuff" I have on my list..

 

[crazyal]

I got antsie & CALLED HF about my tool carts.. Told him who I was & my carts shoulda been in by now.. He said, HHM, I'm not seeing anything w/ your name on it ..BUT we have 8 in stock..
I say, GREAT.. how about flagging 2 for ME & I'll be there tomorrow.. He said, They should already be flagged in the back.. WTF!!??
U just told me u didn't see anything w/ MY NAME ON IT.!! He says, OH, THAT doesn't mean anything.. I said, Thanks..& hung up..
What a d!ck..
So I'm on my way to get my 2 carts & abunch of other "stuff" I have on my list..

Some of the people who work there are nice. Others I think couldn't get hired anywhere else. When I bought my bandsaw from them I called to make sure they had it in stock and asked how big the box was so I would know what vehicle I needed. One of the people I talked with was super helpful and even told me how they could load it into the back of a small SUV. When I got there the guy who went out back to get the box acted like me buying it was a personal insult to him. He brought it out on a dolly and started to walk away. When I asked about loading it he said "we don't do that". The guy (I assume I talked to on the phone) was walking out to help. He just looked at the other guy and laughed. He said if needed he would get the forklift but it wasn't that heavy. In fact I could have loaded it myself. I guess it's luck of the draw. When I got my 5 drawer cart and work bench (different store) they were great (2 guys and a woman). They spent extra time moving it around to make sure nothing got damaged when I removed it.

 

[Alan W.]

The HF store I go to has a lift cart that they use to load stuff for ya. They raised it up level with your bed or hatch and push it in. They have always been helpful. But I know that's not the way it is everywhere.

 

[stuckmotor]

Some of the people who work there are nice. Others I think couldn't get hired anywhere else. When I bought my bandsaw from them I called to make sure they had it in stock and asked how big the box was so I would know what vehicle I needed. One of the people I talked with was super helpful and even told me how they could load it into the back of a small SUV. When I got there the guy who went out back to get the box acted like me buying it was a personal insult to him. He brought it out on a dolly and started to walk away. When I asked about loading it he said "we don't do that". The guy (I assume I talked to on the phone) was walking out to help. He just looked at the other guy and laughed. He said if needed he would get the forklift but it wasn't that heavy. In fact I could have loaded it myself. I guess it's luck of the draw. When I got my 5 drawer cart and work bench (different store) they were great (2 guys and a woman). They spent extra time moving it around to make sure nothing got damaged when I removed it.

There are nice people and a holes all over.

 

[thepumpguysc]

Well I got my carts & the fella in the back was more than helpful..& YES they did have my name on them..& he helped load them..
I had to go to the register so they could "play" w/ the receipt.. I figured as long as I have to go stand in lime, I might as well pick-up afew things, right.??
"My" cart totaled 108.. & the wifes was 85.00 Lol So much for getting "a few things".
THEN she put a new flyer in the bag about the HUGE sale they have on the 11,12 13th.. along w/ a "parking lot sale"..up to 93% off on Sunday.
Looks like I'm going back.?? I want 4 saw horses{8.00ech} & a 3 ton jack at 65.-69.00 & some jack stands..
MY LOCAL sale paper coupons had a free head lamp, micro fiber cloths & a moving blanket.. BUT I looked online & found a coupon for a free magnet bar.. so I took pic w/ my phone & they scanned it.. BAM.. free magnet bar.!!

 

[Oaktree]

Some of the people who work there are nice. Others I think couldn't get hired anywhere else.

I presume the store you went to was the one in Littleton? Keep in mind that N.H. has one of, if not the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Good help is almost impossible to find, even finding mediocre help is a challenge. Every business is in the same boat...you take who you can get.
That having been said, I don't think I've run into a rude or unhelpful employee there, though turnover seems high...don't often see the same person twice.

 

[dragoneggs]

At HF today. Picked up a caster w/20% off, free microfiber cloths (love them for cleaning glass), and some magnet hooks. For some reason, the cashier gave me 20% off on that too. I got out of there cheap for once! They are always so helpful and nice at the Tacoma, WA store that I frequent.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

At HF today. Picked up a caster w/20% off, free microfiber cloths (love them for cleaning glass), and some magnet hooks. For some reason, the cashier gave me 20% off on that too. I got out of there cheap for once! They are always so helpful and nice at the Tacoma, WA store that I frequent.

I go there also. The managers all know by sight. I have found the newer help is more by the book at the register. Those that have been there awhile end to be more liberal and will search for another coupons and always give the lowest price point. Several times I have discussed things with a manager and have gotten special dispensation. Not a good idea to d that around the other help. Arguing at the register probably is not productive.

Ron

 

[crazyal]

I presume the store you went to was the one in Littleton? Keep in mind that N.H. has one of, if not the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Good help is almost impossible to find, even finding mediocre help is a challenge. Every business is in the same boat...you take who you can get.
That having been said, I don't think I've run into a rude or unhelpful employee there, though turnover seems high...don't often see the same person twice.

I've been to both the Littleton and the store south of Bedford in NH. There's a store in Plattsburgh NY that I occasionally go to and now a store opened up in Burlington (that I haven't gone to yet). None are just down the road from me so if I'm going for something specific I like to call ahead if it's something that may not be in stock. I'm sure wages they pay play a role and usually having a body is better than being short handed.