I sure hope more people comment they want the 20% off coupon to stick around as that’s my favorite coupon. I can let the free blue flashlight coupon slide I have a few dozen already.
If that were to happen HF could drop back into the cheapo tool company again as coupons bring in customers and we all know cheapo tools don't last. It would be a salespersons job to upsell the customer looking for low prices and we all know how consumers feel about upselling salespeople.
@@ClientGraphics I agree social media has some power of persuasion but I think to get the most bang people need to start emailing HF and Eric directly.
I hope it says around. Really liked using those on "name brand" items like O'Keefe working hands and meguiars car products on those days when I didn't need to use them on tools
The coupons will stick around, mainly because they will experience a significant drop in customers. They will, however, treat the coupons as special events rather than everyday promotions. Eventually the coupons will be common again. ITC is a poorly thought out money grab. Paid membership works at Costco because people have a steady need for the everyday products they offer. Most people shop at HF because they have occasional but urgent need for specific items. When they find that the HVLP sprayer, for example, was only on sale two months ago, they will buy it for much less on Amazon instead. HF will learn that most customers won't pay an annual fee for lower prices on a revolving set of random products that will only clutter up their garages.
Likewise I was just there and couldn't find a coupon for the socket set. Likely will still go there from time to time. but often times I would go there just knowing I could get 20% off something and would end up going there and buying stuff I really didn't need. I just built a garage and I'm getting ready to buy a ton of tools. I like being able to drive and get something replaced on the spot if it breaks. However this is kind of a deal breaker for me and now I'm thinking Tekton or others.
@@MrSGL21 Agreed!! The red voltage testers are a JOKE!! Got one free with a freebie coupon; it didn't work!! Ended up getting an identical one but a different color for $20 at Advance auto, worked perfect!! Just as well I haven't seen any coupons in the past 6 months. No more wasting time there for me!!!!!!
So basically if you want coupons you got to pay for them. I remember getting a 20% off in the mail and waiting til the weekend to cash it out. Feels like a sin to buy something from there without a coupon.
Out of sight out of mind. I always thought the catalogs and coupons was genius marketing. I mean seeing the catalogue was a constant reminder that I needed to go to harbor freight and the coupons and free items always kept me excited especially when a rare 25 or 30% came along.
Exactly right. The cheapskate accountants who make these decisions have no idea of the psychological impact that removing coupons makes on their customer base.
Same with me. I'd get the catalog, look through it and see stuff that I didn't need but thought I might need. Went to HF at least once a month, maybe more. Haven't been in over a year now.
I always read through the coupon book, and I made a lot of purchases after seeing a coupon that I wouldn’t have made if I didn’t receive a coupon book.
@@apatterson8128 me to pretty much that's what every one is saying on the comments, the coupon book's or the 20% off was the whole reason for people to stop at Harbor freight. I've been shopping at Harbor freight since the late 80s a friend showed me that discount store when we had are auto body shop he would buy the cheap spray guns to paint car's. I would but supplies for auto body work/tool's now it's like they went commercial every one and they pretty much have a store in every city. It never used to be like that you had to drive a long distance to get a discount and we would stock up for a few month's of supplies.
Exactly, a lot of purchases and trips to the store were triggered by the coupons. Haven't even been to the store since they stopped. Oh well, their loss.
I rarely shop there anymore. They lost a good customer! The 20% off coupon made it worth the drive, and I pretty much always needed a few more things while I was there.
@@danh2134 I understand that. That's a good thing. Except 80% of "instant savings" are now ITC. And also w/o the 20%'er, asking "full price" for the "good" items are going to piss off a large majority of their regular customers
I usually went to HF when I had a 20% off coupon and always ended up buying stuff that was excluded, and usually stuff I didn't need. This will save me A LOT of money by NOT being tempted to go to HF because I have a coupon!!!
When they got rid of the catalog it really cut back on my trips to HF. Lets be honest if your watching this video you buy tools alot. Now with no "deals" to hunt down, I know I'll just go to HD, Lowes, or my local Ace.
I got an Ace rewards card and I've been pleasantly surprised at how good the coupons are. I'm getting a lot of good ones in the mail and through email. I live in a small county and we have a local Ace but I need to drive to another county to get to a Harbor Freight.
I started migrating to Tekton tools since they are usually a similar price and high quality and they offer an insane lifetime warranty and offer a solid amount of Made in the USA tools along side there high quality Taiwanese made tools, from what I can find it's like 50/60 Taiwan 40/30 USA and just 10% chinese made.
@@jenniferstephenson I do most of my diy/home improvement shopping at the local ace, may not have everything HD or Menards has but the staff is always far more helpful.
@@nicholascortez728 seems like tekton has become harder to find lately all the Home Depot’s and Meijers around me stopped carrying them. But I love my tekton stuff. My 1/4 torque wrench was only like $5 more than HF and is worlds better on feel and use.
It seems like the Harbor freight I go to they don't have the shelves stocked with anything pretty much the shelves are empty or they don't have what was advertised in the paper or what they sent me on the computer.
Watch how fast they will bring the catalog back, it’s probably one of the main factors in attracting customers. Mailing out catalogs was a genius marketing idea that probably gave them their customer base. It was fun looking through the catalog and it made you want to go to the store to look at everything and use the 20%off coupon. But hopefully they realize the deadly mistake they just made and that they bring it back before they go out of business.
The catalog is how I looked for new items and made my list from. The coupons helped me not only save, but prioritize my purchases.....gotta admit this is a shock to the system.
Year's ago when I work in a shop welding in the lunch room they had the H.F catalogs laying on the table for every one to look through just about every one there look through the catalogs and would go shop there or they would ask if any one wanted something from there. I can imagine that a lot of blue coller industries would have Harbor freight catalogs laying in the break room table.
The only reason I buy a lot of their stuff is that 20% saves me $5 but I spend $100 on other stuff while I’m in there. Prices must go to their “real” price instead of their laughable retail prices.
This was their whole selling point. They just added yet another reason why HFT sucks. The fact that HFT started (a few years back) to step it’s game up (Icon) in the tool world, was a sign that a discount tool store will no longer be a discount tool store. Limited to no coupons is such a bad idea.
They want to force their LOYAL customers to join the "Inside Track Club Membership"!! Too bad they decided to do this to their customers. I guess it is time to check prices elsewhere. Just sayin'.
My dad worked construction trades/carpenter for decades, then got hired at a GM subsidiary. He told me he used to take orders like once a month and bought $500-$700 worth of stuff from HF. Some of it was throw-away, but you take that chance with Far East manufacturers. The items were good enough that they used them for years and the 20% off Coupon was a big deal. HF is starting to "evolve" towards higher prices with the same lack of Quality. Harbor Freight's Tombstone is starting to be chiseled out with these facts, but Management won't care as long as they have made millions for their retirement plans. All those thousands of employees will get the axe and American Business could care less. BUY all the old tools that are made in America from wherever you can NOW! Once the shit hits the fan with HF you better have reliable tools because the prices at other stores will go even Higher.
My savings were never huge but they kept me shopping there. Plus the catalogue was a constant reminder hey I need that item and I can get it 20% off so I would go and end up buying a couple more items while there. I have only been once since the catalogues stopped coming. They should also think that most of their customers are older base males who don't live on the internet or search through emails for coupons or deals. I predict their sales will tank but time will tell.
HF has lost 70% of my business over the last 2 years. I used to go every week and soend $10-$100First it was excluding items then it was many items. Then was no more free items except the blue light Next was the 25% coupon was reduced to 4 times per year. Now without even 20% they are doomed. I cannot tell you how many times that 20% coupon had made a hundred in sales. I go there to get something and walk out spending over a hundred. That won't happen anymore. :/
The lack of 20% coupons and freebies brings HF costs pretty close to other vendors. And other vendors is where I've begun shopping. If Harbor Freight could afford to open several stores a month while still offering freebies and coupons, they sure haven't been hurting. If enough people think like me, they'll start hurting now.
Used to love getting the paper catalog; saw things in it that I wouldn't have thought of otherwise. The 20% coupon always got me to the store. Since the catalog stopped and the coupons went away, I haven't been to a Harbor Frieght in almost a year.
Harbor Freight lost my business months ago when they put security locks on all of the Icon pegs. Rather than being able to grab what I want to head to the register, I had to wait in line for my turn to tell the cashier what I wanted or walk around the store searching for someone who could get it for me. Their idea of deterring theft also deterred a paying customer. I unloaded just over $1,100 of my Icon tools on eBay and haven’t been back to the store in 8 months. I found that I receive better service at NAPA Auto Parts purchasing Carlyle Tools. They have a much wider selection and the prices are roughly the same. I don’t shop at stores that make themselves a hassle to deal with.
With the 20% coupon I would be there several times a week. I knew everyone in the store by first name. The 20% coupon would drive me to go to the store in the first place and buy tools I didn’t even need. Those days are now gone.
The questions now are: Will ITC membership really mean something and now you'll have to be a member to get the old discounts? Will the instant savings each week ever be more than the typical 10% off you could always find in the catalog? It's looking like HF is turning to the Sam's Club, Costco, BJs business model, where paid membership is required. This works for perishable goods that need constant resupply. Tools shouldn't fall into that category.
Ok I have been paying attention to the instant savings since they got rid of coupons. Sometimes, but only sometimes they will equal a 20% saving, but not all of the instant savings give you that much off the regular price. When you had the 20% off coupon you could use that on the thing you needed instead of having to wait and hope that it would go on sale. There are some incredible inside track club deals, but like you said you have to pay an annual fee for it and again, you have to wait until the deal on the item you want goes on sale (if at all). So my humble opinion is that this all ads up to them collecting more money per item and giving less discounts. In other words a PRICE HIKE. My estimation as a steady customer is that I am paying 10% more since these changes. They are being a little sneaky about the whole thing because they know that no one would ever go to any store again if they knew that from one day to the next they are paying 10% more for everything. Sorry that rant was so long, but I am really disappointed.
I just went there today and found this out. No surprise the store was basically empty on a Saturday when it normally would be packed, overpriced gloves in stock... I'm done shopping there because of this... they will probably go out of business now
Terrible decision. Harbor Freight is making a classic business mistake of betraying loyal customers, all for the sake of trying to squeeze a few more pennies out of buyers. This move will cost them much more in the long run, as it removes a lot of the incentive for shopping in their stores. Most of the time when I visited Harbor Freight, I would use a 20% off coupon but would also buy several other items at their full retail price. Bad idea, Harbor Freight.
When I needed something went to HF and used 20% coupon. Instant savings only work when if what you need is actually on sale. Without the 20% off coupon might as well stop at the Home Depot which is a couple miles closer and save some gas as I wont be saving anything at HF
The 20% off coupon was one of the MAIN reasons I went there. I want very much to be open to different approach but it's going to have to be compelling to keep me going to Harbor Freight
20% off coupons and free stuff was the reason I shopped there. So they got us all hooked and then bingo, the incentive is gone. Big business wins out. So now I go to Lowes, Home depot etc, to get items at close to the HF price.
I shop way less virtually never anymore at Harbor Freight... without a 20% off coupon to get me in the door. Used to use that to get a deal comprable to Amazon pricing on a specific item I wanted at the moment without the deal I just go straight to Amazon skipping Harbor Freight and buying all those extra items I would pick up on my trip to their store... takenote Harbor Freight.... and does The Insider Track Club make a deal? Maybe for some but I don't know any of my buddies that use it
I miss sitting in my recliner thumbing thru the catalog. I probably wont be shopping there as much because if I have to go online to look for something, it will be on Amazon where I can usually find what I need at roughly the same price and have it delivered to my door.
When they stopped the coupons, I stopped regularly going there. I used to go there more than once a week. Now I might go there maybe once every few months.
Haven't been there sense there are no more savings. Only reason to buy the junk was when it was cheap with coupon. Now looking at there website prices went up on everything.
They should look at JC Penny and what happened when they discontinued coupons. Even if they lower the prices to a coupon discount, the perception of the customer is different. Especially many retired folks who still use print media. Good video.
I have almost stopped shopping at harbor freight since they discontinued coupons. I use to have brand new stuff sitting around for when I need it. Now I only purchase what I need at the time. I think I’m the long run they are losing out on money
No 20% coupon pretty much just ended my shopping there, i usually only bought my higher ticket items there and 20% was worth the hassle of visiting 3 stores to find the thing i was looking for in stock.. switching to eBay/Amazon for that stuff
The coupons being taken away has DEFINITELY save ME 100’s of dollars!!!. Now I just drive right on buy and go to Lowes!!!. Great marketing decisions HF!!!!. Was good while it lasted!!!
When I go to HarborFreight, I am looking for a specific item, not to buy random sale items, I only buy more expensive tools (above $40) there if I have a coupon, I definitely will not shop there as much, because the quality is not great, but good enough for a tool I will only use maybe once or twice a year.
HF is a place I have to make a special trip for. Without the coupons, I'm less likely to drop in. I used the coupons for when I need a specific tool and I need it now; can't wait until it comes on sale. With this extra friction, Amazon Prime , Ebay and Craigslist will become increasingly important to me. I used to shop there 1 or 2 times a month. I haven't been in 2 months- Some recently minted MBA sold mgmt on upscaling-I'm a home hobbiest. I don't need snap on quality on most stuff. The real attraction for me was the ability to acquire a wide assortment and now that is gone. 1 or 2 quarters of store foot traffic being down 25% might change some minds. I'd often go into the store to browse and the 20% off coupon made it easy to justify an impulse purchase. That's much harder to get excited about today. The coupon allowed me to have my own "personal sale" versus wading through ads hoping what I need comes on sale. I rarely click on the ads anymore because I never find a sale item I'm in need of.....
I used to go to Harbor freight just for the discount coupon deal's then once I was there I would buy other stuff. Now with no coupon, I probably won't go as often unless I need a tool for a job/project I'm working on. The coupon would make me feel like I need to get that while it was in sale?
I appreciate you not trying to totally spin this (like other channels have) as "nothing has really changed" -- which I'm sure is exactly what HF wants people to think. For the average consumer, who doesn't buy enough from HF to justify paying for a membership, this is pretty much a 25% price hike. In the past, if you needed an item that cost $25, you could walk in and buy it for $20. Now you either have to either wait indefinitely in hopes of an "instant savings" rolling around around (which you can't do if you need the item right away), or pay $25 rather than $20 (a 25% increase). This does not even account for the fact that in the past you would get a free item worth a few bucks, and now you don't. So for customers in this situation (like me), this IS a negative change, and a big one. For me the increase has been enough that I can get some items cheaper elsewhere, which is exactly what I've done. Some have downplayed the change by saying some item were excluded from the 20% coupon anyways (although in nearly 10 years shopping at HF I've only had the coupon rejected once), or you could get lucky and the item you need is on "instant savings" sale. But these are the exception, not the rule -- most times you will pay 25% more now. Many have said "just join ITC" which will help somewhat, but I and a lot of other average customers aren't about to be forced into paying $30/year just to continue getting SOME of the discounts we used to get all the time, for a membership we otherwise don't need. The only ones that will benefit from this change are people who never used the 20% or free item coupons, presumably because they didn't care enough about saving a few bucks to bother. I don't think that's a coincidence -- I think those are the customers that HF wants now. I'm fairly sure this is a deliberate strategic move by HF to increase their prices and profit margins by weeding out the customers who got better deals by routinely using 20% off and free item coupons. Nothing wrong with that strategy, but trying to spin it as "nothing is changing, this is just to make things easier" is a flat out lie, and I think those repeating their propaganda are just playing into that deception.
Unbelievable. Sad to say, they are going to lose a lot of loyal customers. The circulars, coupons, and free stuff was brilliant marketing that set them apart from everyone else.
Like others have said, I never went into Harbor Freight without a coupon. I usually did my shopping first at home with the catalog or website. Kept a 20% off coupon in my wallet for any tool emergency. Their coupons really did bring me into their store, I guess that is no more.
I rarely ever went in and browsed. I usually stopped in when I needed something and knew I could use the 20% off coupon. Now I have no reason to shop there. Looks like Walmart and Home Depot win again.
I'm not crazy, the coupons are gone! The only reason I had to buy a cheap tool was the cheaper price. Did the quality go up 20% (or more)? I totally get the elimination of the coupons. The new programs seem to be geared towards increasing foot traffic with the hope of generating impulse sales, and less toward purchasers. When I went to Harbor Freight, I went to buy, not to shop. I'm not so certain that without the coupon there is enough value in the purchase for me.
I'm a high schooler and over the last 2 years I've really gotten into all kinda of auto and home repair and would shop at HF all the time. I'm seriously saddened that I wont be able to walk the aisles looking at my coupons anymore. I've learned so much about the auto repair world recently and got a job at a shop and now I cant shop like I used to at one of my favorite stores.
Need another bandsaw and I knew their 20% off worked last time I got one, think I paid 220 out the door. Now it's 290 and no coupon, think I'll just splurge and get something higher end this time.
I think Menards has a good selection and good prices on tools. There have been a few times I bought something at harbor freight and went to Menards and wished I would have looked at Menards first.
I used to go to Harbor Fright couple of times every month, and buy tools and supplies and pick up free microfiber towels and 25' measuring tape. In last two years, I have only gone twice and not missing it and probably have no reason to go without free item or 20/25% discount. I find Husky tools from HD are usually cheaper or same price but are much better quality and have lifetime replacement warranty (hand tools). I also find Hyper Tough tools from Walmart are almost exactly as HF tools, but cheaper and better return policy. I saw HF going downhill in last year; and as soon as they opened new stores, probably will close them just as fast.
The 20 percent off coupons are largely what made shopping there worthwhile. I’ve priced a few items recently and can find them at other local retailers (or online) for cheaper then harbor freights prices. Who in their right mind would pay a premium for harbor freight products?
Sad to see what's happened to HF in the last year. No 20% off coupons, no catalogs, few if any useful email promos. Being a diy auto guy with occasional use, I've found many of thier tools useful, but the 20% discount and item discount coupons made choosing them ez. I will now look closer at other purchase options. I'll never join ITC as ROI not worth it for me.
Truth is we’ve been paying full price all along. They used it to bait u in now since the “20%” is gone. You’re now paying 20% More now. Which is still full price with or without coupon
I didn't realize this until today. It's a pretty good drive to the store so when i go that way i always open the app and make my list. I did stop by Harbor Freight, bought one item that was labeled instant saving... and left with much less than I've ever purchased before. Bring back the coupons and realize that although the "best" tools are great, thec"good" tools are what I really do in for.
Yes, i compare prices now and find Husky at Home depot better value now, and cant even buy large 60 gallon compressors anymore at Harbor freight.... will not shop anymore here, will go online to buy tools now.
Either it will be better or they'll bring it back or something similar. Right now they are selling faster than they can get stuff, so they are rolling in cash and don't really need to do coupons. Maybe that will change. I do miss looking through the catalog. I didn't like the digital version as much, but at least you could flip through it and see everything they had. You can't really explore the website the same way. Maybe with few coupons I'll be hoarding fewer things, but it was fun to hunt around and look for stuff that maybe I could use someday, and grow my collection of tools and supplies.
Maybe if I ever upgrade my tool chest I'll go to HF again, but everything else I can get elsewhere. They discontinued the benchtop variable speed lathe that I have, was going to buy a 2nd one waited too long, and no replacement options, just the larger model that you have to manually change the belt to change speeds, I liked the electrically variable speed motor just turned a dial to change speeds, it was great for making pens and about 1/4 the price of the same lathe in a different color at Woodcraft. The tools at HF are mediocre at best, and many other stores you can get the same cheap junk tools for the same price so all sorts of options out there for junk drawer tools. I'll support my local small town hardware stores much more now. Except for a new larger tool chest in the next few years, I can easily be done with Harbor Freight.
No coupon no shop there. No free stuff coupon no purchase items at all. It was my only incentive to shop there for free stuff and coupons with discounted stuff. Honestly I’m done with them. They have inflated prices of their stuff that is cheap China stuff anyway.
I recently became an inside track member after buying from h.f. for over 20 years but I'm still going to miss the freebie and the coupon. We will see how it goes. Thanks for the video
Most of the things I buy at HF are consumables. I restore old USA tools, so rarely if ever purchase tools like sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc. Most of my electric tools are either old made in USA or Milwaukee, though I have been eyeing one of their rolling carts for a while which a coupon would really help.
At 20 to 25% Harbor Freight tools were acceptable for light duty non professional applications. Since they have discontinued the discounts I now purchase tools from Lowes or Home Depot. If i am going to pay the same price I would rather have a Husky, Craftsman or Kobalt tool that is far superior in quality. I think HF will loose a lot of business over this... I know I have not gone back to the store since the discounts were discontinued...
My guess is that the percentage off coupons will stick around but will continue to exclude most "Better" and "Best" category tools.
I sure hope more people comment they want the 20% off coupon to stick around as that’s my favorite coupon. I can let the free blue flashlight coupon slide I have a few dozen already.
If that were to happen HF could drop back into the cheapo tool company again as coupons bring in customers and we all know cheapo tools don't last. It would be a salespersons job to upsell the customer looking for low prices and we all know how consumers feel about upselling salespeople.
@@ClientGraphics I agree social media has some power of persuasion but I think to get the most bang people need to start emailing HF and Eric directly.
I hope it says around. Really liked using those on "name brand" items like O'Keefe working hands and meguiars car products on those days when I didn't need to use them on tools
The coupons will stick around, mainly because they will experience a significant drop in customers. They will, however, treat the coupons as special events rather than everyday promotions. Eventually the coupons will be common again. ITC is a poorly thought out money grab. Paid membership works at Costco because people have a steady need for the everyday products they offer. Most people shop at HF because they have occasional but urgent need for specific items. When they find that the HVLP sprayer, for example, was only on sale two months ago, they will buy it for much less on Amazon instead. HF will learn that most customers won't pay an annual fee for lower prices on a revolving set of random products that will only clutter up their garages.
No coupons makes it so easy to just drive right by.
My whole reason for shopping there was the 20% off coupon.
The "20% Off Coupon" AKA the "Piece of paper that doesn't work on anything"
Yeah they just completely eliminated the reason why I shop there. Or should I say used to shop there
@@professionalamerican1689 does work on my pittsburgh tools
Likewise I was just there and couldn't find a coupon for the socket set. Likely will still go there from time to time. but often times I would go there just knowing I could get 20% off something and would end up going there and buying stuff I really didn't need. I just built a garage and I'm getting ready to buy a ton of tools. I like being able to drive and get something replaced on the spot if it breaks. However this is kind of a deal breaker for me and now I'm thinking Tekton or others.
@@MrSGL21 Agreed!! The red voltage testers are a JOKE!! Got one free with a freebie coupon; it didn't work!! Ended up getting an identical one but a different color for $20 at Advance auto, worked perfect!! Just as well I haven't seen any coupons in the past 6 months. No more wasting time there for me!!!!!!
The only reason to go to harbor freight was the 20% coupon. I'm done there.
Everybody can chill out. They still have www.hfcoupons.com... Which as of now still has a 20 percent coupon on there. Now if that changes. We will see
@@whoman3466 They changed the coding on the old coupons and only accept the ones for inside track club members so it wont work.
@@starlight_prince right on.. Guess it was a good thing I used the 20 percent off on the 225 tool set on the 8th
@@whoman3466 Dude! No one cares about 10 dollar or less items...Read the fine print.
@@roy-sr5ct The one I used was good for the 135 dollar tools set ... And I care.. Still 2 dollars saved
It's one of the main things that made HFT different than the other stores. Unique in a good way. Makes me think twice about shopping there now😠
My only reason for shopping there was the 20% off coupon, back to Home Depot
Everybody can chill out. They still have www.hfcoupons.com... Which as of now still has a 20 percent coupon on there. Now if that changes. We will see
@@whoman3466 my harbor freight app coupons still worked as of yesterday when I was there
@@whoman3466 nut drives where on sale 3.99 I bought metric and standard set with coupons
At Home Depot there are no discounted items.
@@andybub45 There is an add every week with discounted items - plus the quality!
So basically if you want coupons you got to pay for them. I remember getting a 20% off in the mail and waiting til the weekend to cash it out. Feels like a sin to buy something from there without a coupon.
Same with Bed Bath & Beyond. It's a sacrilege to purchase anything without a coupon.
No reason to go anymore then.
My visits to HF will probably be fewer, much fewer.
Out of sight out of mind.
I always thought the catalogs and coupons was genius marketing. I mean seeing the catalogue was a constant reminder that I needed to go to harbor freight and the coupons and free items always kept me excited especially when a rare 25 or 30% came along.
Exactly right. The cheapskate accountants who make these decisions have no idea of the psychological impact that removing coupons makes on their customer base.
Agreed will not be shopping there as much
The coupons used to make me go to the store every week on Friday
Agreed. Those catalogs always talked me into a visit each month.
Same with me. I'd get the catalog, look through it and see stuff that I didn't need but thought I might need. Went to HF at least once a month, maybe more. Haven't been in over a year now.
Miss the 20%. Walked out of store. My savings was never large but they brought me to the store
Yah they all conveniently expired on Feb 5th. Only time will tell if and when we see more.
I always read through the coupon book, and I made a lot of purchases after seeing a coupon that I wouldn’t have made if I didn’t receive a coupon book.
I used to circle the items I wanted with a black Sharpie! Jarred my memory on things I wanted but forgot about.
@@apatterson8128 me to pretty much that's what every one is saying on the comments, the coupon book's or the 20% off was the whole reason for people to stop at Harbor freight. I've been shopping at Harbor freight since the late 80s a friend showed me that discount store when we had are auto body shop he would buy the cheap spray guns to paint car's. I would but supplies for auto body work/tool's now it's like they went commercial every one and they pretty much have a store in every city. It never used to be like that you had to drive a long distance to get a discount and we would stock up for a few month's of supplies.
Exactly, a lot of purchases and trips to the store were triggered by the coupons. Haven't even been to the store since they stopped. Oh well, their loss.
I suspect Harbor Freight will see their sales tank, and bring back coupons, but just fewer items.
JC Penny did the same thing and they are barely in busines.
I LIKED shopping at habor freight but without 20% will not be going as often
I rarely shop there anymore. They lost a good customer! The 20% off coupon made it worth the drive, and I pretty much always needed a few more things while I was there.
Download app called hfcoupons. (harbor freight coupons). All up to date
Sounds like they're trying to force inside track membership on us for more membership fees. Will shop there less in future without coupons.
Its voluntary
Unless you want "instant savings". Then paying full price is voluntary
@@tluva1020 instant savings are automatic , no need to ask .Paying money to save money is not a value
@@danh2134 I understand that. That's a good thing. Except 80% of "instant savings" are now ITC. And also w/o the 20%'er, asking "full price" for the "good" items are going to piss off a large majority of their regular customers
@@danh2134 Ya, I volunteer to pay now to get my 20% off now. What a deal!
I usually went to HF when I had a 20% off coupon and always ended up buying stuff that was excluded, and usually stuff I didn't need. This will save me A LOT of money by NOT being tempted to go to HF because I have a coupon!!!
Exactly! Same thing goes for me, too.
I want the $1000 wood splitter and wanted the20% off, bummer
When they got rid of the catalog it really cut back on my trips to HF. Lets be honest if your watching this video you buy tools alot. Now with no "deals" to hunt down, I know I'll just go to HD, Lowes, or my local Ace.
I got an Ace rewards card and I've been pleasantly surprised at how good the coupons are. I'm getting a lot of good ones in the mail and through email. I live in a small county and we have a local Ace but I need to drive to another county to get to a Harbor Freight.
I started migrating to Tekton tools since they are usually a similar price and high quality and they offer an insane lifetime warranty and offer a solid amount of Made in the USA tools along side there high quality Taiwanese made tools, from what I can find it's like 50/60 Taiwan 40/30 USA and just 10% chinese made.
@@jenniferstephenson I do most of my diy/home improvement shopping at the local ace, may not have everything HD or Menards has but the staff is always far more helpful.
@@nicholascortez728 seems like tekton has become harder to find lately all the Home Depot’s and Meijers around me stopped carrying them. But I love my tekton stuff. My 1/4 torque wrench was only like $5 more than HF and is worlds better on feel and use.
No coupons = never knowing when something is on sale and therefore for some people never shopping at Harborfreight.
I used to go to HF almost every other day BUT I don't anymore since they did away with coupons....
It seems like the Harbor freight I go to they don't have the shelves stocked with anything pretty much the shelves are empty or they don't have what was advertised in the paper or what they sent me on the computer.
Watch how fast they will bring the catalog back, it’s probably one of the main factors in attracting customers. Mailing out catalogs was a genius marketing idea that probably gave them their customer base. It was fun looking through the catalog and it made you want to go to the store to look at everything and use the 20%off coupon. But hopefully they realize the deadly mistake they just made and that they bring it back before they go out of business.
The catalog is how I looked for new items and made my list from. The coupons helped me not only save, but prioritize my purchases.....gotta admit this is a shock to the system.
Year's ago when I work in a shop welding in the lunch room they had the H.F catalogs laying on the table for every one to look through just about every one there look through the catalogs and would go shop there or they would ask if any one wanted something from there. I can imagine that a lot of blue coller industries would have Harbor freight catalogs laying in the break room table.
I get a military discount at Home Depot and Lowes and Northern tool. That changes things
The only reason I buy a lot of their stuff is that 20% saves me $5 but I spend $100 on other stuff while I’m in there. Prices must go to their “real” price instead of their laughable retail prices.
The coupons and catalog's are what made Harbor Freight fun! Taking that away, takes the fun out of shopping there in my opinion
This was their whole selling point. They just added yet another reason why HFT sucks.
The fact that HFT started (a few years back) to step it’s game up (Icon) in the tool world, was a sign that a discount tool store will no longer be a discount tool store. Limited to no coupons is such a bad idea.
Yeah no 20% there going too lose a lot of customers
They want to force their LOYAL customers to join the "Inside Track Club Membership"!! Too bad they decided to do this to their customers. I guess it is time to check prices elsewhere. Just sayin'.
yup, all the HF stuff can be found on amazon & ebay. And not ex HF stock, but direct from the OEM in China.
I'll just stick to Home Depot without the 20% off coupons. That was the factor that usually drove me to visit Harbor Freight.
Everybody can chill out. They still have www.hfcoupons.com... Which as of now still has a 20 percent coupon on there. Now if that changes. We will see
@@whoman3466 that's what this video is stating, those coupons ARE going away.
@@cameronmx9 Yeah perhaps.. I didn't see it mention hfcoupons directly... ...But doesn't mean it isn't going away either
@@whoman3466, when was it again that 20% off coupon expires? Exactly.
@@russellborrego1689 well a few days ago it said 2/5.. Then 2/6 came and it was 2/8
It sucks, not going to shop there as much now.
This guys nuts, my coupon app still worked yesterday
My dad worked construction trades/carpenter for decades, then got hired at a GM subsidiary. He told me he used to take orders like once a month and bought $500-$700 worth of stuff from HF. Some of it was throw-away, but you take that chance with Far East manufacturers. The items were good enough that they used them for years and the 20% off Coupon was a big deal. HF is starting to "evolve" towards higher prices with the same lack of Quality. Harbor Freight's Tombstone is starting to be chiseled out with these facts, but Management won't care as long as they have made millions for their retirement plans. All those thousands of employees will get the axe and American Business could care less. BUY all the old tools that are made in America from wherever you can NOW! Once the shit hits the fan with HF you better have reliable tools because the prices at other stores will go even Higher.
My savings were never huge but they kept me shopping there. Plus the catalogue was a constant reminder hey I need that item and I can get it 20% off so I would go and end up buying a couple more items while there. I have only been once since the catalogues stopped coming. They should also think that most of their customers are older base males who don't live on the internet or search through emails for coupons or deals. I predict their sales will tank but time will tell.
HF has lost 70% of my business over the last 2 years. I used to go every week and soend $10-$100First it was excluding items then it was many items. Then was no more free items except the blue light Next was the 25% coupon was reduced to 4 times per year. Now without even 20% they are doomed. I cannot tell you how many times that 20% coupon had made a hundred in sales. I go there to get something and walk out spending over a hundred.
That won't happen anymore. :/
That's was the only reason for going to harbor freight tools
The lack of 20% coupons and freebies brings HF costs pretty close to other vendors. And other vendors is where I've begun shopping.
If Harbor Freight could afford to open several stores a month while still offering freebies and coupons, they sure haven't been hurting. If enough people think like me, they'll start hurting now.
My harbor freight was always so busy the line was 20 people long. Now that coupons are gone, the customers are too.
Well no need to make the trip to Harbor Freight anymore.
Used to love getting the paper catalog; saw things in it that I wouldn't have thought of otherwise. The 20% coupon always got me to the store. Since the catalog stopped and the coupons went away, I haven't been to a Harbor Frieght in almost a year.
EXACTLY! You hit the nail on the head.
Harbor Freight lost my business months ago when they put security locks on all of the Icon pegs. Rather than being able to grab what I want to head to the register, I had to wait in line for my turn to tell the cashier what I wanted or walk around the store searching for someone who could get it for me. Their idea of deterring theft also deterred a paying customer. I unloaded just over $1,100 of my Icon tools on eBay and haven’t been back to the store in 8 months. I found that I receive better service at NAPA Auto Parts purchasing Carlyle Tools. They have a much wider selection and the prices are roughly the same. I don’t shop at stores that make themselves a hassle to deal with.
With the 20% coupon I would be there several times a week. I knew everyone in the store by first name. The 20% coupon would drive me to go to the store in the first place and buy tools I didn’t even need. Those days are now gone.
Last time I was there I looked for a online coupon on my phone. And I couldn't find one. So I left without buying anything.
I loved getting my coupons and searching for the good deals. This sucks. Great video. Thank you!!
Haven't been there since they discontinued 20% coupons and will not go back until they return.
Been an Inside Track Club member for 2 years. Haven't saved me a dime so far.
The 20% coupon was the first thing i looked for when i needed a tool.
The questions now are:
Will ITC membership really mean something and now you'll have to be a member to get the old discounts?
Will the instant savings each week ever be more than the typical 10% off you could always find in the catalog?
It's looking like HF is turning to the Sam's Club, Costco, BJs business model, where paid membership is required. This works for perishable goods that need constant resupply. Tools shouldn't fall into that category.
Ok I have been paying attention to the instant savings since they got rid of coupons. Sometimes, but only sometimes they will equal a 20% saving, but not all of the instant savings give you that much off the regular price. When you had the 20% off coupon you could use that on the thing you needed instead of having to wait and hope that it would go on sale. There are some incredible inside track club deals, but like you said you have to pay an annual fee for it and again, you have to wait until the deal on the item you want goes on sale (if at all).
So my humble opinion is that this all ads up to them collecting more money per item and giving less discounts. In other words a PRICE HIKE. My estimation as a steady customer is that I am paying 10% more since these changes. They are being a little sneaky about the whole thing because they know that no one would ever go to any store again if they knew that from one day to the next they are paying 10% more for everything. Sorry that rant was so long, but I am really disappointed.
I just went there today and found this out. No surprise the store was basically empty on a Saturday when it normally would be packed, overpriced gloves in stock... I'm done shopping there because of this... they will probably go out of business now
Damn, those coupons were the only reason I ever came into their stores.
Terrible decision. Harbor Freight is making a classic business mistake of betraying loyal customers, all for the sake of trying to squeeze a few more pennies out of buyers. This move will cost them much more in the long run, as it removes a lot of the incentive for shopping in their stores. Most of the time when I visited Harbor Freight, I would use a 20% off coupon but would also buy several other items at their full retail price. Bad idea, Harbor Freight.
I literally buy more stuff BECAUSE of catalog . Now ill save money
When I needed something went to HF and used 20% coupon. Instant savings only work when if what you need is actually on sale. Without the 20% off coupon might as well stop at the Home Depot which is a couple miles closer and save some gas as I wont be saving anything at HF
The 20% off coupon was one of the MAIN reasons I went there. I want very much to be open to different approach but it's going to have to be compelling to keep me going to Harbor Freight
Done at Harbor Freight now. They did it to themselves. Sad days ahead.
20% off coupons and free stuff was the reason I shopped there. So they got us all hooked and then bingo, the incentive is gone. Big business wins out.
So now I go to Lowes, Home depot etc, to get items at close to the HF price.
I shop way less virtually never anymore at Harbor Freight... without a 20% off coupon to get me in the door. Used to use that to get a deal comprable to Amazon pricing on a specific item I wanted at the moment without the deal I just go straight to Amazon skipping Harbor Freight and buying all those extra items I would pick up on my trip to their store... takenote Harbor Freight.... and does The Insider Track Club make a deal? Maybe for some but I don't know any of my buddies that use it
I miss sitting in my recliner thumbing thru the catalog. I probably wont be shopping there as much because if I have to go online to look for something, it will be on Amazon where
I can usually find what I need at roughly the same price and have it delivered to my door.
Every time I want to buy something on sale, they're out of stock and totally clueless when new items will arrive. So frustrating!
I don't bother to ask an employee its always the same ole, "Truck comes every Wednesday." rhetoric.
When they stopped the coupons, I stopped regularly going there.
I used to go there more than once a week. Now I might go there maybe once every few months.
Haven't been there sense there are no more savings. Only reason to buy the junk was when it was cheap with coupon. Now looking at there website prices went up on everything.
just missed a sale they had yesterday. I went in and walked out probably won't be going back any time soon
Free items and the 20% and sometimes the 25% off coupons usually had me going in at least weekly. Now I only go in maybe once a month or two.
They should look at JC Penny and what happened when they discontinued coupons. Even if they lower the prices to a coupon discount, the perception of the customer is different. Especially many retired folks who still use print media. Good video.
I have almost stopped shopping at harbor freight since they discontinued coupons. I use to have brand new stuff sitting around for when I need it. Now I only purchase what I need at the time. I think I’m the long run they are losing out on money
I went in for the 20% coupon and ended up making spur of the moment purchases.......No more..No reason to go in anymore.
No 20% coupon pretty much just ended my shopping there, i usually only bought my higher ticket items there and 20% was worth the hassle of visiting 3 stores to find the thing i was looking for in stock.. switching to eBay/Amazon for that stuff
I just learned this and was like, "well I guess I no longer have a reason to go to harbor freight anymore".
The coupons being taken away has DEFINITELY save ME 100’s of dollars!!!. Now I just drive right on buy and go to Lowes!!!. Great marketing decisions HF!!!!. Was good while it lasted!!!
When I go to HarborFreight, I am looking for a specific item, not to buy random sale items, I only buy more expensive tools (above $40) there if I have a coupon, I definitely will not shop there as much, because the quality is not great, but good enough for a tool I will only use maybe once or twice a year.
If you are a veteran apply for the discount at Lowes it's 10 percent on everything that you buy
HF is a place I have to make a special trip for. Without the coupons, I'm less likely to drop in. I used the coupons for when I need a specific tool and I need it now; can't wait until it comes on sale. With this extra friction, Amazon Prime , Ebay and Craigslist will become increasingly important to me. I used to shop there 1 or 2 times a month. I haven't been in 2 months-
Some recently minted MBA sold mgmt on upscaling-I'm a home hobbiest. I don't need snap on quality on most stuff. The real attraction for me was the ability to acquire a wide assortment and now that is gone. 1 or 2 quarters of store foot traffic being down 25% might change some minds. I'd often go into the store to browse and the 20% off coupon made it easy to justify an impulse purchase. That's much harder to get excited about today. The coupon allowed me to have my own "personal sale" versus wading through ads hoping what I need comes on sale. I rarely click on the ads anymore because I never find a sale item I'm in need of.....
In retrospect, I can say I shop there A LOT less than when they had the coupons and freebies.
I used to go to Harbor freight just for the discount coupon deal's then once I was there I would buy other stuff. Now with no coupon, I probably won't go as often unless I need a tool for a job/project I'm working on. The coupon would make me feel like I need to get that while it was in sale?
It's most likely going to go how the jcpenney saving change went down lol.
I appreciate you not trying to totally spin this (like other channels have) as "nothing has really changed" -- which I'm sure is exactly what HF wants people to think.
For the average consumer, who doesn't buy enough from HF to justify paying for a membership, this is pretty much a 25% price hike. In the past, if you needed an item that cost $25, you could walk in and buy it for $20. Now you either have to either wait indefinitely in hopes of an "instant savings" rolling around around (which you can't do if you need the item right away), or pay $25 rather than $20 (a 25% increase). This does not even account for the fact that in the past you would get a free item worth a few bucks, and now you don't. So for customers in this situation (like me), this IS a negative change, and a big one. For me the increase has been enough that I can get some items cheaper elsewhere, which is exactly what I've done.
Some have downplayed the change by saying some item were excluded from the 20% coupon anyways (although in nearly 10 years shopping at HF I've only had the coupon rejected once), or you could get lucky and the item you need is on "instant savings" sale. But these are the exception, not the rule -- most times you will pay 25% more now. Many have said "just join ITC" which will help somewhat, but I and a lot of other average customers aren't about to be forced into paying $30/year just to continue getting SOME of the discounts we used to get all the time, for a membership we otherwise don't need.
The only ones that will benefit from this change are people who never used the 20% or free item coupons, presumably because they didn't care enough about saving a few bucks to bother. I don't think that's a coincidence -- I think those are the customers that HF wants now. I'm fairly sure this is a deliberate strategic move by HF to increase their prices and profit margins by weeding out the customers who got better deals by routinely using 20% off and free item coupons. Nothing wrong with that strategy, but trying to spin it as "nothing is changing, this is just to make things easier" is a flat out lie, and I think those repeating their propaganda are just playing into that deception.
Unbelievable. Sad to say, they are going to lose a lot of loyal customers. The circulars, coupons, and free stuff was brilliant marketing that set them apart from everyone else.
Like others have said, I never went into Harbor Freight without a coupon. I usually did my shopping first at home with the catalog or website. Kept a 20% off coupon in my wallet for any tool emergency. Their coupons really did bring me into their store, I guess that is no more.
I haven't set foot inside since they stopped doing coupons.
I rarely ever went in and browsed. I usually stopped in when I needed something and knew I could use the 20% off coupon. Now I have no reason to shop there. Looks like Walmart and Home Depot win again.
I'm not crazy, the coupons are gone! The only reason I had to buy a cheap tool was the cheaper price. Did the quality go up 20% (or more)?
I totally get the elimination of the coupons. The new programs seem to be geared towards increasing foot traffic with the hope of generating impulse sales, and less toward purchasers. When I went to Harbor Freight, I went to buy, not to shop. I'm not so certain that without the coupon there is enough value in the purchase for me.
Coupons are gone, but worse, so are the low prices! I have no incentive to shop at HF anymore.
I'm a high schooler and over the last 2 years I've really gotten into all kinda of auto and home repair and would shop at HF all the time. I'm seriously saddened that I wont be able to walk the aisles looking at my coupons anymore. I've learned so much about the auto repair world recently and got a job at a shop and now I cant shop like I used to at one of my favorite stores.
@Bender Rodriguez is this a thing?
Need another bandsaw and I knew their 20% off worked last time I got one, think I paid 220 out the door. Now it's 290 and no coupon, think I'll just splurge and get something higher end this time.
The last three things I found at HF I ended up finding cheaper at Menards. The items had the same packaging just different branding/verbiage.
I think Menards has a good selection and good prices on tools. There have been a few times I bought something at harbor freight and went to Menards and wished I would have looked at Menards first.
I used to go to Harbor Fright couple of times every month, and buy tools and supplies and pick up free microfiber towels and 25' measuring tape. In last two years, I have only gone twice and not missing it and probably have no reason to go without free item or 20/25% discount. I find Husky tools from HD are usually cheaper or same price but are much better quality and have lifetime replacement warranty (hand tools). I also find Hyper Tough tools from Walmart are almost exactly as HF tools, but cheaper and better return policy. I saw HF going downhill in last year; and as soon as they opened new stores, probably will close them just as fast.
Coupons certainly brought me there more often. Spending more at Amazon now.
The 20 percent off coupons are largely what made shopping there worthwhile. I’ve priced a few items recently and can find them at other local retailers (or online) for cheaper then harbor freights prices. Who in their right mind would pay a premium for harbor freight products?
Prices are FAR higher also. So no 20% discount and much higher prices. I guess I am back to Home depot.
Sad to see what's happened to HF in the last year. No 20% off coupons, no catalogs, few if any useful email promos. Being a diy auto guy with occasional use, I've found many of thier tools useful, but the 20% discount and item discount coupons made choosing them ez. I will now look closer at other purchase options. I'll never join ITC as ROI not worth it for me.
Truth is we’ve been paying full price all along. They used it to bait u in now since the “20%” is gone. You’re now paying 20% More now. Which is still full price with or without coupon
I didn't realize this until today. It's a pretty good drive to the store so when i go that way i always open the app and make my list. I did stop by Harbor Freight, bought one item that was labeled instant saving... and left with much less than I've ever purchased before.
Bring back the coupons and realize that although the "best" tools are great, thec"good" tools are what I really do in for.
Yes, i compare prices now and find Husky at Home depot better value now, and cant even buy large 60 gallon compressors anymore at Harbor freight.... will not shop anymore here, will go online to buy tools now.
Either it will be better or they'll bring it back or something similar. Right now they are selling faster than they can get stuff, so they are rolling in cash and don't really need to do coupons. Maybe that will change. I do miss looking through the catalog. I didn't like the digital version as much, but at least you could flip through it and see everything they had. You can't really explore the website the same way. Maybe with few coupons I'll be hoarding fewer things, but it was fun to hunt around and look for stuff that maybe I could use someday, and grow my collection of tools and supplies.
Totally agree with you. I was still hoarding the last of the printed catalogs and they got tossed out today🥲
Maybe if I ever upgrade my tool chest I'll go to HF again, but everything else I can get elsewhere. They discontinued the benchtop variable speed lathe that I have, was going to buy a 2nd one waited too long, and no replacement options, just the larger model that you have to manually change the belt to change speeds, I liked the electrically variable speed motor just turned a dial to change speeds, it was great for making pens and about 1/4 the price of the same lathe in a different color at Woodcraft.
The tools at HF are mediocre at best, and many other stores you can get the same cheap junk tools for the same price so all sorts of options out there for junk drawer tools. I'll support my local small town hardware stores much more now. Except for a new larger tool chest in the next few years, I can easily be done with Harbor Freight.
Without the 20% coupon they just lost a lot of my business
The catalogs mailed to me was how I made my shopping list. I know already I haven't gone as much.
No coupon no shop there. No free stuff coupon no purchase items at all. It was my only incentive to shop there for free stuff and coupons with discounted stuff. Honestly I’m done with them. They have inflated prices of their stuff that is cheap China stuff anyway.
Well, except their tools made in Taiwan. Not China - ever.
I tried to use one of there 25% coupons today. They would not honor their coupon.
I recently became an inside track member after buying from h.f. for over 20 years but I'm still going to miss the freebie and the coupon. We will see how it goes. Thanks for the video
Most of the things I buy at HF are consumables. I restore old USA tools, so rarely if ever purchase tools like sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, etc. Most of my electric tools are either old made in USA or Milwaukee, though I have been eyeing one of their rolling carts for a while which a coupon would really help.
At 20 to 25% Harbor Freight tools were acceptable for light duty non professional applications. Since they have discontinued the discounts I now purchase tools from Lowes or Home Depot. If i am going to pay the same price I would rather have a Husky, Craftsman or Kobalt tool that is far superior in quality. I think HF will loose a lot of business over this...
I know I have not gone back to the store since the discounts were discontinued...