Complaint Review: Harbor Freight Tools

I've bought quite a few of HF's tools, probably several hundred dollars worth. I've never had a problem with any of them, except the air operated hack saw. I took it back to the store and  was given another one, no questions asked and it works great. I am, at 75, no amateur when it comes to mchanical work. HF is a real gearhead's toy store.

I just went to the Harbor Freight Tools website and looked up the cordless jig saw.

After putting the fear of God into one of their moronic Indian supervisors by threatening them with the Department of Consumer Affairs, they just changed the title of that item to, "BARE CORDLESS JIG SAW,"
with "Battery and charger sold separately" in fine print at the bottom of the page.  If someone is in a hurry when they order this product or are foolish enough to buy it over the phone where there is no such warning, they'll very possibly miss this, since the photo STILL shows the entire unit WITH the battery included.

Harbor Freight Tools are total scum bags and I would never, ever use them for anything.  But I'm glad I made the effort to protect other people from being ripped off by them.

I appreciate you manning up.  You've got class, a rare quality these days.

Btw, if you get duped into buying this jig saw, the battery and charger will cost you an additional $36.98,
well over the original cost of the saw itself.  This is the closest thing to a total "bait & switch" scam that I've ever seen, anywhere.

I would have to agree their wording should have included what you posted...most do.

I do think, though, they are a pretty decent company and some boob there screwed up the ad.

I have just about every DeWalt 18V tool made and several I've bought as bare tools, but knew it.

Your reply was very good...thanks for being civil.

Dear Sir:

You called my "tirade against Harbor Freight unjustified"?  In what way??

The ad you spoke of does not state "Battery and charger not included" BECAUSE WHEN A PHOTO SHOWS AN ITEM, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THAT PHOTO, NO MORE, NO LESS. FAILURE TO SEND YOU EXACTLY WHAT IS PRESENTED IN THE PHOTO IS AGAINST THE LAW.  What part of that don't you understand?  Take another look at the ad in question.  You'll see very clearly a big, red battery marked "18.1 V" in the photograph, directly attached to the saw.  Unless my eyes are getting bad, nowhere is it mentioned that no battery or charger is included.  For you information, this is known as false advertising.

I'm 62 years-old.  Never in my entire life have I purchased a cordless power tool that did not include a battery and charger!  Had Harbor Freight mentioned this, I would have never even purchased the product in the first place.  Why?  Because the battery and charger cost as much as the entire saw!!!

Get your facts straight before you reply to anything you don't understand Mr. Greeley, or to use your own words, grow up.

Ken, they should flat out state that these key components are SOLD SEPARATELY, in the item description. For their own sake as well as a customers. Why make a guy pissed by getting the item only to find he now has to make a separate order for the other 2 things before he can use it? The battery was in the picture, with no disclaimer. And most folks, other than maybe the seasoned pros who might opt for a Dewalt item, assume, with justification, that rechargeable battery operated items come standard with a battery and charger, unless told otherwise in the text visible to them before they order. I see the point in offering modular tool components separately, especially when a group of them use the same batteries, but STATE IT where the customer can see. Their lack of doing this created bad will and suspicion for nothing.

I have seen battery operated tools sold without batteries but they always tell you about it.

I looked up this tool on their web site and you're right, nowhere do they mention it doesn't have a battery or charger.  I'd be pissed too.

I followed the link you provided to the ad and here's a copy of it, from that site:



Includes a 4" Wood Cutting Blade



It doesn't show a charger and doesn't say the battery is included.

 You asked "Never in my life have I ever seen a cordless power tool that didn't come with a battery or charger.........."



Well, Dewalt, a very high quality cordless tool can be bought without battery or charger...it's called a bare tool.  Most people end up with more than one cordless tool and shouldn't have to buy a battery and charger for each one.

I suspect other companies offer this option, too.



Your tirade against Harbor Freight is unjustified, it's more than a bit your fault.  Nowhere does it say "Battery and charger included." I've bought numerous items from them and never felt cheated or lied to.



Let us know how your referral to the "Department of Consumer Affairs" works out. If they have anybody with sense there, they'll tell you to grow up.

These wise guys do state battery and charger are sold separately, but in their owner's manual pdf, http://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/67000-67999/67044.pdf. That's not right. It ought to be spelled out in the text of the product description. It's their own store brand by the way. You may have a case against them since they picture the battery at least, without any disclaimer that it's not included. Not the kind of garbage I'd expect from a national chain like this. Good to know how they operate.