Harbor Freight Scam?

[Brewtal66]

Yesterday I headed to my local Harbor Freight to pick up a new battery charger. My old one quit, so I just figured I'd pick up a cheap one for the time being.

I had a 20% off coupon that came in the mail. I set the charger on the counter and my coupon. The girl enters my phone number to pull up my name. She asks me, "Would you like to buy the warranty?" I said no thanks. Then she doesn't scan my 20% coupon, but a 25% off coupon she had sitting on the register. I figured I was getting another 5% off.

Then a minute goes by as she's clicking in and out of this screen, re-scanning the charger, etc. Finally she flips the screen around and says, "Okay with the discount the warranty is almost free, okay?" So I said "No, I don't want the warranty." She seemed pissed off, had to get the manager to cancel out the transaction.

She rings up the charger for about the 8th time, and gives me my total. "Did you get the discount?" I asked, and which point she then scanned my 20% off coupon, not the 25% off coupon. She was pretty rude after I didn't want the warranty.

This really bugged me. She asked me a simple question, I said no. Then proceeds to try to slip it by me again. Do they make some sort of commission off warranties? I felt like I was getting scammed!

[Vince@Meanstreets]

They get a bonus if they make that sale.....and it's close to rent time

[Brewtal66]

They get a bonus if they make that sale.....and it's close to rent time

Ahhhh...that explains it! She was obviously very adamant about it!

[BBBluey]

Yup. It looks good on employees when they sell you the warranty.

You can always use that to your favor as well.

[iskwezm]

Warranty is free money to them, because you probably wont use it or will lose your receipt or not bother with it. They send out 2 coupons, one is 20% and one is 25% off.

[Shmoov69]

Well, if it was "almost free" I would have bought it as almost every HF item that is electrical is a POS. Not that I don't have any, but they are certainly not dependable. Warranty on a wrench? No. But warranty on a charger, definitely! LoL!

[1transam]

Yeah im lost at not taking the warrenty? Same price, Why not?

[DBasher]

Harbor Freight is no better than Walmart, the products and service are sh!t. I'm a cheap azz always looking for the best price and refuse to shop at either place. Sorry you got the stink eye and poor service but it should be expected. Good luck with the charger....don't leave it plugged in unattended! I'd hate to see your next post start with "my cheap ass HF charger burnt my garage down"

:shakehead:

[Shmoov69]

^^What he said!!^^

[GMTILT]

yeah what he said goes for me too !! hf stuff is junk period, it doesn't matter which way you slice it its junk, I have stopped getting anything there that requires any electricity or air power, only thing I get from them is stuff like gloves and small "use once" tools then toss in the can, bout all they are good for anymore !! Chinese crap !!

Harbor Freight is no better than Walmart, the products and service are sh!t. I'm a cheap azz always looking for the best price and refuse to shop at either place. Sorry you got the stink eye and poor service but it should be expected. Good luck with the charger....don't leave it plugged in unattended! I'd hate to see your next post start with "my cheap ass HF charger burnt my garage down"

:shakehead:

[Vega$69]

What she was saying is the 25% off money will pay for the warranty.

Say the charger is $100 take off 25% = $25. The warranty cost $25. That's what they mean by free.:lostmarbles:

[Brewtal66]

Harbor Freight is no better than Walmart, the products and service are sh!t. I'm a cheap azz always looking for the best price and refuse to shop at either place. Sorry you got the stink eye and poor service but it should be expected. Good luck with the charger....don't leave it plugged in unattended! I'd hate to see your next post start with "my cheap ass HF charger burnt my garage down"

:shakehead:

I agree there. I was just in a pinch and needed a cheap battery charger. I sure as hell didn't leave it plugged in without checking on it periodically either! I didn't trust it.

I might just return it and pony up more for a good one.

[randy]

i bought 5 step bits from there. Honestly i love them. Worked well for me. Now i also bought a Air Gun and as soon as i plugged it in it broke lol

[BMR Sales]

My old soldering iron wouldn't heat up yesterday, so I went to HF. I bought one and it lasted til my 6th solder!

[Che70velle]

My old soldering iron wouldn't heat up yesterday, so I went to HF. I bought one and it lasted til my 6th solder!

Did you dare buy the warranty?

[BMR Sales]

No, because it was $13 and it's going back tonight on the way home!