On the 3rd I ordered 35777-5VGA 17-3/4'' x 12-3/4'' x 5-3/4'' ALUMINUM CASE and 47802-2VGA SELF-CHARGE AUTO JUMPER from harborfreight.com. I haven't received any email updates, no phone calls, no letters, and not even my items. I called Harbor Freight's 800# to be put on hold for 20 minutes, finally a representative picked up and said I had to call a different 800# for customer care. On hold another 20 minutes, finally someone picks up and tells me that the Toolcase is on backorder until next month and that it takes up to 14 business days for an item to go through the shipping process. She said the auto jumper already shipped but I need to wait till at least the 28th of august before I should expect it. So I get to wait 1 month for 1 item, and then I get to wait another month for an item to come in from backorder then 14 business days for it to ship. This is unacceptable and HORRIBLE business practice. There is nothing on the website that says 14 days to ship and it DEFINITELY doesn't say anything about the Toolcase being on backorder, especially not for at least a full month. I cancelled the backorder but there was nothing she could do for the auto jumper until the 28th. I would avoid this company's online business at all costs. The only reason I ordered from them is b/c there is a Harbor frieght 2 hours from where I live and I figured it wouldn't take long to get me the items. I didn't know they were shipping from some warehouse across the nation and that they were backordered.

Outstanding experience with this company as a first time buyer. From the layout of their internet site to their ordering process to their packaging of the end product, it's all fantastic!  
 
Zero problems encountered, the tool was exactly as was described and the UPS shipping was pretty quick (and did I mention free since my order was over $50?).  
 
I will definitely be doing business with this company and recommending them to others in the future.  

I placed an order for $32... However, somehow they changed my order # and added items worth $207... I used live help chat, and talked to CS rep. I gave her my original order number and she said "it has been shipped and I was charged $32..." However, My credit card statement was showing $207..  
Took me 2 hours over the chat to find out, that they have changed my order (did not send any notification )and added other stuff to my order and DID charge my card $207  
 
When I requested my money back -- she said I can dispute charges on my Credit Card, but they will not credit my credit card.............. She had no idea of what happened  
 
Unacceptable, they made UNAUTHORIZED CHARGE to my credit card and I can' t get my money back  
 
I like their tools, but I would not suggest buying them online, go to BM store.  

This review was modified by its author, gendos, on 6/4/04 10:33 AM.

My first order with this company. I tried them out based on the very inexpensive tool prices. I placed my order online, took about three weeks to deliver. I am very pleased with the service and although I didnt receive email updates about the order I was able to use my order number to check the status at the web site. Order arrived double boxed in good shape (brad nailer, torque wrench). I will definetly be back.

i've been buying from harbor freight for years, and am completely satisfied. quality for price is excellent. i like knowing my total cost including freight, before i purchase. many places offer cheap prices and inflated shipping handling costs, not so with harbor. when you place an order, expect it to take a month to be delivered, many times it's quicker. the only problem i've had , is they'll pack heavy and light items together, have had some minor damage.

I placed an order on 3-21-04. I called two days later, to check on the order. Customer service said the order was processing. After the fourth day, I called back . They said the order was cancelled. I did not receive an email notice or  
phone call. I had to call them to verify. This is very unprofessional. I asked the CSR,"Why was  
this order cancelled?" She said, " She did'nt know." Now ,I am behind schedule on my projects, because Habor freight "dropped the ball."  
I thought other consumers should know about Harbor Freights "no excuse cancellation policy."

Horrendous customer service. Didn't receive part and have spent the last 38 days emailing and calling to receive a refund for a compressor HF said was lost in shipment,then backordered, then sent but never arrived. I drove over an hour away to buy another compressor and called to cancel the original compressor as agreed upon with customer service manager and they still didn't cancel the order. I am still waiting for my refund of $159.99 as of today, 2-26-04 and HF is still refusing to acknowledge my existance, although they certainly didn't ignore my credit card when I paid. The only thing I got was lies,excuses and false promises. I urge anyone looking to buy from this company think twice, no three times about it - bottom line - what you think is a good deal will cost you much more than you save. Never again will HF or any other of it's affiliates get a dime from me.

Placed the order on 1/12  
Today is 1/25, and it did not arrive yet.  
Emailed their customer support: please advise if you shipped it, and the tracking number  
Their response:  
Your order number is <> and it was shipped on 01/15/04 please allow 14 business days for delivery.  
 
14 business days, huh. I wonder what shipper would take 14 days to deliver. No wonder they "forgot" to provide the tracking number.  

I buy tools for home and have also purchased $20 digital calipers for work. I've been using them for years. I've probably spent a couple thousand dollars over the past several years. Much of what they sell is cheap in price and quality, but for the most part, I've been pleased with the value. Delivery usually takes at least a week. Some stuff comes weeks later. Overall, I've been pleased and will continue to buy from them.

It has been going on 2 months since my order. I reviewed my canceled checks today and sure enough it was cashed. I called customer service and they said it was canceled. I asked why they said i still owed $11 the check was over $32. They said i should have gotten a letter but i did not. I think they should at least sent what was paid for if nothing else. I used coupons which they said they took off. My math may not be great but i check it twice before i send, and the last time i checked handling was not $11 as she said i did not pay that. I will not do any more business with this company and will warn others also!

One of the worst companies I have had to deal with. Placed an order for one item. Four days later I cant even check the status of the order "doesn't exist". I email customer service and their reply was that they didn't get authorization on my credit card (actually bank debit card with plenty of funds). They replied that my order was canceled and I would have to place it again. Needless to say I will not be placing the order again and I will not be ordering anything else. If they wanted your buisness, maybe they would contact you if there was a problem...but they didn't.

I order two simple tool cases on the 22nd of June. One month later and I still haven't received them. I call up their customer service, who by the way are rude, and I try to get to the bottom of this. After translating the ebonics, I understand that the tool cases were on backorder, but they never had the urge to tell me. Well anyway, I finally received these China-made pieces of crap on the 23rd of July. I would never order from them again.

I have purchased loads of stuff from Harbor Freight to start a personal wood shop (mitre saw, mortise drill, 14" table saw, wood lathe, lathe tools, 12" planner, 3 1/2" portable planner, scroll saw, dust evacuater, etc). With a few minor exceptions, I have been exceedingly pleased, especially with the price.  
I was also surprised(good)with technical support, which I mistakenly assumed was no existent. They were very help, with a wait time of about 15 sec. Very impressive.

Not great, not terrible. Sort of like what J.C. Whitney used to be (haven't ordered from those boys since I was a lad). Good prices on tools and gizmos, if you pick and choose carefully. Bear in mind that even if they say "free shipping," they also charge and handling fee. When I placed an order in January, one of the items was back ordered until May 31 (they don't have a clue about real time inventory systems). In the process of following up on that one item, I was told multiple different stories about when (and if) they would fill it. This company seems honest enough, just not very competent. Ultimately had to re-order the one item.