Harbor Freight Tools Reviews

Current Employee – been working at Harbor Freight Tools part-time for more than 3 years

Pros – My present store managers are extremely helpful and respectful. Flexible scheduling. As a senior working part time. I really can't think of working anywhere else.

Cons – Understaffed, (creates very poor customer service) pitiful pay, warranty company is getting worse and worse, mail card procedure is ridiculous. As a cashier I have to ask so many questions (or risk being written up) that I was standing there talking long after I'd finished ringing up items. Mandatory we play the radio in store and I smile every time I hear the Lowe's or Home Depot ads. Relying on mailing advertisements shows they are still a mail order company. Easily one of the biggest wastes of money I have ever seen – keep asking the same customers to fill out a mailing card. They want 300 a day and we do not get three hundred NEW customer a day, really a stupid idea. Most of my regulars feel sorry for me having to ask every time. Inside Track Club membership is completely bogus, if you receive a Sunday paper you'll get coupons better than the ones you have to pay for. Parking Lot Sale a lot of work but customer seam to like it. However there are no bargains, just same prices without needing coupons.

Advice to Senior Management – Treat those appointed under you with respect, some upper managers walk in and never even say Hello to the floor personal. To good to talk to the peons

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Harbor Freight Tools part-time for less than a year

Pros – I really liked the people I worked with. From the store manager and even his boss, down to the fellow grunts I threw truck with. The actual work isn't that hard, and if you just want extra money while in high school or college, It's an OK place to work. I can't stress enough how much I liked the people I worked with, very high cohesiveness in all departments. Some of the best people I've ever worked with. The PTO stacked up quickly. Lots of free time working there.

Cons – BUT... The pay is an absolute joke, as well as the hours. Towards the end of my employment, I was lucky to even get a day a week. It wasn't just me though, everyone's hours got cut. It was explained to me that because of the time of year, corporate cut the store's total hours to give out to associates. There was also a feeling that we were just numbers in corporate's eyes, that they only cared about numbers, nothing else. I'd heard about how it used to be good working for the company a few years ago from the old timers there. They all said the same thing... That thing was that the company's business model had changed for the worse. They were right. They are now mercilessly sales driven, no regard for anything other than numbers. Don't work here if your bills depend on it... or if you want to advance within the company. It won't happen.

Advice to Senior Management – Don't forget that people need HOURS to LIVE on, You're not just hiring teens and college students who just need beer money. You're also hiring people with bills to pay and mouths to feed.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Harbor Freight Tools part-time

Pros – Easy work, nice co-workers, great customers.

Cons – Work schedules are always messed up no matter how many times you give them your availability, maximum 10 minute break & 30 minute lunch, bare minimum pay rate, I can't count the number of times this company have completely dismissed employer rules and regulations, constantly understaffed, majority of the store are small and run down with horrible employee break rooms.

Advice to Senior Management – Please go back to school and at least obtains a Bachelors in Management to truly benefit the future of this company or let somebody with real experience and knowledge take over.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Harbor Freight Tools part-time for more than a year

Pros – Co-workers make work fun.
Employee discount on items.

Cons – Schedule always come out late.
Management talk to other staff about employees. (including e-vale)
No notice of schedule change unless employee notices and writes it.

Advice to Senior Management – Always treat your employees good because they are the ones who work hard for not only the company, but for you.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Harbor Freight Tools full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – Not Many. Benefits package is okay if you're lucky enough to be a permanent employee. Some departments have better morale and camaraderie than others. Building is in a nice community area.

Cons – Long hours, very poor compensation. The pressure is on to work 10-12 hours a day, even though 'overtime is not authorized'. Many employees are hired as in-house temps to avoid paying benefits. No advancement. Yearly surveys to 'improve' the morale situation in the company but nothing changes because upper management feels that they can just get new employees, if the current ones complain too much. Constant turnover, people abruptly quitting or being fired. Management will recruit and locate middle-to-upper managers and abruptly fire them in less than six months. Recruited managers are often unqualified for their positions and are set-up to fail from the start. They do this to not pay them what someone truly qualified in that role would cost the company. Upper management brought in incompetent consultants to streamline internal processes that changed nothing and ended up costing the company more money while trying to fix all the problems with the changes.

Advice to Senior Management – Stop hiring consultants as a way to milk the golden calf. There is no magical formula that will increase your profits this way. You only end up with burned out, angry, and alienated staff. Recruit solid people and pay them what they are worth. As long as you mistreat and overwork employees, they will not stay and you will continue to spend more money on the hiring process for the same results.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Harbor Freight Tools full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – The benefits for your family are outstanding, and there are many locations in Ventura County to work in. Great job for a graduated student.

Cons – Yearly pay increases of less than a dollar even with an incredible year of effort. Little advancement if you do not have an education. Older operating systems that need to be up to date.

Advice to Senior Management – Employees need pay incentives and there needs to be room for advancement with employees accelerating fast.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Former Employee – worked at Harbor Freight Tools full-time for more than 10 years

Pros – I enjoyed all I worked with. I worked my way from store clerk to district manager and knew everything about the company and l loved my job.

Cons – Company greed did me and a lot of others in. The company went from a great place to work and grow to a screw you we can find someone to do it cheaper company.

Advice to Senior Management – Stay away! You really are just a number.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Harbor Freight Tools full-time for more than a year

Pros – At first I got moved up very quickly. Then everything got all about favorites. Nothing is worth, CEO doesnt care about you and corporate will Contradict everything they say, don't pay worth a crap and just not worth your time.

Cons – See pros for the cons

Advice to Senior Management – Jump off something

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Former Employee – worked at Harbor Freight Tools full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – Benefits are extremely cheap and comprehensive, tons of PTO and sick time

Cons – Refuses to promote to management from within, does not back up employees on customer complaints, clueless upper management

Advice to Senior Management – Consistently changing policies and programs is not a way to keep employees happy and productive. Stick with what made the company profitable as opposed to trying to emulate other companies

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Harbor Freight Tools full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – Cheap prices, good discounts and decent quality products to sell.

Cons – Everything, literally everything is always changing.

Advice to Senior Management – Find a goal and stick to it.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend