Harbor Freight Tools Reviews

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

Pros – Pleasant and understanding in-store management, coworkers all get along well, commission added to paychecks for membership and warranty sales. Entry-level is slightly above min. wage, and we receive small yearly raises based on performance. The managers at my store are very willing to work around my schedule. For an entry-level cashier job, it is not the worst.

Cons – Customers are often unfavorable, the warranty-replacement system is faulty and often makes the customers angry (at you), and lately the upper management has been pushing sales and mail-card collection much harder than before (resulting in excessive pressure to succeed in a task that you cannot guarantee the customer will agree to) -- they now have a policy of issuing write-ups to cashiers who do not pitch everything just right. I often disagree with the methods we are now expected to use, and I hate being forced to annoy the customers. I have also seen a decrease in hours because the stores are expected to have a certain number of employees.

Advice to Senior Management – Fix the warranty system, and ease up on the pressure.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

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

Pros – family feeling they have christmas bonuses and closed for christmas and thanksgiving

Cons – not really a competitive salary tight budget less employees to get the job done

Advice to Senior Management – have a plan and stick to it

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

Current Employee – been working at Harbor Freight Tools part-time for less than a year

Pros – I enjoy talking to customers, and lots of customers have private businesses that are in need of extra help. it is a very useful place to network with many blue collar workers.

Cons – Very manager heavy, disorganized, minimum wage, poor communication. The policies don't allow for much common sense.

Advice to Senior Management – Figure out a plan between all of you, and stick to it. Don't use employees like pawns in your own chess game.

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 part-time for less than a year

Pros – Above average pay. Team oriented. Fun, time flies by. Great hours, flexible scheduling. You're able to attend school while working part time. I really can't think of working anywhere else.

Cons – Like in every business customers can be a tad snotty. Higher ups can be very disrespectful, not managers; those appointed over them. There's not much bad I can say about this compony at least not my store. We always get compliments on how helpful and friendly we are.

Advice to Senior Management – Treat those appointed under you with respect, encourage employes do strive for success.

Yes, I would 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 7 years

Pros – reasonable work schedule, good bonus structure for management

Cons – upper management let there egos make poor decisions(regional level).

Advice to Senior Management – Value your good managers/employees who are always there when needed. Also, you can't retain good employees by giving them a 15 hours a week work schedule.

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

Pros – casual dress, good pay, people at the analyst level are very nice and all around good people

Cons – 12-14 hr days, chained to blackberry, awful IT and technology, management doesn't care about you, upper management so worried about own job so could care less about those under them, mad morale, awful company culture, high turnover, no parking

Advice to Senior Management – Don't chase away all the good talent within 1 yr

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

Current Employee – been working at Harbor Freight Tools part-time for less than a year

Pros – great schedule, above average pay

Cons – hard to deal with customers sometimes

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 less than a year

Pros – salary a lil bit higher than mininum, nice coworkers

Cons – working on the weekends and holidays

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Harbor Freight Tools full-time for more than 7 years

Pros – Great work schedule, flexible hours if you are an exempt employee, decent benefits package and paid time off. Company is growing, room for growth at the store level.

Cons – Plenty of turnover in upper management/executive level at the corporate office. HR department needs a solid leader that understands what the employees need in order to be successful. Lack of recognition to corporate employees that actually do their work instead of "brown-nosing" to their boss.

Advice to Senior Management – Hire better managers that know how to get the best out of their employees. There are plenty of employees that skate by doing less than average work while high performing employees are not recognized.

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