Harbor Freight sent an email newsletter out today, with an all-caps subject line: WE’RE BRINGING BACK COUPONS!
In the email, starting with an “Inflation Busters – More Coupons” graphic, a series of a tool and equipment coupons followed. There are quite a few “Super Coupons” and “Wow! Super Coupons” for usually-discounted items.
There are any number of reasons why Harbor Freight discontinued their coupons for a while. Things were a bit different, and while they still offered some coupons on occasion, it was nothing like customers were used to.
Advertisement
Harbor Freight was also pushing their paid “Inside Track Club” membership program, as well as their [high interest] rate credit card.
A lot of readers have spoke about Harbor Freight’s seemingly anti-coupon strategy in recent months. Many of you have made it clear, that you won’t shop at Harbor Freight without coupons.
Around 10 years ago, in a now-textbook example of pricing strategy, JCPenney discontinued coupons and offered low prices with no coupon needed. Their sales plummeted in the months that followed, forcing them to reverse course. Bed Bath & Beyond is another retailer that depends heavily on their coupon strategy.
Maybe Harbor Freight has started to see that customers were staying true to their sentiment.
Harbor Freight coupons used to appear in all types of magazines and newspapers, and were of course also sent directly to customers via mail and email. It’s an integrated part of their success and their business model.
Coupons are back, and chances are they’re back for good.
Advertisement
Now, the only question is whether the coupons will be relevant to what Harbor Freight shoppers are looking to buy.
Harbor Freight has been building up their more premium tool lines, such as Hercules and Icon, and we’re unlikely to see coupons or discounts on these lines except on rare occasion.
Steve
I kinda knew this would happen eventually. I wasn’t a big believer in their new strategy. They must have lost enough of their core consumers without gaining enough of the more up market consumers they were after.
Pegoda
Me too! I used to work there and always said it wouldn’t work. They have too many older customers for online only stuff..
King duck
Even younger people don’t want to do online with poor or questionable quality tools. You definitely need to feel them in your hand if it is worth the money.
Jason McDaniels
I wanted to get some US General cabinets as Christmas gifts for a few remote employees, but there’s no buy online pick up in store and they won’t take phone orders. The only way to do it was pay to have them shipped – when they all had local HF stores.
Chris
I totally agree, I wanted to buy one that was on sale for a limited time but I was too busy working to actually goto the store and make the purchase.
Bruce
I only end up using coupons when my favorite checker is there. She always knows every product in the store and uses the correct coupon to drop my bill as much as possible. I’ve been trying to hire her away for years. Just phenomenal customer service.
Eric
I have not purchased since they stopped coupons. They do have ways to get out of honoring coupons so we’ll see.
Raycr
Same here .
I hate being directed to a club fr $29. a year.
I hate having such specific coupons for things I don’t need like a grinder.
I think 10 % off a $10. Item Is a joke. Most Doyle pliers are more than that.
Make it 10% off the first $100 item and exempt tool,chests if you want.
I would use a generic coupon once or twice a week on the way home.
Now the free flashlight is $1.79
It is like they purposely want to piss people off
I don’t even go in anymore.
Raycr
Suits ruined Harbor Freight cont’d:
Coupons used to last a month. Now several days to a week.
After the pandemic I don’t like to be told what to do.
I don’t want to be herded on “special days “ into a store with unmasked others to try my hand at catching Omicron subgroup B since I had the original two years ago and Omi subgroup A in January this year.
Eli
This man needs a podcast! Things I hate and why!
Rick
I totally agree I was pushing to this membership after I bought the membership I did not receive a penny in savings and stop going after that best thing could happen if they bring back the coupons
MM
Not to steer this too far off topic, but I found the mention of Bed, Bath, and Beyond interesting. I remember their coupons, I’d often get them in the mail, or they’d appear in the newspaper or magazines years ago. The problem was that they had a very long list of exclusions in the fine print on the back. Nearly anything that I might buy was on that list. I’d be hard pressed to name a brand that wasn’t excluded from the discount. HF coupons sometimes had exclusions but the list was very short compared to BB&B’s
Steve
That’s ACE with their rewards program and coupons too.
Joe H
One Ace location told me “we don’t price match” and another did so I don’t shop at the one that doesn’t. I don’t know how the others are.
Matt the Hoople
If you have an ACE that price matches, I think that’s great. I’ve never asked at my local ACE because I dont “shop” there. I buy stuff when I need it now. They are more expensive but are 1/2 mile from my house and give personalized service being a small independently owned business. I’m OK with paying more for the convenience when I need it because if I didnt, my only option might become having to drive 15 minutes to Home Depot when the ACE goes out of business. So, I like to “throw them a bone” now and again.
Franck B.
I completely get what you mean, and it sounds similar to my situation. I can walk a mile to two different local Ace Hardware stores (two different owners, too), and I get a coupon every month that I use to soften the sting. It used to be that they had better quality hardware products and more in stock, but since all the other local hardware stores have closed… it’s pretty much the same low quality stuff at HD. They’re just 4 miles closer and without parking hassle.
My perceived value for Harbor Freight is pretty low because it involves at least 30 minutes driving each way if there isn’t any traffic (rare), and therefore over $20 fuel and possibly tolls. If they had a coupon for that I might consider going if there was something I knew I needed. For instance, it’s the only semi-local place I can get blasting media or powder coat on a weekend.
Similarly, I can drive 9 miles to Lowe’s in 15 minutes instead of driving 4 miles in 13 minutes to the HD. There I can park close, shop with fewer people, and check out quickly… as long as they have what I need. And it’s closer to a lot of other stores instead of being out at the edge of town.
TonyT
My local Ace seems to be doing fine (they seem to be pro oriented) and definitely has the most knowledgeable staff, but it’s on the other side of town (so ~20 mins to get there) so I don’t go there often, while HD is on my way to work.
MtnRanch
The pneumatic roller seat that’s been $19.99 for years is now $24.99 with coupon. Many other similar great coupon deals available.
Mr. C
Welcome to Inflation/Greed of 2022.
“We’re giving you a sale. It might not be cheaper. And you’ll learn to like it.”
MFC
Yeah, I stopped buying from Harbor Freight because their prices were mirroring brands I trusted. If 20% coupons come back then I’ll probably start buying various one off tools again.
Roman
Someone decided to make a fake 20% off coupon and post it online so there’s a good chance that it’s not.
Benjamen
It’s anchoring 101. Take a $10 item. Try to sell that item for $10 sales are flat. Then jack up the price to $15 and offer a coupon/sale for $10 sales will boom.
We see the $15 and then when it is discounted to $10 our faulty brains compare the $10 to the first price we saw not the actual value of the item. It’s not just a matter of knowing it happens, because it fools you even when you are looking for it.
You’ve mentioned BB&B, but think also Kohls, and just about any craft store (Micheals, Joann’s, etc). Their entire business model is to double the price and then give 50% off coupons.
TonyT
But Walmart’s success is based on exactly the opposite: every day low prices.
I think what works best depends on the market AND the buyers, e.g. when shopping at HF customers expect cheap stuff and coupons, but we don’t at Walmart, because Walmart never did coupons. It’s kind of like Trader Joe’s versus Safeway.
John E
Most of what Walmart sells doesn’t come under the category of ‘discretionary spending’ so shoppers are far more price sensitive to things that they have to buy.
TonyT
Plenty of Walmart’s items are discretionary spending, such as kitchen appliances.
Benjamen
Walmart’s success has to do with driving out all the other competition and giving the illusion of lower prices.
If you comparison shop, you’ll find that other stores in the area more often have items at a lower price that Walmart, Walmart just has lower prices on key items that bring people into the store.
Franck B.
Didn’t Walmart used to drive out the competition by requiring suppliers to lower costs (often by reducing the cost of manufacturing in several ways: lower quality, cheaper labor, etc.)? Sort of like what they did specifically with Fieldcrest-Cannon/Pillowtex, but as a standard practice?
Stuart
Great point about Michaels; sometimes certain products are more expensive there, even with a 40% or 50% off coupon. Other times, you can save a bit with a coupon, but there’s also a strong chance you’ll buy more while you’re there, such as their competitively-priced store brand products.
Mr. C
Michaels & Hobby Lobby coupons evaporated when ACMoores went out of business.
I remember seeing 40-60% coupons for Michaels, and a perpetual 40% for Hobby Lobby. Not anymore. The best I’ve seen for M is 30% and Hobby Lobby just flat out doesn’t do them now.
It also happened during the pandemic, so CEOs claiming “inflation” gotta have their quarter over quarter double digit growth somehow. Fastest way was to hit the coupons.
I haven’t bought a single thing from Snobby Lobby, Michalinos, or Horror Fright since they took away the discounts. No reason to go, and there are better options elsewhere.
MIKE GUENTHER
What hobby lobby does now is every other week, a particular section or range of products will be “on sale” for the week. I shop there for my disabled wife.
Sewing fabric will be 30% off every other week, for instance. In the scrapbooking section, paper will be 50% off, ect.
Joe H
It’s the 20% off coupon I care about. I hardly bother with any other. I don’t shop there much without that.
Mike (the other one)
1. Get rid of coupons.
2. Push credit cards and memberships.
3. Raise prices.
4. Bring back coupons, which lower the prices back to what they were before they raised them, so customers think they got a deal.
Miadlor
Absolutely. Been meaning to pick up a $5.99 item…. Now $7.99. Memorial day coupon, 25% off. Should be illegal.
Jbongo
Interesting. I had the same email, but with the subject of “DISCOUNTS DISCOUNTS DISCOUNTS”. I’m curios to see how it changes things. The one thing I’m waiting for a sale or coupon is the U.S. General 42″ tool cabinet (I only recently saved up the money for it). That’s really the only one I’ve seen that has all short drawers.
Davethetool
If I remember Tool cabinets were always one of the exclusions on coupons. They did have sales on them however…at least with the smaller ones. Not sure if the larger boxes ever hit sale prices as I remember they were always advertised in compassion mode ie HFT vs Snap On pricing, etc.
weldor
Who, aside from HF corporate, did not see this coming?
I bet many new suites were promoted for this OBVIOUSLY BAD idea.
I think the biggest issue with their jump into “name brand quality” tools was underestimating the market and owner saturation that already exists.
To start, most tools sold are to owners of an existing platform, that they already chose.
The cordless power tool revolution was already a decade ago. Most of the market for potential buyers has decided on their brand(s), and have bought enough tools to wait for actual deals on platforms – *of proven quality – they’re already invested in.
*their 90 day warranty on supposedly high end power tools is a JOKE. They should prove their claims of quality by backing their “name brand” prices with a “name brand” warranty.
I do believe their higher end consumables (blades, grinder wheels) are still a good price/performance ratio.
Davethetool
I always purchased at HFT for the prices and availability of tool needed. Coupons were a huge part of that! Never expected exceptional quality especially for project tools. If they were priced cheap and made it through the intended project then all was good. Never would pay for the ICON brand name and own nothing ICON. I think HFT mis-categorized who their buyers were vs who they wanted included possibly? They had a niche and threw it at the wall to find nothing stuck! I am hoping they can reverse but is it too late?
T1000
Every flannel wearing DIY’re says the same thing. I don’t expect much or throw away tool. I don’t understand why HF doesn’t simply play to that strength. Stop comparing to known brands like it means anything. They should be a little more arrogant. Go ahead and spend $200 more for that tool if you want. Icon and Blaster? Your customer isn’t there for that. We got good prices for the tool you don’t know how to use for the project you probably shouldn’t be doing in the first place
Dave Bennett
Harbor Freight will crush the competition with their coupons…. haha literally just think of the Pittsburgh jack stands. Save your money folks.
Albert
Supposedly there is a 25% coupon without brand restrictions that was emailed earlier this week to inactive customers to lure them back.
Strit
You mean their 30% off anything under $10 wasn’t working? HF use to be a great place for cheap tools at cheap prices. Now its just cheap tools at home depot prices…obviously there are some exceptions…just not enough for me.
Rog
I’m not a HF shopper but I’ve been getting their targeted ads that are specifically tied around the current market of inflation and rising prices. They must have realized that going back to their “cheap” roots is their best course of action, because these are definitely not “upmarket” ads
Jim Felt
Gee. I wish I needed more camo packing blankets, cheap tarps and small dollies but I don’t. Yawn.
Mike
I don’t think this is going to help them much. They’ve shifted away from their initial appeal pretty far to the point where more known/established brands are not much more and frankly often better quality. Yes there will still be gems there to buy that are worth it and a good deal, but that’s becoming less and less the case.
Albert
Eric Smidt wrote in his email “We’re also introducing 1,000+ tools in the next year, so you’ll find something new and exciting every time you visit our stores or website.” That would mean 3 new tools every day, which seems a lot. But I am very satisfied with their recently released full bank service cart and plan to take a hard look at their surface conditioner and the new version of the Predator 3500 generator.
SamR
I have been an ITC member for three years now, and it always pays for itself in the first or second purchase. I get a lot of good deals. I understand their new business strategy because everyone used to make a laugh of their tools. Now, with much decent quality, lift time warranty, and HF stories everywhere, I don’t see why HF would not go to the next logical phase! For example, ICON is killing truck brands with their line of hand tools and toolboxes.
Ben
Not to sound particularly accusatory, but this reads a LOT like a shill comment. “Make a laugh”? “Much decent quality”? “Lift time warranty”? Come on.
Ryan
I felt the exact same way when I read it too. HF corporate employee trying to pedal the inside track club membership. I have never been a member because I have never seen a deal good enough to make me want to join.
BJ
I’m currently a member and one oddball purchase covered my cost of membership. It was either I paid full price for the wheels at the time or pay full price and get a membership. I haven’t seen many deals that I can live without on it.
SamR
The points I picked are vital, and for clarification purposes, I will elaborate a little bit.
– “Make a laugh.”
Many people are looking with contempt at HF mainly because of the lower tool prices!
Not because of the low tool quilty, not because of where it is made, mainly because of the low price!
I hear those people everywhere on youtube, Reddit, online reviews, everywhere!
Which makes me mad! Because it is like asking to raise the price to earn those people’s respect!
– “Much decent quality.”
What HF is selling is not that much different or sometimes better than what you will find in all big box stores! Husky, Gear Wrench, Craftsman, Astro, etc. Many times HF %25-%50 is cheaper!
– “Lift time warranty.”
no receipt or no question is asked every time I go to the HF store for a warranty. HF’s employee tells me to go and grab what I need and meet them at the cashier. Other places make me feel I am begging for a warranty replacement or waiting for the “specialist” warranty claims employee!
I love good deals, and I think I am getting a lot for my money.
And for the HF got expensive, who doesn’t!
Stuart
Admin Note: I looked at their comment history, and SamR’s opinions here appear to be 100% genuine.
SamR
Thank you. It means a lot reading your response.
Stuart
You’re welcome!
Your opinions are appreciated, and I thought they came across as sincere, but Ben’s doubt is also understandable.
Luckily, I can put everyone’s doubt at ease by checking for patterns or leanings in anyone’s comment history.
Ben
I appreciate the due diligence! SamR, I apologize.
Stuart
Honestly, i) there’s no easy way to ask someone of they’re a shill, and ii) it can be good to pass others’ comments and opinions through a magnifying glass while asking “are they for real?”
I scrutinize comments a LOT, because there are incentivized parties out there trying to secretly seed specific messaging.
TMedina
I lost $5 on that bet.
Peter Schling
I’ve been in the professional trade for more than 60+ years. Make no mistake, I’ve taken my trade extremely seriously as that is what my old man instilled in me. If you are working in the trades, this is your livelihood if you are serious. Whatever your sales pitch is, there has never been and likely will never be a comparison to professional tool truck brands compared to home owner grade Harbor Freight junk. Look I’ve dealt with sales pitches my entire life; my earliest experience being 75 years ago. Not much has changed.
Half a century ago, I bought a Snap Tool box. Decades of very rough use and I’ll admit abuse, the toolbox still works just as well as the day I bought this half a century. Same with a Snap On ratchet that my old man owned and that is at least 60 if not older years old. I’ve only had to replace inner workings twice since I owned this decades ago. Having bought new Snap On items in 2022, the quality is still there and what I purchased was made in America similar to what I first purchased decades ago.
These Icon branded items and much of what Harbor Freight sells isn’t American made. What I own is eventually going to be given to my grandson; the same I doubt can be said about Harbor Freight tools.
Ryan
If Icon was way cheaper it would sell like no tomorrow. Price needs to be half of what it is. They are charging made in USA money for icon.
If they want to sell more tool boxes; lower the prices! If shipping from Asian in a container is too expensive; get this stuff manufactured in Mexico in one of those special trade zones.
Bob
I believe the HF tool boxes are one of the industries/products that the Chinese government is subsidizing. So even removing the shipping cost it still might be cheaper building in China vs Mexico. Crazy I know considering what it costs to ship a CONEX these days.
Bob
I believe the HF tool boxes are one of the industries/products that the Chinese government is subsidizing. So even removing the shipping cost it still might be cheaper building in China vs Mexico. Crazy I know considering what it costs to ship a CONEX these days.
Dustin
The inside track club is well worth what you get for it. My wife works at a HFT, and I get to see the differences and hear about the prices all the time.
I know some people in the comments have been claiming it’s a mark up to coupon strategy but that hasn’t been the case from what I’ve seen (no I side info here it might be but I doubt it) I do know the new lines of products are way way way better than the old stuff. Bauer I love, Hercules I have a drill and it’s awesome compared to the Chicago electric plug in I had before. Allegedly (I haven’t heard officially) a lot of the new tool lines are made on the same production lines as other companies flagship products with different casing.
But spend your money on what you want, how much you buy doesn’t affect my wife’s paycheck, but having a lot of exposure to the HFT pricing history and product offerings, I do have and recommend the inside track for the coupons, and the Bauer Hercules lines are legit. I don’t own icon that stuff is expensive and I don’t need heavy duty tools.
Tim D.
I’m sure this has been said before. I don’t care for coupons, and am glad to see them go. However, its a pretty bold strategy to get rid of coupons and keep the inflated prices that the coupons were supposed to counteract.
Without the coupons, most of their items were priced too high to justify buying vs a name brand alternative.
Koko The Talking Ape
Personally, I hardly ever shop at Harbor Freight. It’s far away, and they don’t carry what I want.
If I ever DO shop there, it’s because the prices are so low that I can tolerate the distance and the poor quality (or else the poor quality doesn’t matter.) And if that’s the case, a coupon won’t make any difference either way.
Chris
The 20% off Harbor Freight (HF) coupon is what brought me in and any extra coupon for something I could or would use was icing on the top. The reality now is I don’t have a choice on a specific item I want to discount and the instant discount just isn’t enough or I don’t need what they offer. There still are a few things that are competitively priced but nothing I can’t wait 3 months to get. The last thing I will say is HF really should get a buy online pickup in-store option.
John
The problem with Harbor Freight is that people realized long ago that their product quality is awful. There are only so many people buying disposable tools and it gets hard to grow in a limited market.
Ron
HF prices just keep going up. I don’t go there much now . Been buying kobalt at Lowe’s. Little better quality in the tools. The HF coupons were very good for some of the tools.
Jacob M
It’s anecdotal, but I remember before the shift that the store seemed packed most weekend days. It’s a lot less busy now, so perhaps they did lose business. I remember the checkout lines were a lot longer and that was before the labor shortage. Now with fewer hands on deck the lines still seem shorter, but perhaps not having a stack of coupons helps with that.
Raycr
I remember many days when there was 5 people ahead of me on line to pay.
Frank D
Coupons to combat the inflated prices and get the item back to the old retail price. Got it.
It’s good they’re bringing coupons back, but the I doubt they will get foot traffic back to what it was. Gone are the days of: oh hey there’s a HF, let me go see what they have, get a freebie or two and walking out with 6 to 12 or more other items.
I only go for an exact need item, not motorized, that I need on short notice and can’t get from another big box store.
David Z
Same here. I’d wander in because I was bored, grab a bunch of low priced stuff, maybe a couple other things if I had a project need, and feel like I had fun. I don’t go in at all anymore.
Perry
I stopped going when they started pushing their power tool lines and raising prices to compete with the big brands. They just aren’t worth it to me anymore when I can go to lowes/home depot, the tools are about the same price, amd I can buy the lumber I need as well.
mattd
whenever i needed some random item the first place i used to look was the coupon database site and see if HF had it on coupon, now i just go elsewhere, i don’t even price check harbor freight. part of it was the “fun” of hunting the deal.
Mopar4wd
I have said alot of this before but:
HF does fill a decent need in the world with the death of Sears. Lots of entry level techs buy their first tools there. I asked my old tech school teacher and he confirmed HF branded tools have largely replaced Craftsman as the tools of choice for students.
I think HF was smart to keep trying to move upmarket but should have kept the cheap tools and discounts (maybe not coupons but sales) along side them, which is where they seem to be headed. I think clear lines in the sand for which tools are the cheap ones and which are not will help. I think the Icon brand is a good step. Also as someone who has bought things from HF for over 20 years the quality has been improving pretty consistently over time. Also along with this over the past couple years HF has steadily released hundreds of new or improved tools each year.
HF really needs to change their power tool warranty. 90 days shows a lack of confidence. Despite this I see more HF welders and compressors then any others in home shop photos on social media. They move alot of them.
I stopped at a local HF this morning. I will say they are not as busy as the once were at their peak 2-3 years ago they were packed alot. Now they seem to be steady with 7-10 customers in store mid day on a weekday and 20-30 people in store on a weekend.
Eric S.
HF is the red headed stepchild of tool retailers. My local store is in a run down shopping mall. Coupon/sales flyers along with emails would give me a reason to even consider going to it. Stop promoting & I stop buying. Now it seems Ace is doing the same thing. The last couple times my local ace had something I wanted on sale they where out of stock. That with too many mindless sale people give me little reason to shop there. I prefer ordering from HD.
MIKE GUENTHER
I think Amazon might be taking a chunk of HFT’s business. Recently, I needed a couple of specialty tools to install my mini splits. So I bought the HVAC test gauge set and the vacuum pump from HF. Total cost, $150. But I needed a special adapter that they didn’t have. Off to Amazon I went to find the adapter. While purchasing it, I noticed they had a complete kit, gauges and pump in a carrying bag, for $125. So I bought it too, and took the HF stuff back for a refund.
The sales clerk didn’t even bat an eye when I told her I found a less expensive set online and gave me the refund. I needed a couple of other items so went ahead and bought them there instead of going to the Lowe’s or HD that are both within a mile of the HF store.
Rick Sondeland
I like the old school cut out coupons. I absolutely hate internet coupons and discounts, Internet in general along with Farmer Bill🤢 Gates & Microsoft 🤮
Dan
I’m fed up with their coupon BS. It used to be the cashiers would let you know about a coupon and scan in it for you even if you didn’t have it.
Well now they will NOT do that. I’m getting so tired of getting home and seeing a coupon for something I just bought and I paid a higher price. It is too difficult to keep up with their dozanes of coupons on a smart phone.
Yes they will give the difference back if you go back and ask- after standing in the line for 10 minutes. I’m done with them.
John
I ceased going when the freebies, and the coupons vanished. I am still waiting for either to come back without have to spend for their stupid annual club.