Harbor Freight — Local services in Helena

Products are okay, but just don't try to pay with a check at checkout. I had to show two forms of ID first the US Passport and then a driver's license as well, the checker girl new at the job did the best she could, three different employees came out of a dark office room and said that she will have to call it in. So she did, 20 minutes into the call I was slowly loosing my patience. Our daughter was waiting in the car with her baby, so yes we were getting a little nerfed! The teller gave routing number, account number name address, address again, name again, spelled name with letters, phone person must be somewhere in an other country...Asia? with no English knowledge. After 20 minutes I wanted to cancel my shopping, my husband insisted that he needed some of these items. So I ended up paying with my credit card, asked for the manager to see if he would agree to a customer satisfaction treatment. He thought that there was absolutely nothing wrong with their system and this always happens when you shop this store the first time with a check, a customer satisfaction treat of any kind was absolutely not an option for him, he was straight forward, impolite...

Great prices and selection. Sometimes hard to find things but every time I've needed to ask for help, I've been able to find an employee with not too much effort. One thing I'd recommend is looking up the items on the website so you have a plan when you come in.

Tool quality is kind of well known to be low across the board. I've been given advice in the past about hand tools: always buy a Harbor Freight version of your tool, and only if you wear it out or break it should you pay extra for the "nice" version. However I'd take a little more time to research anything with higher risk of injury like an angle grinder or something like that. With that said, Harbor Freight is just about always my first stop...

DO NOT waste your time or money. You're better off spending the extra on name brand. Bought a paint sprayer, it didn't work. It was FOR work, so instead of taking the chance on the same one a second time, we figured we'd return it (under the time frame, with receipt, in original box) and go elsewhere for a brand we are familiar with. Yeah....no. You can either put 100% of your purchase price towards an upgrade (that may or may not work), or you can pay a 20% restocking fee (what are they restocking?!) and have the remainder put back on a card. Hmmmm.......so when I return my used, malfunctioning paint sprayer- they're going to charge ME so they can restock it and sell it to YOU? Like I said, just go...