Harbor Freight — Local services in Salem

Started buying from them in 1987. Mail Order ONLY back then as Harbor Freight Salvage Co. Although I'll admit their tools were cheap and not of the best quality way back. The first major tool I ever purchased through H.F. was a Band Saw in 1988. It STILL works to this very day and it has been through Hell and High Water !! They've done nothing but get better, ever since. It was a somewhat slow evolution but that's how it goes. I OWN all the Big Boy, brand name tools too. That being said, the current line up of Harbor Freights HIGHER END tools, Will hold up to almost any big brand tool nowadays ! Yup, they still sell some cheaper stuff and if you're going for the cheaper stuff, you might break it after a while but for the price. Use em, Abuse em, then buy another one. You'll still come out on top compared to buying a single brand name for 4 X the price. Not only that but H.F. is slowly taking over the US. market. As others Fall,,, H.F. is building a new store every few weeks. With a little work in their Warranty dept. I suspect they'll be Numero Uno in the US, in under 5-7 years. Clean inside and staff has always been helpful. Pictured below, a 1,500 lb. Bike Jack & 3 Ton, Low Profile Floor Jack with Extension Arms which were both bought roughly 6 years ago. Also a US General 5 Draw tool chest which easily holds up to my old Snap On chest which is basically unsellable for what I paid originally.. No issues with the Harbor Freight...

Today, I called every Harbor Freight from Littleton NH to Salem NH looking for the item that I needed and unfortunately almost every store was out of stock. Everyone I spoke to was pleasant and helpful in helping me track down a different location for what I needed or offered to order it for me (unfortunately I need it sooner than it can be in). When I called Salem and they said they had it in stock I was so excited! I was in my car on the way but still about 40 minutes away so I asked the gentleman who I was speaking to if he could just hold it for me until I got there as they only had one in stock. He said he’d ask his manager and when he came back he stated, “my manager said no, she won’t hold it for you”. I explained again that I had been searching all day for this exact item and I was on my way. I asked again if they could just put it aside for me until I got there. He repeated the same answer and then hung up on me. So I went back to the drawing board, found a similar one at Home Depot and gave them the $400 for the item that I needed. I’ll shop at other Harbor Freight locations but certainly never...

I have visited this store many times and they almost always have what I need. The store is clean, well arranged, well stocked, and easy to navigate.

The associates are usually helpful but sometimes can be obnoxious. I once witnessed a cashier humiliate an older lady who did not understand the applicability of a certain coupon. But mostly they just seem over worked and stressed. My impression is that Harbor Freight and CEO Eric Smidt do not support them well. As a result, the store seems to have a very high employee turnover rate.

As an example, I recently visited to buy an air drill. I called in advance, and was told that their inventory system indicated that there were five drills in stock. When I arrived, there were no drills on the shelves or in the back room. When I asked a frazzled employee how this could happen, he said that it happens all the time and the employees have to take the grief for it.

Eric Smidt: Your job is not just to prop up the Chinese economy. How about providing your employees some support? And why don't you start by providing them an inventory system which...