same with their batteries. Trash. Not even worth the hassle of "free" to replace them rapidly.
I was a big proponent of HF years ago. Not that I bought everything there, but I saw the value in some items as a homeowner, needing perhaps a more advanced tool, not wanting to spend "Home Depot money", HF had a lot to offer. And sure enough I have a bazillion of the free blue and black flashlights and the other gizmos they offered.
Then they got uppity during covid, they thought they could shift their image to be more like a HD/Lowes by upscaling their store brands, and they ditched coupons virtually overnight. I basically stopped going - not some sort of boycott, just HF doesn't have the value it once did. some items might still be worth it, but if I need 10 things for a job, and I can get maybe 8 ONLY at Home Depot, why am I going to make an extra trip/stop at HF to get the other 2 items?
Maybe the resurrection of coupons is a hint that they've realized they dumped their core consumer base.
Can never have enough of these screwdrivers in random places around the house.
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same with their batteries. Trash. Not even worth the hassle of "free" to replace them rapidly.
I was a big proponent of HF years ago. Not that I bought everything there, but I saw the value in some items as a homeowner, needing perhaps a more advanced tool, not wanting to spend "Home Depot money", HF had a lot to offer. And sure enough I have a bazillion of the free blue and black flashlights and the other gizmos they offered.
Then they got uppity during covid, they thought they could shift their image to be more like a HD/Lowes by upscaling their store brands, and they ditched coupons virtually overnight. I basically stopped going - not some sort of boycott, just HF doesn't have the value it once did. some items might still be worth it, but if I need 10 things for a job, and I can get maybe 8 ONLY at Home Depot, why am I going to make an extra trip/stop at HF to get the other 2 items?
Maybe the resurrection of coupons is a hint that they've realized they dumped their core consumer base.
[and I'm not a boomer]
100% agree. I always felt the tools and so on in the past were trashy, but they had their place. For instance, why would I pay average price for some tool that I would use once or twice. Now they don't seem to have cheap items like that. I basically stopped going there.
Harbor Freight. Back to the freebies. The sad thing is half their customers (boomer retirees) Don't do computer coupons. My dad used to spend all kinds of money on crap at HF because he got a mailer and wanted a free flashlight. Then bought a bunch of other crap he didn't need. This Coupon? he will never know about it. He won't go and waste any money.
If they wanted to make money they would still send mailers to old guys.
Not this boomer. In for one and one for my wife. Thank you very much.
It's nice to see them returning to the freebie coupons of yesteryear.
For folks unaware, they used to have a perpetual 20% off any item...as well as a rolling set of free item coupons. Each coupon was for one item, limit one coupon per person per day. But I can't tell you how many times I stopped in "just because I was driving past". And several of those visits resulted in additional purchases.
All the coupons were printed back then too -- local papers, flyers, mailers. Nothing online.
Then Covid happened, and they got stingy. Instead of having a lot of cheap specialty tools great for once-a-year use, they started releasing "premium-styled" brands. Gone were the bargain basement prices that got themselves their reputation from mail-order catalogs and their original retail locations. They also started to heavily push their "Insiders Track Club"....aka HorrorFright+ subscription service.
Well....since Covid, I think I stop in about 2-3 times a year. Usually IF I'm aware of a coupon (not released online until Friday mid-day) and IF I'm going past and IF it's interesting enough to grab. Home Depot's Husky brand has the same lifetime hand tool guarantee -- and they don't require a receipt unlike HFT. And although a little bit more expensive, it's simply easier than waiting for a 10%-15% off coupon that happens 2-3x a year.
Me neither, once the mailers stopped.
Back in the day, Monday-Friday during the day it was every old guy and his wife. (Bringing the wife to get an extra free tape measure)
I did that once with my whole family. When it got to my daughter's turn she just said I'm with him and they just gave her the free item without asking for contact info.
If you are going anyway for some reason this is a no brainer. Otherwise gas eats the value.
What about electric? My HF is close enough that I can make the round trip without the gas engine coming on at all. All things considered, I don't think I'd take the diesel out, just for a freebie.
I'm so pissed with myself. I went in there to buy a 6ft auger but the store display one was tip tied down. When they went to the back, someone brought out a box with 4 in it and the store rep didn't realize neither did me when I said oh it's heavy. The rep suddenly cut the box before I could take it away and handed me the 1 I paid for. I could have had 4 augers for the price of 1 if I didn't say a word smh. As a consolation, I chose the 4 in 1 screwdriver set as a freebie for signing up
Harbor Freight. Back to the freebies. The sad thing is half their customers (boomer retirees) Don't do computer coupons. My dad used to spend all kinds of money on crap at HF because he got a mailer and wanted a free flashlight. Then bought a bunch of other crap he didn't need. This Coupon? he will never know about it. He won't go and waste any money.
If they wanted to make money they would still send mailers to old guys.
Does he have a smart phone? Get the HF Coupon app.
Harbor Freight. Back to the freebies. The sad thing is half their customers (boomer retirees) Don't do computer coupons. My dad used to spend all kinds of money on crap at HF because he got a mailer and wanted a free flashlight. Then bought a bunch of other crap he didn't need. This Coupon? he will never know about it. He won't go and waste any money.
If they wanted to make money they would still send mailers to old guys.
I once got stuck in line at Harbor Freight behind a guy rummaging though his accordion folder stuffed with Harbor Freight coupons. I was pretty annoyed, but then he offered me a "super coupon" as he was leaving. I didn't take the coupon (I already had one), but the gesture somehow made me a little less annoyed.
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I was a big proponent of HF years ago. Not that I bought everything there, but I saw the value in some items as a homeowner, needing perhaps a more advanced tool, not wanting to spend "Home Depot money", HF had a lot to offer. And sure enough I have a bazillion of the free blue and black flashlights and the other gizmos they offered.
Then they got uppity during covid, they thought they could shift their image to be more like a HD/Lowes by upscaling their store brands, and they ditched coupons virtually overnight. I basically stopped going - not some sort of boycott, just HF doesn't have the value it once did. some items might still be worth it, but if I need 10 things for a job, and I can get maybe 8 ONLY at Home Depot, why am I going to make an extra trip/stop at HF to get the other 2 items?
Maybe the resurrection of coupons is a hint that they've realized they dumped their core consumer base.
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I was a big proponent of HF years ago. Not that I bought everything there, but I saw the value in some items as a homeowner, needing perhaps a more advanced tool, not wanting to spend "Home Depot money", HF had a lot to offer. And sure enough I have a bazillion of the free blue and black flashlights and the other gizmos they offered.
Then they got uppity during covid, they thought they could shift their image to be more like a HD/Lowes by upscaling their store brands, and they ditched coupons virtually overnight. I basically stopped going - not some sort of boycott, just HF doesn't have the value it once did. some items might still be worth it, but if I need 10 things for a job, and I can get maybe 8 ONLY at Home Depot, why am I going to make an extra trip/stop at HF to get the other 2 items?
Maybe the resurrection of coupons is a hint that they've realized they dumped their core consumer base.
[and I'm not a boomer]
100% agree. I always felt the tools and so on in the past were trashy, but they had their place. For instance, why would I pay average price for some tool that I would use once or twice. Now they don't seem to have cheap items like that. I basically stopped going there.
Agreed, I have at least a dozen of those 4-1 screwdrivers. They are super handy.
If they wanted to make money they would still send mailers to old guys.
For folks unaware, they used to have a perpetual 20% off any item...as well as a rolling set of free item coupons. Each coupon was for one item, limit one coupon per person per day. But I can't tell you how many times I stopped in "just because I was driving past". And several of those visits resulted in additional purchases.
All the coupons were printed back then too -- local papers, flyers, mailers. Nothing online.
Then Covid happened, and they got stingy. Instead of having a lot of cheap specialty tools great for once-a-year use, they started releasing "premium-styled" brands. Gone were the bargain basement prices that got themselves their reputation from mail-order catalogs and their original retail locations. They also started to heavily push their "Insiders Track Club"....aka HorrorFright+ subscription service.
Well....since Covid, I think I stop in about 2-3 times a year. Usually IF I'm aware of a coupon (not released online until Friday mid-day) and IF I'm going past and IF it's interesting enough to grab. Home Depot's Husky brand has the same lifetime hand tool guarantee -- and they don't require a receipt unlike HFT. And although a little bit more expensive, it's simply easier than waiting for a 10%-15% off coupon that happens 2-3x a year.
Back in the day, Monday-Friday during the day it was every old guy and his wife. (Bringing the wife to get an extra free tape measure)
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
If they wanted to make money they would still send mailers to old guys.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
If they wanted to make money they would still send mailers to old guys.