I just came back from Harbor Freight, where I requested a price adjustment on a Hercules review sample I bought two weeks earlier. Armed with a 20% coupon, I also picked up another Icon ratchet for testing. And, with another coupon, I scored a free USA-made bucket.
Spend $24.99 or more, in-store, present the coupon, and you get a Harbor Freight red 5 gallon bucket for free.
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My store still had dozens of buckets in two locations that I saw, and not everyone was leaving the store with one, either because they don’t know or care about the promo.
Hey, I can always use more buckets.
More Info(via Harbor Freight)
You can print the coupon, or present it on your smartphone at checkout.
Deal ends 11/17/2019.
I don’t know how it happened – I went from not visiting Harbor Freight at all in two years, to visiting 3 stores a total of maybe 7 or 8 times in two months.
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Tom D
https://www.hfqpdb.com/ Is a great resource but the quantities of free coupons seems to have decreased.
Evadman
that website is based upon people submitting pictures of the coupons they receive. It’s only as good as people want it to be 🙂
Kenneth Stephens
Struggleville.net is better. Type in the part number and get all the most recent coupons
Benjamen
Free coupons are everywhere, but you have to sign up.
If you get the catalog/monthly flyer they have the green 20% discount card, that’s a stiffer cardstock.
The first time I used it I expected it to be taken away, but the cashier told me to keep it — that it was reusable. Every other time I’ve used it they’ve given it back except once.
When the cashier took it away that time I was confused, I told them that other cashiers have always given it back, and they gave it back.
If you sign up for the email there’s a 20% coupon nearly every week.
Also check those crappy coupon flyers that you get in the mail every week. Just about every week there’s a HF coupon.
I always carry extra coupons in my wallet and give them out to people in line who don’t have one.
Greg
Till the end of time, I will always hate Harbor Freight’s ads hahah. “Save $730!” Price actually marked down $30.
Frank D
You are hardly alone …
And, let’s not forget the bi-weekly holiday, parking lot, disposal, closeout, liquidation, final mark down, … super sales.
HF seem quite dishonest and unethical to me in that regard.
Several times have I stopped by to glance, and either saw nothing special or just anywhere from a small table or two with usual merchandise … to maybe six tables one time in Florida, under the covered outdoor walkway, … but it was just the usual stuff with typical coupons and a few open box, missing item, clearance items.
Nothing special. Not worth it to make a quick trip for.
Gordon
Open box items also carry no warranty. They had an Earthquake XT 1/2 air gun for $119. Compare that to the coupon price of $129. Not saying the 90 day warranty is the best, but most air tools are either going to blow up immediately or last a lifetime with proper care. An 8% discount isn’t worth the risk.
EUGENIO
HD’s Innovation Awards, Amazon’s Pro Choices, etc.
I’m sure we can find some BS marketing effort from most retailers. The two that I mentioned I find much worse than HFs practices you listed.
They are only saying that their stuff is pricier than what they have ever sold it for (which Amazon and HD also do). Those two are lying big time to the consumer by implying that some professionals’ judgment and experience had led to a recommendation, while on reality it’s based on nothing really.
Steve F
I’m about done with HF. You see a 20% coupon these days, drive an hour to get to the store to use it and you’re told that the 20% doesn’t apply to that “brand”. You read the fine print and after you see all the brands listed you’re left with a 20% coupon that will only apply to flashlights, blue tarps and zip-ties.
They now “compare” to Snap-On, DeWalt, etc, and have raised their prices to within striking distance of the big guys. Well, guess what, HF, I’ll be buying Milwaukee and Makita from now on…
John
Your best bet is to test the coupon code online. Add the item you want to buy to your cart, and then enter the coupon code in your cart. If the code is valid for the item you want to buy you will see the discount reflected immediately. If the code doesn’t apply to that item you will then know.
MT_Noob
They got you hooked now… it won’t be long before, like me, you’ll have a dozen plus free flashlights.
Frank D
Blue tarps!
Don’t forget about blue tarps!
Stacey
Oh and the Holy Grail…Free Screwdrivers!!! Who doesn’t love those, good for all those abusive tasks. ?
John
It would be a better free bucket with zero name brand on it. I will gladly pay $3-4 for a plain bucket that doesn’t advertise HF, Home Depot, Lowes, Ace, Menards etc.
Flip side of the coin is maybe no one will steal these buckets when they are out in the wild. Bottom might fall out, UV light might degrade them.
Just giving you a hard time about it because you seem so joyous over a free bucket.
If you want a good laugh, check out the bucket brigade of reviews on HF website.
“The best features of this bucket is that it has a closed bottom and an open top. ”
“This bucket holds liquids really well.”
“It’s great as long as you don’t kick the bucket.”
“3 bucks…holds stuff…doesn’t leak.”
“It’s a bucket. Has a hole in the top , and not in the bottom.”
Jim Felt
Totally agree. We mostly buy black USA made 5 gallon buckets.
And sometimes HD Orange just because of convenience. Then give them away.
fred
Stuart says that the HF ones are USA-made.
The ones from HD and Lowes come from Leaktite – made in Leominster MA.
Maybe they are also the OEM for HF
The What?
Here’s one to add – a free or 3$ bucket makes a good toilet when there’s no water on the jobsite and you can’t make it to the closest store with a toilet to feed the catfish. Make sure you have some napkins or paper towels though and to line it with a bag in case you need to use it for something else. But at least hf has the free bucket and the 20% off coupons. HD or Lowes has never had a coupon for 20% off of anything in their stores. And when has either one given anything to their customers free of charge or even offered a bucket or flashlight or tarp from their stores? Never. It might be a pos but at least they have the decency to show some fkn appreciation for their customers. So you can talk all you want about how hf is unethical and dishonest but at least they do a hell of a lot more for their shoppers than HD or Lowes has ever done. And name a retailer that isn’t unethical or dishonest cuz I can’t think of any.
Nathan
Well, Lowe’s did offer free Lowe’s buckets if you traded in any competitor buckets. So, not free if you paid for your other bucket, but a free upgrade if you wore your old bucket out…
Frank D
My sharp point was merely about their advertising of ongoing specials using terms that have zero bearing to what is actually going on.
For the rest I do appreciate a number of things that HF offers and their coupons do draw me into their store as well, staff is friendly, etc.
I have made many public points about HD mis-management and poor customer treatment in my area, and relayed several issues directly to HQ as well; it is why I did not use HD stores for an entire year, … and I still shop elsewhere when I can, if at all possible and not too inconvenient.
Stuart
I hate to tell you, but HF freebies are not for customer appreciation. It’s a marketing strategy.
I used to get Lowe’s coupons in the mail, and then people started abusing them and selling them. It’s been a very long time since I received a Lowe’s Project Starter coupon.
Frank D
Indeed. Lure the customer with a freebie or even loss leader, meanwhile they become familiar with all your products, spend some, come back for more … all while needing $0 in TV ads … compared to the untold millions the other big box stores spend on visual media nationwide.
William
I get Home Depot Coupons every so often. Don’t shop at Lowe’s much, don’t have one that’s convenient
Hoser
That’s $25 more than I would ever spend at HF. And the fact that I have vowed to never go into a HF store means there will be no free bucket for me. I guess I’ll have to spend $3 for one at Menards. . . . . .
Chip
I walked in to my local to smell the offgassing rubber,only available at HF.I
Mainly to look at the icon toolboxes.
They look good with heavy guage metal,and very nice paint/powdercoating,but they’re definitely not professional grade in my opinion…formed after a quick 2 minutes and went on shopping.
#1 The drawers have a open limiter on one side only,which makes the drawers wiggle at full extension.
#2 a small rough plastic keeper on one side only, is what keeps the drawer closed when not locked,and must be some sideways to open it.
#3 wheels are ugly.
#4 way to expensive for the above issues.
Walked out with 9mil gloves,3way air splitter,plastic calipers,etc.
They saleslady offered the bucket without showing a coupon,since I spent $52.
At least a bucket is usefull,free stuff to me is typically junk
jayne
Harbor freight wants your business. A free bucket cost them next to nothing when you spend twenty five dollars. Good, Better, Best, tool selection. Still, they do have some bargains. And some of the same old junk.