Here is Harbor Freight’s new coupon code, timed for Labor Day weekend 2020, fresh out of their email newsletter. 25% off any* single item, with some (lots of) exclusions (listed below), and for Inside Track members only.
Coupon is valid September 5th thru 7th, 2020. Basically, Saturday, Sunday, and Labor Day Monday.
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Notice anything unusual about it?
In-Store Only.
I know that Labor Day is a huge sales event for Harbor Freight. Last year, my local store manager said they saw bigger than Black Friday levels of foot traffic and sales figures. With a 25% off any single item type of coupon, that’s not hard to believe.
I started off this post asking Harbor Freight to consider rethinking the promo. Other retailers are avoiding advertising any in-store sales or promos, so as to not encourage foot traffic while the COVID-19 pandemic is still spreading, infecting, and killing people.
But then I looked at the coupon a lot closer, and now I’m wondering if anyone will actually be able to use it.
First, this 25% off coupon is exclusive to Inside Track members.
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Am I an Inside Track member? No, I am not, as I don’t pay any membership fees, and so I guess I am *only* a “Preferred” member.
So to use this coupon, you need an Inside Track membership, which costs $30 per year or $45 for two years.
According to their website, you get a $10 gift card with each new or renewal membership purchase. And, that also unlocks this 25% off on item coupon for you.
I signed up for a tool brand’s membership program once, spending $45, if I remember correctly, to save $80 or something like that. Generally, I don’t find such paid members-only retail programs appealing.
Here are the exclusions on this 25% off coupon:
Limit 1 per customer per day. Save 25% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, compressors, floor jacks, power stations, safes, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, welders, Admiral, Ames, Atlas, Avanti, Bauer, Central Machinery, Cobra, CoverPro, Daytona, Diamondback, Drummond, Earthquake, Fischer, Hercules, Icon, Jupiter, Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, Tailgator, Viking, Vulcan, Zurich. Not valid on prior purchases. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid 09/05 – 09/07
So, you can’t use it on compressors, tool storage products, floor jacks, Hercules, Earthquake, Icon, or Bauer – basically Harbor Freight’s most popular products.
I guess their Pittsburgh and Dayton tools are still eligible for the promo code?
Chris I
Thank God! Time to go buy some zip ties on super sale!
Rogerto
I just bought there us general 72 tool chest with my 25 % off they tried to gouge me with there itc coupon for 999.00 but nope i told them my coupon says and i had 3 from 3 different dates Any item i repeat Any item 25% it did not have restrictions so i paid 799.99 or 809.00 with tax cause i brought with my new Harbor Freight credit card and got another 10% off the total so got additional 90.00 of with that so ruffly 400.00 off
Albert
I wonder how well Harbor Freight is holding up, first with the tariffs and now with the pandemic. Being privately held rather than publically traded, they don’t have to disclose much and can fall to rock bottom before the public realizes. I know they went to online flyers and catalogs. And Eric Smidt’s email said they were delaying their store coupons to avoid increasing foot traffic in their stores. But they have a considerable online presence as well. I would think they would be encouraging people to order stuff online to offset some of the business lost in their stores. But I don’t see their email coupons either. I used to get their emails every few days. Now hardly ever. I really hope they’re ok.
Stuart
I have still been seeing a lot of email promos. And from what someone said in another post, sales have been so strong that there are supply issues. I know other stores have been seeing similar, with unexpected sell-outs.
I have been told from multiple sources, and have been following the news, that tool retailers and dealers have seen huge sales volumes.
Why advertise new coupons if business is so good that products are selling out?
Andy
I can’t believe they’re doing an instore only event. I only knew 1 person who was willing to go into stores, and his whole family got covid. Maybe it’s just where I live, but I’m pretty confident this promo is going to be a huge bust.
Stuart
I have been more comfortable going to stores, but that’s also because most chain retailers have associates at the front trying to enforce the state’s “no mask, no entry” guidelines, and smaller stores have their own and often more stringent guidelines, such as one family member and no kids allowed.
Retailers have avoided promoting or even holding any in-store savings events so as to not encourage foot traffic. That Harbor Freight would have an in-store only coupon seems unusual, especially given their attention to customer safety. BUT, when you look at the details of this coupon, and how it’s exclusive to paid members and excludes the types of tools many customers are looking for a good discount on, I don’t think this will lead to throngs of customers descending on their stores.
Still, I really hope Harbor Freight has given thought to a “curbside pickup” or other online ordering and at-the-store pickup system, otherwise they will surely lose business to the competitors they are always so eager to under-price.
Rob
Sounds like a winner
Jim Felt
I’m guessing this was a management not ownership inspired idea?
Always a slight difference of attitude and loyalties.
Unless, of course, it’s totally the opposite…
Chris I
???
Really going out on a limb there Jim
Jess
Lol
CountyCork
Why doesn’t HF do ship to store? Seems like a no brainer for them but I don’t see that option? How are there shipping rates?
Sam
I don’t know the answer. This question always comes to my mind, and I don’t understand why HF would not do so!
If they do it, I will be more for sure!
The shipping cost, in my opinion, is very expansive. some times it is more than the item price itself!\
The only free shipping item is the membership. HF does ship the card to your mailbox for free.
Adrian
Let’s not forget how awesome Eric Smidt was when he donated ALL of HF’s PPE to frontline healthcare workers and responders at the beginning of the pandemic. So epic.
Robert Ziemba
Honestly, the only thing I was even thinking about getting was the 2hp Central Machinery dust collector. With all those exclusions, the sale is pointless to me.
OhDannyBoy
Yep, same. I was looking at a drill press. Glad I googled the exclusions and came across this awesome site/post…
aerodawg
awesome, a 25% off coupon that excludes basically everything in the store except zip ties and sandpaper
Tom D
Haul-master Ramos and associated stuff may be the best this applies to, but it’s only 5% more than the normal 20% coupons.
MikeD
Seems like a nice promotion….
UNTIL you see it’s only for one day, this email arrived Sunday afternoon!!
Stuart
Our email went out the morning of September 4th…
roy isasi
want preditor 4000 watt generator. [list $349] what discounts [or days] would discount [how much] be available
Stuart
Try again soon?