New Hammer Store Opening 2 miles from Home

Actually, less than 2 miles from home, I just learned today that they are opening a new Harbor Freight.  Previous to this the closest was an hour away in any direction but a couple of years back they opened one maybe 40 minutes away.  

Now, it will be so close by that visiting the store might loose its "attraction".  I expect to overloaded on free flashlights and volt readers and micro fiber clothes.  

I'm surprised to see the store going into a "new construction" building when soon across the street there will be an empty Toys R Us and a couple other local "empty stores" that seem more in line with where most HFs are located.  

Now, If I could just get a Northern Tool location anywhere in Ohio.  

I spent three years working for Harbor Freight (Import Customs Coordinator & Manufacturing Planner) and one of our very own MegaDorks just started working for them a few weeks ago.

He did the “all HF products eventually become a hammer” joke at work and I believe they didn’t know about it…perhaps they could rename every product on their website a hammer on April 1st to show that they know their customers and don’t take themselves too seriously.

This happened to me about 5 years ago. The big difference for me is that I now go there for one or two things. It used to be if I was going to drive all the way there, I was getting a bunch of stuff.

It would be interesting to watch them build a new Harbor Freight store. I wonder if they use Harbor Freight tools or if they use the good stuff...

Tom_Spangler said:

This happened to me about 5 years ago. The big difference for me is that I now go there for one or two things. It used to be if I was going to drive all the way there, I was getting a bunch of stuff.

One trip per 20% off coupon for me. 

In reply to Pete Gossett :

There's an app in the android store HFT coupons.

Always has all the coupons and freebies. 

The free multimeters aren’t worth the paper the coupon is printed on.  Stick with the blue 29 led light and the microfiber cloths

I give the multimeters to friends who I'm trying to teach electrical troubleshooting to. They suck, but they work for long enough to teach.

mazdeuce - Seth said:

I give the multimeters to friends who I'm trying to teach electrical troubleshooting to. They suck, but they work for long enough to teach.

I do the same thing.

I have a pile of multimeters and they are generally terrible. My go-to freebie is the magnetic tray. You can never have enough of them and they always work.

The Hammer Store opened today. According to this thread 5 months from a sign on the property announcing "coming soon" to "now open" 

I haven't gone in yet. 

I'm an avid Chinese Hammer collector. Contrary to the above reviews, I find the free multimeters to work quite well, even as multimeters.

There's always something in there I didn't know I needed.

My free multimeter usually works for one season, then I leave it out in the garage over winter and it doesn't work after that. 

I personally like the magnetic tool/parts holder, the magnetic trays, and the tarps and moving blankets. The 6 piece screwdriver set, while very cheap, is nice to throw in a junkyard bag or similar; and I was actually pretty impressed with the 4-1 screwdriver. We keep it in the kitchen junk drawer. I try to keep a few of the tarps around, because they're so compact when new it is easiest to have them stored in the original packing and then toss them after you're done using them. 

Electric fly swater is fun, shears are all right. Never gotten the microfiber though.

https://www.hfqpdb.com/gallery/free

Accord to their website, they are opening a new store every 3 days!!!!!  

https://www.harborfreight.com/#

I always forget about the coupons. Whenever I need something from H-F, it's usually an "oh-berk" moment and I go there. But the store closest to me is about 15 min away, so I often only go there for one or two things.

I do need to remember those damn coupons, tho... 

In reply to Ian F :

Wait, you mean you guys don't keep hf coupons in your wallet?  

The real trick is to go to struggleville.  You can find the part number in the hf website and search it on struggleville.  Lets you see if there are ever any coupons on a given tool, even if they're expired.  This way you know if you should wait to buy until a new coupon comes out.

http://struggleville.net/category/harbor-freight/

Also, since I'm stuck in useless training, proof of emergency coupons in wallet.

There is a store within a mile of my office so picking up whatever I need is convenient. They can keep the free junk though, I already have enough crap around the house without them giving me more every time I go in there. 

The electric fly swatter works surprisingly well. 

Since I moved, the closest one requires crossing a bridge and paying a $5 toll, so I now have to think more carefully about what I need. It has actually led to me buying more tools off Amazon instead of making the drive. 

Just keep the HFCDB app on your phone.

Thanks for sharing the app!

cmcgregor said:

The electric fly swatter works surprisingly well. 

 

This is true and I offer two proofs...

1. Pile of dead flies.
2. Intoxicated guy jumping all around yelling ouch-ouch-ouch after sticking his finger in one.

The free flashlights aren't worth the cost. Buy yourself one or two good ones (I'm a fan of the Home Depot Reliant brand) and you'll stop cursing because the freebies don't work.

There's one near me, right in the cluster of restaurants where we go to lunch. I haven't been in the store for months - I've burned through my enthusiasm for weird crap, so now I just go in when I need something specific.

RX Reven' said:

1. Intoxicated guy jumping all around yelling ouch-ouch-ouch after sticking his finger in one.

New party games come to mind..