Harbor Freight Doesn't Deserve your Business - Page 2

I completely agree with what Scrappah said a few posts above. These policies are set in place to decrease overall loss in the business.

You can't give cashiers the ability to take every return no matter the reason. It's completely reasonable to have to have a receipt. People steal items and then try to return them all the time. Or, it could have been bought as a stolen item unknowingly by the customer. There are a lot of reasons to want that receipt. Of course, if you go up the chain of command, you will run into people with the ability to help. These checks and balances are extremely important.

I have known people when I was younger that would completely take advantage of relaxed return/exchange policies. A favorite was Nordstroms. I have heard stories that they are so relaxed on returns that you can just go buy things at goodwill and then exchange them there for new items! I don't know if that's true, if so, it's ridiculous.



No business is required to take returns. That is an extra service that most businesses offer with a few stipulations. Whoever came up with "The Customer Is Always Right" was a moron, and now everything we pay for is more expensive because of people taking advantage of the system.

I worked in retail for several years through high school and college, and as a bartender for many years. I have dealt with thousands upon thousands of people, and the number of entitled and demanding jerks increased as the years progressed. Utterly ridiculous.

And please, HipoGear, don't think I'm attacking you personally here. Your needs were reasonable, and you just have to put a little more work in to get the help you wanted. This kind of expanded more into a rant...and I'm sorry if people are offended, but I'm not sorry I said it!

I understand the theft issue. That is why most stores will only allow a store credit for items returned without a receipt. A thief is only looking for money in the end.

Final Update. I followed IdahoScrapper's advice and posted my complaint on Facebook. The admins there asked me to email some fellow named Jack, who contacted the regional manager, who asked the store manager to call me. As of today I have their permission to bring the vise back for an exchange. The manager said that they were discussing store policy and came to the conclusion they need to be more lenient on exchanges at Christmas. Happy that it was resolved but it never should have been this difficult to start.

Ahh yes. That 12k winch is a brute. I added the wireless remote and it makes loading anything a breeze. Receiver plate (HF) it's bolted to is junk though. On my 3rd one. I keep saying I'll make my own but I haven't.

glad you are getting it worked out, but just an FYI, they email you the receipt even in the retail stores...first thing they ask is if you receive their coupons, phone # and get you on their mailing list. it's stupid not to be on it, you get so many free coupons and 20% off coupons you can't possibly use them all...I have cartons full of their free tape measures, screwdrivers, DVM's, magnetic parts trays, and flashlights. and you can recycle the aluminum flashlights if you don't want them or if the batteries leak, as an added bonus!!

The amount of return fraud is ridiculous. If a sticker = accepted returns, they would be copying those also.

I wouldn't blame the individual stores for tightening return policies.