Tavares, FL Feb. 9th, 2014
Re: Harbor Freight Engine Stand #69886
This is my personal tale of buying a $49 engine stand #69886 from Harbor Freight in Apopka, FL , and how it was missing four parts and others would not fit. The engine stand must be assembled. I bought it for a project, but did not need the stand for 6+ months, which is when I found the parts were missing. When asked to provide the missing parts, they said it was over 90 days, so they wanted over $20 for them.
Note: I am not the only one with Harbor Freight problems - here is a website that tracks problems with their tools: http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2008/08/buyer-beware-a-harbor-freight-buying-guide-the-good-enough-the-bad-and-the-abysmal
The problem is it is common owners of cars to buy all parts and tools until ready, then they use them, thus refusal to replace the missing parts after 90 days is not practical.
Then they only shipped ONE of the FOUR missing parts for $27, thus if I paid for the FOUR missing parts, the cost would be DOUBLE what the original engine stand cost.
The short lesson is NEVER buy any tools from Harbor Freight that must be assembled without examining the box on their front porch to ensure all the parts are there.
The other lesson is that Harbor Freight has EXCESSIVE charges for any replacement parts. As described below, they charged $27 per missing engine holder bracket, and since you need FOUR of them, it costs over $100 for parts for a $49 engine stand.
NEXT, when I assembled the engine stand, the base of each wheel did not align with the holes in the stand and I had to pound them in with a hammer. So, assembly quality also sucks. (Note: Hot Rod magazine reviewed this and two other Harbor Freight engine stands here - apparently if all the parts are provided and the wheels fit, they work pretty well: http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engine/hrdp_1112_budget_engine_stands/
I have also posted complaint on their Facebook page and sent emails. My first attempt to use their website and then their 800 customer support resulted in neither working. The only thing that works with them is to post a nasty message on their Facebook page, which they answer immediately and give you an email contact. The first time I finally got customer support by phone, the guy told me that NO SPARE parts were sold, and he couldn't help me. Then I sent an email with all the details, and they responded with an emailed copy of the SKU and other numbers needed to order the four missing parts. Then it turned out after shipping that the sku was only for ONE of the parts, and not a "pk" of four.
Resolution
If I ever get the other three engine stand holders from Harbor Freight, which should be FREE, I will post an update here:
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Here are more details of this Harbor Freight Fiasco
- When I first researched and decided to drive the 20 miles to the Apopka, FL Harbor Freight, I already had read online complaints that some tools like engine hoists, etc. were missing parts after purchase and Harbor Freight could not even supply the parts for payment.
- So, I went to the Apopka, FL Harbor Freight, asked to buy an engine stand which was on sale for a coupon for $45.98. They brought out a box that was damaged and refused to let me inspect it for missing parts until I paid for it, saying I could then inspect it on the sidewalk in front of the store and return it if parts were missing.
- So, I did that, and found all four wheels were missing. I somehow missed the missing engine holder arms (see pdf's attached below). They brought out four wheels. TWO of them were wrong types, and they had to return to the back, get two more wheels and bring them out. The guy getting the parts was surly during the entire process... almost like they knew that similar tools from Pittsburgh Automotive would be missing parts and they were tired of dealing with it. The boxes are really cheap cardboard and seem to get damaged easily.
- I took the box home and stored it, not needing it until I was ready to pull my 1965 Mustang engine and use the engine stand. That was this recent January, 2014. That is when I assembled the stand and found ALL FOUR arms were missing.
- I am a former Fortune 500 internal auditor and was an anti-corruption adviser in Iraq in 2004-2006. I took notes as I went throught this entire process. So, I have attached pictures and scans below to substantiate the problems so others can review them.
Recommendations:
- ALWAYS inspect tools or items from Harbor Freight to ensure all parts are there. Don't leave the store without doing that.
- Keep in mind the staff might give you the wrong parts even if they are missing (like the wheels).
- Keep in mind the parts might not fit, which is what happened with the wheels they supplied me.
- Seriously consider another source. Harbor Freight has local stores and low prices, but we now know why.
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Here are the backup documents:
- The scan of the assembly manual where I added the "Missing all 4" comments when sent the first time to a Harbor Freight "customer support" email address.
Here is a picture of the engine stand while I am holding my ONE $27 holder they sent me,
rather than the four I requested.
Here is a copy of the email I sent on Jan. 25 to "[email protected]" after making
several calls to actually get a part number that could be sent to me. Notice both the scanned page and my memo clearly state FOUR parts are missing, not ONE.
Download 2014-01-25 email to harbor freight for FOUR missing parts
Here is the Jan 28th email to me from Harbor Freight providing the part numbers of the "PK" and no mention the part number was for only one part. I assumed a "pk" would include all four missing holding arms.
Download 2014-01-28 Harbor Freight email with part numbers to me
The above email contained the 800 number to call and order the parts, and I gave the guy the sku number for the "pk". He refused to send the parts for free since it was past 90 days, so I had to agree to pay $27.99 to get them since my engine project was falling behind schedule.
Here is the shipping invoice that came in the box with ONE part, not four. How absurd would it be to charge $18.99 or $27.31 with shipping and tax for ONE part which was more than half the price of the entire engine stand.
Here is that shipping invoice with the single part they sent - should they be charging $27 for that single part?
And finally, here is a picture showing the terrible alignment of the wheels to the stand. Notice how the bolt on the left in the second picture has to be forced at an angle with a hammer to get it to fit.
Finally, after I posted another complaint on Harbor Freight's Facebook page on Feb. 5th, 2014, here is what they said, so I am sending a link to them to this page today, Feb. 8th, 2014:
That's it.
Vance Jochim
