Home Depot Stories?
Kevin
Hey all, I've been a lurker here for awhile and couldn't help but
notice a lot of references and recommendations about finding products
at the Home Depot.
I've worked for the Depot for nearly 10 years now. I've been in
every department but Garden and Electrical and I like to think I know
my stuff about all the others, and it's right inline with all the
advice I've seen so far. .
I'm just curious if any of you have good, bad, interesting, or funny
stories about shopping at Home Depot? I'm not a manager or anything,
so I can't settle any scores, but I would be interested in your
experiences in my place of work (10 years, maybe my career.)
As a professional salesperson with them, it's been my pleasure to help
out probably hundred of thousands of do-it-yourselfer's and
contractors during my tour so far.
I know this is sort of off topic, but I thought it would make an
interesting thread, and I'm curious.
Thanks,
Kevin
JustBugg
>From: ke...@NOSPAMpacbell.net.
>I'm just curious if any of you have good, bad, interesting, or funny
>stories about shopping at Home Depot?
***********************************
The Home Depot in Toledo, Ohio has a floor plan very similar to a Big Lots
store. (big lots is a closeout dollar store) Everything is overstacked,
overstocked and generally all over the place.
You can hardly get a cart in between the aisle shelving and the cardboard
temporary sales shelves sitting in the aisles. Not to mention that half of the
store's inventory is on the floor. The salespeople are very scarce, usually
because they are busy overstocking the shelving all the way up to the 3rd
level. OSHA would have a heart attack watching the employees jump around and
swing from shelf to shelf. Monkees? But seriously, the biggest problem is the
lack of space in the BRAND NEW building there. I have more walking room in my
attic
On the other hand, we have a 2 Lowe's within 30 minutes of myself. The Lowe's
stores near me are much larger, better prices for the same items, and the staff
is always in sight. Every time I exercised their price guarantee, there was no
questions asked. They will match the price for a "like" item (doesn't have to
be the same) and then beat it by another 10% off. I priced a water heater from
a competitor, and the price was a dollar different from Lowe's. Well Lowe's
matched the price and took another 10% off. No questions.
***************************************************
Brian UAWproud
"I want to see my comitteman"
One step forward, two steps back.
http://www.geocities.com/heartland/hills/6768 and /8685
Charlie
Kevin wrote:
> I'm just curious if any of you have good, bad, interesting, or funny
> stories about shopping at Home Depot? I'm not a manager or anything,
> so I can't settle any scores, but I would be interested in your
> experiences in my place of work (10 years, maybe my career.)
I like the one in Stanton, DE. The employees go out of their way to
help. They usually could use more people on the registers though.
--
Charlie Newark, DE
To reply by email please remove antispam "TY" from address.
valk...@mindspring.com
Okay, Kevin, you asked.
I shop at three HD's for a sizeable revocation project, been spending $300
to $600 per week for several weeks now. This means nothing to the Home
Despot.
I ONLY shop at HD because they (Roswell, Cumming, GA locations) are
conveniently located along the GA 400 corridor which I run to work. In my
experience customer service at these stores is a foreign concept. I have
had "sales associates" walk away from me while ostensibly helping me in
order to wait on other customers or to visit with their pals. I have bought
several hundreds of dollars worth of heavy lumber on several occasions and
have received NO assistance loading the cart or loading my truck. At the
Cumming, GA store last week I loaded 30 sheets of พ" sheathing while this
goat-bearded teenager "in charge" of the loading assistance WATCHED me.
Only when I finished did he come over and offer to help. It seems like most
of the "sales associates" at these stores are this type of mindless
grunge-boy. By and large Home Despot Associates (at least at Roswell and
Cumming stores) have zero product knowledge, zero people skills, and even
less inclination to do anything at all that may be construed remotely at
helpful to a customer. I've complained about this before to "management"
but they always defend and condescend.
On weekends, when I have more time, I shop at Lowes in G'ville, GA, which
has higher prices and is out of my way, but has much better, more helpful,
older more experienced sales people than either of the HD locations I've
mentioned.
Yours in dissatisfaction,
Valk
A.V.
valk...@mindspring.com wrote:
> By and large Home Despot Associates (at least at Roswell and
> Cumming stores) have zero product knowledge, zero people skills, and even
> less inclination to do anything at all that may be construed remotely at
> helpful to a customer. I've complained about this before to "management"
> but they always defend and condescend.
>
I'll take issue with the above post. I shop at two different Home Depot
locations - in Nashua NH and Springfield MA. They are like clones of each
other. Not just with the layout, as of course I'm sure they all look alike. But
rather in service. I have never been to any large mall operation such as these
stores and found such expert, friendly, and eager service. I mean we are
talking sales staff stopping as they pass me and asking "are you all set?". And
this is a regular occurance. One guy I had asked a relatively simple question,
had something of a satisfactory answer, but insisted he escort me to someone
who would be more expert. We walked around and around trying to locate him.
Everyone in every departmant has shown amazing expertise and dealt with any
sort of question I've thrown at them (and there have been a lot. I've used them
as something of a walking reference book). I've since learned that there is a
requirement of having worked in the field in whatever department they are in.
Sure, occasionally there are some tight squeezes. They are very busy places and
there must be a reason for that, right? I've found myself pushing one of the
large plywood/lumber carriers with one hand - large lengths sticking out - and
pulling a shopping cart with the other past its weight limit, and other than
causing my own strain, maneuvered around just fine. And that was on a Sunday
afternoon.
One other thing. I'm someone who dreads going to malls. One of my goals in life
is to never set foot in a Wal-Mart (okay, so some of us pare our sights down as
we get older). But I just don't mind Home Depot.
I'm sure some people can prove cheaper prices, but then so can I. Their
electrical prices are absolutely amazing. As for other cheap prices ANYWHERE,
caveat emptor.
Andy Voda
HVAC MD
>On weekends, when I have more time, I shop at Lowes in G'ville, GA, which
>has higher prices and is out of my way, but has much better, more helpful,
>older more experienced sales people than either of the HD locations I've
>mentioned.
I think you've hit the nail on the head. Home Depot provides low prices. If you
want service, you're probably better off shopping somewhere else. I shop at a
local lumberyard from time to time, where prices are about 20% higher than HD.
There, I can always count on unsolicited helpful advice and assistance in
picking lumber and other materials.
ShaunEli
I've shopped at Home Depots (four) in NJ and a new one in New Rochelle, NY.
The NJ stores were, without exception, full of knowledgeable, helpful, cheerful
employees.
In New Rochelle, I asked a woman in the lumber dept. for ACX 4X8 5/8" plywood.
She took out a tape measure, measured a stack of boards, said "These are 4X8"
and walked away.
I asked a guy in the paint department about cleaning wood of stain; he told me
to call a paint store.
A guy in the garden dept. told me he didn't know anything about gardening.
Another guy in that dept asked me why all of a sudden everyone was looking for
grass seed. I explained that it was the right time for re-seeding.
The Shadow Knows
Kevin,
Finding something in a Home Depot is a pain in the ass.
We have 3 stores near us and they all have different layouts.
I liked the old Hechenger stores. I could go into any Hechinger and
immediately find what I needed.
Unfortunately, because Hechenger was losing out to Home Depot they
changed. They are now just as bad.
I can easily spent 1 hour looking for something in Home Depot when I
should be able to run in, get the item and get out.
This is probably a marketing decision by Home Depot. They've designed
stores so people CAN'T quickly get something. They probably hope that
we'll purchase something else we see when we're looking for the item we
want.
--
<< *********************************************** >>
<< Sorry to play games with my EMail Address and >>
<< Reply-To Address. >>
<< To avoid SPAM the From & Reply-To are bogus. >>
<< Please reply to kkr...@bigfoot.com >>
<< *********************************************** >>
Lee
Had a problem with their "price guarantee" on 3/4" copper pipe. Eagle
hardware has it for $5.79/10' and another store has it for $5.89 but with a
quantify discount of over 15 pieces @ $5.57. Home Depot price is $5.87.
They would match Eagles price, but would not match the quantify discount at
the other store. So much for a price guarantee!
Lee
Cliff
ke...@NOSPAMpacbell.net. (Kevin) wrote:
>I'm just curious if any of you have good, bad, interesting, or funny
>stories about shopping at Home Depot?
I went to my local HD for a piece of oak and was able to find a nice
3' length of 1x12. It must have been a cut off from a larger piece
because it didn't have a bar code or SKU# on it. Taking anything to a
check out at HD without a SKU can be a real adventure, but I really
liked the look of this board, so I took a chance. Upon bringing the
board to the checkout, the woman immediatly informed me that there was
no SKU on it, and I informed her that it was an 1x12 piece of oak. (
had I been less honest, I suppose I could of told her it was #2 pine,
upon reflection, I don't believe she would have known the difference.)
The woman then proceeded to take out her tape measure and check the
dimensions of the board, and with a straight face, told me that "No,
it wasn't a 1X12, it was slightly less than that", and she would have
to call someone from lumber to find out what it was! I was not in a
mood to explain the details of nominal lumber sizes to her, so I
waited for the lumber person to provide her with the item # so that I
could buy my "3/4 x 11 1/4". Even after getting the correct
information, I still don't think she was convinced it was a 1x12, but
I was finally on my way and off to turn my board into something nice.
Cliff
RBowles96
Blocking aisles with stacks of shtuff doesn't do much for one's tolerance
levels! Especially when the stacks are near the registers, most unattended,
and shopper try to line up further closing navigable floor space. In a CASH
ONLY, four signs making the assertion, the first person was waiting for the
credit card approval via phone lines and the next one was writing a check. I
asked a teller in one of those lines why they didn't honor the false
advertising, "If I did the customer would tell the manager and I'd get in
trouble!"!!!!!
In article <35396ffa...@news.pacbell.net>, ke...@NOSPAMpacbell.net.
(Kevin) writes:
>
>I'm just curious if any of you have good, bad, interesting, or funny
>stories about shopping at Home Depot? I'm not a manager or anything,
>so I can't settle any scores, but I would be interested in your
>experiences in my place of work (10 years, maybe my career.)
>
>
rbowles96ATaolDOTcom
Mouse
But the thing is that in Raleigh, NC, HD DOESN'T have low prices... at least
not compared to LOWES!
When we bought our new house, especially, I began routinely checking both
stores for every item I bought in an effort to save money on the repairs and
improvements were were making. In almost EVERY instance, LOWES was cheaper.
Add to that that LOWES is a bit easier to get into and the people at the
particular location I shop at are friendlier, and you can see why I've
pretty much stopped going to HD at all, now!
--It all makes me wonder about those TV ads -- those HD's just aren't like
the one here, at all (BTW they say they'll beat the competitor's prices, but
what they really mean is that it has to be the exact same brand, etc., and
they try REAL HARD not to carry any more of the brands that LOWES does than
they have to...)
MOuse
ps - to respond via e-mail, remove my name
Ardy2
In my experience, the Home Depot employees seem to be more pleasant than those
working at Lowes.
In terms of which store has the best prices....Neither does. One just has to
be a shrewd shopper. Each store has items that beats the other.
Overall, I like Lowes best because it does seem to be a bit better organized
than Home Depot.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gravity: It's not just a good idea, It's the law.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ROGER DE VRIES
I got to agree with Shaun's post regarding the New Rochelle HD in
Westchester county NY. I once did a reno job near there (Mount Vernon)
and was very displeased with the service/people there. The clincher was
when I went in one day to arrange for delivery of a relatively large
order- studs, insulation, doors, compound, blah, blah, blah. So I go up
to the "service" counter to order everything and pay for it, with my
complete list of all the materials that i need in detail. The guy looks
me dead in the eye and says- "you have to go and get all of the sku #'s
first, and come back here so i can ring you up".
I was like "WHAT!!- You have GOT to be kidding me!!"
Well, he wasn't kidding me, and no, the computers were NOT down or
something at the time (that's what I figured at first). So there I went,
spent the next 1-1/2hrs finding and writing all of the sku's down for
this multi-zillion dollar company.
Couldn't wait to get back to my home town HD (Wappingers Falls)- I
actually HUGGED each and every one of them there (except for the guy who
cuts the wood for you at the radial arm saw- you can never find him for
some reason :)
Roger D
Al Brakovich
Kevin wrote:
> cbr...@aol.com (CBress1) wrote:
>
> >>I'm just curious if any of you have good, bad, interesting, or funny
> >>stories about shopping at Home Depot?
> >
> >I normally shop at HDs in Broward or Palm Beach counties, but on one occasion I
> >was in the Miami area. I stopped in at the HD in Hialeah. I was trying to find
> >vents that I could put into the soffits.
> >I could not find them and even worse I could not find anyone who spoke enough
> >english to understand what I was looking for!
> >
> >Would the last American leaving the Miami-Dade area please bring the flag.
>
> ROFLMAO! I've never been to Florida, but thanks for the preview. In
> CA we have a hard time keeping up with the Spanish speaking customers.
> The associates who speak Spanish are a definate minority, and we have
> to page, sometimes several times, before we can locate one who can
> help.
>
> I've gotten pretty good at understanding their needs in my tour.
> Sometimes they'll come up to me and ask "habla espanol?" And I"ll
> smile and say, "No, but I speak fluent broken English. What are you
> looking for?" Nine times out of ten, I can figure it out, from
> similarities in language and hand motions. I normally get a laugh out
> of them too, in the process.
>
> Kevin
Well Kevin this has been quite a thread. Did you know Home Depot has a website?
Complete with a 'Feedback' address? http://www.homedepot.com/
I nominate you to be the answer man there..;o)
Sorry, I don't buy your tile products..
--
Al Brakovich-Tile Man
.
paull
HVAC MD wrote in message
<199804191412...@ladder03.news.aol.com>...
>>On weekends, when I have more time, I shop at Lowes in G'ville, GA, which
>>has higher prices and is out of my way, but has much better, more helpful,
>>older more experienced sales people than either of the HD locations I've
>>mentioned.
.............................................................
>I think you've hit the nail on the head. Home Depot provides low prices. If
you
>want service, you're probably better off shopping somewhere else. I shop at
a
>local lumberyard from time to time, where prices are about 20% higher than
HD.
>There, I can always count on unsolicited helpful advice and assistance in
>picking lumber and other materials.
...............................................................
Working as a plumber-handyman, I used Home Depot in the Orlando/Daytona area
1991/92. Later I used Home Depot in the Baltimore/Washington DC area
1992/97. I tried all the other home center types in both regions.
My experience was Home Depot floor personnel were very knowledgeable about
construction trades. Some of the Home Depot personnel were not
knowledgeable. But in comparison to the other home centers I purchased
from, Home Depot knowledge was definitely superior to the others. The
worst in my experience was Builder's Square.
Over the years I found all of these large home center warehouse stores have
a common problem. Every store, no matter what company name, is out of stock
in the plumbing, electrical and lumber departments.
I prefer Home Depot and generally drive out of my way to shop at their store
locations. Of all the store locations along the East coast I have shopped
at, only one Home Depot is below the standard I expect at their stores.
The Alexandria, VA store is a disappointment.
CBress1
JustBugg
>From: jev...@ghg.net (jim evans)
>Amazing! You've had 140,000 hits on your web page? Amazing!
>jim
****************************
The web page has been up for quite a long time now. The counter I have is
directly from Geocities, and they all start at zero. They don't want anybody
to cheat by rolling the counter to a high number. this way, we compete for
monthly awards based on traffic.
JustBugg
Bottom Line:::::::
Lowe's will match any competitor's price then beat it by another 10%. It DOES
NOT have to be the exact same model. As long as the features are the same.
Case in Point.. (as I said earlier)
Carter Lumber had water heaters for $150. The brand was Richmond, electric, 50
gal, and 10 yr warranty. Lowe's had their own brand for $153 electric, 50gal,
and 10 yr warranty. Lowe's matched Carter's price, then slashed it another 10%
for a total of $135. No questions asked.
Ben Randle
On 19 Apr 1998 21:44:21 GMT, in all Ardy2's glory these words were
uttered:
>In my experience, the Home Depot employees seem to be more pleasant than those
>working at Lowes.
Same here, I am presently on a Boycott of the Lowe's in Tulsa. My
in-laws spent over $200 on stuff to help us window coverings for our
new home. Then I spent around another $500 to get our new fridge.
They sent one guy to deliver the fridge. He made my mother-in-law
help him move it into the house. (She had volunteered to be at our
house for delivery.)
We went that night to get a kit to hook up the water line since the
old fridge used a different connection. The guy in appliances says I
can't help you that is a plumbing issue. The guy in plumbing never
showed up. Back to the appliances. Oh sorry I forgot to send someone
over to plumbing. I don't know much about plumbing I just stock
stuff, but I know where everything is. If you can wait 10 minutes the
master plumber will be off the forklift. No, I've already been here
30 minutes I'll go to Home Depot next door.
I give Lowes one more shot. I stood with another $150 dollars worth
of stuff for twenty minutes trying to check out. There were only 2
checkers. One lady couldn't figure out how to ring up a washer in one
lane. The other kept sending people back for SKU's. The staff at
Home Depot has been very nice for the rest of my new household items.
So I guess it depends on the locale...
--
Ben Randle
http://www.ionet.net/~firetech
ShaunEli
Despite my horrible experiences with Home Depot in New Rochelle, I feel
obligated to point out that their prices are way lower than the other hardware
stores in the area (Pergament, Tru-Value, etc.).
When I bought my house I wanted to replace all the outlet and light switch
plates. 79 cents each at Tru-Value. 19 cents at Home Depot, and that was
before the discount for buying in quantity.
When the local politicians here tried to stop them from building a Home Depot
in New Rochelle I voted for the political party I really hate, for the first
time in my life.
Kevin
>On the other hand, we have a 2 Lowe's within 30 minutes of myself. The Lowe's
>stores near me are much larger, better prices for the same items, and the staff
>is always in sight. Every time I exercised their price guarantee, there was no
>questions asked. They will match the price for a "like" item (doesn't have to
>be the same) and then beat it by another 10% off. I priced a water heater from
>a competitor, and the price was a dollar different from Lowe's. Well Lowe's
>matched the price and took another 10% off. No questions.
Sorry for snipping so much, but for some reason my FreeAgent won't
post if my reply is shorter than the orginial message. I hope I saved
the most important comment.
I understand about the aisle space, I've been in three stores during
my tour and this happens a lot in stores that don't have the sales to
warrent a Night Crew to put away the frieght yet. Normally they are
new stores that are just begining to build their customer base and
sales.
Imagine trying to work in those aisles. : )
As for the competitor adjustments, it's policy in my store, (I work in
CA) that if it's less than 10%, just do the markdown and satisfy the
customer. Have you ever asked to talk with a manager? Even a
Department Head should be able to authorize a markdown like that.
Kevin
Kevin
just...@aol.com (JustBugg) wrote:
>Bottom Line:::::::
>
>Lowe's will match any competitor's price then beat it by another 10%. It DOES
>NOT have to be the exact same model. As long as the features are the same.
>
>Case in Point.. (as I said earlier)
>Carter Lumber had water heaters for $150. The brand was Richmond, electric, 50
>gal, and 10 yr warranty. Lowe's had their own brand for $153 electric, 50gal,
>and 10 yr warranty. Lowe's matched Carter's price, then slashed it another 10%
>for a total of $135. No questions asked.
I find it hard to believe that a manager at the Depot would pass up a
$135 sale , not to mention the heater straps, connectors, teflon tape,
etc. The policy is the exact item, but there are gray areas with
customer service. If it was explained to me, like you explained it
here, I'm sure I could talk a manager into honoring it. Especially
since it is such a small markdown, compared to the sale.
Kevin
Kevin
Charlie <de...@earthlinkTY.net> wrote:
>
> I like the one in Stanton, DE. The employees go out of their way to
>help. They usually could use more people on the registers though.
>
Okay, guess you've dawn me out on this one. I totally understand,
becuase I'm work on the front end (registers) at my store.
Hopefully you don't wait too long in the lines and that the lines
aren't consistant at your store.. There seems to a flow to customer
traffic, a low tide and high tide, if you will. That's my term for
it. We normally staff so that we can handle mid tide no prob, which
is most of the time. During High Tide, we rely on department people
who are certified back up cashiers to help out. Their response time
varies, but normally lines don't get too out of control, unless there
as been a lot of sick calls, which sometimes happens.
At my store, you can also check out at any commercial regester,
doesn't matter if you are a contractor or not. A lot of customers
pass them up, thinking they are only for contractors, even if the line
is shorter. You can also check out at the Special Services desk, or
Returns, if it's small items. Not to mention the Tool Coral
registers, or the garden registers. Chances are, if it's high tide on
the front lines, it's low tide somewhere else. Just depends on how
much of a hurry you're in.
Hope this helps,
Kevin
Kevin
> At the
>Cumming, GA store last week I loaded 30 sheets of พ" sheathing while this
>goat-bearded teenager "in charge" of the loading assistance WATCHED me.
>Only when I finished did he come over and offer to help. It seems like most
>of the "sales associates" at these stores are this type of mindless
>Cumming stores) have zero product knowledge, zero people skills, and even
>less inclination to do anything at all that may be construed remotely at
>helpful to a customer. I've complained about this before to "management"
>but they always defend and condescend.
>
>Yours in dissatisfaction,
>
>Valk
>
>
Hey Valk,
I used to work in lumber, so I know what you're talking about. That
would have sucked. 30 sheets of 3/4? You could have had that brought
out on a forklift and lowered or put into your truck. I can't even
believe you did that on your own. What was that, 3 lumber carts?
I chuckled at the goat beard reference. I don't care for that fashion
either.
Next time, just go to the cashier and tell them what you want.
They've got that sku in their books, or at least they do in my store.
Then have them call the dept and have them bring it out. Or, first
call the store, and if you do most of you transactions with CC, you
can talk to the phone sales associates or the PBC rep, "Homers," and
you can pre-pay over the phone and put it on will-call. Tell them
when you are planning on picking it up and they'll pull it for you.
All you have to do is go to the Special Services Desk and sign off on
picking it up. After that, relax in your truck and they'll bring it
out.
Kevin
Kevin
hva...@aol.com (HVAC MD) wrote:
>>On weekends, when I have more time, I shop at Lowes in G'ville, GA, which
>>has higher prices and is out of my way, but has much better, more helpful,
>>older more experienced sales people than either of the HD locations I've
>>mentioned.
>
>I think you've hit the nail on the head. Home Depot provides low prices. If you
>want service, you're probably better off shopping somewhere else. I shop at a
>local lumberyard from time to time, where prices are about 20% higher than HD.
>There, I can always count on unsolicited helpful advice and assistance in
>picking lumber and other materials.
Ideally, we strive for unsolicited help at our store, but it's very
busy at times. The associates get outnumbered frequently, and though
this may not happen at a small lumber yard, it's a fact of life at HD.
Don't hesitate to ask for help, that's what we are there for.
You might also try the phone sales method, to get help with loading
and pulling of lumber. There are people who do only that.
Kevin
Kevin
ar...@aol.com (Ardy2) wrote:
>In my experience, the Home Depot employees seem to be more pleasant than those
>working at Lowes.
>
>In terms of which store has the best prices....Neither does. One just has to
>be a shrewd shopper. Each store has items that beats the other.
>
>Overall, I like Lowes best because it does seem to be a bit better organized
>than Home Depot.
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Gravity: It's not just a good idea, It's the law.
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I agree about the prices, it's a tug of war to make a profit in this
industry. We actually sell somethings below cost just to bring the
customer in, hoping they'll buy smaller lower dollar items to make up
the margin.
I've never seen or visited a Lowe's so I don't know about
organization, but I've been in 3 Depots and the main thing to remember
is that items are sorted by departments. If you know what department
has what merchandise, then regardless of the layout, you can go to the
general area and it's fairly basic after that.
The big orange signs help out, plus in my store we have what I call
"bumblebee" signs, yellow and black arrows at the top, that say
individual items which are in the aisle.
Hope this helps,
Kevin
Kevin
"Mouse" <mMOUSE...@ipass.net> wrote:
Lowe's isn't in CA, so I'm not familar with them, although I have
heard of them. They are apparently a major competitor in the East.
Out here we have HomeBase, Orchard, YardBirds, and a few others.
Like I said in a previous post, even though the policy is exact items,
I've seen markdown on similar ones, especially if it's a small
markdown compared to the sale.
If Lowe's is as big of a competitor as they seem to be, I can't
imagine a manager passing up that sale and effectively making you a
Life Long Lowe's shopper in the process.
I don't know what good it will do, but I think I'll print out a few of
these messages about exact item adjustments and give them my store and
reginal managers. It seems to be a major gripe, a repeated one, and
IMHO, a valid one. Especially in the case of the water heater, same
warrenty, same gal, etc. If this is an issue, between us and Lowe's,
it needs to addressed.
I like my company. : ) I'll see what cages I can rattle.
Kevin
p.s. I'll only do it if you give me permission to print your posts,
btw. I'm clueless about copywrites, and wouldn't want to use your
words without your permission.
Kevin
>
RFLMAO! Great post, thanks, this is the funny stories I wanted.
Good lead in.
I really hope that these are exagerated experiences and not actual
ones.
Thanks for the laugh,
Kevin
Kevin
jev...@ghg.net (jim evans) wrote:
>You've hit a nerve.
>
>Once upon a time.
>
>We used to have a big old-fashoned hardware/lumber store near us. It
>had been the major store in the area since the earth cooled. It was a
>real joy to visit. Every clerk was 60+ and must have worked there
>most of their life. A few--not most--were a little crotchety. They
>never hid from customers. They knew their stock like they knew their
>children, and they knew their business. They virtually always knew
>what you needed to do, to solve your problem. Really knew--didn't
>just make it up in real time. And, whatever you needed, they had it.
>There were areas of that store that hadn't been visited more than
>twice in the past 5 years. The had stuff I hadn't seen since I was a
>child at our farm. I bet they had buggy whips in there.
>
>Then came the home centers . . . . . . .
Damn man, I'm with you. Great post.
Besides working at the Depot, I'm also a writer, sometimes poet.
I romanticize the past simpiler times too. I miss it too, though I'm
probably younger than you. I turn 30 this month. Started working at
the Depot when I was 19. I remember those old hardware stores too.
I went to them with my dad as a kid.
They had a certain smell, just like libraries do, or used bookstores.
I've thought about it and I guess in my own mind rationalized it out.
Big Home Centers were bound to come, just like the big
grocery/clothing centers. It was in the cards, it was in the way that
big buyers can get lower prices in our society.
Since it was bound to happen, I feel lucky to have hooked up with one
that did it, and IMHO, one that tried and tries to do it right. When
I first started, there was a store philosophy that we were many stores
within a store. We were supposed to the small paint store (I started
in paint) within HD and the same with all the other Dept. I liked
that alot.
When I was Department Head of Paint, about 2 years ago, I took that
attitude to heart and send out Xmas cards to all of our contractors.
Hell, I get them from my dentist. It seemed only right to do the same
for our regular customers. I talked to a few people about making that
policy but it went nowhere.
I miss the past too, but we do with what we have.
Kevin
Kevin
>
> Unfortunately, because Hechenger was losing out to Home Depot they
>changed. They are now just as bad.
>
> I can easily spent 1 hour looking for something in Home Depot when I
>should be able to run in, get the item and get out.
>
> This is probably a marketing decision by Home Depot. They've designed
>stores so people CAN'T quickly get something. They probably hope that
>we'll purchase something else we see when we're looking for the item we
>want.
>
I don't know anything about Hechenger. But like I've said in a
previous post, the thing is to know what departments have what
merchandise. Once you know that, and look at the signs, orange and
bumblebee, you shouldn't have too much of a problem.
Each store encourages autonomy by the Department Heads and sales
associates. They encourage new ideas in merchandising and displays,
hoping that in the end, it will better serve the customer. In many
cases, I think this policy has been very productive. It's also been a
pain, becuase things get moved around, but I sort of agree with the
company that innovation is better then stagnation.
Most departments only have 3 or 4 aisles.
Lumber - wood, plywood, table legs, table tops. Signs: Lumber.
Building Materials: brick, concrete, gutters, roofing, windows,
doors, glass, insolation, drywall. Signs: Doors, Drywall, Windows.
Floor and Wall: vinyl flooring, ceramic tile, carpet, ceiling tile,
vinyl tile. Signs: Flooring, Tile.
Paint: paint, stain, tape (masking, clear, packaging), drop clothes
and plastic, caulking, pressure washers, paint sprayers. Signs:
Paint.
Hardware: power tools, hand tools, door knobs/locks, signs,
rope/chain, safety goggles, gloves, screws, nuts, nails, tool boxes,
mail boxes, locks garage door openers, velcro,
key-cutting, rekey of locks. Signs: Hardware, Fasteners.
Plumbing: fawcets, tubs, tubing, washers, stems, toilets,
showerheads, vanities, TP and towel holders, snakes, etc.
Signs: Plumbing, Toilets, Fawcets.
Electrical: Wire, wire nuts, conduit, phones, motion sensors,
malibu lights, most lights, light bulbs, etc.
Signs: Electrical, Lighting.
Garden (seasonal): Custodial supplies, shoves, rakes, hoses, mowers,
barbeques, plants, fertilizer, killers (bug, rat, slug, roach, etc),
wheel barrows. Signs: Garden.
Sorry for the length, but I hope that helped.
Kevin.
Kevin
I wish I could have quoted it all, because I laughed pretty hard.
That was funny. I know exactly what you're talking about.
Nominal and actual sizes. Hehe.
We tell our cashiers to measure everything, for inventory control.
It's not a matter of distrust, just making sure we're running our
business right. There have been times that the amount was less than
the customer said, and we've saved them money, and kept our stock
level accurate.
She must have been a newbie. It sounds like you humored her. Thanks
for that. She'll learn soon enough.
Kevin
Kevin
"Lee" <den...@hotmail.com> wrote:
If you were buying over 15 pieces, I don't see why that would be a
problem. That's an 80 dollar sale and a 4.5 dollar markdown.
Like I said in a previous post, I'm going to print, with permission,
some of your posts and give them to the higher uppers. This is one
that I'd like to print.
I don't understand why they didn't do it and get the sale, plus make
you a satisfied customer. If it had been at my store, and you had
talked to me, I wouldn't have had a problem with it at all.
Kevin
Kevin
rbow...@aol.com (RBowles96) wrote:
>Blocking aisles with stacks of shtuff doesn't do much for one's tolerance
>levels! Especially when the stacks are near the registers, most unattended,
>and shopper try to line up further closing navigable floor space. In a CASH
>ONLY, four signs making the assertion, the first person was waiting for the
>credit card approval via phone lines and the next one was writing a check. I
>asked a teller in one of those lines why they didn't honor the false
>advertising, "If I did the customer would tell the manager and I'd get in
>trouble!"!!!!!
>rbowles96ATaolDOTcom
This does happen sometimes in the cash only lines. I have my cashiers
say to each customer, "Is this going to be a cash or charge
trasnaction?" If so, fine, charges are just as fast as cash, and the
10 item restriction is pretty obvious, though we make allowences for 1
or 2 items over.
Sometimes a check customer will get in line and that won't be said.
The cashiers are too busy ringing up the next customer to notice and
only do once they've waited in line and their items have already been
wrung up or at least started to be wrung up. That's a tough decision
at that point. Do you finish the sale and just process it as fast as
possible, or do you call a Head Cashier, have it voided, and then tell
the customer to go to another line? Most times it's just easier to
grin and bear it, of course letting them know that they'll go ahead
and take them "just this once" and apologizing to the ones behind.
I've actually seen near fist fights break out over this between
customers and it's not pleasant to be in the middle of. We attempt to
discourage this as much as we humanly can, and if it still happpens,
we try to let the customer know that's a cash/charge only and hope
that it won't happen again, with THAT customer.
Kevin
Kevin
ar...@traveller.com
My question: Why do you buy lumber from these companies? 30+ years
experience in two cities has taught that you get much better prices
and quality at a good local lumber company. I can't see how you really
could build anything with the lumber available at HD, Lowe's, etc. Much
of their material is little better than firewood. Of course, other
products are name brand and are OK.
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
http://www.dejanews.com/ Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading
Kevin
Hey all, I'm going to try to reply to all of your posts. Thanks for
the input. If this thread contintues at this rate, I'm not sure I can
reply to each again. So no promises alright?
Thanks for the input, and the laughs,
Kevin
p.s. Keep it up. I've enjoyed several of these. If you've got the
time and the stories, I'll read them. It's a nice way to relax after
a day at the Depot.
Kevin
Now this is a post that I can finally just relax and say "Good! At
least they are doing it right there." It sounds like my store. We
have several people there like me, who've been there 10 years or
longer and they know their stuff, and they love teaching and helping.
The customers make my job. Not just money-wise, but interaction-wise.
Bad customers are few and far between at the Depot, and I love the
feeling of helping others and then when they say "thank you" (perhaps
shaking my hand), and truely mean it, well, hell, it just makes my
day.
I know several associates that feel the same way. I'm glad you have a
store near you with associates of that calibre. That's what the Home
Depot strives for, and what it's meant to be.
Kevin
Robert Allison
Kevin wrote:
> <Snip>
> I'm just curious if any of you have good, bad, interesting, or funny
> stories about shopping at Home Depot? I'm not a manager or anything,
> so I can't settle any scores, but I would be interested in your
> experiences in my place of work (10 years, maybe my career.)
> <Snip>
> Thanks,
> Kevin
Howdy Kevin,
Being a general contractor, I do not go to Home Depot unless I just need a
little something. What I have found is that they are not knowledgeable in
the things that a contractor needs. They do not get loads ready for you
on time even when you call ahead. They do not stock all sizes of lumber,
just the most popular ones, so if you need a large order, you have to
settle for lengths that do not always work best. I noticed that they
don't even stock yellow pine studs!!
Since they initiated "Pro Desk", they have called our company and sent
the catalogue and wanted input on what I needed so they could better serve
me. I tried them a few times and they are alright for small amounts but
for anything over $2000 dollars, I have to go to the regular lumberyard
(here in Austin, TX my favorites are Stripling Blake, Furrows (and they
are getting a little weird) or Calcasieau.
I recently brought in an advertisement for 1/2" CDX plywood from
another store and wanted them to beat the other stores advertised price.
(This was for only 40 sheets of plywood.) The sales guy told me that they
couldn't beat the price because the other stores plywood was "imported"
and theirs was domestic!!!! (The dept. manager straightened him out, but
they would only match the price, not beat it.)
All in all, because all of the above named lumber yards give me a
discount (and will also beat Home Depots price if I do the research), I
find that I save money and time and material waste by shopping at the
contractor supply stores.
As for funny stories, whenever I do go to Home Depot or Lowes, and I
ask a clerk a question and realize that he doesn't have a clue, I just
say: "What I really need is 40' 2x4s,...can you find out if you can order
them for me?" Never has failed to get rid of them.
--
Robert Allison robert2...@ix.netcom.com
Rimshot, Inc.
Please remove NOSPAM from address to reply.
chita jing
Kevin <ke...@NOSPAMpacbell.net.> wrote
>
> ROFLMAO! I've never been to Florida, but thanks for the preview. In
> CA we have a hard time keeping up with the Spanish speaking customers.
> The associates who speak Spanish are a definate minority, and we have
> to page, sometimes several times, before we can locate one who can
> help.
I'm in San Diego and see this problem a lot. There are specialty
dictionaries now with "worker Spanish" in 'em, including construction
terms. Another way to handle it: use a visual dictionary. Heck, you've got
a good Home Depot book with lots of pictures. Keep a couple around and page
through the sections. People can communicate without language per se. We
have lots of Asians here too, but hardly any who will work in a store like
Home Depot. Pictures would help them too.
Robert Gracie
Well I must say I think HD is the best! Let me tell you why. First of all
I am in there allot, so I pretty much know where things are at. So
immediate service is not a great issue.
When we bought our new home we spent over 7,000.00 at HD. Three months
after we finished the renovations we received a welcome letter giving us a
10% off coupon deal. Well by this time, we had completed the renovations.
So just out of curiosity I called the local HD and asked to Speak with the
Manager. To my great surprised and delight, he gave my 10% off everything I
had a receipt for. I bought all the supplies over a months time, but he was
going to give the discount on everything. I received, with tax, 721.00
back. Now that's is customer loyalty.
--
Robert Gracie
Come Visit Us!
http://home1.gte.net/rgracie
Kevin wrote in message <35396ffa...@news.pacbell.net>...
>Hey all, I've been a lurker here for awhile and couldn't help but
>notice a lot of references and recommendations about finding products
>at the Home Depot.
>
>I've worked for the Depot for nearly 10 years now. I've been in
>every department but Garden and Electrical and I like to think I know
>my stuff about all the others, and it's right inline with all the
>advice I've seen so far. .
>
>I'm just curious if any of you have good, bad, interesting, or funny
>stories about shopping at Home Depot? I'm not a manager or anything,
>so I can't settle any scores, but I would be interested in your
>experiences in my place of work (10 years, maybe my career.)
>
>As a professional salesperson with them, it's been my pleasure to help
>out probably hundred of thousands of do-it-yourselfer's and
>contractors during my tour so far.
>
>I know this is sort of off topic, but I thought it would make an
>interesting thread, and I'm curious.
>
>Thanks,
>Kevin
chita jing
ar...@traveller.com wrote in article <6heuoc$afn$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
> My question: Why do you buy lumber from these companies? 30+ years
> experience in two cities has taught that you get much better prices
> and quality at a good local lumber company. I can't see how you really
> could build anything with the lumber available at HD, Lowe's, etc. Much
> of their material is little better than firewood. Of course, other
> products are name brand and are OK.
WHOA... not all Home Depots are alike, I'm sure, but I've shopped three of
'em in my area and I get way (WAY) better service, quality and prices than
I ever got in years and years of shopping at the so-called "pro" places
locally. A woodworking hobbyist, especially one who isn't a rogainer, gets
absolutely no respect at many of these "good local lumber companies".
Sorry, maybe I only buy small quantities compared to a contractor, but that
still doesn't excuse rudeness and poor management.
Why in the world would I want to buy anything from a store where the 150
year old owner and his unwashed son scratch themselves lazily as they
demand I pay in advance for five sheets of Baltic birch, which arrive
anywhere from one to three weeks later, all dinged and dusty because nobody
can be bothered to call me back for such a small order? Why in the world
would I bother with such people when I can find a friendly clerk at Home
Depot's Special Orders desk who asks what I'm building, recommends
associated products, takes my order, gets it there two days later, CALLS me
when it arrives, charges 30% less and not one thin dime up front?????
Puh-leeze. I was nuts to listen to old bags whine about "big stores putting
the workin' man outta bidness" for all that time. The ugly truth is that in
many cases, those old bags haven't been working men for some time. They've
just been Good Ole Boyz. Fine. It's no longer my problem. It's not exactly
a prime time commercial, I guess, but I've never noticed BO from a Home
Depot clerk!
BTW, clerks in various departments have been super helpful to me too, it
isn't just lumber. They offer free classes in all kinds of things. They're
good about taking back stuff. Their mechanic's tools are GOOD - not just
great for the money, they'll take broken Crapsman stuff in trade with more
politeness than SEARS does. In fact, I've stopped buying Crapsman hand
tools due to the PITA I got from a squirt "Assistant Manager" who tried to
give me some cheapo Chinese wad in trade for a broken Craftsman socket. In
exchange for the "lifetime" tool I brought in, which cost me double what it
should have when I bought it, he wanted me to take some sleazy Chinese tool
with a one year warranty.
I walked outta there, drove to the nearest Home Depot and got a freebie
right off the hanger without missing a beat. Eventually, I bought a 90+
piece set of Husky. I only wanted the deep sockets, but the cost of the big
kit was nearly the same as buying just the same quality sockets would be
elsewhere. I've used Husky ever since. They even have the pop-off button on
the ratchets. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the mid-grade Husky tool
chest too - a MUCH better buy than the Craftsman of the same aproximate
range. You get more for the money - all the little details like the
handles, the lack of sharp edges, even the paint finish - MUCH better in
the Husky line. I liked 'em so much, I bought two, in different drawer
configurations.
Wood isn't the only thing Home Depot does well. It's one of MANY things
they do well. I got a Medallion (cast iron) CH compressor from them for
almost the same price another store was selling refurb cheapos with a
smaller tank for. That's what competition is about. That's why they're
winning.
RBowles96
That is direct conflict of a father that posted last year his college graduate
son had trouble finding a job that used his degree, he went to work at HD.
After a short training they put him in the flooring section. A customer asked
a question, he requested help from "management" and got the response "Just wing
it". Requirement?
In article <353A00B5...@together.net>, "A.V." <av...@together.net>
writes:
> I've since learned that there is a requirement of having worked in the field
in whatever department they are in.
rbowles96ATaolDOTcom
Victor Rey
I recenttly had a great experience with the home depot in Portsmouth NH. After
buying a 100+ year old house, in need of a lot of help, I received a coupon for
10% off of any one purchase at the home depot. I needed a ridiculous amount of
stuff and actually spent about 8 hours, over 2 days shopping at the home depot.
The staff at this store were extremely knowledgible and willing to spend time
answering questions. They also manage very well to keep their cool in a
crowded store where people are pulling them in every which direction. They
were friendly, supportive and even loaded my van for me. Other businesses
could take a lesson in customer service from this particular store.
With respect to the lumber at this store, I found it to be of good quality,at
least for the one-stop store. The fact that you can pick it over is helpful in
getting good pieces.
Vic Reyes
Christa
OK, Kevin, I wasn't going to respond, but after reading everyone else's
post, I just had to. Here in Bucks County, PA (north of Philadelphia)
the Langhorne store ALWAYS pisses me off. Besides the aisles so full of
stock that a cart can't get through, only 2 out 25 registers open with
huge lines, etc., etc. Everyone else has listed these problems. We
just bought an old house and are doing a lot of work ourselves. My
husband was buying about $1000 worth of lumber and could get no real
help. He saw this southern yellow pine tong and groove at the Home
Depot in Lawnside, NJ (about 1 hr away near his parents). Figuring he
could get it at the local HD, he went there. Not in stock. After
searching high and low for a sales person, he was told -- don't stock
it, can't get it, try the bigger store in Bensalem. OK, that wasn't
much further away. Called Bensalem HD on the phone -- don't stock it,
can't get it, don't care that other HD's have it. My husband finally
ended up buying it from the HD in Lawnside, and hauling it an hour
home. We would LOVE to boycott HD, but in the end we're suckers for a
good price. That lumber cost us about half or less than anywhere else.
90% of the time we go to our local lumber yard and pay 20% more in price
but 100% less in frustration.
--
Christa
E-mail to: jc...@worldnet.att.net or lac...@bms.com
RBowles96
They're so good about taking things back people "buy" the can of gel stain,
used a little of it then got their refund. I've bought several items bisides
the stain and found the same thing, I was not the first to open the container.
In article <6hfhk4$d...@bgtnsc02.worldnet.att.net>, "chita jing"
<ch...@worldnet.att.net> writes:
>They're good about taking back stuff.
rbowles96ATaolDOTcom
RBowles96
Kevin I'm afraid you missed the point there WERE FOUR SIGNS STATING CASH ONLY
in addition to the lighted sign! I told the checker at the grocery store how
much her action was appreciated when she turned away a woman with a cart full
of stuff at the LIMIT 10 ITEMS register. Customer behind me seconded the
comment. Seems as though "management" considers the bulk of the customers to
be less than observant, especially when the register amount differs "slightly"
from the posted price. If it is really CASH ONLY and cards and checks are
honored WHERE IS THE CREDIBILITY??!!
In article <353adf16...@news.pacbell.net>, ke...@NOSPAMpacbell.net.
(Kevin) writes:
rbowles96ATaolDOTcom
RBowles96
Masochistic tendancies for sure! Glad you can laugh at yourself, it's a
pleasure reading your posts.
In article <353ae501...@news.pacbell.net>, ke...@NOSPAMpacbell.net.
(Kevin) writes:
> It's a nice way to relax after a day at the Depot.
rbowles96ATaolDOTcom
chita jing
RBowles96 <rbow...@aol.com> wrote in article
<199804201923...@ladder03.news.aol.com>...
> They're so good about taking things back people "buy" the can of gel
stain,
> used a little of it then got their refund. I've bought several items
bisides
> the stain and found the same thing, I was not the first to open the
container.
While we're on the topic of returns -- did you return the unsatisfactory
goods?
chita jing
RBowles96 <rbow...@aol.com> wrote in article
<199804201923...@ladder03.news.aol.com>...
> They're so good about taking things back people "buy" the can of gel
stain,
> used a little of it then got their refund. I've bought several items
bisides
> the stain and found the same thing, I was not the first to open the
container.
Hey - that's a shame on the CUSTOMER, not Home Depot. All kinds of people
shoplift. Apprently, that includes woodworkers.
A.V.
RBowles96 wrote:
Okay. Even if there isn't a requirement and they all are winging it..... they're
doing a damn good job. Or else I must be awfully dumb in comparison. But I know
intelligence when I see it and so far so good.
I wouldn't have bothered posting what I had posted if I had only met up with
one or two people that were authoritative. What I was trying to express was finding
that EVERYWHERE I looked, and I have been dealing with every single department in
the place while building my own house. AND not just on one Depot, but two different
locations.
That's enough for me. Especially with the sort of nonsense and lack of interest
that I get in my local lumber yard.
AV
A.V.
The Shadow Knows wrote:
> Kevin,
> Finding something in a Home Depot is a pain in the ass.
>
> We have 3 stores near us and they all have different layouts.
>
> I liked the old Hechenger stores. I could go into any Hechinger and
> immediately find what I needed.
>
> Unfortunately, because Hechenger was losing out to Home Depot they
> changed. They are now just as bad.
>
> I can easily spent 1 hour looking for something in Home Depot when I
> should be able to run in, get the item and get out.
>
> This is probably a marketing decision by Home Depot. They've designed
> stores so people CAN'T quickly get something. They probably hope that
> we'll purchase something else we see when we're looking for the item we
> want.
This is something of a fair criticism, save the conspiracy theory. I doubt
the marketing dept. expects people to be always hopping between stores. But
they are so huge, they aren't the sort of place conducive for shopping for
a couple of brass screws. I can't go there without dropping at least a
hundred dollars....but then I am building a house. :o)
AV
A.V.
Kevin wrote:
> <snip, snip>
> I know several associates that feel the same way. I'm glad you have a
> store near you with associates of that calibre. That's what the Home
> Depot strives for, and what it's meant to be.
>
> Kevin
Two stores. :o)
av
chita jing
Christa <laclai...@bms.com> wrote in article <353B61...@bms.com>...
> My husband finally
> ended up buying it from the HD in Lawnside, and hauling it an hour
> home. We would LOVE to boycott HD, but in the end we're suckers for a
> good price. That lumber cost us about half or less than anywhere else.
> 90% of the time we go to our local lumber yard and pay 20% more in price
> but 100% less in frustration.
WOW. I gotta say, as far back as I can remember, DIY fora have mentioned
this sort of thing about Home Depot. I was astounded when I first read how
different they could be. I guess when you have hundreds of stores, you're
bound to run across wide variations. Seems as if they should try to train
around this though - service is a MAJOR factor in brand loyalty, very
fundamental. Having multiple HDs give you a cold shoulder suggests some
sort of regional difference that really deserves attention at top levels.
In my neck of the woods (we've got three within a half hour drive, and in
Southern California, half an hour is nuthin' - I drive that long to get to
a magazine stand I like) I would never expect what happened to you. In
fact... the only time I ever have had any service problem was when a second
store had a large tool I wanted, they seemed reluctant to send it to the
store nearest me and I ended up driving over to get it (they did hold it
for me at the second store). I was surprised and wondered if somebody's
bonus didn't depend on selling me that tool at one store over another. I
was surprised at the idea of competition between two HDs. The department
manager denied it when I asked, but... I dunno. Something was weird about
it.
chita jing
A.V. <av...@together.net> wrote in article
<353BCED0...@together.net>...
>
> Okay. Even if there isn't a requirement and they all are winging
it..... they're
> doing a damn good job. Or else I must be awfully dumb in comparison. But
I know
> intelligence when I see it and so far so good.
I wonder if this isn't a regional thing? In my area, I've usually been
able to find an old timer in various departments. I have occasionally run
across newbies or amateurs, but they do seem to get better over time. One
of the tool people told me they went to seminars put on by manufacturers,
so they got more educated over time.
Maybe the labor market changes a lot regionally. Here, we've had a HUGE
number of small contractors who went belly up as the building industry
flopped. A lot of them seem to have ended up at HD. There have been days
when every single clerk used to be a licensed contractor (or still is,
moonlighting).
Timothy Lasby
I love the selection and the service. My problem is that the first store
to open in my area is so crowded that sometimes i just walk out without
getting what i came for. It's not their fault, but that's the way it
currently here in the Cleveland area.
Kevin wrote:
> Hey all, I'm going to try to reply to all of your posts. Thanks for
> the input. If this thread contintues at this rate, I'm not sure I can
> reply to each again. So no promises alright?
>
> Thanks for the input, and the laughs,
> Kevin
>
> p.s. Keep it up. I've enjoyed several of these. If you've got the
> time and the stories, I'll read them. It's a nice way to relax after
sltracey
Kevin wrote:
>
> "Mouse" <mMOUSE...@ipass.net> wrote:
>
> >But the thing is that in Raleigh, NC, HD DOESN'T have low prices... at least
> >not compared to LOWES!
> >
> >When we bought our new house, especially, I began routinely checking both
> >stores for every item I bought in an effort to save money on the repairs and
> >improvements were were making. In almost EVERY instance, LOWES was cheaper.
> >
> >Add to that that LOWES is a bit easier to get into and the people at the
> >particular location I shop at are friendlier, and you can see why I've
> >pretty much stopped going to HD at all, now!
> >
> >--It all makes me wonder about those TV ads -- those HD's just aren't like
> >the one here, at all (BTW they say they'll beat the competitor's prices, but
> >what they really mean is that it has to be the exact same brand, etc., and
> >they try REAL HARD not to carry any more of the brands that LOWES does than
> >they have to...)
>
> Lowe's isn't in CA, so I'm not familar with them, although I have
> heard of them. They are apparently a major competitor in the East.
> Out here we have HomeBase, Orchard, YardBirds, and a few others.
> Like I said in a previous post, even though the policy is exact items,
> I've seen markdown on similar ones, especially if it's a small
> markdown compared to the sale.
>
> If Lowe's is as big of a competitor as they seem to be, I can't
> imagine a manager passing up that sale and effectively making you a
> Life Long Lowe's shopper in the process.
>
> I don't know what good it will do, but I think I'll print out a few of
> these messages about exact item adjustments and give them my store and
> reginal managers. It seems to be a major gripe, a repeated one, and
> IMHO, a valid one. Especially in the case of the water heater, same
> warrenty, same gal, etc. If this is an issue, between us and Lowe's,
> it needs to addressed.
>
> I like my company. : ) I'll see what cages I can rattle.
>
> Kevin
>
> p.s. I'll only do it if you give me permission to print your posts,
> btw. I'm clueless about copywrites, and wouldn't want to use your
> words without your permission.
Home Depots vary from excellent to extremely poor. I think the key is
for the regional managers to leave their offices and tour their stores
unannounced. Store managers and employees at excellent stores should be
rewarded. Store managers at the poor stores should be dragged to the
excellent stores and told to spend a day discussing management ideas
with the excellent store managers. Some improvements should be expected
in four months.
sltracey
M BROOM
Kevin
rbow...@aol.com (RBowles96) wrote:
>Kevin I'm afraid you missed the point there WERE FOUR SIGNS STATING CASH ONLY
>in addition to the lighted sign! I told the checker at the grocery store how
>much her action was appreciated when she turned away a woman with a cart full
>of stuff at the LIMIT 10 ITEMS register. Customer behind me seconded the
>comment. Seems as though "management" considers the bulk of the customers to
>be less than observant, especially when the register amount differs "slightly"
>from the posted price. If it is really CASH ONLY and cards and checks are
>honored WHERE IS THE CREDIBILITY??!!
>
Okay, I see what you're saying...
At my store we just have cash/credit only registers, no just cash
ones, so I assumed that was what you were talking about.
If the store that you go to does accept credit cards and checks in
their cash only lines all the time, then I totally agree.
Like I said before, sometimes it happens, it's rare, but it happens at
my store too. And it is normally after the person's stuff was rung
up, so it just easier to apoligize to the customers behind and grin
and bear it. Most of the time the cashier asks each and every
customer "cash or charge" before ringing them up, but sometimes they
get slammed and don't think of anything but keeping the line moving.
It is normally during those times that the check writers will slip in
the line unnoticed, and then it's too late.
There's not much I can do for you but to explain why it happens at my
store. The bottom line is that it's faster to finish the sale,
process the check, and just get them on their way, rather than to page
for a head cashier, have the sale voided, and then have them go stand
in line again somewhere else. Speed is everything and keeping the
lines moving is everything. Calling for a void would bring the line
to a dead stop, just like calling for price checks do.
If it's a frequent occurance at your store, please, talk to an
assistant store manager. Let them know that it's not rare, but
frequent and that they need to train the cashiers to ask "Is this a
cash transaction?" That's what I would do, if I was in your place.
Hope this helps,
Kevin
Kevin
rbow...@aol.com (RBowles96) wrote:
>They're so good about taking things back people "buy" the can of gel stain,
>used a little of it then got their refund. I've bought several items bisides
>the stain and found the same thing, I was not the first to open the container.
>
>In article <6hfhk4$d...@bgtnsc02.worldnet.att.net>, "chita jing"
><ch...@worldnet.att.net> writes:
>
>>They're good about taking back stuff.
>
>
>rbowles96ATaolDOTcom
Just for the record, that can of stain should have never been put on
the shelf. It should have been "Oops'd" and put with all the Oops
paint, marked down to like $1 or something.
I could go on a trirade here, but I'll refrane. Oh, I could tell you
stories!!! There is a lot of abuse of our lenient return policies,
but that's the price of taking care of the good customers. The
abusers are a minority, but some of the stuff they do is truely
unbelievable.
Kevin
Kevin
>"chita jing" <ch...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>
> I'm in San Diego and see this problem a lot. There are specialty
>dictionaries now with "worker Spanish" in 'em, including construction
>terms.
>
dictionary would be cheap and I could carry it in my apron. Cool.
Thanks Chita,
Kevin
Kevin
"chita jing" <ch...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>
> Hey - that's a shame on the CUSTOMER, not Home Depot. All kinds of people
>shoplift. Apprently, that includes woodworkers.
>
>
Shoplifting is another story entirely, and that's a big problem too.
What he's refering to is our "return/free rental phenomenon." There
are people who buy say a gallon, knowing they only need a quart, use a
a quart, and then return the gallon. I don't think that's shoplifting
exactly, but it's definately taking advantage of the return policy.
I'd like to think most of the time we catch these partially used
products and then mark them down, "Oops" them. But sometimes they get
put back on the shelves and are repurchased by another customer.
I had to laugh when I read the orginial post. I know exactly what
he's talking about.
Kevin
Kevin
Christa <laclai...@bms.com> wrote:
>My
>husband was buying about $1000 worth of lumber and could get no real
>help. He saw this southern yellow pine tong and groove at the Home
>Depot in Lawnside, NJ (about 1 hr away near his parents). Figuring he
>could get it at the local HD, he went there. Not in stock. After
>searching high and low for a sales person, he was told -- don't stock
>it, can't get it, try the bigger store in Bensalem. OK, that wasn't
>much further away. Called Bensalem HD on the phone -- don't stock it,
>ended up buying it from the HD in Lawnside, and hauling it an hour
>home. We would LOVE to boycott HD, but in the end we're suckers for a
>good price. That lumber cost us about half or less than anywhere else.
>90% of the time we go to our local lumber yard and pay 20% more in price
>but 100% less in frustration.
>Christa
I know what you're talking about. I bet the other store was in
another region, probably was since it was in another state, even
though it was only an hour away. The stores in the San Francisco Bay
Area have similar problems. There is a reginal line that separates
some stores that are within an hour or so from each other. Different
regions have different venders, suppliers, and often prices. Because
of the different vendors and suppliers, they often carry different
items. They also aren't linked by store-to-store transfer trucks.
Normally the transfer trucks only run their reginal loop.
Regardless, the store could have sent one of their drivers to pick it
up. For a large sale like that, I'm surprised they didn't. $1000 for
a two hour trip? That sounds perfectly feasible to me. The main
problem is that the sku for that item wouldn't exist in your region,
but there are ways around that. The store manager or any any
assistant store manager could have authorized such a trip. Try
talking to them next time. Sounds like you just talked to the lumber
guys. Chances are, they don't know all the possibilities, they just
know that they don't have that vender, and therefore they think it's
impossible to get it for you.
In my experiences, the Depot will bend over backwards and sideways to
take care of the customer. You just need to talk to someone who has
the authority to make those type of decisions. Salespeople don't have
that authority, and often times, don't even know that such a decision
is within the realms of possibility.
This won't make up for that experience, but I hope it helps in the
future,
Kevin
Kevin
>In
>fact... the only time I ever have had any service problem was when a second
>store had a large tool I wanted, they seemed reluctant to send it to the
>store nearest me and I ended up driving over to get it (they did hold it
>for me at the second store). I was surprised and wondered if somebody's
>bonus didn't depend on selling me that tool at one store over another. I
>was surprised at the idea of competition between two HDs. The department
>manager denied it when I asked, but... I dunno. Something was weird about
>it.
There is most definately competition between stores and not just with
sales. I would hazard a guess that the store that was hesitant about
the transfer wasn't making their sales plan, or that it was the only
one that they had. There are department walks weekly and Department
Heads get pounded for out of stocks. Most of them are hesitant to
transfer items they are short on becuase of that.
For some reason, if they can point to a sales chart and show that the
items were sold, that is more acceptable than to explain that it was
transfered out to another store.
For the most part, all of the stores in my region take care of each
other with transfers. It's a good way to control inventory, and some
stores even split orders, if say a vender has a really high minimum
buy requirement, but if it's an item that they are short on...the
transfers don't usually happen, unless it's a seriously irrate
customer that HAS to be taken care of.
Kevin
Kevin
fire...@ionet.dot.net (Ben Randle) wrote:
>On 19 Apr 1998 21:44:21 GMT, in all Ardy2's glory these words were
>uttered:
>
>>In my experience, the Home Depot employees seem to be more pleasant than those
>>working at Lowes.
>
Cool, the first post I've seen bashing Lowe's. What are they, union
over there? I can't help you? I'm not a plumber? What is that?
LOL! Sorry, it made me laugh. Reminded me of a time my dad used to
work at an aluminum plant. He told me that a light bulb burned out
and they had to wait 3 hours for an electrician to come and change it.
Hehe, sorry for laughing. I enjoyed your post. : )
Kevin
Kevin
"paull" <pa...@cannet.com> wrote:
>
>I prefer Home Depot and generally drive out of my way to shop at their store
>locations. Of all the store locations along the East coast I have shopped
>at, only one Home Depot is below the standard I expect at their stores.
>The Alexandria, VA store is a disappointment.
>
Thanks Paul, another good story. I'd like to think, perhaps
delusionally, that most of the stores are like mine and the one's
you've mentioned. Like I said in the orginal post, I've been with
them 10 years, so I remember and still hold to the "culture" of
customer service above all else.
I know stores vary, I've been in three, but I've never been in a store
that devoid of that ideal.
Thanks again,
Kevin
Kevin
>
>Home Depots vary from excellent to extremely poor. I think the key is
>for the regional managers to leave their offices and tour their stores
>unannounced. Store managers and employees at excellent stores should be
>rewarded. Store managers at the poor stores should be dragged to the
>excellent stores and told to spend a day discussing management ideas
>with the excellent store managers. Some improvements should be expected
>in four months.
>
>sltracey
Believe it or not, that's actually what we're doing. The management
turn over is amazing. They are always shooting them off to new
stores. Most store managers only stay in one location maybe a year
tops, then they are shifted to another store.
The main problem is that we are expanding so fast, over so wide of an
area, well, all of the USA and Canada too, that we don't have enough
good managers to go around.
As for meetings? It'd never work. We already do that. I think all
assistant and store managers fly to Atlanta once a year for meetings.
They come back pepped up, use a lot of jargon, but it wears off pretty
quick in the daily grind.
It's been my observation that you can't teach people skills. You
either have it or you don't. Some people evolve over time, but you
can't teach it to them.
Hang in there, hopefully a good manager will find his way to a store
near you soon. : )
Kevin
Kevin
Al Brakovich <bu...@lightyears.away> wrote:
>
>Well Kevin this has been quite a thread. Did you know Home Depot has a website?
>Complete with a 'Feedback' address? http://www.homedepot.com/
>
>I nominate you to be the answer man there..;o)
>
>Sorry, I don't buy your tile products..
>
>
>--
>Al Brakovich-Tile Man
I agree, I thought it would be an interesting thread, since I saw the
Depot mentioned so much in other articles. I didn't expect so much
venom, but hey, I can take it. I'm a customer there too a lot of the
time.
As for the HD website, I visited it several months ago, maybe a year,
and wasn't overly impressed. A lot of boring corporate information
and it read like a commerical, a bad one.
Maybe they've changed it since then. It looked like HTML 101 when I
saw it. I didn't notice a feedback section either. Hmmm, I'm
curious.
As for you not buying my tile products! How dare you! Hehe. Not
even thinset? Wonderboard? Spacers? Grout? We've got some
wonderful cheap Mexican made wall tiles. Have you seen our selection?
: )
Actually I like Dal tile, but that's what we carry in CA, not sure
where you are or what we carry there.
Thanks for the nomination,
Kevin
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>.
>
Kevin
rbow...@aol.com (RBowles96) wrote:
>Masochistic tendancies for sure! Glad you can laugh at yourself, it's a
>pleasure reading your posts.
>
>
>rbowles96ATaolDOTcom
Thanks rbowles, and thanks everyone for humoring me on this thread.
I've actually been looking forward to your continuing replies. I've
gotten several belly laughs too, and that never hurts.
As for laughing at myself, sure, why not? Everyone else does. ; )
Kevin
Kevin
Timothy Lasby <tla...@att.net> wrote:
>I love the selection and the service. My problem is that the first store
>to open in my area is so crowded that sometimes i just walk out without
>getting what i came for. It's not their fault, but that's the way it
>currently here in the Cleveland area.
>
If that store is anything like the ones in CA, I can give you a window
of shopping time that won't be so crowded. I guess I could give it in
the negative, it might be more helpful and less lengthy that way.
Don't shop the store after 10AM on the weekends.
Don't shop during the week from 10AM til 2PM, or from 4 to 5, or from
8 to 9PM.
And before you shop, call and ask if any of the cashiers called in
sick. Or if you know the department that you're going to visit, ask
about sick calls in that area too. : )
Use these magic windows, and if there's a pattern that translates from
CA to OH, well, you should be fine.
Thanks for the post,
Kevin
Kevin
Robert Allison <robert2...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> I noticed that they
>don't even stock yellow pine studs!!
> Since they initiated "Pro Desk", they have called our company and sent
>the catalogue and wanted input on what I needed so they could better serve
>me. I tried them a few times and they are alright for small amounts but
>for anything over $2000 dollars, I have to go to the regular lumberyard
>(here in Austin, TX my favorites are Stripling Blake, Furrows (and they
>are getting a little weird) or Calcasieau.
> I recently brought in an advertisement for 1/2" CDX plywood from
>another store and wanted them to beat the other stores advertised price.
>(This was for only 40 sheets of plywood.) The sales guy told me that they
>couldn't beat the price because the other stores plywood was "imported"
>and theirs was domestic!!!! (The dept. manager straightened him out, but
>they would only match the price, not beat it.)
> All in all, because all of the above named lumber yards give me a
>discount (and will also beat Home Depots price if I do the research), I
>find that I save money and time and material waste by shopping at the
>contractor supply stores.
> As for funny stories, whenever I do go to Home Depot or Lowes, and I
>ask a clerk a question and realize that he doesn't have a clue, I just
>say: "What I really need is 40' 2x4s,...can you find out if you can order
>them for me?" Never has failed to get rid of them.
>--
>Robert Allison robert2...@ix.netcom.com
>Rimshot, Inc.
>Please remove NOSPAM from address to reply.
>
>
I don't think we stock yellow pine studs in CA either. I've never
heard of them. From my understanding, most studs are Doug Fir because
it's stronger and from the most part studs are used in construction
and the strength is a necessity, if not code. I think we have some
kiln dried white pine, but I've never heard of yellow pine. Fill me
in. What is it and what are the advantages of working with it.
I'd be interested to know.
I'll admit that our contractor concentration sales is fairly young and
I'm sure at this point they old pros who have been doing it for years
are ahead of us in a lot of areas. We'll catch up, I'm sure, it's
just a matter of time and implimenting feedback from contractors like
the feedback you've given me. I'm glad they do a good job on the
smaller sales, but I'm really surprized they don't take care of you
for the bigger jobs. Bigger sales normally beens better service.
And the special order sizes, yep, I know what you're talking about.
We can only order what our venders can supply. If it's a big problem
and you are vocal enough about it to the right people, don't be
surprised if other venders are located to suit your needs. Sounds to
me like you are a regular, and have lots of big purchases. They would
be crazy not to do everything they can get your business. Tell them
to talk to their Lumber Buyer. If you need certain items that are
currently not available, then I'm sure other contractors would need
the same items. It would be a benefit to you and the Depot if we
started stocking or at least were able to special order them.
Please, give it a try.
As for the 40' 2x4, ROFLMAO! I like it. Nice. I had a customer tell
me a good joke the other day.
Customer: Hey, I just saw a guy in Building Materials trying to steal
a gate.
Me: Really? (thinking of calling the Loss Prevention Superviser)
Customer: Yeah, I was going to say something, but I was afraid he'd
take offence (a fence).
Kevin
gwar...@zoomnet.net
>
>> I don't know what good it will do, but I think I'll print out a few of
>> these messages about exact item adjustments and give them my store and
>> reginal managers. It seems to be a major gripe, a repeated one, and
>> IMHO, a valid one. Especially in the case of the water heater, same
>> warrenty, same gal, etc. If this is an issue, between us and Lowe's,
>> it needs to addressed.
>>
>> I like my company. : ) I'll see what cages I can rattle.
>>
>> Kevin
>>
>Home Depots vary from excellent to extremely poor. I think the key is
>for the regional managers to leave their offices and tour their stores
>unannounced. Store managers and employees at excellent stores should be
>rewarded. Store managers at the poor stores should be dragged to the
>excellent stores and told to spend a day discussing management ideas
>with the excellent store managers. Some improvements should be expected
>in four months.
>sltracey
McDonalds! If you like McDonalds in lower Slobovia, you will like it
in downtown Chicago. If you think it sucks in Peoria, it is
guaranteed to suck in New York City. If more stores had the quality
control of Mickey Dee's, it would be a better place. And I
definitely don't like Mickey Dee's, but if you are in a strange area,
you know what the quality will be. With few exceptions.
I am afraid that you would need to go higher than the regional
managers, as most of the bad stores are probably in the same regions.
It all has to come down from the top, but the top has to be informed
and not so isolated. If all these post were copied to the CEO of HD,
I am sure that it would be more effective.
jerry
Kevin
vict...@aol.com (Victor Rey) wrote:
>I recenttly had a great experience with the home depot in Portsmouth NH. After
>buying a 100+ year old house, in need of a lot of help, I received a coupon for
>10% off of any one purchase at the home depot. I needed a ridiculous amount of
>stuff and actually spent about 8 hours, over 2 days shopping at the home depot.
Great! Another good story. You 10% off shoppers are so obvious.
It's funny. I see a guy pushing three carts and I just KNOW it's a
10% off coupon coming. I even go up to them and ask, "10% off huh?"
I think it's great we do that. We also honor the 10% coupons that our
compitors give out, incase you ever get one of theirs. We honor
HomeBase's ones all the time.
Kevin
Kevin
> I bought all the supplies over a months time, but he was
>going to give the discount on everything. I received, with tax, 721.00
>back. Now that's is customer loyalty.
Sounds like my store. We've done that before. Retro-transactions are
no problem if you have the reciept. There have been competitor
adjustments made afterwards, or if a contractor doesn't have his
resale # with him, he can come back with it and get refunded on the
tax.
Another good story. Are the tides changing? : )
Kevin
Kevin
>
> I wonder if this isn't a regional thing? In my area, I've usually been
>able to find an old timer in various departments. I have occasionally run
>across newbies or amateurs, but they do seem to get better over time. One
>of the tool people told me they went to seminars put on by manufacturers,
>so they got more educated over time.
>
> Maybe the labor market changes a lot regionally. Here, we've had a HUGE
>number of small contractors who went belly up as the building industry
>flopped. A lot of them seem to have ended up at HD. There have been days
>when every single clerk used to be a licensed contractor (or still is,
>moonlighting).
>
>
It's not a requirement, but they definately try to hire experience
professionals when possible. Product knowledge tests for the
departments are required though, and there are lots of seminars and
training that doesn't come out of a book.
The training is good because when you teach people something, they
want to try out that knowledge, customers and employees. The longer
an employee has been with the company, chances are, he's tested what
he's been taught, whether it's paint, plumbing, electrical or
whatever. I know I did.
Not everyone has houses, but they try out their knowlege in their
apartments or their friend's or parent's houses. And they get first
hand experience that way.
And sometimes, a newbie parroting what an knowledgable salesperson has
told him is just as helpful.
It's all just matters of degrees. I've learned a lot from the
contractors that shopped and shop at my store.
The learning never stops.
Kevin
KKing10231
I shop the Waltham, MA, Tewksbury, MA and Nashua NH Depots...the service has
always been great. I like HD, and will be spending even more time and money
there now....we just closed on our house this past Friday.
Someday I'm gonna quit procrastinating!
o...@gci-net.com
On Mon, 20 Apr 1998 02:50:37 -0600, ar...@traveller.com wrote:
>My question: Why do you buy lumber from these companies? 30+ years
>experience in two cities has taught that you get much better prices
>and quality at a good local lumber company. I can't see how you really
>could build anything with the lumber available at HD, Lowe's, etc. Much
>of their material is little better than firewood. Of course, other
>products are name brand and are OK.
And even some of the "name brand" products are special versions made
for HD, and not up to the quality of the regular product.
>
>-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
>http://www.dejanews.com/ Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading
o...@gci-net.com
On Mon, 20 Apr 1998 19:13:29 -0700, sltracey <sltr...@pipeline.com>
wrote:
>Kevin wrote:
>>
>> "Mouse" <mMOUSE...@ipass.net> wrote:
>>
>> >But the thing is that in Raleigh, NC, HD DOESN'T have low prices... at least
>> >not compared to LOWES!
>> >
>> >When we bought our new house, especially, I began routinely checking both
>> >stores for every item I bought in an effort to save money on the repairs and
>> >improvements were were making. In almost EVERY instance, LOWES was cheaper.
>> >
>> >Add to that that LOWES is a bit easier to get into and the people at the
>> >particular location I shop at are friendlier, and you can see why I've
>> >pretty much stopped going to HD at all, now!
>> >
>> >--It all makes me wonder about those TV ads -- those HD's just aren't like
>> >the one here, at all (BTW they say they'll beat the competitor's prices, but
>> >what they really mean is that it has to be the exact same brand, etc., and
>> >they try REAL HARD not to carry any more of the brands that LOWES does than
>> >they have to...)
>>
>> Lowe's isn't in CA, so I'm not familar with them, although I have
>> heard of them. They are apparently a major competitor in the East.
>> Out here we have HomeBase, Orchard, YardBirds, and a few others.
>> Like I said in a previous post, even though the policy is exact items,
>> I've seen markdown on similar ones, especially if it's a small
>> markdown compared to the sale.
>>
>> If Lowe's is as big of a competitor as they seem to be, I can't
>> imagine a manager passing up that sale and effectively making you a
>> Life Long Lowe's shopper in the process.
>>
>> I don't know what good it will do, but I think I'll print out a few of
>> these messages about exact item adjustments and give them my store and
>> reginal managers. It seems to be a major gripe, a repeated one, and
>> IMHO, a valid one. Especially in the case of the water heater, same
>> warrenty, same gal, etc. If this is an issue, between us and Lowe's,
>> it needs to addressed.
>>
>> I like my company. : ) I'll see what cages I can rattle.
>>
>> Kevin
>>
>> p.s. I'll only do it if you give me permission to print your posts,
>> btw. I'm clueless about copywrites, and wouldn't want to use your
>> words without your permission.
>
>Home Depots vary from excellent to extremely poor. I think the key is
>for the regional managers to leave their offices and tour their stores
>unannounced. Store managers and employees at excellent stores should be
>rewarded. Store managers at the poor stores should be dragged to the
>excellent stores and told to spend a day discussing management ideas
>with the excellent store managers. Some improvements should be expected
>in four months.
>
>sltracey
So right! I moved last year from northern Virginia to Tucson. I was
used to really good service and prices fron the Depot. The Tucson
stores seem like a different company - stupid associates, long lines,
indifferent service, and high prices to boot. Now I mostly go to Ace
hardware, which is more knowledgeable and often has lower prices.
chita jing
Kevin <ke...@NOSPAMpacbell.net.> wrote in article
<353c0076...@news.pacbell.net>...
> There is most definately competition between stores and not just with
> sales. I would hazard a guess that the store that was hesitant about
> the transfer wasn't making their sales plan, or that it was the only
> one that they had. There are department walks weekly and Department
> Heads get pounded for out of stocks. Most of them are hesitant to
> transfer items they are short on becuase of that.
Wow... this is the first seriously negative thing I've ever heard about HD
policies. I am sorry to hear it, BTW. It doesn't make business sense to me,
setting members of a team against one another. Somebody at HQ needs ... um,
some management consult on this point, IMHO. In this case, there was enough
goodwill in the HD account for me to go ahead and do it. But that goodwill
was built by customer-first treatment. When you set stores against one
another like that, ya end up turning the managers' heads away from the
customer.
The person doing the weekly "department walk" is overhead, customers are
profit. Y'know what I mean?
RBowles96
If the item was shop lifted why would it end up back on the shelf?!! I've
returned items and NEVER have seen the clerk check to see if the container had
been opened. This is a HD flaw, not shoplifting! Do you open a can at the
shelf where it is stocked before you take it to the register? I have serious
difficulties with your rationale.
In article <6hghqi$4...@bgtnsc03.worldnet.att.net>, "chita jing"
<ch...@worldnet.att.net> writes:
>
> Hey - that's a shame on the CUSTOMER, not Home Depot. All kinds of
people shoplift. Apprently, that includes woodworkers.
>
>
rbowles96ATaolDOTcom
RBowles96
NO, I CERTAINLY DID NOT!!!!!!!!!! That "kind sir" is an insult!!!!!!!!!!
Enough already.
In article <6hgi3g$4...@bgtnsc03.worldnet.att.net>, "chita jing"
<ch...@worldnet.att.net> writes:
> While we're on the topic of returns -- did you return the
unsatisfactory
>goods?
>
>
>
rbowles96ATaolDOTcom
rex_martin
Timothy Lasby wrote:
> I love the selection and the service. My problem is that the first store
> to open in my area is so crowded that sometimes i just walk out without
> getting what i came for. It's not their fault, but that's the way it
> currently here in the Cleveland area.
>
> Kevin wrote:
>
> > Hey all, I'm going to try to reply to all of your posts. Thanks for
> > the input. If this thread contintues at this rate, I'm not sure I can
> > reply to each again. So no promises alright?
> >
> > Thanks for the input, and the laughs,
> > Kevin
> >
> > p.s. Keep it up. I've enjoyed several of these. If you've got the
> > time and the stories, I'll read them. It's a nice way to relax after
> > a day at the Depot.
When Home Depot first opened up in Long Island, NY, my prayers were
answered. Before HD, I did business with Rickels, the local lumber yard,
and a lighting store, - selection was limited and prices were high. I
always
paid top dollar for everything. The selection at HD is very good with
helpful
and knowledgeable people.
If I could I would have my paycheck 'Direct Deposited' to HD, I spend
most of it there anyway.
Rex
Theron Hicks
gwar...@zoomnet.net wrote:
> >
> >> I don't know what good it will do, but I think I'll print out a few of
> >> these messages about exact item adjustments and give them my store and
> >> reginal managers. It seems to be a major gripe, a repeated one, and
> >> IMHO, a valid one. Especially in the case of the water heater, same
> >> warrenty, same gal, etc. If this is an issue, between us and Lowe's,
> >> it needs to addressed.
> >>
> >> I like my company. : ) I'll see what cages I can rattle.
> >>
> >> Kevin
> >>
>
> >Home Depots vary from excellent to extremely poor. I think the key is
> >for the regional managers to leave their offices and tour their stores
> >unannounced. Store managers and employees at excellent stores should be
> >rewarded. Store managers at the poor stores should be dragged to the
> >excellent stores and told to spend a day discussing management ideas
> >with the excellent store managers. Some improvements should be expected
> >in four months.
>
> >sltracey
> McDonalds! If you like McDonalds in lower Slobovia, you will like it
> in downtown Chicago. If you think it sucks in Peoria, it is
> guaranteed to suck in New York City. If more stores had the quality
> control of Mickey Dee's, it would be a better place. And I
> definitely don't like Mickey Dee's, but if you are in a strange area,
> you know what the quality will be. With few exceptions.
>
> I am afraid that you would need to go higher than the regional
> managers, as most of the bad stores are probably in the same regions.
> It all has to come down from the top, but the top has to be informed
> and not so isolated. If all these post were copied to the CEO of HD,
> I am sure that it would be more effective.
>
> jerry
Same thing applies to Burger King (or at least it used to.) In high
school (~25 years ago) I worked for Burger King on the broiler. Was told to
put the burger with the broiler lines up. Asked why. "Because we want every
Whopper to be exactly the same wherever you by it (with 1 minor geographic
change ... west coast BK's use ketchup instead of mustard on the Whopper.)
Similar reasoning made me get training (read a pamplet) on how to make french
fries. Wish I could get some of those fries today. Nobody can make good
fries anymore.
By the way someone here in Jackson, Michigan must have rattled some cages
at Lowes because all of a sudden the customer service went from -2 to +7 (on
a 0 to 10 scale.) Actually had someone ask if the could help me. The nearest
Home Depot is 40 miles away from home but in the city where I work. (opened
about 6 months ago.) I wonder if that had anything to do with improved
service. HD seem to have goo service in Lansing, Michigan.
Theron Hicks
Dave
On Sun, 19 Apr 1998 15:43:51 GMT, true2...@enter.net (Cliff) wrote:
>I went to my local HD for a piece of oak and was able to find a nice
>3' length of 1x12.
<snip>
>
>Cliff
I find it hard to believe you found anything besides firewood at HD, I
can never find abything useful in their wood stacks.
Dave
"My wife says I never listen to her,
at least I think that's what she says."
Robert Dister
There are at least four HD's in the East Bay (SF area) that I go to, and
virtually everyone at these stores is clueless. HD is OK if I know
exactly what I want and what I am doing, but forget about customer service
or advice. I feel guilty go to HD for volume stuff based on price, and to
a real hardware store if I need expertise, but that's the way the market
is. I see that Simon's, a fairly large hardware/home/garden store (more
expensive than HD, but with knowledgeable staff and better selection of
high-end plumbing and hardware) is going out of business, probably because
of HD's competition. Hopefully this won't happen to the smaller hardware
stores. OTOH, there was an article recently about 2 vernerable mom and pop
hardware stores that are doing fine by competing with HD in the areas that
HD is weak in.
RBowles96
There have been times in the past that I've commented to someone "I'm not
laughing at you but with you, jusy wish you were laughing too". Only used with
people I knew could take it in the vien it was intended.
In article <353c0ae0...@news.pacbell.net>, ke...@NOSPAMpacbell.net.
(Kevin) writes:
>
>As for laughing at myself, sure, why not? Everyone else does. ; )
>
>
rbowles96ATaolDOTcom
RBowles96
Training for the return staff to examine the lid/can interface to spot the
stain marks that were NOT from the factory? I've been forced to examine them
ON THE SHELF as an avoidance method, don't like it but it beats some of the
alternatives.
In article <353bf5aa...@news.pacbell.net>, ke...@NOSPAMpacbell.net.
(Kevin) writes:
>
>Just for the record, that can of stain should have never been put on
>the shelf. It should have been "Oops'd" and put with all the Oops
>paint, marked down to like $1 or something.
>
>
rbowles96ATaolDOTcom
RBowles96
Profound utterance!! Should be everyone's slogan!
In article <353c1448...@news.pacbell.net>, ke...@NOSPAMpacbell.net.
(Kevin) writes:
>The learning never stops.
>
>
rbowles96ATaolDOTcom
RBowles96
And be there a year ...
In article <353c0516...@news.pacbell.net>, ke...@NOSPAMpacbell.net.
(Kevin) writes:
>Hang in there, hopefully a good manager will find his way to a store near you
soon. : )
>
>
rbowles96ATaolDOTcom
John Q. Public
Holy Cow. Talk about sour grapes. This guy obviously had his own
store that sold lumber products or other home owner things and got his
butt priced out of business.
Wood is wood you guys. If you get a piece of fir from any lumber yard
and it's kiln dried to 10%, it makes no differance where that wood
came from. I doubt very much that HB or others go out and search for
lumber companies that cut from inferior forests just so they can
undercut competition.
As far as I'm concerned, it's about time someone came in and started
to be real with the prices they have. Some of the older stores have
been gouging the public for years. Where I live in northern New York,
it's cheaper to go across the border 10 miles away to buy wood than to
buy it locally. I'd kill for a good HB store here.
Nuff said
lightn...@hotmail.com
for proper address, remove the 3 and the 4 but leave the 1 and 2
Robert Allison
John Q. Public wrote:
> Holy Cow. Talk about sour grapes. This guy obviously had his own
> store that sold lumber products or other home owner things and got his
> butt priced out of business.
> Wood is wood you guys. If you get a piece of fir from any lumber yard
> and it's kiln dried to 10%, it makes no differance where that wood
> came from. I doubt very much that HB or others go out and search for
> lumber companies that cut from inferior forests just so they can
> undercut competition.
> <Snip>
> lightn...@hotmail.com
> for proper address, remove the 3 and the 4 but leave the 1 and 2
I agree, wood is wood, but how that wood is processed is the difference. A
2x4 of yellow pine is stronger than a 2x4 of white wood. Some plywood
companies are better than others. You can get 5-ply plywood or the less
expensive 3-ply plywood. There is ground contact treated lumber, submersible
treated lumber and treated lumber. There is #1 treated lumber and #2. Home
Depot only carries #2. It does not carry YP studs, ground contact treated
lumber, lumber core plywood or 5 ply plywood in 1/2". The trim that home
depot carries is thinner and a lower grade than I get at my lumber yard.
(Since we do a lot of remodeling, this is important.)
I admit, I do like to go to Home Depot, just not to buy building
materials. They have less expensive tools and if you want something that is
less expensive than the good quality stuff, they will have it.
DSPToad
>McDonalds! If you like McDonalds in lower Slobovia, you will like it
>> in downtown Chicago. If you think it sucks in Peoria, it is
>> guaranteed to suck in New York City. If more stores had the quality
>> control of Mickey Dee's, it would be a better place. And I
>> definitely don't like Mickey Dee's, but if you are in a strange area,
>> you know what the quality will be. With few exceptions.
>>
It's funny that you mention McDonalds, since our HD has one right inside the
store!!!
Richard Bruder
Kevin wrote:
>
> >
> >Home Depots vary from excellent to extremely poor. I think the key is
> >for the regional managers to leave their offices and tour their stores
> >unannounced. Store managers and employees at excellent stores should be
> >rewarded. Store managers at the poor stores should be dragged to the
> >excellent stores and told to spend a day discussing management ideas
> >with the excellent store managers. Some improvements should be expected
> >in four months.
> >
> >sltracey
>
> turn over is amazing. They are always shooting them off to new
> stores. Most store managers only stay in one location maybe a year
> tops, then they are shifted to another store.
>
> The main problem is that we are expanding so fast, over so wide of an
> area, well, all of the USA and Canada too, that we don't have enough
> good managers to go around.
>
> As for meetings? It'd never work. We already do that. I think all
> assistant and store managers fly to Atlanta once a year for meetings.
> They come back pepped up, use a lot of jargon, but it wears off pretty
> quick in the daily grind.
>
> It's been my observation that you can't teach people skills. You
> either have it or you don't. Some people evolve over time, but you
> can't teach it to them.
>
> Hang in there, hopefully a good manager will find his way to a store
> near you soon. : )
>
No matter what you opinion of HD, all must agree that Kevin is PRETTY
GREAT.
I wish my business could benefit from the customer feedback that HD is
getting here for free (we have to pay marketing firms for "Focus Groups"
for the same stuff).
And I wish customer concerns would be answered by someone with Kevin's
knowledge and diplomacy!
Way to go Kevin--HD should give you a raise and a promotion.
Richard
LeDoug
Where I live in northern New York,
it's cheaper to go across the border 10 miles away to buy wood than to
buy it locally. I'd kill for a good HB store here.
At present time I have to drive 50 min. to get to the closest HD. I still think
it is worth the time. Tonight the neighboring town is voting whether to allow a
HD. It will be great to drive only 10 min.
LeDoug @aol.com
Don't bury organs, donate them.
valk...@mindspring.com
> Hey Valk,
>
> I used to work in lumber, so I know what you're talking about. That
> would have sucked. 30 sheets of 3/4? You could have had that brought
> out on a forklift and lowered or put into your truck. I can't even
> believe you did that on your own. What was that, 3 lumber carts?
It was 2 carts, actually and a total stranger helped me with it. He pushed
one, I the other. As for fork lifts, that's an idea which unfortunately
requires people and in these two stores I think it would be easier to get
arrested than get help, especially knowledgeable help.
> Next time, just go to the cashier and tell them what you want.
You've got to be kidding me. The HD cashiers are about as useless as tits
on a bull. Here's a cashier story for your book, Kevin. A few months back I
went in and got three 8' strips of decra moulding, pine. It's about $18
worth tops. The genius at the cash route rang it up as a $199 purchase. I
said, "That's impossible!" She says, "Well, that's what it says, so that
must be the price." She was completely oblivious to any reality that might
exist beyond what the scan bar told her to think and actually expected me
to write her a check for $200. I showed her the wood but she had not
concept of its value. That doesn't inspire much confidence. Here's another,
you're gonna love this one: The HD in Cumming carries horse feed. I have a
friend who steals horse feed from them every week. How? He puts it across
the front of the shopping cart, two 50# bags, stacked. Then he buys a few
small items. When he gets to the cash route, the horse feed in plain view,
he takes out the few small items and the girl scans them through,
concentrating on them, baseball, the weather or what was on Oprah last
night, and misses these two 50# bags of Omolene. Which are there in plain
sight. I've watcghed him do it. He claims they've never caught him and he
always writes "horse feed" on his check memo in case they do because then
it looks like he obvious MEANT to pay but they simply FORGOT to charge him.
Which is half true. My friend earns a six-figure income and he doesn't
steal horse feed from HD because he needs to. He's not a shoplifter in any
other venue. I asked him why he does it and he says t see how stupid they
can be. He calls your store's loss, "The Home Depot Stupid Tax." Catchy,
don't you think. Cashiers, Kevin? I think not.
Reading through your posts, you seem to be very enthusiastic about the Home
Despot, and I admire that. You must be the exception. The Despot stores I
shop in would do better if they hired homeless people and squeegy men from
Atlanta than the "skilled professionals" I've encountered. I think their
whole marketing campaign is a lie and I'd like nothing more than to see the
company go bust. That won't happen, primarily because they cater to people
who don't know any better anyway.
Good luck with your thread and your career.
The Valk
Christa
--snip
The HD cashiers are about as useless as tits
on a bull. Here's a cashier story for your book, Kevin.
I've got a cashier story as well. I bought a 12' piece of cable to use
for a dog tie-out. The guy who cut it forgot to write up the slip (oh
no! no SKU for the cashier!). So she calls electrical. I tell her, no,
this is cable from where the rope and chain and such are. Oh no,
electrical and proceeds to page electrical. Of course the guy from
electrical shows up and says it's not from his dept. To be kind to the
others behind me, I pay for the stuff she's already rung up, go find the
guy who cut the cable and get the little piece of paper with the sku. I
know there are some idiots who shop in HD, but there are also a lot of
knowledgable customers who know more about what they're buying than the
cashiers do. The cashiers should at least attempt to listen to the
customer.
--
Christa
E-mail to: jc...@worldnet.att.net or lac...@bms.com
Kevin
>You've got to be kidding me. The HD cashiers are about as useless as tits
>on a bull. Here's a cashier story for your book, Kevin. A few months back I
>went in and got three 8' strips of decra moulding, pine. It's about $18
>worth tops. The genius at the cash route rang it up as a $199 purchase. I
>said, "That's impossible!" She says, "Well, that's what it says, so that
>must be the price." She was completely oblivious to any reality that might
>exist beyond what the scan bar told her to think and actually expected me
>to write her a check for $200. I showed her the wood but she had not
>concept of its value. That doesn't inspire much confidence.
Wow, not much I can say to that story... I have a hard time even
understanding how that could happen. Was the UPC was wrong, or did
she enter it like it was sold by the foot, instead of by the piece?
That's a huge difference. I've seen it happen where a cut ticket has
been written in the department and the salesperson wrote down the case
sku instead of the per foot sku, so the customer was charged for 8
cases or spools, instead of 8 feet, but at my store, the cashiers are
normally the ones who notice that such a price is an impossibility.
She must have been a serious newbie.
> I asked him why he does it and he says t see how stupid they
>can be. He calls your store's loss, "The Home Depot Stupid Tax." Catchy,
>don't you think. Cashiers, Kevin? I think not.
LOL!, sorry, but I know what you're talking about. I like the phrase
too, but I have a hard time believing things are really that bad
there. I don't doubt the validity of your stories, but from my
experiences, wow, that store comes across as some sort of surreal
nightmare Depot that is everything that we try not to be. It's like
the worse case scenerio come to brilliant and horrible life. I'm at a
loss for words; I just shake my head, nearly unbelieving, but knowing
that you're right. I've seen similar things occur, but your
experiences are like 10 times worse than any I've seen.
>Reading through your posts, you seem to be very enthusiastic about the Home
>Despot, and I admire that. You must be the exception.
The company has been very good to me and I'm still with them for that
reason. I like their concentration on customer service and I truly
enjoy customer service myself. Plus I love all the knowlege I've
gained over the years.
>
>Good luck with your thread and your career.
>
>The Valk
This thread has exploded to lengths that I hadn't even considered.
Wow, over 100 replies, granted a lot of them are mine, since I tried
to reply to everyone, but still, that's a lot of replies, way more
than I expected. Thanks Valk, and good luck to you too. I enjoyed
your replies, they were funny, in a dark depressing sort of way. I
guess that's called black comedy, but it caused me to laugh anyway.
Kevin
Kevin
Christa <lac...@NOSPAMbms.com> wrote:
>I've got a cashier story as well. I bought a 12' piece of cable to use
>for a dog tie-out. The guy who cut it forgot to write up the slip (oh
>no! no SKU for the cashier!). So she calls electrical. I tell her, no,
>this is cable from where the rope and chain and such are. Oh no,
>electrical and proceeds to page electrical. Of course the guy from
>electrical shows up and says it's not from his dept. To be kind to the
>others behind me, I pay for the stuff she's already rung up, go find the
>guy who cut the cable and get the little piece of paper with the sku. I
>know there are some idiots who shop in HD, but there are also a lot of
>knowledgable customers who know more about what they're buying than the
>cashiers do. The cashiers should at least attempt to listen to the
>customer.
Nod, I totally agree. I ask my customers all time, if I don't already
know, what the technical name for certain items are or where they got
it if I have to get a sku check. I even ask them what it's used for,
or if it's a new item in the store, I'll ask them for their opinion of
it, if it's a good item or whatnot.
I'm surprised she didn't listen to you. It must have been one of the
vinyl coated cables. If you don't know much about eletrical, one of
those look vaguely like electrical wiring. On second thought, no they
don't. I have no idea what she was thinking. : )
I'm only on my first cup of coffee this morning, so I'm not wide awake
enough to think of elaborate excuses.
She should have listened to you. I would have. Thanks for letting
the customers behind you continue on through.
I need more coffee. Thanks for the story.
Kevin
Kevin
>If I could I would have my paycheck 'Direct Deposited' to HD, I spend
>most of it there anyway.
>
>Rex
>
I sometimes kid with my regular customers that this option will soon
be available. : )
I honestly think some of them spend more time there than I do, and I'm
there 40 hours a week.
Kevin
Kevin
rbow...@aol.com (RBowles96) wrote:
>There have been times in the past that I've commented to someone "I'm not
>laughing at you but with you, jusy wish you were laughing too". Only used with
>people I knew could take it in the vien it was intended.
Yep, sometimes people take themselves entirely too seriously. It
makes for awkward situations. It's so much easier to laugh and move
on, instead of concetrating on the bad and end up getting jaded about
everything.
Kevin