OT gumpy old fart rant
Larry L
breathing, humans.
Apparently I have too much effect on the local Home Depot.
My wife wanted me to do a few things before I leave in a week for my
Montahoming trip, so I went shopping. I found the needed materials and
headed to check out only to find that there was ONE register manned by a
human ( with a huge line ) and the rest contained talking machines ... "Self
check out"
Now I admit being, may even be a bit proud of being, a grumpy old man fed up
with many of the trappings of our 'culture' like everyone looking like they
are in the Borg collective Bluetooth stuck in ear, or 'reality' TV.
But, honestly, I find having a machine talking to me ( to take my money, for
god's sake ) effectively telling me to "bend over now, and insert your card"
is just too dehumanising.
Seeing a large sign hanging from the ceiling with the word "service" ( the
place you take returns ) on it I went over to find 5, yes FIVE, pimply 20
somethings laughing at each other's jokes, and not a customer in sight.
I piled my stuff on the counter and said, "I don't want any of this badly
enough to check myself out." And I left to go to the mom and pop
hardware store for my purchase.
So, if you're still listening out there .... when I suggested real humans at
"customer Service" I did NOT mean just under the sign that says "service"
... if you want real, breathing human beings to part with their money and
want to come back ... treat them like real, breathing human beings, not just
bar codes
Wolfgang
"Larry L" <larry_l...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bYEUj.176051$D_3.1...@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
Well.....there.....that should do it.
Wolfgang
Tim J.
> Recently I pointed out that "customer service" is a good place for
> real, breathing, humans.
>
> Apparently I have too much effect on the local Home Depot.
>
> My wife wanted me to do a few things before I leave in a week for my
> Montahoming trip, so I went shopping. I found the needed
> materials and headed to check out only to find that there was ONE
> register manned by a human ( with a huge line ) and the rest
> contained talking machines ... "Self check out"
>
> Now I admit being, may even be a bit proud of being, a grumpy old man
> fed up with many of the trappings of our 'culture' like everyone
> looking like they are in the Borg collective Bluetooth stuck in ear,
> or 'reality' TV. But, honestly, I find having a machine talking to me ( to
> take my
> money, for god's sake ) effectively telling me to "bend over now, and
> insert your card" is just too dehumanising.
Hmmmm. . . I purposely look for this type of checkout. I find it much faster
because all of the grumpy old farts are in this really long line, for some
strange reason, writing these things called "checks" (whatever *those* are)
which they don't even pull out of their pocket and start writing until AFTER
the clerk gives them the total. . . and I don't recall the "bend over"
drill. Are you sure this was a Hom_E_ Depot?
> Seeing a large sign hanging from the ceiling with the word "service"
> ( the place you take returns ) on it I went over to find 5, yes FIVE,
> pimply 20 somethings laughing at each other's jokes, and not a
> customer in sight. I piled my stuff on the counter and said, "I don't want
> any of this
> badly enough to check myself out." And I left to go to the mom
> and pop hardware store for my purchase.
>
> So, if you're still listening out there .... when I suggested real
> humans at "customer Service" I did NOT mean just under the sign that
> says "service" ... if you want real, breathing human beings to part
> with their money and want to come back ... treat them like real,
> breathing human beings, not just bar codes
When I go into Home Depot, I'm normally stopped by two or three employees
who ask if I'm finding what I need, and, if I'm not, they usually take the
time to walk me to the spot I can find it. I think that's fairly decent
service, but that's just me.
--
TL,
Tim
-------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj
Larry L
"Tim J." <NOkpos...@comcast.net.invalid> wrote
> Hmmmm. . . I purposely look for this type of checkout. I find it much
> faster
That's why I think this is a cultural deal ( generation ) .. my kid's
generation seems to PREFER cell phone chatting to face to face conversation
... I'd guess ( based on noticing what groups don't seem to notice being
dehumanised but do seem to always be in a hurry ) you must be around 50 or
less if you think talking machines are 'cool' ?
>
> When I go into Home Depot, I'm normally stopped by two or three employees
> who ask if I'm finding what I need, and, if I'm not, they usually take the
> time to walk me to the spot I can find it.
I got decent/good service, at that "on the floor" level
FWIW ( nothing?) I moved from San Jose here in 1976 to open an Orchard
Supply Hardware ( first out of the Bay Area ) .... I was in middle
management. and at that time OSH was a family owned business that took great
pride in customer service and knowledgeable help ... it's been sold and
resold since then and is now owned by Sears ... it's not even close to the
same ..... but I'm sure that background working there affects my opinions on
service. For retail it was a great place to work ... they let me
maintain management pay level, work part time, and set my own schedule when
I was starting my own business, one of the VPs even sent me a dog to train
and became my hunting buddy ... as I said, it was a family biz, if you
worked for them you were family, if you shopped there you were too and
treated like it ( this wasn't a small biz ... just a family one ). Times
change, some things get better, some don't .....
Larry L ( who doesn't want to go back to Seal Dri waders )
Wolfgang
>
> "Tim J." <NOkpos...@comcast.net.invalid> wrote
>
>
>> Hmmmm. . . I purposely look for this type of checkout. I find it much
>> faster
>
>
> That's why I think this is a cultural deal ( generation ) ..
Thinking is not your strong suit.
> my kid's generation seems to PREFER cell phone chatting to face to face
> conversation
The beauty of face to face conversation is that you can insult the neighbors
in their own home......MUCH more adorable, right?
> ... I'd guess ( based on noticing what groups don't seem to notice being
> dehumanised but do seem to always be in a hurry ) you must be around 50 or
> less if you think talking machines are 'cool' ?
And you can't understand how someone might think a machine that speeds the
process of getting out of an environment made even less pleasant than it
ordinarily is by the presence of miserable and unpredictable cranks whose
great joy in life is sharing misery is a good idea, regardless of whether or
not it talks?
>> When I go into Home Depot, I'm normally stopped by two or three employees
>> who ask if I'm finding what I need, and, if I'm not, they usually take
>> the time to walk me to the spot I can find it.
>
>
> I got decent/good service, at that "on the floor" level
Somehow, we feel you'll find a way to get over that.
> FWIW ( nothing?)
Probably. Let's see, shall we?
> I moved from San Jose here in 1976 to open an Orchard Supply Hardware (
> first out of the Bay Area ) .... I was in middle management. and at that
> time OSH was a family owned business that took great pride in customer
> service and knowledgeable help ... it's been sold and resold since then
> and is now owned by Sears ... it's not even close to the same ..... but
> I'm sure that background working there affects my opinions on service.
We are certain that your opinions are grounded in a great deal more than
manufactured memories about your experiences in the good old days. But,
please, do go on.
> For retail it was a great place to work ... they let me maintain
> management pay level, work part time, and set my own schedule when I was
> starting my own business, one of the VPs even sent me a dog to train and
> became my hunting buddy ... as I said, it was a family biz, if you worked
> for them you were family, if you shopped there you were too and treated
> like it ( this wasn't a small biz ... just a family one ).
So, if everybody in this world treated you like your own deluded vision of a
beloved paterfamilias things would probably be more or less o.k., huh?
> Times change, some things get better, some don't .....
Ain't it the truth.
> Larry L ( who doesn't want to go back to Seal Dri waders )
Well then, how about where you came from?
Wolfgang
who has apparently not yet gotten used to whining petulant infants.
rdean3...@flash.net
Interesting. I've had this very conversation several times over the
last 3-4 years, including just recently. Weird thing about Home Depot
and Lowe's, at least as I've found it: rarely are they both good (or
bad) in a particular area. For example, on the MS/AL gulf coast, HD is
a mess, usually empty, and you'd wonder how they manage to stay afloat,
whereas Lowe's is always full of customers, helpful staff, wide product
selection, etc. However, in the DFW area, I've found it to be the
opposite - Lowe's is iffy and the management is terrible, whereas HD
seems to be the better store. In New Orleans, it's Lowe's over HD, but
in S. Florida, it's HD over Lowe's. I can't recall any area where both
have been either good or bad - it always seems like one is good, one
bad. I could understand such in a highly specialized market where there
would only be enough skilled staff to supply one vendor, but in this
case...
TC,
R
Dave LaCourse
<larry_l...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>My wife wanted me to do a few things before I leave in a week for my
>Montahoming trip, so I went shopping.
Well, there's your first mistake - shopping for your wife. Egads,
man, get HER out of the house to do the shopping. No wonder you're a
gumpy (sic) old fart. d;o)
Dave
(just home from grocery shopping)
Larry L
"Dave LaCourse" <dplac...@pirateaol.com> wrote
>
> Dave
> (just home from grocery shopping)
>
He, he
I do the grocery shopping because I get the 'senior' discount and my lovely
bride is too young
somewhere I read you wife is healing well ... glad to hear it
W. D. Grey
Larry L <larry_l...@hotmail.com> writes
On one occasion some years ago - I was a grumpy old fart even then !
I was with my wife in a large department store buying slippers for her.
We had to take one slipper to the counter and then get the pair - there
were three ladies behind the counter discussing whose turn it was to go
to lunch first. They then turned tail and disappeared into a back room
whereupon I whistled loudly much to the annoyance and embarrassment of
my wife. The eldest of the ladies reappeared somewhat hautily she was
the senior staff member, so I pointed out to her in no uncertain terms
that we, the customers, where outnumbered by the staff and could we
please have some service.
We were duly served with appropriate apologies.
--
Bill Grey
asadi
Bud, you don't want to hear my horror story on Home depot...I was redoing my
parents condo before they moved in...they were in Florida and moving back
home to Ohio...it was convenient for them to pick colors and samples in
Florida and I would purchase things in Ohio..
It worked great until I had Home Depot install the carpet..
Home Depot actually laughed and said, "What are you going to do, Sue?" So I
did...the damages to doors and windows exceeded the cost of the
carpet...Seven doors, one bay window...not too mention the jambs and
casing....
I do not go there for anything, anymore.
Do a search, heck there are whole websites devoted to Home depot
complaints....but the stock went up for a couple of years didn't it?
Remember the old days when you could count on Sears?
john
Frank Reid
> When I go into Home Depot, I'm normally stopped by two or three employees
> who ask if I'm finding what I need, and, if I'm not, they usually take the
> time to walk me to the spot I can find it. I think that's fairly decent
> service, but that's just me.
Then again, there is "too much of a good thing." Last night, whilst
waiting for my daughter to get to her apartment so I could help her
pack it up (semester is over, she's coming home for the Summer), I
went to Red Robin for a burger. On three sucessive bites I was asked
how every thing was going. Once by the waitress, once by the
assistant manager and finally by the manager. At each query, I had
just taken a bite. When I was finally able to speak with an expectant
manager hovering over my table, I explained the situation and told her
that I would just like to eat and please could I be left in peace.
Frank Reid
rb608
wrote:
> Hmmmm. . . I purposely look for this type of checkout. I find it much faster
Ditto. Plus, you have a much higher likelihood of having your
transaction processed correctly. Not to rag on Home Depot (who always
seem to have decently competent folks), but all of those pimply-faced
teens at the service counter could be working checkout and not knowing
how to make change without the register telling them how much. You
ever run up a bill of say $5.15 and give 'em a ten spot? After the
computer tells them to give you $4.85, find fifteen cents in you
pocket & see how long it takes them to figure out they need to give
you a five. IME, about 1 in 10 get it right away; the other
nine...not so fast.
> When I go into Home Depot, I'm normally stopped by two or three employees
> who ask if I'm finding what I need, and, if I'm not, they usually take the
> time to walk me to the spot I can find it. I think that's fairly decent
> service, but that's just me.
My local HD is not as well-stocked with easy-to-find associates; but I
give them credit for being helpful & knowledgeable when you can find
one.
Joe F.
BJ Conner
Print up your own bar code stickers and put them over the real ones.
The machine doesn't know a 2x4 from a bathroom sink. Go through the
self service isle.
rb608
> Print up your own bar code stickers and put them over the real ones.
> The machine doesn't know a 2x4 from a bathroom sink. Go through the
> self service isle
Aside from the obvious illegality, the machine does in fact know a
kitchen sink from a 2x4. It checks the item weights. That's actually
an annoyance when buying small stuff like a packet of two screws or
such. You toss it in the bag, but the stupid machine doesn't sense
the weight change and you have to wait for the associate to clear the
machine.
One grocery store near me also has self-service checkout. Near as I
can tell, it senses the item profile as it passes down the belt. It
*can* tell the difference between a box of macaroni and a cantelope.
Pretty spiffy technology really. I'm amazed it costs less to purchase
and operate than a half dozen minimum wage checkers.
Joe F.
Wolfgang
"BJ Conner" <oakie...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3d07ed42-44e3-44ae...@p39g2000prm.googlegroups.com...
Print up your own bar code stickers and put them over the real ones.
The machine doesn't know a 2x4 from a bathroom sink. Go through the
self service isle.
**********
Hee, hee, hee. That actually sounds like fun. :)
I'd be careful about proceeding with that plan, though. Don't know about
Home Depot, but I'm pretty sure the machine at my local grocery store knows
the difference in weight between a baguette ("Please place item in bagging
area.") and a canned ham.
On the other hand, I suppose one could enter "32" baguettes.....but I'm not
sure that would represent a substantial savings over the price of the pig
meat.
Wolfgang
rb608
> I'd be careful about proceeding with that plan, though. Don't know about
> Home Depot, but I'm pretty sure the machine at my local grocery store knows
> the difference in weight between a baguette ("Please place item in bagging
> area.") and a canned ham.
Though I'm thinking that a 10# roast & a 10# sack of flour look pretty
much the same to the machine. Not that I'd consider such a thing.
Joe F.
Wolfgang
"rb608" <junkm...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:b616dfee-5194-402b...@a70g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
**************
Ah hell, a bit of consideration never hurt anybody. :)
Wolfgang
not that there's an overabundance of evidence of that around here.
sned...@msn.com
>
> - Show quoted text -
That's pretty much what Ive found. With the added filup that the goods
seem better at my local Lowes and the folk seem to have better morale
at Lowes, but the advise of the MALE HD folk is better, but the fems
at HD goof off and know less that shit. As an ex consultant all above
are signs that selection and training of managers is a major problem
at both places.
One other observation. HD seems to have limited cape in tuning the
inventory to the locality. Examples include stocking plant and tree
varieties unsuitable to local climate, and selling JD equipment but
not the spec grease for same. Ditto for routine maint. supplies for
same. I blame it on dumbass MBAs.
Dave
rdean3...@flash.net
>... selling JD equipment but
>not the spec grease for same. Ditto for routine maint. supplies for
>same. I blame it on dumbass MBAs.
FWIW, the JD stuff sold at HD and Lowe's are built for them - JD dealers
don't sell them. Some are good and some are bad, but none are "true"
JDs. And never buy a Jenn-Air grill from Lowe's - it's a Chinese POS
made outta the same shitty stainless as the house brand "Perfect Flame"
(and "Perfect Flame" must be the phonetic "POS made from shitty
stainless" from Mandarin or something...).
TC,
R
>
>Dave
sned...@msn.com
>
> - Show quoted text -
Thats good to know. Is it the same for Jenn Aire stoves? I have a
rental and like to put in basic models of better brand appliances
because most people will take better care of them than other stuff.
However the GE stuff looks better and better for the money.
Dave
rdean3...@flash.net
I cannot say with certainty, but I'd doubt it as Lowes doesn't, to my
knowledge, have "house brand" appliances.
I was looking at grills last week and noticed that the Jenn-Air grills
looked suspiciously like the "Perfect Flame" grills, so I looked at the
tag to see where they were made. I wasn't surprised to see "Made In
China," but I was surprised to see it was made for "LG Sourcing," which
stands for "Lowes Group" Sourcing, and the same as on the Perfect Flame
models.
I suspect that Lowes rents the Jenn-Air name. Now, whether extends to
"Jenn-Air" stoves, etc. models sold at Lowes, I've no idea, but since HD
also sell JA, I'd think that at least some Jenn-Air stuff is "Jenn-Air."
Now, what would concern me is that Jenn-Air would allow their name to be
put on that level of cheap crap at that kind of price.
FWIW, we've found some real deals at both Lowes and HD in their
clearance area, esp. on SOS/Special Order returns, which are often
high-end things deeply discounted.
TC,
r
>
>Dave