My wife and I stopped by HD today because we needed a circular florescent
bulb for a lighting fixture we got there a few years back, HD seemed likely
to have one. To my shock we were almost immediately greeted by a smiling
employee who hoped we were having a nice day and wanted to know if we needed
any help. We said fine thanks and no thanks since we know where the
lighting dept. is, but before we could get there we were greeted by another
cheerful employee. After we got our florescent tube I started keeping
track, I'd say "three" to my wife, and then "four" and so on as we
encountered more helpful staff while wandering around waiting for
merchandise to call our names (I rarely need an excuse to add to the tool
collection). By the time we got out of the store I was up to seven, maybe
eight if you count the guy who asked a whole bunch of people in the paint
dept. if anyone needed any help--he even took an untagged item I was looking
at and got a price for me--incredible.

Given that I can normally walk around a HD store visiting almost every dept.
without ever being asked if I need any help, I have to wonder what was going
on. New store manager? Flaming rocket from Corporate demanding helpful
employees upon pain of death? Employees unknowingly dosed with
anti-psychotic drugs right before the store opened?

Whatever was going on it was an unusual experience, though one I'd like to
see repeated. The only time I've found that many helpful employees at HD
was a couple of years ago when they built a new store on the other side of
town, but the ratty old store near us is usually sure to send me home in a
foul mood.

Strange, maybe their management finally got a clue.